Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)

Rapid urbanization has exacerbated housing shortages in major metropolitan areas, sparking debate over the most effective solutions. While constructing high-rise residential towers is often viewed as the primary method to address this crisis, I only partially agree with this view. Although vertical development maximizes land efficiency, a balanced urban strategy requiring varied housing models and improved infrastructure is necessary to ensure sustainable living standards.

On the one hand, high-rise apartment complexes offer an efficient response to severe land scarcity in densely populated cities. By expanding vertically rather than horizontally, high-rises accommodate thousands of residents on a relatively small footprint. This density makes public utilities and transportation networks vastly more cost-effective to deploy, as infrastructure does not need to stretch across vast geographic distances. Cities like Singapore and Tokyo demonstrate how high-density tower blocks can successfully house millions while preventing urban sprawl and preserving adjacent natural green spaces.

On the other hand, relying exclusively on tall apartment buildings creates significant social, architectural, and financial drawbacks. High-rise construction requires specialized engineering, premium materials, and heavy ongoing maintenance, which frequently drives up housing costs rather than making homes affordable for low-income residents. Furthermore, dense high-rise developments can put immense strain on local services, causing severe traffic congestion and overwhelming public utilities if not carefully integrated. Socially, high-rise living often fosters isolation, offering fewer communal areas compared to traditional mid-rise or mixed-use neighborhoods.

To effectively solve the housing shortage, municipalities should adopt a multifaceted urban planning model. Developing medium-density housing such as townhouses and four-to-six-story apartment buildings provides a sustainable balance between land efficiency and liveability. Additionally, investing in high-speed public transit to link suburban satellite towns with city centers enables governments to distribute populations more evenly, alleviating the pressure on central urban cores without forcing high-density vertical living on everyone.

In conclusion, while high-rise apartment blocks play a vital role in optimizing land use in overcrowded cities, they are not a standalone solution. A comprehensive strategy that combines vertical construction with medium-density housing and regional infrastructure development is far more effective in delivering sufficient, liveable homes.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the task by presenting a clear, well-developed position on whether tall apartment blocks are the best way to provide enough homes in large cities. The writer introduces a nuanced stance in the introduction ('I only partially agree with this view') and sustains this position throughout the essay. Main ideas are well supported by relevant examples and logical reasoning. For instance, the discussion on Singapore and Tokyo effectively illustrates the benefits of vertical growth, while the counterarguments regarding infrastructure strain and social isolation provide a balanced counterpoint. The ideas are extended and supported with appropriate depth, meeting the criteria for a high band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

Ideas are logically sequenced, and there is a clear overall progression throughout the essay. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, starting with a clear introduction, followed by well-defined body paragraphs ('On the one hand', 'On the other hand', 'To effectively solve'), and concluding with an effective summary. Cohesive devices are used naturally and flexibly, such as 'By expanding vertically rather than horizontally' and 'Additionally, investing in high-speed public transit'. Paragraphing is used skillfully and appropriately to structure the argument, ensuring that the relationships between ideas are always transparent and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

The student demonstrates a wide, fluent, and flexible range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic context. Less common lexical items are used skillfully and with good awareness of collocation and style, such as 'rapid urbanization', 'land efficiency', 'urban sprawl', and 'multifaceted urban planning model'. Word choice is precise throughout, as seen in phrases like 'severe land scarcity' and 'alleviating the pressure'. There are only occasional minor inaccuracies or slips, which do not detract from the high quality of the vocabulary deployed, easily satisfying the requirements for a Band 8.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The writer utilizes a wide range of complex grammatical structures with a high degree of flexibility and accuracy. Sentences such as 'Although vertical development maximizes land efficiency, a balanced urban strategy requiring varied housing models and improved infrastructure is necessary to ensure sustainable living standards' showcase a strong command of subordinate clauses and participial phrases. The majority of sentences are completely error-free, with only very occasional minor slips in punctuation or collocation that never impede communication. Control over grammar and punctuation is consistently maintained from the introduction to the conclusion.

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