Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-21

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)

It is often argued by some people that the best way to provide enough homes is to build high-rise buildings. Although some might disagree with this notion, I partially agree that tall apartments could be the best way to provide homes in big cities. Not only because of limited land but also because of affordable housing.

There are multiple benefits associated with constructing tall apartments. Firstly, it would be beneficial to build high-rise buildings due to limited land. For instance, in big cities i.e. Lahore and Islamabad, almost hundred families can live in tall apartments because individual houses require a lot of land. In big cities, plots are very expensive so low- and middle-class people can also afford housing expenses. In contrast to individual houses flats are affordable for everyone.

On the other hand, build tall apartments are not enough because it can cause problems like overcrowding, pollution e.t.c. As many people start living in one place it can cause overcrowding, traffic congestion and pressure on public services. For example, this can cause overcrowding in schools, hospitals, water areas and in public transports. Elder people also face difficulty because they can't go for a walk, they can't sleep well due to heavy traffic noise which results in health problems. They spend whole day in homes which also cause mental illness and depression.

To sum up, I partially agree with this notion because it although have some benefits and drawbacks too. To build tall apartments can save land and money but it leads to many other problems like traffic congestion, pollution and in public services. Children can't take part in physical activities. Government should also improve affordable housing and public facilities.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

Your position is clear: you partially agree that high-rise housing is a useful solution, while recognising its drawbacks. You address both sides and give relevant examples, including limited land and the effects of congestion on residents. The Lahore and Islamabad example helps connect the argument to real cities. However, some points are asserted rather than fully explained: the claim that flats are affordable “for everyone” is too broad, and the discussion of older people, children and public services introduces several consequences without developing one in depth. To strengthen the response, explain more precisely how apartment construction can increase housing supply and under what conditions its disadvantages can be managed. This would make the support more consistently developed.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, a paragraph supporting high-rise housing, a paragraph outlining disadvantages, and a conclusion. Signposting such as “Firstly,” “On the other hand” and “To sum up” makes the main stages easy to follow. The progression within paragraphs is generally logical, moving from limited land to affordability, and then from density to pressure on services. Some linking is mechanical, however, and the final paragraph repeats points already made rather than bringing them together in a more developed conclusion. References such as “this” in “this can cause overcrowding” are not always precise about which effect is meant. Use a wider range of natural links and make each reference explicit to improve flow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough topic-related vocabulary to communicate the main ideas, including “high-rise buildings,” “limited land,” “traffic congestion,” “public services” and “affordable housing.” These terms are relevant and generally understandable. However, the range is limited by repetition of “big cities,” “tall apartments” and “cause,” and some word choices or collocations are inaccurate or awkward, such as “water areas,” “public transports” and “housing expenses.” “Elder people” is also less natural than the usual expression for this group. Aim to use more precise terms for urban infrastructure and vary verbs describing effects. Greater accuracy and flexibility in these choices would make the argument clearer and more fluent.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including the contrast in “Although some might disagree…” and the cause-and-effect sentence beginning “As many people start living…”. Most of the meaning remains clear, but some grammatical errors recur. For example, “build tall apartments are not enough” needs a gerund subject (“building tall apartments”), while “it can cause” does not agree clearly with the plural “apartments.” The conclusion’s “because it although have” also has faulty clause structure and verb agreement. There are some errors in articles and sentence construction, as in “almost hundred families.” Practise checking subject–verb agreement and forming complete clauses, while retaining your attempts at complex sentences.

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