Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)
Most people live their lives near the city where their birthplace is. There are some reasons behind this, and I explain them in further paragraphs.
There are so many reasons why people do not want to leave where they were born; the first and foremost reason is there frinds and family. If they migrate from their place, people do not feel comfortable living in a different society. For example, as I moved to canada i miss my birthplace the most: where my family is, where I grew up, and where my school and my friends are.
There are some advantages to living with family and having them back all the time. Also, we do not have to find a place to live.
I would say one of the disadvantages is moving to the canada i have no family and have to live with with peoplr i do not know. I have to make new friends to go out; I am not aware of the city I move to, so to restart from scratch makes it feel stressful.
To wrap up, I would there more advantages then disadvantages to livinh at same place where you bron. However, living in diferent place can make you stronger.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, reaching only 204 words. This significantly impacts the development of ideas. While you identify reasons, advantages, and disadvantages, the points are under-developed and lack sufficient depth or supporting detail. For instance, the discussion on advantages is very brief and lacks specific examples. To improve, you must expand each paragraph with more detailed explanations and relevant examples to ensure all parts of the prompt are fully addressed. The current length prevents a more thorough exploration of the topic, which is necessary for a higher band score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay has a basic structure with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. However, the progression of ideas is limited by the brevity of the text. Cohesive devices are used, but they are often repetitive or mechanical (e.g., 'There are some reasons', 'There are some advantages'). Paragraphing is present, but the paragraphs are underdeveloped, making the overall flow feel disjointed. To improve, use a wider variety of linking words and transition phrases to connect your ideas more fluidly and ensure that each paragraph has a clear, central focus that is logically linked to the next.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is limited and repetitive, relying on basic words like 'reasons', 'place', and 'live'. There are several spelling errors, such as 'frinds', 'peoplr', 'livinh', 'bron', and 'diferent', which detract from the clarity of the writing. While the meaning is generally conveyed, the range of vocabulary is not sufficient to demonstrate flexibility or precision. To improve, focus on learning synonyms for common words and pay closer attention to spelling. Incorporating more topic-specific vocabulary related to migration, social support, and personal development would also help elevate your score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex sentences, but there are frequent grammatical errors throughout. Examples include 'I explain them in further paragraphs' (tense), 'as I moved to canada i miss' (capitalization and tense consistency), and 'I would there more advantages then disadvantages' (missing verb and incorrect comparative structure). Punctuation is also inconsistent. These errors occur frequently and occasionally impede the reader's understanding. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence structures, ensuring subject-verb agreement, and proofreading for capitalization and tense consistency.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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