Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-26

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 6.5)

Nowadays, everyone wants to live in urban areas rather than rural areas, so the demand for residential land is increasing. Some believe that it is best to provide high-rise buildings for the maximum people in large cities. I agree with this statement to a larger extent that people can live in tall buildings in large cities.

Firstly, large cities have limited land which is available for housing. It is an efficient way to use limited land for housing by build tall buildings for people. Tall buildings can accommodate large numbers of people in a small area. More people can live close to their workplaces, schools and hospitals. It is easy for people to build new relations with others due to living closely in high-rise buildings. For example, Mumbai city, which is located in India builds high-rise residential apartments due to less land for housing.

Secondly, when individuals live in tall apartment blocks it is cost-effective for people because people share their maintenance, parking and other facilities. Apartments can reduce cost of land per household, so it is affordable and convenient housing for people. It reduces too much pressure on a person's mind and improves mental health and makes a person financially stable. More housing supply may help reduce pressure on rental prices.

On the other hand, living in tall apartments can reduce the privacy of people because they have to live very close to each other. It is difficult to manage maintenance of the residential areas due to large number of people.

In conclusion, high-rise apartments are the best way for living in large cities because it is convenient and cost-effective for people and a large group of people can live together in small areas.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

Your position is clear: you agree to a large extent that high-rise apartments are an effective way to provide homes in cities. You address the main advantages—using scarce land efficiently, locating residents near services, and sharing costs—and include Mumbai as a relevant example. You also acknowledge disadvantages, so the response considers more than one side. However, the counterargument about privacy and maintenance is brief and is not weighed against your position, while claims such as improved mental health are asserted without explanation. To strengthen the response, develop these points with specific reasoning or examples and clarify why the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. This would make the argument more fully supported and balanced.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, two paragraphs supporting high-rise housing, a counterpoint, and a conclusion. Sequencing is easy to follow, and signposts such as “Firstly,” “Secondly,” and “On the other hand” help identify the stages of the argument. Some connections, however, feel mechanical, and ideas within paragraphs are occasionally placed side by side rather than developed through clear links. For example, the claim that shared facilities improve affordability is followed by a statement about mental health without explaining the connection. The conclusion repeats the main benefits but does not draw together the counterargument. Use more precise referencing and link each supporting detail explicitly to the paragraph’s main point.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of topic vocabulary, including “high-rise buildings,” “residential land,” “maintenance,” “facilities,” and “rental prices.” These choices make the subject clear, and the meaning is generally easy to understand. There are also some imprecise or unnatural expressions, such as “to a larger extent,” “build new relations,” and “reduces too much pressure on a person's mind.” Repetition of “people,” “large cities,” and “tall buildings” limits flexibility, while “by build” reflects an inaccurate word form. Aim for more precise collocations and vary repeated terms—for instance, use “to a large extent,” “form relationships,” and “ease psychological stress.” This would make the argument sound more natural and exact.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including a relative clause in “Mumbai city, which is located in India,” and a reason clause beginning “because.” Most sentences communicate their meaning, but some grammatical errors remain. For example, “by build tall buildings” needs a gerund after “by,” and “due to large number of people” requires an article. In “Mumbai city … builds high-rise residential apartments,” the subject and verb relationship is awkward, and the sentence would be clearer with a more accurate construction. The sentence beginning “It reduces too much pressure” also has an unclear reference for “It.” Review verb forms after prepositions, articles with singular countable nouns, and clear pronoun reference. More consistently accurate complex sentences would improve control.

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