Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-08

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 6.5)

In my countries around the world, rural people are moving to urban cities so the population in the countryside is declining.

Nowadays, many people are moving from rural areas to cities, which is causing the population of the countryside to decline.

One major reason why people leave rural areas is the lack of employment opportunities. Cities generally offer a wider range of jobs and better salaries, particularly in industries, offices and businesses. Another important factor is access to education and healthcare. Urban areas usually have better schools, universities and hospitals, so many young people move to cities to improve their future prospects. In addition, cities often provide better infrastructure and entertainment facilities, which can make urban life more attractive.

This migration can have several negative effects on rural communities. When young and educated people leave the countryside, the rural population becomes smaller and the workforce available for agriculture may decrease. As a result, some villages may become less economically active. On the other hand, rapid population growth in cities can create problems such as traffic congestion, overcrowding, expensive housing and increased pressure on public services.

In conclusion, people are mainly moving from rural areas to cities because of better employment, education, healthcare and living opportunities. Although urban migration can provide individuals with better prospects, it can also cause population decline in rural areas and create serious challenges for cities.

Furthermore, governments should invest in rural areas by creating more jobs, improving educational facilities and providing better healthcare. This could encourage people to remain in the countryside and reduce excessive urban migration.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the prompt by discussing both the reasons for migration and the consequences for both rural and urban areas. However, the task asks for your opinion on whether this is a positive or negative development. While you mention both sides, you do not explicitly state your own position in the introduction or conclusion. The essay remains somewhat neutral, which prevents it from reaching the higher bands. To improve, ensure you clearly state whether you view this trend as positive or negative and maintain that stance throughout the essay, supporting it with balanced arguments.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, such as reasons for migration in the first body paragraph and the consequences in the second. Cohesive devices like 'In addition', 'On the other hand', and 'As a result' are used effectively to link sentences and ideas. Paragraphing is appropriate, and the flow of information is easy to follow. To reach a higher band, you could work on using a wider variety of cohesive devices and ensuring that the transition between the conclusion and the final recommendation paragraph is smoother.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for the topic, such as 'employment opportunities', 'infrastructure', 'economic activity', and 'urban migration'. The language is generally precise and conveys your meaning clearly. There are no significant spelling errors, and the vocabulary is used naturally. To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations or less common lexical items to demonstrate a higher level of control. For example, instead of 'better salaries', you could use 'lucrative remuneration' or 'competitive compensation packages' to elevate the tone of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are grammatically accurate, and punctuation is used correctly. There are no major errors that impede communication. You successfully use complex structures, such as 'When young and educated people leave the countryside, the rural population becomes smaller'. To achieve a higher band, aim to increase the frequency of error-free complex sentences and ensure that your control over more advanced grammatical structures remains consistent throughout the entire piece.

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

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