Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-03

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)

In many countries, people are moving from villages to cities, so the population of rural areas is going down. There are many reasons for this movement, such as better jobs, education and other facilities. I think this is a negative development because it can create problems for both villages and cities.

One main problem is that villages can lose young people. Many young people go to cities to find jobs and earn more money. Because of this, there can be fewer people working in farming and local businesses. For example, in India, many people from villages move to big cities for work. This can make villages less active and can also affect farming. Another problem is that cities can become too crowded. More people can cause traffic, pollution and housing problems. Public transport and hospitals can also become very busy. However, people can get better jobs and education in cities, so this movement can be useful for some families. They may also earn more money and improve their life.

In conclusion, moving from rural areas to cities has some advantages, but I think it is a negative development. It can reduce the number of people in villages and create overcrowding and pollution in cities. Governments should provide better jobs and facilities in rural areas to reduce this problem.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response addresses the prompt by taking a clear position that the migration is a negative development. However, the essay is significantly under the 250-word minimum requirement, which limits the depth of the arguments. While the ideas regarding the loss of rural labor and urban overcrowding are relevant, they are not fully developed. The points are stated rather than explored in detail, and the lack of length prevents the essay from reaching a higher band score. To improve, you should expand on your examples and provide more nuanced analysis of the consequences of this migration.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. There is a logical progression of ideas, moving from the negative impacts on villages to the negative impacts on cities. Cohesive devices such as 'One main problem', 'Another problem', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to guide the reader. However, the transitions between sentences are sometimes a bit mechanical. The overall structure is sound, but the brevity of the response makes the flow feel somewhat abrupt.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task but lacks variety and sophistication. You rely on common terms like 'good', 'bad', 'problems', and 'big'. While these words are used correctly, they do not demonstrate the range required for a higher band. There is an attempt to use topic-specific vocabulary such as 'rural areas', 'overcrowding', and 'public transport', but the overall lexical range remains limited. To improve, try to incorporate more precise synonyms and academic collocations to express your ideas more effectively.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The grammar is generally accurate, and the meaning is always clear. You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'Because of this, there can be fewer people working in farming and local businesses.' There are very few grammatical errors, which is a strength. However, the range of structures is somewhat limited. To reach a higher band, you should aim to incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical forms, such as conditional sentences or passive voice constructions, to demonstrate greater control over your writing.

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

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