Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-18
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)
Nowadays, population in cities enhancing day by day because there are distinct types of amenities available.According to me, it is positive development so I will elaborate my viewpoint in next paragraphs.
Nevertheless, a lot of individual move to cities because they think there are more options but on the other side some people think it is not ideal idea because people forget their tradition and culture and also children do not have knowledge how to stay touch with their tradition so it will be not good in the future.
On the other side, moving to cities depend upon persons choice because they feel comfortable in cities because there are more amenities are available such as schools so they want to put there children in good school for their better future. Due to this, they can get good job in their future and can achieve their goals. Moreover, in these days people need privacy so I think it’s more in the cities because all people busy in their busy life schedule so that is the main reason to move in cities. Lastly, in cities many jobs are available because there are a lot of factories so people have their income source which is really fruitful for their future and study of children.
To conclude, it’s individuals choice where they want to live because it’s their choice and comfort. I also prefer to live in city because there are more choices. It is advisable to say that government should take action to maintain population in cities.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses the prompt by taking a position, but the development of ideas is limited. While you mention reasons for moving to cities (amenities, jobs, privacy), the arguments are somewhat repetitive and lack depth. For instance, the point about 'privacy' in cities is counter-intuitive and not well-supported. The conclusion introduces a new, slightly contradictory point about government action, which was not previously discussed. To improve, ensure each paragraph focuses on a single, well-developed idea with specific examples or logical consequences, and ensure your conclusion only summarises the points already made.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the logical progression is weak. Transitions are often repetitive or misused, such as 'Nevertheless' and 'On the other side', which do not always accurately reflect the relationship between ideas. The flow between sentences is sometimes disjointed, making it difficult for the reader to follow your line of reasoning. To improve, use a wider variety of cohesive devices (e.g., 'consequently', 'furthermore', 'in contrast') and ensure that each sentence logically follows from the previous one to create a smoother, more cohesive argument.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally functional but limited and repetitive. You rely on basic terms like 'good', 'better', and 'things'. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'enhancing day by day' (population increases, it does not enhance) and 'not ideal idea'. To reach a higher band, you should aim to use more precise vocabulary related to the topic, such as 'urbanisation', 'infrastructure', 'socio-economic opportunities', and 'cultural erosion'. Avoid repeating the same words within the same paragraph.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text that occasionally impede clarity. Common issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'population in cities enhancing'), missing articles (e.g., 'in cities'), and incorrect word forms (e.g., 'there children' instead of 'their children'). The sentence structures are mostly simple or contain errors when attempting complex constructions. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence patterns, ensuring correct use of articles, and proofreading for common errors like 'there/their/they're' and subject-verb agreement.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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