Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-26

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 housing in many large cities. Some people argue that the most effective solution is to construct tall apartment blocks. I partly agree with this view because high-rise buildings can accommodate large numbers of people, although other approaches are also necessary.

On the one hand, building tall apartment blocks is an efficient way to use limited land in large cities. As urban populations increase, there is often little available land for traditional houses. High-rise buildings can provide hundreds of homes on a relatively small area of land. This can help reduce urban sprawl and allow people to live closer to workplaces, schools and public transport. For example, instead of developing large residential areas on the outskirts of a city, authorities can construct apartment towers in existing urban areas and make better use of the available space.

Another advantage is that high-rise housing can be developed alongside essential services and infrastructure. When large numbers of people live in one area, it can be more practical to provide public transport, shops and other facilities nearby. This may reduce people's dependence on private cars and shorten commuting times. Therefore, well-planned apartment blocks can contribute to more efficient and sustainable cities.

To sum up, constructing tall apartment blocks is an effective way to increase the supply of housing while making efficient use of limited urban land. Nevertheless, it should be combined with other types of housing and careful urban planning. In my view, mixture of different housing is best option, which can get more practical

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response successfully addresses all parts of the task by presenting a clear position and supporting it with relevant arguments. In the introduction, you state that you 'partly agree' because high-rise buildings accommodate large populations while other approaches remain necessary. Body paragraph one logically explains how high-rise buildings save land and reduce urban sprawl, offering a helpful example regarding city outskirts. Body paragraph two explores infrastructure and transport advantages. The conclusion restates your stance and brings in the idea of combining different housing types. Although the final sentence trails off slightly with minor truncation ('mixture of different housing is best option, which can get more practical'), your core position is sustained and fully developed throughout the essay. This performance strongly aligns with a Band 7 descriptor.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

Your essay demonstrates a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. You utilise logical signposts effectively, such as 'On the one hand' and 'Another advantage is', guiding the reader smoothly from one point to the next. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, with each paragraph focusing on a distinct central topic—introduction, land efficiency, infrastructure benefits, and conclusion. Cohesive devices are deployed without being overly mechanical, though referencing could occasionally be tighter. The overall structure follows a standard, effective academic essay format which secures a solid Band 7 rating.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary that allows for some flexibility and precision, employing terms such as 'urban sprawl', 'dependence on private cars', and 'essential services and infrastructure'. There are occasional lapses in word choice and collocation, notably in the final sentence where you write 'mixture of different housing is best option, which can get more practical', missing a determiner and using less precise phrasing. However, your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task and allows you to communicate your ideas clearly and effectively. These qualities correspond well with the Band 6.5 or Band 7 criteria, leaning comfortably into a Band 6.5 descriptor for occasional lexical inaccuracies.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The response features a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including conditional or participial clauses like 'When large numbers of people live in one area, it can be more practical to provide...' and 'instead of developing large residential areas...'. You demonstrate reasonable control over punctuation and sentence boundaries. However, there are noticeable grammatical errors, particularly omission of articles (e.g., 'In my view, mixture of different housing is best option') and minor awkwardness near the end of the text. Because these errors do not impede communication and you maintain a reasonable frequency of error-free sentences, your grammar profile sits firmly at Band 6.5.

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