Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-06

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 people choose to reside in or near their hometowns for the vast majority of their lives. This pattern of living is primarily driven by strong family ties and cultural familiarity, and while it offers substantial personal security and community support, it can also restrict individual growth and career prospects.

There are several compelling reasons why individuals remain close to their places of birth. Foremost among these is the presence of an established social support system. Living near family and lifelong friends provides a reliable emotional and financial safety net, particularly during life events such as raising children or caring for aging parents. Additionally, cultural comfort plays a crucial role. People naturally feel at ease in environments where the local customs, dialect, and social norms are familiar, sparing them the psychological stress often associated with relocating to an unfamiliar city or country.

From an advantageous perspective, remaining in one’s birthplace offers undeniable stability and financial efficiency. For instance, individuals frequently save significant housing costs by residing in family homes or leveraging local connections to secure affordable accommodation and employment. Furthermore, deep-rooted community relationships foster a strong sense of identity and belonging, which is increasingly rare in today’s highly mobile society.

Conversely, there are notable drawbacks to this lifestyle. The most significant disadvantage is the limitation it places on professional and personal development. Staying in a single location can narrow a person’s career choices, especially if local job markets are constrained or lack modern industries. Furthermore, it limits exposure to diverse perspectives and cultures. Someone who never leaves their hometown may struggle to adapt to globalized work environments or develop the self-reliance that comes from overcoming the challenges of moving to a new environment.

In conclusion, people choose to stay close to where they were born largely due to family bonds and cultural comfort. Although this choice brings emotional security, a strong sense of community, and financial ease, it can ultimately limit career growth and personal independence.

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 in one's hometown (social support, cultural comfort) and provided a balanced discussion of both advantages (stability, financial efficiency) and disadvantages (limited career growth, lack of diverse perspectives). The position is clear from the introduction and is maintained consistently throughout the essay. Each paragraph is well-developed with relevant supporting points and examples, such as the mention of 'raising children' or 'local job markets'. The response is comprehensive and directly answers the task requirements.

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, advantages, and disadvantages is smooth. You have used a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'Foremost among these', 'Additionally', 'From an advantageous perspective', and 'Conversely'. These markers guide the reader through your argument without being repetitive or mechanical. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different sections of the response, contributing to a coherent overall structure.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a wide and flexible range of vocabulary that is used with precision. Phrases such as 'established social support system', 'psychological stress', 'deep-rooted community relationships', and 'globalized work environments' show a high level of lexical control. The word choices are natural and appropriate for the formal tone of an IELTS essay. There are no noticeable errors in collocation or word choice, and the vocabulary effectively conveys your ideas with nuance and sophistication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The essay displays a wide range of grammatical structures, including complex sentences with subordinate clauses and varied sentence beginnings. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation and tense usage is excellent. For example, the sentence 'Someone who never leaves their hometown may struggle to adapt to globalized work environments or develop the self-reliance that comes from overcoming the challenges of moving to a new environment' is grammatically complex and perfectly executed. There are no significant errors that impede communication.

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