In this rural to urban migration essay, you have to examine the trend for young people to move from rural areas to the city in order to study or work.
Remember you should start by examining the question very carefully.
| In many countries, young people are leaving their homes in rural areas to study or work in cities. What do you think are the reasons for this? Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages? |
So you need to say:
- Why young people are moving
- Whether overall this is a positive or negative development
As the question mentions study and work, you should try to address these in your essay.
Think about why work or study may be more tempting to younger people in the city as opposed to rural areas.
Organization
There are various ways to organize the rural-to-urban migration essay. You could, for example, have each body paragraph with a reason and then state why this is a pro or a con or if it could be both.
- Reason 1 – Pro / Con
- Reason 2 – Pro / Con
Or you could simply discuss the reasons and then go on to discuss the pros and/or cons later in the essay.
- Reason 1 & 2 (& 3)
- Pros / Cons
Now look at the model answer. Which organization does it follow?
IELTS Rural to Urban Migration Sample Essay Question
| You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Write about the following topic: In many countries, young people are leaving their homes in rural areas to study or work in cities. What do you think are the reasons for this? Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own experience or knowledge. Write at least 250 words. |
Model Answer
In many countries around the world, the divide between rural and urban communities has been increasing in recent years. Young people seeking opportunities and change are making the move from their rural homes into the big cities with the promise of increased career prospects, greater financial freedom, and a new lifestyle, and these advantages often outweigh the drawbacks.
One reason for young people leaving is that the business and career opportunities offered in cities are appealing. Rural communities often have limited prospects for young people who dream of more than the relatively simple life of farming and small-town businesses. Regarding the study, cities will sometimes have more educational opportunities, with schools and universities perhaps having better resources and advanced technology to learn from. Having grown up in a smaller, rural community for their entire lives, many young people view the move to big cities more as an opportunity to change their social life, rather than their financial future, with the city offering more opportunities for entertainment and to meet people from different walks of life.
However, there can be disadvantages to such moves. Unfortunately, in many instances, the promised opportunities do not come to fruition as the markets are highly competitive, and jobs are still limited even in a large city. Sadly the change in values can also be difficult for them to adjust to, and often young people end up in further financial trouble and ultimately have to go back to their rural homes. In some cases, they are unable to create the life they dreamed of and sometimes live more difficult, more isolated lives in the big city while chasing their dreams.
While there are potential pitfalls of migrating for these young people, overall, the benefits that can be gained from taking the risk in terms of a better future outweigh these. Ultimately it is up to each person carefully to weigh up which is the best option for them before making any decision.
(326 Words)
Evaluation:
Task Achievement: Band 7.5
The essay effectively addresses the task by discussing both the reasons for rural-to-urban migration and the potential drawbacks. It provides a balanced analysis, acknowledging the appeal of career, education, and social opportunities while highlighting the risks of unmet expectations and financial difficulties. However, the conclusion is somewhat generic, and the essay could benefit from a stronger thesis statement and more specific examples or data to substantiate the claims.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 8
The essay is well-structured, with clear paragraphs for causes, disadvantages, and conclusions. Transition words like “one reason,” “however,” and “unfortunately” create a logical flow. Some sentences, however, could be restructured for improved readability, such as the lengthy sentence discussing career and educational opportunities. Adding topic sentences that directly summarize each paragraph’s main idea could enhance cohesion further.
Lexical Resource: Band 7.5
The vocabulary is appropriate, with phrases like “career prospects,” “financial freedom,” and “chasing their dreams.” However, there is room for more variety and precision. For example, terms like “urbanization,” “brain drain,” or “economic migration” could elevate the lexical range. Some word choices, such as “regarding the study,” appear awkward and could be replaced with clearer phrasing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.5
The essay demonstrates a variety of sentence structures, including complex and compound sentences. However, there are occasional grammatical errors, such as:
- “Regarding the study” (unclear phrasing).
- “Sadly the change in values can also be difficult for them to adjust to” (wordy; could be simplified).
- “Ultimately it is up to each person carefully to weigh up which is the best option” (awkward placement of “carefully”).
While these issues do not impede comprehension, correcting them would improve the grammatical accuracy.
Word Count: 324 words
The essay exceeds the recommended word count (250–300 words) slightly. Trimming redundant phrases or overly detailed explanations could improve conciseness without sacrificing content.
Overall Band: 7.5
This essay is well-written and addresses the prompt with clear points and good structure. To achieve a higher score, the writer should:
- Use more precise and varied vocabulary.
- Eliminate minor grammatical errors and improve sentence clarity.
- Strengthen the conclusion with a more definitive stance or recommendation.
- Keep within the ideal word range to maintain focus and conciseness.
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