Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-25

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)

In recent years, living close to where people were born for most of their lives has remained increasingly common. This development offers several notable advantages, particularly strong family connections and a stable lifestyle, but it also presents certain disadvantages, including limited career opportunities and exposure to new experiences. This essay will examine both sides.

One significant advantage of living close to one's birthplace is having strong connections with family and the local community. This is because people who remain in their hometowns can maintain close relationships with parents, relatives, childhood friends and neighbours who can provide emotional and practical support. For example, a person who continues to live in their hometown may be able to regularly care for elderly parents while also participating in family and community events. Furthermore, living in a familiar environment can provide a strong sense of security and belonging, which means that people are often more comfortable with the local culture, language, customs and lifestyle. Therefore, remaining close to one's birthplace can provide substantial benefits to individuals and their families.

Despite these benefits, living close to one's birthplace also has certain drawbacks. The most significant concern is the possibility of having fewer career and educational opportunities. This can occur because smaller towns and rural areas generally have fewer universities, specialised jobs and large companies than major cities. For instance, a graduate living in a small town may have to move to a larger city to find a suitable position in fields such as technology, finance or management. Another potential drawback is limited exposure to different cultures, lifestyles and perspectives, which may result in people becoming less adaptable and having fewer opportunities to broaden their understanding of the world.

In conclusion, living close to one's birthplace provides considerable benefits, such as strong family relationships and a sense of belonging, but it also involves drawbacks, particularly limited career opportunities and reduced exposure to new experiences. The overall impact therefore depends largely on the availability of employment, education and personal development opportunities in the individual's local area.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt. You clearly identify reasons for staying in one's birthplace, such as family support and familiarity, while also balancing the advantages and disadvantages. The ideas are well-developed and supported with relevant examples, such as the mention of caring for elderly parents and the career limitations in rural areas. Your position is clear from the introduction through to the conclusion. To reach a band 9, you could further extend the analysis by briefly touching upon the psychological impact of staying in one place versus the personal growth associated with moving, but the current level of development is already very strong and meets the criteria for a high band score.

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 advantages and disadvantages is smooth. You make effective use of cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'Despite these benefits', and 'For instance', which help guide the reader through your argument. The paragraphing is logical and contributes to the overall clarity of the response. The referencing is precise, and there is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive usage. The structure is sophisticated and supports the flow of information throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a wide and flexible range of vocabulary that is appropriate for an IELTS task. Phrases like 'specialised jobs', 'broaden their understanding', and 'familiar environment' are used accurately and naturally. You show a good awareness of collocation, and there are no significant errors in word choice. While the vocabulary is precise and effective, it stays within a standard range of academic English. To move toward a band 8 or 9, you could incorporate slightly more sophisticated or idiomatic collocations, but the current usage is already highly effective and precise.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a high level of grammatical control. You use a variety of complex sentence structures, such as conditional-like constructions ('a person who continues to live... may be able to...') and subordinate clauses, with very high accuracy. Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are no errors that impede communication. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the few minor slips are non-systematic. Your control over tense and subject-verb agreement is consistent, reflecting a strong command of English grammar suitable for a high band score.

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