This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of moving to rural areas from the real IELTS general training exam.

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IELTS Essay: Moving to Rural Areas

In many cities, problems related to overpopulation are becoming more common. Some governments are now encouraging businesses and individuals to move out of cities to rural areas.

Do the advantages of this trend outweigh the disadvantages?

Certain governments are now incentivizing moving to rural areas due to issues concerning overpopulation in cities. In my opinion, despite the temporary disadvantages this presents for standards of living and economics, it is a long-term positive for environmental justifications.

Detractors argue these initiatives can harm businesses and residents. Firstly, this is related to living standards. Residents of cities typically enjoy better medical care, employment opportunities, and entertainment options. For instance, a person who moves from New York City to upstate New York is likely to recognize an immediate decline in their daily quality of life. Secondly, there may be significant economic issues. Cities tend to be the economic centers of any given state or nation. By reducing the concentration of industry in urban areas, there is some likelihood that innovation will be negatively impacted as the pool of potentially competent employees disperses.

Supporters would claim that these drawbacks are justified by benefits for the natural world. The current threat of cities is that they concentrate populations, increase pollution from private vehicles, and inevitably create urban sprawl. These issues can be curbed if people live in smaller communities over a wider area. Residents will then be more likely to care about their immediate surroundings. Furthermore, over time the reduced density of both employers and employees will allow the authorities to better treat waste and manage pollution issues. This is evidenced by the better environmental conditions in countries with fewer large metropolises.

In conclusion, there may be problems related to quality of life and finance, but the advantages for the environment make this an advisable strategy. Governments should continue promoting any such relevant policies.

Analysis

1. Certain governments are now incentivizing moving to rural areas due to issues concerning overpopulation in cities. 2. In my opinion, despite the temporary disadvantages this presents for standards of living and economics, it is a long-term positive for environmental justifications.

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

1. Detractors argue these initiatives can harm businesses and residents. 2. Firstly, this is related to living standards. 3. Residents of cities typically enjoy better medical care, employment opportunities, and entertainment options. 4. For instance, a person who moves from New York City to upstate New York is likely to recognize an immediate decline in their daily quality of life. 5. Secondly, there may be significant economic issues. 6. Cities tend to be the economic centers of any given state or nation. 7. By reducing the concentration of industry in urban areas, there is some likelihood that innovation will be negatively impacted as the pool of potentially competent employees disperses.

  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 senteces.
  6. More detail is better.
  7. Finish strong.

1. Supporters would claim that these drawbacks are justified by benefits for the natural world. 2. The current threat of cities is that they concentrate populations, increase pollution from private vehicles, and inevitably create urban sprawl. 3. These issues can be curbed if people live in smaller communities over a wider area. 4. Residents will then be more likely to care about their immediate surroundings. 5. Furthermore, over time the reduced density of both employers and employees will allow the authorities to better treat waste and manage pollution issues. 6. This is evidenced by the better environmental conditions in countries with fewer large metropolises.

  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. Develop the example fully.

1. In conclusion, there may be problems related to quality of life and finance, but the advantages for the environment make this an advisable strategy. 2. Governments should continue promoting any such relevant policies.

  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.

Certain governments are now incentivizing moving to rural areas due to issues concerning overpopulation in cities. In my opinion, despite the temporary disadvantages this presents for standards of living and economics, it is a long-term positive for environmental justifications.

Detractors argue these initiatives can harm businesses and residents. Firstly, this is related to living standards. Residents of cities typically enjoy better medical care, employment opportunities, and entertainment options. For instance, a person who moves from New York City to upstate New York is likely to recognize an immediate decline in their daily quality of life. Secondly, there may be significant economic issues. Cities tend to be the economic centers of any given state or nation. By reducing the concentration of industry in urban areas, there is some likelihood that innovation will be negatively impacted as the pool of potentially competent employees disperses.

Supporters would claim that these drawbacks are justified by benefits for the natural world. The current threat of cities is that they concentrate populations, increase pollution from private vehicles, and inevitably create urban sprawl. These issues can be curbed if people live in smaller communities over a wider area. Residents will then be more likely to care about their immediate surroundings. Furthermore, over time the reduced density of both employers and employees will allow the authorities to better treat waste and manage pollution issues. This is evidenced by the better environmental conditions in countries with fewer large metropolises.

In conclusion, there may be problems related to quality of life and finance, but the advantages for the environment make this an advisable strategy. Governments should continue promoting any such relevant policies.

Answers

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

certain governments some states, countries

incentivizing encouraging

rural areas the countryside

due to because of

issues problems

concerning relating to

overpopulation too many people

despite regardless of

temporary disadvantages not permanent negatives

presents shows

standards of living how well people live

economics finances

long-term positive good later in time

environmental justifications reasons that are good for nature

detractors argue those against it claim

initiatives efforts

harm hurt

residents people living these

related to concerning

living standards how well people live, quality of life

typically usually

medical care hospitals, doctors, etc.

employment opportunities chances for jobs

entertainment options choices related to clubs, movies, etc.

for instance for example

upstate further up in the state

recognize notice

immediate decline sudden drop

daily quality of life how people life day to day

significant economic issues major financial problems

tend to be are usually

economic centers financial hubs

any given a random

nation country

reducing depleting

concentration combined, dense

likelihood how likely it is to happen

innovation new ideas

negatively impacted effected badly

pool group

potentially possibly

competent capable

employees workers

disperses spreads out

supporters those in favor of

claim argue

drawbacks negatives

benefits advantages

natural world nature, the environment

current threat risks now

increase pollution more harm to the environment

private vehicles cars, etc.

inevitably will of course

urban sprawl cities spreading out

curbed slowed down

smaller communities not big cities

over a wider area further out

immediate surroundings right nearby, the neighborhood

furthermore moreover

over time later

reduced density fewer people

allow permit

authorities those in charge

better treat waste take care of pollution better

manage pollution issues help the environment

evidenced supported

conditions situations

fewer large metropolises not as many big cities

finance money

advisable strategy good idea

promoting encouraging

relevant policies ideas at work here

Pronunciation

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

ˈsɜːtn ˈgʌvnmənts 
ɪnˈsɛntɪv ˈrɪəlaɪzɪŋ 
ˈrʊərəl ˈeərɪəz 
djuː tuː 
ˈɪʃuːz 
kənˈsɜːnɪŋ 
ˌəʊvəˌpɒpjʊˈleɪʃən 
dɪsˈpaɪt 
ˈtɛmpərəri ˌdɪsədˈvɑːntɪʤɪz 
ˈprɛznts 
ˈstændədz ɒv ˈlɪvɪŋ 
ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪks
ˈlɒŋtɜːm ˈpɒzətɪv 
ɪnˌvaɪərənˈmɛntl ˌʤʌstɪfɪˈkeɪʃənz
dɪˈtræktəz ˈɑːgjuː 
ɪˈnɪʃɪətɪvz 
hɑːm 
ˈrɛzɪdənts
rɪˈleɪtɪd tuː 
ˈlɪvɪŋ ˈstændədz
ˈtɪpɪk(ə)li 
ˈmɛdɪkəl keə
ɪmˈplɔɪmənt ˌɒpəˈtjuːnɪtiz 
ˌɛntəˈteɪnmənt ˈɒpʃənz
fɔːr ˈɪnstəns
ˌʌpˈsteɪt 
ˈrɛkəgnaɪz 
ɪˈmiːdiət dɪˈklaɪn 
ˈdeɪli ˈkwɒlɪti ɒv laɪf
sɪgˈnɪfɪkənt ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk ˈɪʃuːz
tɛnd tuː biː 
ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk ˈsɛntəz 
ˈɛni ˈgɪvn 
ˈneɪʃən.
rɪˈdjuːsɪŋ 
ˌkɒnsənˈtreɪʃən 
ˈlaɪklɪhʊd 
ˌɪnəʊˈveɪʃən 
ˈnɛgətɪvli ɪmˈpæktɪd 
puːl 
pəʊˈtɛnʃəli 
ˈkɒmpɪtənt 
ˌɛmplɔɪˈiːz 
dɪsˈpɜːsɪz
səˈpɔːtəz 
kleɪm 
ˈdrɔːbæks 
ˈbɛnɪfɪts 
ˈnæʧrəl wɜːld 
ˈkʌrənt θrɛt 
ˈɪnkriːs pəˈluːʃən 
ˈpraɪvɪt ˈviːɪklz
ɪnˈɛvɪtəbli 
ˈɜːbən sprɔːl
kɜːbd 
ˈsmɔːlə kəˈmjuːnɪtiz 
ˈəʊvər ə ˈwaɪdər ˈeərɪə
ɪˈmiːdiət səˈraʊndɪŋz
ˈfɜːðəˈmɔː
ˈəʊvə taɪm 
rɪˈdjuːst ˈdɛnsɪti 
əˈlaʊ 
ɔːˈθɒrɪtiz 
ˈbɛtə triːt weɪst 
ˈmænɪʤ pəˈluːʃən ˈɪʃuːz 
ˈɛvɪdənst 
kənˈdɪʃənz 
ˈfjuːə lɑːʤ mɪˈtrɒpəlɪsɪz
faɪˈnæns 
ədˈvaɪzəbl ˈstrætɪʤi
prəˈməʊtɪŋ 
ˈrɛlɪvənt ˈpɒlɪsiz

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:

C_______________________s are now i_____________g moving to r____________s d________o i______s c___________g o_______________n in cities. In my opinion, d_________e the t_______________________s this p_________s for s_________________g and e____________________s, it is a l_________________e for e________________________s.

D________________e these i____________s can h____m businesses and r__________s. Firstly, this is r__________o l_______________s. Residents of cities t___________y enjoy better m____________e, e________________________s, and e___________________s. F____________e, a person who moves from New York City to u________e New York is likely to r__________e an i__________________e in their d__________________e. Secondly, there may be s___________________________s. Cities t______e the e_____________________s of a______________n state or n_______n. By r__________g the c_____________n of industry in urban areas, there is some l______________d that i____________n will be n______________________d as the p______l of p_______________________________________s.

S___________s would c_____m that these d____________s are justified by b________s for the n____________d. The c_______________t of cities is that they concentrate populations, i_________________n from p________________s, and i____________y create u______________l. These issues can be c______d if people live in s_____________________s o________________a. Residents will then be more likely to care about their i_________________________s. F__________e, o____________e the r________________y of both employers and employees will a_________w the a_________s to b_________e and m_____________s. This is e_______d by the better environmental c___________s in countries with f____________________s.

In conclusion, there may be problems related to quality of life and f__________e, but the advantages for the environment make this an a___________________y. Governments should continue p___________g any such r__________________s.

Listening Practice

Learn more about this topic by watching videos from The New York Times YouTube channel below and practice with these activities:

Reading Practice

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

https://www.afar.com/magazine/best-cities-in-the-world

Speaking Practice

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

Moving

  1. Is it common in your country for people to move a lot?
  2. Do most people in your country live in cities?
  3. Why do some people live to live in the same place their whole lives?
  4. Is it important to travel a lot?
  5. How can less privileged groups be encouraged to move more often?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS essay topic below:

Many believe that living in a city offers greater benefits compared to life in the countryside.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

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