Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-13

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

The best way to provide enough homes in large cities is to build tall apartment blocks.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 6.0)

It is often stated that building tall residences is the optimal way to furnish homes in metropolitan cities. I agree to some extent with this statement as large spaces and all the basic facilities are available to the extended families.

High-rise apartments provide spacious spaces, which is vital today because many multi-generational families live together in metropolitan areas. This makes life more comfortable in contrast to compact homes. Studying in their personal room becomes convenient, away from external noise and accommodating visitors. Another positive aspect is access to essential facilities is fundamental to human survival and low-rise residences are deficient in basic services like 24/7 water supply, reliable gas infrastructure, robust security systems, and maintenance support. All these amenities are readily accessible in skyscrapers and as a result it is beneficial for prolonged residence

On the contrary, there is a significant drawback to tall residential buildings. To create space for these apartments, government authorities cut down trees, which destroys natural habitats and damages the environment. By destroying trees, animals lose their natural habitat and shelter, leading to species extinction. Furthermore, trees absorb heat and provide natural cooling. Without them, the city becomes urban heat islands where temperatures rise significantly. This forces residents to use more air conditioning, increasing electricity consumption and pollution. Consequently, the ecosystem collapses, and climate change worsens.

To sum up, although building high-level housing results in environmental degradation and global warning, it is crucial to consider the wide spaces and basic infrasture for good quality of living.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses the prompt by discussing the extent of agreement with building tall apartment blocks, providing a clear position in the introduction. The main body paragraphs explore valid ideas regarding family living, essential infrastructure, and environmental drawbacks. However, some arguments lack deep extension, particularly the points regarding extended families, which remain somewhat general. The position is maintained throughout, and the ideas are relevant, fitting well within the Band 6.5 to 7.0 descriptor range, ultimately earning a 6.5 for addressing the prompt clearly with relevant, if slightly under-developed, ideas.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is coherent overall with a clear logical progression from the introduction, through the arguments supporting tall buildings, to the counter-arguments regarding environmental impacts, and finally a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct themes. Cohesive devices are employed, such as 'Furthermore', 'Consequently', and 'On the contrary', though referencing and transitions can occasionally feel slightly mechanical (e.g., 'Another positive aspect is access to essential facilities is fundamental...'). Overall, the organization supports clear communication, aligning with the Band 6.5/7.0 criteria, earning a solid 6.5.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, attempting less common lexical items such as 'metropolitan cities', 'multi-generational', 'urban heat islands', and 'environmental degradation'. There are some minor lexical and spelling inaccuracies, such as 'infrasture' instead of 'infrastructure' and 'high-level housing' where 'high-rise' would be more appropriate. Additionally, phrases like 'provide spacious spaces' show some lexical repetition. However, the vocabulary is sufficient to convey meaning clearly, matching the requirements of Band 6.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The writer uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, incorporating conditional structures and relative clauses (e.g., 'By destroying trees, animals lose their natural habitat...'). There are several grammatical errors and awkward phrasing choices, such as 'access to essential facilities is fundamental to human survival and low-rise residences are deficient...', which lacks a conjunction or proper clause boundary, and 'global warning' instead of 'global warming'. While these errors occasionally demand closer reading, they do not severely impede communication, placing the performance securely at Band 6.0.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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