Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-17
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 5.5)
There is an ongoing debate regarding people who spent a major part of their lives living close to where they were born. There are many reasons for people to stay close to their birthplaces such as familiarity and convenience. This essay will discuss both advantages and disadvantages of this development.
One of the most compelling advantage of this development is affliation to place of birth. It is a human nature to love and feel attracted to where they are born and have spent their childhood. It makes people feel connected to their roots and culture which brings a sense of security and safety. Moreover, people are used to the places around and cherish those memories by visiting again.
On the other hand, one should be open to visit new places and embrace diversity. Staying in the same place for years can decrease work or study opportunities. Moreover, moving to new places and exploring nature can effect the mental health positively.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0
The response is significantly under the required word count of 250 words, reaching only 160 words. This failure to meet the length requirement severely limits the development of ideas. While you identify reasons for staying in one's birthplace and touch upon advantages and disadvantages, the points are underdeveloped. For instance, the 'disadvantages' section is very brief and lacks specific examples or a deeper exploration of the consequences. To improve, you must expand each paragraph with detailed explanations and concrete examples to fully address all parts of the prompt.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a basic attempt at using cohesive devices such as 'Moreover' and 'On the other hand'. However, the progression of ideas is limited by the brevity of the text. The introduction is clear, but the transition between the advantages and disadvantages is abrupt. To achieve a higher band, ensure that each paragraph contains a clear topic sentence followed by supporting arguments that flow naturally into one another, using a wider variety of linking words to connect ideas more fluidly.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using words like 'compelling', 'affiliation', and 'diversity'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and spelling, such as 'affliation' (spelling) and 'effect' (should be 'affect' as a verb). The vocabulary is generally functional but lacks the sophistication or precision required for higher bands. To improve, focus on using more precise collocations and ensure accurate spelling of academic vocabulary.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical errors, such as 'one of the most compelling advantage' (should be 'advantages') and 'It is a human nature' (should be 'It is human nature'). While these errors do not significantly impede communication, they occur frequently enough to affect the overall accuracy. To improve, pay closer attention to subject-verb agreement and article usage. Incorporating a wider variety of complex sentence forms while maintaining accuracy will help raise your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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