Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-18

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)

As the population of major cities continues to grow, providing sufficient housing has become an increasingly important challenge. Some people argue that constructing tall apartment blocks is the most effective solution because they can accomodate large number of residents in a relatively small area. I largely agree with this view, although I believe that high-rise housing should be combined with other forms of urban development.

On the one hand, building vertically is an efficient way of dealing with limited land in densely populated cities. Tall residential buildings can provide accommodation for hundreds of families without requiring large areas of land. This is particularly important in cities where available land is scarce and property prices are high. By making better use of existing urban space, governments can increase the housing supply while reducing the need to expand cities into surrounding rural areas. For example, cities such as Singapore and Hong Kong have made extensive use of high-rise residential buildings to accommodate their large populations despite having limited land.

On the other hand, relying extensively on tall apartment blocks can create several problems. If high-rise developments are constructed too rapidly without appropriate planning, they may place considerable pressure on public services and infrastructure. Schools, hospitals, roads and public transport systems may become overcrowded, while residents may also have limited access to parks and other open spaces. Furthermore, some people prefer houses with private outdoor areas, particularly families with younger children, and therefore high-rise appartments may not meet the needs of every section of the population. Consequently, housing policies should also include medium-rise developments, affordable suburban housing and redevelopment of underused urban areas.

In my opinion, tall appartment blocks are one of the most practical ways to increase the supply of homes in large cities, especially where land is expensive and population density is already high. However, they should not br regarded as the sole solution. A successful housing strategu should balance vertical development with adequate green spaces, reliable infrastructure and variety of housing options. This would allow cities to accommodate population growth without compromising residents quality of life.

In conclusion, constructing tall apartment buildings can provide a large amount of housing while making efficient use of limited urban land. Nevertheless, I believe that the best long-term approach is to combine high-rise construction with other carefully planned forms of residential development

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The student presents a well-developed and clear position throughout the response. All parts of the prompt are addressed effectively, balancing the benefits of high-rise apartment blocks with potential drawbacks such as infrastructure strain and lifestyle preferences. Ideas are well-supported with relevant examples, such as citing Singapore and Hong Kong to illustrate efficient land use. The writer adopts a nuanced perspective, agreeing with the statement while usefully arguing for a mixed approach to urban development. This fully meets the criteria for Band 7.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay displays a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, moving smoothly from the introduction to supporting arguments, counter-arguments, and a balanced conclusion. Cohesive devices are used flexibly and appropriately, with good signposting phrases such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'In my opinion'. Paragraphing is handled skilfully, ensuring the text flows naturally from start to finish without any noticeable confusion in referencing or cohesion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary with good flexibility and precision. Less common lexical items are used effectively, such as 'densely populated', 'infrastructure', 'urban development', and 'population density'. There are some minor spelling slips, such as 'accomodate' and 'appartment', as well as a typographical error like 'br' instead of 'be' and 'strategu', but these do not impede communication. The writer shows an awareness of style and collocation suitable for an academic task.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay features a good variety of complex sentence structures, including conditional and concessive clauses such as 'As the population of major cities continues to grow...' and 'If high-rise developments are constructed too rapidly...'. There are frequent error-free sentences, demonstrating good control of grammar and punctuation. While minor typographical and lexical errors exist, grammatical accuracy is generally high across a range of complex forms, comfortably placing this response in the Band 7 category.

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