Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-07-24

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 7.5)

Urbanisation is the process of the development of built-up areas at a certain location. Over time, as urbanisation increases, more rural people move to cities for better work opportunities and more connectivity. Despite the advantages, I believe that this is largely a negative development.

Admittedly, there are adverse effects of this urbanisation. One such prominent effect is the reduction in agricultural productivity. This has been seen in north India, where migration from regions like West Bengal has led to reduced agricultural output. This is extremely detrimental as India has traditionally been an agrarian country. Additionally, rural areas often have significant deep-rooted cultural practices. As the rate of decline of rural population accelerates, this cultural is increasingly lost. This may be seen in disappearing art forms and lost languages.

However, urban areas like towns and cities provide greater services and employment opportunities for many. For example, in the USA, regions like the Silicon Valley region provide highly technological jobs like software engineering. By migrating from lesser developed areas, people often find more satisfaction in cities, and a higher quality of life is observed. Urban regions often have higher levels of innovation due to the level of technological advancement seen in these areas. This is observed across fields of science, medicine and business, such as in the development of the biotechnology industry in cities like Amsterdam.

Internal migration has increased significantly over time, leading to an overpopulation issue in large cities. Mumbai, for example, is a city in India that has a large influx of migrants. This has inevitably led to a population burst. With a population of over 20 million people, it is now coined as a mega city and faces congestion, pollution and other such issues.

While in the short term immigration has improved technological advancement and quality of life for many, these benefits will soon dissipate and result in overpopulation issues. Additionally, the disappearance of cultures will also lead to the loss of communal identities in some regions. Thus I believe that urbanisation is a largely negative development.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, clearly stating a position that urbanisation is a negative development. The ideas are relevant and supported by examples, such as the impact on agriculture in India and the cultural loss in rural areas. However, the development is slightly uneven; while the negative impacts are well-argued, the counter-argument regarding the benefits of urbanisation (e.g., Silicon Valley, Amsterdam) is quite strong, which slightly undermines the consistency of the stated position. To reach a higher band, ensure that the counter-arguments are more effectively refuted or integrated to support the main thesis throughout the entire essay.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the negative impacts and the benefits of urbanisation is handled well using linking words like 'Admittedly' and 'However'. Cohesive devices are used effectively, such as 'Additionally' and 'For example', to connect supporting points. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas. The flow is smooth, and the reader can easily follow the writer's line of reasoning from the introduction to the conclusion.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

The vocabulary is sufficient and generally precise, allowing for a clear expression of ideas. You demonstrate an ability to use topic-specific terminology such as 'agrarian', 'biotechnology', and 'influx'. There are some minor issues with collocation and word choice, such as 'this cultural is increasingly lost' (should be 'this culture') and 'population burst' (which is slightly unnatural; 'population boom' or 'surge' would be better). Despite these minor inaccuracies, the range of vocabulary is adequate to convey complex ideas without impeding communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and the grammar is generally controlled. There are a few minor slips, such as 'this cultural is increasingly lost' (adjective vs. noun confusion) and 'in the USA, regions like the Silicon Valley region' (redundant phrasing). Punctuation is generally accurate. The use of complex structures, such as 'Despite the advantages, I believe that...', shows a good level of grammatical competence. The errors present are non-systematic and do not interfere with the overall clarity of the message.

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