Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-16

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)

Over recent years, the question of whether tall buildings should be built for living purposes or whether people should prefer homes for their living has been a hotly debated issue in society. This matter is particularly significant because of its impact on the building sector, influencing both individuals and communities. In this essay, I will present the reasons supporting my viewpoints and also address the possible counterarguments.

As we are moving forward in the time, technology and modernisation is also taking place. Everyone in the world now think of their own benefit so is the government and the state. There is a scheme recently becoming so popular in large cities, to build towering buildings, utilised for the apartments which can be used as homes for the public. Though this can have possible advantages and supporting reasons, such as by building these apartments, the problem of space can be solved.As 100 of apartments can be build in one single standing building. Another compelling reason for this is people can get access to all the facilties such as gym, grocery stores, technicians at one place and they will not have to move out of the building for basic needs. For instance, if someone has to get something so urgenty he can simply get it without having the tension to go miles away. Another reason for this, contracter agency and organisations can benefit from this by making huge amount of money from the government and eventually boosting up their pocket. Neverthless, these arguments are not entirely convincing when weighed against broader implications.

While I think of totally opposite viewpoint of having homes instead of apartments in a tall building. One reason for this is,homes are more comfortable and spacious to live in and one can easily design them as they want while apartments are already build up and one can not do any renovations to the exterior side. Secondly, homes can provide a person with better ammenities such as more space and preferably with a garden too so that individual can enjoy the nature more closely while on the other hand appartments lack this facility and people are stucked at one place with no acess to nature. Homes are more comfortable and cozy with a sense of attachment and they may also not cost one arm and leg as they are less expensive than appartments. I believe that this has more profound benefits over the other.

To conclude, I beleive that building homes are more suitable and it is eveident of the fact that they are more reliable and peaceful. Moving forward, it is essential to recognize the advantages of this viewpoint and apply it in ways that foster positive outcomes for both indviduals and society as a whole.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address the question and state a clear preference for houses over tall apartment blocks in the final body paragraph and conclusion. You also recognise potential benefits of apartments, including efficient use of space and access to facilities, before presenting reasons for your own view. However, the response only partly develops the central issue of how best to provide enough homes in large cities. The points about contractors’ profits and residents’ access to amenities are not clearly connected to whether apartment blocks are the best solution, while the advantages of houses are asserted rather than supported with specific examples. Develop the comparison directly and explain how your preferred option could meet urban housing demand; this would make the position more fully supported and consistent throughout.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable overall structure: an introduction, a paragraph considering apartment blocks, a paragraph presenting your opposing view, and a conclusion. Transitions such as “Though,” “Secondly,” and “To conclude” help signal the stages of the argument. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes unclear. The apartment paragraph moves from space-saving to facilities and then to developers’ profits without explaining how each point supports the task. Some linking is mechanical or imprecise, and the opening sentence of the third paragraph, “While I think of totally opposite viewpoint,” does not clearly connect to the previous discussion. Use topic sentences that state each paragraph’s main claim, and make the relationship between examples and your position explicit.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You attempt a range of topic-related vocabulary, including “towering buildings,” “broader implications,” “amenities,” and “profound benefits.” These choices show an effort to discuss housing and urban living beyond basic terms. However, the range is not consistently controlled: several spelling errors and awkward or inaccurate collocations make the writing less natural, such as “facilties,” “stucked,” “cost one arm and leg,” and “boosting up their pocket.” Repetition of “homes,” “apartments,” and “comfortable” also limits flexibility. Aim for precise, natural phrases and check spelling carefully. More accurate expressions such as “increase housing capacity” and “access to essential services” would help communicate your ideas clearly and appropriately.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and complex sentence forms, including clauses introduced by “Though” and “while,” and you use some longer sentences to compare housing options. However, control is inconsistent, and errors in agreement, verb forms, articles, and sentence boundaries sometimes make the reader work to follow the meaning. For example, “technology and modernisation is” should use a plural verb, while “Everyone … think” needs a singular verb. The sentence beginning “Though this can have possible advantages” is incomplete, and “As 100 of apartments can be build” is also a fragment with an incorrect verb form. Practise building complete sentences and checking subject–verb agreement, articles, and punctuation, especially in longer comparisons.

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