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)

nowadays individuals believe the better option provide to much homse in massive cities to build gigantic apartment block and i agree with both sides of the argument

there are several advantages of building tall apartment blocks first many families can live in one building for example a 15 storey apartment building can accommodate many families second these buildings save land deu to the fact that they provide homes for more people in a small area this is particularly useful in large cities where land is limited therefore tall buildings can help reduce the shortage of homes

however tall apartment block also have some disadvantage if too many people live in one area traffic congestion may increase moreover there may be fewer open space and parks for children to play in building tall apartment can also be expensive because lifts parking areas and sfety systems are required therefore the government should provide proper facilities along with housing

in conclusion i partly agree that building tall apartment block is an effective way to provide enough homes in large cities thes building can accommodate many family and save land however the government should also focus on reducing traffic and provideing gerrn space in this way people can enjoy a better quality of life

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address the question by presenting a partly agreeing position and discussing both the benefits and drawbacks of tall apartment blocks. The points about accommodating many families and saving land are relevant, and you also identify possible congestion, limited open space and construction costs. However, these ideas are mostly asserted rather than explained or supported with a developed example, so the response only partially fulfils the task. Your conclusion repeats your position but does not add much reasoning. The response is 202 words, below the required 250 words; the eight words copied from the task prompt were not counted. Develop each main point with explanation and a specific example, and clarify whether high-rise housing is the best solution or only one part of it.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, a paragraph on advantages, a paragraph on disadvantages and a conclusion. This helps the reader follow the broad direction of your argument. You also use basic linking expressions such as “first,” “second,” “however” and “in conclusion.” However, progression within paragraphs is limited, and the repeated list-like sequencing makes the discussion feel mechanical. Some links between claims and their consequences need to be clearer; for example, the point about fewer parks is not developed beyond the statement itself. Use a wider range of linking and referencing, and organise each body paragraph around one main idea followed by explanation or an example.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use enough topic-related vocabulary to communicate the main ideas, including “apartment blocks,” “traffic congestion,” “open space,” “lifts” and “quality of life.” However, the range is limited and several noticeable spelling and word-choice errors make parts of the response harder to read, such as “homse,” “deu,” “sfety,” “thes” and “gerrn space.” Some phrases are also imprecise or unnatural, including “provide to much homes” and “save land.” These issues fit a response with basic but relevant vocabulary rather than flexible, precise control. Check spelling carefully and learn common collocations for housing and urban planning, such as “meet housing demand” and “preserve green space.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a few longer sentences, including “these buildings save land due to the fact that they provide homes for more people in a small area,” and you use simple structures to present advantages and disadvantages. However, the range is limited, and frequent errors in sentence formation and grammar sometimes make the meaning difficult to follow. For example, the opening lacks a clear grammatical structure, while “tall apartment block also have some disadvantage” has problems with number agreement and plural forms. The final sentence also contains an unclear construction around what the government should focus on. Practise accurate subject–verb agreement, articles and plural nouns, and use full stops to separate ideas. Build longer sentences only when you can control their structure.

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

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