Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-20

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Some people say that the only reason for learning a foreign language is in order to travel to or work in a foreign country. Others say that these are not the only reasons why someone should learn a foreign language.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 5.0)

In many countries, an increasing number of people are moving from rural areas to cities, which is causing the population of the countryside to decline. In my opinion, this is a negative development because it can create pressure on cities and reduce the population and economic activity of rural areas.

One major disadvantage is that rapid population growth can put considerable pressure on cities. When many people move to urban areas, there may be greater demand for housing, transport, healthcare and other public services. As a result, cities can experience problems such as traffic congestion, expensive housing and overcrowding. For example, when people from villages move to large cities in search of jobs, they may find it difficult to afford good accommodation, particularly if their income is low.

Another problem is that rural areas can lose a significant part of their working population. Many young people leave villages because they want better education and employment opportunities. Consequently, fewer people may remain to work in agriculture and maintain local businesses. This can also lead to the decline of small villages and communities. For instance, if most young adults leave a farming community, agricultural production may decrease and older residents may have to manage the remaining work.

However, moving to cities can provide individuals with better access to education, employment and modern facilities. Nevertheless, I believe that the disadvantages are more significant when this migration happens on a large scale and without proper planning.

In conclusion, although rural-to-urban migration can provide better opportunities for individuals, I believe that the overall development is negative because it can cause overcrowding in cities and weaken rural communities.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 1.0

There is a critical issue regarding task alignment here. The student has written a well-structured essay about rural-to-urban migration (the topic of urbanisation), whereas the actual task prompt required a discussion on the reasons for learning a foreign language (travel/work versus other personal or cognitive reasons). Because the response addresses a completely different prompt, it cannot be said to address the task. The student's position and ideas are well-developed internally, but they do not relate to the stimulus provided. Therefore, under the official band descriptors, the response falls into the minimum task achievement category for being completely off-topic.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

Despite the severe off-topic nature of the content, the formal structure of the essay demonstrates strong structural awareness. The writer uses clear paragraphing with distinct introduction, body, and conclusion paragraphs. Cohesive devices are used appropriately, such as 'One major disadvantage,' 'Another problem,' 'Consequently,' and 'In conclusion.' Ideas are logically sequenced within paragraphs, and referencing is handled smoothly throughout. If the essay were on-topic, this control of cohesion and paragraphing would comfortably place it in the Band 7 range.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary used throughout the essay is generally natural and appropriate for academic writing. The student successfully employs terms such as 'population of the countryside to decline,' 'considerable pressure,' 'traffic congestion,' 'agricultural production,' and 'large scale and without proper planning.' While these lexical items are suited to the essay written, they do not touch upon the vocabulary expected for a foreign language prompt. Nevertheless, the range displayed shows an adequate to good control of lexical items, allowing for clear and precise communication of the student's ideas.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The grammatical control in the writing is quite strong. The student demonstrates a good mix of complex and simple sentence forms with frequent error-free sentences, such as 'When many people move to urban areas, there may be greater demand for housing, transport, healthcare and other public services.' Subordinate clauses, conditionals, and modal verbs are used accurately. Punctuation is correct, and there are very few noticeable grammatical errors that would impede a reader's understanding. This performance reflects solid control over sentence structures.

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

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