Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-03

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 5.5)

IN TODAYS ERA, IN MANY COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD POPULATION SHIFT HAS BEEN SEEN FROM RURAL TO CITIES . LOTS OF PEOPLE ARE LEAVEING THEIR ANSESTROLS HOME AND LAND TO BUILT A LIVES IN CITIES.ITS A BOTH POSITIVE AND A NEGATIVE CHANGE . IT IS EXPLAINED IN FORCOMING PARAGRAGHS ALONG WITH MY OPINION.

TO COMMENCE WITH , QUOTE THAT SAID EVERY COIN HAS TWO SIDES SO DOES URBANISATION. PEOPLE GET LOTS OF OPPURTUNITIES IN CITIES FOR INSTANCE A SURVEY CONDUCTED AMONG BOTH RURAL AND URBAN CHILDRENS SHOWED CHILDREN STUDYING IN CITIES ARE MORE MINDFULL, MANERFULL OVERALL. THERE ARE ITNRUGING OPPURTUNITES FOR JOBS AND BUSSINESS.

ON THER HAND , PEOPLE FORGET TO LEAVE A PEACFUL LIVES AND LOST THEMSELVES IN HUSTLE BUSTLE OF CITIES . FOR INSCTANCE A PERSON LEAVING FAR FROM FAMILY IN CITY FOR JIBS SOMETIMES FIND HIMSELF ALLALONE IN CITY FULL OF PEOPLE. INDIVIDUALS DOES NOT WANT TO DO FARMING BUT THEY FORGOT THATS THE BACKBONE OF OUR COUNTRIES LIKE IT IS SAID NO FARMER NO FOOD, RECENTLY A SURVEY IS DONE SHOWS A GREAT DECLINE IN THEN PROUCTION OF CROPS AND ITS MAIN REASON IS URBANISATION .

IN THE NUTSHELL, IN GENERAL THINKING URBANISATION IS GOOD BUT WE SHOULD NOT FORGET OUR ROOTS AND COMLETELY LEAVE OUR VILLAGES . OUR LAND PROVIDES US FOOD AND WE SHOULD RESPECT THAT . DEVELOPMENT IS IMPORTANT BUT NOT THE BASIS THAT WE FORGET WHERE WE ORGINAALY CAME FROM.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response5.5
Coherence and Cohesion6.0
Lexical Resource5.0
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.0
Overall5.5

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response addresses the prompt by discussing both the positive and negative aspects of rural-to-urban migration, presenting a clear position that the development has two sides. However, the ideas are somewhat limited and under-developed, relying on sweeping generalisations rather than fully articulated arguments. For instance, the mention of a survey regarding children's mindfulness lacks specific context or elaboration. Furthermore, the length requirement is not met, as the response contains only 238 words, falling short of the 250-word minimum. To reach a higher level, the writer needs to expand on the provided examples with greater depth and ensure the minimum word count is satisfied.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The essay presents a coherent overall arrangement with a recognizable four-paragraph structure introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. However, cohesion is sometimes mechanical and awkward, evident in transitional phrases such as TO COMMENCE WITH and ON THER HAND. Referencing and logical progression between sentences occasionally falter, making the flow somewhat disjointed. While paragraphing is used to separate distinct ideas, the internal links within paragraphs require more varied and accurate cohesive devices to guide the reader smoothly through the arguments.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is limited but minimally adequate for the task. The writer attempts some less common items such as URBANISATION and BACKBONE, but these are accompanied by noticeable errors in word choice, spelling, and word form, including LEAVEING instead of leaving, ANSESTROLS instead of ancestral, and OPPURTUNITIES instead of opportunities. Frequent spelling mistakes and non-standard collocations such as LEAVE A PEACFUL LIVES cause some difficulty for the reader. To improve, the student must expand their lexical range and pay closer attention to accurate spelling and word formation.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The writing displays a limited range of structures, relying primarily on simple sentences alongside attempts at complex forms that are often faulty. There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including subject-verb agreement issues such as INDIVIDUALS DOES NOT WANT, missing articles, and awkward punctuation. For example, sentences like A PERSON LEAVING FAR FROM FAMILY IN CITY FOR JIBS SOMETIMES FIND HIMSELF contain multiple errors that impede the clarity of the message. To achieve a higher band, the writer needs to produce a greater variety of error-free complex sentences and exercise tighter control over basic grammatical rules.

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