Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-25

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 5.5)

Home is where love resides, memories are created. In recent years, there has been a debate about where people say the most efficient way to create sufficient homes in large cities is to construct tall apartment blocks. While I agree with this statement to some extent, I believe that building normal houses in some places is equally important. Therefore, I partially agree with this statement.

On the one hand, there are several valid reasons to support this view. Firstly, to provide enough homes for people who live or want to live in cities, the best way is to build tall buildings. This means that many families will live in a single apartment block. As a result, we get enough space and this will avoid people having to buy land first. For example, an employee who works in a company located in a large city will need a place to stay. Instead of buying land and constructing a house, they can choose these kinds of apartments. Furthermore, in this way, spaces can be used efficiently, which strengthens the argument.

On the other hand, this argument is not entirely convincing. One major issue is that it is really expensive, especially in big cities. This can lead to financial struggles for those who earn less. For instance, this will be more of a burden to middle-class people and they may face financial issues. Additionally, building these kinds of tall apartments is also dangerous to the environment. If the land is not suitable for tall buildings, people should not build tall apartments even in city areas, which suggests that the opposite view also holds merit.

In conclusion, while I agree that building tall apartment blocks can provide enough homes to some extent, I believe that it also has notable disadvantages to consider. Therefore, I partially agree with the statement.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The candidate addresses all parts of the task by presenting a clear position on whether tall apartment blocks are the best way to provide housing in large cities. The introduction and conclusion clearly state a partial agreement, and both body paragraphs present relevant supporting ideas. For example, the first body paragraph argues that tall buildings accommodate many families and save land space, while the second body paragraph introduces counter-arguments regarding financial costs and environmental suitability. However, some of the ideas remain somewhat under-developed and general, lacking deeper exploration of urban planning principles or specific empirical evidence. Despite this, the main prompt requirements are adequately fulfilled, aligning well with the expectations of a Band 6.0 descriptor.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response exhibits a coherent overall arrangement with clear paragraphing, separating the introduction, two body paragraphs, and the conclusion appropriately. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', 'Firstly', and 'As a result' are used to structure the text logically, although some transitions feel slightly formulaic or mechanical. Referencing is generally clear, though certain links between sentences could be smoother to enhance the overall flow. The progression of ideas moves reasonably from supporting the statement to challenging it, which satisfies the requirements for a Band 6.0.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, allowing the student to communicate their ideas clearly. There are attempts to use less common vocabulary and phrases, such as 'efficiently', 'financial struggles', and 'environmental suitability'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'building normal houses' instead of 'low-rise housing' or 'conventional houses', and 'tall apartments is also dangerous to the environment'. Spelling and word formation are generally accurate, and errors do not impede communication, placing the response comfortably at Band 6.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The candidate demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing structures like conditional and subordinate clauses (e.g., 'If the land is not suitable for tall buildings, people should not build tall apartments...'). There are several error-free sentences, but errors in grammar and punctuation do occur, such as comma splices or slightly awkward phrasing in the opening hook ('Home is where love resides, memories are created.'). Nevertheless, these errors are relatively minor and rarely impede overall communication, reflecting the characteristics of a Band 6.0 performance.

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