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)
nowadays ,people are moving to cities from rural areas to get better opportunities regarding studies, health and jobs ,which leads to increasing population in cities . I strongly believe it is negative development because it creates problems in town and affect growth of rural areas .
on the one hand , the migration of rural residents to urban area can cause various problems in the town .as more people move to cities , this leads to increasing demand for housing , public transport and employment .this often results in increasing the ratio of crimes because due to high living expense and low job opportunities .people are moving to various activities such as robbery to manage their expenses .furthermore ,due to migration of rural residents to cities ,some major issues like pollution and traffic jams are enhancing day by day .
on the other hand , there are some disadvantages for movement of people from rural areas to cities .such as this can hinder the development of rural areas ,when young and skill people leave countryside ,it may lead to decline in agriculture production .as a result ,it can show negative effect on economy due to shortage of production .furthermore ,government can also neglect the development of rural areas due to migration of residents .
in my opinion .although moving to cities may provide individuals better opportunities ,i strongly believe it is negative development overall because it lead overcrowding in urban areas and slows down the progress of rural areas .
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
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. The ideas are relevant, focusing on urban overcrowding and the decline of rural economies. However, the development is somewhat limited; for instance, the argument regarding crime is a generalization that lacks nuance. While the main points are clear, the essay would benefit from more specific examples or deeper exploration of the consequences mentioned. The position is maintained throughout, but the conclusion is slightly repetitive of the introduction. Overall, it covers the requirements of the task adequately.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, each with a central theme. There is a logical progression of ideas from the introduction to the body paragraphs and the conclusion. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive (e.g., 'furthermore' is used twice in close proximity). Additionally, the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the second body paragraph where the transition between the impact on rural areas and government neglect feels abrupt. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring smoother transitions between sentences would enhance the flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express their ideas clearly. There are attempts to use topic-specific vocabulary such as 'migration', 'urban area', and 'agriculture production'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are instances of awkward word choices or collocations, such as 'enhancing day by day' instead of 'increasing' or 'worsening'. Some phrases are repetitive, and there is a lack of more sophisticated or precise vocabulary that would elevate the response to a higher band. Spelling is generally accurate, but the lack of capitalization at the start of sentences is a recurring issue.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly regarding articles (e.g., 'in town' instead of 'in towns'), subject-verb agreement, and punctuation. The lack of capitalization at the beginning of sentences and after periods significantly impacts the professional presentation of the writing. Complex structures are attempted, but they often contain errors that slightly impede the flow. To improve, the student should focus on basic sentence construction, punctuation rules, and ensuring consistent subject-verb agreement.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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