Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-12

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)

People around the world are migrating from the rural areas to cities that is why population of countryside is gradually declining. In my opinion this is a negative development as there will be lack of resources in cities and the reason why people are moving.

First of all, due to an increased population in cities there will be a huge impact on the resources of the cities. Because as number of citizens keep increasing so will there demand for food, shelter and public services. As these cities do not have infinite space and resources over time there will lack of these things which may results in inflation in prices of basic necessity. For example take city A, it can sustain a population of 100 people but if there are 150 people than the resources have to split between these people which will result in less ration for each person.

Additionally, the question arises why people are moving to cities instead of staying in rural areas? The answer is clear, due to lack of public facilities, poor development, absence of opportunities. People in rural areas do not get the services they desire such as better public transport, education facilities and job opportunities that is why cities are so alluring to them. It is not that there are no facility it is just not able to fulfill the needs of rural people.

In conclusion, my opinion is that it is negative development as the cities are not able contain and sustain the population which is moving to urban area. As well as poor development in urban areas which encourages more people to move.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

Your position is clear: you consider rural-to-urban migration negative, and you give relevant reasons, including pressure on city resources and the lack of services and opportunities in rural areas. The example of a city designed for 100 people illustrates resource pressure, but it is hypothetical and does not explain the wider consequences in much depth. The second body paragraph identifies why people leave, yet it does not fully show how this movement harms either rural communities or cities. The conclusion repeats your view but adds little synthesis. To develop the response further, explain specific effects—for example, how rural depopulation affects farming or local services—and support your claims with more precise examples.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, two body paragraphs and a conclusion. The ideas are generally grouped by topic, and signposts such as “First of all,” “Additionally” and “In conclusion” help readers follow the main stages. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes unclear: the second body paragraph shifts from explaining why people move to asserting that urban areas are poorly developed, without clearly connecting this point to your negative judgement. Some linking is mechanical, and the opening sentence joins two complete ideas with “that is why.” Improve cohesion by making each paragraph develop one clear point and using explicit cause-and-effect links rather than relying mainly on transition phrases.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant topic vocabulary, including “public services,” “job opportunities,” “resources” and “population,” so the main ideas are understandable. There are also attempts at more specific expressions such as “sustain a population” and “basic necessity.” However, the range is limited and some word combinations or forms are inaccurate, which makes parts of the response sound unnatural: “there demand,” “less ration” and “not able to fulfill the needs” are examples. Repetition of “cities,” “people” and “resources” also limits flexibility. Build a wider set of precise terms for migration and its effects, and check collocations and word forms so that your vocabulary communicates ideas more naturally.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including a conditional example (“if there are 150 people…”) and a reason clause beginning “as.” However, complex structures are often faulty, and errors occur frequently enough to make some sentences difficult to read. For example, “People around the world are migrating… that is why…” joins clauses incorrectly, while “Because as number of citizens keep increasing so will there demand…” has an incomplete construction and problems with articles, agreement and clause structure. Other examples include “there will lack of these things” and “the cities are not able contain.” Practise building complete sentences with one clear main clause, then check articles, subject–verb agreement and verb patterns.

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