Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-11-14

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)

In many parts of the world, people are leaving the rural areas and moving to cities, which has led to decrease in the population of the countryside. Although some people might consider it positive but i beleive that is largely negative development for both cities and villages. Not only because through moving in cities it can create serious problems, damaging effect on rural areas but also because it also effect on tradition of cultures.

Firstly, the migration of rural people causes serious problems in cities. When tio mnaty people move to urban areas, cities become overcrowded. This leads to traffic congestion, air pollution in Lahore and Karachi. Take an example of Islamabad, house rents have increased sharply because millions of people have moved from villages in search of jobs. In addition, competition for jobs becomes very high, and many migrants end up working in low paid jobs or remains unemployed.

Secondly, this trend has a damaging effect on rurals areas. When young and educated people leave villages, there is no i

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You state a clear overall view: the movement is “largely negative,” and you begin to support it with effects on cities, including overcrowding, congestion, pollution and job competition. However, the response addresses the task only partially. The second main point about damage to rural areas is introduced but cut off at “there is no i…”, so it is not explained or supported, and the effect on cultural traditions is mentioned only in the introduction. The example about rising rents also needs clearer explanation and support. The response is 79 words below the required minimum, which leaves too little space to develop the reasons. Complete both sides of your argument with specific explanations and relevant examples.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

There is a basic overall structure: an introduction gives your position, followed by a paragraph on urban problems and the start of a paragraph on rural effects. Sequencing words such as “Firstly,” “In addition,” and “Secondly” help signal the direction of the argument. However, the response ends abruptly in the second body paragraph, so the progression is incomplete and the conclusion is missing. Some links are also awkward or repetitive: “Although … but” combines two contrasting linkers, while “Not only because … but also because” does not form a complete, clear sentence. Develop each paragraph around one complete point, use linking phrases accurately, and finish with a brief conclusion that restates your judgement.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant topic vocabulary, including “overcrowded,” “traffic congestion,” “air pollution,” “competition for jobs,” and “unemployed,” which helps communicate the urban consequences. There are also attempts at more specific phrasing, such as “in search of jobs.” However, the range is limited and several word-choice, spelling, and collocation problems make parts difficult to follow: “tio mnaty,” “rurals areas,” “damaging effect on,” and “low paid jobs.” “Effect on tradition of cultures” is also unclear and imprecise. Aim for accurate, natural combinations and check spelling carefully. For example, use “rural areas,” “a damaging effect on rural communities,” and “cultural traditions” to express these ideas more clearly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including a relative clause in “which has led to decrease…” and a conditional-style example introduced by “When.” However, complex structures are often faulty, and errors occur frequently enough to make some sentences difficult to understand. Examples include “Although … but,” the incomplete construction “Not only because … but also because,” and “it also effect on tradition,” where the verb pattern and agreement are incorrect. There are also article and agreement problems in “led to decrease” and “many migrants … remains unemployed.” Practise building complete sentences with one clear main clause, then check articles, subject–verb agreement, and verb patterns before adding subordinate clauses.

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