Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-19

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)

In recent decades, metropolitan areas worldwide have faced unprecedented population growth, leading to an acute land scarcity and a crisis in affordable housing. While I agree that constructing high-rise residential blocks is an essential strategy to optimize limited urban space, I argue that it is not a standalone solution and must be integrated with transit-oriented developments and satellite towns to ensure long-term livability.On the one hand, expanding vertically is an indispensable method for combating severe spatial constraints in congested urban centers. Traditional horizontal expansion is no longer sustainable where available land is either depleted or prohibitively expensive. By building upward rather than outward, a single high-rise tower can comfortably accommodate hundreds of families on a fraction of the geographical footprint that individual houses would require. For instance, megacities like Singapore and Hong Kong have successfully averted catastrophic housing shortages almost exclusively by prioritizing high-density, vertical developments, thereby preventing destructive urban sprawl into surrounding green spaces.On the other hand, relying solely on tall apartment blocks without holistic urban planning can result in severe infrastructure strain and diminished quality of life. High-density zones often suffer from severe traffic congestion, overwhelmed sewage systems, and a lack of community spaces. Therefore, the "best" approach must combine vertical architecture with Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) and mixed-use infrastructure. This means constructing residential towers directly adjacent to mass transit hubs and integrating grocery stores, clinics, and workspaces within the lower floors. Furthermore, governments should invest in developing satellite towns connected by high-speed rail networks, dispersing the population weight away from the primary city center.In conclusion, while building high-rise apartments is a highly effective and necessary response to meet the surging housing demand, it cannot be considered the single best solution in isolation. A truly successful urban strategy must pair vertical architecture with smart transit integration and regional decentralization to create functional, sustainable cities.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

You have fully addressed all parts of the prompt by taking a nuanced position that high-rise apartments are essential but insufficient on their own. Your stance is clear throughout the response, starting from the introduction and maintained across the body paragraphs and conclusion. Your ideas are well-developed and supported with relevant examples, such as mentioning Singapore and Hong Kong to illustrate the successful implementation of vertical density. Furthermore, you effectively extend your arguments by discussing the limitations of high-rises—such as infrastructure strain—and offering counter-solutions like transit-oriented developments and satellite towns. This meets the criteria for Band 8.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

Your essay displays a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. You have used paragraphing effectively, with each paragraph having a distinct focus: introduction, arguments for tall blocks, arguments against and alternative solutions, and a strong conclusion. Cohesive devices are used flexibly and naturally, such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', 'Therefore', and 'Furthermore'. Referencing is clear and your ideas flow smoothly from one sentence to the next without causing any confusion for the reader. This corresponds to a solid Band 7.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient and flexible range of vocabulary that allows for precise expression. You successfully use less common academic lexical items and collocations, such as 'unprecedented population growth', 'acute land scarcity', 'transit-oriented developments', 'geographical footprint', and 'regional decentralization'. Word choice is generally accurate and natural, with only occasional minor stylistic slips. The vocabulary is well-suited to an academic essay of this nature, demonstrating good control over nuance and collocation, which firmly places your performance at Band 7.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

You utilise a wide variety of complex sentence structures with a high degree of flexibility and accuracy. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and you demonstrate excellent control over subordination, relative clauses, and participial phrases (e.g., 'By building upward rather than outward, a single high-rise tower can comfortably accommodate...'). Grammar and punctuation are handled with precision throughout the text, with only very occasional, minor slips that do not impede communication in any way. This high level of structural accuracy and variety merits a Band 8.

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