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)

Worlds population in the last 10 years has increased significantly to around 8 billion which has brought up a major issue of land allocation for homes so in recent times it has been observed that many cities across the globe construct tall apartments in order to accomodate as much people as possible.If we talk about third-world countries like Pakistan whose financial hub is considered Karachi with a population of around 30 million plus is a poorly planned city so it has started to construct more apartments as compared to bunglows because population there is growing at the fastest rate in the country with alongside many people coming to work there from other parts of the country. On the other hand Islamabad which is the federal capital of Pakistan is also constructing multiple apartments as initially Islamabad was made to accomodate around 2 million people but in the last decade the number has crossed 4 million and Islamabad being a hilly area needs to preserved in the best way possible without discrupting any nature so in order to avoid cutting trees and green patches goverment is using small areas of land to construct much taller apartments.Main reason for constructing taller apartments has been highlighted with the example above which signifies the fact that alongside accomodating more population it is necessary to preserve nature spots too otherwise global warming will increase too a much greater extent which has already started to disrupt the climate of our planet in the form of weather anomalies like the El-Nino effect which increases the land temperatures alot.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You give a relevant, broadly supportive response to building taller apartments, and the Karachi and Islamabad examples help explain pressure on housing and the value of protecting green space. However, the position is implied rather than stated directly, and the response does not fully examine whether this is the best way to provide enough homes. The examples mainly describe construction and population growth; they would be stronger with specific explanation of how apartment blocks increase housing supply and why alternatives, such as better planning or developing less crowded areas, may be less effective. The link to climate change is relevant but asserted rather than demonstrated. State your degree of agreement clearly and develop the reasoning behind each example.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a recognisable sequence: population growth is introduced, Karachi and Islamabad are discussed, and the final point connects apartments with preserving nature. This gives the reader a general sense of direction. However, the ideas are presented as one very long paragraph, so the examples and concluding argument are difficult to distinguish. Connections such as “On the other hand” suggest contrast, although Islamabad largely supports the same argument as Karachi. Several points are joined with repeated “so” and “as,” creating a run-on progression rather than clear stages. Use separate paragraphs for the introduction, each main reason, and the conclusion, and choose linking phrases that accurately show whether ideas contrast, explain, or add support.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use a suitable range of topic vocabulary, including “land allocation,” “financial hub,” “population,” “green patches,” and “global warming.” These choices show an ability to discuss urban growth and environmental concerns, and the meaning is generally clear. There are also some inaccurate or awkward choices that limit precision, such as “accomodate as much people,” “bunglows,” and “discrupting any nature.” Spelling errors such as “goverment” and “alot” are noticeable, while “weather anomalies” and “El-Nino effect” are more specialised terms but are not fully integrated into the argument. Aim for accurate collocations and check spelling; more precise phrasing will make your ideas sound more natural and convincing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt complex sentences to connect causes and consequences, for example when explaining that Islamabad’s population has grown and that its hilly setting makes preservation important. However, these structures are often difficult to follow because several clauses are joined without clear punctuation. The opening sentence runs through population growth, land allocation, and apartment construction without a full stop, and the final sentence similarly combines multiple claims. There are also errors in agreement and sentence construction, as in “accommodate as much people” and “needs to preserved.” Use a wider mix of controlled sentence lengths, check subject–verb and verb-form patterns, and punctuate each complete idea clearly. This will make your reasoning easier to understand.

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