Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

It is often stated that building tall residences is the optimal way to furnish homes in metropolitan cities. I partially agree with this view, as vertical development addresses housing shortages and provides essential infrastructure. However, the environmental consequences warrant careful consideration before embracing this approach unconditionally.

High-rise apartments provide larger living areas, which is vital today because many multi-generational families live together in metropolitan areas. This arrangement enhances quality of life compared to compact homes. Residents can study in private spaces without external noise, away from household disturbances and when hosting guests. 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. These amenities are readily accessible in skyscrapers; consequently offering superior living conditions and reducing the infrastructure gaps present in low-rise residences.

On the contrary, there is a significant drawback to tall residential construction. When authorities clear forests to build apartments, they destroy natural habitats and damage the ecosystems. By doing so, 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 warming, it is crucial to consider the wide spaces and basic infrastructure for enhanced quality of life.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You successfully address all parts of the task by presenting a clear position ('I partially agree with this view') and discussing both sides of the argument. In the body paragraphs, you present relevant ideas about living areas and infrastructure for skyscrapers, followed by the environmental drawbacks. However, some arguments lack full extension. For instance, the claim that low-rise residences lack basic services like 24/7 water supply is a broad generalisation that could be questioned. Additionally, your conclusion slightly contradicts your body paragraphs by stating that high-level housing results in environmental degradation while simultaneously reaffirming that it enhances the quality of life, which feels a bit condensed. Overall, your ideas are relevant and support your balanced stance, aligning well with the Band 7 descriptor.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

Your essay displays a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, moving from an introductory stance to the benefits of vertical housing, then to environmental counter-arguments, and finally to a concise conclusion. You make effective use of cohesive devices to guide the reader, such as 'However', 'Another positive aspect', 'On the contrary', and 'Consequently'. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas. Referencing is generally clear, though minor linking issues, such as the awkward transition in 'Another positive aspect is access to essential facilities is fundamental...', show slight mechanical application of cohesive phrases. Overall, coherence is well-maintained and meets the Band 7 criteria.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary for the task with some flexibility and precision. You successfully incorporate less common and topic-specific vocabulary such as 'metropolitan cities', 'vertical development', 'multi-generational families', 'natural habitats', and 'urban heat islands'. There is an awareness of style and collocation, although minor awkwardness appears in phrases like 'high-level housing' instead of 'high-rise housing'. Spelling is accurate throughout the response. While you do not consistently display the fully fluid control required for a Band 8, your lexical resource comfortably satisfies the Band 7 descriptor by providing adequate and sometimes precise terms to discuss an urban planning topic.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a variety of complex sentence structures, including conditional and subordinate clauses, such as 'When authorities clear forests to build apartments, they destroy natural habitats...' and '...because many multi-generational families live together in metropolitan areas.' There are frequent error-free sentences, and your punctuation and basic grammar control are good. However, a few minor structural flaws persist, such as in the sentence 'Another positive aspect is access to essential facilities is fundamental to human survival and low-rise residences are deficient...', which contains a fused verb construction and lacks fluent clause integration. Despite this minor slip, the majority of your sentences are accurate and do not impede communication, placing your grammar firmly at Band 7.

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

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