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)

It is often argued that tall buildings are the only way to provide enough homes in large cities. Although some people argue that this might not be the case. I tend to agree with the given statement as it suits both the individuals and the society.

As urbanization has started to increase, we can clearly see the lack of space that people could use to build their homes. The only solution to this problem, are the tall apartment buildings. They offer a number of advantages that could result in better environment and a healthier society. Stacked houses offer the optimum use of the space which is hard to achieve in the case of traditional houses. The resulting extra space could be used for recreational activities like parks, gardens and playgrounds. Which has a lasting effect on environment and society in general. In Pakistan this trend is being followed by different housing societies. In cities like Islamabad and Karachi, urbanization has been an issue mainly because of overpopulation. So, this trend offers a perfect solution for these problems.

Along with finding space to live, another problem that many poeple face is that making and maintaining a house is heavy on the pocket as well. Living in a house or paying rent is not affordable in todays economy. Apartment systems are relatively cheaper to make and maintain. A number of houses can be made all at once, using a lot less space if they are stacked over one another.

In conclusion, I tend to incline more towards the statement because apartment blocks solves a lot of problems all at once. By providing a cheap and ample space to live along with creating a healthy environment, this method of living is superior to the traditional houses.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The student addresses all parts of the prompt, taking a clear position that tall apartment blocks are the best solution for housing shortages in large cities. The response includes relevant ideas such as urban space optimization, creation of recreational areas, and affordability of vertical living. Examples from Pakistan, specifically Islamabad and Karachi, are provided to support the arguments. However, some ideas remain slightly under-developed, such as the economic mechanics of construction, which places the essay comfortably at Band 6.5. To achieve a higher band, the student should expand further on their supporting arguments with deeper analysis rather than general statements.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The essay presents a clear overall progression with a recognizable introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas, such as environmental benefits in the second body paragraph and financial aspects in the third. However, cohesion at the sentence level is occasionally faulty; for instance, beginning a sentence with a dangling fragment ('Which has a lasting effect...') disrupts the flow. Referencing is generally clear, but transitional devices between sentences and paragraphs could be managed more flexibly to achieve a higher score.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate vocabulary range for the task, successfully using terms like 'urbanization,' 'overpopulation,' and 'recreational activities.' There are attempts to use less common vocabulary, though some word choices and collocations feel slightly unnatural or informal, such as 'heavy on the pocket' and 'apartment systems.' Spelling is generally accurate, and minor errors in word choice do not impede communication. To reach a Band 7, the student needs to incorporate a wider variety of sophisticated lexical items with better precision and stylistic awareness.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The writer uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating some control over multi-clause structures ('Although some people argue that this might not be the case, I tend to agree...'). However, there are notable punctuation and grammatical errors, including a sentence fragment ('Although some people argue that this might not be the case.') and a comma splice or error in referencing ('Which has a lasting effect...'). Despite these flaws, the errors rarely impede communication, allowing the response to secure a solid Band 6.

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