Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

In many countries, people from rural areas are increasingly moving to cities, resulting in a decline in the countryside population. I believe this is a negative development overall, although urban migration can provide individuals with better economic opportunities

One major disadvantage is that rural areas can lose a significant proportion of their young and working-age population. As educated and skilled people move to cities in search of better jobs, villages may struggle to maintain their workforce. This can negatively affect agriculture, which is an essential sector in many countries. In addition, a declining population may lead to the closure of schools, shops and other local services because there are fewer people to use them. For example, in some developing countries, young adults leave farming communities for major cities, leaving older people to manage agricultural land.

Another problem is that rapid urban migration can put considerable pressure on cities. When large numbers of people move to urban areas, housing, public transport, healthcare and employment services may become overcrowded. This can contribute to problems such as expensive housing, traffic congestion and unemployment. Consequently, although migrants may initially expect a better quality of life, they may face considerable difficulties in cities.

On the other hand, moving to cities can offer people access to better-paid employment, education and healthcare. Urban areas generally have a wider range of professional opportunities, which can improve living standards and allow families to earn higher incomes.

In conclusion, while rural-to-urban migration can bring economic benefits to individuals, I consider it a negative development overall because it weakens rural communities, reduces the agricultural workforce and places additional pressure on cities.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the task and maintains a clear position throughout. You have identified both the negative impacts on rural areas and the strain on urban infrastructure, while acknowledging the counter-argument regarding economic opportunities. The ideas are well-developed, particularly the discussion on the loss of the working-age population and the subsequent decline of local services. To reach a higher band, you could further extend the discussion by providing a more specific, perhaps hypothetical or real-world, example of a policy or solution that could mitigate these issues, which would demonstrate a more sophisticated level of critical thinking.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the negative aspects and the counter-argument is handled effectively using cohesive devices like 'On the other hand' and 'Consequently'. The paragraphing is appropriate and contributes to the overall clarity of the argument. The use of referencing is generally accurate, and the flow of information is smooth. To improve, ensure that the link between the conclusion and the body paragraphs is even more explicit to reinforce the strength of your final position.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases such as 'working-age population', 'essential sector', and 'traffic congestion' are used appropriately. There is an attempt to use less common lexical items, and the meaning is consistently clear. While the vocabulary is accurate and fits the academic style, it remains somewhat functional. To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations or idiomatic expressions that sound more natural in an academic context, such as 'socio-economic ramifications' or 'urban sprawl'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay displays a good variety of complex structures, such as the use of conditional and concessive clauses (e.g., 'while rural-to-urban migration can bring...'). The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation is strong. There are no significant grammatical errors that impede communication. The sentence structures are varied, which helps maintain the reader's interest. To push into the higher band, ensure that you consistently use a wider range of advanced grammatical forms, such as inversion or more complex passive constructions, to demonstrate full flexibility.

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