Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
Nowadays,many people argue that tall buildings are to be built to provide enough homes in large cities. Although the statement has a few disadvantages,I agree with it partially.
As large cities are equipped with better facilities as compared to rural areas,people tend to move to the cities.So,for accomodating such large number of people tall buildings are a good choice to save space and give people better places to live.For instance,in many developed cities in China people are living in tall buildings to save space and live with the facilities they want.
On the other hand,tall buildings are too risky for a few reasons.Firstly,if they are not constructed properly these cannot withstand any natural disaster and will prove dangerous for people's life.
Secondly, there are no lifts in tall buildings which makes it difficult for people to carry on with their normal daily life.For instance,in China many tall buildings are not equipped with lifts and escalators which makes it difficult for people to run their life and this becomes much more stressful in case of an emergency which results in many unwanted effects.
Hence,I agree with the statement partially as everything has its benefits and drawbacks.Tall buildings are useful for accomodating people who come to large cities for their jobs and for living a better life.Moreover,tall buildings also save space thus allowing more people to get better opportunities and get best facilities. On the other hand,risk is there if buildings are not constructed properly and with no lifts or escalators which makes it difficult for people to run their errands.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
The response addresses the prompt by discussing both the advantages and risks of building tall apartment blocks, ultimately presenting a clear, partially agreed position. The ideas are relevant and supported with examples, such as referencing urban development in China. However, some arguments lack deep extension, particularly regarding the risks associated with tall buildings. For instance, the claim that tall buildings generally lack lifts is a weak generalisation and under-developed argument. Nevertheless, all parts of the task are addressed, earning a Band 6.0.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The essay displays a coherent overall arrangement with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Paragraphing is utilised adequately to separate distinct ideas, such as the benefits versus the risks. However, cohesive devices are sometimes mechanical or repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'For instance' and 'Moreover'. Referencing is generally clear, but the logical progression between sentences occasionally feels disjointed, as seen in the sudden transition to the conclusion. These cohesion issues place the response comfortably within the Band 6.0 descriptor.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, allowing the student to communicate their ideas effectively. There are attempts at less common lexical items such as 'accomodating', 'withstand', and 'unwanted effects', though some spelling mistakes occur (e.g., 'accomodating' instead of 'accommodating', and missing spaces after commas). Some word choices are slightly unnatural or inaccurate, such as 'run their life' and 'run their errands'. Because the vocabulary is sufficient for communication but contains noticeable minor errors, a score of 6.0 is appropriate.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, such as 'Although the statement has a few disadvantages, I agree with it partially.' There are several grammatical errors and punctuation issues throughout the text, notably missing spaces after punctuation marks (e.g., 'disadvantages,I') and minor structural awkwardness like 'if they are not constructed properly these cannot withstand'. However, these errors rarely impede overall communication. The control over grammar aligns well with the Band 6.0 descriptors.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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