Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-30

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 7.5)

There is a severe housing shortage in many major cities around the world. Some people argue that the most effective solution is to construct high-rise apartment buildings. I strongly agree with this view, although high-rise living is not without its challenges.

The primary reason to build tall apartment blocks is efficient use of limited land. In large cities such as London, Tokyo or Karachi, land is extremely scarce and expensive. Building vertically allows a large number of families to be housed on a small footprint. For example, a single 20-storey building can accommodate 80 to 100 families, whereas the same land would only fit 5 or 6 detached houses. This high density also makes it more economical for the government to provide infrastructure such as water, electricity, public transport and internet. Moreover, tall buildings can help protect green spaces outside the city by preventing urban sprawl.

Admittedly, there are some drawbacks to living in high-rise apartments. Some residents complain about lack of privacy, noise, and limited outdoor space for children. High buildings can also create a sense of isolation if they are poorly designed, and maintenance costs for lifts and communal areas can be high. However, these problems are related to poor planning rather than the concept itself. With thoughtful design, including parks, playgrounds, balconies and community centres within the complex, high-rise living can be comfortable and sociable. Cities like Singapore have demonstrated this successfully, where the majority of the population lives in well-managed tall housing estates.

In conclusion, while high-rise apartments have some disadvantages, I believe they are by far the best way to provide sufficient housing in large, crowded cities because they maximize land use, reduce costs, and prevent uncontrolled expansion.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the task prompt regarding the best way to provide enough homes in large cities. The writer takes a clear and well-developed position right from the introduction, agreeing that tall apartment blocks are the most effective solution while acknowledging potential challenges. Main ideas are thoroughly extended and supported with relevant examples, such as the comparison between detached houses and a single 20-storey building accommodating 80 to 100 families. The discussion also touches upon crucial secondary points like infrastructure efficiency, urban sprawl, and the importance of thoughtful planning and community design. This demonstrates a high level of task response, fully satisfying the requirements for Band 8.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

Ideas are logically sequenced and progress naturally throughout the response. The essay is divided into clear, well-managed paragraphs that each serve a distinct purpose in the argument. Cohesive devices are used effectively and unobtrusively, such as 'The primary reason', 'Moreover', and 'Admittedly', which guide the reader smoothly through opposing viewpoints and counter-arguments. Referencing and substitution are handled skillfully, ensuring that the relationships between ideas remain transparent and cohesive. Overall, the organizational structure is sound and meets all the expectations of a Band 8 performance.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.5

The student demonstrates a wide and flexible lexical resource that is well-suited to an academic discussion on urban planning. Less common vocabulary items and collocations are used skillfully throughout the text, including phrases like 'severe housing shortage', 'scarce and expensive', 'urban sprawl', and 'communal areas'. Word choices are precise, and there are only occasional minor inaccuracies, which do not impede communication. The vocabulary allows for natural and fluent expression of complex ideas, supporting a solid Band 7.5 to 8 performance. Given the control exhibited, a Band 8 is entirely justified.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.5

The essay displays a wide range of sentence structures, seamlessly mixing simple, compound, and complex forms. The majority of sentences are error-free, showcasing excellent command over subordination and relative clauses, as seen in examples like '...whereas the same land would only fit 5 or 6 detached houses' and 'Cities like Singapore have demonstrated this successfully, where the majority of the population lives...'. Punctuation and grammar are controlled with high accuracy, with only very occasional, non-systematic slips that never impede communication. This level of syntactic variety and accuracy easily aligns with Band 8 descriptors.

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