Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-24

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)

Some people argued that the shortage of accommodations will be solved by constructing high-rise buildings in the big cities. I believe that it would be a beneficial measure but urban planning is also equally important.

The population of the large cities is increasing with time as people from villages and suburb areas tend to migrate to the cities. Because cities provide more facilities and conveniences to the residents. As a result, slum area is overpopulated with immigrants from other sub areas. It's creating negative impacts on the environment of the big cities. By constructing multi-storey building the additional people will be provided with accommodation.

However, only building multiple tall apartment blocks will not be enough to accommodate the increased population. Urban planning plays a crucial role to provide an appropriate environment to the general people. For instance, to create open spaces for building high-rise tower blocks, massive deforestation will be done. As a result, the environment will be hampered to maintain its harmony. By urban planning the balance between city life and nature can be assured by the authority. The government should take proper steps to plan the big cities besides building multi storey apartment blocks.

In conclusion, only constructing high rise building will not be enough, urban planning will also plays a crucial role in maintaining a balanced city life.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You present a relevant, consistent position: high-rise housing can help, but it should be accompanied by urban planning. The response explains the pressure created by migration to cities and gives a reason planning matters, using the example of deforestation to create space. However, the discussion is brief and some claims are not fully explained—for example, how apartment blocks would address overcrowding in slum areas, or what planning measures could provide enough homes while protecting the environment. The conclusion restates your view but does not add support. The response is also 29 words below the required minimum, which limits the opportunity to develop and illustrate your ideas. Extend the explanation with specific examples and address more directly whether tall blocks are the best way to provide enough homes.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The essay has a clear overall structure: an introduction states your position, the body paragraphs present the housing benefit and the need for planning, and the conclusion summarises your view. Linking phrases such as “As a result,” “However,” and “For instance” help show relationships between ideas. Some connections are less smooth or clear, though. “Because cities provide more facilities and conveniences to the residents” is a sentence fragment, and the link between migration, slum overcrowding, and the environmental impact could be made more explicit. The second body paragraph also moves quickly from open spaces to deforestation and then to urban planning. Use fuller transitions and develop each point in a clearer sequence so the reader can follow the reasoning without having to infer links.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a relevant range of topic vocabulary, including “shortage of accommodations,” “high-rise buildings,” “urban planning,” “overpopulated,” and “deforestation.” These choices make the subject clear, and some phrases show an attempt to use more formal language. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward, such as “suburb areas,” “general people,” “the environment will be hampered,” and “maintaining a balanced city life.” “Accommodation” is also more natural as an uncountable noun in this context. These issues do not prevent the reader from understanding your main points, but they reduce precision. Aim for natural combinations such as “suburban areas,” “the general public,” and “the environment will be harmed.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including a conditional-style explanation with “By constructing multi-storey building…” and a contrast introduced by “However.” The main ideas remain understandable, but errors in sentence construction and agreement recur. “Because cities provide more facilities and conveniences to the residents” is a dependent clause presented as a complete sentence. In “only constructing high rise building will not be enough,” the singular/plural form is inconsistent, and “urban planning will also plays” incorrectly combines “will” with a finite verb ending. There are also article and number errors in phrases such as “slum area” and “multi-storey building.” Check that each sentence has a complete main clause, and review subject–verb agreement, articles, and plural forms.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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