Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-07

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 7.0)

Advantages reasons behind the people are time spent to more people connected Many people spend most of their lives living near the place where they were born. There are several reasons for this. Living in the same place has both advantages and disadvantages.

One important reason is family. People often want to stay close to their parents, relatives and friends. They feel comfortable because they know the people and places around them. Another reason is that moving to another city or country can be expensive and difficult. If someone has a good job and a comfortable home in their hometown, they may not want to move.

There are many advantages to living near one’s birthplace. People can spend more time with their family and friends. They can also get help from people they know when they have problems. In addition, they are familiar with the local culture, language and lifestyle. For example, many people in small towns prefer to stay there because they have strong relationships with their neighbours.

However, there are also disadvantages. Staying in the same place may reduce opportunities for better jobs or education. People may also have less experience of other cultures and ways of life. For example, a young person who never leaves their hometown might miss a good opportunity to study or work in a bigger city.

In conclusion, people stay close to where they were born mainly because of family, comfort and familiarity. Although this lifestyle provides security and strong relationships, moving to another place can sometimes offer better opportunities and new experiences.

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. The introduction is slightly disjointed due to the opening phrase, but the body paragraphs provide sufficient development for each point. The position is clear throughout, and the conclusion effectively summarizes the main arguments. To reach a higher band, you could provide more specific, nuanced examples rather than general statements, such as discussing the impact of globalization or specific economic factors in more detail.

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. Cohesive devices such as 'One important reason', 'Another reason', 'In addition', and 'However' are used effectively to guide the reader. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different sections of the response. The flow is natural, and the relationship between ideas is consistently clear throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is adequate and appropriate for the task. You use a range of common terms effectively to convey your meaning, such as 'hometown', 'local culture', and 'opportunities'. While the vocabulary is functional and clear, it lacks a degree of sophistication or 'less common' lexical items that would demonstrate a wider range. There are no significant errors in word choice or collocation that impede communication, but incorporating more precise academic vocabulary would elevate the response to a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and the grammar is generally accurate, which ensures that the message is always clear. There are no major grammatical errors that cause confusion. To improve, you could experiment with more varied complex structures, such as conditional sentences or passive voice constructions, to demonstrate a wider range of grammatical control. Punctuation is used correctly throughout the response.

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

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