Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)

As urban populations continue to grow, providing adequate accommodation has become a major challenge for many large cities, and some people believe that constructing high-rise apartment blocks is the most effective solution. I largely agree with this view because high-rise buildings can accommodate a substantial number of residents while making efficient use of increasingly scarce urban land. This essay will explain why vertical housing is particularly suitable for densely populated areas and how it can contribute to more efficient urban development.

The primary reason for supporting the construction of tall apartment blocks is their ability to accommodate a large population within a relatively small area. As land in major cities becomes increasingly limited and expensive, constructing horizontally is often impractical, whereas building upwards allows developers to create hundreds of residential units on the same piece of land. Furthermore, concentrating residents in high-density areas can reduce urban sprawl and make it easier to provide essential infrastructure, including public transport, schools and healthcare facilities. For example, cities such as Singapore have extensively developed high-rise residential communities, enabling large numbers of people to live within well-connected urban areas despite severe limitations on available land.

Another significant advantage of high-rise housing is that it can support more organised and sustainable urban development. When a greater proportion of the population lives close to workplaces and public services, people may have shorter commutes and become less dependent on private vehicles, which can help ease traffic congestion and reduce pollution. Although some people may prefer detached houses with gardens, this preference is difficult to accommodate in overcrowded cities where land must be used as efficiently as possible. For instance, replacing scattered low-rise housing with carefully planned apartment complexes can create additional accommodation while preserving surrounding land for parks, roads and other public facilities.

In conclusion, I largely agree that constructing tall apartment blocks is one of the most effective ways to address housing shortages in large cities because it maximises the use of limited land while supporting efficient and sustainable urban development.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The student fully addresses all parts of the task by presenting a clear position throughout the response. The introduction establishes a well-defined stance that vertical housing is the most effective solution, which is then maintained consistently. Ideas are thoroughly extended and supported with relevant examples, such as the mention of Singapore in the second paragraph and the comparison between low-rise and high-rise developments in the third. The arguments regarding land scarcity, urban sprawl, and infrastructure efficiency are well-developed and directly answer the prompt. The response meets all the requirements of an upper-band essay, demonstrating a high level of task response without any noticeable omissions.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

Ideas are logically sequenced, and there is a clear overall progression throughout the essay. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, moving smoothly from the introduction to the primary advantage of population capacity, followed by the secondary advantage of sustainable urban development, and concluding with a concise summary. Cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'For example', and 'Another significant advantage' are managed well and used naturally to guide the reader through the argument. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, ensuring the text is structured effectively. Referencing and substitution are handled skillfully, resulting in a cohesive piece of writing that reads very fluently.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

The student demonstrates a wide, fluent, and flexible lexical resource that is well-suited to an academic context. Less common vocabulary items and collocations are used skillfully throughout the essay, including phrases like 'adequate accommodation', 'increasingly scarce urban land', 'densely populated areas', and 'sustainable urban development'. Word choices are precise, and there are only occasional minor inaccuracies, which do not impede communication. The vocabulary allows the writer to convey precise meanings smoothly and effectively, showing good control over style and register appropriate for an Academic Writing Task 2 response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The response features a wide range of complex grammatical structures, such as conditional and concessive clauses ('Although some people may prefer...', 'As land in major cities becomes...'). The majority of sentences are error-free, and the writer demonstrates excellent control of grammar and punctuation. Complex structures are handled with high accuracy, and any errors are extremely rare and non-systematic. Punctuation is used correctly to demarcate clauses and items in lists, supporting the readability of the text. This performance aligns comfortably with the descriptors for a high band in grammatical range and accuracy.

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

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