Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-23

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)

As cities around the world grapple with rising populations and limited land, the idea of constructing high-rise apartment buildings has gained popularity as a housing solution. While I believe tall buildings are an important part of the answer, I do not think they are the only way to provide adequate housing in large cities.

There are strong arguments in favour of high-rise construction. Since urban land is scarce and expensive, building upward allows cities to house far more people on a limited footprint than low-rise developments could. Cities such as Hong Kong and Singapore demonstrate that vertical housing can accommodate millions of residents while preserving space for parks, roads, and commercial districts. Tall buildings also make efficient use of existing infrastructure, since utilities like water, electricity, and public transport can serve many households within a single, centralised location.

However, relying solely on skyscrapers has notable drawbacks. High-rise living can contribute to social isolation, as residents in large towers often have less interaction with neighbours compared to those in smaller, community-oriented developments. Tall buildings are also expensive to construct and maintain, meaning the resulting apartments are not always affordable for lower-income families, who arguably need housing the most. Furthermore, concentrating large numbers of people in a small area can strain local services such as schools, hospitals, and roads if planning is not carefully coordinated.

For these reasons, I believe cities should pursue a mixed approach. This might include a combination of high-rise buildings in central business districts, mid-rise apartments in surrounding neighbourhoods, and well-planned suburban housing connected by efficient public transport. Such diversity would better address the varied needs of different income groups and lifestyles.

In conclusion, while tall apartment blocks offer an efficient solution to land scarcity, they should form part of a broader housing strategy rather than the sole approach to accommodating growing urban populations.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the task by taking a clear and well-developed position on whether tall apartment blocks are the best solution for urban housing. The introduction clearly states your nuanced view that while they are an important part of the solution, they are not the only way. Body paragraph two explores the arguments in favour with specific examples such as Hong Kong and Singapore, demonstrating the efficiency of vertical housing. Body paragraph three outlines relevant drawbacks, including social isolation and high construction costs. Finally, body paragraph four offers a logical and well-supported alternative solution involving a mixed approach. Ideas are well-extended throughout, showing an excellent understanding of the prompts requirements and earning a high band score for this criterion.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

Ideas are logically sequenced and progress naturally from introduction to supporting arguments, counter-arguments, and conclusion. Each paragraph has a clear central topic, such as the advantages in paragraph two and disadvantages in paragraph three. Cohesive devices such as 'While I believe', 'Since urban land', 'However', and 'For these reasons' are used naturally and effectively without being overly mechanical or repetitive. Referencing is clear throughout, and paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct aspects of the discussion. The overall structure provides a seamless reading experience, matching the descriptors for a high band.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.0

The vocabulary used is wide, fluent, and flexible, demonstrating a natural control of lexical features appropriate for an academic task. You successfully incorporate less common and topic-specific vocabulary such as 'grapple with rising populations', 'limited footprint', 'vertical housing', 'centralised location', and 'strain local services'. Word choices and collocations are generally accurate and natural, for instance, 'scarcity and expensive' or 'social isolation'. There are only occasional minor limitations or slips that do not impede communication, placing the response comfortably within the Band 7 range, pushing towards Band 8 with its precise application of urban planning terminology.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.5

The essay displays a wide range of grammatical structures, successfully blending complex sentences with error-free simple forms. You effectively use conditional and participial structures, such as 'While I believe tall buildings are...', 'Since urban land is scarce...', and 'meaning the resulting apartments are not always affordable'. The majority of sentences are grammatically accurate, with excellent control of punctuation and tense consistency. There are only very occasional minor errors or awkward phrasings, which do not interfere with the clear transmission of your ideas. This demonstrates the strong command of grammar expected at this level.

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