Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-11-04

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 a lot of countries around the world, countryside people are moving to urban areas for many reasons such as looking for a more comfortable lifestyle, independence and easier jobs. So the popultaion in the countryside is decreasing and the number of the cites residents are increasing. And the negative affects of this development can outweigh the positive affects.

The numerous people moving to cities for a more comfortable and easy lifestyle, more jobs opportunities since the city is more bigger than the countryside with a higher amount of people so looking for a job would be more easier. Some others move to urban areas to look for independence. This development can be negative for cities, because the number of residents would go higher so pollution would be more especially air pollution due the rise of car users. Another negative consequence is The dwindle of job opportunites since the number of residents is growning. For instance, in my city we had a time when rural people was moving in, traffic became crazy, pollution too and to find a job was almost impossible because all the rural people took them.

In the countryside, this development can also be negative due to numerous people are moving away so the agriculture production declines. Because fewer farmers leads to to reduced food production. Another negative affect is the deterioration of public services,Schools, healthcare facilities and public transport may become less accessible. And the closure of local businesses such as small shops and other facilities may shut down due to declining demand.

In conclusion, rural people moving to cities can be benefical but the negative affects outweigh the benefits such as the decreasing population in the countrysides and its consequences and the increasing popultion in cities and its outcomes.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You answer the question directly and maintain a clear view that the negative effects outweigh the benefits. The response considers consequences for both cities and rural areas, including increased pollution and competition for jobs in cities, and reduced agricultural output and access to services in the countryside. The personal example about traffic and job availability helps make the urban effects more concrete. However, some points are asserted rather than fully explained: for example, the claim that rural residents “took” the jobs does not show why this necessarily follows, and the benefits mentioned in the introduction and conclusion are not developed. Explain the causes and consequences more carefully, and support each main point with a specific example or reasoning.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The essay has a recognisable overall structure: an introduction, separate paragraphs on urban and rural effects, and a conclusion that restates your position. This makes the main line of argument easy to follow. You also use linking expressions such as “For instance,” “Another negative consequence,” and “In conclusion.” At times, however, connections are mechanical or unclear. The second paragraph begins with a long, incomplete construction (“The numerous people moving to cities…”), while “Because fewer farmers leads to…” is left as a fragment. Some ideas are also joined with repeated “so” and “and.” Use complete topic sentences, connect each explanation explicitly to its main point, and vary transitions to make the progression smoother.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough topic-related vocabulary to discuss migration and its effects, including “urban areas,” “agriculture production,” “public services,” and “declining demand.” There are also attempts at more specific language, such as “deterioration” and “independence.” However, spelling errors and imprecise or unnatural combinations reduce accuracy: “popultaion,” “cites,” “affects” where you mean “effects,” and “more bigger” are examples. Phrases such as “a higher amount of people” and “the dwindle of job opportunities” are also awkward. Aim for precise collocations and check spelling carefully; this will make your ideas sound more natural and help you express comparisons and consequences clearly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including explanations with “since” and a conditional structure in “the number of residents would go higher.” The overall meaning is generally understandable, but some sentence structures are incomplete or faulty. For example, “The numerous people moving to cities… so looking for a job would be more easier” lacks a clear main clause, and “Because fewer farmers leads to to reduced food production” is a fragment with subject–verb agreement and structure problems. There are also errors in agreement and articles, as in “rural people was moving in” and “the number of residents is growning.” Build complete sentences around each main idea, check singular and plural subjects, and proofread punctuation and clause boundaries.

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