Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-11

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)

I agree to some extent with this statement but not completely. As tall buildings could be useful in creating a more homes to provide enough space to people in large cities. But it isn't the only way to do so.

First if, by agreeing with that statement we prepare large building blocks. It will carry small space while providing large number of homes. It mean, we can utilize our large cities space efficiently while creating the more free space/area for other purposes in large cities that are also necessary. Also we can reduce the amount of construction by building a new homes on previously present blocks and connecting number of blocks with one another.

But we have to build the strong foundation for that type of building blocks so that they can survive against the natural disasters such as earthquake, floods, and other climate change issues.Also we should focus on building long residential blocks in the healthy environmental areas like it shouldn't be near the industrial sector or manufacturing units of large cities.

If we build a large building blocks homes then it may also create some issues. If one person is living at 1st floor and other is living at 20th floor then the person living at upper blocks will have to spend more time to come and go for daily activities. Also the houses are very closer so it may disturb neighbors peace and security and it may arise several concerns among people.So there are both positive and negative aspects of that.

lf we don't agree to that statement because of these concerns then we can go for several other options. Like the working areas and residential areas should be specified in large cities to control all the parameters side by side. People should be given both the options. If someone want to live in low reliable price, he can go for tall blocks building houses. But if someone prefer large facilities and more personal life then he can live in his own build home.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response5.5
Coherence and Cohesion5.5
Lexical Resource5.0
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.0
Overall5.5

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

Your position is clear at the start: you partly agree that tall apartment blocks can help, but they are not the only solution. You give relevant advantages, such as using urban space efficiently, and disadvantages, including inconvenience for residents on higher floors and reduced privacy. You also suggest alternatives, so the response addresses the question. However, several points remain general or unclear. For example, the claim that blocks can be built on “previously present blocks” is difficult to understand, and the discussion of foundations and environmental location is not clearly connected to whether high-rise housing is the best way to provide enough homes. Develop fewer points with specific explanation or an example, and make your final position on the relative effectiveness of high-rise housing more decisive.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: it introduces a qualified opinion, discusses benefits and drawbacks, and ends with alternatives. Paragraphing helps separate these stages, and linking expressions such as “Also,” “But,” and “If” show some awareness of how ideas relate. However, progression is not consistently clear. The opening paragraph contains sentence fragments, while the paragraph about foundations shifts to environmental planning without a clear link to the main argument. Some connections are also awkward, such as “If we don’t agree to that statement because of these concerns then…” and the repeated use of “Also.” Use clearer topic sentences, organise each paragraph around one main point, and make references such as “that type” and “these concerns” explicit so the reader can follow the argument more easily.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant topic vocabulary, including “natural disasters,” “industrial sector,” “residential areas,” and “personal life,” which helps communicate the subject. However, the range is limited and several word combinations are inaccurate or unclear, sometimes making the intended meaning difficult to follow. Examples include “a more homes,” “large building blocks,” “low reliable price,” and “own build home.” The repeated use of “large,” “blocks,” and “people” also reduces precision. Aim to learn common collocations for housing and urban planning, and choose words that express the exact idea—for instance, distinguish apartment buildings from city blocks, and describe housing as affordable rather than using an unclear phrase. Proofread spelling and word forms, including “lf” for “If.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a mixture of simple and complex sentences, including conditional forms such as “If we build…” and clauses beginning with “so that.” This shows an effort to express cause, contrast, and conditions. However, errors are frequent, and some sentences are difficult to process. The opening “As tall buildings could be useful…” is a dependent clause presented as a complete sentence, and “It mean” has incorrect subject–verb agreement. Other examples include “a new homes,” “one person is living… and other is living,” and “If someone want.” Sentence boundaries and punctuation also need attention, as in “issues.If” and “people.So.” Practise complete sentence construction, articles and plurals, agreement, and punctuation; then check each sentence for a clear subject and main verb.

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