A rise in the standard of living in a country often only seems to benefit cities rather than rural areas. What problems might this difference cause? How might these problems be reduced?: IELTS writing task 2

Bhargavee Sisodia

30 Jul 2024

The IELTS test is the globally accepted language proficiency test designed to evaluate the test taker's ability in communication. Whether you take the IELTS General or Academic test, there are four assessment areas in which you will be tested. The four sections are Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening.

In this blog, we are exploring the writing section of the IELTS test which will evaluate your potential in expressing your ideas and viewpoints in written English. It will measure how good you are at using logical and coherent sentences. For both the versions, General and Academic, there are some variations in the format. 

For both versions of the IELTS exam, there are two parts of writing tasks:

Academic IELTS writing task 

General Training IELTS writing task 

After seeing the format, let's check out the types of essays that you will find while answering the IELTS essay topics. Knowing these types can help you specifically formulate your answer to earn the desired IELTS writing band score. 

Types of Essay Topics in IELTS Writing Task 2

For the IELTS writing task 2, you will find 6 types of categories. However, to answer it appropriately, you must know how to structure each of the essays as they are dissimilar so that you can score a 9 band score. 

Opinion-based: In an opinion-based essay, also known as argumentative essay, you will put together your opinion, or argument on the assigned topic, whether by favoring or going against what has been given or not. 

Problem/ solution essay: In the problem/ solution essay, you will delineate the problem and embody the facts. Then, induce feasible solutions, if necessary back it up by research. 

Discussion: A discussion essay is one in which you will be given two arguments, mostly opposing views,  and you will be expected to justify both views.  You express on behalf of what people or someone may think. 

Advantages/ Disadvantages: You will be asked to discuss both the positive and negative aspects. Only if you are asked to give your opinion, you can add your personal viewpoint yet do not mention it as you are prone to losing your score. 

Balanced opinion: For balanced opinion essays, you are given an argument on which you need to write diplomatically without supporting any one side. So, you will show your partial agreement to one side, as well as to the other side. An exception to this type of essay is that it mandates you to state which side you favor in the introduction and conclusion. 

Two Questions or Direct Question: Such types of essay questions might have one statement with two different questions after it. However, since they are direct questions, you have to respond to each question in separate body paragraphs. 

Criteria of scoring in Writing Task 2

While doing the IELTS writing task 2 topics, they must be answered using appropriate style, tone, punctuation, and grammar. Well, there are certain criteria on which you will be assessed, eventually letting the examiner mark your IELTS writing band score. Those are four distinct assessment areas in which you can earn a band score between 0 to 9. Let us help you understand the assessment criteria so that you get used to answering accurately, and identify each essay prompt easily. 

Task Response: For the criteria of Task Response, a candidate is assessed for comprehension and how well he/she can respond to the task. To obtain a high score, it is important to not forget to respond to any single part. To make your viewpoint stronger, it necessitates justifying enough information with illustrations and examples. Even the subpoints should be mentioned to restrict the deduction of marks. Without being asked, it is redundant to write prejudiced views. 

Coherence and Cohesion: This criterion measures your effort in connecting the ideas at a broader level, acing linking sentences together, and using appropriate conjunctions and pronouns. Creating a logical flow in between paragraphs, and making the explanation clear and readable should be the focus. Well-demarcated/ separate paragraphs and non-repetitive ideas should be incorporated. 

Lexical Resource: Through this, your range of vocabulary, including usage of accurate and appropriate words and synonyms, and correct spelling is emphasized. It is in your power to utilize synonyms and plan correctly paraphrased sentences. 

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: In the fourth assessment criteria of the IELTS writing task 2, there will be a weightage on the accuracy in punctuations, tense usage, and flexibility using a variety of structures in sentences. There should be no errors in sentence structure. 

Tips for IELTS writing task 2

While preparing for the IELTS writing task, you can feel nervous and anxious about facing the test, but these simple and crucial tips can help save your day. Whether you are planning to prepare on your own or get help from IELTS mentors,  here are some of the basic preparation tips that would help you earn a high band score. 

Read the Task at least twice: When you read the task prompt or question several times, it will help you understand it well. This also ensures that you do not leave any part of the task unattempted. 

Craft and use a wide range of vocabulary: You should focus on lexical range and precision by using appropriate vocabulary that is relevant to the context. 

Try to keep it simple: If you keep your ideas well connected and readable, rather than stuffing them with complex words, and ideas, it will help you score better. 

Stick to the topic: Always remain focused on the task prompt so that you can respond to it specifically without deviating or moving to other themes or aspects. Avoid using irrelevant examples. 

Proofreading: Review all your written answers and paragraphs before submitting.  Never forget to check for spelling and grammatical errors. 

Format of IELTS writing task 2

If you have to attempt an essay that is relevant to this essay prompt, which comes under the category of problem/ solution essay, you will need to follow a specific structure and format while formulating your answer in writing. 

Introduction: Paraphrase and state the background information that is given in the topic.

First body paragraph: Discuss the problem thoroughly and give examples to validate your logical explanation/ reasons. 

Second body paragraph: State and discuss the solutions to the problem.

Third body paragraph (optional): Suppose you have lots of content to support the reasons for the problem, then you can extend that aspect into the second paragraph, and delineate the solutions in the third. 

Conclusion: Recapitulate everything that has been argued. 

IELTS writing task 2 topic with answers

Band 6

In twenty first century, many cities are develop than rural places, although it has only created advantage in cities, and people living in country areas are fighting shortcomings. A trend going in every developed and developing country has bought noticeable issues, but it can be solved through thoughtful action which I will focus here. 

The difficulties caused in a country by non equal prosperity levels are due to different reasons. Governments only prefer cities to build bridges on, set up international schools, health camps, and improve infrastucture. This calls for more people to live permanently in such regions. Also, more migration is responsible to destroy agriculture and farming activities, as there is less farmers in villages. More people migrating will create more unemployment, perhaps showing rising criminal activities. Why people doubt government for this because even after knowing the pitfalls of not focusing on balancing the distribution of people, they do not take part in steps-taking. They compromise the future of the place with no action. 

It is the government who is answerable in taking necessary actions from time to time to manage the living standard. The first solution is providing occupation opportunities and technology and collab with big corporates to make people stay there for life. For example, a technology plant, or industry helps people to join as laborers. The final way to solve the issue of moving to cities is to build schools in the countryside to welcome adequate teacher and student ratio without forgetting to pay good pay.

Finally, it is a time to take immediate action to letting sufficient education and resources to reduce overpopulation and inbalanced living standard in a nation.

Overall thoughts on the essay: 

The flow of the essay was not accurate, and disordered. There can be usage of better linking words, and clarity in paragraphs which is why highlights are used. Highlights are indicative of grammatical mistakes, including errors in sentence structure that have resulted in getting wrong ideas.  This can be corrected by writing synonyms, correct spellings, and using appropriate vocabulary; eg answerable can be replaced by responsible.

Band 7

The idea of a local infrastructure development in urban areas is a first priority and leads to spending less funds for rural regions. And, there are bigger problems occurring with the transition. Now, I will state the reasons and find the approximate solutions to cope with the issue. 

Speaking about the situation, the urban areas develop at a hasty pace as it attracts influx of people from rural lands. As there is better infrastructure, health facilities, and job opportunities compared to the countryside, this makes people go to cities which leads to overpopulation. On top of that, there is overpricing in rent, and groceries, and increase in road traffic. An example can be in cities, people are required to pay a heavy price for houses, almost double that of houses in rural areas. Moreover, the country that follows rural emigration is seen to witness underdevelopment in rural territories because the lack of working people makes it difficult to reach high productivity. 

Such problems must be solved by government and individuals. Firstly, the authorities can provide the basic infrastructure to the village people. With better health and schools in such areas, they will not migrate to towns and cities which will fix the problem of overpopulation. Secondly, introducing benefits just like that in China where they offer incentives to people working in rural areas is a solution to tackle migration to towns and cities. 

Concludingly, the issue of rising living standard in certain urban areas within a country can be detrimental to a deep extend as it may lead to overly populated regions, and expensive housing. Therefore, the only means that promise rural areas effective productivity and maintain living standards are fair incentives and enhanced infrastructure.

Thoughts on the essay: 

There can be remarkable improvements in lexical resource and grammatical accuracy if writing is done carefully with the use of appropriate vocabulary, and synonyms, and punctuation should be taken care of. The linking word use is not appropriate. Overall, it is better than the 6+ band essay as it is clear and well-developed ideas are incorporated without disrupting the flow, and the example is eye-catching.

Band 9

In the wake of globalization, numerous countries are undergoing an upward trend in the levels of living standard for people, thereby engendering pernicious environmental issues, and increasing the cost of living among natives. It is a fact that city-bred citizens tend to enjoy premium facilities and living conditions compared to their counterparts living in rural areas. This essay will substantiate the problems kindred with urbanization, and potential solutions to help mitigate the imbalance in living standards. 

To commence with, the handy access to countries beyond boundaries through collaborations, knowledge, and technological exchange, there is a creation of a pool of job and academic opportunities which facilitates migration. Notwithstanding, rural inhabitants are denuded of availing the same utilities and resources as evinced by numerous surveys. Apart from this, urbanization provokes barely any development for workers in the countryside which impedes a conducive lifestyle. An instance is of the farmers in India receiving meager support from governments when incentives or welfare is concerned. Hence, these myriad issues exacerbate the quality of life of the village dwellers. 

There are viable solutions that can fulfill the provisions that augment the development in rural areas. To alleviate the impending issues, there should be proactive intervention from the government's end. It can aim for investing funds for the workers, and installing a superior framework for the students so that the educational standards and living-cum-working conditions are ameliorated. This will ensure proper balance in the economic flow between regions, and thwart overcrowding in cities ensuing out of large-scale rural-urban migration. 

In conclusion, urban settlers enjoy benefits and luxuries more than most rural communities because of the fragmented concerns leading to imbalance. However, the government has the authority to intervene forthwith to balance the economy and remediate the differences in living standards. 

Thoughts on the essay: 

This essay displays mindfulness and effort in jotting down correct linking words and grammatical sentences, and highlighting tense consistency. There has been proper use of cohesive devices, and it addresses all the parts of the prompt with analysis, logic, and examples which is persuasive. 

Conclusion

At D-VIVID , our expert team will make you ready for the IELTS test by providing you with materials that consist of different types of modules, including different IELTS essay topics, and teaching you to understand different IELTS writing task 2 topics with answers. The test series and practice sets related to several IELTS essay topics that have been asked for many times in the IELTS test will be highlighted and revised so that you get a grasp on the complex as well as most asked ones. So, do not wait any longer, and let us assist you in fulfilling your dream of securing a high IELTS writing band score.