Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-08

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)

Population in rural areas are declined because people of countryside are shifting to the cities. In my opinion this is a positive development and I will explain below how it is a positive development.

firstly, I believe that the cities have more advantages and they are more developed than rural areas so obviously people are moving to the cities where more opportunities for people are available.

Moreover, I also believe that people think that if they move to city life there life will get more better and also they would have good lifestyle. There children would get better education and they will be more confident.

Secondly, it is always thought that rural side have less facilities than cities and this is true. For example, my cousin lived in rural area where there was lesser opportunity for her and no good academies are there for her to study. And then she moved to urban area and here there are more opportunities for her and also there are more academies which have very much facilities and here life is more practical.

In addition to, I believe that transportation in city area are more ameliorate than rural area. People get their college admission done in urban area but it will cause a dilemma for them because the transportation are very difficult people wait for their bus to come but sometimes also they arrive late for their bus. So, people move to city area for their better life and to make their life easy.

It can be concluded that , because of advantageous life in city and better life for children people are moving to the cities and it is a positive development for also the economy of the country.

If people of rural area reduced the population of countryside it would be for their better future and life

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses the prompt by taking a clear position that the migration is a positive development. However, the development of ideas is somewhat repetitive and lacks depth. While you mention education and lifestyle, the arguments are not fully extended with sophisticated reasoning. For instance, the point about the economy is mentioned only in the conclusion without prior development. To reach a higher band, ensure that each paragraph introduces a distinct, well-supported point rather than restating the same general benefits of city life. The response is consistent in its stance, but the supporting evidence remains quite personal and simplistic.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate. Phrases like 'In addition to,' are used incorrectly, and the transition between ideas feels somewhat disjointed. While there is an attempt to use linking words like 'firstly' and 'moreover,' the flow between sentences is occasionally interrupted by grammatical errors. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of cohesive devices more naturally and ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence that links back to the main argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range required for higher bands. You rely on basic descriptors like 'good,' 'better,' and 'more.' There are also some awkward collocations and word choices, such as 'transportation in city area are more ameliorate' and 'academies which have very much facilities.' These errors occasionally make the meaning slightly less clear. To improve, try to incorporate more academic vocabulary related to urbanisation, such as 'infrastructure,' 'socio-economic opportunities,' or 'rural-to-urban migration,' and pay closer attention to word forms and collocations.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, particularly with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'Population in rural areas are declined,' 'transportation... are more ameliorate') and article usage. The sentence structures are mostly simple or contain errors when attempting complexity. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors requires the reader to make an effort to interpret the intended message. To improve, focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement and the correct use of plural/singular nouns. Practising complex sentence structures, such as using relative clauses or conditional sentences, will also help increase your score.

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

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