Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-29

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 recent years, the arising issue is that how to manage housing for large number of population in the urban areas. Some people believe that building large apartment blocks is the best way to overcome this issue. I completely agree with this idea and in this essay i will support my opinion with examples.

Firstly, constructing tall buildings in the urban areas is the best solution in order to provide houses to a large number of people. Put simply, it provides a benefit in case of a shortage of space, which is a big problem in cities. For example, if a building with large number of apartments is constructed, it will offer a wide range of residences to larger number of people. So, the remaining space can be used for other purposes.

Another reason why i agree with this idea is that it helps people who are really suffering from ecomical problems. For instance, providing a small apartment with low rent rates could be more beneficial for them rather then buying a large house with lots of expensis. Living in a building occupied by different kinds of individuals allows people to communicate with them and make good relationships.

In conclusion, constructing taller apartments is the best solution to provide accomodation to a large number of people living in urban areas. I strongly agree with this statement because it provides a large number of benefits to the individuals of cities.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

Your position is clear from the introduction (“I completely agree”) and remains consistent in the conclusion. You give two relevant reasons: tall buildings use scarce urban land efficiently, and smaller apartments may be more affordable for people with financial difficulties. However, the response addresses the task only partially because these points are not developed in enough detail. The claim that remaining space can serve other purposes is not illustrated, and the affordability point would benefit from explaining how apartment construction affects housing costs. The social benefit of residents forming relationships is also introduced without being connected clearly to why this is the best way to provide enough homes. The response is 10 words below the required minimum, so add further relevant explanation and examples.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a coherent overall arrangement: an introduction, two body paragraphs presenting separate reasons, and a conclusion that restates your view. Sequencing phrases such as “Firstly,” “Another reason,” and “In conclusion” make the progression easy to follow. Some cohesion is mechanical, however, because the paragraphs rely heavily on these signposts and repeated references to “this idea” and “this issue.” Connections between claims could also be clearer. For example, the sentence about residents communicating and forming relationships follows the point about low rent, but the link between affordability and social interaction is not explained. Develop each paragraph around one main reason, then use clearer references and transitions to show how each example supports that reason.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough topic-related vocabulary to communicate your main ideas, including “shortage of space,” “low rent rates,” and “urban areas.” There are also attempts at more specific phrasing, such as “a wide range of residences.” However, the range is limited and some word choices or collocations are inaccurate, which keeps the expression from being consistently precise. Examples include “arising issue” for a growing problem, “ecomical problems” for financial difficulties, and “provide houses” where “provide housing” would be more natural. Spelling errors such as “expensis” and “accomodation” are noticeable. Aim to use accurate housing-related collocations and check spelling carefully; this will make your argument sound clearer and more natural.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple sentences and some longer structures, including a conditional example beginning “if a building … is constructed” and a relative clause in “a building occupied by different kinds of individuals.” The overall meaning is generally understandable, but there are some errors in sentence structure, articles, and punctuation. For example, “the arising issue is that how to manage housing” has an incorrect clause pattern; write “the issue is how to provide housing.” In “for large number of population,” articles and number need correction, and “i” should be capitalised. The sentence beginning “For example, if…” also needs a comma after its introductory clause. Practise accurate complex clauses and article use while retaining the variety of sentence forms you already attempt.

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