Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-18

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)

Many individuals prefer to live near where they were born. This preference can be attributed to their familiarity with the local surroundings and the strong social ties they developed during childhood. While this choice offers several advantages, such as a strong sense of belonging and family support, it can also have drawbacks, particularly in terms of limited career opportunities and personal growth.

There are several reasons why people choose to remain close to their birthplace. Firstly, people are generally comfortable with places they know well, including the local environment, culture and lifestyle. They may already have established friendships, professional networks and a strong relationship with their community. Secondly, family ties can play an important role in this decision. Many individuals prefer to stay near their parents, relatives and childhood friends so that they can provide and receive emotional and practical support. For example, a person who has grown up in a small town may choose to remain there because their family and close friends live nearby, making it difficult to leave despite having opportunities elsewhere.

Living near one's birthplace has both advantages and disadvantages. On the one hand, remaining in a familiar environment can provide a strong sense of belonging and a reliable support network. People may also find it easier to maintain relationships and deal with everyday responsibilities when their family and friends are nearby. On the other hand, staying in the same area for one's entire life can limit exposure to new experiences and reduce access to better educational or career opportunities. For instance, young professionals living in smaller towns may have to move to major cities to find jobs that match their qualifications. Therefore, although staying close to one's birthplace can provide stability and social support, it may sometimes come at the cost of personal and professional growth.

In conclusion, people often choose to remain close to their birthplace because of their familiarity with the surroundings and the strong relationships they have developed there. Although this lifestyle provides emotional support, stability and a strong sense of belonging, it can also limit their access to better career opportunities and new experiences.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt. You have clearly identified the reasons for staying (familiarity, social ties, family support) and balanced the advantages (belonging, support) against the disadvantages (limited growth, career restrictions). The ideas are well-developed and supported with relevant examples, such as the mention of young professionals moving to cities. The position is clear from the introduction through to the conclusion. To reach a higher band, you could provide more specific, perhaps personal or hypothetical, examples to further illustrate the 'disadvantages' section, as the current examples are somewhat general.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the reasons for staying and the pros/cons is smooth. You use cohesive devices effectively, such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', 'On the one hand', and 'On the other hand', which guide the reader through your argument. The paragraphing is appropriate and contributes to the overall clarity of the response. The structure is consistent and easy to follow throughout.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is appropriate for the task. Phrases like 'strong social ties', 'professional networks', and 'personal and professional growth' are used accurately. The language is natural and conveys your meaning precisely. While the vocabulary is sufficient and accurate, it stays within a relatively standard range. To achieve a higher score, you could incorporate more sophisticated or less common collocations or idiomatic expressions to demonstrate greater flexibility and precision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The grammar is highly accurate, with a variety of complex sentence structures used throughout the essay. For example, your use of conditional and concessive clauses (e.g., '...making it difficult to leave despite having opportunities elsewhere') is well-controlled. There are virtually no grammatical errors, and punctuation is used correctly. The majority of your sentences are error-free, which demonstrates a strong command of English syntax. Your writing is clear, fluent, and professional.

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

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