Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-15

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)

Many people prefer to live in their townhome rather than live away from where they were born. There could be several reasons influencing this trend such as familiarity and comfort. Some suggest living far from their own hometown is more beneficial in terms of opportunities and personal development. However, I believe that the advantages of living in their hometown outweigh the disadvantages which I will discuss in the following paragraphs.

One of the main reasons is that people find their birthplace is their roots and stay connected to it, building and strengthening relationships with their families and peers. They can preserve and grow their culture and traditions more than anywhere else. For example, one can take care of their older family members by learning and practicing traditional beliefs and cultural values. Another reason is that they are more familiar and comfortable living there, as they spend most of their lives in the town. Due to their social connections, they would have secured jobs or successful businesses that they grow without the stress of competition.

I believe that there are more advantages than disadvantages to this scenario. People's strong relationships make them feel secure and give a sense of belongingness. They can care for their community and provide help in difficult situations which makes them responsible and dedicated. Additionally, individuals who live close to their family and in the town would live without worrying about buying houses or other major expenses encountered when living far from their birthplace. Also, they can enjoy their heritage and attend special occasions. For example, some countries holds different beliefs based on

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt: reasons for staying in one's birthplace, as well as the advantages and disadvantages. However, the development is somewhat uneven. While the reasons and advantages are discussed, the disadvantages are largely neglected, with the essay ending abruptly mid-sentence. The position is clear, but the lack of a balanced discussion on the negative aspects of staying in one's hometown prevents a higher score. To improve, ensure all parts of the prompt are given equal weight and that the conclusion is fully articulated rather than left incomplete.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is generally coherent, with a clear paragraph structure. Each paragraph has a central theme, such as the reasons for staying or the advantages. Cohesive devices like 'However', 'For example', and 'Additionally' are used to link ideas. However, the abrupt ending of the final paragraph disrupts the flow and logical progression of the argument. To reach a higher band, ensure that all paragraphs are fully developed and that the transition between ideas remains smooth throughout the entire response, avoiding incomplete thoughts.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to convey their ideas clearly. There is some attempt to use topic-specific vocabulary such as 'personal development', 'traditional beliefs', and 'social connections'. However, the range is somewhat limited and repetitive in places, such as the frequent use of 'living' and 'town'. There are no significant spelling errors, but the vocabulary lacks the sophistication and precision required for higher bands. Expanding the range of synonyms and collocations would significantly improve the quality of the writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are some grammatical inaccuracies, such as 'some countries holds' (subject-verb agreement) and 'their birthplace is their roots' (awkward phrasing). Punctuation is generally correct, but the incomplete final sentence is a major issue. To improve, focus on ensuring subject-verb agreement and refining complex sentence structures to ensure they are error-free. Proofreading for minor slips and ensuring all sentences are complete is essential for higher accuracy.

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

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