Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-22

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)

It is often debated that the best way to accomodate people in big cities, is to construct skyscrapers. I partly agree with the opinion of building tall appartments but there are also other ways to address this issue such as provision of good education, more job oppurtunities and advance health care facilities in developing regions of countries.

Some people argue that nowadays greater strength of population is moving towards metropolitan cities for higher studies, treatments or working in multinational companies; there should be some planning to settle them in respective areas. According to them, government should take initiative to involve builders for the construction and design of huge buildings so that more communities can be adjusted in a limited areas. Such measures are already taken by China, Toku and USA, to provide residency to more population.

On the other hand, this is a temporary solution, on broad spectrum only provision of space is not enough, for increasing number of population there should be more basic facilities. These measures will ultimately lead to high living cost in big cities will squeeze more strenght in a limited areas. The long term solution to this problem is to develop the peripheral regions of country, after proper planning and designating funds for more educational institutes, factories and hospitals for people.

In conclusion, for the time being constructing tall buildings is a better way to fight against this issue for

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You present a partly agreeing position and give relevant reasons: tall buildings can house more people, while investment in education, jobs and healthcare outside major cities could reduce pressure on them. However, the response addresses the question only partially because the alternative measures take up much of the discussion without clearly explaining how they compare with building apartment blocks as a way to provide homes. The examples of China, “Toku” and the USA are asserted rather than explained, and the conclusion is unfinished, ending with “a better way to fight against this issue for”. The response is also 15 words below the required minimum. Develop the comparison, support claims with a specific example, and complete the conclusion so your position and reasoning are fully clear.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, two contrasting body paragraphs and a conclusion. Phrases such as “On the other hand” and “In conclusion” help signal the direction of the argument. However, progression is uneven: the first body paragraph focuses on migration to cities and government involvement, while the next shifts to living costs and regional development without fully connecting these points to the central comparison. Some links are difficult to follow, particularly “These measures will ultimately lead to high living cost…” because the reference to “These measures” is unclear. The conclusion is incomplete, which also leaves the argument without a clear ending. Use topic sentences that directly answer the question and make each paragraph develop one connected reason.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant topic vocabulary, including “metropolitan cities,” “multinational companies,” “peripheral regions” and “educational institutes.” These choices show an attempt to discuss urban housing and regional development beyond basic terms. However, spelling and word-choice errors are noticeable, including “accomodate,” “appartments,” “oppurtunities” and “strenght.” Some expressions are also unnatural or imprecise: “greater strength of population” does not clearly mean a growing number of people, and “adjusted in a limited areas” is not an appropriate collocation for housing residents. Aim for accurate, natural combinations such as “accommodate a growing population” and “house more residents in a limited area.” Proofreading spelling and checking collocations would make your meaning more precise.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, including clauses beginning “so that” and “after,” and the overall meaning is usually recoverable. However, complex sentences are often faulty, and errors sometimes make relationships between ideas unclear. For example, “there should be some planning to settle them in respective areas” lacks a clear grammatical reference, while “These measures will ultimately lead to high living cost in big cities will squeeze…” combines clauses without a workable structure. There are also problems with articles, number and agreement, as in “in a limited areas” and “government should take initiative.” The final sentence is incomplete. Practise separating long ideas into complete sentences, and check articles, singular/plural forms and clause boundaries before submitting.

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