Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

Modern architects and city planners think that tall apartment buildings are the best way of solving the housing crisis in large cities. This is because tall buildings can house way more people than conventional houses ever can, while also occupying a similar area. Despite the advantages of tall apartment buildings however, I somewhat disagree with this statement.

Tall apartment blocks may accomodate more people, but they put a huge dent in the quality of living of these people. This is due to the absence of privacy and security in these buildings. While a few buildings may have good surveillance and security checks, most apartment buildings are easily accessible to outsiders. These outsiders may pose a security threat to the people living there. For instance, anyone can enter the apartment building with the intention of burgling or killing, and easily leave the premises without getting caught. On the contrary, conventional houses are gated, and only trusted people can enter them. This makes them way more safer than apartment buildings.

Furthermore, apartment blocks cause far more pollution than conventional housing. A large number of people concentrated in one area may cause harmful effects for the environment. For example, a building in New York with 8 apartments throws atleast 8 bags of trash in a day. And if we combine 4 such buildings, we get around 32 bags of trash daily. In comparison to this, 4 houses in may throw away only 4 bags of trash everyday. Thus, if such huge amounts of garbage isn't picked up daily and treated accordingly, it will cause serious pollution in the city.

To conclude, building tall apartment blocks may be a good way of providing enough homes in large cities. However, due to the security risks associated with these buildings, and the amount of pollution they cause. I am firmly against building these apartment blocks for soving the housing crisis.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

Your position is clear: you somewhat disagree, and the conclusion restates your opposition to relying on tall apartment blocks. You give two relevant reasons—security and pollution—and support them with examples, so the response addresses the question. However, the discussion is not fully developed. The security point relies on a dramatic hypothetical about burglary or killing, rather than explaining how design or management affects safety. The waste comparison is also based on a small, unsupported example and does not establish that apartment living necessarily creates more pollution overall. To strengthen the response, acknowledge the housing capacity benefit and weigh it against realistic alternatives, such as better waste services or mixed-density development.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay has a clear overall structure: an introduction, two body paragraphs presenting separate reasons, and a conclusion. The progression is easy to follow, and signposts such as “Furthermore,” “For instance,” and “To conclude” help readers identify the stages of the argument. This organisation is effective, while some linking is rather mechanical and the relationship between examples and claims could be clearer. For example, the calculation about bags of trash moves from one building to four buildings, but does not explain why the number of residents or waste per person differs from that in houses. The final paragraph also begins a sentence with “However” that is grammatically incomplete, interrupting the conclusion’s flow. Clarify these links and connect the conclusion’s ideas in complete sentences.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of topic vocabulary, including “housing crisis,” “conventional houses,” “surveillance,” “security threat,” and “pollution.” These choices make the main points clear, and some less common expressions show an attempt to be precise. However, several informal or imprecise phrases reduce the essay’s academic tone: “way more people,” “put a huge dent,” and “way more safer.” There are also spelling errors, including “accomodate,” “atleast,” and “soving,” and “throw away” is less suitable than a more formal expression in this context. Aim for consistent formal wording and check spelling carefully. More precise terms for density, waste generation, and security would also help you express the argument without relying on broad claims.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including a concession in “Despite the advantages … I somewhat disagree” and a conditional clause beginning “if such huge amounts of garbage isn’t picked up.” Most sentences communicate their meaning, but some grammatical and punctuation errors remain. “This makes them way more safer” uses a double comparative, while “a building … with 8 apartments throws” has an awkward singular subject for the intended general claim. The conclusion contains a sentence fragment: “However, due to the security risks … and the amount of pollution they cause.” The conditional sentence also shifts between plural “amounts” and singular “isn’t.” Review agreement, comparative forms, and sentence boundaries, while continuing to use varied structures.

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