As global urbanization accelerates at an unprecedented pace, an increasing number of people are choosing to relocate to major cities in pursuit of better employment and living opportunities, while smaller towns and mid-sized cities face the predicament of population decline and resource shrinkage. However, some argue that excessive urban concentration has instead exacerbated housing shortages, traffic congestion, and social inequality, ultimately doing more harm than good in the long run. In your view, do the opportunities brought by urbanization truly outweigh the challenges it poses? Please draw on specific examples from particular countries or regions to articulate your stance and substantiate your argument.
IELTS Writing Task 2 Band Descriptors
Task Response: Address all parts of the task, present a clear position, support ideas with evidence
Coherence and Cohesion: Logical paragraphing, clear progression, appropriate linking devices
Lexical Resource: Wide range of vocabulary, accurate and natural collocations
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Variety of sentence structures, error-free grammar
Overall band score is 0-9, each criterion weighted equally.
Answering Tips
Spend 5 minutes planning your position and main arguments
Use the structure: Introduction - Body 1 - Body 2 - Concession - Conclusion
Develop each body paragraph with: topic sentence + explanation + example + summary
Use a variety of linking words, avoid repetition
Reserve 5 minutes at the end to check grammar and spelling