Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-26

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)

There is an increasing trend in many parts of the world that people are moving from villages to urban areas. This has led to a substantial decline in the rural population. Although rural people can enjoy a higher standard of living and access better educational opportunities, there will be a shortage of labour in agriculture and a loss of cultural traditions and values. In my opinion, the benefits of migrating to cities outweigh the potential drawbacks.

One of the biggest advantages of urbanisation is the higher standard of living for rural migrants. Rural people can enjoy better infrastructure, such as concrete roads, transport facilities, and improved sanitation. For example, compared to unpaved village roads, cities have concrete pavements. This kind of migration shows progress in the economy of the country. Hence, moving to urban areas can be beneficial for people living in villages. Another advantage is access to better educational and career opportunities. Private schools and colleges offer better academic quality for children. Apart from the declining population in villages, urbanisation can be advantageous for rural people.

One major drawback is a shortage of agricultural labour in rural areas. Farmers migrate to cities in search of better employment opportunities, which causes fewer people to work on farms. For example, farmers move to cities for jobs that provide higher and more stable income than farming, which is less physically demanding and also supports the living expenses of their family. As a result, there are insufficient workers to cultivate land, which can result in lower crop yields during peak farming seasons. Thus, urbanisation can have a negative effect on agricultural production and the availability of food. Another disadvantage is the loss of cultural values and traditions, which are found mainly in rural areas. People migrating to urban areas often adapt to modern lifestyles and slowly abandon cultural practices. As a result, these traditions may not be passed down to upcoming generations. Therefore, urbanisation can cause gradual loss of cultural values and traditions.

In conclusion, although rural people migrating to cities can cause a shortage of farmers in agriculture field and the loss of cultural traditions, I believe that better living standards and career and educational opportunities are a positive development for both rural people and the economy of the country.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The student has successfully addressed all parts of the task by presenting a clear position throughout the response and discussing both positive and negative aspects of the rural-to-urban migration trend. In the introduction, the writer outlines both the advantages and disadvantages before clearly stating a definitive stance in the final sentence: "In my opinion, the benefits of migrating to cities outweigh the potential drawbacks." The body paragraphs are well-developed, with specific arguments provided for both sides, such as infrastructure improvements and educational access versus agricultural labour shortages and the loss of cultural traditions. Examples provided, such as paved roads and farmers seeking stable incomes, effectively support the main ideas. Overall, this performance aligns closely with Band 7 descriptors.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay displays a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, starting with an introduction that sets out the scope of the essay, followed by balanced body paragraphs for advantages and disadvantages, and a concise conclusion. Cohesive devices are used reasonably well, such as "Although", "For example", and "As a result", which help guide the reader smoothly through the arguments. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different facets of the argument. However, a few transitions feel slightly repetitive, preventing it from reaching the higher bands, but the overall structure remains clear and coherent, well-deserving of a Band 7.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow for flexibility and precision. Phrases such as "substantial decline", "infrastructure", "unpaved village roads", and "agricultural production" show good lexical control and awareness of topic-specific collocation. Less common items are attempted with general success, although some phrasing leans towards repetition, such as repeatedly using "urbanisation" and "cultural values and traditions". Spelling and word choice are accurate for the most part, with no errors that impede communication. This vocabulary performance comfortably sits at Band 7.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The essay contains a good variety of complex sentence structures, including conditional or concessive clauses such as "Although rural people can enjoy a higher standard of living..." and "For example, compared to unpaved village roads...". There is a high frequency of error-free sentences, and the student demonstrates good control over grammar and punctuation. Minor slips occur, such as the awkward phrasing "in agriculture field" in the conclusion, but these do not impede communication. The mix of simple and complex forms is handled with confidence, earning a solid Band 7 for grammatical range and accuracy.

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