Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

Many argue that the solution to homelessness in big towns is by building the tall apartment blocks and this issue is a subject of ongoing debate, as it carries both positive and negative effects. However, I firmly agree that the positive impacts of tall apartments can clearly outweigh the drawbacks.

In my opinion, when tall buildings are set up in towns, they tend to accomodate many individuals and they occupy just a small piece of land. A town that had few houses initially only allowed very people to live in unlike when they have buldings that has several floors. For example, if a single flat that used to house say 60 people, when the floors are increased, say from 1 to 10, this will end up housing so many people to over 600.

However, the negative impacts of tall apartment blocks, such as a lack of human connection, should not be ignored. Unlike traditional houses where people can interact and communicate with neighbors, small rooms separate people from their neighborhoods, leading to depression from loneliness. Nevertheless, this drawback could be minimized by well-designed infrastructure, such as building lobbies, libraries, and parks where people can communicate with each other properly.

In conclusion, even though tall apartment buildings are an effective solution for urban housing shortages, the resulting impacts on mental health from loneliness should not be neglected. However, with the help of precise and systematic solutions, such as building shared lobbies, this problem can be managed well. Therefore, I believe that high-rise apartments are the best solution.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

Your position is clear throughout: you agree that high-rise apartments are the best solution, and you address both their capacity and a possible social drawback. The example comparing a one-storey building with a ten-storey one helps explain how vertical construction can increase housing capacity. You also acknowledge loneliness and suggest shared facilities as a response. These points make the answer relevant and cover the task, while the clear stance and supporting examples show some qualities of a stronger response. However, the capacity example is hypothetical and the claim that this is the “best” solution is not compared with alternatives such as renovating existing homes or building denser low-rise housing. The mental-health point is also asserted more than developed. Explain these ideas further and weigh the alternatives to strengthen the argument.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction states your view, the body paragraphs present the main benefit and a drawback, and the conclusion returns to your position. Linking expressions such as “However,” “For example,” and “Nevertheless” help readers follow the argument, and the contrast between housing capacity and social connection is easy to understand. To make the progression more consistently effective, ensure each paragraph develops one central point in a clear sequence. The first body paragraph moves quickly from land use to a numerical illustration, while the second shifts from loneliness to design solutions without fully explaining the connection. Some transitions, especially the repeated “However” and “Therefore,” feel formulaic. Use referencing more precisely and connect each example explicitly to why high-rise construction is the best approach.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of topic vocabulary, including “urban housing shortages,” “traditional houses,” “neighborhoods,” “infrastructure,” and “mental health.” These choices make the subject clear, and phrases such as “well-designed infrastructure” show an attempt to use more specific language. However, some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward, including “solution to homelessness” when the task concerns providing enough homes, “set up in towns,” and “precise and systematic solutions.” There are also spelling errors in “accomodate” and “buldings.” These do not prevent understanding, but they limit precision and control. Aim for natural collocations such as “address the housing shortage” and “construct high-rise buildings,” and check spelling carefully. More precise vocabulary would help distinguish housing supply from homelessness.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including a concession clause in “even though tall apartment buildings are an effective solution” and a relative clause in “where people can interact and communicate.” Most sentences communicate the intended meaning, and the paragraphing helps make the argument readable. Some grammatical errors remain, however. In “a town that had few houses initially only allowed very people to live in,” the construction is incomplete or unclear; “very few people” would be needed, with a clearer comparison. In “when the floors are increased,” the passive form is awkward for the intended meaning, and “buildings that has several floors” has subject–verb disagreement. Review articles and agreement as well: “the tall apartment blocks” is not needed in this general statement. Greater accuracy in these patterns would improve control.

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