Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-17

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)

The rapid urbanization of mordern cities has sparked debate about the most effective housing solutions. While some argue that building tall appartment blocks is the optimal way to supply sufficient homes in larg cities, I partially agree with this view. Although high rises maximize land efficiency, they must be part of a broader, well planned urban strategy to avoid creating overcrowded enivronments.

Undeniably, vertical expansion is a highly practical solution for spatial constraints in major bid cities. By concentrating a large population in a relatively small area, tall apartment complexes preserve valuable land for commercial and recreational use. Cities like Singapore successfully utilize high-rise public housing to accommodate millions, preventing uncontrolled urban sprawl and protecting natural habitats. Furthermore, high-density living makes public transportation more viable and efficient, significantly reducing the carbon footprint associated with long daily commutes.

However, relying exclusively on tall appartment blocks is not a flawless solution. Massive vertical developments often place immense strain on existing infrastructure, such as water supply, sewage and transit networks, If poorly planned, these buildings can become isolated vertical slums with high crime rates and a lack of community spirit. For instance, some poorly managed high rise estates face severe social issues. Additionally, medium density housing, such as low rise apartments, combined with efficient public transit, can often provide a higher quality of life while still achieving necessary urban density.

In conclusion, while tall appartment blocks are a vital tool for housing growth urban populations. The best approach involves a mixed housing strategy that integrates high rises with mid density options, supported by durable infrastructure and thoughtful urban planning.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The student addresses all parts of the task by taking a clear, partial stance on whether tall apartment blocks are the best solution for urban housing. The position is maintained throughout the response. Relevant ideas are presented, such as land efficiency and infrastructure strain, and they are generally extended and supported. For example, the mention of Singapore illustrates how high-rise public housing prevents urban sprawl. However, some arguments could be further developed, such as the brief reference to 'poorly managed high rise estates'. Overall, the response meets the criteria for Band 7 by addressing all parts of the prompt with a clear position and well-extended ideas, despite a slight tendency to over-generalise in places.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, starting with an introduction that outlines the writer's partial agreement, followed by body paragraphs exploring both the benefits and drawbacks of high-rise living, and ending with a concise conclusion. Cohesive devices are used reasonably well, such as 'Undeniably', 'Furthermore', 'However', and 'Additionally', though referencing is occasionally slightly loose. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately to separate distinct aspects of the argument. This fits the Band 7 descriptor for clear logical organisation and progression, where cohesive devices are used with general flexibility.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The student uses a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow some flexibility and precision, incorporating terms like 'urbanization', 'spatial constraints', 'carbon footprint', and 'infrastructure'. There are several spelling errors throughout the text, including 'mordern', 'appartment' (multiple times), 'larg', and 'enivronments'. Despite these occasional spelling and word-choice slips, the vocabulary used is adequate for the task and communication is never impeded. The writer attempts less common lexical items with some awareness of style and collocation, placing this performance solidly at Band 6.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating a decent range of structures such as conditional framing ('If poorly planned, these buildings can become...') and participial phrases ('By concentrating a large population...'). There are some errors in grammar and punctuation, most notably a comma splice in the third paragraph ('...such as water supply, sewage and transit networks, If poorly planned...') and a sentence fragment in the conclusion ('...housing growth urban populations. The best approach involves...'). However, these errors do not impede communication. The majority of sentences are constructed adequately, supporting a Band 6 score for grammatical range and accuracy.

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

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