Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-11-04

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 recent years, building of tall apartment blocks in large cities to provide enough homes has become a widely debated issue. On the one hand, some people believe that building tall apartments residences in urban areas is a good development to accomodate people. While, on the other hand, some people believe that building of tall apartment is not beneficial for peopel. In my opinion, I strongly agree with the view that the best way to provide enough homes in urban area is to develop tall residential buildings. This essay will explain the main reasons for my position.

To commence with, development of tall apartments in cities is quite beneficial for every individual. One of the main reasons for building tall apartment blocks is that the land in the major cities is scarce and extremely expensive. To illustrate, as the population increase it becomes difficult to accomodate people in houses or low-rise builings, High-rise buildings allows millions of people to live within a relatively small area, making efficient use of valueable land. Moreover, tall apartment buildings also preserves farmland and greenspaces. Furthermore, modern apartment blocks are ussually planned near publice services. To substantiate my point, these towers are located near schools, shopping centers, malls and public transport services. Therefore, development of tall apartment compounds is beneficial or people as local residents can enjoy easier access to public services and can live in a well developed and reasonable area.

In contrast, some people argue that building of tall apartment blocks is not a best way. As we all know, people feel that tall buildings may create overcrowded living conditions. For instances, if large number population will be accomodated in a tower it will create extra crowd and poor living standards. In the same fashion, some people believe that tall

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

Your position is clear in the introduction: you strongly agree that tall residential buildings are the best way to provide homes. You give relevant reasons, including scarce urban land, preserving farmland and green space, and access to public services. However, the response only partly develops the task: the opposing view is introduced, but the final paragraph stops mid-sentence at “some people believe that tall”, so the counterargument and your response to it are not explained. Several supporting points are also asserted rather than illustrated or explored. To strengthen the response, complete the discussion of disadvantages and explain why your preferred approach remains better, using a specific example or fuller reasoning for each main point.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, a paragraph supporting your view and a contrasting paragraph. Linking expressions such as “To illustrate”, “Moreover” and “In contrast” help signal relationships between ideas. However, progression is uneven: the final paragraph ends abruptly, leaving the contrast incomplete, and several connectors (“Furthermore”, “Therefore”, “In the same fashion”) make the writing feel formulaic rather than showing precise links. Some ideas within the main paragraph also accumulate without a clear hierarchy. Organise each body paragraph around one central claim, explain it, and then give an example. Ensure the conclusion or final paragraph completes the argument and clearly reconnects to your stated position.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a relevant range of topic vocabulary, including “high-rise buildings”, “scarce”, “farmland”, “greenspaces” and “public transport services”. These choices make the subject clear, and some phrasing, such as “making efficient use of valuable land”, is appropriate for an academic essay. However, spelling and word-choice errors are noticeable, including “accomodate”, “peopel”, “builings”, “ussually” and “publice”. There are also awkward or repetitive combinations such as “building of tall apartment” and “apartment compounds”. These do not prevent understanding, but they reduce precision and naturalness. Check spelling carefully and learn common collocations for housing and urban development; vary repeated references to “building” and “people” with accurate alternatives.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including a conditional-style example beginning “if large number population will be accomodated” and a relative clause in “making efficient use of valuable land”. The main ideas are generally understandable, but errors in agreement, articles and sentence construction occur across the response. For example, “as the population increase” needs subject–verb agreement, while “High-rise buildings allows” has a plural subject with a singular verb. The opening “While, on the other hand” is an incomplete or awkwardly punctuated construction, and “if large number population will be accomodated” is not grammatically well formed. Practise accurate clause patterns and check each sentence for a clear subject, verb agreement and appropriate articles.

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