Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

it is widely contended fact of jet set age that whether building vertical buildings in the cities is the best solution to build more and more houses or not. From my vintage point I do partially accord with the given school of thought. Which upcoming paragraphs cast a light on.

on the outset, there are multifarious benefits of tall buildings first add for most vertical welding cities means high-rise buildings which can accommodate a large number of people population is growing . It is estimated that by 2050 more than 70% so I think it is very beneficial to build vertical buildings in cities. Apart from it in this presence scenario due to the work alcoholism most of the people live far away from their cities or from their houses so due to this, there are nuclear families so I think vertical buildings are more preferable than low buildings

in addition to this, constructing tall buildings alone cannot completely solve the housing problem. A large concentration of residents can put considerable pressure on public services and infrastructure. Roads, public transport, water supplies, schools and hospitals need to be developed alongside residential buildings. Moreover, some high-rise apartments are expensive, meaning that they may be unaffordable for low-income families. For example, luxury apartments in major cities may provide additional housing but do little to help people who cannot afford high property prices.

To recapitulate , agglomerating all the points mentioned above I would like to reiterate that I do partially accord with the given viewpoint.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response addresses the prompt by discussing the extent to which building tall apartment blocks solves urban housing shortages, presenting a partial agreement. The writer covers both the benefits, such as high-density accommodation for growing populations, and the drawbacks, including infrastructure strain and affordability issues. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited and repetitive in places, particularly in the second paragraph where the argument about nuclear families lacks clear explanation and connection to the core topic. The position is stated, though phrasing is slightly unusual. Overall, the content aligns with Band 6 because it addresses all parts of the task and presents relevant ideas, but some points are under-developed or unclear.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The text demonstrates a coherent overall arrangement with a clear introduction, body paragraphs addressing different angles, and a concluding summary. Paragraphing is attempted, though formatting and spacing are slightly irregular. Cohesive devices are employed, such as 'in addition to this', 'moreover', and 'to recapitulate', but referencing and linking are sometimes mechanical or awkward, as seen in 'Which upcoming paragraphs cast a light on.' There are also issues with punctuation and sentence boundaries, which occasionally disrupt the smooth progression of ideas. Nevertheless, the logical flow is sufficient to guide the reader through the argument, earning a Band 6.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The student attempts a range of vocabulary, including less common phrases like 'multifarious benefits', 'agglomerating', and 'vintage point'. However, there are numerous inappropriate word choices and collocations that detract from precision, such as 'work alcoholism' instead of 'work commitments' or long commutes, and 'vertical welding cities' instead of 'vertical buildings in cities'. Spelling errors and awkward phrasing are noticeable throughout the response, such as 'accord' instead of 'agree' and 'presence scenario' instead of 'present scenario'. While communication is maintained despite these errors, the lexical control is inconsistent, fitting the Band 5 descriptors well.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but control over grammar and punctuation is weak. There are frequent errors in sentence construction, run-on sentences, and missing punctuation marks, particularly in the opening and second paragraphs (e.g., 'it is widely contended fact...'). Relative clauses and introductory phrases are frequently mishandled, such as 'Which upcoming paragraphs cast a light on.' While the writer does produce some comprehensible complex sentences, the frequency of grammatical errors and punctuation lapses causes difficulty for the reader at times, placing the performance firmly at Band 5.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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