Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-05

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 6.0)

In today's society, few individuals want to live where they were born and raised. The main reason behind this is to connect with their roots. This essay will discuss both benefits and drawbacks in the upcoming paragraphs.

On the one hand, people usually live in their birthplace and want to spend their whole lives there because of their attachment. In other words, individuals want to live in the memories they built during their teenage years. In addition, connecting with their roots not only allows them to live peacefully with their family members but also gives them a chance to contribute to it, which makes them feel proud. For instance, people living at their birthplace often feel joyful and live a less stressful life. As a result, living at their birthplace will give them a sense of accomplishment.

On the other hand, it has some drawbacks. Firstly, in remote areas, there is a lack of job opportunities, followed by a lack of transportation, which can cause an adverse impact on living standards. To expound, people at a certain age have responsibilities to take care of their family members, especially in remote areas, but a shortage of finances could create a barrier. For this, they are forced to make a decision to relocate to a different place to look for better opportunities and become financially independent. For instance, individuals living in their hometown will face career-related problems in the future if it is underdeveloped.

In conclusion, although living at their birthplace will connect them with their roots and allow them to do better for society, it will create hurdles for finances and career growth.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt: reasons for staying, advantages, and disadvantages. However, the development is somewhat superficial. The introduction claims that 'few individuals want to live where they were born,' which contradicts the premise of the prompt and creates a slight logical disconnect. While the reasons (attachment, roots) and the pros/cons (emotional well-being vs. career/financial limitations) are identified, the arguments lack depth and specific, illustrative examples. The 'examples' provided are generic statements rather than concrete scenarios. To reach a higher band, you should expand on the 'why' and 'how' with more detailed explanations and specific real-world contexts.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different aspects of the prompt. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand,' 'In addition,' and 'Consequently' are used to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel a bit mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally imprecise, such as in the sentence 'contribute to it,' where the antecedent 'it' is ambiguous. The progression of ideas is generally clear, but the flow could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words to connect sentences more naturally.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the message to be conveyed clearly. You use some topic-specific terms like 'relocate,' 'financially independent,' and 'underdeveloped.' However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is a reliance on simpler phrasing. For instance, 'live in the memories' is slightly unnatural. To improve, you should aim to incorporate more precise collocations and less common lexical items to demonstrate a higher level of control. The current vocabulary is sufficient for a 6.0, but lacks the flexibility and sophistication required for higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There is generally good control over basic grammar, and errors do not impede communication. However, there are some awkward phrasings, such as 'followed by a lack of transportation, which can cause an adverse impact on living standards.' Additionally, the sentence 'For this, they are forced to make a decision' is slightly clunky. While you attempt complex structures, they are not always perfectly executed. Increasing the frequency of error-free complex sentences and refining punctuation would help elevate your score in this criterion.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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