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)

Nowadays, the population is increasing in cities, so the good way to provide more homes in big cities which have more population is to construct tall buildings and apartment blocks. I strongly agree with this view, because more people live in cities and few houses are available and people are allowed to live in limited areas.

There are several advantages to building tall apartment blocks in cities. Firstly, more individuals are moving to cities from villages for better education, healthcare and better facilities. For example, if people are moving to cities from rural areas for better opportunities, the population of cities is increasing and the number of houses are limited, so in this case people living in tall buildings. However, they build their career in big cities, find good jobs and learn in better universities in a peaceful environment.

As for the reason, governments constructed buildings and apartments for the help of individuals, this is especially useful in big cities where land is limited.

Meanwhile, another benefit is people living in near important facilities. For instance, many this type of modern buildings are constructed in near to schools, hospitals, malls and shopping centers. This is to help people to make daily life much easier and save a lot of time. Moreover, these type of apartments provide many facilities such as parking areas, lifting and security systems.

Furthermore, constructed tall buildings and apartment blocks are not the only solution, because many people want to build their own houses and they want privacy and to live in open space. In addition, big buildings can create traffic problems and put pressure on water supplies and electricity. However, governments allow people to build their houses and they can provide better facilities to individuals.

In conclusion, this is a good method to provide more homes in big cities by constructing tall buildings and apartment blocks. However, it is good for people to live in better facilities and they can grow their career to do good jobs and learn in a better environment. Although having houses is good for individuals who live in privacy and more space. In addition, governments should also consider other housing options to provide a better living environment.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

Your position is clear: you strongly agree that tall apartment blocks can help provide homes, and you give relevant reasons, including limited land, access to services and shared facilities. You also acknowledge drawbacks such as reduced privacy, traffic and pressure on utilities, so the response addresses both the main proposal and alternatives. However, several points remain general or are not fully explained. For example, the claim that residents can build careers and study “in a peaceful environment” is not clearly connected to high-rise housing, and the final paragraph repeats benefits rather than weighing them against the disadvantages. Develop each main reason with a specific explanation or example, and make your conclusion state more precisely why high-rise construction is the best approach despite its limitations.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, paragraphs presenting benefits and drawbacks, and a conclusion. Sequencing words such as “Firstly,” “Meanwhile,” “Furthermore” and “In conclusion” help signal the stages of the argument. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes unclear, and some links feel mechanical or do not show the relationship between ideas. The sentence beginning “For example” combines migration, housing shortages and career opportunities without clearly explaining how one leads to the next. “As for the reason” also introduces a point whose connection to the preceding example is uncertain. Improve cohesion by grouping one central idea per paragraph, using clear references to earlier points, and explaining the logical link rather than relying mainly on transition phrases.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough topic-related vocabulary to communicate the main ideas, including “population,” “limited areas,” “privacy,” “water supplies” and “security systems.” There are also attempts at more specific language, such as “rural areas” and “better opportunities.” However, the range is limited by repeated general words and phrases, particularly “people,” “better” and “buildings,” and some combinations are unnatural or imprecise, such as “people living in near important facilities” and “many this type of modern buildings.” These choices sometimes make the intended meaning less clear. Aim for more precise housing and urban-planning vocabulary, and check that words combine naturally. For example, describe residents as having “easy access to amenities” rather than simply being near facilities.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including clauses with “because,” “if” and “although,” and the overall meaning is generally understandable. However, errors in sentence structure and grammatical forms occur often enough to make some sentences difficult to follow. Examples include “the number of houses are limited,” where the subject and verb do not agree, and “people living in tall buildings,” which is an incomplete clause in its context. There are also problems with articles, plurals and prepositions, as in “these type of apartments” and “constructed in near to schools.” Practise building complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, then check agreement and noun forms. Breaking long sentences into shorter, accurately controlled units would also improve clarity.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.