Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-28

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 6.0)

The developments in the cities are attracting people from the rural areas to migrate from the countryside and live in cities. This is a very serious concern regarding the declining population in the countryside. This will impact negatively not only on the developed cities but also on the countryside.

Nowadays, governments are spending all the funds and resources on the development of cities and construction of new cities. Cities are becoming more advanced in terms of infrastructure, technology and facilities. Cities which have undergone various developments provide better facilities for the people. People always prefer to live in a city which provides them high-quality education, protection and health facilities. However, these aspects can influence the people living in the rural areas to leave their places in order to gain these privileges so that they can improve their lifestyle and provide better quality of life to their families.

Now let's see what kind of negative impacts can occur if people start to move to cities and the population growth rate starts to decline in the countryside. First, there will be the shortage of farmers, which ultimately declines the agriculture production, and it contributes to the food shortage. There will be a price hike in the food prices not only in the rural areas but also in the cities. Also, there will be a huge surge in the population in the cities as more people move into the cities so it can cause various problems such as pollution, shortage in jobs etc.

In conclusion, the government should improve the facilities in the countryside so that rural areas have the same privileges as cities. People will find all the facilities in the rural areas so that they will stop travelling to cities, and it will decline the issue of population decline in the rural areas.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses the prompt by identifying the migration of rural populations to cities as a negative development. You provide clear reasons for this, such as the impact on agricultural production and the strain on urban infrastructure. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the link between rural depopulation and food price hikes is mentioned but could be further supported with a specific example or more detailed explanation. To reach a higher band, ensure that each point is fully explored rather than just stated. Your position is clear throughout, and the conclusion effectively summarizes your argument.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, which helps the reader follow your argument. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'First', 'Also', and 'In conclusion', to link your ideas. However, the use of these devices is sometimes a bit mechanical or repetitive. To improve, try to use a wider variety of linking words and phrases to create smoother transitions between sentences and paragraphs. Additionally, ensure that referencing (e.g., 'these aspects') clearly points back to the intended antecedent to avoid any ambiguity.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'infrastructure', 'privileges', and 'population growth rate'. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning, it is somewhat basic and lacks the precision or sophistication required for higher bands. There are instances where word choice could be more natural, such as 'decline the issue' instead of 'alleviate the issue'. To improve, focus on using more precise collocations and less common lexical items that are appropriate for an academic context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While your meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'there will be the shortage of farmers' (article usage) and 'it will decline the issue' (incorrect verb choice). Some sentences are slightly repetitive in their structure. To achieve a higher band, aim for greater variety in your sentence construction and pay closer attention to articles, prepositions, and verb-noun collocations. Despite these errors, your writing remains easy to follow and communication is not impeded.

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