Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-10
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)
IT IS OFTEN ARGUE THAT IN MANY DEVELOPING COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD REGISTERED PHENOMENON ABOUT RURAL PEOPLE MOVE TO URBAN AREAS, CAUSE THE POPULATION IN THE COUNTRYSIDE IS DECREASING. I THNIK THIS IS POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT SINCE CITIES OFFERS SEVERAL FINANCIAL AND SOCIAL BENEFITS FOR INDIVIDUALS AS WELL AS INCREASE THE QUALITY OF LIFE.
ONE REASON WHY THIS IS A POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT IS THAT METRO CITIES OFFERS SIGNIFICANT MERITS FOR LOCAL PEOPLE. TO BE MORE SPECIFIC, URBAN CITIES HAVE BETTER EDUCATION SYSTEM AND INSTITUTES LIKE HIGHER RANK UNIVERSITIES, BETTER COURSES AND REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE SUCH AS PLACEMENTS AND INTERNSHIPS. MOREOVER, MUTINATIONAL COMPANIES AND OTHER ORGANISATIONS OFFERS BETTER JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE ACCORDING TO THIER SKILLS AND PRODUCTIVITY. FURTHERMORE, CITIES AND DEVELOPED AREA OFFERS BENEFICIAL AND ADVANCED MEDICAL FACILITIES SUCH AS MODERN LABORATORY, EXPERT MEDICAL DOCTORS. ONE PROMINENT ASPECT REGARDING CITIES ARE THAT THEY OFFERS MODERN FACILITIES PARTICULARLY CINEMA, NATURAL PARKS AND SHOPPING MALLS. TO EXEMPLIFY, MEGA CITIES LIKE MUMBAI, NEW YORK AND TOKYO UNDOUBTEDLY INHANCE INDIVIDUALS QUALITY OF LIFE AND FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES.
ANOTHER CRUCIAL REASON IS THAT ADVANCE SERVICES NAMELY TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM, BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT AND INDUSTRY MAINLY LOCATED IN DOWNTOWN AREA. ADDITIONALLY, CITIES ORGANISED SOME SOCIAL EVENTS SUCH AS MUSIC CONCERTS, SPORTS TOURNAMENTS, WHICH HELPS TO ENCOURAGE SOCIAL AND INTERPERSONAL GROWTH. FOR INSTANCE, MUSIC CONCERTS INDUSTRY BRING NEW INNOVATION AND FACILITIES IN TOWN AND ALSO HELPS TO BOOST LOCAL ECONOMY. HOWEVER, DECREASING POPULATION IN COUTRIYSIDE ALSO INDICATE AS CRUCIAL PROBLEM BY UNITED NATIONS, BECAUSE IT DIRECTY EFFECT OF NATURAL SIDE, RISING POPULATION IN CITIES AND REDUCE THE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION IN FARMLAND. THUS, MOVING TO CITIES OFFERS SEVERAL INTERPERSONAL AS WELL AS SOCIAL MERITS.
TO CONCLUDE, IN THIS COMPETITIVENESS ERA, COUNTRYSIDE OFFERS PERSONAL AND PHYSICAL BENEFITS FOR INDIVIDUALS, WHILST CITIES HELP TO ENHANCE QUALITY OF LIFE.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0
Your position is clear: you consider rural-to-urban migration positive, and you give relevant reasons, including access to education, employment, healthcare and social activities. The examples of Mumbai, New York and Tokyo help illustrate the benefits you have in mind. You also acknowledge a counterpoint—that declining rural populations may harm agriculture—which shows awareness of another consequence. However, this concern is introduced briefly and not explained, and the conclusion confusingly says the countryside offers benefits while cities improve quality of life, without clearly resolving the comparison. Some claims, such as concerts bringing innovation, also need clearer explanation. Develop the main reasons with specific cause-and-effect detail and make the final judgement consistent with your stated position.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, two body paragraphs and a conclusion. Sequencing phrases such as “Moreover,” “Furthermore” and “To conclude” help signal movement between points, and the discussion generally stays focused on migration and its effects. However, the first body paragraph lists several benefits in quick succession, so the relationship between them is not always developed. The second paragraph shifts from city services and events to rural decline without a clear transition, while “Thus” does not fully follow from the preceding contrast. Some linking expressions feel repetitive or mechanical. Group related benefits, explain each point before moving on, and use clearer references and transitions to connect the counterargument to your overall position.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
You attempt a range of topic-related vocabulary, including “financial and social benefits,” “job opportunities,” “medical facilities” and “agricultural production.” This gives you enough language to discuss several aspects of urban and rural life. However, inaccurate word choice, collocation and spelling are noticeable and sometimes make ideas less clear: “registered phenomenon,” “metro cities,” “natural side” and “in this competitiveness era” are not natural expressions in context. There are also repeated uses of “offers” and “benefits,” which limits flexibility. Aim for precise, conventional collocations and check spelling carefully; for example, describe “access to better healthcare” rather than “advanced medical facilities” if you mean services available to residents. More accurate phrasing would make your ideas easier to follow.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including a reason clause with “since” and a concession introduced by “However.” This shows some range, and the main position is usually understandable. However, errors in agreement and sentence construction occur across the response. For example, “cities offers” should be “cities offer,” and “which helps to encourage” does not agree with the plural “events.” The opening sentence is difficult to parse because its clauses are not connected clearly, and “One prominent aspect regarding cities are” has a faulty subject–verb pattern. Articles and plurals also need attention, as in “better education system.” Practise checking the subject and verb in each clause, and use shorter, complete sentences when a longer structure becomes difficult to control.
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