Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
In recent years, it has been discovered that the reason why a quite number of people has decided to reside near where they are birthed is that they do not want to be far away from their families. In the following paragraph, the benefit and the drawback of people living so close to the family will be discussed.
To begin with, one of the benefits to stay near where someone was born is that most people do not want to be far from their extended family. The reason is that they have enjoyed their presence from birth and they do not want to be deprive of that. Furthermore, they believe their family will be there for them in times of need.
Beyond the benefit of residing so close to the family, there is an obvious disadvantage to this view. Deciding to live close to someone place of birth in order to enjoy the comfort and presence of family can be frustrating on some occasions. The family can influence some decision making negatively by giving wrong advice which may affect the present and the future state of mind.
In conclusion, there should be a striking balance to this, a person may live close to the family and not allow the
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, which significantly impacts the development of ideas. While the essay identifies reasons for living near one's birthplace and touches upon both advantages and disadvantages, the discussion is underdeveloped and lacks depth. The conclusion is incomplete, cutting off mid-sentence, which prevents a clear summary or final position. To improve, you must expand on your points with specific examples and ensure the essay is fully completed. The current length and lack of development mean the task is only partially addressed.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, and there is a basic attempt at logical progression. However, the cohesion is somewhat mechanical, and the abrupt ending disrupts the overall flow of the text. While some cohesive devices like 'To begin with' and 'Furthermore' are used, the limited length makes it difficult to demonstrate a wide range of linking words. The paragraphing is present, but the final paragraph is incomplete, which negatively affects the overall structure and coherence of the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task but remains quite basic and repetitive. Phrases like 'a quite number of people' (incorrect usage) and 'someone place of birth' (grammatical error) indicate a limited range. There is little evidence of less common lexical items or sophisticated collocations. To reach a higher band, you should aim to use more precise vocabulary and avoid repetitive phrasing. For example, instead of 'benefit', you could use 'advantage' or 'merit', and instead of 'wrong advice', you might use 'misguided counsel'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay contains several grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'a quite number of people has decided' (subject-verb agreement error), 'where they are birthed' (awkward phrasing), and 'do not want to be deprive of that' (incorrect verb form). While there is an attempt at complex sentence structures, the accuracy is inconsistent. The frequency of these errors suggests a need for more careful proofreading and a better grasp of verb tenses and passive voice constructions.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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