Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-16

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 6.0)

Nowadays, many large cities have a problem because there is not enough housing for everyone. Some people think building tall apartment blocks is the best way to solve this problem. I agree with this idea because it can give homes to many people, but it also have some bad points.

One reason is that tall apartment buildings can house many people in one place. In big cities, there is not much land, so building tall buildings is better than building many houses. For example, one apartment block can house many families, but the same land can only build a few houses. This can help many people who need a place to live, and it is a good way to solve this problem.

Another reason is that people in apartment blocks are close to schools, hospitals and shopping centres. This make life easier because people do not need to travel far every day. Also, it is easier for the government to give public services because many people live in one area. This is good for people and also good for the city.

However, there are also some disadvantages. Living in tall apartment blocks can be noisy and crowded. People may not have enough privacy, and children have less places to play. Some people also do not like living in a small apartment because it is not comfortable. If too many apartment blocks are build, the city can become more polluted and there may have more traffic. This can make life more difficult for people.

In conclusion, I agree that building tall apartment blocks is a good way to solve the housing problem because it can help many people and save land. However, the government should also build more parks and improve public services, so people can live a better life.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the task by presenting a clear position on whether tall apartment blocks are the best way to provide housing. The writer outlines both the advantages, such as saving land and proximity to services, and the disadvantages, including noise, crowding, and pollution. Ideas are generally well-supported with relevant explanations, such as comparing the footprint of houses versus apartment blocks. However, the development of some points remains a bit simplistic and leans slightly towards over-generalisation. For instance, the discussion on traffic and pollution lacks depth. Nevertheless, the position is maintained throughout, satisfying the requirements for a Band 6.5 or solid Band 6 performance. Overall, the task is answered satisfactorily.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay has a clear overall arrangement with a logical progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus: an introduction, two body paragraphs supporting the view, a concession paragraph discussing disadvantages, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices are used adequately, such as 'One reason', 'Another reason', 'However', and 'In conclusion'. However, referencing and transitions are sometimes a bit mechanical. For example, starting consecutive body paragraphs with 'One reason is that' and 'Another reason is that' highlights a formulaic approach to cohesion. Paragraphing is used appropriately, but the overall mechanical nature of the linking devices keeps this criterion at the Band 6 level.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully communicating ideas about urban housing, public services, and disadvantages like pollution and traffic. Words and phrases like 'housing problem', 'public services', 'disadvantages', and 'polluted' are used accurately. However, the lexical range is somewhat limited and repetitive, relying on everyday terms ('bad points', 'good way', 'many people') rather than attempting a wider array of less common or sophisticated lexical items. There are no major spelling errors, but the vocabulary choices remain simple and safe, which firmly places this performance in the Band 6 category.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The student demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing relative clauses and conditional structures successfully (e.g., 'If too many apartment blocks are build, the city can become more polluted...'). However, there are noticeable grammatical errors and awkward phrasing throughout the text. For instance, the subject-verb agreement error 'it also have some bad points', the verb form error 'are build' instead of 'are built', and the existential error 'there may have more traffic' instead of 'there may be more traffic'. While these errors do not impede communication, their frequency prevents the writing from reaching a higher band score.

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

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