IELTS Writing Task 2 Question
Agree/ Disagree (Opinion) · Urban Planning · 40 min
Relocating big businesses and industries and their workers from urban areas to rural areas could be a good solution for the issues of traffic congestion and housing in major cities. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?
Write at least 250 words.
Score Breakdown
IELTS Writing Band Scores (1–9)
Summary: The essay effectively addresses the task, offering a balanced discussion on the relocation of businesses to rural areas as a solution to urban problems. It meets the word count requirement and demonstrates strong coherence with well-structured arguments. The lexical resource is varied and precise, and the grammatical range is diverse with high accuracy.
Now write your own — and see how your verdict holds up.
Submit your Urban Planning essay and receive AI scores across Task Response, Coherence, Lexical Resource, and Grammar — plus a Band 9 model answer for your exact question.
Relocating large businesses, industries, and their employees from metropolitan areas to rural regions is often proposed as a solution to the growing problems of traffic congestion and housing shortages in major cities. While this approach could certainly alleviate some urban pressures, I only partly agree that it is an effective long-term solution, as it may also create significant economic and social challenges.
On the one hand, transferring companies and factories to rural areas could substantially reduce overcrowding in cities. Major urban centres around the world suffer from chronic traffic jams due to the concentration of offices and industries in limited spaces. If businesses were distributed more evenly across a country, fewer people would need to commute daily into cities, thereby easing pressure on transport infrastructure. In addition, housing demand in metropolitan areas would likely decline, which could help stabilise property prices and rental costs. Rural communities could also benefit economically from new employment opportunities, improved infrastructure, and increased investment.
However, relocating industries to the countryside is not without drawbacks. Firstly, many rural areas lack the transport networks, technological facilities, and skilled workforce required by large corporations. Building such infrastructure would demand enormous financial resources and years of development. Secondly, many employees may be unwilling to move away from cities because urban areas generally offer better healthcare, education, entertainment, and career prospects for family members. Forcing businesses to relocate could therefore reduce productivity and employee satisfaction.
Moreover, urban problems cannot be solved solely through relocation. Governments should instead invest in more sustainable urban planning, such as expanding public transportation systems, constructing affordable housing, and encouraging remote working. These measures directly target the root causes of congestion and housing shortages without disrupting established economic centres.
In conclusion, although shifting businesses and industries to rural areas could reduce pressure on major cities to some extent, it is not a complete or universally practical solution. A balanced approach involving regional development alongside improved urban management would be far more effective in addressing these complex issues.
AI Feedback Report Details
Spelling · Grammar · Vocabulary · Criteria Analysis
Ready to practise? Get instant AI feedback on your verdict.
Submit your Urban Planning essay and receive AI scores across all four IELTS criteria — with specific feedback on whether your solutions are specific, realistic, and matched to your problems.
Detailed Criteria Feedback
AI-powered analysis for each scoring criterion