Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-24

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 prefer to spend most of their lives living near the place where they were born. There are several reasons for this choice, such as being close to family, having a stable life and feeling comfortable in a familiar environment. This situation has both advantages and disadvantages, which will be discussed in this essay.

There are many reasons why people choose to stay close to their birthplace. First and foremost, family is one of the main reasons. People may want to live near their parents, relatives and childhood friends because they have strong emotional connections with them. Moreover, some individuals have a stable job or business in their hometown, so they do not want to move to another place and start everything again. Another reason is that people are familiar with the local culture, language, people and surroundings. Therefore, they may feel more comfortable and secure living in their hometown.

There are several advantages to living close to the place where a person was born. The most important benefit is that people can easily spend time with their family and receive support when they have problems. For example, if parents become old, their children can take care of them more easily when they live nearby. Another advantage is that people already know the area, including schools, hospitals, shops and other facilities. As a result, they can enjoy a more comfortable and stable lifestyle.

However, there are also some disadvantages. The main drawback is that people may have fewer opportunities for career development. In some small towns, there may not be enough good jobs, while large cities usually provide more employment opportunities and higher salaries. In addition, staying in the same place for many years can sometimes prevent people from experiencing new cultures and meeting different kinds of people. For instance, a person who always lives in their hometown may have fewer chances to learn about other lifestyles.

In conclusion, people may choose to live near their birthplace because of family relationships, stable jobs and familiarity with their surroundings. Although this lifestyle provides comfort, family support and stability, it can also limit career opportunities and experiences. Therefore, I believe that living close to one's birthplace can be beneficial, but people should also consider moving when better opportunities are available.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt: reasons for staying in one's birthplace, as well as the advantages and disadvantages. The ideas are relevant and clearly presented. Each paragraph is well-developed with supporting examples, such as the mention of caring for aging parents as an advantage and the limitation of career growth as a disadvantage. The position is consistent throughout the essay. To reach a higher band, the student could provide more nuanced or sophisticated analysis, perhaps by discussing the psychological impact of staying in one place versus the globalized nature of modern work.

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 easy to follow. The student uses a variety of cohesive devices such as 'First and foremost', 'Moreover', 'In addition', and 'As a result' to link sentences and ideas effectively. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different aspects of the prompt. The flow is smooth, and the referencing is clear throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The vocabulary is sufficient and appropriate for the task. The student uses a range of topic-specific terms like 'career development', 'employment opportunities', and 'emotional connections'. While the vocabulary is accurate and conveys meaning well, it is somewhat functional rather than sophisticated. There are no significant errors in word choice or collocation, but the essay lacks a wider range of less common lexical items or idiomatic expressions that would demonstrate a more advanced level of proficiency.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The student demonstrates a good command of grammatical structures. There is a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as the use of conditional clauses ('if parents become old, their children can take care of them') and relative clauses. The majority of sentences are error-free, and punctuation is used correctly. While the grammar is reliable, the range of complex structures is somewhat limited; incorporating more varied sentence patterns, such as inversion or passive voice, would help elevate the score.

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

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