This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay from the new IELTS Cambridge 18 book of past tests on the topic of rural people moving to cities.

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IELTS Cambridge 18: Rural People Moving to Cities

Around the world, rural people are moving to cities and urban areas, so populations in the countryside are decreasing.

Is this a positive or negative development?

It is becoming increasingly common for residents to concentrate in urban areas, rather than the countryside. In my opinion, this is a decidedly negative phenomenon for human society as a whole despite the economic benefits.

Those who support the current prioritization of city life point out how it positively impacts the workforce. When the majority of a population is concentrated, this makes it easier for businesses to operate. For example, in cities such as Tokyo, there are millions of residents in the city itself and the outlying districts. The people support restaurants, cinemas, malls, arcades, parks, and various other recreational areas. These businesses in turn provide jobs for locals and this creates a positive feedback loop and greatly enriches the quality of life for the average person living in a big city. The best evidence for this is the number of people willing to move to cities for superior employment options.

However, the drawbacks associated with city lifestyles are more significant. In past generations, there was greater diversity in terms of where residents lived that enabled more varied lifestyle options. People living in the country were more likely to work outdoors and possess skills related to farming, hunting, and raising livestock. Today, most people live in cities and work corporate jobs and are experts in terms of marketing, finance, business, and customer service. These industries have a place in a healthy society but should not predominate over healthier, more active forms of gainful employment. As the world continues to transition to online-based jobs, the situation will only worsen.

In conclusion, although there are legitimate economic arguments to be made for urban migration, I would argue the effects on how humans live are overwhelmingly negative. Governments should therefore implement policies to encourage more rural infrastructure and economic activity.

Analysis

1. It is becoming increasingly common for residents to concentrate in urban areas, rather than the countryside. 2. In my opinion, this is a decidedly negative phenomenon for human society as a whole despite the economic benefits.

  1. Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
  2. Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.

1. Those who support the current prioritization of city life point out how it positively impacts the workforce. 2. When the majority of a population is concentrated, this makes it easier for businesses to operate. 3. For example, in cities such as Tokyo, there are millions of residents in the city itself and the outlying districts. 4. The people support restaurants, cinemas, malls, arcades, parks, and various other recreational areas. 5. These businesses in turn provide jobs for locals and this creates a positive feedback loop and greatly enriches the quality of life for the average person living in a big city. 6. The best evidence for this is the number of people willing to move to cities for superior employment options.

  1. Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
  2. Explain your main idea.
  3. Develop it with specific or hypothetical examples.
  4. Keep developing it fully.
  5. Vary long and short sentences.
  6. Finish strong.

1. However, the drawbacks associated with city lifestyles are more significant. 2. In past generations, there was greater diversity in terms of where residents lived that enabled more varied lifestyle options. 3. People living in the country were more likely to work outdoors and possess skills related to farming, hunting, and raising livestock. 4. Today, most people live in cities and work corporate jobs and are experts in terms of marketing, finance, business, and customer service. 5. These industries have a place in a healthy society but should not predominate over healthier, more active forms of gainful employment. 6. As the world continues to transition to online-based jobs, the situation will only worsen.

  1. Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
  2. Explain your new main idea.
  3. Include specific details and examples.
  4. Add as much information as you can and make sure it links logically.
  5. Keep adding…
  6. Finish the paragraph with even more detail.

1. In conclusion, although there are legitimate economic arguments to be made for urban migration, I would argue the effects on how humans live are overwhelmingly negative. 2. Governments should therefore implement policies to encourage more rural infrastructure and economic activity.

  1. Summarise your main ideas.
  2. Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.

Vocabulary

What do the words in bold below mean? Make some notes on paper to aid memory and then check below.

It is becoming increasingly common for residents to concentrate in urban areas, rather than the countryside. In my opinion, this is a decidedly negative phenomenon for human society as a whole despite the economic benefits.

Those who support the current prioritization of city life point out how it positively impacts the workforce. When the majority of a population is concentrated, this makes it easier for businesses to operate. For example, in cities such as Tokyo, there are millions of residents in the city itself and the outlying districts. The people support restaurants, cinemas, malls, arcades, parks, and various other recreational areas. These businesses in turn provide jobs for locals and this creates a positive feedback loop and greatly enriches the quality of life for the average person living in a big city. The best evidence for this is the number of people willing to move to cities for superior employment options.

However, the drawbacks associated with city lifestyles are more significant. In past generations, there was greater diversity in terms of where residents lived that enabled more varied lifestyle options. People living in the country were more likely to work outdoors and possess skills related to farming, hunting, and raising livestock. Today, most people live in cities and work corporate jobs and are experts in terms of marketing, finance, business, and customer service. These industries have a place in a healthy society but should not predominate over healthier, more active forms of gainful employment. As the world continues to transition to online-based jobs, the situation will only worsen.

In conclusion, although there are legitimate economic arguments to be made for urban migration, I would argue the effects on how humans live are overwhelmingly negative. Governments should therefore implement policies to encourage more rural infrastructure and economic activity.

Answers

For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:

It is becoming increasingly common for residents more and more people today are

concentrate focus on

urban areas cities

rather than instead of

countryside rural areas

decidedly negative phenomenon for human society as a whole despite the economic benefits definitely bad for all people in general regardless of how it helps the economy

Those who support the current prioritization of city life point out the people in favor of living in cities argue

positively impacts the workforce helps people in terms of jobs

the majority of a most of

makes it easier for is not as hard to

operate work in that area

residents people living there

outlying districts suburbs

arcades places to play games

various other recreational areas lots of other things to do for fun

in turn provide as a result give

locals people living in that area

creates a positive feedback loop benefits everyone

greatly enriches the quality of life for the average person makes life better for people

The best evidence for this is the strongest case is

willing to will do it

superior employment options better job choices

the drawbacks associated with the downsides related to

lifestyles how people live

significant meaningful

In past generations before

greater diversity in terms of lots of different people concerning

enabled more varied lifestyle options allowed for different ways of living

work outdoors and possess skills related to farming, hunting, and raising livestock not office jobs and can do agricultural work

work corporate jobs work in an office

experts in terms of marketing, finance, business, and customer service good at advertising and economics and selling things

have a place in a healthy society there is room for them

predominate are most common

healthier better for you

more active forms of gainful employment less passive ways of earning money

transition to online-based jobs change to jobs on computers and the internet

worsen not get better

legitimate economic arguments to be made for strong financial points that can be argued for

migration moving to

overwhelmingly negative very bad

implement policies to encourage more rural infrastructure and economic activity create laws to improve living in the countryside

Pronunciation

Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:

ɪt ɪz bɪˈkʌmɪŋ ɪnˈkriːsɪŋli ˈkɒmən fɔː ˈrɛzɪdənts 
ˈkɒnsəntreɪt 
ˈɜːbən ˈeərɪəz 
ˈrɑːðə ðæn 
ˈkʌntrɪˌsaɪd 
dɪˈsaɪdɪdli ˈnɛɡətɪv fɪˈnɒmɪnən fɔː ˈhjuːmən səˈsaɪəti æz ə həʊl dɪsˈpaɪt ði ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk ˈbɛnɪfɪts 
ðəʊz huː səˈpɔːt ðə ˈkʌrənt praɪˈɒrɪˌtaɪˈzeɪʃᵊn ɒv ˈsɪti laɪf pɔɪnt aʊt 
ˈpɒzətɪvli ˈɪmpækts ðə ˈwɜːkˌfɔːs 
ðə məˈʤɒrəti ɒv eɪ 
meɪks ɪt ˈiːzɪə fɔː 
ˈɒpəreɪt 
ˈrɛzɪdənts 
ˈaʊtˌlaɪɪŋ ˈdɪstrɪkts 
ɑːˈkeɪdz 
ˈveərɪəs ˈʌðə ˌrɛkrɪˈeɪʃənl ˈeərɪəz 
ɪn tɜːn prəˈvaɪd 
ˈləʊkəlz 
kriˈeɪts ə ˈpɒzətɪv ˈfiːdbæk luːp 
ˈɡreɪtli ɪnˈrɪʧɪz ðə ˈkwɒləti ɒv laɪf fɔː ði ˈævərɪʤ ˈpɜːsᵊn 
ðə bɛst ˈɛvɪdəns fɔː ðɪs ɪz 
ˈwɪlɪŋ tuː 
suːˈpɪəriər ɪmˈplɔɪmənt ˈɒpʃᵊnz 
ðə ˈdrɔːbæks əˈsəʊʃɪeɪtɪd wɪð 
ˈlaɪfˌstaɪlz 
sɪɡˈnɪfɪkənt.
ɪn pɑːst ˌʤɛnəˈreɪʃᵊnz 
ˈɡreɪtə daɪˈvɜːsəti ɪn tɜːmz ɒv 
ɪˈneɪbᵊld mɔː ˈveərɪd ˈlaɪfˌstaɪl ˈɒpʃᵊnz 
wɜːk ˌaʊtˈdɔːz ænd pəˈzɛs skɪlz rɪˈleɪtɪd tuː ˈfɑːmɪŋˈhʌntɪŋænd ˈreɪzɪŋ ˈlaɪvstɒk 
wɜːk ˈkɔːpᵊrət ʤɒbz 
ˈɛkspɜːts ɪn tɜːmz ɒv ˈmɑːkɪtɪŋfaɪˈnænsˈbɪznɪsænd ˈkʌstəmə ˈsɜːvɪs 
hæv ə pleɪs ɪn ə ˈhɛlθi səˈsaɪəti 
prɪˈdɒmɪneɪt 
ˈhɛlθɪə,
mɔːr ˈæktɪv fɔːmz ɒv ˈɡeɪnfʊl ɪmˈplɔɪmənt 
trænˈzɪʃᵊn tuː ˈɒnˌlaɪn-beɪst ʤɒbz 
ˈwɜːsn.
lɪˈʤɪtɪmɪt ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk ˈɑːɡjəmənts tuː biː meɪd fɔː 
maɪˈɡreɪʃᵊn 
ˌəʊvəˈwɛlmɪŋli ˈnɛɡətɪv 
ˈɪmplɪmənt ˈpɒləsiz tuː ɪnˈkʌrɪʤ mɔː ˈrʊərəl ˈɪnfrəˌstrʌkʧər ænd ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk ækˈtɪvəti 

Vocabulary Practice

I recommend getting a pencil and piece of paper because that aids memory. Then write down the missing vocabulary from my sample answer in your notebook:

I___________________________________________s to c_________e in u_________s, r__________n the c__________e. In my opinion, this is a d_________________________________________________________________________________________________s.

T____________________________________________________________________t how it p________________________________e. When t________________a population is concentrated, this m________________________r businesses to o_______e. For example, in cities such as Tokyo, there are millions of r_______s in the city itself and the o______________s. The people support restaurants, cinemas, malls, a__________s, parks, and v________________________s. These businesses i______________e jobs for l_____s and this c____________________________________p and g________________________________________________n living in a big city. T_____________________s the number of people w___________o move to cities for s_________________________s.

However, t__________________________h city l__________s are more s_________t. I____________s, there was g_______________________f where residents lived that e_________________________________s. People living in the country were more likely to w_____________________________________________________________________________k. Today, most people live in cities and w______________s and are e________________________________________________________________________e. These industries h___________________________y but should not p___________e over h________r, m______________________________t. As the world continues to t_________________________________s, the situation will only w______n.

In conclusion, although there are l_____________________________r urban m_________n, I would argue the effects on how humans live are o________________e. Governments should therefore i_______________________________________________________________________________y.

Listening Practice

Learn more about this topic by watching from YouTube below and practice with these activities:

Reading Practice

Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:

https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/rural-area/

Speaking Practice

Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:

Your Home Nation/Country

  1. Where are you from?
  2. What do you like the most about your country?
  3. Where would you like to live in your country?
  4. Are people in your country patriotic?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS chart below:

Many people believe that it is easier to have a healthy lifestyle in the countryside. Other believe that there are health benefits to living in cities.

Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

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