Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-27

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 believe that the best method to provide people with enough homes in the big cities is to build large apartments. In this essay i will discuss this view and give my own opinion.

On the one hand, some say that it is the best way to make tall building blocks to fit people in large cities. This is because in populated cities there is less space for people to build their own homes, as well as less money to buy themselves their own houses in such expensive cities. For example, in Pakistan, Karachi is the most populated city, where there is no place for people to build their own houses, so there are a lot of buildings there to provide people with enough homes in such city. However, this idea is way better for people who can not afford their own houses, so they have an option to live in an apartment block.

On the other hand, some people disagree with this statement. This is because they think people can not live their lives as good as they can if they live in single houses outside the apartments. For example, they can not see the sky from their apartments. Moreover, the children can not play outside their homes whenever they want. However, most people believe that apartment life is very different.

In conclusion, I believe that it is a good idea that people should be provided with enough homes in crowded cities by providing big apartments. This is because they can not afford expances of their single house building or there is no such space for people to build houses in crowded cities.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address the topic and state a clear preference for apartment blocks in the introduction and conclusion. The Karachi example is relevant and helps explain the pressure on space, while affordability is another appropriate reason. However, the discussion is only partly developed: the opposing view that apartment residents have less access to the sky and outdoor play is mentioned but not explained in depth, and “most people believe that apartment life is very different” does not clarify the point. Your position would be more convincing if you explained how high-rise housing can accommodate more households and acknowledged practical limits, such as the need for shared outdoor areas or good facilities.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable introduction, two contrasting body paragraphs and a conclusion, and signposting such as “On the one hand,” “On the other hand” and “In conclusion” makes the broad structure easy to follow. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes unclear. In the first body paragraph, the point about limited space and cost leads to the Karachi example, but the final sentence repeats the affordability argument rather than extending it. The second paragraph also ends with a vague statement about apartment life. Some linking is mechanical, particularly the repeated use of “However.” Develop each paragraph around one main claim, connect examples directly to that claim, and use clearer references to avoid repetition.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use enough topic-related vocabulary to communicate the main ideas, including “populated cities,” “single houses” and “apartment block.” However, the range is limited and several phrases are repetitive or imprecise, such as “provide people with enough homes,” “big apartments” and “single house building.” Some choices make the meaning less natural, including “fit people in large cities” and “live their lives as good as they can.” Spelling errors such as “expances” also reduce accuracy. Aim for more precise housing vocabulary and natural collocations, for example, describing housing as “high-density” or discussing the “cost of constructing a detached house.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including clauses with “because,” “where” and “if,” and the overall meaning is generally understandable. However, control is uneven, especially in longer sentences. For example, “people can not live their lives as good as they can if they live in single houses” has an awkward comparative structure; “as well as less money to buy themselves their own houses” is not smoothly integrated into its sentence; and “I” should be capitalised. There are also repeated forms such as “can not,” which should be written as “cannot.” Work on building accurate complex sentences and checking comparisons, clause structure, capitalisation and punctuation before finishing.

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