Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-06

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 7.5)

In many parts of the world, people are increasingly moving from rural areas to cities, which has caused the population of the countryside to decline. Although this trend can provide people with better career opportunities, I believe it is a negative development overall because it can weaken rural communities and create pressure on urban areas.

One major drawback of this trend is the decline of rural economies. Many young people leave villages because they want to find better jobs, earn higher salaries and have access to better education. Consequently, rural areas are often left with an ageing population and a shortage of young workers. This can negatively affect important sectors such as agriculture, which depends heavily on the availability of workers. For example, if a large number of young farmers move to cities, agricultural production may decrease and rural businesses may also struggle to survive. Therefore, continuous migration can make the countryside less productive and economically weaker.

Another serious problem is the pressure that population growth places on cities. When thousands of people move to urban areas, existing infrastructure may not be able to meet the increasing demand for housing, transport, healthcare and other public services. This can result in overcrowding, traffic congestion, pollution and higher living costs. For instance, many rapidly developing cities face a shortage of affordable housing, forcing low-income migrants to live in poorly developed settlements. As a result, the quality of life can decline not only for newcomers but also for existing residents.

In conclusion, I believe that the movement of rural people to cities is predominantly a negative development. Although it can provide individuals with better employment and educational opportunities, it can simultaneously damage rural economies and put considerable pressure on urban infrastructure. Governments should therefore improve employment opportunities and public services in rural areas to reduce excessive migrations to cities.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the task. You have taken a clear position from the introduction and maintained it throughout the essay. The ideas are well-developed, with the first body paragraph focusing on the economic impact on rural areas and the second on the infrastructural strain on cities. Each point is supported by relevant examples, such as the mention of agricultural production and the shortage of affordable housing. The conclusion effectively summarises your main arguments and offers a logical suggestion for government intervention, demonstrating a high level of task fulfillment.

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 paragraphs is smooth. You have used a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'consequently', 'for instance', and 'as a result', which help guide the reader through your argument. The paragraphing is appropriate, with a clear introduction, two distinct body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The use of referencing is precise, ensuring that the relationship between ideas remains clear throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. You use topic-specific terms such as 'infrastructure', 'congestion', 'migrants', and 'economically weaker' appropriately. While the vocabulary is accurate and natural, it stays within a standard range. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate more sophisticated or idiomatic collocations to add nuance to your arguments. However, the current level is more than adequate for the task, and there are no errors in word choice or spelling that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as the use of conditional clauses ('if a large number of young farmers move...') and concessive clauses ('Although this trend can provide...'). The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation and tense is consistent. There are no significant grammatical errors that hinder the reader's understanding. The writing is fluent and demonstrates a high level of grammatical accuracy, which is consistent with the requirements for a high band score.

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