Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

Providing adequate housing has become a major challenge in many large cities. I largely agree that constructing tall apartment blocks is an effective way to address this issue, although other forms of housing should also be considered.

Tall apartment blocks can make efficient use of limited land because many families can live in the same building. This reduces the need for cities to expand into surrounding areas. As a result, a growing urban population can be accommodated without requiring large amounts of additional land.

Another advantage is that high-rise buildings can provide housing for a large number of people. Since these buildings contain many floors and individual apartments, hundreds of residents can live in a relatively small area. For example, a 20-storey residential building may contain hundreds of housing units. Therefore, constructing apartment blocks can help reduce housing shortages in densely populated cities. However, high-rise buildings should not be considered the only solution, as some people may prefer houses in less crowded areas.

In conclusion, tall apartment blocks can help cities make better use of limited land and provide accommodation for a large number of people. Therefore, I believe they are an effective solution to urban housing shortages, although they should be combined with other housing options.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

The student addresses the prompt by expressing a clear position of agreement regarding the use of tall apartment blocks to solve housing shortages. Key ideas, such as efficient land use and accommodating large populations, are introduced and supported with simple examples like a 20-storey residential building. However, the response suffers from a significant drawback in length, as it contains only 207 words, falling well short of the 250-word minimum requirement. Consequently, the ideas are somewhat limited and under-developed, restricting the overall task achievement to Band 5.0.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The text demonstrates a clear, logical organisation with an introduction, well-defined body paragraphs, and a concise conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'Another advantage is that', 'As a result', and 'In conclusion' are used appropriately to guide the reader through the argument. Paragraphing is also handled sufficiently, with each body paragraph focusing on a distinct point regarding high-rise apartments. Despite the shorter overall length, the internal structure and progression of ideas remain coherent throughout, easily earning a Band 7.0 for this criterion.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is generally adequate and precise enough for the topic, featuring appropriate terms such as 'adequate housing', 'urban population', 'densely populated cities', and 'housing shortages'. While the student attempts some less common collocations, the range remains somewhat limited rather than wide or flexible. There are no major spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication, but the vocabulary lacks the sophistication or wider range required for higher bands. This performance aligns comfortably with the Band 6.0 descriptors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The writing exhibits a good level of grammatical control and accuracy. The student successfully employs a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including subordinate clauses introduced by 'although', 'because', and 'since'. Most of the sentences are grammatically sound, and punctuation is handled correctly throughout the text. While the structural range is not overly expansive, the high proportion of error-free sentences and the clear execution of complex forms justify a solid Band 7.0 rating for grammatical accuracy.

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

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