Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-01

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)

As the population of major cities continues to grow, providing sufficient housing has become a significant challenge. Some people argue that constructing tall apartment buildings is the best solution to this problem. I largely agree with this view because high-rise housing can accommodate a large number of people while making efficient use of limited urban land. However, it should be combined with other forms of housing and appropriate infrastructure.

The main advantage of building tall apartment blocks is that they allow cities to accommodate more residents without requiring large areas of land. Land in major urban centres is often expensive and limited, so constructing houses with large gardens is not always practical. High-rise buildings, on the other hand, can provide hundreds of homes on a relatively small plot of land. For example, cities such as Singapore have made extensive use of high-rise residential buildings to accommodate their growing populations while preserving land for roads, businesses and public facilities.

Another benefit is that high-density housing can make public services and transportation more efficient. When a large number of people live within a relatively small area, governments can provide public transport, schools, hospitals and other facilities more efficiently. This can also reduce the need for people to travel long distances to work or access essential services. Nevertheless, building tall apartment blocks alone cannot solve every housing problem. Poorly planned high-rise developments may result in overcrowding, insufficient parking, limited green spaces and pressure on existing infrastructure.

Therefore, although high-rise apartments are an effective way to increase the supply of housing in large cities, they should not be considered the only solution. A balanced approach involving high-rise buildings, well-planned low-rise housing and adequate transport and public facilities is more appropriate for creating sustainable urban communities.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The response clearly addresses all parts of the task prompt, maintaining a well-developed position throughout regarding the viability of high-rise apartments in urban areas. The writer presents a nuanced view, acknowledging both the primary advantages of high-density housing and the potential pitfalls associated with poor planning. Ideas are extended and supported with relevant examples, such as referencing the urban planning approach in Singapore, though there is a slight tendency to generalise when discussing potential issues like overcrowding. To reach the highest tier of performance, the student could provide even deeper analysis or explore alternative perspectives, such as the social and psychological impacts of high-rise living on families.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

The essay demonstrates a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, transitioning smoothly from the thesis in the introduction to the main arguments concerning land efficiency and public services, and finally to the counter-arguments and balanced conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'The main advantage', 'On the other hand', 'Another benefit', and 'Nevertheless' are used flexibly and appropriately to guide the reader through the argument. Paragraphing is used skillfully to structure the response. To achieve an even higher standard, the writer could incorporate more subtle, implicit cohesive links between sentences rather than relying primarily on transitional markers at the beginning of clauses.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.5

The vocabulary used is sufficiently wide to allow for flexibility and precision. The writer successfully employs less common items and academic collocations, such as 'sufficient housing', 'urban centres', 'high-density housing', and 'sustainable urban communities', demonstrating a good awareness of style. Word choice and spelling are accurate throughout the text, with no noticeable errors that impede communication. To move into the top band, the writer could incorporate a wider range of sophisticated, less common lexical phrases and idioms relating to urban development, demonstrating more nuanced control over connotation and register.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 8.0

The response exhibits an impressive command of grammatical structures. The writer successfully utilises a wide range of complex sentence forms, including conditional and concessive clauses such as 'Although high-rise apartments are an effective way to increase the supply of housing in large cities, they should not be considered the only solution.' The majority of sentences are error-free, and control over verb tenses, articles, plurals, and punctuation is strong throughout. Minor slips are virtually non-existent. To maintain this high standard, the writer should continue to ensure that punctuation, particularly around introductory dependent clauses, remains consistently accurate.

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

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