Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-11-09

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

In many countries around the world, rural people are moving to cities, so the population in the countryside is decreasing.

Do you think this is a positive or a negative development?

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

 

Student answer (Band 5.0)

For me its depend upon the ratio and reasoning of an individual. Its not a sin to move out for a better future.

Yes a concerning ratio can have negative impact in the cities which could include traffic, crowded streets, accomodation issues, high rental rates, sewerage issues, water issues and so more.

As for countryside this could also become an alarming situation if the young population leave as old people cannot do farming, crops and other countryside things what young generation can pull off.

This could also effect the cities as cities heavily depend on some countryside resources in daily, weekly or monthly basis i.e. Milk, Vegetables and other items, yes the subcontractors do bring the items in cities and then its get distributed inside the city areas but they hardly bring 2 or 3 day stock due to cash flow issues.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

You identify relevant consequences of rural-to-urban migration, including pressure on city services and the loss of young workers in the countryside. However, the task asks you to decide whether this is a positive or negative development, and “it depends upon the ratio and reasoning” does not establish a clear overall position. The response therefore addresses the question only minimally: it lists possible effects but does not explain which side outweighs the other or support the points with a specific example. The response is also 108 words below the required minimum, leaving too little space to develop your argument. State your view directly, then explain and illustrate two or three connected reasons.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic sequence: it introduces a conditional view, discusses effects on cities, then considers the countryside and food supplies. Paragraph breaks help distinguish these points, and phrases such as “As for countryside” and “This could also” signal transitions. However, the overall progression is not fully clear because the opening does not establish a position that the later paragraphs develop. Some links are mechanical, and the final paragraph combines city dependence on rural resources with a detailed distribution point without clearly showing how this supports your overall judgement. Use a clear thesis and organise each body paragraph around one main reason, with an explanation and example linked back to that thesis.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some topic-relevant vocabulary, including “crowded streets,” “high rental rates,” “young population,” and “cash flow issues,” which helps communicate the effects you have in mind. There are also attempts at more specific language, such as “subcontractors” and “distributed.” However, the range is limited, and several choices or spellings are inaccurate or unnatural, including “accomodation,” “sewerage issues,” and “countryside things.” “A concerning ratio” is also unclear because the reader cannot tell what ratio you mean. Aim for precise collocations such as “pressure on housing and public services” and “rural workforce,” and check spelling. More varied, accurate vocabulary would make the argument clearer and more formal.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both short statements and longer sentences, including a conditional idea in “if the young population leave” and a sentence explaining how rural goods reach cities. This shows some effort to connect clauses, but the range remains limited and errors occur frequently enough to affect clarity. For example, “For me its depend” needs a subject–verb form such as “it depends,” while “as old people cannot do farming” is awkwardly structured and the relationship between the clauses is unclear. The final sentence also shifts between “do bring” and “its get distributed,” creating inconsistent agreement and sentence control. Practise accurate simple sentences first, then build longer sentences with clear subjects, verbs, and punctuation.

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