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)

As the population of large cities continues to grow, providing sufficient housinf has become a mjaor challenge. Some people argue that constructing tall apartment blocks is the best solution. I partly agree with this view, because high-rise building can accommodate many people in limited areas, but other housing options are also necesaary.

On the one hand, building tall apartment blocks is an effective way to deal with the shortage of land in large cities. High rise buildings allow a large number of families to live in a relatively small are. This is particularly important in densely populated cities where land is expensive and limited. Moreover, apartment can be constructed close to public transport, schools and shopping centres, which can reduce commuting time and traffic congestion. For example, cities such was singapore have developed high rise residential areas to accommodate their growing populations efficiently.

On the other hand, relying entirely on tall buildings may create several problems. High rise neighbourhood can become overcrowded and may put considerable pressure on public services such as roads, hgospitals and schools. In addition, some people prefer living in houses with gardens becuase they provide more privacy and outdoor space. Therefore, governments should consider developing suburban areas and constructing low-rise housing where sufficient land is available. This approach can also create a better environment for families with young children.

In conclusion, I believe that tall apartment blocks are an important solution to the housinf shortage in large cities becuase they make efficient use of limited land. However, they should not be the only solution, and a combination of high-rise and low-riose housing would be more practical and sustainable.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the task by presenting a clear position right from the introduction ('I partly agree with this view') and sustaining it throughout the essay. The student considers both sides of the argument: the advantages of high-rise living such as space efficiency and proximity to transport, and the drawbacks like overcrowding and pressure on infrastructure. Ideas are generally well supported with relevant examples, such as mentioning Singapore. However, some points could have been extended further to reach higher band levels, and there are slight tendencies to over-generalize in places. Overall, the task is answered effectively and meets the core requirements well.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay displays a clear logical organization and progression throughout. It is divided into four well-structured paragraphs, featuring a distinct introduction, two body paragraphs exploring contrasting viewpoints, and a concluding summary. Cohesive devices are used reasonably well to signal transitions between ideas, such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', 'Moreover', and 'In conclusion'. Paragraphing is used appropriately, and referencing throughout the text is generally clear, guiding the reader smoothly from one point to the next, although minor improvements in cohesion flexibility could elevate the score further.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully incorporating less common lexical items such as 'densely populated', 'traffic congestion', and 'sustainable'. However, there are several noticeable spelling errors throughout the response, including 'housinf', 'mjaor', 'necesaary', 'hgospitals', and 'becuase'. While these mechanical spelling slips do not impede overall communication, they prevent the score from reaching a higher band. Word choice is generally appropriate for discussing urban planning and housing issues, but requires tighter editing for accuracy.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The writer uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating the ability to construct conditional and relative clauses effectively, as seen in sentences like 'This is particularly important in densely populated cities where land is expensive and limited.' There are some minor grammatical errors and inappropriate plurals/singulars, such as 'high-rise building can accommodate' instead of 'buildings', and 'apartment can be constructed' instead of 'apartments'. Nevertheless, these errors are relatively infrequent, and the majority of sentences are grammatically sound, meaning communication is never impeded.

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