Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
Nowadays, it is being said by real estate experts or people, that sky high apartments are the most efficient way to fulfil people's needs in big cities, because a taller building gives benefit such as low rent, which could be beneficial for students and individuals who comes for work. In my view, I agree with the idea, because it has two big reasons which i will discuss in below paragraph.
Initially, this approach could be a great idea to built an infrastructure, and helping to grow a economy indirectly. There are a few important reasons, which tells how it impacts on economy. For example, if builders make apartments in popular large cities, it will highly attract the abroad students as their main customers, because apartment is affordable for them, and also can be a good place to find opportunities nearby. As a result, it gives advantage to builders, and students will get flexible opportunites. Thus , those students and a single building can help to grow economy.
On the other hand, environmentally it is a great preferrable choice to make a building rather than single houses. Buildings can be made within small areas, with many common facilities available, and empty lands are perfect to plant trees. As they will keep air quality stable, and absorb pollution. Also, those empty places can be used to make any other structure, which benefits to residents. For example, park areas, public garden, cycle tracks, food stalls etc.
To conclude, tall apartments are best way to provide as a home, because it eases for the students, residents, and also, for the government itself. As a result, everyone gets their own need. So far, I agree with the statement that says, apartments are great choice to provide as a homes.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0
Your position is clear: you agree that tall apartments are an effective way to provide homes, and you give two relevant reasons—economic benefits and more space for greenery and shared facilities. The examples of students, parks and cycle tracks help connect your points to city life. However, the economic argument is not fully explained: the link between attracting international students, builders’ advantages and broader economic growth needs clearer reasoning. The environmental point is also somewhat general; explain how building upwards specifically preserves land compared with other housing options. To strengthen the response, develop each main idea with a more precise explanation and a concrete example, while also addressing possible limitations of apartment blocks before reaffirming your position.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0
The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, two body paragraphs and a conclusion, and the paragraphs each focus on a main reason. Sequencing phrases such as “Initially,” “On the other hand,” and “To conclude” make the overall direction easy to follow. However, some links are mechanical or do not accurately express the relationship between ideas. “On the other hand” suggests a contrast, although the environmental point supports your agreement. The reference in “those students and a single building” is also unclear, and “As they will keep air quality stable” does not connect smoothly to the preceding sentence. Use transitions that reflect the logic, and make pronouns and cause-and-effect links explicit to improve cohesion.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
You use a relevant range of vocabulary, including “affordable,” “opportunities,” “common facilities,” “air quality” and “absorb pollution,” which helps communicate the main ideas. There are also attempts at topic-specific phrasing, such as “sky high apartments.” However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, including “gives benefit,” “a great preferrable choice,” “flexible opportunites” and “provide as a home.” Spelling errors such as “opportunites” and “preferrable” also reduce accuracy. Aim for natural combinations and precise terms rather than adding elaborate wording; for example, describe apartments as “cost-effective” or say they “provide housing.” Proofreading for spelling and repeated phrasing would make your vocabulary more effective.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including conditional phrasing (“if builders make apartments…”) and clauses explaining reasons and results. The main ideas remain understandable, but some grammatical errors occur across the response. Examples include “people who comes” instead of “people who come,” “a economy” instead of “an economy,” and “a great idea to built” instead of “a great idea to build.” The sentence beginning “As they will keep air quality stable” is a fragment, while “which tells how it impacts” has an unclear subject and agreement. Review subject–verb agreement, articles, infinitive forms and complete sentence structure. Building accurate complex sentences before making them longer will improve control and readability.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.