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)

It is widely debated that the most effective way to accommodate people in large cities is by building apartment blocks. While houses remain suitable for certain families and offer more privacy, I agree with this view, because apartment buildings use land more efficiently and make public services more accessible.

To begin with, detached houses with private gardens offer several advantages. One of the main benifit is that having a private garden allows parents to engage with their young children in outdoor activities such as gardening and playing hide and seek. Children growing up in such an environment are more likely to develop healthy habits. Moreover, houses provide a great level of privacy. Since homeowners do not share walls or a common areas with neighbors, they are less likely to be disturbed by noise and can enjoy quieter and more peaceful life.

However, due to rapid population growth in recent decades many countries have experienced housing shortages. Therefore, I believe that building upwards is more practical solution, as it enables cities to accommodate a large number of people in a relatively small area. High-rise residential buildings provide housing for thousands of residents, while also preserving land for parks, schools, and commercial areas.

Furthermore, apartments are mainly located close to public transport, workplaces, and shopping malls. This makes daily life more convenient while also reducing commuting time. In addition, apartment residents often have access to shared facilities such as gyms and playgrounds, which significantly improve their quality of life.

In conclusion, despite the benifit, constructing high-rise apartment buildings is the most effective way to maximise the land use, as they accommodate more people in a relatively small area and improve daily life by by providing access to numerous facilities.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the task directly, presenting a clear position throughout. The writer acknowledges the counter-argument regarding houses and private gardens before firmly supporting the view that tall apartment blocks are the most effective solution for large cities. Ideas are well-developed and supported with relevant examples, such as mentioning access to shared facilities like playgrounds and gyms, and preserving land for schools and parks. The response meets all task requirements with a well-sustained argument. This aligns well with the Band 7 descriptor.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay displays clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, moving smoothly from the introduction to the counter-argument, then to the main advantages of vertical housing, and finally to a concise conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'However', and 'Furthermore' are used effectively to guide the reader through the argument. Paragraphing is managed appropriately, and referencing within the text remains clear. This performance fits comfortably within the Band 7 criteria.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate to sufficient range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic task, using terms such as 'accommodate', 'housing shortages', 'residential buildings', and 'maximise the land use'. There are, however, a few minor spelling slips, such as 'benifit' instead of 'benefit', and occasional slight lexical inaccuracies, such as 'more practical solution' missing an article ('a more practical solution'). Despite these minor flaws, communication is never impeded, reflecting the characteristics of Band 6.5, which is rounded to 7.0 due to the overall flexibility shown.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The writer employs a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including conditional or participial clauses like 'While houses remain suitable...' and 'Since homeowners do not share walls...'. There is good control of grammar overall, though a few minor errors persist, such as a repeated preposition in the conclusion ('by by providing') and a missing article earlier on. The majority of sentences are grammatically sound and punctuation is handled well, which satisfies the requirements for a Band 6.5 or 7.0. On balance, the control demonstrated leans toward a solid Band 6.5.

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