Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-31

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)

I thought that this is a reasonable way to providing a living home, it's a good way to take approach of space in big cities. Nevertheless, there could be a higher standard qualities that needs to be in order for considering this building as a liveable space, like basic services, safety measures and behaviours rules, a habitable space needs all this.

It can be metioned that buildings in big cities tend to be cheaper and is usually the first option for foreign people, also moderns one may offered with some ameneties like pool or even gym. In term of space, there's some regulations that avoid abusive short space or lack of essential elements like a bathroom or a kitchen, obviously this depend of country's laws.

On other hand, more buildings demands more protocols, because there're more persons living around. For instance, it's need an exit scape for emergency, hose and extinguishers in every floor on the building and so. Also, the noisy is bigger and in some way there's a exposition to dangers for imprundency of others persons that living in.

Admittedly, this is one of the most used approach in big cities like New York, Sidney, Ottawa and so; with time turn to be expensive because prices tend to rise, being one of the biggest problem to face currently.

It's true that to maintain a group of people living in the lowest space possible, this's the best approach, obviously it carried some challenges, there's nothing that can't be fixed.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You give a generally relevant response and indicate qualified agreement: tall buildings can accommodate many people in limited urban space, but they also require safety measures and can present challenges. The examples of emergency exits and fire equipment help explain one concern. However, the position is not consistently clear: the opening calls the approach reasonable, while the conclusion says it is “the best approach” without clearly weighing it against alternatives. Several points, such as rising prices and amenities, are mentioned but not sufficiently connected to whether tall blocks are the best way to provide enough homes. Develop fewer points more fully and explain why vertical housing is preferable or insufficient compared with other solutions.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable paragraph structure, moving from your view to advantages, disadvantages, and a concluding statement. Linking expressions such as “Nevertheless,” “On other hand,” and “Admittedly” signal shifts in direction. However, the overall progression is not always easy to follow because some paragraphs combine loosely related points—for example, the paragraph about affordability moves from foreign residents to amenities and then regulations. Connections between ideas are sometimes unclear, and the conclusion introduces the idea of keeping people in the “lowest space possible” rather than neatly summarising the argument. Organise each body paragraph around one main claim, then use clear explanation and an example to develop it.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You attempt vocabulary relevant to housing and urban life, including “amenities,” “regulations,” “essential elements,” and “emergency.” This gives you some useful topic-specific language, but the range is limited and several inaccurate word choices or forms make parts difficult to understand. Examples include “a living home,” “take approach of space,” “the noisy is bigger,” and “a exposition to dangers.” There are also spelling errors such as “metioned,” “ameneties,” and “imprundency.” Aim for accurate, natural collocations rather than translating phrases directly. Building a set of expressions for housing density, affordability, safety, and urban planning would help you express your ideas more precisely.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including clauses introduced by “because” and “that,” but control is inconsistent. Errors in agreement and verb forms appear in phrases such as “qualities that needs,” “buildings … is usually,” and “modern ones may offered.” Sentence construction also breaks down in “it's need an exit scape” and “this's the best approach,” while comma splices join independent ideas in the opening and conclusion. These problems sometimes make the intended meaning difficult to follow. Practise forming complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, and check agreement, articles, and verb forms. Using a few accurate complex sentences is more effective than attempting longer structures that become difficult to control.

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