Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-02
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 6.0)
People have varying opinions when it comes to the topic of availability of housing in metropolitan cities. Some think that the most efficient way to ensure everyone has a house in a big city is by building tall apartment blocks. Some people may agree with this notion and some may not. I personally agree to a certain extent only. I will discuss why i agree and why i don't in detail below.
One of the most obvious reasons i agree to this idea is because the efficient use of space in a large area. A big city houses multiple facilities, infrastructure, organizations etc. Hence an apartment block could potentially save space and be cost effective rather than individual housing. For example, housing crisis in Paris is leaving people with limited options for residence, prompting them to choose apartment, no matter how small it may be.
However, I also believe that focusing on building tall apartments is not the only effective solution to this problem. Rather, the authorities should focus on more mindful investments inthe cities. For instance, rather than building more shopping malls and designer outlets,which are already present in large quantities they could utilise that space for the residence for their growing population, and build commercial facilities that could be helpful in daily lives. For example, more individuals would appreciate a functional and accessible residential area which allow them privacy,ease and accessibility rather than a large shopping mall or a tall skyscraper. A residential area with supermarkets, gym, healthcare, recreational facilities could offer far more contentment to the people of the town.
Moreover, some people prefer a home of their own, that they can personalise, protect and use to their own liking , making changes to it according to their own taste and just have a place they can house their families. An apartment building offers little of that flexibility. After all, everyone deserves to have a place they can call their own. It is also a form of long-term investment.
In conclusion, apartment buildings could help to some extent if there is shortage of space and time, but eventually a more mindful and long term investmentt decision should be made to ensure everyone could have a home of their own.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0
The response addresses all parts of the task and presents a clear, albeit nuanced, position throughout the essay. The writer's stance of agreeing to a certain extent is maintained from the introduction to the conclusion. Relevant ideas are introduced, such as the efficient use of space in crowded metropolitan areas and the alternative focus on mindful urban planning and community facilities. However, some ideas lack sufficient extension and development. For instance, the example regarding the housing crisis in Paris is briefly mentioned without deeper exploration, and the discussion on personalizing a home and long-term investment is somewhat generalized and under-developed. While the main aspects of the prompt are covered, certain arguments would benefit from greater elaboration and more robust supporting evidence to achieve a higher standard.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5
The response demonstrates a coherent overall arrangement and logical progression of ideas throughout the text. Each paragraph has a clear focus, moving from an introductory overview to arguments supporting tall buildings, counter-arguments concerning alternative urban planning, personal preferences for housing, and a concise conclusion. Cohesive devices are used adequately, such as 'However', 'Moreover', and 'In conclusion', though referencing and transitions can occasionally feel slightly mechanical. Paragraphing is utilized appropriately to separate distinct conceptual points, and the progression of the argument is generally clear to follow. To reach the next level, the connections between sentences could be made more fluid and natural, ensuring that referencing words link ideas with greater precision.
Lexical Resource: Band 6.0
The writer uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully attempting less common lexical items such as 'metropolitan cities', 'infrastructure', 'mindful investments', and 'recreational facilities'. While communication is clear throughout, there are some inaccuracies in word choice, collocation, and spelling, such as 'inthe' (missing space), 'investmentt' (extra letter), and phrasing like 'prompting them to choose apartment' (missing plural article). The vocabulary is sufficient to convey the main arguments, but occasional slips in lexical precision and word formation prevent the writing from achieving a higher rating. The use of varied synonyms and more precise academic phrasing would further strengthen this criterion.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0
The essay displays a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating an ability to construct compound and subordinate clauses, such as in 'Some think that the most efficient way to ensure everyone has a house in a big city is by building tall apartment blocks.' There are some errors in grammar and punctuation, including missing articles ('choose apartment'), minor preposition usage issues ('investments inthe cities'), and occasional awkward phrasing like 'residential area which allow them privacy'. However, these errors are relatively infrequent and rarely impede overall communication. The punctuation is generally functional, and basic verb tenses and agreement are controlled well enough to maintain readability across the text.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.