Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-23

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 7.0)

Nowadays, many people in rural areas are moving to cities, and as a result, the population pf the countryside is decreasing. This is because cities provide more jobs and better services. In my opinion, this is a negative development as it can create problems in both rural and urban areas.

One major disadvantage is that rural areas can lose young and skilled people. Many young people leave villages to find better jobs and higher salaries in cities. Because of this, there may be fewer workers in agriculture and other important rural businesses. Also, the number of people living in villages become smaller, so some schools, shops and health services may close because there are not enough people to use them. This can make life more difficult for the people who remain in the countryside.

Another problem is that cities become too crowded. When a large number of people move to cities, there can be more traffic, pollution and pressure on public services. For instance, hospitals and schools may become overcrowded, and it can also become difficult for people to find affordable housing. In addition, more people can mean greater demand for water, electricity and public transportation.

In conclusion, the movement of rural people to cities has some benefits, such as giving people more opportunities for employment. However, I believe that the disadvantages are greater because rural communities can lose workers while cities face overcrowding and pressure on public services. Therefore, governments should create more jobs and improve facilities in rural areas so that people have more reasons to stay there.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the task by clearly stating a position that the rural-to-urban migration is a negative development and supporting this stance with relevant arguments. The introduction outlines the writer's perspective, while the body paragraphs provide detailed disadvantages for both rural and urban areas, such as the loss of skilled workers and urban overcrowding. The ideas are extended and supported adequately, meeting the requirements of Band 7. Although the conclusion briefly mentions some benefits like employment opportunities, the main position remains clear throughout the essay. The task is well-developed with relevant examples and explanations.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The essay presents a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a clear central topic, starting with an introduction, followed by distinct body paragraphs covering rural disadvantages and urban disadvantages respectively, and concluding with a summary and recommendation. Cohesive devices such as 'One major disadvantage', 'Also', 'Another problem', and 'In addition' are used effectively to guide the reader through the arguments. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, ensuring the overall arrangement is coherent. Referencing is clear and logical.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary for the task, allowing for some precision. Phrases like 'skilled people', 'agriculture and other important rural businesses', 'pressure on public services', and 'affordable housing' show an appropriate command of topic-specific language. There is an occasional slip, such as the typo 'population pf the countryside', but this does not impede communication. The writer successfully attempts less common vocabulary with adequate control, fitting the Band 6.5 to 7 profile, and is comfortably awarded a Band 7 based on successful task execution.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0

The response exhibits a good mix of simple and complex sentence forms. The writer successfully uses complex structures such as 'When a large number of people move to cities, there can be more traffic...' and conditional-style reasoning. There is a minor grammatical error in the second paragraph ('the number of people living in villages become smaller' should be 'becomes'), but overall, the majority of sentences are clear and well-structured. Punctuation is accurate, and control of grammar is solid throughout, allowing for smooth communication and meeting the Band 7 criteria.

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