Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-20

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)

The most effective method to ensure sufficient housing in major cities is to construct tall residential buildings. I believe that these apartments can be a key to eradicating housing issues but they tend to be vulnerable to extreme weather conditions.

Tall residential buildings can house significantly more people than a typical bungalow over the same ground area. The apartments can have various floors stacked on top of each other to provide homes for multiple families, hence taking up less space. In contrast, multiple bungalows would have to be laid out in order to provide residence for the same amount of people, eventually requiring a huge area. For instance, a recent study concluded that apartment blocks have the capability to house nearly 10 times the number of people compared to an ordinary cottage or bungalow.

On the other hand, tall apartments can usually be risky during severe weather conditions, since they don't usually have safe evacuation channels and have to seek external help from the authorities. Meanwhile, stand-alone bungalows and cottages have a basement installed in the facility, which can be used to evacuate during hurricanes and tornadoes without requiring external support. Similarly, earthquakes and thunderstorms can prove to be more deadly for tall buildings than a single-storey house. Tall buildings tend to have a weaker structural balance and can collapse relatively easily in the face of an earthquake. As for thunderstorms, tall apartments are closer to the clouds and hence are more prone to being struck by lightning. This has remained a topic of interest among researchers and engineers in this domain.

To conclude, even though the building of tall apartments remains the most ideal way to overcome residential issues in certain cities, it can put the livelihood of its people at risk.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses the prompt by discussing whether tall apartment blocks are the best way to provide housing in large cities, presenting a clear position throughout. The writer supports their argument with reasons regarding space efficiency and counter-arguments concerning weather vulnerabilities and structural safety. For instance, the comparison between housing multiple families versus spreading out bungalows is well-illustrated. However, some arguments, such as tall buildings being 'closer to the clouds and hence more prone to being struck by lightning,' are slightly under-developed or scientifically weak, pushing the task response into the Band 7 territory where ideas are presented and supported, though with some minor over-generalisation.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct focus: introduction, space-saving advantages, weather/safety disadvantages, and a concise conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'In contrast,' 'On the other hand,' and 'Similarly' are used effectively to signal shifts in argument. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, guiding the reader smoothly from the pros of high-rise living to the cons. Referencing is clear and appropriate, earning a solid Band 7 for maintaining logical cohesion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student uses a sufficient range of vocabulary with some flexibility and precision, such as 'sufficient housing,' 'vulnerable to extreme weather conditions,' and 'structural balance.' There are successful attempts at less common items, including 'eradicated housing issues' and 'evacuation channels.' While there are occasional minor inaccuracies in word choice or collocation—such as stating that tall buildings are closer to the clouds—the vocabulary is more than adequate to convey precise meanings without impeding communication, comfortably meeting the Band 7 descriptors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The writer demonstrates a good variety of complex structures alongside simple forms, such as conditional or concessive clauses ('even though the building of tall apartments remains...'). There are frequent error-free sentences, and the overall control of grammar and punctuation is strong. Minor issues, such as the pronoun reference in 'risk the livelihood of its people' (where 'its' refers back to 'apartments' rather smoothly), do not impede communication. The control over complex syntax places this response firmly at Band 7.

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