Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

In many nations all over the world, people who resides in the countryside are migrating to urban areas. Therefore, the population in the rural area is decreasing. I believe this is a negative development because it could lead to loneliness and loss of interpersonal skills in the suburb.

To begin with, urbanization has really posed several threats such as loneliness on individuals living in the rural areas. The reason is that when some people move to cities in search of better employment opportunities, they few individuals that are left behind may find it difficult to cope alone, particularly if it has to do with a loved one. For instance, older adults may feel lonely when their children move to the cities, especially when they assist them in their daily needs. This means that

Furthermore, if there are few individuals left in the village, it would be difficult to communicate with each other. This stems from the fact that migrations weakens interpersonal relationships and this can also reduce people's participation in activities. For instance,

In conclusion, in my countries worldwide, urbanization is on the increase, so the population in the regional areas are decreasing. I believe this is a negative development because it will lead to loneliness and loss of interpersonal skills.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, which significantly impacts the development of ideas. While you state a clear position that the trend is negative, the arguments are underdeveloped. The second body paragraph is incomplete, ending abruptly without providing the promised example or a concluding thought. Because the essay is unfinished and lacks sufficient length to fully explore the topic, it does not address all parts of the task effectively. To improve, you must ensure each paragraph contains a topic sentence, supporting evidence, and a clear link back to the main argument, while meeting the minimum length requirement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay uses basic cohesive devices such as 'To begin with' and 'Furthermore' to signal the start of paragraphs. However, the logical flow is disrupted by the incomplete nature of the text. The final paragraph is essentially a repetition of the introduction rather than a synthesis of the arguments presented. Paragraphing is present, but the lack of content in the second body paragraph makes the overall structure feel disjointed. To achieve a higher score, ensure that every paragraph is fully developed and that ideas transition smoothly from one to the next, avoiding repetitive conclusions.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. You use some relevant terms like 'urbanization' and 'migrating', but there is a reliance on simple phrasing. There are also minor errors, such as 'people who resides' (should be 'reside') and 'the suburb' (which is not the correct term for rural areas). To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations and topic-specific vocabulary related to sociology or urban planning, and ensure subject-verb agreement is consistent throughout your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. For example, 'they few individuals that are left behind' is grammatically incorrect, and 'my countries worldwide' is an awkward phrasing. There are also issues with subject-verb agreement, such as 'population... are decreasing' (should be 'is decreasing'). While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors limits the score. Focus on proofreading for basic agreement and ensuring that complex sentences are constructed accurately.

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.