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)
The growing population increase the shortage of housing in large cities. Where few people believe that building tall apartments which cover less space and accomodate multiple people.I strongly believe that tall buildings are most approperiate solution to overcome the housing shortage and outweight the disadvantages.
On the one hand, people who think that large buildings have more advantages and approperiate solution to provide high_risk apartments to people. Because it can covers less space then providing big houses to individual person or family. Big apartments not only provide extra space to build other buildings but if it's designed accurately it will be convenient and affpordable too. Like in Singapore they construct more tall buildings instead of high rise housing to accomodate people because the country is already over crowded and its nearly impossible to provide individual housing to everyone.
In contrast, people who think that these building have more disadvantages then benefits. Because if it's not manufacture appropriately it will be dangerous while earthquakes due to the hights of the building and in these needs to provide multiple facilities. For example, Lifts, balconies for ventilation electricuty and good sewerage system.In Addition instead of building tall apartments. government should building low_rise housing outside the cities and provide them convenient and affordable transport to overcome the shortage of housing.
In conclusion, I largely support the idea og building tall housing because it is more suitable and convevient if people need nay thing to they can reach the grocery stores, can get medical assistance in any emergency and easy to reach their offices.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0
Your position is clear: you strongly support tall apartment buildings, and you also acknowledge concerns about safety and facilities. The Singapore example and the points about using less land and providing access to services are relevant to the question. However, the discussion is uneven: the advantages are explained more fully, while the disadvantages are listed briefly, and the suggestion to build low-rise housing outside cities is not connected clearly to your overall argument. To strengthen the response, explain how the benefits outweigh the risks and develop one or two examples in more detail, such as how careful design can reduce earthquake-related danger.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0
The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, two contrasting body paragraphs and a conclusion, so the reader can follow the broad direction of your argument. Linking phrases such as “On the one hand,” “In contrast” and “In conclusion” help signal these stages. However, some connections are mechanical or unclear. For example, the body paragraphs begin with sentence fragments starting “Because,” and the shift from tall buildings to low-rise housing outside cities needs a clearer explanation of how this alternative fits your position. Group related points into complete sentences and use pronouns or linking expressions with clear references to improve the flow between ideas.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
You use some topic-related vocabulary, including “housing shortage,” “over crowded,” “earthquakes,” “ventilation” and “sewerage system,” which helps communicate the subject. However, the range and control are limited, and several inaccurate word choices or spellings make parts of the response difficult to interpret. For instance, “high_risk apartments” does not express the intended idea, while “manufacture appropriately” is not a natural way to describe constructing buildings. There are also repeated basic terms such as “people,” “buildings” and “provide.” Build a more precise vocabulary for housing and urban planning, and check spelling and collocations so that your meaning is consistently clear.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including the contrast in “not only provide extra space … but if it’s designed accurately…” and the conditional idea about buildings being dangerous if poorly made. However, some sentence structures are incomplete or faulty, which sometimes interrupts the reader. For example, “Where few people believe…” is not a complete sentence, and “Because it can covers less space” has an incorrect verb form. There are also agreement and article problems, as in “The growing population increase” and “most appropriate solution.” Aim to make each sentence complete, check subject–verb agreement and verb forms, and use punctuation to separate the list of facilities clearly.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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