Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-18

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 or near the place where they were born. There are several reasons behind this decision, including family relationships, financial stability and familiarity with the local environment. Although living in one's hometown has a number of advantages, it can also limit personal and professional opportunities.

One of the main reasons people remain close to their birthplace is their connection with family and friends. Moving to another city or country often means leaving behind a strong support network that has been built over many years. Another important factor is financial security. People may already own a house, have a stable job or run a family business in their hometown, so moving elsewhere may involve unnecessary financial risk. In addition, people are generally comfortable in familiar surroundings where they understand the culture, language and lifestyle.

There are several benefits to living close to one's birthplace. Most importantly, people can maintain strong relationships with their parents, relatives and childhood friends. This can be particularly helpful when raising children, as grandparents and other family members can provide support. Furthermore, staying in a familiar place may create a greater sense of belonging and reduce the stress associated with adjusting to a completely new environment.

However, there are also some disadvantages. Staying in the same place for a lifetime may restrict career opportunities, especially if the local job market is limited. People may have to reject better positions simply because they are unwilling to relocate. Moreover, living in different cities or countries can expose individuals to new cultures, ideas and ways of thinking. Those who never leave their hometown may therefore have fewer opportunities to develop independence and experience different lifestyles.

In conclusion, people often remain close to where they were born because of family connections, financial security and familiarity. While this choice can provide emotional support and stability, it may also reduce opportunities for career growth and new experiences. Ultimately, whether staying close to one's birthplace is beneficial depends on an individual's priorities and circumstances.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt by explaining the reasons why people stay close to their birthplace, as well as outlining both the advantages and disadvantages. The introduction clearly sets out the trajectory of the essay, and each body paragraph is dedicated to a specific prompt requirement. For instance, the second paragraph addresses reasons such as 'connection with family and friends' and 'financial security', while the subsequent paragraphs clearly delineate the benefits (e.g., support when raising children) and drawbacks (e.g., restricted career opportunities). Ideas are well-developed and supported with logical explanations rather than superficial statements. There is a clear position maintained throughout. This performance easily satisfies the requirements for a Band 7.5 to 8.0, showcasing well-structured and fully explored arguments.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay demonstrates a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, beginning with a strong topic sentence that guides the reader. Cohesive devices are used naturally and effectively, such as 'Although living in one\'s hometown', 'Another important factor', and 'Furthermore'. Referencing is clear and unambiguous throughout the text. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, separating the introduction, reasons, advantages, disadvantages, and conclusion into distinct, well-managed blocks of text. There is no faulty or mechanical referencing, and the flow from one idea to the next is smooth and seamless. This earns a solid Band 8.0 for coherence and cohesion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient and generally flexible range of vocabulary suited to the prompt. Less common lexical items are used with some awareness of style and collocation, such as 'support network', 'financial risk', 'familiar surroundings', and 'career opportunities'. Word choice is mostly precise, and spelling is accurate throughout. While the vocabulary is effective and completely adequate for achieving a clear communication of ideas, it occasionally relies on standard, expected collocations rather than truly sophisticated or uncommon idioms and phrasing. Consequently, the lexical control sits comfortably at a Band 7.0 level.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The writer exhibits a good control of grammar and punctuation, employing a variety of complex structures alongside simpler sentence forms. Examples of complex structures include concessive clauses ('Although living in one\'s hometown has a number of advantages, it can also limit...') and participial or infinitive phrases ('...especially if the local job market is limited'). The majority of sentences are error-free, and punctuation is handled correctly throughout the essay. The few errors that might be expected at higher bands are absent here; however, the range of complex syntactic structures is somewhat standard, aligning best with a Band 7.5.

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

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