Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-07-28
IELTS Writing Task 2 question
Some people spend most of their lives living close to where they were born.
What might be the reasons for this?
What are the advantages and disadvantages?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Student answer (Band 6.5)
People like to live close to their native place instead of choosing to stay far away. This may be due to adults wanting to take care of their family and be easily accessible to them, which saves time and costs.
It is evident around the world that, especially adults in their 30s and 40s, choose to live close to their family homes. The reason being, especially for those who have children, geriatric parents, etc., they want to be readily available for them in case of emergencies or celebrations. Additionally, you can hold on to your connections as needed.
If we glance at the disadvantages, sometimes family can be overly intrusive in their children's personal lives, which can disrupt it. Moreover, it is distracting as the family always wants you to be available for family functions. Hence, this can be seen as overwhelming, as you cannot focus on your career and goals.
To reiterate, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages in this case; living close to where you were born and raised can be helpful emotionally, for the family and vice versa.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses all parts of the prompt: reasons, advantages, and disadvantages. However, the development of these ideas is quite limited due to the significant under-length. At 180 words, the essay fails to meet the 250-word minimum requirement, which severely impacts the depth of the response. While the ideas are relevant, they are presented in a very brief manner, lacking the necessary supporting examples or detailed explanations required for a higher band. To improve, you must expand on your points with specific personal anecdotes or broader societal examples to ensure a more thorough exploration of the topic.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The essay is organised into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of ideas. There is a logical flow from the reasons to the advantages and disadvantages. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and limited. Phrases like 'It is evident', 'Additionally', and 'To reiterate' are used correctly but are quite basic. To improve, try to use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that the transition between sentences is smoother and less formulaic. The paragraphing is appropriate, but the brevity of the content makes the overall structure feel underdeveloped.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, such as 'geriatric', 'intrusive', and 'accessible'. These words are used accurately and help convey your meaning clearly. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is a reliance on simpler vocabulary throughout the text. To reach a higher band, you should aim to incorporate more precise collocations and less common lexical items that demonstrate a more sophisticated command of the language. The current vocabulary is sufficient for communication but lacks the flexibility and precision required for higher scores.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most of your sentences are grammatically accurate, and errors are rare and do not impede communication. For example, 'This may be due to adults wanting to take care of their family' is a well-constructed sentence. However, the range of complex structures is limited. To improve, try to incorporate a wider variety of subordinate clauses and more advanced grammatical forms, such as conditional sentences or passive voice, to demonstrate greater control. Your current level of accuracy is good, but the range of structures needs to be expanded.
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