Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

I partly agree that building tall apartment blocks is an effective way to provide enough homes in large cities. However, I do not believe it is the only solution.

One major advantage of high-rise apartments is that they allow cities to accommodate large numbers of people without using excessive amounts of land. This is particularly important in densely populated urban areas, where land is expensive and limited. Building vertically can also help preserve surrounding land for parks, agriculture, and other purposes. In addition, if high-rise housing is developed near public transport, it can reduce the need for long journeys and make urban infrastructure more efficient.

On the other hand, constructing very tall apartment blocks can create problems. If large numbers of people are concentrated in a small area, roads, public transport, schools, hospitals, and other services may become overcrowded. Poorly planned high-rise developments can also reduce residents' quality of life if they lack sufficient green spaces, natural light, and recreational facilities. Furthermore, not everyone wants to live in a tall apartment building, so cities should provide a variety of housing options.

In conclusion, tall apartment blocks can play an important role in meeting the housing needs of large cities, particularly where land is scarce. Nevertheless, they should be combined with other forms of housing and supported by adequate infrastructure and public services.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The student presents a clear position throughout the response, stating that they partly agree with the proposition that building tall apartment blocks is the best way to provide enough homes in large cities. They address both sides of the argument, exploring the advantages of high-rise developments such as land preservation and efficient infrastructure, as well as the drawbacks including infrastructure strain and reduced quality of life. The ideas are relevant and supported with explanations. However, the task achievement score is directly impacted by the length check, which indicates the essay contains only 222 words, falling short of the required 250-word minimum. This under-length status prevents the ideas from being fully developed to a higher band level, placing it solidly in the band 6.0 category.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay is logically organised with a clear overall progression. It begins with an introduction outlining the writer's balanced viewpoint, moves through well-structured body paragraphs discussing advantages and disadvantages, and concludes with a concise summary. Paragraphing is used appropriately, with each paragraph focusing on a distinct aspect of the prompt. Cohesive devices such as 'One major advantage', 'In addition', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to guide the reader through the argument. Referencing is clear throughout the text. While the cohesion is generally clear and logical, the overall brevity of the essay prevents it from achieving the more sophisticated flexibility required for higher band levels.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate and appropriate range of vocabulary for the task. They successfully employ topic-specific terminology such as 'densely populated urban areas', 'high-rise developments', 'infrastructure', and 'recreational facilities'. There are also attempts at less common vocabulary phrases like 'excessive amounts of land' and 'housing needs'. Word choice and spelling are accurate throughout, and communication is never impeded by lexical errors. Although the vocabulary is well-suited for the subject matter, the range remains somewhat standard and lacks the more flexible and sophisticated use of uncommon lexical items necessary to reach a band 7.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0

The writer displays good control over sentence structures, successfully combining simple and complex forms. Examples include conditional structures ('if high-rise housing is developed...') and relative clauses. Punctuation is accurate, and grammatical errors are virtually non-existent, resulting in a high proportion of error-free sentences. The control over grammar is consistent and reliable throughout the text. Because of this strong grammatical accuracy and the natural flow of the varied sentence structures, the writing comfortably meets the criteria for a higher band in this specific category.

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

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