Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-15

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)

It is argued that the best way to provide enough homes in large cities is to build tall apartment blocks. Large cities today don't have enough space for any expansion hence need to the cities to adapt the idea of building tall apartments for people to live. This can save on cost and promote good views by the. However, tall apartments can prevent people from getting direct sunlight.

To begin, building tall buildings in the cities can minimize cost related expenses for instance land cost. Only a small piece of land can be used to construct more houses hence able to provide enough houses for people. Furthermore, it can promote good views. People living in tall buildings especcilly those living in rooftops tend to enjoy the views of the city which can act as therapy thus promoting metal health.

Tall buildings in the city however, can prevent sunlight access to some household. This can lead to diseases for example rickets which is common among the children.

To conclude, I strongly agree that the best way to provide enough homes in large cities is to build tall apartment blocks because it is less costly as well has gives views to the residents

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You give a clear position, stating that you “strongly agree,” and provide relevant reasons: tall blocks use less land and may offer residents city views. You also acknowledge a drawback, limited sunlight, so the response addresses both the proposal and a counterpoint. However, the ideas are only briefly explained: the link between views and mental health, for example, is asserted rather than supported, and the sunlight concern is not weighed against your overall position. The response is 169 words, below the required 250; 32 words copied from the task prompt were not counted. This limits the opportunity to develop and support your argument. Add specific examples and explain why your reasons make tall blocks the best solution.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, a paragraph supporting tall buildings, a paragraph presenting a disadvantage, and a conclusion. Sequencing is generally easy to follow, and signposts such as “To begin,” “Furthermore,” and “To conclude” help show the direction of the argument. However, the progression is quite brief, and some connections are mechanical or unclear. For instance, “This can save on cost and promote good views” introduces points that are not fully linked to the position, while “Tall buildings in the city however” would benefit from clearer punctuation and a smoother transition. Develop each paragraph around one main point, then connect the explanation and example explicitly so the argument flows more naturally.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough topic-related vocabulary to communicate the main ideas, including “apartment blocks,” “land cost,” “direct sunlight,” and “mental health.” There are also attempts at less common expressions, such as “minimize cost related expenses” and “act as therapy.” However, some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward, which makes parts of the argument less natural: “cost related expenses” is redundant, and “good views” is imprecise. Spelling errors such as “especcilly” and “metal health” also reduce accuracy. Aim for more precise housing and urban-planning vocabulary, and check spelling carefully. A broader, more controlled range would help you express the benefits and drawbacks with greater clarity.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You communicate the main argument using mostly simple sentence patterns, with some attempts to combine ideas through clauses such as “which can act as therapy.” However, the range of structures is limited, and errors occur often enough to affect clarity. In the introduction, “hence need to the cities to adapt” has an incorrect verb pattern; “Only a small piece of land can be used to construct more houses hence able to provide” lacks a clear subject and verb in its second part. There are also agreement and article problems in “some household” and “among the children.” Practise building accurate complex sentences, especially with “because,” “which,” and “while,” and check that each clause has a complete subject and verb.

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

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