IELTS Writing Task 2: Living in a City vs the Countryside (Band 9 Sample)
This "discuss both views and give your opinion" question asks whether it is better to live in a busy city or in the quieter countryside. A band-9 response examines the appeal of each fairly and then reaches a clear, reasoned judgement of its own. Below is a model answer of roughly 285 words, followed by a breakdown of why it scores 9 on all four criteria.
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01 · The task
Some people prefer to live in a large city, while others believe that life in the countryside is better. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
02 · Band 9 sample answer
286 words · Band 9Where to make a home — amid the bustle of a city or in the calm of the countryside — is a choice that divides many people. Both settings have obvious appeal, but in my view a city offers more, at least for those at the start of their careers.
1. The appeal of city life
The strongest argument for urban living is opportunity. Cities are where the best-paid jobs, universities and hospitals are concentrated, and they offer a richness of culture — restaurants, galleries, concerts — that rural areas simply cannot match. For young, ambitious people in particular, this abundance of work and entertainment on the doorstep is hard to give up.
2. The appeal of country life
The countryside, on the other hand, offers a quality of life that money often cannot buy in a city. The air is cleaner, housing is far more affordable, and the slower pace and close-knit communities are far less stressful. For families with young children or those seeking to retire, these benefits can easily outweigh the lack of amenities.
In conclusion, while I fully appreciate the peace and space of rural living, I personally favour the city, because the career and cultural opportunities it provides are, for me, worth the noise and expense. Ultimately, though, the right choice depends heavily on a person's stage of life and priorities.
03 · Why this scores Band 9
Both views are discussed in genuine depth — the opportunity and culture of the city on one side, the affordability, clean air and calm of the countryside on the other — and the writer's own opinion (a preference for the city, qualified by stage of life) is stated in the introduction and confirmed in the conclusion.
The classic discussion structure is used cleanly — one setting per body paragraph, signposted with "The strongest argument for urban living..." and "The countryside, on the other hand..." — and resolved in the conclusion. Ideas link naturally, so the balance of the argument is easy to follow.
Vocabulary is precise and idiomatic — "the bustle of a city", "on the doorstep", "a quality of life money cannot buy", "close-knit communities", "the noise and expense" — carrying an abstract comparison with confident collocation rather than filler.
A wide range is controlled accurately: an appositive dash structure in the opener ("amid the bustle of a city or in the calm of the countryside"), a relative clause ("a quality of life that money often cannot buy"), and a concessive conclusion ("while I fully appreciate the peace and space of rural living, I personally favour the city"). The writing stays error-free.
04 · Useful collocations for this task
Tap a phrase to see what it means and how to use it. Natural collocations like these lift your Lexical Resource score.
05 · Frequently asked questions
Do I have to give my own opinion here?
Yes — the instruction "give your own opinion" is compulsory. Discuss both sides fairly, but make your position explicit, ideally in the introduction and again in the conclusion, as this model does.
Can my opinion depend on circumstances?
Yes, as long as you still commit. This answer favours the city but adds that the best choice "depends on a person's stage of life" — a clear preference with a sensible qualification, not fence-sitting.
How do I avoid clichés on such a familiar topic?
Use specific points rather than generic ones — concentrated jobs and universities, affordable housing, clean air, close-knit communities — and precise collocations. Concrete detail is what separates a band-9 answer from a predictable one.
How long should the essay be?
At least 250 words; a band-9 answer is usually 260–290. This model is 286 words, enough to discuss both views and give a clear opinion without padding.
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