Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-19

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)

The population of rural areas is decreasing due to the migration of people toward metropolitan areas all around the world in different countries. I believe this is a predominantly negative development because it accelerates the growth of the population of urban areas, which can lead to overcrowded cities and environmental issues. Secondly, it can affect the job market.

First of all, the dominant influence of city life on countryside people is increasing the population of metropolises. More and more individuals are migrating to cities for a better lifestyle; as a result, cities are facing vast challenges. For instance, overcrowded cities lead to slums and unplanned expansion of land. Furthermore, it can affect the environment through the use of more vehicles, which can result in more carbon dioxide release.

On the other hand, the consequences of migration are highly problematic for the working sector. When the working-age population leaves for cities, fewer workers remain to manage agricultural farming in rural areas, threatening food production. Meanwhile, in the cities, the extreme influx of job seekers creates fierce competition, meaning many migrants end up unemployed or underemployed. For example, in 2020, after the coronavirus disease, more people migrated towards Karachi for income reasons, but it resulted in unemployment and affected so many people.

In conclusion, the mass migration from countryside areas to major cities is a deeply troubling trend. This movement not only triggers urban overcrowding and severe environmental pollution, but it also strips rural areas of the vital workforce needed for agriculture. To prevent future crises, governments must actively invest in rural infrastructure to encourage citizens to stay.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have clearly addressed the prompt by taking a firm position that rural-to-urban migration is a negative development. You have identified two main reasons: the strain on urban infrastructure and the negative impact on the agricultural workforce. The ideas are relevant and logically extended, particularly the point regarding food production and the specific example of migration in Karachi. To reach a higher band, ensure that your introduction clearly outlines the two main points you intend to discuss, and perhaps provide a more nuanced conclusion that synthesizes the arguments more deeply.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is well-organized with a clear structure consisting of an introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a clear central topic. You use cohesive devices such as 'First of all', 'Furthermore', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion' effectively to guide the reader. The progression of ideas is logical. To improve, ensure that the transition between the environmental impact and the job market within the second paragraph is smoother, as the shift from environmental issues to labor issues feels slightly abrupt.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'unplanned expansion of land', 'working-age population', and 'underemployed' are used correctly. There is an awareness of style, though some word choices are slightly repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'population' and 'cities'. To achieve a higher band, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations and synonyms to avoid repetition and add variety to your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most sentences are clear and error-free, which allows for easy communication. There are minor slips, such as 'migration of people toward metropolitan areas all around the world in different countries', which is slightly wordy. Your control of punctuation is generally good. To move into the higher bands, try to incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical structures, such as conditional sentences or passive voice constructions, while maintaining your current level of accuracy.

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

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