Travel & InfrastructureDirect QuestionAdvancedRare

IELTS Essay: Some cities create housing for growing populations by building taller buildin...

Prompt

Some cities create housing for growing populations by building taller buildings while other cities have opted to build on wider areas of land. Which solution is better?

#urban_development#housing_density#urban_sprawl#city_planning#infrastructure_efficiency

Ready?

Write this essay in 40 minutes

Start

✨

Band 7 → 9 — Band 7 writers compare approaches and justify a choice; Band 9 writers explain why context determines the optimal solution and discuss how cities might employ both strategies in different zones.

PRO

Essay #614 — part of the Pro library

The first 30 Task 2 essays are free. Upgrade to Pro to read this one plus the full Pro essay library.

Upgrade

Key concepts in this essay

vertical development: infrastructure efficiency, land preservation, but higher costs and density challenges
horizontal development: affordability, space per person, but sprawl effects and commute distances
context-specific viability (available land, construction costs, existing city form, climate)
environmental and economic consequences of each approach
hybrid approaches and mixed-density solutions

Pitfalls the model essay avoids

Choosing one approach without acknowledging genuine trade-offs inherent in each strategy
Ignoring context-dependent factors (land availability, climate, existing infrastructure, cultural preferences)
Oversimplifying to environmental concerns without discussing affordability, construction cost, or lifestyle impacts

Next in Travel & Infrastructure

See all →