Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-14

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)

Overpopulation has become a major concern in metropolitan cities. It is widely suggested that to overcome the problem of housing shortage, it is necessary to construct multi-storey residential units. This essay is firmly in favour of this notion for several compelling reasons.

A key justification for this stance is that the growing population in major cities has posed numerous challenges for authorities. Large numbers of people are migrating from rural to urban areas in search of better employment, healthcare and educational opportunities. That is why traffic congestion and dense commuting have become prevalent. It is becoming difficult for people to find accommodation in spacious houses because there is not enough land available. The only possible solution to this problem is that the government should implement strategies to provide housing to the local residents. For example, establishing apartment buildings can provide residence to a large number of individuals.

Another pivotal factor is that it is not affordable for every citizen to purchase their own house in a developed city because the cost of living is quite high. In many developed countries, people prefer to live in apartments by paying reasonable rents. The major advantage is that people do not have to worry about renovations or other responsibilities. Moreover, apartments are much safer to live in because it is up to owners to provide security for these residential buildings. For instance, everyone prioritises living in a peaceful and safe residential area that is exactly provided by the apartments.

In conclusion, I would say although there are several demerits of living in building blocks, still its advantages outweigh them.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses the prompt effectively by taking a clear position in favour of building tall apartment blocks to solve urban housing shortages. The essay covers all parts of the task well, providing relevant arguments such as land scarcity, urban migration, affordability, and security. The main ideas are supported with logical explanations and examples, such as mentioning rural-to-urban migration and the benefits of managed building security. However, the development of ideas could be slightly more extended in places, and the conclusion is somewhat brief and generalized. Overall, the response meets the criteria for Band 7, as it addresses all parts with a clear position and extends ideas, though some over-generalisation exists.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Information and ideas are coherently structured, starting with a clear introduction that states the writer's position, followed by distinct body paragraphs that each focus on a separate supportive argument, and a concluding summary. Cohesive devices such as 'Another pivotal factor is that' and 'For instance' are used appropriately to guide the reader. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and effectively, with each paragraph centering on a clear central topic. Referencing is generally clear and appropriate, though the transition in the conclusion could be slightly more polished. This places the response solidly in Band 7.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for an academic task, including terms like 'overpopulation', 'metropolitan cities', 'housing shortage', 'urban migration', and 'traffic congestion'. There are attempts to use less common vocabulary and phraseology, such as 'compelling reasons', 'pivotal factor', and 'demerits'. While most word choices are accurate and communicate the intended meaning clearly, there are occasional minor inaccuracies or slightly unnatural collocations, such as 'dense commuting'. Spelling and word formation are generally accurate throughout the response. The lexical range is sufficient for precision and flexibility, earning a Band 6.5, which rounds to 6.5 or fits comfortably within Band 6 based on control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response exhibits a mix of simple and complex sentence forms. The writer successfully employs complex structures, such as 'It is widely suggested that to overcome the problem of housing shortage, it is necessary to construct multi-storey residential units' and 'Another pivotal factor is that it is not affordable for every citizen...'. There are several error-free sentences, and grammar and punctuation are generally under good control, with no errors that impede communication. While occasional minor slips occur, the frequency of error-free structures and the variety of sentence types demonstrate a solid command of grammar, aligning well with the Band 7 descriptors.

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

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