Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-22

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)

Nowadays, providing enough houses in large cities has became a serious issue because the population is growing very fast. Some people believe that constructing tall apartment blocks is the most effective solution for this problem. I mostly agree with this statement because high buildings can accommodate many residents in a limited land, although it also create several social and environmental problems.

The main reason for building tall apartments is that they saves a huge amount of space. In major cities, land is very expensive and there are not enough empty areas for constructing individual houses. If every family has their own separate home, the city will spread outside and agricultural land may be destroyed. For example, in cities such as Karachi and Lahore, population are increasing rapidly and thousands of peoples need accommodation every year. Therefore, vertical buildings can provide homes for a large quantity of families on a relatively small piece of land. It is a pragmatic and economical solution for government.

Another advantage is that apartment blocks can be built near public transport, hospitals, schools and workplaces. This reduce travelling time and people does not need to live far away from the city centre. Moreover, providing electricity, water and security to one building is more easier than supplying these facilities to hundreds of separate homes. As a result, tall apartments can improve urban efficiency and decrease the financial burden on authorities.

However, there is also many disadvantages. High-rise buildings can become overcrowded and residents may not have enough privacy or outdoor spaces. Children living on upper floors cannot easily play outside, which negatively affect their physical health. Furthermore, if the lift stop working or a fire occur, it can be extremely dangerous for the people. Tall buildings also makes cities look congested and sometimes causes traffic problems around them.

In conclusion, I agree that tall apartment blocks is one of the best way to provide enough homes in large cities because they use land efficiently and accommodate more people. Nevertheless, governments should ensure that these buildings has proper safety systems, green areas and essential facilities so residents can live comfortable.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, taking a clear and well-developed position that mostly agrees with the statement. The writer extends relevant ideas throughout, such as space-saving, economic advantages, urban efficiency, and the corresponding social and environmental drawbacks like overcrowding and safety concerns. Examples from real-world contexts like Karachi and Lahore are used effectively to support the arguments. Although the position is somewhat nuanced by acknowledging both pros and cons, the overall stance remains consistent. The task is fully addressed, demonstrating solid development of ideas which aligns well with the requirements for a 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 the economic benefits, infrastructure advantages, and finally the drawbacks before concluding. Cohesive devices are used appropriately, such as 'The main reason', 'Another advantage', 'However', and 'In conclusion'. Paragraphing is well-managed and logical. However, referencing and transitional links are occasionally a bit mechanical rather than fully flexible, which keeps the score at a solid Band 7.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary with some flexibility and precision, using appropriate topic-specific terms such as 'accommodate', 'pragmatic', 'infrastructural burden', and 'overcrowded'. There are occasional lexical and collocation errors, such as 'has became' (tense/form), 'a large quantity of families' instead of 'number', and 'more easier' (double comparative). Despite these minor inaccuracies, the vocabulary is adequate to convey precise meanings without impeding communication, representing a standard Band 6.5 performance.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay features a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including conditional structures ('If every family has...') and relative clauses. There is a frequent presence of error-free sentences, but several grammatical errors persist, such as 'population are increasing' (subject-verb agreement), 'people does not need' (plural/singular mismatch), 'the lift stop working' (omission of 's'), and 'these buildings has' (agreement error). Punctuation is generally fine, but basic grammatical slips keep the control just below the Band 7 threshold, making Band 6.5 an accurate reflection.

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