Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-14

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)

Nowadays, there is a heated argument over the issue that many people are moving to cities, so as a result the popultion in the rural area is declining. There is no doubt over this issue that people should move to cities. A majority of society facours it; however, others go opposite to it. Although it has some upsides, I believe that this is a negative development.

Analyzing the statement, I see eye to eye with the given statement for numerous reasons. One of the main reason is that, due to the urbanization, the population in the rural areas is gradually decreasing. Due to the that fact there would be a time in future when such villages will be ruined. Secondly, because of the migration in such a large number, the metropolitan cities would become more populated and it would be difficult for the government to manage.

Probing ahead, the migration to cities would create some future opportunities for the migrated people. The socia interaction and heterogenity will increase. People willbecome more social, as a result, their confidence would be high. Besides, there would be a high competition for everyone to get a better job.

From my perspective, migration of the people to the developed cities is a negative development as it will create many problems for the government as well as for the locality.

In conlusion, I reiterate that there are innumerable strong factors suggesting that migration of rural people should now be allowed as it is not a good step and it cannot be overlooked either.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You state a clear overall view in the introduction and conclusion: rural-to-urban migration is a negative development. You also identify relevant consequences, including villages losing population and cities becoming harder for governments to manage. However, the response only partially develops the task. The claim that villages may be “ruined” is not explained with a concrete effect, and the point about pressure on city management needs an example or detail. The paragraph on opportunities for migrants introduces benefits, but does not clearly weigh them against the disadvantages or explain why they do not change your overall judgement. Develop fewer points more fully and support them with specific examples.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has an introduction, separate body paragraphs and a conclusion, and the reader can generally follow the shift from disadvantages to possible benefits and back to your position. However, progression within paragraphs is limited: several claims are listed without explanation, and the conclusion repeats the position rather than drawing the discussion together. Some linking phrases are mechanical or do not express the relationship clearly, such as “Analyzing the statement” and “Probing ahead.” The opening also says “I see eye to eye with the given statement,” although the statement describes a trend rather than a clear opinion to agree with. Use more precise transitions and connect each supporting detail explicitly to your main argument.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You attempt a range of topic-related and formal vocabulary, including “urbanization,” “metropolitan cities,” “migration,” and “heterogeneity.” This gives you some flexibility beyond basic wording. However, several choices are inaccurate or awkward, which makes parts of the argument less clear: “the population in the rural area” is better expressed as “the rural population,” while “a heated argument over the issue” and “I see eye to eye with the given statement” do not fit the task naturally. Spelling errors such as “popultion,” “facours,” and “conlusion” also reduce accuracy. Aim for precise, natural collocations and check spelling, especially for less familiar vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use both simple sentences and attempts at more complex structures, including “Although it has some upsides, I believe…” and a sentence beginning “because of the migration…”. Meaning is usually recoverable, but control is uneven, particularly in longer constructions. For example, “One of the main reason is that, due to the urbanization, the population…” has a number-agreement error and an awkwardly assembled clause; “Due to the that fact” also has an incorrect determiner pattern. There are further errors in “People willbecome” and “their confidence would be high.” Work on agreement, articles and clause construction, and proofread spacing and punctuation. More accurate complex sentences would make your reasoning easier to follow.

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