Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-15

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 6.0)

Living whole life on birthplace has become a matter of considerable debate in contemporary society. While there are some merits and demerits of that, I believe that everyone needs to explore the world and try to live on different areas. This essay will examine the key reasons behind this view and consider its broader implications.

One significant reason is that changing living place can influence individuals' physical condition and emotional state. This is largely because it may encourage healthier habits and more balanced daily routines. When this happens, individuals are more likely to feel comfortable and function effectively in their everyday lives. Furthermore, such changes can enhance their overall quality of life and reduce certain difficulties they may otherwise face. For instance, this can be particularly beneficial when people are required to maintain demanding daily schedules without getting bored. Consequently, the effects can extend beyond the immediate situation and support a more balanced lifestyle.

Another compelling argument concerns the wider social consequences of living same place. More specifically, it can shape the way individuals interact with one another and strengthen relationships within the community. This is important because positive social interaction often creates a greater sense of trust and cooperation. A clear example of this can be seen when individuals share responsibilities or participate in activities together. As a result, communities can become more supportive, cooperative and socially connected.

However, it is equally important to acknowledge the opposing perspective. Those who support living on same region argue that it can offer certain advantages. This is primarily because it may provide individuals with greater freedom. For example, some may benefit from having fewer restrictions when making personal decisions. Nevertheless, I would argue that these advantages need to be considered alongside the possible drawbacks, particularly when the issue has wider consequences.

In conclusion, while there are valid arguments concerning changing living place after certain time, I believe that it is a positive development. Ultimately, its consequences for individuals, communities and society as a whole should be carefully considered when determining the most appropriate approach.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response6.0
Coherence and Cohesion6.0
Lexical Resource5.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.5
Overall6.0

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt by discussing reasons why people stay in their birthplace, as well as outlining some advantages and disadvantages. A clear position is maintained throughout the essay. However, the development of ideas tends to be somewhat generic and vague, particularly in the body paragraphs where concepts like physical condition and emotional state are discussed without concrete examples. Phrases such as for instance, this can be particularly beneficial are used to introduce examples, but the examples themselves lack specific context or personal insight. Consequently, the ideas are extended but remain somewhat broad, fitting the criteria for a Band 6.5 or 7.0. Given that all parts of the task are addressed and a consistent position is held, a score of 6.0 is appropriate due to the under-developed nature of the supporting examples.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay has a coherent overall arrangement and follows a clear organizational pattern with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct points. Cohesive devices are employed to link ideas, such as furthermore, consequently, and however, though some transitions feel slightly mechanical or repetitive in their positioning. The progression of ideas is generally clear, but referencing is occasionally weak; for example, phrases like living same place and living on same region lack proper prepositional usage and articles, which slightly disrupts the flow. Overall, the logical organization is clear throughout, earning a solid Band 6.0 for coherence and cohesion.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate vocabulary range for the task, attempting some less common lexical items such as contemporary society, physical condition, emotional state, and broader implications. However, there are noticeable lexical and collocational inaccuracies throughout the response. For instance, the student writes living whole life on birthplace instead of 'living one's whole life in one's birthplace', living on different areas instead of 'living in different areas', and living same place instead of 'living in the same place'. These errors in prepositions and collocations indicate a restricted control over less common vocabulary. While communication is not impeded, these persistent inaccuracies limit the lexical score to a Band 5.5.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay displays a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating an attempt at varied structures through subordinate clauses and conditional constructions. There are, however, frequent grammatical errors, particularly concerning articles, prepositions, and verb patterns. Examples include missing articles (e.g., changing living place instead of 'changing a living place' or 'relocating'), incorrect prepositions (e.g., living on different areas instead of 'living in different areas', and living on same region instead of 'living in the same region'), and minor structural awkwardness. While these errors do not severely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent the response from achieving a higher band. Therefore, a score of 5.5 is awarded.

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