Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-06

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 7.5)

Some people choose to spend their entire lives living in the area where they were born, while others prefer to move to different cities or countries. There are several reasons why many people remain in their hometowns, and this decision has both benefits and drawbacks.

One of the main reasons people stay close to where they were born is their strong attachment to family and community. Living near relatives allows them to receive emotional support and maintain close relationships. In addition, many people have stable jobs or family businesses in their hometowns, making it unnecessary to relocate. Others simply feel comfortable in a familiar environment where they understand the local culture, traditions, and way of life.

There are several advantages to living in one's hometown. Firstly, people can rely on family members during difficult times, such as illness or financial hardship. Secondly, they often enjoy a stronger sense of belonging and security because they have long-standing friendships and community connections. For example, many people in small towns prefer to stay because they value the peaceful lifestyle and supportive neighbourhood.

However, there are also disadvantages. Remaining in the same place may limit educational and career opportunities, especially if the local economy is not well developed. People may also have fewer chances to experience different cultures, learn new skills, or broaden their perspectives. For instance, someone who never leaves a small village might miss better employment opportunities available in larger cities.

In conclusion, people often remain close to their birthplace because of family ties, stable employment, and familiarity with their surroundings. Although this choice provides emotional support, security, and a sense of belonging, it may also restrict personal growth and career development. Therefore, whether staying or moving is the better option depends on an individual's goals and circumstances.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt: reasons for staying, advantages, and disadvantages are all clearly identified and discussed. The position is consistent throughout the essay. Ideas are well-developed, such as the mention of emotional support and family businesses as reasons, and the contrast between community security and limited career growth. The structure is logical, and the content is relevant to the task. To reach a higher band, the student could provide more specific, perhaps personal or hypothetical, examples to further illustrate the points, rather than relying on general statements like 'many people in small towns'.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is smooth. Cohesive devices such as 'In addition', 'Firstly', 'However', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to link sentences and paragraphs. The referencing is clear, and the paragraphing is appropriate. The flow of the argument is natural, making the text easy to follow. The use of cohesive devices is not mechanical, which contributes to the overall clarity of the writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The vocabulary is sufficient and appropriate for the task. The student uses a range of topic-specific terms such as 'relocate', 'financial hardship', 'long-standing friendships', and 'broaden their perspectives'. The word choice is generally precise, and there are no significant errors in collocation. While the vocabulary is accurate and functional, it lacks some of the more sophisticated or idiomatic expressions that would characterize a band 8 or 9 performance. However, the range is more than adequate to convey complex ideas clearly and effectively.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The essay demonstrates a good command of grammatical structures. There is a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as 'Some people choose to spend their entire lives living in the area where they were born, while others prefer to move to different cities or countries.' The grammar is highly accurate, with very few, if any, errors. Punctuation is used correctly throughout. The control over complex structures is consistent, and the writing is error-free for the most part. This level of accuracy and variety is indicative of a strong grasp of English grammar.

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

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