Band 7 Example

Question: Do people feel lonely in crowded cities?

Idea 1

Yes
Model Answer
Definitely. In cities, everyone's always moving, so it's hard to feel like part of a community. It's different in the countryside, where people know their neighbors better. Also, living in a city costs more, so people work a lot to afford it. This means less time for socializing and meeting new people. So, in a city with so many people, it's still possible to feel like you don't really know anyone.
Yes, for sure. In cities, people move around more so there isn't the sense of community you would find in the countryside where people generally stay where they are and know each other well. The cost of living in a city is also higher and this means that people have a worse work-life balance; basically people work as much as they can, and this means that we have less time to socialize and meet new people. So, even though we are surrounded by millions, we can say we don't know anyone.
Grammar Analysis
The use of comparative structures: "In cities, people move around more so there isn't the sense of community you would find in the countryside..." Here, comparative structures are used to highlight the differences between city and countryside lifestyles, demonstrating the candidate's ability to use complex structures to compare different situations. Expression of reasons and results: "The cost of living in a city is also higher and this means that people have a worse work-life balance..." This sentence clearly expresses the reasons and results of the high cost of living in a city leading to an imbalance between work and life, showing the candidate's ability to fluently use cause and effect relationships to construct arguments. Construction of complex topic sentences: "So, even though we are surrounded by millions, we can say we don't know anyone" This topic sentence, through emphasizing the adverbial clause introduced by "even though," presents a complex and profound social phenomenon, reflecting the candidate's ability to explore and express complex themes.
Vocabulary
  • sense of community
  • countryside
  • work-life balance
  • as much as they can
  • socialize
  • meet new people

Idea 2

No
Model Answer
No, I don't think people feel lonely in crowded cities. There's always something happening and so much to explore, which keeps things exciting. Plus, it's really easy to meet new people because there are so many different activities and events. Cities are full of life and opportunities to connect with others.
I believe crowded cities don't necessarily lead to feelings of loneliness. In fact, with the bustling streets, vibrant culture, and plethora of activities, there's hardly a dull moment. The ease of meeting people in such an environment is remarkable. Whether it's through community events, local gatherings, or even just casual encounters, cities offer numerous avenues to connect with like-minded individuals.
Grammar Analysis
Complex noun phrase: "bustling streets, vibrant culture, and plethora of activities" is a series of compound noun phrases used to describe the characteristics of a city, adding richness and specificity to the answer. Conditional clause: "Whether it's through community events, local gatherings, or even just casual encounters" uses a conditional clause to show different possibilities, increasing the complexity and fluency of the language. Relative clause: In the phrase "avenues to connect with like-minded individuals," "like-minded individuals" is a relative clause used to modify "avenues," enhancing the complexity and depth of the sentence.
Vocabulary
  • crowded city
  • loneliness
  • bustling streets
  • vibrant culture
  • plethora of activities
  • dull moment
  • ease of meeting people
  • remarkable
  • community events
  • local gatherings
  • casual encounters
  • avenue
  • like-minded individuals