An essay making suggestions for solutions to a problem
Эссе с предложениями по решению проблемы
Writing Tip
Writing essays making suggestions
Совет по написанию
Написание эссе внесение предложений
We usually write an essay making suggestions in a formal or semi-formal style.
Обычно мы пишем эссе с предложениями в формальном или полуформальном стиле.
• The first paragraph states the problem.
B первом абзаце излагается проблема.
• The main body paragraphs present our suggestions in separate paragraphs, together with the possible results or consequences.
В основных пунктах представлены наши предложения в отдельных пунктах вместе с возможными результатами или последствиями.
• The last paragraphs summarises our opinion.
В последних абзацах резюмируется наше мнение.
We use linkers to organise our ideas:
Мы используем компоновщики для организации наших идей:
To introduce suggestions: To begin/start with/Firstly, it’s important to; Another (helpful) suggestion is to; Secondly, you should; In addition/Lastly, it’s a good idea to, etc
Чтобы внести предложения: Для начала/начните с/Во-первых, это важно; Другое (полезное) предложение — это; Во-вторых, вы должны; Кроме того/Наконец, это хорошая идея и т. д.
Упражнение 1, с. 73
1. а) Read the essay. In which paragraph(s) does the writer: present their suggestions & results? stae the problem? summarise their opion? — Прочтите эссе. В каком абзаце(абзацах) автор: представляет свои предложения и результаты? изложить проблему? обобщите их мнение?
Ответ:
In paragraph 1, the writer states the problem.
В пункте 1 автор излагает проблему.
In paragraphs 2-4, the writer presents their suggestions and results.
В пунктах 2-4 автор представляет свои предложения и результаты.
In paragraph 5, the writer summarises their opinion.
В пункте 5 автор резюмирует своё мнение.
What Can You Do About Exam Stress?
Что Вы Можете Сделать С Экзаменационным Стрессом?
1 Exam stress is normal, but it can sometimes get out of control and make you unwell. What can you do, then, to reduce stress and study for success?
Экзаменационный стресс — это нормально, но иногда он может выйти из-под контроля и вызвать у вас недомогание. Что же вы можете сделать, чтобы уменьшить стресс и стремиться к успеху?
2 To begin with, it’s important to make a study timetable and stick to it. As a result, you will feel more organised and confident that you have time to prepare well for your exams.
Для начала важно составить расписание занятий и придерживаться его. В результате вы будете чувствовать себя более организованным и уверенным в том, что у вас есть время хорошо подготовиться к экзаменам.
3 Secondly, you should take good care of yourself by eating healthy, getting enough sleep and taking regular breaks to do something fun. Consequently, your body and mind will stay healthy and you will be able to concentrate better when studying.
Во-вторых, вы должны хорошо заботиться о себе, питаясь здоровой пищей, высыпаясь и делая регулярные перерывы, чтобы заняться чем-то весёлым. Следовательно, ваше тело и разум останутся здоровыми, и вы сможете лучше концентрироваться во время учёбы.
4 Another helpful suggestion is to study with a friend. Some people might find this useful as they can discus any problems that come up.
All in all, I think exam stress can be a major problem.
Ещё одно полезное предложение — учиться у друга. Некоторые люди могут счесть это полезным, поскольку они могут обсуждать любые возникающие проблемы.
В целом, я думаю, что экзаменационный стресс может быть серьёзной проблемой.
5 However, if you are organised and healthy and get help from others, exam strees will never be a problem for you again.
Однако, если вы организованы и здоровы и получаете помощь от других, экзамены больше никогда не будут для вас проблемой.
b) Replace the linkers in the essay with other appropriate ones. — Замените ссылки в эссе другими соответствующими.
but – however
но – однако
To begin with – To start with, Firstly
Для начала – Для начала, Во-первых
As a result – Consequently
В результате – Следовательно
Secondly – Also, In addition,
Во–вторых – Также, В дополнение,
Consequently – This way
Следовательно – Таким образом
Another helpful suggestion – In addition
Ещё одно полезное предложение – В дополнение
All in all – To sum up, In summary
В целом – Подвести итог, вкратце
Упражнение 2, с. 73
2. Match the suggestions (A-C) to the possible results/consequences (1-3). — Сопоставьте предложения (A-C) с возможными результатами/последствиями (1-3).
A 2 Another suggestion is to find a team sport you like and join a club.
Ещё одно предложение — найти командный вид спорта, который вам нравится, и вступить в клуб.
2 By doing this, you will get fit doing something you enjoy.
Делая это, вы будете в форме, занимаясь тем, что вам нравится.
B 1 Lastly, you should try to save a little money each month.
Наконец, вы должны стараться экономить немного денег каждый месяц.
1 In this way, you will eventually have enough to go on a trip with your friends or buy yourself a treat.
Таким образом, у вас в конечном итоге будет достаточно денег, чтобы отправиться в путешествие с друзьями или купить себе угощение.
C 3 Firstly, you should make a list of things you like about yourself.
Во-первых, вы должны составить список того, что вам в себе нравится.
3 As a result, you will focus on the positive and learn a respect yourself.
В результате вы сосредоточитесь на позитиве и научитесь уважать себя.
Упражнение 3, с. 73
3. Read the rubric. Match the suggestions to the results. — Прочитайте рубрику. Сопоставьте предложения с результатами.
The editor of your sixth form college magazine has invited you to write an article suggesting ways for students to resist peer pressure. Write your article for the magazine (150-200 words).
Редактор вашего журнала для шестых классов колледжа пригласил вас написать статью, в которой предлагаются способы, с помощью которых учащиеся могут противостоять давлению со стороны сверстников. Напишите свою статью для журнала (150-200 слов).
Suggestions
Предложения
1 B Trust your own feelings and know your personal limits.
B You will feel more confident in your actions.
Доверяйте своим собственным чувствам и знайте свои личные пределы.
Вы будете чувствовать себя более уверенно в своих действиях.
2 C Choose your friends carefully.
C If your friends share your beliefs, you will reduce the amount of peer pressure you may experience.
Тщательно выбирайте своих друзей.
Если ваши друзья разделяют ваши убеждения, вы уменьшите давление со стороны сверстников, которое вы можете испытывать.
3 A Talk it through with someone you trust, such as a friend, teacher or parent.
A They might be able to give you helpful advice, as they probably have experience with peer pressure too.
Обсудите это с кем-то, кому вы доверяете, например с другом, учителем или родителем.
Они могли бы дать вам полезный совет, так как у них, вероятно, тоже есть опыт работы с давлением со стороны сверстников.
Упражнение 4, с. 73
4. Use your answers in Ex. 3 to write your essay. Follow the plan. — Используйте свои ответы из упр. 3 для написания эссе. Следуйте плану.
How can you resist peer pressure?
Как вы можете противостоять давлению со стороны сверстников?
Peer pressure is a normal part of growing up, but it can sometimes be so strong that it makes you feel you don’t control your own life. What can you do, then, to resist peer pressure so you don’t do anything you don’t want to?
To begin with, it’s important to trust your own feelings and know your personal limits. As a result, you will feel more confident in your actions.
Secondly, you should choose your friends carefully. Then, if your friends share your beliefs, you will reduce the amount of peer pressure you may experience.
Аnother helpful suggestion is to talk it through with someone you trust, such as a friend, teacher or parent. They may be able to give you helpful advice, as they probably have experience with peer pressure, too.
All in all, I think peer pressure can be a major problem. However, if you are confident, and have support from good friends, peer pressure will never be a problem for you again.
Давление со стороны сверстников — нормальная часть взросления, но иногда оно может быть настолько сильным, что заставляет вас чувствовать, что вы не контролируете свою собственную жизнь. Что же вы можете сделать, чтобы противостоять давлению со стороны сверстников, чтобы не делать ничего, чего вы не хотите?
Для начала важно доверять своим собственным чувствам и знать свои личные пределы. В результате вы будете чувствовать себя более уверенно в своих действиях.
Во-вторых, вы должны тщательно выбирать своих друзей. Затем, если ваши друзья разделят ваши убеждения, вы уменьшите давление со стороны сверстников, которое вы можете испытывать.
Ещё одно полезное предложение — обсудить это с кем-то, кому вы доверяете, например с другом, учителем или родителем. Они могут дать вам полезный совет, так как у них, вероятно, тоже есть опыт работы с давлением со стороны сверстников.
В целом, я думаю, что давление со стороны сверстников может быть серьёзной проблемой. Однако, если вы уверены в себе и вас поддерживают хорошие друзья, давление со стороны сверстников больше никогда не будет для вас проблемой.
Writing Bank 4 p. WB4
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ГДЗ по английскому языку. Starlight. Звёздный английский. Учебник. 7 класс. Баранова К.М., Дули Д., Копылова В.В.
Рабочая тетрадь. Starlight. 7 класс. Workbook
Английский язык. 7 класс
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veronikacyganok4
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Английский язык
5 — 9 классы
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Эссе на тему «A lot of garbage»
План:
1)state the problem
2)first suggestion and results
3)second suggestion and results
4)summarise your opinion
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https://vashotvet.com/task/12182002
SPOTLIGHT 8
MODULE 5
Essays to providing solution to problem
Правильное обращение в письмах на английском
- Dear John! – обращение к другу, родственнику
- Dear Sir – обращение, если этот человек – ваш начальник. Официальное обращение.
- My dear Sir – обращение, которое можно использовать в личной переписке
- Dear Mr. Smith – официальное обращение к малознакомому человеку (вы не знаете, кто этот человек)
Essays to providing solution to problem
- Эссе, предоставляющие решения проблем, обычно пишутся в формальном стиле, и таким образом, Вы должны избегать использования разговорных выражений, кратких форм или личного языка. В первом абзаце мы заявляем проблему. В абзацах основной части мы пишем наши предложения, поддержанные возможными результатами. Мы пишем наши предложения в отдельных абзацах. В заключении мы суммируем наши предложения.
To introduce suggestions (Чтобы начать предложение):
- To begin/start with (Для начала / начать с того),
- One way to (единственный способ),
- Another solution would be (другим решением было бы),
- Another way to … would be (другим способом ….может быть…)
To express effect (Чтобы усилить эффект):
- Thus (таким образом),
- therefore (по этой причине),
- as a result (в результате), consequently (соответственно),
- so (так),
- as a consequence (как следствие)
To conclude ( Для заключения):
- All in all (в целом),
- To sum up (таким образом),
- All things considered (приняв все во внимание)
Plan (план)
- Introduction (введение)
- Para1: state the problem (опишите проблему)
- Main body (главная часть)
- Para2: first suggestion & result (первое предложение и результаты)
- Para3: second suggestion & result (второе предложение и результаты)
- Para4: third suggestion & result (четвертое предложение и результаты)
- Conclusion (заключение)
- Para4: summarise your opinion (сделайте заключение по вашим предложениям)
Пример письма
- 1. Heavy traffic is one of the most serious problems that our cities have to deal with nowadays. What can we do, then, to reduce traffic in our city centres?
- 2. To begin with, it is important to improve public transport and to encourage people to use it to commute to work and to school. The result would be fewer cars in the city and consequently fewer traffic jams.
- 3. Another solution would be to encourage people to participate in car sharing programmes. This means several employees would share one car to work instead of each coming in their own car. Again, this would reduce the number of cars on the streets.
- 4. Finally, it would be a good idea to create more cycling lanes. If this was done, people would be encouraged to cycle instead of taking their car.
- 5. To sum up, there are many ways to reduce traffic in the city. Applying just some of these ideas would result in a lot less traffic in our cities.
Английский язык,
вопрос задал veronikacyganok4,
7 месяцев назад
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Problem and solution essay IELTS or cause and solution essay IELTS is a common type of essay question asked in IELTS Writing Task 2 Exam. Herein, a problem is presented to the candidate and you are asked to suggest relevant, specific, and possible solutions regarding the same.
Table of Contents
You can either write about 2 problems with both their solutions or discuss one major problem and one solution. As long as you extend and explain your ideas, you will be able to communicate your thoughts to the examiner. Maintain a formal tone throughout your essay. In a problem and solution essay IELTS might ask the candidate to discuss any of the following:
- Cause of the problem
- Effect of a problem
- Methods to prevent the problem
- Possible and effective solutions to the problem
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Problem Solution Essay Question: Evaluation Factors
IELTS writing tests are evaluated across 4 main factors or areas when your IELTS band scores are calculated. These areas are:
- Achievement of the task – The examiner notices here to what extent you have addressed all the parts of the task with explained and well-developed ideas.
- Cohesion and Coherence – The logical flow and organization of your ideas and information, are examined here. The examiner notices whether the essay has a logical progression of thoughts.
- Lexical Resource – The vocabulary used in the essay and its accuracy is examined here. You should use lexical items with sophistication.
- Grammatical accuracy and range – Lastly, the examiner evaluates whether the candidate has used the grammatical structures accurately. Sentences with sophisticated clauses and a clear flow should be used.
Tips to Create an IELTS Problem Solution Essay Structure
While structuring the essay in your head, make sure to use a proper approach for these questions. The steps to structure the essays are:
Analyze the question thoroughly
Analyzing the question is a crucial part of answering any IELTS writing essay questions. You can analyze the question in the best way through three main things:
- Keywords: These are the specific words that inform you about the general topic.
- Micro Keywords: These keywords identify the parts of the general topic that the examiner wants you to focus on. They generally give an opinion by emphasizing a sub-category of the topic.
- Action Words: Instruction words or action words make it clear for the candidates what the examiner wants them to do.
Think of Ideas
Now that the purpose of the question is clear to you, form a specific idea for the essay in your head. For each problem you think of, identify a direct solution for the same.
Follow the structure & write down the essay
Write down the essay by ensuring to follow a proper structure, including an introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The essay should include examples and discuss possible solutions.
Also Read: Latest 50+ IELTS Essay Topics in 2022
A basic four-paragraph structure should be used to structure the problem solution IELTS essays. The structure is as follows:
Paragraph 1 – Introduction
In the introduction paragraph, you can first paraphrase the statement part of the question and outline the ideas to be discussed in the essay further. Paraphrasing the questions means rephrasing the sentence without changing its meaning using synonyms. The outline sentence helps the examiner to understand what they can expect from the essay and thus ensure clarity. Cohesion and clarity play an important role in the scoring of the essay.
Paragraph 2 – Problems
In the second paragraph, state the problems you thought of and then explain the first problem and the second problem in the second half of the essay thoroughly.
Paragraph 3 – Solutions
In the third paragraph, list down the solutions to the problems listed above, the first solution with its examples, and then the second solution along with relevant examples that support the solution.
Paragraph 4 – Conclusion
In the conclusion paragraph, cover all the important points discussed in the above 3 paragraphs and end your essay.
Problem Solution Essay IELTS: Key Points to Remember
Some of the main points to remember while attempting the problem solution essay questions in IELTS are:
- You have only 40 minutes to complete the essay writing task, and you have to write a minimum of 250 words.
- Use linking words, collocations, and phrases to ensure a flow in the essay.
- If you are using any facts or statistical data, make sure it is accurate and reliable.
- Make sure that the introduction is clear and engaging. It helps the examiner to get a sense of what will be discussed in the essay further.
- Use refined and accurate grammar and vocabulary, which will help the examiner understand your proficiency in the language.
- Provide relevant examples to explain your content. An explanation of your opinions is the best way to ensure a higher IELTS score.
- Identify the keywords and secondary keywords. Relate them with the problems and the solutions, and make sure to include the keywords in the content.
- Plan the problems you are going to discuss in your head and the possible solutions before writing them down.
- The paragraphs should be ideally balanced by discussing the problems in one body paragraph and solutions in the second body paragraph.
Also Read: Updated List Vocabulary for IELTS 2022
Common Mistakes
Though problem solution essay IELTS is highly asked in the exam, there are some common mistakes that are made by the candidates. Some of these mistakes that a candidate can avoid while attempting these types of questions are:
- Candidates often do not expand on their ideas and often list down a lot of problems and solutions. The examiners mark the essays on the basis of the explanation of the problems and solutions listed. It is usually advised to pick a problem or two along with their solutions and then explain them with relevant examples.
- Another common mistake by the candidates is writing indirectly about solutions that are not directly related to the questions. You should opt for concrete ideas rather than writing a generalized answer. Identify the keywords and the micro-keywords from the question and try to include those in the topic.
- Many people often list down good problems but fail to link them with the solutions. Each problem should have a directly linked solution that actually solves the problem.
- Learn to identify the problem and solution and causes and solution questions as both of them might look similar but have a certain difference in how they are to be structured.
- Avoid writing in absolute terms by using qualifiers which ensure that your sentences look like claims rather than proven facts.
Problem Solution Essay IELTS Sample Questions
There are many themes for the problem solution essay topics IELTS related to various problems. Some of the problem solution essay IELTS topics questions for your practice are as given below:
Theme 1 – Cities
- Nowadays, it is getting difficult for people to enjoy their lives in cities. Why do you think this is? What can the government do to make life in cities more enjoyable?
- In large cities, the issue of overpopulation has been a significant cause of concern which leads to a lack of jobs and traffic congestion. What is the cause of this? How can government help in solving this problem?
- In many cities and urban areas around the world, crime is increasing. What is the cause of this? How can governments help to prevent the crimes?
Theme 2 – Technology & the internet
- People from older generations face difficulty in using new technology. What is the cause behind this? What are some possible solutions to this problem?
- A lot of children spend time on social media surfing the internet and playing video games which hurts their studies and grades and makes them experience loneliness and health problems such as obesity. What is the reason behind this? What can the parents do to prevent it?
- The internet has changed the way information is consumed and shared among people. What are some serious issues a person can face associated with the internet, and what solutions can be implemented?
Theme 3 – Environment or Climate Change
- Sea levels are steadily rising in recent years. What do you think is the reason behind this? How can it be fixed?
- Many countries around the world are suffering from poor water and air quality, which is harmful to all of us, especially older people. What is the cause of this? How can it be solved?
- Climate change and global warming is a serious threat the world is facing, which is reducing the average life expectancy. What are some causes of this? How can governments and healthcare sectors solve this problem?
IELTS Advantages & Disadvantage Essay Topics
Foreign Language IELTS Sample Essay
A sample of the Problem Solution Essay Example Question IELTS for Writing Test 2 is given below for your reference:
Question
As social media continue to develop, more and more youngsters have unsupervised access to all the contents available over the internet in order to meet and chat with friends and even strangers, which can lead to some potentially dangerous situations. What solutions can you suggest to deal with this problem?
IELTS Problem Solution Essay
In the modern era, a large number of young people use the internet to meet and talk with friends via social media. Due to social media and the growth of the internet in the 21st century, many children are facing issues related to their health and the expression of their feelings as a result of the lack of face-to-face interaction. This issue can be solved by opting for some measures.
To begin with, there are many people all over the world who use the internet for their work or education purposes. As a result, everyone uses it until late at night, which can lead to a variety of health issues, such as vision problems from constantly staring at computers or mobile phones and spinal curvatures from excessive sitting in front of computers and laptops. Secondly, due to the nature of online meetings and conversations, there is a lack of face-to-face interaction among people due to which youngsters are unable to express their feelings due to the loss of peer interaction.
Parents can help in resolving these issues by blocking the access of children to websites that are not children-friendly. In addition to that, parents can encourage children to go out and play instead of being on the internet all day in exchange for a surprise or more quality time. Social media companies can also contribute to the solution by restricting the access of children to the platforms on the basis of their age, which can protect them from content that is not suitable for them. For example, the social media platform Facebook recently updated its privacy policies to restrict access to children under the age of ten.
To summarize, young people use the internet to interact with various types of people online without any supervision, which gives them a sense of freedom and confidence in sending unethical messages to others. To stay out of it, parents should monitor their communication and provide suitable guidance and advice to their children.
Conclusion
Problem Solution Essay IELTS is a type of question that includes problems for which you have to find the solutions through a logical flow of thought. 40 minutes are given to complete the 250 words essay writing task. The structure of the essay for a problem-solving question includes an introduction, discussion of problems, possible solutions with examples, and a conclusion.
The introduction has an overview of the essay. The main body paragraphs discuss the problems along with their direct solutions and examples. The conclusion paragraph summarizes your opinion on the task. You need to discuss the problems caused by the issues and the measures to reduce or eliminate the problem altogether.
You do not just need to state problems and solutions but also need to explain the thought process to reach that solution. Make sure the essay is readable and has a logical flow and cohesion.
You can practice for the Problem Solution Essay IELTS by writing on various topics or themes available on the internet ranging from the internet, cities, poverty, problems of rural areas or developing countries, lifestyle in developed countries, success, news, etc.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I write the problem and solution both in one paragraph?
Ans. No, you can not write the problem and solution both in the same paragraph as this will affect the flow and understanding of the essay. The cause and the solution or the problems and the solution will both be discussed in two different paragraphs of the main body.
How can I identify a problem solution essay type?
Ans. In the problem solution essay questions, a topic is given, and you will have to discuss the issues or problems faced in regards to that particular topic. Often, these questions can also ask for your opinion on a particular issue.
What is the difference between a cause solution essay and a problem solution essay?
Ans. Problem solution essay and cause solution essay are highly similar. However, there is a subtle difference between the two. A problem solution essay question asks about the problem with regards to a particular topic, whereas the cause solution essay asks about the causes behind an issue. The problem is to be mentioned in both the essays. However, in the cause solution essay, you should focus more on the cause of that particular statement.
How can I write a solution paragraph?
Ans. First of all, for a solution paragraph, you need to develop ideas related to the given problem in your mind to check whether or not your ideas are directly relevant to the problem. After then, you have to decide how you will explain the solution to all the problems in a precise manner. After then, develop your solution with the help of a detailed explanation.
IELTS problem-solution tasks are the easiest of the IELTS essay types as you are required to explain the given problem(s) and provide some relevant suggestions/solutions. In this IELTS Task 2 Writing guide, we will take a look at how to produce a well-written essay for an IELTS writing task 2 problem and solution task.
Table of Contents
- Problem/Solution Essay Overview
- 1.1 Understanding the question
- 1.2 Example problem/solution questions
- Essay Structure for Problem/Solution Essays
- Planning your Problem/Solution Essay
- 3.1 Identify key words and phrases
- 3.2 Organise your ideas
- 3.3 Identify vocabulary
- Writing your Problem/Solution Essay
- 4.1 Introduction
- 4.2 Main body paragraphs
- 4.3 Conclusion
- Example Problem/Solution Essay and Exercise
- 5.1 Complete the sample problem/solution essay
- 5.2 Problem Solution Sample Essay
1. Problem/Solution Overview
A problem and solution essay is a common type of IELTS writing task 2 essay question.
Remember, there are five main types of writing task 2 questions:
- Advantage/disadvantage
- Discussion
- Double question
- Problem/solution
- Opinion
You will have 40 minutes to write at least 250 words which you use to explain one or more of the following
- A common problem/ problems in the world
- A cause/causes of a problem
- A possible solution/solutions
1.1 Understanding the question
There are a few different ways that a problem/solution question may be worded and it is important to understand exactly what you are being asked to do.
Here are the three main types of problem/solution question aims:
- Write about a problem and possible solutions to that problem
- Write about a cause of a problem and possible solutions
- Only write about the solutions
And here are some ways the question may be worded for each aim:
- What problems arise from this and how can they be tackled?
- What do you think the causes are? What are the solutions?
- What solution can you suggest to deal with this problem?
Identifying common synonyms in the instruction words will also help you to identify the aim:
Problem: Situation; resulting in…; issue
Cause: Reason; why
The only solution: address; present; solve; improve; tackle; remedy; deal with
Take the time to read the question carefully! It is a common mistake to answer the wrong question.
1.2 Example problem/solution questions
Here are some example problem/solution questions. Try to work out what the aim is for each question:
Topic 1
The internet has transformed the way information is shared and consumed, but it has also created problems that did not exist before.
What are the most serious problems associated with the internet and what solutions can you suggest?
Topic 2
Overpopulation of urban areas has led to numerous problems.
Identify two serious ones and suggest ways that governments and individuals can tackle these problems.
Topic 3
One problem faced by almost every large city is traffic congestion
What do you think the causes are? What solutions can you suggest?
Topic 4
More and more wild animals are on the verge of extinction and others are on the endangered list.
What are the reasons for this? What can be done to solve the problem?
Topic 5
In many developing countries, there is a problem with declining quality of air and water from both industry and construction.
What measures could be taken to prevent this?
2. Essay Structure for Problem/Solution Essays
You will see more than one way to structure a problem/solution IELTS essay. We’ve given you two options to choose from that are nice and easy to follow and enable you to produce a clear and cohesive essay everytime:
Essay structure 1
Introduction |
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Main body paragraph 1 |
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Main body paragraph 2 |
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Conclusion |
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Essay structure 2
Introduction |
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Main body paragraph 1 |
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Main body paragraph 2 |
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Conclusion |
|
Note that essay structure 2 suggests that it is an option to write about more than one problem and solution. In fact, the essay question will usually ask for problems and solutions in the plural.
However, it is acceptable to write about one problem and solution so that you fully develop your ideas rather than rushing through your essay and missing any important examples or explanations.
Why not time yourself writing an essay in test conditions and see what option works for you!
3. Planning your Problem/Solution Essay
Taking the time to plan your essay will really make a big difference. Read on for some useful tips to help your planning.
3.1 Identify keywords and phrases
It’s a good idea to start your planning by confirming the topic of your essay by locating the topic words.
Here’s the question for our model 9 band writing task 2 answer at the end of this guide:
Some people think that children nowadays are spending an excessive amount of time watching TV or using a computer or mobile phone.
Describe some of the problems that too much screen time can have for children, and what can be done to tackle them.
The topic of this essay is about the amount of time children spend using screens (TV, computer, mobile phones).
By looking at the instruction words, we can see this question also asks for problems and solutions in the plural form (although remember it is ok to focus on a single problem and solution in the exam).
3.2 Organise your ideas
A list is a great way to organise your ideas before you start writing your IELTS essay about problem and solution. Your ideas do not have to be elaborate or in-depth, just put pen to paper and start to jot down some ideas for an IELTS essay. You could choose to only write down ideas you will use in your essay, or you might end up with more than you need (we suggest ticking off the ideas you use to avoid repetition)
We have used a simple bullet point list to note down ideas for our model essay:
Problems:
- Childhood obesity
- Addiction
- Mental health issues
- Targeted junk food adverts
Solutions:
- Government incentives for active children
- Limited screen time imposed by parents
- Lessons to educate children on the dangers of too much screen time
- Restrictions on adverts at certain times
3.3 Identify vocabulary
Writing down any useful vocabulary for IELTS that comes to mind during the planning process could improve your score in Lexical resources. Ask yourself if you know any idioms, collocations or other unusual IELTS essay vocabulary linked to your essay topic.
4. Writing your Problem/Solution Essay
4.1 Introduction
There are three key things to include in your problem/solution introduction:
- Paraphrase the given IELTS statement and question
- State the problem/cause/solution
- State what your essay will do
To successfully paraphrase the statement, you can use synonyms, change the word order or change the word class (e.g from a noun to an adjective). The tricky part is making sure you keep the meaning of the statement the same. Look what we’ve done for our model answer:
IELTS Statement | Paraphrased Statement |
---|---|
Some people think that children nowadays are spending an excessive amount of time watching TV or using a computer or mobile phone.
Describe some of the problems that too much screen time can have for children, and what can be done to tackle them. |
Nowadays, governments and health experts around the world have become increasingly concerned about the general health of children. They are particularly worried about problems caused by too much time spent in front of a TV, computer or mobile . |
You can also briefly state what your essay will do using an outline statement. Here’s an example sentence:
This essay will look at these problems in more detail and propose some solutions.
4.2 Main body paragraphs
For each problem or cause you write about, you should create a topic sentence which introduces each main idea.
Here are some possible ways you could structure your topic sentences:
- One major problem connected to _____ is…
- Another issue is that…
- A final problem is the…
- One cause of ____ is …
- One reason for ____ is …
- A further way to explain ____ is …
- One contributing factor to ____ is…
You could also use the structure that + a clause. Here are some examples:
One major problem connected to childrens’ health is lack of exercise.
Another issue is that there are a large amount of junk food advertisements on television aimed at children.
As well as language for problems, you will also need to introduce solutions to these problems. Even though the topic of your essay will be different, you can learn language chunks/sentence starters to do this. Take a look at these examples:
- To deal with this problem, _____ could …
- The way forward might be for _____ to …
- The solution is for people to …
- In order to solve this issue, _____ should …
When you provide a solution, it is a good idea to keep the actor of the sentence more general, for example:
- The government
- Schools
- Parents
You can also learn lexical chunks related to solutions to common problems. Here are just a few suggestions for our model answer:
- The government could bring in a law to ban junk food advertising.
- The government could allocate more money to healthy eating campaigns.
- Parents could set aside time in the day to do activities as a family away from screens.
- Schools could employ more physical education teachers to improve students’ fitness levels.
We’ve used the tips above to create the following body paragraphs:
Body Paragraph 1 | One major problem connected to childrens’ health is lack of exercise: in recent years , the amount of time children spend being sedentary in front of a screen has increased drastically, and as a result, childrens’ fitness levels have plummeted. This is a significant problem in the USA, for example, where children spend an increasing amount of time watching a TV screen. To try and solve this problem, governments should implement incentives for children that spend more time being active, such as giving vouchers for sport equipment or free tickets to sporting events. |
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Body Paragraph 2 | Another issue is that there are a large amount of junk food advertisements on television aimed at children. This means that children are being targeted to buy unhealthy junk food and processed meals which can lead to weight and other health problems due to the high amounts of fat and sugar in the food. The answer could be for the government to ban these adverts at certain times of the day. If they did this, children would not be subjected to these unhealthy marketing tactics. |
4.3 Conclusion
Your conclusion for any IELTS writing task 2 essay is very important as without it, you will not score above a band score 6.0 in Task achievement.
Always make your conclusion easy to identify for the examiner by starting with:
- In conclusion,…
- To conclude,…
- To sum up,…
- In summary,…
Now you will need to paraphrase (again) what you have written for your introduction in your own words. Compare out model answer introduction and conclusion:
Introduction | Conclusion |
---|---|
Nowadays, governments and health experts around the world have become increasingly concerned about the general health of children. They are particularly worried about problems caused by too much time spent in front of a TV, computer or mobile . This essay will look at these problems in more detail and propose some solutions. | To sum up, there is no doubt that the problem of too much screen time is becoming increasingly serious for the youth of today. Unless action is taken urgently, these problems will only intensify. My opinion is that responsibility for reducing the amount of time in front of a screen lies mainly with the government, but also with the parents. |
You can also include the following points in your conclusion (it is not necessary to include all the points):
- State the seriousness of the problem (we’ve used the phrase ‘increasingly serious’)
- Suggest who you think should solve the problem (we’ve gone with a balance between the government and parents)
- Make suggestions about what to do in the future (we’ve kept this general: ‘reducing the amount of screen time’)
- State what might happen if nothing is done to solve the problem (again, we’ve kept this general to reduce the word count: ‘these problems will only intensify’)
5. Example Problem/Solution Essay and Exercise
Below you will find the complete problem/solution essay that we have been using throughout this guide, except we have removed some of the keywords.
Your task is to select the missing words and complete the sample answer. Good luck!
5.1 Complete the Sample Problem/Solution Essay
Some people think that children nowadays are spending an excessive amount of time watching TV or using a computer or mobile phone.
Describe some of the problems that too much screen time can have for children, and what can be done to tackle them.
5.2 Problem Solution Sample Essay
Nowadays, governments and health experts around the world have become increasingly concerned about the general health of children. They are particularly worried about problems caused by too much time spent in front of a TV, computer or mobile. This essay will look at these problems in more detail and propose some solutions.
One major problem connected to childrens’ health is lack of exercise: in recent years , the amount of time children spend being sedentary in front of a screen has increased drastically, and as a result, childrens’ fitness levels have plummeted. This is a significant problem in the USA, for example, where children spend an increasing amount of time watching a TV screen. To try and solve this problem, governments should implement incentives for children that spend more time being active, such as giving vouchers for sport equipment or free tickets to sporting events.
Another issue is that there are a large amount of junk food advertisements on television aimed at children. This means that children are being targeted to buy unhealthy junk food and processed meals which can lead to weight and other health problems due to the high amounts of fat and sugar in the food. The answer could be for the government to ban these adverts at certain times of the day. If they did this, children would not be subjected to these unhealthy marketing tactics.
To sum up, there is no doubt that the problem of too much screen time is becoming increasingly serious for the youth of today. Unless action is taken urgently, these problems will only intensify. My opinion is that responsibility for reducing the amount of time in front of a screen lies mainly with the government, but also with the parents.