Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-29

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)

In big cities today, there is a major problem with finding enough homes for the growing population. In my opinion, I completely agree that building tall apartment blocks is the absolute best solution to solve this housing shortage because it saves limited land and allows people to live near their jobs.

First of all, the main reason why tall buildings are the best option is that they save a lot of space. In large cities, land is very scarce and extremely expensive. If governments build small, single houses, cities will spread too far into nature, which destroys fields and forests. For example, in crowded cities like Singapore and Tokyo, millions of people live in high apartments. By building upwards instead of outwards, city planners can protect the environment while still providing homes for thousands of families on a single piece of land.

Secondly, living in tall apartment blocks is highly convenient for citizens. When people live in high-rise buildings in the city center, they are very close to employment hubs, schools, and hospitals. This means they do not have to travel long distances from suburban areas every day. They can easily walk, cycle, or use public buses and trains to get to work. As a result, this reduces traffic jams on the roads and lowers air pollution because fewer people need to drive cars.

In conclusion, I fully agree that constructing tall residential buildings is the most effective way to provide enough housing in crowded cities. It is the most practical choice because it prevents cities from spreading too wide and keeps people close to essential city services.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt by taking a clear and well-developed position in agreement with the statement. The student establishes a clear stance in the introduction and maintains it consistently throughout the essay. Ideas are extended and well supported with relevant examples, such as referencing the land management practices of Singapore and Tokyo. The arguments regarding land scarcity and proximity to employment hubs are logical and directly answer the question of whether tall apartment blocks are the best way to provide housing. The response meets all task requirements successfully, earning a solid Band 7.0 for Task Achievement.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, starting with an introductory thesis, followed by two well-structured body paragraphs addressing space-saving and convenience, and concluding with a concise summary. Cohesive devices such as 'First of all', 'Secondly', and 'As a result' are used effectively to guide the reader through the arguments. Paragraphing is used appropriately and logically. While some cohesive phrasing is straightforward, the overall arrangement is coherent, earning a Band 7.0 for Coherence and Cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The student uses a sufficient range of vocabulary with adequate flexibility and precision for the task. Appropriate academic and topic-specific terms are integrated smoothly, such as 'housing shortage', 'scarce', 'employment hubs', and 'suburban areas'. There are also successful attempts at less common lexical items like 'environment' and 'air pollution'. Minor limitations in word choice or collocation prevent a higher score, but the vocabulary is precise enough to convey meaning clearly without communication being impeded. This performance aligns well with the Band 6.5 descriptors, which is best represented here as a Band 6.5.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The essay exhibits a good mix of simple and complex sentence forms. The writer demonstrates control over complex structures, such as conditional and subordinate clauses (e.g., 'If governments build small, single houses, cities will spread too far into nature'). Punctuation and grammar are generally well controlled, and the majority of sentences are grammatically accurate. Although there are occasional minor flaws, they never impede communication and are typical of a strong performance in this category. The grammatical range and accuracy meet the criteria for a Band 7.0.

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