Academic Writing - Model Answer (Task 2)

Many people leave their homes in the countryside to live in large cities. What factors make people want to move to the city? How realistic is it to control the numbers of people moving to the city?

Recently there has been a trend for people to move from the country to settle in large cities leading to the existence of mega cities. It is usually the young and those of working age that move from rural to urban areas.

A significant reason why people move to cities is because of the employment opportunities they will find there. Work in the countryside is limited to agriculture and an educated youngster might prefer a different career path. Similarly, many factories are located in cities and the likelihood of receiving a higher salary and benefits is greater in the city.

Secondly, cities provide a range of facilities for their residents. Citizens have access to better medical care, education, housing etc. Young people are also attracted to cities for the entertainment they offer such as clubs, bars, cafés, and cinemas. They have the freedom to express themselves and meet up with like-minded individuals.

In some countries like China, measures are in place to control migrant workers moving around freely. When moving from the countryside to the city, workers are issued with an identity card and local authorities keep account of the movement of workers. This is necessary for population control. Perhaps this system would not be seen favourably in the West as population figures are not so high and re-location is viewed as a personal choice.

I believe supply and demand should be the deciding factor for controlling movement from the countryside to the city. If workers are unable to find jobs in the city they are likely to return to the countryside.

Question taken from Focusing on IELTS Reading and Writing Skills p. 179