Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-19

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 recent years, the migration of rural populations toward urban centers has accelerated globally, leading to a noticeable decline in countryside communities. Although urban migration offers individuals better economic prospects and improved access to essential services, I believe this trend is overall a negative development due to the strain it places on city infrastructure and the degradation of rural economies and agriculture.

On the one hand, moving to cities provides substantial advantages for individuals. Urban centers naturally aggregate capital, leading to diverse job opportunities, higher wages, and superior infrastructure compared to remote areas. Additionally, cities offer advanced healthcare facilities, renowned educational institutions, and public amenities that are rarely available in villages. For instance, young professionals and students from rural areas often find that relocating to metropolises is the only viable path to higher education and specialized employment, which ultimately improves their standard of living.

On the other hand, the mass exodus from the countryside creates severe socio-economic challenges for both urban and rural regions. Firstly, rapidly swelling city populations stretch urban infrastructure beyond its capacity, causing chronic traffic congestion, housing shortages, skyrocketing living costs, and environmental pollution. Secondly, the depletion of the rural workforce severely undermines the agricultural sector. As young and able-bodied workers leave, farms face critical labor shortages, which can lead to reduced food production, higher dependence on food imports, and compromised national food security. Furthermore, dying rural towns lose local businesses, schools, and cultural heritage, leaving aging populations isolated without adequate local support.

In conclusion, while urban migration benefits individuals by offering enhanced economic and educational opportunities, the overall impact on society is predominantly negative. The double burden of urban overpopulation and rural abandonment poses a serious threat to sustainable economic balance and national food security. Governments should therefore invest in rural infrastructure and regional job creation to encourage balanced population growth.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the task by presenting a well-developed position on whether rural-to-urban migration is a positive or negative development. In the introduction, the writer clearly states a negative stance, which is maintained throughout the essay. The body paragraphs effectively explore both sides of the issue before arriving at a justified conclusion. The advantages of urbanization, such as economic prospects and advanced healthcare facilities, are discussed alongside the severe drawbacks, including infrastructure strain and agricultural decline. Ideas are well extended with relevant supporting explanations and examples, such as the mention of young professionals and national food security. The response meets all the requirements of a Band 8 level for Task Achievement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay demonstrates a clear logical organization and progression throughout. Ideas are sequenced logically, with each paragraph having a distinct central topic. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, clearly separating the introduction, the two body paragraphs exploring contrasting viewpoints, and the conclusion. Cohesive devices are used flexibly and accurately without feeling mechanical, utilizing phrases such as 'On the one hand,' 'On the other hand,' 'Firstly,' 'Secondly,' and 'Furthermore.' Reference and substitution are managed well, ensuring that the relationships between ideas are always transparent and easy to follow. Overall, this performance aligns closely with the Band 8 descriptors for Coherence and Cohesion.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

The writer displays a wide, fluent, and flexible range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic task. Less common lexical items are used skillfully and naturally, including phrases like 'socio-economic challenges,' 'urban infrastructure beyond its capacity,' 'depletion of the rural workforce,' and 'national food security.' Word choice and collocations are generally precise, reflecting a strong command of topic-specific language. There are only occasional minor inaccuracies, but these do not impede communication in any way. The vocabulary range easily satisfies the Band 8 descriptors, showing both sophistication and control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response exhibits a wide range of complex grammatical structures used with a high degree of accuracy. The majority of sentences are error-free, and the writer demonstrates good control over subordinate clauses, participial phrases, and conditional-like consequences, such as 'As young and able-bodied workers leave, farms face critical labor shortages, which can lead to reduced food production...' Punctuation is handled expertly throughout the text. Only very occasional, non-systematic slips occur, which is entirely consistent with a high-level performance. This level of grammatical control fully warrants a Band 8 score.

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