Climate change is a pressing global issue that affects various aspects of our lives, including employment in rural areas. This topic has appeared frequently in IELTS Writing Task 2 exams and is likely to continue being a popular subject for future tests. Let’s examine a sample question and explore different approaches to answering it effectively.
Some people think that climate change is causing more people to move from rural to urban areas for work. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Analyzing the Question
This question requires you to discuss the relationship between climate change and rural-to-urban migration for employment purposes. You need to:
- Understand the concept of climate change and its effects on rural areas
- Consider how these effects might influence job availability in rural regions
- Evaluate whether this leads to increased migration to urban areas
- Present your opinion on the extent to which you agree or disagree with the statement
Now, let’s look at sample essays for different band scores, starting with a high-scoring response.
Sample Essay 1 (Band 8-9)
Climate change is undeniably reshaping our world, and its impact on rural economies is becoming increasingly evident. I strongly agree with the statement that this global phenomenon is driving more people from rural to urban areas in search of work opportunities. This essay will explore the reasons behind this trend and its implications.
Firstly, climate change is altering traditional agricultural patterns, which form the backbone of many rural economies. Erratic weather patterns, prolonged droughts, and extreme weather events are making farming less predictable and profitable. As a result, many rural workers find their livelihoods threatened and are forced to seek alternative employment. Urban areas, with their diverse job markets and seemingly more stable economies, naturally become attractive destinations for these displaced workers.
Moreover, climate change is not only affecting agriculture but also other rural industries such as fishing and forestry. Rising sea levels and changing ocean temperatures are impacting coastal fishing communities, while deforestation and shifting ecosystems are challenging the forestry sector. These changes further limit job opportunities in rural areas, pushing more people towards cities in search of economic stability.
How climate change is driving migration patterns is evident in many parts of the world. For instance, in Bangladesh, coastal erosion and saltwater intrusion due to rising sea levels have forced many farmers to abandon their lands and move to urban centers like Dhaka. Similarly, in sub-Saharan Africa, desertification has led to a significant rural exodus towards cities.
However, it is important to note that this rural-to-urban migration is not solely driven by climate change. Factors such as technological advancements, globalization, and changing aspirations also play crucial roles. Nonetheless, the impact of climate change on rural job markets is undeniable and significant.
In conclusion, while multiple factors contribute to rural-urban migration, I strongly agree that climate change is a major driver of this trend. As environmental challenges continue to mount, it is likely that this pattern will persist, necessitating proactive measures to support both rural economies and urban infrastructure to accommodate these shifts in population.
Essay Analysis (Band 8-9)
This essay demonstrates excellent qualities that justify a high band score:
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Task Achievement: The essay fully addresses all parts of the task, presenting a clear position and developing it throughout.
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Coherence and Cohesion: Ideas are logically organized with clear progression. Paragraphs are well-linked, and cohesive devices are used effectively.
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Lexical Resource: A wide range of vocabulary is used accurately and appropriately. For example, “erratic weather patterns“, “prolonged droughts“, “coastal erosion“, “saltwater intrusion“.
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Grammatical Range and Accuracy: The essay displays a wide range of structures with flexibility and accuracy. Complex sentences are used effectively, such as “As environmental challenges continue to mount, it is likely that this pattern will persist, necessitating proactive measures to support both rural economies and urban infrastructure to accommodate these shifts in population.”
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Examples and Evidence: The essay provides specific examples (Bangladesh, sub-Saharan Africa) to support the arguments, demonstrating a good understanding of the topic.
Now, let’s examine a sample essay for a lower band score.
Sample Essay 2 (Band 6-7)
Climate change is a big problem in the world today. Many people think it is making more people move from villages to cities for work. I agree with this idea because climate change is affecting farming and other jobs in rural areas.
Firstly, climate change is changing the weather, which makes farming harder. When there are more droughts or floods, crops don’t grow well. This means farmers earn less money. Some farmers can’t continue their work and have to find new jobs. Many of them go to cities where there are more different types of jobs.
Secondly, climate change also affects other jobs in rural areas. For example, fishing becomes harder when the weather changes and the sea gets warmer. Also, some forests are dying because of new weather patterns. This means less work for people who cut trees or make things from wood.
urbanization’s effects on natural ecosystems is another problem that happens when people move to cities. When more people live in cities, it can harm nature around the cities. But people still move because they need jobs.
However, climate change is not the only reason people move to cities. Some people move because they want better schools or hospitals. Others move because they want to try new jobs that are only in cities.
In conclusion, I agree that climate change is making more people move from rural areas to cities for work. This is because climate change makes it harder to do traditional rural jobs like farming and fishing. But there are also other reasons why people move to cities.
Essay Analysis (Band 6-7)
This essay demonstrates qualities that place it in the Band 6-7 range:
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Task Achievement: The essay addresses the main parts of the task and presents a clear position. However, the ideas could be more fully developed.
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Coherence and Cohesion: There is a clear overall progression, but the use of cohesive devices is sometimes inaccurate or repetitive (e.g., frequent use of “Also” and “Secondly”).
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Lexical Resource: The vocabulary is adequate for the task, but lacks sophistication. There are attempts to use less common vocabulary (e.g., “droughts“, “weather patterns“), but the range is limited.
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Grammatical Range and Accuracy: The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are some errors and limitations in range.
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Examples and Evidence: The essay provides some examples, but they are general rather than specific, and could be more fully developed.
Key Vocabulary to Remember
- Climate change (noun) – /ˈklaɪmət tʃeɪndʒ/ – Long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns
- Rural exodus (noun) – /ˈrʊərəl ˈeksədəs/ – The migration of people from rural to urban areas
- Urbanization (noun) – /ˌɜːbənaɪˈzeɪʃn/ – The process of making an area more urban
- Erratic (adjective) – /ɪˈrætɪk/ – Unpredictable or irregular
- Desertification (noun) – /dɪˌzɜːtɪfɪˈkeɪʃn/ – The process by which fertile land becomes desert
- Coastal erosion (noun) – /ˈkəʊstl ɪˈrəʊʒn/ – The wearing away of land by the sea
- Saltwater intrusion (noun) – /ˈsɔːltwɔːtər ɪnˈtruːʒn/ – The movement of seawater into freshwater aquifers
- Ecosystem (noun) – /ˈiːkəʊsɪstəm/ – A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment
- Livelihood (noun) – /ˈlaɪvlihʊd/ – A means of securing the necessities of life
- Migration patterns (noun) – /maɪˈɡreɪʃn ˈpætnz/ – Regular movements of populations from one area to another
Conclusion
The impact of climate change on rural employment and subsequent migration to urban areas is a complex and relevant topic for IELTS Writing Task 2. To excel in answering such questions, it’s crucial to:
- Clearly state your position
- Provide specific examples and evidence
- Use a wide range of vocabulary and grammatical structures
- Organize your ideas logically
- Address all parts of the question
How to tackle the issue of climate-induced migration is likely to remain a popular topic in future IELTS exams. Other related topics you might encounter could include:
- The economic impact of climate change on developing countries
- Government policies to address rural unemployment due to environmental changes
- The role of technology in mitigating climate change effects on rural industries
To improve your writing skills, try practicing with these topics and share your essays in the comments section below. This active practice will help you refine your approach and boost your confidence for the IELTS Writing Task 2.