Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-04

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 6.5)

In many countries around the world, people living in rural areas are moving to urban areas, resulting in a decline in the population of the countryside. In my opinion, this is a largely positive development because it can provide people moving to cities with better access to essential facilities and make more land available for agricultural purposes in rural areas.

First of all, people can access basic facilities by moving to cities, as cities often provide individuals with more educational institutions and employment opportunities. The children can study in better schools and learn effectively by acquiring valuable skills. In the case of young individuals, they can also learn various skills that can help them to work online in early ages. Moreover, they can support their families by earning higher incomes and by becoming financially independent, also they can serve mankind by significant discoveries. Moving to cities can also provide several healthcare benefits by saving people's lives. For example, people living in urban areas can immediately go to the hospital in an emergency and save the lives of their loved ones, whereas rural residents may have to travel to cities for medical treatment, which can cause dangerous delays.

Furthermore, migrating to urban areas can provide villages with more land for agricultural development. It can also reduce the population as well as transportation which may lead to the higher emissions of carbon that pollutes the environment badly. A cleaner environment with more trees and vegetation can contribute to increased rainfall in an area. This may lead to higher production of fruits and vegetables, which can contribute to the country's economy. For example, farmers could use abandoned residential land to expand their fields and grow a wider variety of crops for local markets.

In conclusion, I consider the migration of rural residents to urban areas to be a largely positive development, as it can improve their quality of life while creating greater opportunities for agricultural development in the countryside.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the task and maintains a clear position throughout. The arguments are relevant and well-supported, particularly the focus on access to facilities and agricultural land use. The ideas are extended with logical examples, such as the mention of emergency medical access and the potential for increased crop production. The response is well-balanced, and the conclusion effectively reinforces the initial stance. To reach a higher band, the student could further develop the nuance of the 'negative' aspects of this trend to provide a more comprehensive, critical analysis of the issue.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central topic, and the transition between paragraphs is smooth. Cohesive devices such as 'First of all', 'Moreover', and 'Furthermore' are used effectively to guide the reader. However, some cohesive links are slightly mechanical, and there is occasional repetition of phrasing. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the overall structure supports the argument well. To improve, the student should focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that referencing within sentences is more precise to avoid minor ambiguity.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is sufficient to convey ideas with precision. The student uses topic-specific terms like 'urban areas', 'agricultural development', and 'financially independent'. While the range is adequate, it lacks the sophistication and idiomatic control required for higher bands. There are some instances of slightly repetitive word choices, such as the frequent use of 'provide' and 'people'. The student attempts to use more complex vocabulary, but it is sometimes used in a standard way rather than demonstrating a flexible or precise command of collocations. Expanding the range of synonyms would enhance the quality of the writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There is good control over basic grammar, and the meaning is always clear. However, there are some minor errors, such as 'in early ages' (should be 'at an early age') and 'also they can serve' (a comma splice). While complex structures are attempted, they are not always perfectly executed. The punctuation is generally accurate, though some sentence boundaries could be improved to enhance flow. The majority of sentences are error-free, but the lack of consistent, error-free complex structures keeps this in the 6.5–7.0 range.

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.