Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-13

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)

As far as this topic is concerned, I believe that the movement of rural people to cities is generally a negative development. Although cities can provide better opportunities for education and employment, the continuous decrease in the rural population can create several problems.

Firstly, moving to cities can give people better opportunities. Cities usually have more jobs, universities, hospitals and other facilities. For example, young people from villages may move to cities to find better jobs and earn higher salaries. This can improve their standard of living and help them support their families. Therefore, migration to cities can be beneficial for individuals.

On the other hand, this trend can create serious problems in both rural and urban areas. When many people leave the countryside, there may be fewer workers available for agriculture and other rural businesses. As a result, food production can decrease. At the same time, cities can become overcrowded because of the increasing population. This may lead to traffic congestion, expensive housing, pollution and pressure on public services. For instance, large cities in developing countries often face housing and transport problems because too many people move there.

In conclusion, although moving to cities can provide people with better jobs and services, I believe that the overall development is negative. Governments should improve employment, education and healthcare facilities in rural areas so that people can have a good quality of life without needing to leave their villages.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The student addresses all parts of the prompt, clearly stating their position that rural-to-urban migration is a negative development. They discuss both the individual benefits of moving to cities and the broader negative consequences, such as agricultural decline and urban overcrowding. Ideas are relevant and supported with explanations and examples, such as reference to developing countries. However, as noted in the length check, the response contains 238 words, failing to reach the minimum 250-word requirement. This under-length impacts the full development of ideas and results in a penalty to Task Achievement, placing it firmly at Band 6.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay displays a coherent overall arrangement with a clear logical progression. Information and ideas are organized into logical paragraphs, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs addressing both sides of the issue, and a concluding summary. Cohesive devices are used effectively to connect ideas, such as "Firstly," "On the other hand," and "In conclusion." Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct arguments. Referencing is generally clear and easy to follow. Although cohesive devices can sometimes be slightly formulaic, the logical flow is well maintained throughout, justifying a solid Band 7.0 for this criterion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for the task, successfully incorporating terms like "standard of living," "agricultural," "overcrowded," and "traffic congestion." There are attempts to use less common vocabulary, and word choice is generally appropriate and precise enough to convey meaning without impeding communication. While the lexical range is sufficient for some flexibility, it lacks the wider, more sophisticated range and precise collocations required for higher band levels. Spelling and word formation are accurate throughout the essay. This performance aligns well with the Band 6.0 descriptors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The writer demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including conditional and subordinate clauses such as "Although cities can provide better opportunities..." and "When many people leave the countryside...". There is good control of grammar and punctuation, and the majority of sentences are error-free. Minor errors do not occur frequently and communication is never impeded. The grammatical control shown throughout the essay is consistent and demonstrates a level above Band 6, comfortably meeting the criteria for Band 7.0.

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

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