Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

Building apartmentsis a reliable way to facilitate citizens growing in the big cities. In my opinion, the statement is entirely agreeable and it should be kept in view while planning the infrastructure of the bigger states in any country. However, with this plan comes the responsibility of the strength and reliability of the structure and building material.

First things first, most of the urban areas are populated with people seeking employment opportunities and a place to live. With the new sense of independence, teenagers, as soon as they hit 18, they tend to relocate to a place with better job offers. So, the apartments provide with the adequate environment as they can be managed, cleaned, approached easily.

Not only this, the lucid approach of saving space by high rise towers is more advantageous. For instance, 10 peoples living in separate homes takes more space, than an average of persons living in a 10 story tower with separate apartments.

With all of this , there's a massive responsibilty on the shoulders of the government. The skyscrapers and taller buildiing need authenticity in regards of security, management, and quality of the equipment. A well planned city demands loyal service providers who are concerned with the people and their safety.

In conclusion, the towers or multi-story infrastructure is more beneficial in metropolitan areas when it comes to employees and students. However the aspect of their safety should not be ignored. Architects and builders should follow all the rules and utilize the quality methods, so sustainability can be achieved.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The student addresses all parts of the prompt, clearly stating an opinion that tall apartment blocks are the best solution for housing shortages in large cities. The position is maintained throughout the essay. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited and lacks depth in places. For example, the argument regarding teenagers relocating at 18 is slightly tangential, and the examples provided in the third paragraph, such as comparing ten people in separate homes versus a ten-story tower, are simplistic and lack statistical or realistic grounding. While the core message is conveyed and the task is adequately responded to, the supporting arguments require better extension and more rigorous reasoning to reach a higher band. Consequently, a band score of 6.0 is appropriate.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response demonstrates an overall coherent arrangement with a clear attempt to structure the essay into an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used reasonably well, and basic cohesive devices such as 'First things first,' 'Not only this,' and 'In conclusion' are employed to guide the reader. However, some of these transitions feel somewhat mechanical and informal. Furthermore, referencing is occasionally unclear, as seen in the phrasing 'an average of persons living in a 10 story tower,' which muddies the logical progression of the comparison. While the overall logical flow is maintained, these minor issues with cohesion and referencing limit the score to a 6.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The student displays an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully attempting less common items such as 'metropolitan areas,' 'infrastructure,' and 'sustainability.' However, there are notable limitations and inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For instance, phrases like 'citizens growing in the big cities' sound unnatural, and 'quality methods' is an awkward collocation. Spelling is generally acceptable, but minor lexical slips, such as 'buildiing' and missing spaces like 'apartmentsis,' reveal a lack of precise control. Because the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the message despite these noticeable inaccuracies, a band score of 6.0 is well-deserved.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The writer uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating some control over grammar. Examples of complex structures include concessive clauses ('However, with this plan comes the responsibility...') and conditional ideas. However, the text contains several grammatical errors and awkward phrasings. A notable error occurs in the second paragraph: 'teenagers, as soon as they hit 18, they tend to relocate,' which exhibits a redundant subject pronoun. Other issues include preposition and article slips, such as 'provide with the adequate environment' and 'taller buildiing need authenticity.' Although these errors do not impede overall communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent the essay from reaching a Band 7. Therefore, a band score of 6.0 is awarded.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.