Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-06

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)

Large cities are popularly known for consequent large populations. As a result of this, housing for the teeming population becomes a problem.

A solution to this problem may not be proliferation of smaller houses which would take up already limited landmass. This therefore concretises the need for more housing to be provided by means of tall buildings. There are several advantages to this.

First, a major advantage of this high-rise building is that it conserves land mass. Large cities are often grossly industrialised and available lands for housing seem to be competing with industries and other social amenities. To therefore curb the challenge of housing while managing limited land space, tall buildings like storey building and skyscrapers come to the rescue because they make provisions for many rooms just using the same plots of land.

Secondly, the cost of acquisition of these houses will be reduced. Relative to other singly built houses, cost of accommodation or renting an apartment will be lower because the different houses will ideally share the cost of building.

Thirdly, it localises the populace in a reserved residential area. This fosters camaraderie and healthy relationships amongst occupants of the apartment. It provides a close-knit environment for good interpersonal relationship, inter and intra cultural relationships as well.

Fourthly, it solves the problem of homelessness.

In conclusion, as more homes will be provided in tall buildings, it also inadvertently keeps the occupants safe from the pollution of industrialisation. Scientifically, the air gets better and more purified with height, therefore, a large city with so much air pollutants being released as by products of industrialisation, the populace and occupants in those tall buildings get to breathe better and cleaner air for longer and healthier lives.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

Your position is clear: you support tall apartment blocks as a way to address housing pressure, and you give several relevant reasons, including land conservation, lower costs and community life. This covers the task and includes an appropriate conclusion. However, the reasons are not developed equally. The points about shared building costs and social relationships are asserted rather than supported with explanation or a concrete example, while the claim that high-rise residents breathe cleaner air is presented as fact without qualification or evidence. To strengthen the response, explain the conditions under which these benefits apply and add a specific example, such as how a high-rise development can house more families on a limited urban site. This would make the argument more fully supported and precise.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a recognisable overall structure: an introduction, a sequence of supporting points and a conclusion. The signposts “First,” “Secondly,” “Thirdly” and “In conclusion” make the progression easy to follow, and the central focus on housing in large cities is maintained. At times, however, the organisation feels list-like because each benefit is introduced without being connected to the previous point or developed in a full paragraph. “Fourthly, it solves the problem of homelessness” is especially abrupt and receives no explanation. The final paragraph also introduces cleaner air as a new benefit rather than drawing together the main argument. Group related ideas, use clearer links between claims and explanations, and make the conclusion summarise the reasons already discussed.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You use an adequate range of topic-related vocabulary, including “high-rise building,” “limited land space,” “industrialised” and “close-knit environment.” These choices help communicate the main ideas, and the meaning is generally clear. There are also attempts at less common or formal expressions, but some are inaccurate or unnatural in context: “consequent large populations,” “proliferation of smaller houses,” “localises the populace” and “by products of industrialisation” do not express the intended ideas naturally. “Storey building” is also an imprecise example of a tall residential structure. Aim for accurate collocations and simpler wording where needed—for example, “rapid population growth,” “concentrates residents” and “industrial by-products.” This would make the vocabulary more precise and fluent.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including a conditional structure in “while managing limited land space” and a relative clause in “which would take up already limited landmass.” Most sentences communicate their meaning, and the paragraphing and punctuation are generally understandable. Some grammatical problems remain, particularly in longer sentences. For example, “available lands for housing seem to be competing with industries” gives the land an unclear role in the sentence, and the final sentence beginning “Scientifically, the air gets better…” becomes an awkward, incomplete construction after “industrialisation.” There are also issues with articles and number, as in “like storey building.” Break long sentences into clearer units, check subject–verb relationships, and review article and singular/plural choices.

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