Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · 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 4.5)

As far as the topic of building tall appartments in large cities is concerned, there are both agreements and disagreements to this statement. This issue is a subject of ongoing debate in recent years due to its influence as it has both positive and negative effects. However, I think that its advantages outweighs its disadvantages. This essay will further elaborate my views for favouring positive or negative side of it and thus will fall to a logical conclusion.

Many individuals believe that building tall appartment blocks in big urban cities allow peoples to shift to cities due to rapid economic and culture growth. Also the rapid growth in Job and Education sector forces them to shift to large cities as the standard of education in small cities is

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.5

The response identifies the topic and gives a general position: “I think that its advantages outweighs its disadvantages.” It also begins a relevant reason, linking apartment blocks to urban growth and employment and education opportunities. However, the task asks whether tall blocks are the best way to provide enough homes, and the response does not explain how they increase housing supply or compare them with alternatives. The opposing view is promised in the introduction but not developed, and the final sentence is unfinished. The response is also 122 words below the required minimum, leaving the argument substantially incomplete. To strengthen it, state your degree of agreement clearly, develop specific reasons with examples, address a counterargument, and finish with a conclusion that answers the question directly.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

There is a recognisable opening, followed by the start of a body paragraph, and the ideas are broadly connected to the topic. Linking expressions such as “However” and “Also” show an attempt to guide the reader. Nevertheless, the overall progression is incomplete: the introduction announces that the essay will discuss both sides, but only one reason begins to appear, and the response ends mid-sentence. Phrases such as “This essay will further elaborate my views” do not establish a clear plan because the promised discussion does not follow. Develop a complete paragraph for each main point, use clear topic sentences, and add a conclusion. Ensure each paragraph moves logically from claim to explanation and example.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The response uses some topic-relevant vocabulary, including “tall apartment blocks,” “large cities,” “economic and culture growth,” and “standard of education.” This gives the reader a basic sense of the subject, and phrases such as “ongoing debate” show an attempt to use more formal language. However, several choices are inaccurate or awkward, including “there are both agreements and disagreements to this statement,” “shift to cities,” and “Job and Education sector.” Spelling errors in “appartments” and “appartment” also reduce accuracy. Aim for more natural collocations and precise terms, such as “supporters and opponents,” “move to cities,” and “employment and education opportunities.” A broader range of vocabulary would also help explain housing supply and urban planning.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts both simple and more complex sentence forms, including the opening sentence with “As far as…” and the sentence beginning “Many individuals believe that…”. Meaning is generally understandable, but errors in agreement and sentence construction are noticeable. For example, “its advantages outweighs its disadvantages” should use “outweigh,” and “building tall apartment blocks … allow peoples” has a mismatch between the gerund subject and verb, as well as an incorrect plural form. The final clause, “as the standard of education in small cities is,” is incomplete and leaves the reader without the intended comparison. Practise checking subject–verb agreement and completing subordinate clauses, while using a wider range of sentence patterns accurately.

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

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