Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-29

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 5.0)

In today's world people are moving towards urban areas from rural areas due to this the population is reducing in countryside. Migration of people to the cities has both pros and cons. I think that government should strike a balance between the population sizes on both sides.

On the one side, urban area is the hub of all facilities and provides a significant good standard of living. This is the main reason why people now a days prefer to live in cities rather than villages. City side has all the eminities like hospitals, schools, shopping markets, jobs and even good transport facility also available. Due to these number of facilities people are moving towards the city. This growth is amazing as it boots economy but causing over crowded situations and challenges for people like unemployment and increase in population.

On the other side, subrubs are the most quite and calm place to live with clean fresh air. It

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

You identify the issue and give a relevant view that governments should “strike a balance” between rural and urban populations. You also mention benefits of city facilities and economic growth, alongside overcrowding and unemployment, so the response is connected to the question. However, the task asks whether this is a positive or negative development, and your position does not clearly choose or explain either side. The rural perspective begins with “subrubs are the most quite and calm place” but is left unfinished, and there are no developed examples or conclusion. The response is also below the required 250 words. To improve, state a clear overall judgement and develop both your reasons and supporting examples.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

There is an emerging structure: an introduction, a paragraph about urban areas, and the start of a contrasting paragraph about rural life. Phrases such as “On the one side” and “On the other side” signal a comparison and help the reader follow the intended direction. However, the progression is incomplete: the final paragraph stops after “It,” leaving the contrast and argument unfinished, and there is no concluding paragraph to bring the ideas together. Some linking is also mechanical, particularly the repeated use of “Due to” and “On the… side.” Build complete paragraphs around one main point each, connect causes and consequences clearly, and finish with a conclusion that restates your position.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant topic vocabulary, including “migration,” “facilities,” “standard of living,” “economy,” and “over crowded situations.” These choices show an ability to discuss urbanisation and its effects. However, spelling and word-choice errors are noticeable, as in “eminities,” “boots economy,” “subrubs,” and “quite and calm.” Some expressions are also imprecise or unnatural, such as “city side” and “significant good standard of living,” which can make the meaning less clear. Aim for accurate collocations and check spelling carefully. For example, use “urban areas,” “boosts the economy,” and “quiet and peaceful” rather than the less natural forms in the response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentence forms, including a cause-and-effect sentence beginning “This is the main reason why…” and a sentence linking facilities to migration. However, control is inconsistent, and several sentences contain errors in structure, agreement, or punctuation. The opening joins two independent ideas with a comma: “people are moving… from rural areas due to this the population…”; this needs a full stop or a suitable conjunction. Other examples include “urban area is the hub” and “Due to these number of facilities,” where articles and agreement need attention. The final “It” is an incomplete sentence. Practise forming complete sentences and checking articles, singular/plural agreement, and punctuation.

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