Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-12

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)

As the population rate is rising significantly, there is an urgent need to provide living places for the people. In order to achieve that, one of the brilliant method is to construct big buildings in the rural areas. I partially agree with this thought however I am more inclined towards this idea in comparison to other case scenarios.

There are many key factors to this agreement. Firstly, a huge number of people can be accommodated in one place without requiring a vast area. For example, if an industry had to hire many labours and promise to give them space for living, a tall building could be a best option for the recruiters. Secondly, many citizens find this opportunity more affordable as compared to constructing their own houses which is quite expensive. For instance, people can easily afford rents for most of the apartments in heighted buildings as there fare is relatively lower than most of the houses on ground floor. Lastly, people who wanted a multiple storey office for working purpose could get benefit from this as they do not have to go for different branches in multiple places. They can work from within the same space.

I also disagree to some extent with this way of providing living spaces to public because of certain drawbacks it contains. For example, constructing tall buildings might have an increased chance of falling in contrast to one- or two-storey houses or buildings. In addition to this, it is not a safer option for living beings as in the cases of Earthquakes and any other natural disasters. A high level of precautionary measures are required to operate such sky-high buildings.

In conclusion, providing homes in big cities by building tall apartment blocks is an excellent idea however, some preventive measures have to be strictly taken before implementation of such projects.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

Your position is identifiable: you partly agree, while concluding that tall apartment blocks are a good idea if precautions are taken. You give relevant supporting points, including accommodating many people on a small area and potentially offering more affordable housing, and you acknowledge safety risks. However, the response only partly develops the task. The office-space point is not directly about providing homes, and the example about employers housing workers is not explained enough to show how it supports the proposal for large cities. The risks of collapse and earthquakes are also asserted rather than supported with explanation or an example. Keep each reason focused on housing supply and develop the trade-offs more fully so your position is consistently clear.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, a paragraph presenting reasons in favour, a paragraph on drawbacks, and a conclusion. Sequencing words such as “Firstly,” “Secondly,” “Lastly,” and “In addition to this” help readers follow the main points. However, the progression is sometimes mechanical, and the link between some examples and the housing question is not always clear. In particular, the point about a multi-storey office interrupts the discussion of homes. The conclusion repeats the general position but does not bring the main reasons together. Use clearer links between each claim and its explanation, and organise the body around directly relevant housing benefits and limitations.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a range of topic-related vocabulary, including “accommodated,” “affordable,” “precautionary measures,” and “natural disasters,” so the main ideas are generally understandable. There are also attempts at more specific expressions, such as “sky-high buildings.” However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, including “population rate,” “brilliant method,” “heighted buildings,” and “their fare is relatively lower.” These choices sometimes make the intended meaning less precise. Aim for natural combinations used in housing discussions, and check whether a word fits its context—for example, distinguish rent from fares and use standard terms for high-rise apartments. More accurate phrasing would make your arguments clearer and more convincing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentence forms, including a conditional example beginning “if an industry had to hire…” and a contrast introduced by “however.” The overall meaning is usually recoverable, but errors in sentence construction and grammatical forms remain noticeable. For example, “one of the brilliant method” has a number-agreement problem, while “people who wanted a multiple storey office… could get benefit” shifts tense and has an awkward article pattern. In “A high level of precautionary measures are required,” the subject and verb do not agree. Review agreement, articles, and consistent tense, and punctuate contrast markers carefully. Building accuracy in these areas will help you express your ideas with greater control.

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

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