Some people think that living in big cities is bad for people's health.

Practice this IELTS Writing Task 2 question on IELTSX. Some people think that living in big cities is bad for people's health.

Living in big cities is bad for people health - IELTS Writing Task 2

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Write at least 250 words.

A student's answer to this task, and the feedback on it

Written by an IELTSX user under exam conditions and published unedited and anonymously. Band 6.5 ยท 291 words.

In recent years, the majority of people have preferred living in big cities. However, others believe that living in big cities is harmful to individuals' health and overall well-being. I completely disagree with this view because big cities offer valuable opportunities, such as better employment and education, which outweigh the potential drawbacks.

Without a doubt, nowadays, many people are moving to big cities because of better educational opportunities. If people choose to live in big cities, they can find well-managed educational centres and schools for their children, thereby broadening their horizons. A case in point is Uzbekistan, where many parents want their children to live in big cities because they can access better educational facilities and become more knowledgeable. As a result, in the foreseeable future, their children could earn enough money to meet their daily needs and support their families.

Admittedly, one obvious drawback is that the number of cars and factories is increasing in big cities, which has a negative impact on the environment and people's health. Nevertheless, I believe that the advantages of living in big cities outweigh these disadvantages, particularly because of the greater employment opportunities available. If people gain enough experience and knowledge in particular fields, they can work for prestigious companies and universities, which can provide financial independence and boost their confidence. For instance, in Switzerland, many families who live in the countryside may choose to move to big cities because of long-term projects and well-paid jobs. Consequently, the number of people on low incomes can decrease.

To conclude, I firmly believe that the benefits of living in big cities outweigh the drawbacks, such as potential health problems, and therefore I disagree with the view that living in cities is harmful to people's overall well-being.

Examiner feedback

The essay is well-structured and clearly written, demonstrating a solid command of grammar and lexical resource at a Band 7 level. However, the task response is slightly limited because the arguments focus predominantly on education and employment rather than directly confronting the core issue of 'health' raised in the prompt. Overall, the essay achieves a reliable score based on these combined factors.

Task Response - 6

- Addresses all parts of the task by directly engaging with whether big cities are bad for health and presenting a clear counter-position. - Presents a well-developed response with relevant ideas regarding education and jobs, though the link to 'health' (the core of the prompt) is somewhat shifted towards socio-economic benefits. - Maintains a clear, consistent position throughout the essay.

Coherence & Cohesion - 7

- Paragraph organization is logical with clear introduction, body paragraphs addressing education and employment, and a concise conclusion. - Uses appropriate cohesive devices such as 'However', 'Nevertheless', 'A case in point', and 'Consequently' to connect ideas. - Overall progression is clear, though referencing could sometimes be tighter to avoid minor mechanical transitions.

Lexical Resource - 7

- Uses an adequate and sufficiently wide range of vocabulary appropriate for the task, such as 'well-being', 'employment opportunities', and 'financial independence'. - Attempts less common lexical items with general accuracy and appropriate style. - Occasional minor lapses in word choice or collocation, but spelling is generally accurate.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy - 7

- Uses a good mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including conditional clauses ('If people choose to live...'). - The majority of sentences are error-free with good control over punctuation. - Minor instances of awkward phrasing occur, but they do not impede overall communication.

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