Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-23

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)

In the contemparery era , the shortage of housing has become major problem due to increasing propolation . some people believe that constructing tall apartments blocks are the best way to provide sufficant accomodation . I largely agree with this view because tall buildings provide more space to people and help to reducing house shortage promblem .

On the one hand , tall buildings provide homes to large propostion of people in small area . In major cities land is exorbidant and limited space so build individual houses is not possible . Buildings help to make better use of land because it provide better acomodation to many families . These buildings can build near the school , workplace , public transport system and shops so that make daily life more convenient .

Nevertheless , tall apartment also controle wide spread of urban area . If more people live in high buildings then agriculture land remain save . However , this approach also carry some drawbacks . These buildings become overcrowed it put strain on apartment servies . so city planners should ensure that this buildings carry adequate facilities . The residents also have limited private space . Tis would help ensure that people would take all faclities easily while adressing house shortage .

In conculsion , tall buildings help to tackle hosue shortage problem . I largely agree with this . This acommodation allow people to live in limited space so that land will save for cultivation . carefull planning is essentinal for living .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

Your position is clear from the introduction: you largely agree that tall apartment buildings can help address housing shortages. You give relevant reasons, including making better use of limited urban land, locating homes near services, and protecting agricultural land. You also acknowledge drawbacks such as overcrowding and limited private space, so the response considers more than one side of the issue. However, some points are asserted rather than explained. For example, the claim that buildings near schools and transport make life more convenient would be stronger with a specific example, and the discussion of overcrowding does not explain how it might be managed beyond mentioning facilities. Develop these ideas more fully and clarify how tall blocks compare with other housing solutions.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable overall structure, moving from an introduction to supporting points, a qualification, and a conclusion. Paragraphing helps distinguish the main ideas, and signposts such as “On the one hand,” “Nevertheless,” and “In conclusion” guide the reader. However, the progression within the third paragraph is not always clear: the shift from preserving agricultural land to overcrowding and then to planning facilities feels abrupt. Some linking phrases are also used mechanically, and references such as “this approach” and “this buildings” are not always clear. Organise each paragraph around one main point, connect the explanation directly to that point, and use pronouns and transitions more precisely to make the argument flow more smoothly.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant topic vocabulary, including “shortage of housing,” “limited space,” “public transport system,” “overcrowded,” and “agricultural land.” These choices show an attempt to discuss urban housing beyond very basic terms. However, spelling errors and inaccurate word forms are noticeable, for example “contemparery,” “propostion,” “accomodation,” and “exorbidant.” Some combinations are also unnatural, such as “help to reducing house shortage” and “agriculture land remain save,” which can make the intended meaning less clear. Build accuracy with common collocations and check spelling carefully. A more precise range of housing-related terms would also help you express the benefits and limitations of high-rise development more effectively.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including a reason clause in “I largely agree … because tall buildings provide more space” and a conditional structure beginning “If more people live in high buildings.” The main ideas are generally understandable, but some grammatical errors recur. Examples include subject–verb agreement in “constructing tall apartments blocks are” and “it provide,” incorrect verb patterns in “help to reducing,” and article or plural problems in “tall apartment” and “the school.” Sentence boundaries and punctuation are also inconsistent, particularly where a new sentence begins with a lower-case “so.” Review agreement, articles, plural forms, and verb patterns, then proofread punctuation. More accurate control of these structures would make your argument easier to follow.

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