Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

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

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 rapid growth of urban populations has created a serious shortage of affordable housing in many cities. Some people argue that constructing tall apartment buildings is the most effective way to solve this problem. I partly agree with this opinion because high-rise buildings can provide a large number of homes, but other types of housing are also important.

There are several reasons why tall apartment blocks can be useful. First, they allow cities to accommodate more people without using large areas of land. This is particularly important in crowded cities where available land is limited and expensive. For example, instead of constructing hundreds of separate houses, a city can build a large apartment complex on the same area of land. Second, high-rise buildings can be constructed close to workplaces, schools and public transport. As a result, residents may spend less time travelling and cities can reduce unnecessary urban expansion.

However, building tall apartments also has some disadvantages. A large concentration of people in one area can put pressure on public services, including roads, hospitals and schools. In addition, some residents may find apartment living uncomfortable because they have less privacy and limited outdoor space. Families with children, for instance, may prefer houses with gardens where their children can play safely. For this reason, governments should also develop affordable houses and medium-sized residential buildings in suitable suburban areas.

In conclusion, I believe that tall apartment blocks are an effective way to deal with housing shortages, especially in areas where land is scarce. However, they should not be the only solution. A combination of high-rise apartments, medium-rise buildings and suburban housing would provide more suitable accommodation for different groups of people.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the task thoroughly, presenting a clear and well-developed position from the introduction through to the conclusion. The writer explains both sides of the argument logically, noting the advantages of tall apartment blocks such as land conservation and proximity to workplaces, while also acknowledging disadvantages like strain on public infrastructure and a lack of privacy. Ideas are well-supported with relevant examples, such as families preferring houses with gardens. The position is maintained consistently throughout the essay, meeting the criteria for a strong Band 7.0 performance.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a clear logical organization and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, starting with an introduction that outlines the writer's stance, followed by well-sequenced body paragraphs and a concise conclusion. Cohesive devices are used effectively to link ideas, as seen with phrases like 'First', 'Second', 'In addition', and 'For example'. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different arguments. While the cohesion is generally smooth and functional, it occasionally relies on standard structural markers rather than entirely sophisticated links, comfortably securing a Band 7.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student displays a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow for flexibility and precision. Terms such as 'rapid growth', 'urban populations', 'affordable housing', and 'unnecessary urban expansion' demonstrate a good control of topic-specific language. There are also successful attempts at less common items like 'accommodate', 'concentrate', and 'scarce'. Word choice is generally appropriate with minor collocation awareness, although the vocabulary does not consistently reach the sophisticated or nuanced levels required for a Band 8.0. Spelling and word formation are entirely accurate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The writer employs a good mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating frequent error-free sentences and solid control of grammar and punctuation. Complex structures are handled competently, as seen in conditional and dependent clause usage such as 'This is particularly important in crowded cities where available land is limited and expensive.' Punctuation is accurate, and sentences flow naturally. While the grammatical range is varied and effective, the presence of slightly standard syntactic patterns prevents it from reaching the higher bandwidth of frequent sophisticated structures found in Band 8.

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.