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Writing Samples
Band 8

Some people argue that building high-rise apartment blocks is the best way to provide enough housing in large cities. To what extent do you agree or disagree

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Introduction
Some people believe that high-rise apartment blocks are the best way to meet housing demand in large cities. I agree that they are the best option in densely populated areas where
land
Use synonyms
 is scarce
and
Punctuation problem
, and
show examples
 public transport can serve more residents. In less crowded districts,
however
Linking Words
, mid-rise developments can provide additional housing with less pressure on local services.
Body paragraph 1
In city centres, high-rise construction can be the most effective way to increase housing supply. There are often few vacant sites in these areas, so the number of homes that can be built on each site matters.
For example
Linking Words
, replacing a small building near a railway station with a residential tower can make room for many more households on the same plot of
land
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. If trains have room for additional passengers, the new residents can commute without adding much traffic to nearby roads. Under these conditions, high-rise apartments make efficient use of both scarce
land
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 and existing transport.
Body paragraph 2
In outer districts, the balance can be different. Where more
land
Use synonyms
 is available, cities can add a substantial number of homes by building mid-rise apartments across several neighbourhoods.
For instance
Linking Words
, several six-storey blocks near different bus routes can collectively accommodate many households
while
Linking Words
 distributing the extra demand for roads, schools and water across a wider area.
This
Linking Words
 approach can be more practical where local infrastructure would struggle to serve hundreds of new residents on a single site.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I agree that high-rise apartments are the best solution in
land
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-scarce areas with sufficient transport capacity. In districts with more
land
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 and limited infrastructure, several mid-rise developments can be a better way to increase housing supply.

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task response
Your view is clear: tall blocks are best in city centres, but not always in outer areas. To make the answer even stronger, say more clearly why this is still an agreement with the main idea, rather than a partly different view.
task response
Your main points are well explained. You could add one short point about daily life in tall blocks, such as lifts, green space, or safety, to show a wider view of housing needs.
coherence and cohesion
The essay has a very clear order: your view, city-centre reasons, outer-area reasons, and a final answer. Keep using one main idea in each body part.
coherence and cohesion
The links between ideas are clear. You can make the change from city centres to outer areas even smoother with a short link such as: “However, this is not true in every part of a city.”
coherence and cohesion
The examples fit the points well. In the second body part, make the link back to the question more direct by ending with a sentence that says why mid-rise blocks may be better than tall blocks there.
task response
You answer the full question and give a clear, balanced view. Your reasons about land, transport, and local services are closely linked to housing in large cities.
task response
Your examples are useful and easy to understand. The railway-station example and the six-storey-block example clearly support your ideas.
coherence and cohesion
Each paragraph has a clear job, and the reader can follow your argument with ease.
coherence and cohesion
The opening and final paragraph match well. The final paragraph restates your main view without adding a new idea.
Fully explain your ideas

To get an excellent score in the IELTS Task 2 writing section, one of the easiest and most effective tips is structuring your writing in the most solid format. A great argument essay structure may be divided to four paragraphs, in which comprises of four sentences (excluding the conclusion paragraph, which comprises of three sentences).

For we to consider an essay structure a great one, it should be looking like this:

  • Paragraph 1 - Introduction
    • Sentence 1 - Background statement
    • Sentence 2 - Detailed background statement
    • Sentence 3 - Thesis
    • Sentence 4 - Outline sentence
  • Paragraph 2 - First supporting paragraph
    • Sentence 1 - Topic sentence
    • Sentence 2 - Example
    • Sentence 3 - Discussion
    • Sentence 4 - Conclusion
  • Paragraph 3 - Second supporting paragraph
    • Sentence 1 - Topic sentence
    • Sentence 2 - Example
    • Sentence 3 - Discussion
    • Sentence 4 - Conclusion
  • Paragraph 4 - Conclusion
    • Sentence 1 - Summary
    • Sentence 2 - Restatement of thesis
    • Sentence 3 - Prediction or recommendation

Our recommended essay structure above comprises of fifteen (15) sentences, which will make your essay approximately 250 to 275 words.

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