Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-24

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)

In many nations around the globe, an increasing number of individuals are leaving rural areas and migrating towards cities. Although this trend can provide individuals with better opportunities, I believe that it is a negative development because it can cause labour shortages in rural areas and put excessive pressure on urban resources.

On the one hand, people from rural areas move towards cities because they are looking for better job opportunities. People living in rural areas may have fewer opportunities for employment and business. As a result, many of them move to cities in search of better prospects. However, this can have negative effects on both cities and rural areas. One of the major disadvantages is that rural areas can suffer from a shortage of workers. Agriculture and rural businesses depend heavily on local residents. When a large number of young people move to cities, there may not be enough people to work on farms and run local businesses. This can have a detrimental effect on the local economy. For example, if many young people leave a farming community, local farms may struggle to find enough workers during harvesting seasons, potentially reducing agricultural production.

Furthermore, excessive migration to cities can put pressure on urban resources. A rapid increase in the urban population can lead to housing shortages, traffic congestion and excessive demand for hospitals and public transport. If governments cannot expand these services quickly enough, the quality of life for urban residents may decline. A larger population can also create a more competitive job market and put downward pressure on wages.

In conclusion, although urban migration can improve individual opportunities, I believe that the decline of rural populations creates significant economic and social problems.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The student fully addresses all parts of the task by taking a clear and well-developed negative stance on the trend of rural-to-urban migration. The introduction outlines the position effectively, and the body paragraphs cover two distinct consequences: labour shortages in rural areas and excessive pressure on urban resources. The ideas are extended and supported with relevant explanations and a concrete example regarding harvesting seasons and agricultural production. The response meets the requirements of Band 7 well, as the position is clear throughout and all parts of the prompt are properly addressed with relevant, developed ideas.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Information and ideas are coherently structured, starting with an introductory thesis, followed by well-defined body paragraphs dealing with distinct aspects of the issue, and a concise concluding summary. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'As a result', 'However', and 'Furthermore' are used appropriately to guide the reader through the argument. Paragraphing is logical, with each main point housed in its own clearly structured paragraph. Referencing is clear and unambiguous, earning a solid Band 7 for maintaining clear logical flow and cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The student uses a sufficient range of vocabulary with adequate flexibility and precision for the task. Words and phrases such as 'migrating towards cities', 'labour shortages', 'detrimental effect', and 'traffic congestion' show a good command of topic-related terminology. There are attempts to use less common items with general awareness of style and collocation, although some phrasing leans slightly towards repetitive patterns ('better opportunities', 'rural areas', 'better prospects'). Spelling and word choice are accurate, and communication is never impeded. The lexical range comfortably fits the Band 7 criteria.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The writer demonstrates a good variety of complex structures alongside simple sentences, producing frequent error-free sentences throughout the text. Examples of complex structures include concessive and causal clauses such as 'Although this trend can provide individuals with better opportunities, I believe that...' and conditional structures like 'if many young people leave a farming community, local farms may struggle...'. Control of grammar and punctuation is generally strong, with only minor issues or occasional repetitiveness in sentence openings. The overall control of syntax warrants a Band 7 score.

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