Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-14

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)

Many people choose to spend most of their lives in the same area where they were born, rather than moving to another city or country. This can be due to strong family connections, financial stability and familiarity with their surroundings. Although living in one place has several benefits, it can also limit people's opportunities and experiences.

One major reason people remain close to their birthplace is their connection with family and friends. They may want to stay near their parents, relatives and childhood friends, especially when they become older and need support. In addition, people are usually familiar with local culture, language, community and lifestyle, which can make them feel confortable and secure. Financial resons can also play a role, as moving to another place may involve high costs for housing, transportation and finding a new job. For example, a person who has a stable job and owns a home in their hometown may have little reason to move elsewhere.

There are several advantages to staying in the same area. People can maintain strong relationships with their family and community, and they may recieve emotional and practical support when needed. They also know the local area well, which can make everyday life easier. However, there are some disadvantages. Staying in one place may reduce opportunities to experience different cultures, meed new people or find better employment. It may also prevent individuals from becoming more independent. For instance, a young person who never leaves their hometown may miss opportunities to study or work in a more competitive environment.

In conclusion, people often remain near their birthplace because of family ties and financial security. While this lifestyle provides stability and strong social connections, it can also restrict personal growth and career opportunities. Hence, I believe that staying close to home can be beneficial, but moving away at a certain age can also provide a wide range of experiences.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the task by clearly explaining the reasons why people stay in their birthplace, as well as outlining both the advantages and disadvantages. The student takes a clear position throughout the essay, beginning with an introductory overview and concluding with a balanced personal perspective. Ideas are well-developed and supported with relevant examples, such as the mention of stable jobs, homeownership, and young people missing opportunities in competitive environments. The response demonstrates a thorough understanding of the prompt requirements and provides a well-structured argument without any irrelevant tangents, satisfying all the criteria for a high Band 7 or Band 8 score in Task Achievement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay presents a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct focus: the introduction outlines the core themes, the second paragraph details reasons, the third discusses advantages and disadvantages, and the final paragraph concludes the discussion. Cohesive devices such as 'In addition', 'However', and 'For example' are used effectively to guide the reader through the text, although some transitions feel slightly standard. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, ensuring the essay flows logically from one point to the next. Referencing is clear throughout, and the overall structure meets the standards of a solid Band 7 performance.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow for some flexibility and precision, using appropriate terms related to lifestyle, employment, and personal development such as 'financial stability', 'surroundings', and 'competitive environment'. Less common items are attempted with some awareness of style and collocation. However, there are a few spelling and typographical errors, such as 'confortable' instead of comfortable, and 'resons' instead of reasons, alongside 'recieve' instead of receive. Despite these occasional lexical and orthographic inaccuracies, the vocabulary is more than adequate for the task and does not impede communication, placing the response comfortably within the Band 6.5 to 7.0 range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay exhibits a good mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating control over grammatical structures. The writer successfully employs subordinate clauses and conditional concepts, such as 'Many people choose to spend most of their lives in the same area where they were born, rather than moving to another city or country' and 'a person who has a stable job and owns a home in their hometown may have little reason to move elsewhere.' While there are occasional minor spelling and vocabulary slips, the grammatical control is strong with a high proportion of error-free sentences. Punctuation is used accurately throughout, supporting clear communication and justifying a solid Band 7 score.

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