Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-13

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 5.5)

Migration from urban to rural areas has become a highly debated concerned in the 21st century. On the one hand, there is countryside which is the epitome of serenity and tranquility. On the other hand is the city life that guarantees better job opportunities, finest educational institutions and elevated quality of life. In today's world people prefer financial stability over calm environment, leave their rural home and shift to urban areas. As the consequence of this the rural population is decreasing significantly.

As far as I am concerned, this shift comes under the category of negative development. Villages have always been the soul and identity of a country. They reflect the culture, traditions and customs of a place. The countryside is the only place where life is pure and untouched. Therefore any kind of process against the prosperity of rural areas is condemned. In addition to that when people leave the countryside, they contribute to the development of urban areas and ultimately rural areas suffer.

Moreover it is the responsibility of the government to take care of the citizens no matter where they live. When the government would work for the betterment of the people residing in the rural areas, they would not find any need to leave their calm space. The people who live the villages are not the ones to be fully blamed. Because individuals always think for the betterment of their family and their future and when they cannot imagine of a good future in rural areas, the change there residence. So if the government works for the betterment of those individuals by providing them quality education, funding the individuals, and providing them job opportunities they don't be any need to migrate from rural areas to urban areas. For instance I moved from my hometown to one of the biggest cities of my country for the sake of quality education. I am contented with my decision but I also feel an ache in my heart and soul that can only be alleviated in my hometown

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the prompt by taking a clear position that rural-to-urban migration is a negative development. You provide relevant reasons, such as the loss of cultural identity and the need for government intervention. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat repetitive. For instance, the argument regarding government responsibility is restated multiple times without adding new depth. To reach a higher band, ensure each paragraph introduces a distinct, well-supported point rather than circling back to the same concept. The personal example provided is relevant, but the essay would benefit from more objective, global examples to strengthen the argument.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas. You use some cohesive devices like 'On the one hand', 'In addition to that', and 'Moreover' to link your thoughts. However, some transitions feel mechanical, and there are instances where the flow is slightly disrupted by awkward phrasing, such as 'As the consequence of this'. Additionally, the referencing is occasionally unclear, particularly in the final paragraph where the connection between the government's role and the personal anecdote could be smoother. Improving the variety and naturalness of your linking words will enhance the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'epitome of serenity', 'tranquility', and 'alleviated'. However, there are several instances of imprecise word choice and minor errors, such as 'debated concerned' (should be 'concern'), 'change there residence' (should be 'change their'), and 'don't be any need' (should be 'there would be no need'). While these errors do not impede communication, they limit the score. To improve, focus on collocations and ensure that you are using the correct word forms in context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While you attempt complex sentences, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement and article usage, such as 'the city life' (should be 'city life') and 'the change there residence'. Punctuation is generally functional, but there are missing commas after introductory phrases. The majority of your sentences are understandable, but the frequency of these minor errors prevents a higher score. Focusing on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy and refining your use of articles would significantly improve your writing.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.