- Ebooks & Courses
- Practice Tests
![](http://presentationhelp.xyz/777/templates/cheerup2/res/banner1.gif)
How to Plan & Write IELTS Problem Solution Essays
IELTS problem solution essays are the most challenging essay type for many people. The way they are worded can vary hugely which can make it difficult to understand how you should answer the question.
Generally, you’ll be asked to write about both the problem, or cause, and the solution to a specific issue. Sometimes, however, you will only be required to write about possible solutions.
The 3 essay types:
- Problem and solution
- Cause and solution
- Just the solution
Hence, it’s essential that you analyse the question carefully, which I’ll show you how to do in this lesson. I’m also going to demonstrate step-by-step how to plan and write IELTS problem solution essays.
Here’s what we’ll be covering:
- Identifying IELTS problem solution essays
- 6 Common mistakes
- Essay structure
- How to plan
- How to write an introduction
- How to write main body paragraphs
- How to write a conclusion
Want to watch and listen to this lesson?
Click on this video.
Click the links to see lessons on each of these Task 2 essay writing topics.
Once you understand the process, practice on past questions. Take your time at first and gradually speed up until you can plan and write an essay of at least 250 words in the 40 minutes allowed in the exam.
The Question
Here are two typical IELTS problem solution essay questions. They consist of a statement followed by the question or instruction.
1. One problem faced by almost every large city is traffic congestion.
What do you think the causes are? What solutions can you suggest?
2. Since the beginning of the 20th century, the number of endangered species has increased significantly and we have witnessed more mass extinctions in this period than in any other period of time.
State some reasons for this and provide possible solutions.
These are some examples of different ways in which questions can be phrased. The first half of the questions relate to the problem or cause, the second half to the solution.
What issues does this cause and how can they be addressed?
What are some resulting social problems and how can we deal with them?
What problems arise from this and how can they be tackled?
Why is this? How might it be remedied?
What are the reasons for this, and how can the situation be improved?
Why is this happening, and what measures can be taken to tackle this problem?
And here are a few questions where you only have to write about the solution.
How can this situation be improved?
What solutions can you suggest to deal with this problem?
How can this problem be solved?
What measures could be taken to prevent this?
It’s important that you are able to recognise the common synonyms, words and phrases used in problem solution questions. Here are the key words and their synonyms used in the questions above.
- Problem – issues, resulting, situation
- Cause – reasons, why
- Solution – deal with, addressed, tackled, remedied, improved, measures taken, solved, prevent
Before we move on to some common mistakes, I want to quickly explain the difference between a problem and a cause. Read the following examples.
Problem – I've missed the last bus home after visiting my friend for the evening.
Cause – I misread the timetable and thought the bus left at 22.45 when it actually left at 22.35.
The ‘cause’ is the reason for the ‘problem’. We’ll be looking at question analysis in more detail in a minute.
6 Common Mistakes
These six errors are common in IELTS problem solution essays.
- Confusing problem and causes questions.
- Having too many ideas.
- Not developing your ideas.
- Not developing both sides of the argument equally.
- Not linking the problems and solutions.
- Not being specific enough.
It is common for an essay to consist of a list of problems and solutions without any of them being expanded on or linked to each other. Sometimes, a student will focus on just the problem or only the solution which leads to an unbalanced essay. Both these issues will result in a low score for task achievement.
You must choose just one or two problems and pick solutions directly linked to them. Explain them and give examples.
Another serious error is to write generally about the topic. You need to be very specific with your ideas. Analysing the question properly is essential to avoiding this mistake. I’ll show you how to do this.
Essay Structure
Now let’s look at a simple structure you can use to write IELTS problem solution essays. It’s not the only possible structure but it’s the one I recommend because it’s easy to learn and will enable you to quickly plan and write a high-level essay.
1) Introduction
- Paraphrase the question
- State 1 key problem/cause and related solution
2) Main body paragraph 1 – Problem or Cause
- Topic sentence – state the problem or cause
- Explanation – give detail explaining the problem or cause
- Example – give an example
3) Main body paragraph 2 – Solution
- Topic sentence – state the solution
- Explanation – give detail explaining the solution
4) Conclusion
- Summarise the key points
This structure will give us a well-balanced essay with 4 paragraphs.
One Problem/Cause & Solution or Two?
Most questions will state problems, causes and solutions in the plural, that is, more than one. However, it is acceptable to write about just one.
This will give you an essay of just over the minimum 250 words. To write about two problems/causes and solutions will require you to write between 350 and 400 words which are a lot to plan and write in the 40 minutes allowed.
It is better to fully develop one problem/cause and solution than ending up with one idea missing an explanation or an example because you run out of time.
The step-by-step essay structure I’m going to show you includes one problem and solution but you can write about two if you feel able to or more comfortable doing so.
How To Plan IELTS Problem Solution Essays
Here’s the question we’re going to be answering in our model essay followed by the 3 steps of the planning process.
One problem faced by almost every large city is traffic congestion.
What do you think the causes are? What solutions can you sugge st?
- Analyse the question
- Generate ideas
- Identify vocabulary
# 1 Analyse the question
This is an essential step in the planning process and will ensure that you answer the question fully. It’s quick and easy to do. You just need to identify 3 different types of words:
1. Topic words
2. Other keywords
3. Instruction words
Topics words are the ones that identify the general subject of the question and will be found in the statement part of the question.
One problem faced by almost every large city is traffic congestion .
So, this question is about ‘ traffic congestion’ .
Many people will do this first step of the process and then write about the topic in general. This is a serious mistake and leads to low marks for task achievement.
What we need to do now that we know the general topic, is to understand exactly what aspect of traffic congestion we're being asked to write about.
The other keywords in the question tell you the specific topic you must write about.
By highlighting these words, it’s easy to see that you are being asked to write about the problem of traffic congestion in large cities. Your essay must only include ideas relevant to these ideas.
The instruction words are the question itself. These tell you the type of IELTS problem solution essay you must write. This is a ‘causes and solutions’ question.
# 2 Generate ideas
The next task is to generate some ideas to write about.
There are several different ways to think up ideas. I cover them fully on the IELTS Essay Planning page.
We’re going to use the ‘friends technique’. This is the method I prefer as it allows you to take a step back from the stress of the exam situation and think more calmly.
Here’s how it works. Imagine that you are chatting with a friend over a cup of coffee and they ask you this question. What are the first thoughts to come into your head? Plan your essay around these ideas.
Doing this will help you to come up with simple answers in everyday language rather than straining your brain to think of amazing ideas using high-level language, which isn’t necessary.
You might want to try this yourself before reading on for my ideas.
Here are my ideas:
- Too many cars on the roads – increasing numbers of people own cars, more convenient than buses & trains
- Inadequate public transport – crowded, old & dirty
- Poor road layout
- Rush hour traffic – most people travel to & from work at the same times each day
- Car sharing, park-and-ride scheme, congestion charge
- Improve public transport – more frequent and better quality
- Improve infrastructure – bus lanes, cycle lanes will make it safer for people to cycle
- Flexible working hours
For each cause you think of, immediately write down a possible solution. This you will ensure that the problems and solutions you think of are linked.
You don’t need to spend long on this as you only need one or two ideas.
I’ve got more far more ideas here than I need as I spent more time thinking about it that I would in the real exam. I’m going to pick just one cause to develop in the essay and one or two solutions.
My advice on making your selection is to choose ideas you can quickly think of an example to illustrate.
Here are my choices:
Cause – Too many cars on the roads. Why? – increasing numbers of people own cars, more convenient than buses & trains
Solution – Park-and-ride schemes
We’re almost ready to start writing our IELTS problem solution essay but first, we have one more task to do.
# 3 Vocabulary
During the planning stage, quickly jot down some vocabulary that comes to mind as you decide which cause and solution you are going to write about, especially synonyms of key words. This will save you having to stop and think of the right language while you’re writing. For example:
- traffic jam
- heavy traffic
- private transport
- infrastructure
With that done, we can focus on the first paragraph of the essay – the introduction.
How To Write an Introduction
Good introductions to IELTS problem solution essays have a simple 2 part structure:
- State 1 key problem/cause and related solution/s (outline sentence)
- Have 2-3 sentences
- Be 40-60 words long
- Take 5 minutes to write
1) Paraphrase the question
Start your introduction by paraphrasing the question.
Question: One problem faced by almost every large city is traffic congestion.
What do you think the causes are? What solutions can you suggest?
Paraphrased question:
O ne of the most serious issues facing the majority of large urban areas is traffic jams.
Note my use of synonyms to replace key words in the question statement. You don’t have to replace every key word but do so where possible whilst ensuring that your language sounds natural.
2) Outline statement
Now we need to add an outline statement where we outline the two main points that we’ll cover in the rest of the essay, that is, the cause and the solution I chose earlier. Here they are again.
Cause – Too many cars on the roads. Why? – increasing numbers of people own cars, more convenient than buses & trains
And, this is one way to develop them into an outline sentence.
Outline statement:
The main reason for this is that there are too many private cars on the roads these days and a viable solution is to introduce more park-and-ride schemes.
So, let’s bring the two elements of our introduction together.
Introduction
![problem solution essay topic ielts problem solution essay topic ielts](https://www.ieltsjacky.com/images/xProblemSolutionIntroduction.jpg.pagespeed.ic.dIpmE4QodW.webp)
This introduction achieves three important functions:
- It shows the examiner that you understand the question.
- It acts as a guide to the examiner as to what your essay is about.
- It also helps to keep you focused and on track as you write.
The two ideas in your introduction will become your two main body paragraphs.
Main body paragraph 1 – Too many cars on the roads
Main body paragraph 2 – Park-and-ride schemes
How To Write Main Body Paragraphs
Main body paragraphs in IELTS problem solution essays should contain 3 things:
- Topic sentence – outline the main idea
- Explanation – explain it and g ive more detail
Main Body Paragraph 1
The topic sentence summarises the main idea of the paragraph. That’s all it needs to do so it doesn’t have to be complicated.
It plays an important role in ensuring that your ideas flow logically from one to another. It does this by acting as a signpost for what is to come next, that is, what the paragraph will be about.
If you maintain a clear development of ideas throughout your essay, you will get high marks for task achievement and cohesion and coherence.
We’ll now take the idea for our first main body paragraph and create our topic sentence.
Obviously, we’re going to write about the cause of the problem first.
Main body paragraph 1 – Too many cars on the roads
Topic sentence:
The number of people owning cars increases year on year, with most families now having more than one car.
Next, we must write an explanation sentence that develops the idea.
Explanation sentence:
Most people like the convenience of travelling at the time they want to rather than being restricted to public transport timetables, so they prefer to drive themselves around rather than taking the bus or train. This is despite the fact that they frequently have to sit in long traffic queues as they near the city centre.
Finally, we add an example to support our main point. If you can’t think of a real example, it’s fine to make one up, as long as it’s believable. The examiner isn’t going to check your facts. Alternative, you could add another piece of information to support your idea.
Example sentence:
Whenever I have to attend a meeting in the city, I always drive because it means that I can leave home when I want to rather than getting stressed about getting to the station in time to catch the train.
That’s the 3 parts of our first main body paragraph complete. Here’s the finished paragraph.
![problem solution essay topic ielts problem solution essay topic ielts](https://www.ieltsjacky.com/images/xProblemSolutionMainParagraph1.jpg.pagespeed.ic.VpIOZg0Pwq.webp)
We now follow the same process for our second main body paragraph.
Main Body Paragraph 2
Main idea 2 – Park-and-ride schemes
First, we write the topic sentence to summarise the main idea.
Topic sentence:
A solution that is proving successful in many areas is park-and-ride schemes.
Now for the explanation sentence where we expand on this idea.
Explanation sentence:
This is where you park your car for free in a large car park on the outskirts of the city and take a bus for the final part of your journey. The fee you have to pay for the bus trip is usually very small and this public transport system is generally very regular, running every ten minutes or so.
Finally, an example to support this point.
A survey carried out in the city of Exeter showed that the rush hour congestion decreased by 10% when the council set up a park-and-ride scheme to the north of the city. There was an additional drop of another 10% in traffic volume when a second scheme began operating to the south.
That’s the 3 parts of our second main body paragraph complete. Here’s the finished paragraph.
![problem solution essay topic ielts problem solution essay topic ielts](https://www.ieltsjacky.com/images/xProblemSolutionMainParagraph2.jpg.pagespeed.ic.m1KuAWv_yi.webp)
Now we need a conclusion and our IELTS problem solution essay is done.
How To Write a Conclusion
The conclusion is a summary of the main points in your essay and can generally be done in a single sentence. It should never introduce new ideas.
If you're below the minimum 250 words after you’ve written your conclusion, you can add a prediction or recommendation statement.
Our essay is already over the minimum word limit so we don’t need this extra sentence but you can learn more about how to write a prediction or recommendation statement for IELTS problem solution essays on the Task 2 Conclusions page.
The conclusion is the easiest sentence in the essay to write but one of the most important.
A good conclusion will:
- Neatly end the essay
- Link all your ideas together
- Sum up your argument or opinion
- Answer the question
If you achieve this, you’ll improve your score for both task achievement and cohesion and coherence which together make up 50% of the overall marks. Without a conclusion, you’ll score below band 6 for task achievement.
You can start almost any final paragraph of an IELTS problem solution essay with the words:
- In conclusion
or
- To conclude
Now all you need to do is briefly summarise the main ideas into one sentence.
Here’s a top tip . Go back and read the introduction to the essay because this is also a summary of the essay. It outlines what you are going to write about.
To create a good conclusion, you simply have to paraphrase the introduction.
Introduction:
Here is the same information formed into a conclusion. I’ve also added a personal statement at the end to link back to one of my example sentences. You don’t have to do this but in this case, I think that it rounds the essay off better.
![problem solution essay topic ielts problem solution essay topic ielts](https://www.ieltsjacky.com/images/xProblemSolutionConclusion.jpg.pagespeed.ic.fMrxWpM2Lz.webp)
That’s it. We’ve completed our essay. Here it is with the 4 paragraphs put together.
Finished IELTS problem solution essay.
![problem solution essay topic ielts problem solution essay topic ielts](https://www.ieltsjacky.com/images/xProblemSolutionEssay.jpg.pagespeed.ic.paBYwpla6s.webp)
Go through this lesson as many times as you need to in order to fully understand it and put in lots of practice writing IELTS problem solution essays from past exam questions. Practice is the only way to improve your skills.
Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?
- Click on the HTML link code below.
- Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.
Like this page?
More help with ielts problem solution essays & other task 2 essays.
IELTS Writing Task 2 – T he format, the 5 question types, the 5 step essay writing strategy & sample questions. All the key information you need to know.
The 5 Types of Task 2 Essay – How to recognise the 5 different types of Task 2 essays. 15 sample questions to study and a simple planning structure for each essay type.
Understanding Task 2 Questions – How to quickly and easily analyse and understand IELTS Writing Task 2 questions.
How To Plan a Task 2 Essay – Discover why essay planning is essential & learn a simple 4 step strategy, the 4 part essay structure & 4 methods of generating ideas.
How To Write a Task 2 Introduction – Find out why a good introduction is essential. Learn how to write one using a simple 3 part strategy & discover 4 common mistakes to avoid.
How To Write Task 2 Main Body Paragraphs – Learn the simple 3 part structure for writing great main body paragraphs and also, 3 common mistakes to avoid.
How To Write Task 2 Conclusions – Learn the easy way to write the perfect conclusion for a Task 2 essay. Also discover 4 common mistakes to avoid.
Task 2 Marking Criteria – Find out how to meet the marking criteria in Task 2. See examples of good and poor answers & learn some common mistakes to avoid.
The 5 Task 2 Essay Types:
Step-by-step instructions on how to plan & write high-level essays. Model answers & common mistakes to avoid.
Opinion Essays
Discussion Essays
Problem Solution Essays
Advantages & Disadvantages Essays
Double Question Essays
Other Related Pages
IELTS Writing Test – Understand the format & marking criteria, know what skills are assessed & learn the difference between the Academic & General writing tests.
- IELTS Writing
- Problem Solution Essays
- Back To Top
* New * Grammar For IELTS Ebooks
![problem solution essay topic ielts problem solution essay topic ielts](https://www.ieltsjacky.com/images/xGrammarEbookPart1.png.pagespeed.ic.gsVQG3kgl5.png)
$9.99 each Full Set Just $ 23.97
Find Out More >>
IELTS Courses
![problem solution essay topic ielts problem solution essay topic ielts](https://www.ieltsjacky.com/images/xIELTSSpeakingCourseWebsite.png.pagespeed.ic.zSMINacpZb.webp)
Full details...
![problem solution essay topic ielts problem solution essay topic ielts](https://www.ieltsjacky.com/images/xIELTSGrammarCourseWebsiteImage.png.pagespeed.ic.zcvHTJF4Yz.webp)
IELTS Writing Ebook
![problem solution essay topic ielts problem solution essay topic ielts](https://www.ieltsjacky.com/images/xEbookCoverWriting.png.pagespeed.ic.aamRWB_NDa.png)
Discount Offer
$7 each Full Set Just $ 21
![problem solution essay topic ielts problem solution essay topic ielts](https://www.ieltsjacky.com/images/xMockTest1PGNCompressed.png.pagespeed.ic.aVm3miEhzP.png)
Find out more >>
Testimonials
“I am very excited to have found such fabulous and detailed content. I commend your good work.” Jose M.
“Thanks for the amazing videos. These are ‘to the point’, short videos, beautifully explained with practical examples." Adari J.
"Hi Jacky, I bought a listening book from you this morning. You know what? I’m 100% satisfied. It’s super helpful. If I’d had the chance to read this book 7 years ago, my job would be very different now." Loi H.
"Hi Jacky, I recently got my IELTS results and I was pleased to discover that I got an 8.5 score. I'm firmly convinced your website and your videos played a strategic role in my preparation. I was able to improve my writing skills thanks to the effective method you provide. I also only relied on your tips regarding the reading section and I was able to get a 9! Thank you very much." Giano
“After listening to your videos, I knew I had to ditch every other IELTS tutor I'd been listening to. Your explanations are clear and easy to understand. Anyways, I took the test a few weeks ago and my result came back: Speaking 7, listening 9, Reading 8.5 and Writing 7 with an average band score of 8. Thanks, IELTS Jacky." Laide Z.
Contact
About Me
Site Map
Privacy Policy
Disclaimer
IELTS changes lives.
Let's work together so it changes yours too.
Copyright © 2024 IELT Jacky
All Right Reserved
IELTS is a registered trademark of the University of Cambridge, the British Council, and IDP Education Australia. This site and its owners are not affiliated, approved or endorsed by the University of Cambridge ESOL, the British Council, and IDP Education Australia.
![problem solution essay topic ielts ielts-material](https://ieltsmaterial.com/v3/images/homepage/desktop/ielts_material_logo.png)
An Ultimate Guide to Writing IELTS Problem Solution Essays
![problem solution essay topic ielts Janice Thompson](https://ieltsmaterial.com/v3/images/defaultuser.webp)
Updated On Nov 08, 2023
![problem solution essay topic ielts arrow](https://ieltsmaterial.com/v3/images/arrow.webp)
Share on Whatsapp
Share on Email
Share on Linkedin
![problem solution essay topic ielts](https://ieltsmaterial.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/IELTS-Material-Cover-pages-6.png)
Table of Contents
Introduction, identifying ielts problem solution essays, how to write a problem solution essay ielts, structure of problem solution essay, common mistakes to avoid in ielts problem solution essays, tips for ielts problem solution essays, problem solution essay ielts topics:.
![problem solution essay topic ielts ielts logo](https://ieltsmaterial.com/v3/images/homepage/desktop/ielts_material_logo.png)
Limited-Time Offer : Access a FREE 10-Day IELTS Study Plan!
The IELTS problem solution essays are a type of IELTS writing task 2 essay that asks you to discuss a problem and propose possible solutions. These problem solution essays are designed to assess your ability to identify, analyze, and evaluate problems, as well as your ability to develop and articulate effective solutions.
The IELTS problem solution essay topics can be drawn from a variety of sources and are based on real-world situations and issues. Therefore, to do well in writing task 2, it is important to be familiar with the range of IELTS problem solution essay topics.
Each essay type has a unique structure, so it’s important to identify the type of essay you’re writing before you start. Problem solution essays in IELTS are often worded as follows:
It is important to be able to identify the common synonyms, words, and phrases used in problem solution questions. Here are the key words and their synonyms used in the examples above:
- Problem : issues, resulting, situation
- Cause : reasons, why
- Solution : deal with, addressed, tackled, remedied, improved, measures taken, solved, prevent
However, you will mostly be asked to write about both the problem and its solution. The first part of the question will state the problem or cause, and the second part will ask you to identify solutions.
To plan and write a problem solution essay IELTS, you can follow these steps:
- Understand the question
The first step is to carefully read the question and understand what is being asked. You should identify the problem, the cause(s) of the problem, and the required solution(s).
- Brainstorm your ideas
Once you understand the question, take some time to brainstorm your ideas. What are the different aspects of the problem? What are the possible causes? What are the different solutions that could be implemented?
- Organize your ideas
Once you have a good understanding of the problem and its possible solutions, it is time to organize your ideas into a logical structure.
- Write your essay
When writing your essay, be sure to use clear and concise language. Avoid using complex sentences and jargon. You should also support your claims with evidence from credible sources.
- Proofread your essay
Once you have finished writing your essay, be sure to proofread it carefully for any errors in grammar, spelling, or punctuation.
Now that we have understood how to write a problem solution essay, let’s have a look at the structure of a problem solution essay.
Enroll in our free IELTS online coaching today and learn how to identify and write problem solution essays like a champ!
Let’s do an example problem solution essay to understand the above mentioned structure.
Problem Solution Essay Example with Structure
|
Introduction:
- Before you begin writing your problem solution essay, read the question and identify the problem/ solution.
- Note down the ideas that come to your mind naturally. For example, look at the table below.
Dumping of industrial wastes into the nearby water bodies. | They must be treated, purified and recycled. |
Dumping of non-biodegradable wastes in the environment. | Stop using plastics. |
- Choose one of the problems and discuss it in detail. Here’s an example:
- Problem : Dumping of industrial wastes into the nearby water bodies.
- Solution : They must be treated, purified and recycled.
- Wastewater treatment
- Biodegradable products
- Water bodies such as lakes, rivers etc
You should paraphrase the question and outline the problem and solution in your introduction as mentioned below:
Rise in sea water level is one of the serious threats posed on the environment due to global warming. The main reason for this is the letting out of industrial wastes in nearby water bodies and a reliable solution is waste water treatment. |
Body Paragraph 1:
The body paragraph 1 must be organised as follows:
- Main body paragraph 1: Letting out of industrial wastes in nearby water bodies
- Central idea: Industries are increasing in number.
- Explanation : There are no strict rules in place regarding the environment. So industries let out their wastes into the nearby water bodies such as lakes, rivers, etc which affects the respective eco-system and thereby leading to more serious issues.
- Example : As installing a wastewater treatment plant is an additional burden and is costly, it is easier to let the waste water into the nearby water bodies as nobody questions this.
The completed main body paragraph 1 will look like this :
Industries are increasing in number. There are no strict rules in place regarding the environment. So industries let out their wastes into the nearby water bodies such as lakes, rivers, etc which affects the respective eco-system and thereby leading to more serious issues. As installing a wastewater treatment plant is an additional burden and is costly, it is easier to let the waste water into the nearby water bodies as nobody questions this. |
Body Paragraph 2:
The body paragraph 2 must be organised as follows:
- Main body paragraph 2: Industrial wastewater treatment
- Central idea: Installing Industrial waste water treatment plants could be beneficial to the environment.
- Explanation : Industrial wastewater treatment illustrates the processes used for treating wastewater that is produced by industries into a by-product. The treated industrial wastewater may be reused or released to a sanitary sewer.
- Examples: There are proven records for reducing water pollution after wastewater treatment.
The completed main body paragraph 2 will look like this :
Installing Industrial waste water treatment plants could be beneficial to the environment and help in reducing global warming effects. Industrial wastewater treatment illustrates the processes used for treating wastewater that is produced by industries into a by-product. The treated industrial wastewater may be reused or released to a sanitary sewer. There are proven records for reducing water pollution after wastewater treatment. |
Conclusion:
- Make sure to sum up all that has been in the previous paragraphs.
- Use words like in summary, to summarise, to conclude, or as a conclusion, etc.
The final conclusion will look like this:
In summary, every industry should have a wastewater treatment plant installed to treat their waste water which will reduce water pollution and thereby benefit the environment. This will help reduce global warming and ultimately prevent rise in sea water levels. |
Therefore, the finished essay will have the following structure:
Rise in sea water level is one of the serious threats posed to the environment due to global warming. The main reason for this is the letting out of industrial wastes in nearby water bodies and a reliable solution is wastewater treatment.
Industries are increasing in number. There are no strict rules in place regarding the environment. So industries let out their wastes into the nearby water bodies such as lakes, rivers, etc which affects the respective eco-system and thereby leads to more serious issues. As installing a wastewater treatment plant is an additional burden and is costly, it is easier to let the wastewater into the nearby water bodies as nobody questions this.
Installing Industrial wastewater treatment plants could be beneficial to the environment and help in reducing global warming effects. Industrial wastewater treatment illustrates the processes used for treating wastewater that is produced by industries into a by-product. The treated industrial wastewater may be reused or released to a sanitary sewer. There are proven records for reducing water pollution after wastewater treatment.
In summary, every industry should have a wastewater treatment plant installed to treat their wastewater which will reduce water pollution and thereby benefit the environment. This will help reduce global warming and ultimately prevent rise in seawater levels. |
Looking for IELTS Writing Task 2 preparation books? Get your copy Now!
Following are some of the Common mistakes that should be avoided in IELTS problem solution essays
- Not understanding the difference between a problem and its causes.
- Trying to include too many ideas in the essay, without developing them fully.
- Not considering both sides of the argument equally.
- Not linking the problems to the solutions.
- Not being specific enough in the discussion of the problems and solutions.
Read: All Useful IELTS Writing Lessons & Websites
Here are some of the tips to follow while practicing or writing an IELTS Problem Solution Essays:
- Read and understand the instructions given in the question (sometimes the question might ask to write about the cause of the issue as well).
- Follow the word count (no less than 250 words)
- Plan the problems and solutions you wish to write about, before starting to write.
- Start the essay with an introduction paragraph and conclude it with a conclusion paragraph, with the body paragraph between the two.
- If you’re asked to write about both, cause and the solution, then you can write the cause in one body paragraph and the solution in the next body paragraph.
Pro tip: To avoid a low score in IELTS problem solution essays, focus on one or two problems and identify specific solutions. Explain the problems and solutions in detail, with examples.
Check out some of the Recent Writing Task 2 Essay Topics for IELTS 2023
Here are some sample IELTS problem solution essay topics:
Get the inside scoop on how to write a high-scoring IELTS problem solution essay from our IELTS expert in our free webinar. Book your Seat Now !
Also check :
- IELTS Writing tips
- IELTS Writing recent actual test
- IELTS Writing Answer sheet
- Free IELTS Writing Essay Evaluation and Correction Service
- IELTS Writing Practice Tests 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I write cause and solution in the same paragraph?
How to write a solution paragraph?
What is the difference between a Problem solution essay and a cause solution essay?
How do you analyze a problem solution essay?
How to identify a problem solution essay?
Practice IELTS Writing Task 2 based on Essay types
![problem solution essay topic ielts ielts img](https://ieltsmaterial.com/v3/images/article/cta-assets/cta-2-img-mob.webp)
Start Preparing for IELTS: Get Your 10-Day Study Plan Today!
![problem solution essay topic ielts Janice Thompson](https://ieltsmaterial.com/v3/images/defaultuser.webp)
Janice Thompson
Soon after graduating with a Master’s in Literature from Southern Arkansas University, she joined an institute as an English language trainer. She has had innumerous student interactions and has produced a couple of research papers on English language teaching. She soon found that non-native speakers struggled to meet the English language requirements set by foreign universities. It was when she decided to jump ship into IELTS training. From then on, she has been mentoring IELTS aspirants. She joined IELTSMaterial about a year ago, and her contributions have been exceptional. Her essay ideas and vocabulary have taken many students to a band 9.
Explore other Problem Solution Essays
![problem solution essay topic ielts In the Developed World, Average Life Expectancy is Increasing - IELTS Writing Task 2](https://ieltsmaterial-content.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/blogContent/blogContent/ielts/blog/banner-images//ielts_in-the-developed-world-average-life-expectancy-is-increasing_1724849981.webp)
Post your Comments
Recent articles.
![problem solution essay topic ielts Some People Think That Parents Should Teach Children How to be Good Members of Society Sample Essay](https://ieltsmaterial-content.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/blogContent/blogContent/ielts/blog/banner-images//ielts_some-people-think-that-parents-should-teach-children-how-to-be-good-members-of-society_1722510531.webp)
Raajdeep Saha
![problem solution essay topic ielts IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Essays](https://ieltsmaterial.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Raajdeeps-Cover-Image-2024-06-21T162748.510.png)
Kasturika Samanta
![problem solution essay topic ielts People have more than One Job at the Same Time – IELTS Writing Task 2](https://ieltsmaterial.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Akanksha-IELTS-Cover-Images-51.png)
Akanksha Tripathi
![problem solution essay topic ielts Ad](https://ieltsmaterial.com/v2/images/version2/ielts-1-on-1-ad.png)
IELTSMaterial Master Program
1:1 Live Training with Band 9 Teachers
4.9 ( 3452 Reviews )
Our Offices
Gurgaon city scape, gurgaon bptp.
Step 1 of 3
Great going .
Get a free session from trainer
Have you taken test before?
Please select any option
Email test -->
Please enter Email ID
Mobile Band 9 trainer -->
Please enter phone number
Application
Please select any one
Already Registered?
Select a date
Please select a date
Select a time (IST Time Zone)
Please select a time
Mark Your Calendar: Free Session with Expert on
Which exam are you preparing?
Great Going!
![problem solution essay topic ielts How to do IELTS](https://howtodoielts.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/new-logo.png)
IELTS Task 2 Question Types: Problems and Solutions
by Dave | Understanding Task 2 Writing | 0 Comment
![problem solution essay topic ielts IELTS Task 2 Question Types: Problems and Solutions](https://howtodoielts.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/newblogposttitles7-compressed.jpg)
I have collected here a variety of problems and solutions essays from the real IELTS test.
Enjoy and consider signing up for my Patreon Ebooks here .
The world has many towns and cities constructed in previous centuries that were more suitable and livable for people in those times than they are now.
What problems will this cause?
What can be done to solve these problems?
Read my full essay here.
Eco-tourism often involves visiting remote and fragile ecosystems, which raises concerns about the impact on local cultures and indigenous communities.
What problems can this cause?
How can these problems be resolved?
Get the full EBook here on Patreon.
In some parts of the world traditional festivals and celebrations have disappeared or are disappearing.
What problems is this causing?
What measures could be taken to counter this situation?
Read my essay here.
A rise in the standard of living in a country often only seems to benefit cities rather than rural areas.
How might these problems be reduced?
Today, many people do not know their neighbors in large cities.
What problems does this cause?
What can be done about this?
Nowadays more and more older people who need employment have to compete with younger people for the same jobs.
What are the solutions?
Many people who care for the elderly do not have enough time to look after them.
What are the problems related to this?
What are some possible solutions?
More and more people in developing countries are purchasing cars for the first time.
What do you think are the possible solutions?
Many people try to balance work and other parts of their life. However, this is very difficult to do.
What are the problems associated with this?
What is the best way to achieve a better balance?
Living in large cities today poses many problems for people.
What are these problems, should governments encourage more people to live in smaller towns, recommended for you.
![problem solution essay topic ielts](https://howtodoielts.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/newblogposttitles4-compressed-300x150.jpg)
Latest IELTS Writing Task 1 2024 (Graphs, Charts, Maps, Processes)
by Dave | Sample Answers | 147 Comments
These are the most recent/latest IELTS Writing Task 1 Task topics and questions starting in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and continuing into 2024. ...
![problem solution essay topic ielts](https://howtodoielts.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/newblogposttitles2-compressed-300x150.jpg)
Recent IELTS Writing Topics and Questions 2024
by Dave | Sample Answers | 342 Comments
Read here all the newest IELTS questions and topics from 2024 and previous years with sample answers/essays. Be sure to check out my ...
![problem solution essay topic ielts problem solution essay topic ielts](https://howtodoielts.com/wp-content/themes/divi-child/images/nothumbnailsblog.png)
Find my Newest IELTS Post Here – Updated Daily!
by Dave | IELTS FAQ | 18 Comments
![problem solution essay topic ielts cambridge ielts 16](https://howtodoielts.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/ssc-compressed-2021-06-19T165412.951-300x150.jpg)
Cambridge IELTS 16 – The Complete Guide!
by Dave | Cambridge 16 IELTS Cambridge 16 | 0 Comment
The latest Cambridge IELTS 16 book of past tests just came out and I have collected some tips and materials to help you get the most ...
![problem solution essay topic ielts 100 IELTS Questions](https://howtodoielts.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/ssc-compressed-2021-07-27T113936.958-300x150.jpg)
100 Real IELTS Essay Questions and Topics
by Dave | Sample Answers | 6 Comments
If you're interested in real IELTS writing essay questions and topics, you have found the perfect place! Scroll down to see the IELTS ...
![problem solution essay topic ielts Band 7.5 Essays](https://howtodoielts.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/newblogposttitles-compressed-1-300x150.jpg)
IELTS Band 7.5 Essays (with Corrections and Comments – Task 2)
by Dave | Real Past Tests | 7 Comments
Here are some past band 7.5 essays that I have marked for past students. Download the PDF and see the full corrections or ...
Submit a Comment Cancel reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Exclusive Ebooks, PDFs and more from me!
Sign up for patreon.
Don't miss out!
"The highest quality materials anywhere on the internet! Dave improved my writing and vocabulary so much. Really affordable options you don't want to miss out on!"
Minh, Vietnam
Hi, I’m Dave! Welcome to my IELTS exclusive resources! Before you commit I want to explain very clearly why there’s no one better to help you learn about IELTS and improve your English at the same time... Read more
Patreon Exclusive Ebooks Available Now!
- TOEFL Writing Correction Topics
- OET Mock Tests
- Writing Correction
- Speaking Mock Test
- Reading Course
- Listening Practice Tests
- FREE Practice Tests
- IELTS Writing Correction
- IELTS Speaking Practice
- OET Writing Correction
- OET Reading Course
- OET Speaking Mock Test
- TOEFL Writing Correction
- PTE Writing Correction
- OET Listening Practice Tests
- OET (Occupational English Test)
- PTE (Pearson Test of English)
- Essay Task 2
How to Write Problem Solution Essay in IELTS
- Essay Types
- Double Question
- Advantage Disadvantage
- Problem Solution
- Essay Length
![problem solution essay topic ielts problem solution ielts essay](https://edubenchmark.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/problem-solution-ielts-essay.png)
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
1.1 understanding the question, 1.2 example problem/solution questions.
- Essay Structure for Problem/Solution Essays
- 3.1 Identify key words and phrases
3.2 Organise your ideas
3.3 identify vocabulary, 4.1 introduction, 4.2 main body paragraphs, 4.3 conclusion.
- 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
- Double question
- Problem/solution
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
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.
Here are some example problem/solution questions. Try to work out what the aim is for each question:
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?
Also, read the following IELTS Essay Writing Guides
- IELTS Discussion Type Questions
- Double Question IELTS Essay Topics
- Opinion-based Task 2 IELTS Guide
- IELTS Advantage Disadvantage Essay Type
Overpopulation of urban areas has led to numerous problems. Identify two serious ones and suggest ways that governments and individuals can tackle these problems.
One problem faced by almost every large city is traffic congestion What do you think the causes are? What solutions can you suggest?
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?
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?
IELTS Writing
Ielts writing correction & grading.
![problem solution essay topic ielts edubenchmark](https://edubenchmark.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/subscribeWriButton.png)
Improve Your IELTS Score
- 24-Hour Turnaround
- Open 365 Days
- 1 Year Validity
- Handwritten Essays Accepted
![problem solution essay topic ielts banner](https://edubenchmark.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MobileIeltsWritingCTA.png)
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
Essay structure 2
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!
IELTS Speaking
Ielts speaking practice.
![problem solution essay topic ielts edubenchmark](https://edubenchmark.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/darkblueBtn.png)
- One-on-one Zoom Session
- Instant Feedback & Band Score
- Includes Part 1, Cue-card, Part 3
- Exam-based Speaking Topics
![problem solution essay topic ielts banner](https://edubenchmark.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/ieltsSpeakingBannerMobile.png)
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).
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:
- Childhood obesity
- 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
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
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:
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.
![problem solution essay topic ielts IELTS writing correction](https://edubenchmark.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/ielst-writing-correction.png)
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
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:
connected to childrens’ health 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. in the USA, for example, where children spend an increasing amount of time watching a TV screen. , 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. | |
there are a large amount of junk food advertisements on television aimed at children. 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 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. |
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:
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
Describe some of the problems that too much screen time can have for children, and what can be done to tackle them.
, governments and health experts around the world have become concerned about the general health of children. They are worried about problems caused by too much time spent in front of a TV, computer or mobile . This essay look at these problems in more detail and propose some solutions. One problem connected to childrens’ health is lack of exercise: in years , the amount of time children spend being in front of a screen has increased , and as a result, childrens’ fitness levels have . 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 for children that spend time being active. Another issue is that there are a large amount of food advertisements on television aimed at children. This means that children are being to buy unhealthy junk food and 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 these adverts at certain times of the day. If they did this, children would not be to these unhealthy marketing tactics. To up, there is no doubt that the problem of too much time is becoming increasingly serious for the youth of today. 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 , but also with the parents. / 19 |
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.
Leave a Reply Cancel reply
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
![problem solution essay topic ielts OET Writing Correction](https://edubenchmark.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/IELTSbanner.png)
- ielts writing
- ielts listening
- ielts speaking
- ielts reading
- IELTS Sample Reports
- IELTS Sample Essays
- IELTS Vocabulary
- IELTS Grammar
![problem solution essay topic ielts IELTS Speaking](https://edubenchmark.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/ielts-speaking-sidebar-banner7.jpg)
Exam Updates & Tips!
Signup for preparation and special offers!
You have successfully joined our subscriber list.
![problem solution essay topic ielts IELTS Exams logo](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=272,fit=crop,q=95/AoPEJBPjGwT0ayRx/logo-YrDL4yeKlgSZqVZj.png)
Problem Solution Essay IELTS: Topics & Sample Questions
Searching for Problem Solution Essay IELTS Check out these problem solution essay tips sample questions to increase your IELTS score
8/18/2023 2 min read
![problem solution essay topic ielts problem solution essay topic ielts](https://assets.zyrosite.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=812,h=344,fit=crop,trim=0;0;46.3728813559322;0/AoPEJBPjGwT0ayRx/download-9-mv05kaQe1LuQ5V6v.jpg)
Introduction
In the realm of IELTS writing tasks, the problem-solution essay stands out as a distinctive format that requires a strategic approach. This essay type necessitates students to identify a problem and propose effective solutions. It is an opportunity to showcase not only language skills but also critical thinking abilities. This article delves into the intricacies of problem-solution essays for IELTS, providing valuable insights, topics, and sample questions.
Understanding the Problem-Solution Essay
What is a problem-solution essay.
A problem-solution essay is an academic composition that addresses a specific issue by presenting well-structured solutions. This format is designed to assess a candidate's capacity to analyze complex problems, offer plausible remedies, and communicate ideas effectively.
The Structure of a Problem-Solution Essay
Introduction : Setting the stage by introducing the problem and its significance.
Problem Description : Clearly defining the issue and its implications.
Challenges Analysis : Examining the underlying causes and hurdles.
Solutions Proposal : Presenting feasible solutions with detailed explanations.
Evaluation of Solutions : Weighing the pros and cons of each proposed solution.
Conclusion : Summarizing the discussed problem and solutions.
Selecting the Right Problem
Identifying a suitable problem.
Before delving into crafting solutions, it's essential to choose a relevant problem. Opt for a topic that resonates with contemporary issues, ensuring there is ample information available to support your arguments.
Balancing Complexity and Feasibility
While selecting a problem, strike a balance between complexity and feasibility. An excessively intricate issue might lead to convoluted solutions, whereas an overly simple problem could limit your analysis.
Crafting Effective Solutions
Brainstorming for solutions.
Dedicate time to brainstorming potential solutions. Consider both conventional and innovative ideas to address the problem comprehensively.
Incorporating Realism
When proposing solutions, ensure they are realistic and practical. Far-fetched ideas might undermine the credibility of your essay.
Providing Detailed Explanations
Each solution presented should be accompanied by a thorough explanation of its implementation and expected outcomes. This showcases your ability to reason and articulate ideas effectively.
Sample Questions and Topics
Sample questions.
Question : In many countries, plastic waste is causing environmental harm. What are the solutions to this issue?
Question : With the rise of obesity, what measures can be taken to promote healthier lifestyles?
Environmental Pollution : Addressing air, water, and soil pollution through policy changes and public awareness.
Youth Unemployment : Strategies to create more job opportunities for the younger generation.
Access to Education : Ensuring quality education for underprivileged communities through innovative approaches.
The problem-solution essay in IELTS writing assesses your ability to dissect complex issues and offer practical solutions. Mastering this format requires a combination of critical thinking, language proficiency, and creativity. By selecting pertinent problems, formulating realistic solutions, and providing comprehensive explanations, you can excel in crafting impressive problem-solution essays.
Subscribe newsletter
Free IELTS lessons signup
![problem solution essay topic ielts home](https://ielts-up.com/images/home-img.png)
- Academic practice
- General practice
- Task 1 Academic
- Task 1 General
- Task 2 (essay)
IELTS Writing: problem and solution essay
In this lesson you’ll learn how to answer problems/solutions questions in IELTS Writing . This type of questions gives you an issue and asks you to describe some common problems associated with it and propose some possible solutions.
- See problem-solution question sample
- Learn how to generate ideas
- Learn band 9 answering strategies
- See full band 9 answer
Question sample
This is an example of problem-solution question in IELTS Writing:
Despite a large number of gyms, a sedentary lifestyle is gaining popularity in the contemporary world.
What problems are associated with this?
What solutions can you suggest?
How to answer the question?
Before starting to write your answer, you should think of 1-2 problems and 1-2 solutions, so you know what to write about. In our case:
Problems associated with sedentary lifestyle :
![problem solution essay topic ielts problem solution essay topic ielts](https://ielts-up.com/images/problem-solution.jpg)
- problems with backbone (osteoporosis, scoliosis)
Solutions :
- promote walking and cycling as safe and attractive alternatives to motorized transport
- promote visiting gyms and doing exercises
Now, after we’ve generated some ideas for our essay, it’s time to use them in our writing .
Remember : it’s not enough to simply state these facts, you should also extend the ideas in your writing.
Band 9 answer structure
Although there are many possible ways to structure your essay, we’ll use this band 9 answer structure that has been approved by many IELTS examiners:
Band-9 essay structure:
- Introduction
- Body paragraph 1 - problems
- Body paragraph 2 - effects
Let’s take a look at each of these sections in detail:
Introduction Write your introduction in two sentences:
- Sentence 1 - paraphrase the statement (you can use ‘nowadays/today/these days’ to start):
These days a sedentary lifestyle is becoming more and more popular despite a big number of sport facilities.
- Sentence 2 - say what you’ll write about in your essay:
This essay will discuss the main problems associated with this epidemic and propose some possible solutions to avoid them.
Body paragraph 1- problems
- Sentence 1 - summarise the main problems of inactive lifestyle:
The main problems caused by inactive lifestyle are obesity and various spine disorders.
- Sentences 2-3 - state and explain the first problem (you can also give an example). It’s very important to expand your opinion! Imagine that your examiner doesn’t know this subject at all and you have to explain everything in detail:
A growing number of body research shows that long periods of physical inactivity raise a risk of becoming overweight. This is because people burn fewer calories and easily gain weight.
- Sentences 4-5 - describe the second problem (as usual, expand your opinion). You can give an example and use linking words ‘ moreover’ , ’ what’s more’ or ‘ also ’ to start:
What’s more, a lot of studies show that so-called ‘sitting disease’ often results in posture and backbone problems. Due to constant sitting, person loses muscle tissue and curves spine, developing numerous spinal diseases. For example, it has been proven that about 80% of people experience backache at least once a week.
Body paragraph 2 - solutions
- Sentence 1 - briefly state the main solutions:
In my opinion, the best solution to this problem is promoting active lifestyle.
- Sentences 2-3 - write the first solution and explain it:
Firstly, millions of people stay less active because they use cars instead of walking. Therefore, an effective way to make people more active is to advertise walking and cycling as safe and attractive alternatives to motorized transport.
Moreover, inactive lifestyle is gaining popularity because nowadays a lot of people prefer passive rest to workouts in the gym. And the best way to avoid the hazards of unhealthy living is to obtain a regular dose of physical activity. Thus, promoting gyms and regular exercising would increase the level of activity.
Write your conclusion in 2 sentences by summing up the problems and solutions you’ve written in your body paragraphs:
In conclusion, leading a sedentary lifestyle causes a lot of health problems, including obesity and spinal diseases. The most effective solution is to increase the level of fitness among the society by advertising physical activity.
Band 9 answer sample
These days a sedentary lifestyle is becoming more and more popular despite a big number of sport facilities. This essay will discuss the main problems associated with this epidemic and propose some possible solutions to avoid them.
The main problems caused by inactive lifestyle are obesity and various spine disorders. A growing number of body research shows that long periods of physical inactivity raise a risk of becoming overweight. This is because people burn fewer calories and easily gain weight. What’s more, a lot of studies show that so-called ‘sitting disease’ often results in posture and backbone problems. Due to constant sitting, person loses muscle tissue and curves spine, developing numerous spinal diseases. For example, it has been proven that about 80% of people experience backache at least once a week.
In my opinion, the best solution to these problems is promoting active lifestyle. Firstly, millions of people stay less active because they use cars instead of walking. Therefore, an effective way to make people more active is to advertise walking and cycling as safe and attractive alternatives to motorized transport. Moreover, inactive lifestyle is gaining popularity because nowadays a lot of people prefer passive rest to workouts in the gym. And the best way to avoid the hazards of unhealthy living is to obtain a regular dose of physical activity. Thus, promoting gyms and regular exercising would increase the level of activity.
(268 words)
- Skip to primary navigation
- Skip to main content
- Skip to primary sidebar
- Skip to footer
![problem solution essay topic ielts IELTS Advantage](https://www.ieltsadvantage.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/ielts-advantage-logo-3.png)
IELTS Advantage
IELTS Preparation Courses
IELTS Writing Task 2 Problem and Solution Essay Lesson
![problem solution essay topic ielts problem solution essay topic ielts](https://www.ieltsadvantage.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-youtube-lyte/lyteCache.php?origThumbUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FPuO_N0KpgEk%2F0.jpg)
Problem Solution Essay
This lesson on how to write a problem solution essay will:
- discuss common mistakes;
- show you how to analyse the question;
- show you how to think of ideas;
- give you a structure that can be used again and again on all problem solution IELTS essays;
- describe how to write an introduction , main body paragraphs and conclusion; and
- give you a full band 9 sample answer.
Problem/solution questions are one of the most common IELTS Writing Task 2 questions on the academic paper. Despite being very common, many students fail to do well in these questions. This post will look at some of the most common mistakes and then take you through how to answer these questions step-by-step.
![problem solution essay topic ielts problem solution essay topic ielts](https://ieltsadvantage.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/IELTS-vocabulary.png)
Common Mistakes
- The most common mistake for problem solution essays is not expanding on your ideas and instead simply listing lots of problems and solutions. The examiner does not want a list of all the problems and solutions you can think of, and please don’t do this in the exam. Instead, if you look at how the exam is marked , the examiner wants you to pick one or two problems and solutions and then expand on them with explanations and examples. More on how to do this below.
- Another common mistake is writing about problems and solutions that are not directly linked to the question. You should be like a sniper when answering the question and only give very specific ideas rather than ideas that generally talk about the overall issue. This has a lot to do with how you identify keywords and micro-keywords in the questions which we will look at below.
- Lots of people think of good ideas for problems and then fail to link their solutions to these problems. Each problem should have a solution directly linked to it, or in other words, it should solve the actual problem.
- Finally, some candidates think of really good problems and solutions that answer the question properly and then expand their answers with explanations and examples, but they talk too generally. Instead, you should be thinking of specific examples and explanations. We will look at how to avoid this below.
Analysing the Question
This is one of the most crucial parts of answering any IELTS writing question. If you don’t take the time to think properly about what the examiner is asking you to do, then it is very difficult to answer the question correctly.
We analyse the question by thinking about three things:
- micro-keywords
- action words
Keywords are the words that tell us what the general topic is.
Micro-keywords identify which part of the general topic the examiner wants you to discuss. They often give an opinion, qualify the statement or talk about a sub-category of the bigger general topic.
Action words tell us what the examiner wants us to do.
Problem Solution Sample Essay
Global warming is one of the biggest threats humans face in the 21st Century, and sea levels continue to rise at alarming rates.
What problems are associated with this, and what are some possible solutions?
If we look at this question, we can see that the keywords are ‘ global warming ‘. This is our general topic. We will write about this, but we cannot write about any problems associated with global warming. If we do this, we have not answered the question properly. We, therefore, need to look at the micro-keywords.
The micro-keywords are ‘ humans ‘ and ‘ sea level rise ‘. So instead of writing just about the huge topic of global warming and any problems associated with that (such as increased storms, extinction of certain animals, erosion of soil), we have to talk about how particularly sea level rises will affect humans . If we talked about the problems affecting the ‘planet’ or ‘animals’ or the ‘atmosphere’, we would not be answering the question.
The action words are problems and solutions . Our task is, therefore, to write about that and only that. It does not ask our opinion about the disadvantages, advantages, or causes, just the problems and solutions. If we discussed the causes of sea level rise, we would not be answering the question.
For more information, go to effectively analyse an IELTS question .
How to Think of Ideas
![problem solution essay topic ielts problem solution essay topic ielts](https://ieltsadvantage.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/20-300x200.jpg)
Now that we know exactly what the question is asking us to do, we need to think of specific and relevant ideas. There are many strategies for thinking of ideas for IELTS task 2 questions TO THINK OF IDEAS FOR IELTS WRITING TASK 2 but for problem-solving questions; I like to use something called the ‘coffee shop method’.
Instead of brainstorming or mind-mapping- which take too much time and lead to irrelevant ideas in my opinion- you should pretend you are in a coffee shop with a friend and they have just asked you a simple question. In this case, it would be “What are the problems and solutions associated with sea level rise on humans?”
If you were talking to a friend about this, I’m sure you would have no problem thinking of at least 2 or 3 problems and solutions. This method takes you out of an exam situation and puts your mind into a more relaxed environment. Try it and see. If you don’t like it, try one of my other methods.
There are several problems and solutions, including:
Problem : flooding of people’s homes and businesses
Solution : build flood barriers or move to higher areas
Problem : loss of agricultural land and starvation
Solution : switch to more suitable crops
Problem : displacement of millions of people
Solution : move people in a planned and orderly way before the floods
Problem : groundwater undrinkable
Solution : build desalination plants
As you can see, I didn’t think of lots of problems and then lots of solutions. For each problem, you should think of a solution that directly solves this problem.
You now have lots of ideas, but now you must decide which ones to use. I always tell my students to pick the ones they know most about, i.e. that they can explain and give relevant examples.
![problem solution essay topic ielts problem solution essay topic ielts](https://ieltsadvantage.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IELTS-Writing-Task-2-Structures-300x300.png)
I advise my students to use a basic four-paragraph structure with all problem solution IELTS essays. Your four paragraphs should look something like this:
Paragraph 1- Introduction
Paragraph 2- Problems
Paragraph 3- Solutions
Paragraph 4- Conclusion
At a sentence level, your structure should look like this:
Introduction
1- Paraphrase question
2- Outline sentence
3- State problems
4- Explain first problem
5- Explain second problem
6- Example of second problem
7- State solutions
8- Explain solution to first problem
9- Explain solution to second problem
10- Example of solution to second problem
Conclusion
Sentence 11- Summary of main points in paragraphs 2 and 3
For more structures, check out our IELTS task 2 structures guide .
Now let’s look at each paragraph in more detail.
![problem solution essay topic ielts problem solution essay topic ielts](https://ieltsadvantage.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/write-IELTS-introduction-300x194.jpg)
The introduction will have two sentences: a paraphrase of the question and an outline statement.
Paraphrasing is simply saying the sentence again with different words but with the same meaning. We can do this by using synonyms and/or changing the order of the words.
Question- Global warming is one of the biggest threats humans face in the 21st Century, and sea levels continue to rise at alarming rates.
Paraphrased- Climate change is among the principal dangers facing people this century, and ocean levels are increasing dramatically.
As you can see above, I have used synonyms to change the words of the questions, but it still has the same meaning. The examiner will look for your ability to do this in the exam, so practising this skill is a good idea.
Our outline sentence is next, which tells the examiner what they will read in the rest of the essay. This makes it very clear to the examiner and makes the rest of the essay much easier to understand. You will, therefore, gain marks for coherence and cohesion.
Our outline sentence should look something like this:
This essay will first suggest that the biggest problems caused by this phenomenon are the loss of land and the flooding of homes and then argue that pollution reduction and building flood protection are the most viable solutions.
Our introduction will, therefore, look like this:
Climate change is among the principal dangers facing people this century, and ocean levels are increasing dramatically. This essay will first suggest that the biggest problems caused by this phenomenon are the loss of land and the flooding of homes and then argue that pollution reduction and building flood protection are the most viable solutions.
It should be noted that this introduction does not contain a thesis statement. This is because this particular question does not ask us for our opinion. However, IELTS problem solution questions sometimes do ask you for your opinion, and you should then include a thesis statement.
Problems Paragraph
Our problems paragraph will have this structure:
Sentence 1- State problems
Sentence 2- Explain first problem
Sentence 3- Explain second problem
Sentence 4- Example of second problem
State problems : The foremost problems caused by climbing sea levels are that land is being lost and peoples’ residences are often flooded.
Now that we have stated the problems, we must explain these. You should always consider your audience to be someone with no specialist knowledge in this area, and you, therefore, need to explain what everything means. Don’t assume that the IELTS examiner is educated and knows what you are talking about. These assumptions will stop you from writing what you need.
Explain first problem : As water levels rise, low-lying land is submerged, and many countries become smaller.
Explain second problem : Furthermore, millions of people worldwide live in coastal areas, and if the sea rises by even a few feet, they are inundated with water and lose their property.
Now we must give an example of what we are talking about. When we give an example, it should be as specific as possible.
An example of a very general example would be:
Lots of people in the world have experienced floods recently.
This is far too general to be considered a good example.
Example : The devastation brought about by this was clear for all to see during the 2011 Tsunami in Japan, in which millions of people were displaced.
This example is much more specific. Stating a place and/or date can help you make your examples more specific.
Our second paragraph will look like this:
The foremost problems caused by climbing sea levels are that land is being lost and people’s residences are often flooded. As water levels rise, low-lying land is submerged, and many countries become smaller. Furthermore, millions of people worldwide live in coastal areas, and if the sea rises by even a few feet, they are inundated with water and lose their property. This devastation was clear for all to see during the 2011 Tsunami in Japan, in which millions of people were displaced.
Now we must move on to our solutions.
Solutions Paragraph
Our solutions paragraph will have this structure:
Sentence 1- State solutions
Sentence 2- Explain solution to first problem
Sentence 3- Explain solution to second problem
Sentence 4- Example of solution to second problem
State solutions : Possible solutions to these problems would be to reduce the amount of pollution created and build flood barriers.
We now need to explain how our solution will help solve the problem. Again, do not assume that the examiner has any specialist knowledge of this topic, so you need to explain what you mean.
Explain first solution: If each person reduces their carbon footprint, the negative effects on the environment will be reduced, which will mean that the water level will stop rising.
Explain second solution : Furthermore, flood defences, such as dikes, dams, and floodgates, could be built along coasts and waterways, thereby stopping the water from reaching populated areas.
Example : The Netherlands is one of the most populated areas in the world and one of the most vulnerable to flooding. They have successfully employed various flood defence systems.
Our whole solutions paragraph will look like this:
Possible solutions to these problems would be to reduce the amount of pollution being created and to build flood barriers. If each person reduces their carbon footprint, the negative effects on the environment will be reduced, which will mean that the water level will stop rising. Furthermore, flood defences, such as dikes, dams, and floodgates, could be built along coasts and waterways, thereby stopping the water from reaching populated areas. The Netherlands is one of the most populated areas in the world and also one of the most vulnerable to flooding, and they have successfully employed various flood defence systems.
We have now answered the question and need to sum up what we have said in the conclusion.
![problem solution essay topic ielts problem solution essay topic ielts](https://ieltsadvantage.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/IELTS-Conclusions-300x300.jpg)
The conclusion should have no new ideas but instead should list the main points from the previous two paragraphs. You can also use synonyms in this paragraph to avoid repetition.
Conclusion : To conclude, stemming the rising tides caused by increasing global temperatures is one of the foremost challenges we face, and it will ultimately lead to some countries losing landmass and many of the world’s cities being left underwater, but possible solutions could be to protect our environment and to utilise the flood prevention techniques already used by countries like Holland.
Our whole conclusion for this problem solution essay will look like this:
To conclude, stemming the rising tides caused by increasing global temperatures is one of the foremost challenges we face, and it will ultimately lead to some countries losing landmass and many of the world’s cities being left underwater, but possible solutions could be to protect our environment and to utilise the flood prevention techniques already used by countries like Holland.
Problem and Solution Sample Essay
Here is the whole essay:
Climate change is among the principal dangers facing people this century, and ocean levels are increasing dramatically. This essay will first suggest that the biggest problems caused by this phenomenon are the loss of land and the flooding of homes and then argue that pollution reduction and building flood protection are the most viable solutions. The foremost problems caused by climbing sea levels are that land is being lost and peoples’ residences are often flooded. As water levels rise, low-lying land is submerged and many countries become smaller. Furthermore, millions of people all over the world live in coastal areas, and if the sea rises by even a few feet, they are inundated with water and lose their property. The devastation brought about by this was clear for all to see during the 2011 Tsunami in Japan, in which millions of people were displaced. Possible solutions to these problems would be to reduce the amount of pollution being created and to build flood barriers. If each person reduces their carbon footprint, the negative effects on the environment will be reduced and this will mean that the water level will stop rising. Furthermore, flood defences, such as dikes, dams, and floodgates, could be built along coasts and waterways, thereby stopping the water reaching populated areas. The Netherlands is one of the most populated areas in the world and also one of the most vulnerable to flooding and they have successfully employed various flood defence systems. To conclude, stemming the rising tides caused by increasing global temperatures is one of the foremost challenges we face and it will ultimately lead to some countries losing landmass and many of the worlds’ cities being left underwater, but possible solutions could be to protect our environment and to utilise the flood prevention techniques already used by countries like Holland.
I hope this post helps you with IELTS problem solution essays, and if you have any questions, please comment below.
![problem solution essay topic ielts problem solution essay topic ielts](https://ieltsadvantage.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IELTS-PREPARATION.png)
Next Steps
If you found this lesson useful and it has helped you write a problem solution essay, you should also check out our lessons on task 2 opinions essays , discussion essays and advantages and disadvantages essays .
Do you need me to correct your essays and give you feedback on them? Check out our essay correction service .
The best way to keep up to date with posts like this is to like us on Facebook. There are also lots of practice activities for you to do on the Facebook page.
About Christopher Pell
My name is Christopher Pell and I'm the Managing Director of IELTS Advantage.
I started IELTS Advantage as a simple blog to help 16 students in my class. Several years later, I am very humbled that my VIP Course has been able to help thousands of people around the world to score a Band 7+ in their IELTS tests.
If you need my help with your IELTS preparation, you can send me an email using the contact us page.
![problem solution essay topic ielts IELTS NINJA](https://ieltsninja.com/content/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/IELTS-Ninja-Logo.png)
Press ESC to close
![problem solution essay topic ielts problem solution essay ielts](https://ieltsninja.com/content/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/problem-solution-essay-ielts.jpg)
Problem and Solution IELTS Essay Topics: A List of Common Essay Topics to Guide You for the Exam
IELTS writing discusses a number of essay topics. From the topics that contend with your own views and one where you discuss different social problems. This is the only segment where you can compose your thoughts and views in an ordered way. Unnecessary to mention, this segment is evaluated very minutely and you need to be completely concentrated in order to score well.
One section that is very recurring in the writing section is the problem-solution style essay in IELTS. Here, you are offered a disturbing situation and are asked to recommend appropriate solutions to a particular situation.
Problem Solution Essay IELTS
Problem-solution essays are among the most important IELTS Writing Task 2 topics on the academic paper. While being so common, a lot of students are not doing well on these topics. This article will focus on some of the more common errors and then take you stepwise to answer certain questions.
Common Mistakes in Problem Solution Essay
- The most common error in problem-solving essays is not to build on your thoughts, but simply to describe a lot of problems and solutions. The interviewer does not require a list of all the issues and ideas that you might think of. Alternatively, the examiner wants you to select one or two problems and solutions and then elaborate on them with details and suggestions if you check into how the exam is graded.
- Writing regarding concerns and solutions that are not specifically related to the issue is another typical error. When addressing the question, you should be like a hunter and just offer very clear suggestions, instead of ideas that simply speak about the overall problem. In the questions that we will look at below, this has a lot to do with how you define keywords and micro-keywords.
Avoid these Mistakes
- Many people conceive of interesting ideas for problems and yet struggle to relate their solutions to these problems. The problem must have a solution that is specifically related to it or, in other words, it should fix the real problem.
- At the end of the day, many candidates dream of pretty interesting questions and ideas that answer the issue correctly and then extend their responses with explanations and examples, but they speak too commonly. Alternatively, you should ask about concrete cases and interpretations.⠀
Also Read: IELTS Writing Task Evaluation with Sample Answer: A Guide To Better Band Score
![problem solution essay topic ielts Banner](https://ieltsninja.com/content/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Crack-IELTS-in-30-Days-2.jpg)
Analyse the Question: Problem Solution Essay
This is one of the most critical aspects of addressing any written question from IELTS. If you don’t have the opportunity to think thoroughly about what the interviewer is expecting you to do, it is very hard to interpret the question accurately.
We evaluate the problem by worrying about 3 factors:
- Micro-keywords
- Action words
Keywords are the terms that tell us what the basic theme is.
Micro-keywords define which aspect of the general theme the interviewer needs you to address. They also offer an opinion, qualify an argument, or speak about a subcategory of a broader general topic.
The words of action teach us what the investigator needs us to do.
Problem Solution Sample Essay: Problem and Solution IELTS Essay Topics
Problem and Solution IELTS Essay Topics: Global warming is one of the biggest threats humans face in the 21st Century and sea levels are continuing to rise at alarming rates.
What are the problems involved with this and what are some potential solutions?
Part One: Problem Solution Essay IELTS
If we look at the problem, we see that the terms are ‘global warming.’ This is our core concept. We’re trying to talk about this, but we can’t write about any issues associated with global warming. When we do this, we haven’t answered the issue properly. Consequently, we need to focus on micro-keywords.
The micro keywords are ‘humans’ and ‘a rising sea level.’ But rather than only writing about the big issue of global warming and any issues associated with it (such as intensified hurricanes, extinction of many species, soil erosion), we need to worry about how especially rising sea levels could impact humans. Although, for example , we were concerned about issues involving the ‘earth’ or ‘animals’ or the ‘atmosphere,’ we may not have addressed the issue.
Also Read: Describe a Person Who is Very Open: IELTS Speaking Cue Card Sample Answers
Part Two: Problem Solution Essay IELTS
Words in action are problems and solutions. Therefore, our job is to write about it and that alone. It does not challenge our viewpoint or the drawbacks and advantages or the reasons, but the challenges and solutions. If we wanted to ask about the causes of rising sea levels, we would not be addressing the issue.
Rather than brainstorming or brainstorming ideas, in my view, take too much time and contribute to useless ideas-you can just imagine that you’re in a coffee shop with a friend, and they’ve just asked you a simple query. In this scenario, it will be “What are the challenges and approaches associated with the rise of the sea level on humans? ”
Part Three: Problem Solution Essay IELTS
If you were speaking to a friend about this, I’m sure you’d have no trouble thinking of at least 2 or 3 issues and solutions. This approach gets you out of the exam scenario and places your mind in a more comfortable environment. You’ve got a lot of ideas now, but now you’ve got to consider which ones to use.
Also Read: 10 Must-Follow IELTS Reading Tips and Tricks to Boost Your Band Score
Relationship Topics: Problem and Solution IELTS Essay Topics
- How can social media bullying be prevented?
- What is the best way to help someone who is depressed?
- What’s the best way to deal with manipulative and domineering people?
- How can you help a friend or roommate who is making poor life choices?
- How can you get out of a bad relationship?
- How can you move out of the “friend zone”?
- What is the best way for a woman to show a man she is interested? Should she ask him out?
- How has texting affected face-to-face relationships?
Social Problems: Problem and Solution IELTS Essay Topics
- How can we help homeless people in our community?
- How can we prevent people from dropping out of high school?
- What is the best way to prevent teen pregnancy?
- How can kids be persuaded not to experiment with illegal drugs?
- What is the best way to prevent deaths from drunk driving?
- How can teenagers be convinced to drive more safely?
- What can be done to prevent divorce?
- How can kids with divorced parents be helped to do well in school, have strong relationships, and build successful lives and marriages?
Athletes and Sports: IELTS Problems
- How can steroid use be limited in all sports (or one in particular)?
- Should college athletes be paid?
- How can colleges better handle the combination of education, athletics, and business?
- Do kids train too hard in athletics at young ages?
- What is the best way for a young athlete to learn a sport? (You might want to talk about a particular sport you know well).
- How can coaches best encourage their athletes to do their best?
- Think about your local sports team. What can be done to make that team more effective? How can the fans be made to support the team more?
- Pick your favourite sport. How can someone best prepare themselves to be excellent at that sport?
Also Read: 6 Tips for IELTS Writing Skill Enhancement: Get Your Desired Band Score
Education: IELTS Problems
- How can parents make virtual learning effective?
- How can we make education better for kids who have trouble in school?
- How can schools help the problem of childhood obesity?
- How can schools best serve special education students?
- How can schools allocate more money and resources for sports, fine arts, and other special programs?
- What should be done about misbehaving and disruptive students?
- What should be done to make gifted and talented education programs effective?
- How can we help kids who are in failing schools?
Family Life: IELTS Preparation
- How can parents best handle homework?
- How can parents handle their child’s cell phone and social media use appropriately?
- Should parents be held responsible for the obesity of their children? What should be done to help families with obese children?
- How can parents help their children have a positive body image and avoid eating disorders?
- What can be done about parents who push too hard for their children to achieve in sports, academics, fine arts, or another area?
- What can be done to increase the number of children who are adopted?
- How can we prevent young people from ageing out of the child welfare system without ever finding a family?
- What is the best way to help families who have a child with a mental illness?
We hope that this article will be a helping hand for your next IELTS exam. This section can be a tough one to tackle but if you keep your head calm and think wisely, you might easily crack this exam with a good band score. Don’t forget to try out the topics mentioned in this article. Practice 4-5 topics daily to become an expert in IELTS preparations. Always give mock tests before the exam to know your speed and time management
Best of luck!
Also Read: Describe Something You Enjoy doing with a Group of People: IELTS Exam Cue Card Topic
![problem solution essay topic ielts Banner](https://ieltsninja.com/content/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/1-Choice-for-IELTS-Online-Coaching.jpg)
These are some pretty common topics, and thank you for guiding us on how to write an essay.
![problem solution essay topic ielts problem solution essay topic ielts](https://ieltsninja.com/content/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Sakshi.jpg)
This was such an informative article. It helped me a lot to learn more about IELTS as an individual. Keep writing such blogs as they are a great help to people like us.
This article has so much information that is very helpful and important, can you also help with tips for other section?
Leave a Reply Cancel reply
![problem solution essay topic ielts Banner](https://ieltsninja.com/content/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/IELTS-1.jpg)
Share Article:
You might also like
![problem solution essay topic ielts](https://ieltsninja.com/content/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Describe-Something-Important-that-has-been-Kept-in-Your-Family-1.jpg)
Describe Something Important that has been Kept in Your Family: A Cue Card Sample Topic for IELTS Speaking
![problem solution essay topic ielts IELTS Exam Score](https://ieltsninja.com/content/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/IELTS-Exam-Score.jpg)
How to Use an IELTS Calculator? Calculate Your Overall IELTS Exam Score
![problem solution essay topic ielts](https://ieltsninja.com/content/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/What-is-a-good-IELTS-Score-1.png)
What is a Good IELTS Score? Is 7.5 a Good IELTS Score? Here’s All You Need to Know
Other stories, ielts reading passage for practice: list of important reading passage topics 2021, ielts exam preparation online: checkout the best books, preparation tips, exam fee & more.
![English en_US](https://ieltsninja.com/content/wp-content/plugins/translatepress-multilingual/assets/images/flags/en_US.png)
- Phone: +91 8466016171
- Whatsapp: +91 8208375580
- Email: contact@leapscholar.com
Problem Solution Essay IELTS: Topics & Sample Questions
- Last Updated On July 29, 2024
- Published In IELTS Preparation 💻
![problem solution essay topic ielts problem solution essay ielts](https://leapscholar.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/shutterstock_1316285915-min-1024x576.png)
Problem and solution essay IELTS or cause and solution essay IELTS is a common type of essay question asked in the 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 Content
Table of Contents
![problem solution essay topic ielts ielts](https://leapscholar.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/cta-team.jpg)
Excel in IELTS with India’s Top Online Coaching
Leap has helped more than 1 Lakh students achieve 7+ IELTS band.
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 solution essay IELTS, examiner 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
![problem solution essay topic ielts Problem Solution Essay IELTS](https://leapscholar.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/shutterstock_1906252684-min-300x169.png)
Problem Solution Essay IELTS 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 organisation 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 are 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 a Problem Solution Essay IELTS Structure
While structuring the essay in your head, make sure to use a proper approach to these questions. The steps to structure the essays are:
![problem solution essay topic ielts Problem Solution Essay IELTS: Topics & Sample Questions](https://leapscholar.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/IELTS-Masterclass-Mobile.png)
Consult IELTS Expert for a Free Personalised Learning Plan
Improve your IELTS speaking score with a 1:1 consultation.
Analyse the question thoroughly
Analysing the question is a crucial part of answering any IELTS writing essay questions. You can analyse 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 emphasising 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.
Explore all countries
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
Problem Solution Essay IELTS Pattern
A basic four-paragraph structure should be used to structure the problem solution essay IELTS. 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 task 2 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 and solution essay in IELTS are 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 generalised 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 have steadily risen 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:
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?
Problem Solution Essay IELTS
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 summarise, 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.
Problem Solution Essay IELTS is a type of question that includes problems for which you have to find solutions through a logical flow of thought. 40 minutes are given to complete the 250-word essay writing task. The structure of the essay for a problem-solving question includes an introduction, a 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 summarises 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.
Related Articles:
- Guide on How to Score 8+ Band in IELTS Speaking
- Covid-19 IELTS Essay
- IELTS Band Requirement for different Countries
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 regard 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 IELTS?
Ans. Problem solution essays and cause solution essays are highly similar. However, there is a subtle difference between the two. A problem solution essay question asks about the problem with regard to a particular topic, whereas the cause solution essay asks about the causes behind an issue. The problem is to be mentioned in both 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 that, 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.
Know More about IELTS
Ielts practice test material.
Know more about IELTS
Get free speaking practice samples.
- Describe a Skill That you can teach other people
- Describe a Place you Visited Where the Air was Polluted
- Describe a Famous Person that you are Interested in
- Describe a Course That You Want to Learn
- Describe a Person who Solved a Problem in Smart Way
- Describe a Prize That You Received
- Describe a Volunteering Experience You Have Had
- Describe a Piece of Good News
- Describe Something you Taught to Your Friend
- Talk About an Interesting Old Person you Met Recently
- Describe a Dinner you Really Enjoyed
- Describe a Story or Novel That Was Interesting to You
- Describe a Time When you Shared Something with Others
- Describe a Toy you Liked in Childhood
- Describe an Interesting Neighbour
- Describe a Competition You Would Like to Take Part In
- Describe an interesting activity that you remember enjoying most in your Primary School
- Describe Your Childhood Friend
- Describe an Object You Find Particularly Beautiful
- Describe a Place Where you are Able to Relax
- Describe a person you know who likes to talk a lot
- Describe a place where you would like to go to relax
- Describe a period when you were busy
- Describe a long-term goal you would like to achieve
- Describe a situation when you helped someone
- Describe a job you would not like to do in the future
- Describe a time when you used a map
- Describe a skill that you learned in your childhood
- Describe an unusual holiday you had
- Describe an exciting activity that you experienced with someone else
- Describe a person who is good at making people feel welcome in his/her home
- Describe A Time You Successfully Did Something Difficult
- Describe Something in Your Country That You Are Interested In
- Describe a Beautiful City
- Describe something you do regularly that helps you work and study better
- Describe a photo that you took and are proud of
- Describe a party that you enjoyed
- Describe a useful object in your home that you can’t live without
- Describe a good advertisement that you think is useful
- Describe an occasion when someone or something made noise
- Describe a sportsperson that you admire
- Describe something that you picked up that was thrown by someone else
- Describe a time that something changed your life in good ways
- Describe a successful person who you once studied or worked with
Get Free Reading Practice Samples
- William henry perkin reading answers
- Why zoos are good reading answers
- Bioluminescence reading answers
- Classifying societies reading answers
- Artificial artists reading answers
- Jargon reading answers
- The Origins of Laughter Reading Answers
- The Innovation of Grocery Stores Reading Answers
- All About the Otter Reading Answers
- The Triune Brain Reading Answers
- Saving the Soil Reading Answers
- Trans Fatty Acids Reading Answers
- A Disaster of Titanic Proportions Reading Answers
- Why Companies Should Welcome Disorder Reading Answers
- Book Review Reading Answers
- Tea Times Reading Answers
- Why are Finland's Schools Successful Reading Answers
- Intelligence and Giftedness Reading Answers
- Animal Minds Parrot Alex Reading Answers
- Crop Growing Skyscrapers Reading Answers
- Secrets of the Swarm Reading Answers
- Walking with Dinosaurs Reading Answers
- The Development of Travel Under the Ocean Reading Answers
- What's so Funny Reading Answers
- The Culture of Chimpanzee Reading Answers
- Clutter Bugs Beware Reading Answer
- Stepwells Reading Answers
- Glaciers Reading Answers
![](http://presentationhelp.xyz/777/templates/cheerup2/res/banner1.gif)
Get Free Writing Practice Samples
- Advantages and Disadvantages Essay with Sample Answers
- Agree and Disagree Essay with Sample Answers
- Problem Solution Essay Topic with Sample Answers
- Every year several languages die out
- Positive or Negative Development Essay with Sample Answers
- Honesty is the best policy essay
- Online shopping essay
- Environment essay topics
- Prevention is better than cure essay
Get Free Listening Practice Samples
- Family excursions listening answers
- Public library listening answers
- Hiring a public room listening answers
- Notes on social programme listening answers
- Accommodation request form listening answers
- Transport survey listening answers
- Mic house agency repairs listening answers
- Holiday rentals listening answer
- Job enquiry listening answers
- Homestay application listening answers
- Library information listening answers
- Free activities in the burnham area listening answers
IELTS Important Information
- IELTS Exam Date
- IELTS Exam Fee
- IELTS Modules
- IELTS Speaking Practice Test
- IELTS Writing Practice Test
- IELTS Reading Practice Test
- IELTS Listening Practice Test
- IELTS Test Centres
- IELTS Results
- Types of IELTS
- IELTS Pattern
- IELTS Exam Eligibilty
- IELTS Slot Booking
- IELTS Band Score
- IELTS Registration
- IELTS Books
- IELTS Preparation
- IELTS Practice Test
- IELTS Speaking Cue Card
- IELTS Speaking Part 1
- IELTS Writing Task 1
- IELTS Writing Task 2
- Task 1 Pie Chart
- Task 1 Table Chart
- Task 1 Bar Graph
- Task 1 Line Graph
- Task 1 Diagram
- IELTS Computer Based Test
- IELTS Paper Based Test
- IELTS One Skill Retake
- IELTS for UKVI
- IELTS Vocabulary
IELTS Test Centre and Dates in India
- IELTS Test Centre and Dates in Hyderabad
- IELTS Test Centre and Dates in Bangalore
- IELTS Test Centre and Dates in Chennai
- IELTS Test Centre and Dates in Amritsar
- IELTS Centre and Dates in Ludhiana
- IELTS Test Centre and Dates in Mumbai
- IELTS Test Centres and Dates in Ahmedabad
- IELTS Centre and Dates in Delhi
- IELTS Test Centres and Dates in Chandigarh
- IELTS Center and Dates in Pune
IELTS Coaching
- IELTS coaching in Chandigarh
- IELTS coaching in Chennai
- IELTS coaching in Hyderabad
- IELTS coaching in Ahmedabad
- IELTS coaching in Dehradun
- IELTS coaching in Bangalore
- IELTS coaching in Jaipur
- IELTS coaching in Laxmi Nagar
- IELTS coaching in Coimbatore
- IELTS coaching in Trivandrum
- IELTS coaching in Gurgaon
![problem solution essay topic ielts Avatar photo](https://leapscholar.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/cropped-cropped-avatar_user_4_1642684831-500x500-1-120x120.jpeg)
Kanika Singh
Kanika took a detour from academics for the corporate world. Now she works as a senior editor specialising in content creation, marketing, and strategy.
![problem solution essay topic ielts personality vocabulary ielts](https://leapscholar.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/shutterstock_1584036532-min.png)
Personality Vocabulary IELTS: About People & Personalities
![problem solution essay topic ielts ielts general academic](https://leapscholar.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/shutterstock_314380244.jpg)
IELTS Academic or General: Which is the Easiest Test?
![problem solution essay topic ielts IELTS Connectors](https://leapscholar.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/shutterstock_1906252684.png)
IELTS Connectors and Linking Words for 2024
![problem solution essay topic ielts cefr guide](https://leapscholar.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/shutterstock_1888815964.png)
CEFR Levels In IELTS: 2024 Guide to CEFR Levels For Language Proficiency Tests
Love this blog share the love, boost your ielts writing score.
![problem solution essay topic ielts](https://leapscholar.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/IELTS-Banner-Mobile-new-1.png)
Learn how to prepare for IELTS
- 2L+ Leap students sent abroad
- 2L+ students scored 7+ bands
Have Questions? Get Guidance to reach your Dream University
Connect with India's finest counsellors and biggest study abroad community.
Related Blogs
![problem solution essay topic ielts Subject and Object](https://leapscholar.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Vocabulary-min.png)
Subject and Object in English Language: Ultimate Guide
- September 4, 2024
![problem solution essay topic ielts cost of living in singapore](https://leapscholar.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Screenshot-2024-05-20-172304-min.jpg)
Cost of Living in Singapore 2025: Travel, Top Tips and Stay
- 11 min read
![problem solution essay topic ielts Letter of recommendation](https://leapscholar.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/LOR.jpg)
Letter of Recommendation (LOR) Samples For 2025: Best Example and Guidelines
- September 3, 2024
![problem solution essay topic ielts high salary courses after 12th Science](https://leapscholar.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/shutterstock_146762978-min.png)
Top 20 High salary courses after 12th science
- 12 min read
![problem solution essay topic ielts How to get into Oxford from India](https://leapscholar.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Oxford-University.jpg)
How to Get into Oxford University in 2025: Complete Guide!
- 15 min read
![problem solution essay topic ielts How to get into MIT from India](https://leapscholar.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/usa-flag.jpg)
How To Get Into MIT From India: Admission & Fees For Indian Students
- 13 min read
Popular Blogs
![problem solution essay topic ielts us doctor](https://leapscholar.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/shutterstock_538856332-min.jpg)
MBBS in USA 2024: Colleges & Cost of MBBS in USA for Indian Students
- March 4, 2022
![problem solution essay topic ielts problem solution essay topic ielts](https://leapscholar.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mid-shot-brunette-woman-holding-usa-flags-car-min.jpg)
Duolingo Accepted Universities in USA for 2025 Intake
- April 20, 2023
- 12 Min Read
![problem solution essay topic ielts problem solution essay topic ielts](https://leapscholar.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Students-in-us.png)
What is a STEM Degree: Courses List, Top Colleges & STEM Education
- March 14, 2024
![problem solution essay topic ielts Top 10 Universities in Germany for International Students 2024](https://leapscholar.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Germany-6-png-new.png)
MBA in Germany: Fees, Universities & Eligibility for Indian Students
- April 11, 2024
![problem solution essay topic ielts highest paying jobs in australia](https://leapscholar.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/pexels-olly-927451-min.png)
10 Highest Paying Jobs in Australia in 2025: Complete Guide!
- May 2, 2024
![problem solution essay topic ielts MBBS in UK](https://leapscholar.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/shutterstock_244075276-min.png)
MBBS in UK 2025: Colleges, Eligibility, Cost & Fees for Indian Students
- February 10, 2022
![problem solution essay topic ielts](https://leapscholar.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Base.png)
Crack IELTS with
7+ bands in 4 weeks.
![problem solution essay topic ielts](https://leapscholar.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Base-1.png)
Get Guidance to reach your
Dream university.
Exams Know-how
Problem Solution Essay IELTS: Sample Topic Questions
Introduction
Mastering the issue solution essay is critical for doing well on the International English Language Testing System ( IELTS ). This essay evaluates the linguistic skills and the ability to analyze complex problems and provide effective solutions. To succeed in the exam, one must grasp its structure and arrangement. This article will look at a range of problem solution essays from the IELTS examination, including environmental concerns, societal difficulties, and technical obstacles. By deconstructing these issues and proposing alternative answers, we hope to give readers the abilities and knowledge they need to approach problem-solving essays successfully. Let us dig into the domain of Problem Solution Essay IELTS and linguistic clarity required by the IELTS exam.
Understanding Problem Solution Essay IELTS
The Problem Solution Essay IELTS is essential, as it tests language competency and analytical and problem-solving ability. This essay style encourages applicants to identify essential concerns, provide possible remedies, and assess their efficacy. Mastering this essay style is critical for earning a good grade since it indicates a candidate's ability to handle real-world issues with clarity and coherence. Understanding the framework and subtleties of issue solution essays gives test takers the tools to excel in this exam section. Join Yocket today to engage in a vibrant exchange of ideas and experiences, empowering your IELTS preparation journey.
IELTS Food Vocabulary
Sample Topic Questions for Problem Solution Essays IELTS
Here are a few sample of Problem Solution Essay Topics:
Environmental Issues
- What are the primary sources of air pollution in metropolitan areas?
- How do vehicle emissions contribute to metropolis air pollution?
- How can industrial operations exacerbate air quality issues?
- How do building and infrastructure development affect air quality in metropolitan areas?
- What are the health effects of extended exposure to air pollutants?
- How do air pollutants impact ecosystems and biodiversity?
- What are the economic fees of air pollution-associated illnesses and environmental degradation?
- What steps may be made to promote sustainable travel while lowering vehicle emissions?
- How can society move to renewable energy to reduce air pollution?
- What laws and regulations are needed to enforce emission restrictions and monitor pollution levels properly?
Social Problems
- What constitutes several brand new maximum tremendous societal problems?
- How does homelessness affect people and communities?
- Which variables contribute to the continuation of urban poverty?
- How does unemployment impact social well-being and financial stability?
- What are the implications of uneven access to schooling and healthcare?
- How does prejudice against race, gender, or religion emerge in society?
- What barriers do marginalized groups experience while seeking jobs and social services?
- How does substance addiction impact people, families, and communities?
- How does psychological stigma impede people from getting help?
- How can societies foster social inclusion while addressing systemic inequalities?
Health and Lifestyle
- What are the number one reasons for lifestyle-related health troubles in contemporary society?
- How do eating regimens and vitamins affect your trendy health and well-being?
- How can physical exercise contribute to the prevention of chronic diseases?
- How can stress damage mental health and lead to lifestyle-related illnesses?
- What sociocultural influences impact smoking and alcohol drinking habits?
- What effect does healthcare service accessibility have on a person's health outcomes?
- What are the hurdles to addressing mental health concerns and raising awareness?
- What role does socioeconomic status play in influencing health inequalities and lifestyle choices?
- What measures may be used to encourage healthy habits and avoid disease?
- How can communities help individuals make beneficial lifestyle changes?
Technological Challenges
- What are the rising technological issues confronting society today?
- How does the fast growth of artificial intelligence affect career opportunities?
- What are the moral consequences of using biometrics and surveillance technologies?
- What consequences does cyberbullying have on human beings's intellectual health and well-being?
- What are the dangers of disinformation and deceptive records online?
- In what ways does the digital divide increase disparities in information and technological access?
- What steps may be taken to preserve data privacy and personal information online?
- How can climate change and environmental damage stem from technology?
- What obstacles do governments confront when regulating emergent technologies like blockchain and cryptocurrency?
- How can civilizations adapt to technological breakthroughs while minimizing their negative consequences for individuals and communities?
Tips for Writing Problem Solution Essays IELTS
Here are some helpful suggestions for writing Problem Solution Essay Topics:
Tip 1: Understand the Question
Carefully examine the essay prompt to determine the problem and the precise answers requested. Before you begin writing the essay, understand what is being requested.
Tip 2: Brainstorm Ideas
Spend some time brainstorming potential solutions to the challenge described in the assignment. Consider a variety of viewpoints and techniques to solve the issue successfully.
Tip 3: Structure Your Writing
Separate your writing into clean, cohesive paragraphs. Problem-answer essays often start with creation, then body paragraphs that discover the problem and possible solutions, and conclude with a precis of the principle factors.
Tip 4: Introduction
Start your article with a short advent that describes the subject and gives the historical past. Clearly explain the problem and briefly describe the remedies, an excellent way to be presented for the duration of the essay.
Tip 5: Body Paragraphs
Write one paragraph for each recommended solution. Present each solution clearly, with supporting information or examples to demonstrate its usefulness. Use transition words to provide a seamless flow between paragraphs.
Tip 6: Evaluate Solutions
Provide a critical examination of each offered solution. Discuss its viability, possible effect, and any disadvantages or restrictions. Wherever possible, compare and contrast various options.
Tip 7: Provide Evidence
Use pertinent data, such as case studies, statistics, or professional judgment, to support your claims. It enriches your writing and shows a deep comprehension of the subject.
Tip 8: Employ Formal Language
Throughout your article, have a formal tone using proper syntax and terminology. Avoid slang and too informal phrasing.
Tip 9: Conclude Effectively
Summarize the fundamental ideas of your essay in the conclusion. Restate the issue and stress the significance of executing the recommended remedies. Avoid including fresh information in the end.
Tip 10: Proofread
Proofread and revise your essay to ensure there are no grammatical or spelling problems and that your writing is clear. Make any required changes to ensure your essay is well-written and cohesive.
By mastering these principles, you may show off your analytical abilities and valuable solutions in your IELTS problem-solution essay. Are you looking for more help? Check out Yocket for professional advice and study tools to help you prepare!
IELTS Score For Different Countries: Latest Guide
IELTS Sample Problem Solution Essay Topics
With an improved reliance on automobiles, many cities suffer widespread visitor congestion and environmental troubles. What steps can be taken to remedy this problem?
IELTS Problem Solution Essay
The growing reliance on vehicles has had a negative effect on cities, resulting in debilitating site visitor congestion and expanded pollution tiers. To deal with these crucial challenges, a multifaceted technique must be used.
To start, enhancing public transit infrastructure is a critical approach. Cities can also inspire commuters to use general delivery instead of personal motors by investing in extending and upgrading bus and subway networks. Further techniques to improve visitor flow and discourage automobile usage include implementing special bus lanes and visitor pricing plans.
In addition to enhancing public transit, encouraging exchange types of mobility is critical. Congestion is lessened, and a more fit, extra sustainable urban environment is promoted by encouraging foot and bicycling by constructing motorcycle lanes and pedestrian-pleasant infrastructure. Furthermore, boosting carpooling and ridesharing programs can considerably reduce the number of cars on the street, easing the congestion of site visitors.
Adopting strict environmental legislation is crucial in fighting pollutants and fixing transportation infrastructure. Implementing emission regulations for automobiles and industry and investing in renewable electricity alternatives can help lessen air pollution and the lousy fitness effects caused by vehicle emissions.
Furthermore, promoting a societal exchange closer to sustainable transportation behaviors is essential. Educating the public about the detrimental outcomes of excessive driving on the environment and human health can foster a feeling of duty in human beings and encourage them to regulate their conduct.
In precis, improving public transportation infrastructure, encouraging opportunity transportation, implementing environmental laws, and fostering a sustainable mindset among many of the population are all essential additives of a comprehensive method to reduce site visitor congestion and pollution in urban regions. By implementing those steps, cities can create cleaner, greener, and more liveable metropolitan surroundings.
With the growth of fast fashion, the style enterprise is under fire for its environmental and ethical implications. What efforts can be applied to mitigate the harmful effects of quick fashion?
The growth of fast style has fueled unheard-of consumerism, resulting in detrimental environmental and ethical consequences for the fashion enterprise. Concentrated attempts must be made to regulate the existing fashion paradigm to address these critically demanding situations.
One viable solution is to promote sustainable style methods. Encouraging clients to select ethically synthetic, ecologically friendly clothing labels can lessen the fashion industry's environmental effects. Furthermore, enacting laws that praise environmentally friendly materials, ethical labor requirements, and different sustainable production methods can promote a more excellent conscientious method to introduce garb.
Aside from selling sustainable fashion, increasing customer attention is essential. Educating customers about rapid style's environmental and social outcomes through educational tasks and evident labeling may help them make extra knowledgeable purchasing decisions. Furthermore, organizing a tradition of aware consumerism and assisting thoughtful dressers in restoring clothes, upcycling, and swapping can help lessen the demand for immediate fashion and create a sustainable style enterprise.
Furthermore, regulatory measures can play an essential role in mitigating the damaging consequences of rapid fashion. The environmental harm produced using the style industry can be lessened by implementing stronger laws governing pollutant control and waste control in fashion manufacturing facilities. Furthermore, shielding garment people's rights and enhancing their fashionable dwelling may be finished by imposing legal labor guidelines and advocating for fair pay and working conditions.
In the end, addressing the environmental and ethical issues created with a speedy style necessitates a multidimensional method consisting of sustainable manufacturing strategies, customer schooling, and legal guidelines and guidelines. The style of commercial enterprise may additionally flow toward a greater ethical and sustainable destiny by imposing those fixes, shielding the welfare of humans and the surroundings.
In conclusion, understanding the problem solution essay topics for the IELTS exam is critical for success and a good score. Understanding the framework, brainstorming alternatives, and successfully arranging your essay allow you to approach complicated challenges and give realistic answers. Remember to support your points with proof, critically assess solutions, and write your essay formally. With careful practice and preparation, you can successfully tackle any issue and essay subject that may arise on the IELTS exam. Consider using sites such as Yocket to help you prepare more. Yocket's professional assistance and extensive study tools may help you flourish in your IELTS endeavors and reach your target score.
FAQ's on Problem Solution Essay IELTS
What is the IELTS examination?
The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is a standardized exam used to decide the language competency of a non-local English audio system. It is widely diagnosed using universities, businesses, and immigration officers internationally.
What are the numerous modules of the IELTS exam?
The IELTS exam has four sections: listening, studying, writing, and talking. Different language skills, including writing capability, spoken English competence, reading comprehension, and listening comprehension, are assessed in every module.
How are IELTS exams graded?
The IELTS exam is evaluated on a scale of 0 to 9. Each module is assessed separately, and the total band score is derived by averaging the results from all four modules. Band scores are rounded to the closest half-band (6.5, 7.0, or 7.5).
What is the best way to be ready for the IELTS?
Preparing for the IELTS exam includes being familiar with the take-a-look-at-layout, practicing sample questions, and strengthening your English language abilities. You may join IELTS coaching instructions, get an entry to review materials from reputable IELTS websites, and take sample assessments to record your progress.
Where can I take the IELTS examination?
The IELTS examination gives an authorized look at facilities in cities globally. The official IELTS or authorized take-a-look-at-center websites offer a listing of take-a-look-at facilities and permit you to sign up for the examination online.
More Topics
Top Premium Admits
Columbia University
![problem solution essay topic ielts students-admitted](https://yocket.com/BookmarkFillPurple.png)
Yocketers Admitted
![problem solution essay topic ielts students-admitted](https://yocket.com/DollarFillSlant.png)
Scholarships granted
Sharwari Bhosale
Cornell University
Atharva Thodge
New York University
Shravan Khunti
University of California, Los Angeles
Prateeka Rawat
Johns Hopkins University
Kaustubh Rai
University of Washington
![problem solution essay topic ielts university-image](https://yocket.com/_ipx/_/https://d15gkqt2d16c1n.cloudfront.net/images/universities/backgrounds/washington_university.jpg)
Neeharika Eddula
University of Pennsylvania
John Harshith
University of Toronto
Meghamala Dash
Duke University
![problem solution essay topic ielts university-image](https://yocket.com/_ipx/_/https://d15gkqt2d16c1n.cloudfront.net/images/universities/backgrounds/duke_university.jpg)
Varun Bhardwaj
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
![problem solution essay topic ielts university-image](https://yocket.com/_ipx/_/https://d15gkqt2d16c1n.cloudfront.net/images/universities/backgrounds/university_of_michigan.jpg)
Romil Gupta
University of California, San Diego
![problem solution essay topic ielts university-image](https://yocket.com/_ipx/_/https://d15gkqt2d16c1n.cloudfront.net/images/universities/backgrounds/ucsd.jpg)
Harshit Timmanagoudar
The University of Chicago
![problem solution essay topic ielts university-image](https://yocket.com/_ipx/_/https://d15gkqt2d16c1n.cloudfront.net/images/universities/backgrounds/The-University-of-Chicago-bg.jpg)
Northwestern University
![problem solution essay topic ielts university-image](https://yocket.com/_ipx/_/https://d15gkqt2d16c1n.cloudfront.net/images/universities/backgrounds/northwestern_university.jpg)
The University of Edinburgh
Nandita Shekar
Articles you might like
The Indian Dream To Go For Higher Studies Abroad?
Hold all the aces before you depart for your higher studies
What After SAT / ACT Exam? | Things to do for Studies Abroad
Upcoming Events
Scholarships and Other Funding Strategies 2025
June 15th, 7:00 pm IST | 1hr
Fireside chat with Brown uni admitted student
June 21st, 3:00 pm IST | 1hr
Looking for Funding options: Scholarships, RA & TA are the way forward!
July 2nd, 5:00 pm IST | 1hr
- IELTS Scores
- Life Skills Test
- Find a Test Centre
- Alternatives to IELTS
- General Training
- Academic Word List
- Topic Vocabulary
- Collocation
- Phrasal Verbs
- Writing eBooks
- Reading eBook
- All eBooks & Courses
- IELTS Writing Task 2
IELTS Problem Solution Essays
Problem solution essays are a type of essay question sometimes given to you in the test.
In this type of essay you need to discuss the problems with regards to a particular topic and then suggest possible solutions to these problems.
You can also watch a video of this lesson:
![problem solution essay topic ielts problem solution essay topic ielts](https://img.youtube.com/vi/vrcWYGHGbE4/hqdefault.jpg)
One of the first things you want to make sure that you are able to do is identfy one of these questions when it arises.
Here are some examples of this type of question.
Examples of Problem Solution Essay Questions:
Overpopulation of urban areas has led to numerous problems.
Identify one or two serious ones and suggest ways that governments and individuals can tackle these problems.
Nowadays many people have access to computers on a wide basis and a large number of children play computer games.
What are the negative impacts of playing computer games and what can be done to minimize the bad effects?
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?
In the developed world, average life expectancy is increasing.
What problems will this cause for individuals and society?
Suggest some measures that could be taken to reduce the impact of ageing populations.
An important note. Some essays ask for reasons and solutions, not problems and solutions. Writing about a reason (or cause) is not the same as writing about a problem.
Check these model essays to see the difference.
IELTS Problem Solution Essay Example
In order to understand these types of problem solution essays further and how to organize your writing, we'll look at a problem solution example essay:
Model Answer
The enormous growth in the use of the internet over the last decade has led to radical changes to the way that people consume and share information. Although serious problems have arisen as a result of this, there are solutions.
One of the first problems of the internet is the ease with which children can access potentially dangerous sites. For example, pornography sites are easily accessible to them because they can register with a site and claim to be an adult. There is no doubt that this affects their thoughts and development, which is a negative impact for the children and for society. Another major problem is the growth of online fraud and hacking. These days, there are constant news stories about government and company websites that have been hacked, resulting in sensitive information falling into the hands of criminals.
It is important that action is taken to combat these problems. Governments should ensure that adequate legislation and controls are in place that will prevent young people from accessing dangerous sites, such as requiring more than simply confirming that you are an adult to view a site. Parents also have a part to play. They need to closely monitor the activities of their children and restrict their access to certain sites, which can now be done through various computer programs. Companies must also improve their onsite IT security systems to make fraud and hacking much more difficult by undertaking thorough reviews of their current systems for weaknesses.
To conclude, the internet is an amazing technological innovation that has transformed people’s lives, but not without negative impacts. However, with the right action by individuals, governments and businesses, it can be made a safe place for everyone.
(285 words)
Writing about Problems
From the problem solution essay, look at the problems paragraph, and answer the following questions (then click on the link below to see the answers):
- How many problems are discussed?
- What are they?
- What expressions are used to introduce the problems?
- How are the problems illustrated further?
- What results are discussed for each problem?
Show / hide answers
1) How many problems are discussed?
2) What are they?
children can access potentially dangerous sites growth of online fraud and hacking
3) What expressions are used to introduce the problems?
One of the first problems of the internet is... Another major problem is...
4) How are the problems illustrated further?
For example, pornography sites are easily accessible to them because they can register with a site and claim to be an adult. These days, there are constant news stories about government and company websites that have been hacked.
5) What results are discussed for each problem?
There is no doubt that this affects their thoughts and development, which is a negative impact for the children and for society.
...resulting in sensitive information falling into the hands of criminals.
Your answers to these questions should tell you a lot about how to plan and organize a problem paragraph.
You only need two or three problems as remember you do not have much time and you need to explain the problems.
When you brainstorm your ideas for problem solution essays, think about (a) what the problem is (b) how you will explain it (c) and what the effect is . Your paragraph will then follow this pattern.
Here is an example of the brainstorming for this paragraph:
Problem 1: children can access potentially dangerous sites
- Explanation / Example: Pornography sites
- Result: Affects thought & development - negative for children & society
Problem 2: growth of online fraud and hacking
- Explanation / Example: Evident from the constant news stories
- Result: Criminals get sensitive information
Here they are illustrated in the paragraph, with the introductory expressions underlined:
One of the first problems of the internet is the ease with which children can access potentially dangerous sites . For example, pornography sites are easily accessible to them because they can register with a site and claim to be an adult . There is no doubt that this affects their thoughts and development, which is a negative impact for the children and for society . Another major problem is the growth of online fraud and hacking . These days, there are constant news stories about government and company websites that have been hacked , resulting in sensitive information falling into the hands of criminals.
Writing about Solutions
Answer the following questions about the solutions paragraph:
- How many solutions are given?
- What three different groups of people does the writer say are responsble for these solutions?
- How would the solutions be implemented?
- What three modal verb structures are used to make the suggestions?
1) How many solutions are given?
adequate legislation and controls monitor the activities of children / restrict access improve company IT security systems
3) What three different groups of people does the writer say are responsble for these solutions?
Governments Parents Companies
Stricter criteria for accessing sites Using computer programs Reviewing current IT systems for weaknesses
5) What three modal verb structures are used to make the suggestions?
should need to must
Your answers to these questions provide you with some key tips on writing a solutions paragraph. Some of these points are now explained further.
The people involved
When you come to brainstorm your solutions, think of the key 'actors' who are involved. It is usually governments and individuals in some way or another.
There may be another group specifically realted to the topic. For example, in this case it is companies and parents. If you are discussing crime it could be the police. If it is violence on TV it could be TV and film producers.
You can then brainstorm your ideas under each 'group' and organize them in the same way.
Developing your solutions
Also, try to make sure your solutions are not too simplistic. It's all too easy to make sweeping generalizations about what people can do. For example, look at this idea:
The government should introduce stricter laws.
It it common to see such statements in IELTS problem solution essays with no further explantion. Give more detail about how or why this would work. For example:
Governments should ensure that adequate legislation and controls are in place that will prevent young people from accessing dangerous sites, such as requiring more than simply confirming that you are an adult to view a site.
Some specific detail has now been given on how this solution could work.
Modal Verbs
Modal verbs can be used to make suggestions in problem solution essays. These are usually found in solutions paragraphs.
Check out this grammar lesson if you are unsure how to use modal verbs .
Here again is a plan for the problem solution essay for the solutions paragraph:
Solution 1: Governments
- Idea: Adequate legislation and controls for young people
- How: More complex website access criteria
Solution 2: Parents
- Idea: Monitor children and restrict access
- How: Use a computer program
Solution 3: Companies
- Idea: Improve IT security systems
- How: Review current systems in place
Here is the paragraph again. Note how it follows the plan and the clear topic sentence that tells the reader the essay is moving on to discuss solutions (modals verbs are underlined):
It is important that action is taken to combat these problems. Governments should ensure that adequate legislation and controls are in place that will prevent young people from accessing dangerous sites , such as requiring more than simply confirming that you are an adult to view a site . Parents also have a part to play. They need to closely monitor the activities of their children and restrict their access to certain sites , which can now be done through various computer programs. Companies must also improve their onsite IT security systems to make fraud and hacking much more difficult by undertaking thorough reviews of their current systems for weaknesses.
More Task 2 IELTS Lessons:
![problem solution essay topic ielts problem solution essay topic ielts](https://www.ieltsbuddy.com/ielts-fb.jpg)
How to Identify the Topic of an IELTS Essay Question
In IELTS you must identify the topic of your essay as this is a key to making sure your essay is on topic.
Thesis Statement Tips for IELTS Essays
Your thesis statement in an IELTS essay should be written quickly and concisely. Use these tips to do that.
Can you use Personal Pronouns in Essays for IELTS?
Learn how to use personal pronouns in essays for IELTS correctly. Can you use "I", "we" and "you"?
Improving Writing Coherence for IELTS essays
25% of the writing grade is on how you organise your essay so this lesson shows you how to improve your writing coherence.
The 3 Types of IELTS Opinion Essays in IELTS
IELTS opinion essays in IELTS can be placed into three types. This lesson explains the different types and how to analyse these essay questions.
Writing an IELTS Essay Introduction
Tips on how to write an introduction for an IELTS essay introduction in a quick and easy way.
IELTS Music Essay: Understanding a Complex Question
An IELTS essay about music is used to show you how to answer a more complex IELTS essay question that does not have a clear 'task' given to you.
Paragraph Writing for IELTS: Building strong arguments
This paragraph writing lesson provides tips on constructing the best paragraphs for your IELTS essay.
Tips on How to Score IELTS Band 8 in Writing and Speaking
To score IELTS Band 8 you need to understand exactly what is in the IELTS Band Descriptors for an 8 for writing and speaking first.
![problem solution essay topic ielts problem solution essay topic ielts](https://www.ieltsbuddy.com/images/vintage-phone.jpg)
IELTS Task Response - 25% of your essay grade
The IELTS Task Response criteria in the scoring makes up 25% of your band score for your essay.
Using Pronouns to Improve IELTS Essay Coherency
Find out how to use pronouns to improve your coherency for IELTS task 2 essays.
Transitional Phrases for Essays
Learn transitional phrases for essays to get a band 7 or higher in your IELTS writing for coherence and cohesion.
Writing an IELTS Essay Conclusion
The IELTS essay conclusion is the final part of your IELTS essay. This lesson guides you on how to write a conclusion quickly but effectively.
How to use brainstorming and planning to generate essay ideas.
Brainstorming and planning is a key step in developing your IELTS essay. This lesson has tips on how to coming up with ideas and organising them.
![problem solution essay topic ielts problem solution essay topic ielts](https://www.ieltsbuddy.com/images/ielts-examiner-marking.jpg)
Generating ideas for IELTS essays for writing task 2
Generating ideas for IELTS essays for writing task 2 can be difficult but complex ideas are not expected.
How to Identify the Task in an IELTS Essay
Learn how to identify the task in an IELTS task 2 essay question. This is one of the most important steps in responding to an essay question.
How to Write an IELTS Essay: The key steps
Learn key steps on how to write an IELTS Essay. This guides you on how to write a great essay plus other lessons to improve your writing skills.
Using Substitution in IELTS to Improve Writing Coherency
You can use substitution in your IELTS essays in order to improve coherency and coherence.
Requirements for IELTS Band 7 in Writing
Getting to an IELTS Band 7 is a struggle for many candidates. This lesson explains exactly what you have to do to reach this band score.
IELTS Advantage Disadvantage Essay Tips and Strategies
An advantage disadvantage essay is one type of essay that you may get in the test. This lesson shows how to write a pros cons essay.
Any comments or questions about this page or about IELTS? Post them here. Your email will not be published or shared.
Band 7+ eBooks
"I think these eBooks are FANTASTIC!!! I know that's not academic language, but it's the truth!"
Linda, from Italy, Scored Band 7.5
![ielts buddy ebooks ielts buddy ebooks](https://www.ieltsbuddy.com/images/ielts-buddy-ebooks.jpeg)
Bargain eBook Deal! 30% Discount
![IELTS Writing eBooks Package IELTS Writing eBooks Package](https://www.ieltsbuddy.com/images/ielts-writing-ebooks.jpg)
All 4 Writing eBooks for just $25.86 Find out more >>
IELTS Modules:
Other resources:.
- All Lessons
- Band Score Calculator
- Writing Feedback
- Speaking Feedback
- Teacher Resources
- Free Downloads
- Recent Essay Exam Questions
- Books for IELTS Prep
- Useful Links
![problem solution essay topic ielts problem solution essay topic ielts](https://www.ieltsbuddy.com/images/grammar-wiz.jpg)
Recent Articles
![problem solution essay topic ielts RSS](https://www.ieltsbuddy.com/objects/rss.png)
IELTS Essay: Living with Climate Change
Aug 23, 24 02:37 AM
Grammar in IELTS Listening
Aug 22, 24 02:54 PM
IELTS Line Graph: Governments Expenditure on Research
Jul 23, 24 01:27 PM
![problem solution essay topic ielts The graph gives information about U.S. government spending on research between 1980 and 2008.](https://www.ieltsbuddy.com/images/ielts-line-graph-governments-expenditure-on-research-21965632.jpg)
Important pages
IELTS Writing IELTS Speaking IELTS Listening IELTS Reading All Lessons Vocabulary Academic Task 1 Academic Task 2 Practice Tests
Connect with us
![problem solution essay topic ielts problem solution essay topic ielts](https://www.ieltsbuddy.com/images/youtube-logo.png)
Before you go...
30% discount - just $25.86 for all 4 writing ebooks.
![IELTS Writing Bundle IELTS Writing Bundle](https://www.ieltsbuddy.com/images/ielts-writing-package.jpg)
Copyright © 2022- IELTSbuddy All Rights Reserved
IELTS is a registered trademark of University of Cambridge, the British Council, and IDP Education Australia. This site and its owners are not affiliated, approved or endorsed by the University of Cambridge ESOL, the British Council, and IDP Education Australia.
IELTS Task 2- Problem Solution Essay
![problem solution essay topic ielts Emma](https://www.writinglab.io/resources/content/images/size/w100/2022/10/Photo-on-17-11-2021-at-16.10--3.jpg)
This article explains and shows you how to reach a band 9 on your writing task 2 with a problem and solution essay. In my library of IELTS content, you will find articles on all of the task 2 essay types.
What is the problem solution essay?
The problem solution essay can be the hardest for many students. This can be due to how the question is worded. Generally you will be asked to discuss the problem and solution. But you may be asked to discuss the cause and solution and the solution only.
What's the difference between a problem, cause and solution?
Problem - I arrived at the wrong restaurant even though I had put the address into Google maps
Cause - I didn't check the postcode and discovered there was more than one 'Luigi's'
Solution - Next time I will be sure to check the correct post-code is entered to avoid arriving at the wrong destination
What is the essay structure?
As with any essay structure, you need an opening, the middle where you address the question in more depth, and the conclusion. But let's apply a more specific structure. You would have seen this in other essay posts I have written, so this should be somewhat familiar.
Introduction
- Paraphrase the question
- State 1 key problem/cause and related solution
P aragraph 1 – Problem or Cause
- Topic sentence – state the problem or cause
- Explanation – explain the problem or cause
P aragraph 2 – Solution
- Topic sentence – state the solution
- Explanation – explain the solution
- Summarise the key points
How many problems/cause should I write about?
This depends on how quickly you can write. If you can fit two in, which will result in a 350-400 word response then this is fine. Using one main problem/cause and developing your idea is also fine. With any of the essay types, it's always imperative to develop your ideas. So be sure to do this irrespective of the number of ideas.
Writing task 2 example
Let's use an example question to see how you can answer this question with a band 9 score. This question is a problem and solution essay.
The internet has transformed the way information is distributed and consumed, but it has also created problems that prior to this, did not exist.
What are the most serious problems associated with the internet and what solutions can you suggest?
We have our structure in mind but planning is always part of writing. The structure above is something you should memorise. Then use a table like below and structure your ideas down in five minutes.
You can put this into a table if it helps to remember or simply create the titles and jot down your ideas.
![problem solution essay topic ielts problem solution essay topic ielts](https://www.writinglab.io/resources/content/images/2022/06/Screenshot-2022-06-06-at-14.43.26.png)
Writing task 2 example, in full
Since the boom of the internet in the 1990's, it has since changed how we consume and share information. In particular, the last decade has seen significant changes in how we use the internet, and our relationship with it. Although serious problems have arisen and continue to do so, there are solutions.
One of the first problems with the internet and arguably, the most worrisome, is the ease with which children can access sites with dangerous and harmful content. For example, pornography sites are easily accessible to them because they can claim to be an adult and have free rein thereafter. The lack of security in this corner of the web means that children are being exposed to content that is far beyond their emotional and cognitive understanding. Undoubtedly, this would affect their thoughts and damage how they otherwise see the world, people and relationships. It could damage their ability of forming their own understanding of sexual relationships as they grow up and mature. Such behaviour could be imitated and potentially harmful to others, and therefore negatively impacting society.
Another serious problem is the growth of online fraud and hacking. With such a wealth of our personal data online and the sophistication of hackers, our data is subject to theft. Whilst there are protective measures online and this issue is often in news stories, this issue is on the rise and has become an incredibly rich industry with hackers that can surpass online security. Even government and state conglomerates have been attacked. Take for example the 2017 NHS cyber attack. Proving that even those deemed safe and ostensibly with great power, are still susceptible to online criminals. From what is reported in the news, it seems as though regardless of status, background, or employment, we can all fall victim to the online hands of criminals.
It is important that action is taken to directly combat these problems. Firstly, Governments should ensure that adequate legislation is in place that will prevent young people from accessing dangerous sites. Clearly the current measures are not enough to protect children online. As well as this, companies dedicated to online protection should be doing more to create stricter, appropriate entries to such sites. Protection can also come from home. Parents should monitor their children whilst online and restrict access to certain sites. Fortunately this is now easier than ever and parents can control what their children consume. Similarly, the government should create stricter legislation around cyber security. Individual companies must also improve their onsite IT security systems to make fraud and hacking much more difficult and virtually impossible. Companies could collaborate on this and those operating within the same field, such as finance, could come together to create more successful online barriers.
To conclude, the internet is an incredible technological tool that has changed people's lives and brought them opportunities, connections, and much happiness but it is not without negative and genuinely harmful impacts. With the right action, especially by governments and business, alongside individuals, it can be a safe place for everyone.
Identify where the structure has been applied
- How many problems are discussed?
- What are they?
- What language is used to initiate discussion of the problems?
- How are the problems explained further?
- What solutions are discussed for each problem?
Read my example and highlight with a different colour 1-5 within the body of the text.
Practice tips
Time yourself:
You have 40 minutes in the exam to write your 250 word answer. When first starting, give yourself 50 minutes. Each time you practice, shave off five minutes and see how you can meet the word count in ideally 30 minutes. It's always good to have time left over to proofread your response.
The need to know language for the problem and cause question:
- Problem – issues, resulting, situation, obstacle, drawback
- Cause – reasons, why, source, root, basis, origin
- Solution – deal with, addressed, tackled, remedied, improved, measures taken, solved, prevent
Sign up for more like this.
![problem solution essay topic ielts E2Language Blog](https://blog.e2language.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/E2-Test-Prep-White.png)
- PTE Study Plan & Strategy
- PTE Describe Image Task
- Mastering the PTE Write Essay Task
- Re-order Paragraphs and Reading Strategies
- PTE Listening – Tips and Practice for Success
- OET Study Plan & Strategy
- OET Writing Overview & Tips
- Tips and Practice for Success
- OET Listening Preparation & Practice Tips
- OET Reading
- Academic Writing Sample for Task 1
- Tips & Topics for IELTS Speaking
- TOEFL test changes 2023
- Time to Prepare for TOEFL
- Take a Free TOEFL Mock Test
- TOEFL Reading Time Management
- How to Succeed at TOEFL Reading
- TOEFL Listening
- TOEFL Speaking
- TOEFL Writing Academic Discussion
- TOEFL Integrated Writing
- Top 10 English Essay Writing Tips
- Synonyms and Other Writing Techniques
- START FREE TRIAL
How to write an IELTS Writing Task 2 Problem / Solution Essay
Writing problem / solution essay.
The IELTS Writing Task 2 Problem / Solution Essay task tests your ability to write about a problem(s) and suggest ways that the problem(s) may be solved. You will be given a statement about a contemporary issue and two questions. One asks you to identify the cause of the problem, the other to suggest solutions to solve it.
You will need to first analyse the question carefully to make sure you understand what you are being asked to do. It helps if you highlight or underline the keywords in the exam task.
Let’s look at a typical IELTS Problem / Solution essay question:
·
|
Before you begin to write your IELTS Problem / Solution Essay, make a brief plan. You should make a note of the main causes and possible solutions. Two problems and two solutions are usually sufficient.
More vehicles on the roads these days. Most families now own more than one car | Better infrastructure. Car sharing schemes. Cycle lanes to encourage people to use bicycles instead of cars. |
Public transport is often inconvenient and overcrowded | More frequent and comfortable buses and trains would encourage people to use public transport. |
Your Problem /Solution essay should contain an introduction , two main body paragraphs and a conclusion .
Begin each paragraph with a topic sentence that states the main idea of the paragraph. The topic sentence (usually the 1 st sentence) should indicate that you will discuss the cause of the problem, the topic sentence in the second paragraph should indicate that you will discuss solutions to the problem.
Tip: In both paragraphs don’t forget to use link words to signal that you are moving from one point to another.
In the first paragraph, you may need to use a vocabulary of cause and effect to explain why the problem exists. To do this you will need to use language to express Cause and Effect/Result
Introducing the cause(s)
- A major cause of …….. is ….
- Perhaps the major cause of this is …
- The main/ primary cause of this is …
- A further cause of this is …
- An additional cause of …. is
- …. also plays a role in …
- …… is (often/ usually) responsible for …
If you are uncertain of the cause you can add the modal verbs may / might, which are used to give more information about the main verb and are used for suggestions
For example:
Another cause may / might be …
Introducing the result(s)
- More vehicles in city centres have resulted in poorer air quality
- Poorer air quality results from the high number of vehicles on our roads.
- Poorer air quality leads to an increased number of residents in the city who suffer from respiratory conditions such as asthma and bronchitis. ( lead to is used with results that happened after some time)
How to introduce and propose possible solutions
The question usually asks you to suggest solution s – not just one solution. Therefore, you will need to use linking words to propose other solutions such as:
- First and foremost,
- Another possible solution is
- In addition, Moreover,
Tip: Checking your work.
Candidates often forget or run out of time and don’t edit their writing carefully which can result in a lower band.
Make sure you:
- Check for mistakes in spelling
- Subject + verb agreement
- Capitalisation i.e. using capital letters on proper nouns
- Grammar – Especially the use of the definite and indefinite articles a/an/ the
Writing the introduction of a Problem/ Solution Essay
In the introduction, you should first make a general statement related to the problem.
Then you should restate the exam question in your own words. Look at these introductions and decide which one is best. ( 1 or 2)
Sample Problem / Solution Essay Exam question
‘One problem faced by many large cities worldwide is traffic congestion. What do you think the causes are? What solutions can you suggest?
Which is a better restatement of the question? Why?
- It is true that in many big cities traffic congestion is a problem. There are a number of causes for this. I will suggest some solutions in this essay.
- Congestion caused by too much traffic on the roads and streets in major cities and towns all around the world is a growing concern.
The second one is better of course because the student has restated the exam question is his or her own words.
Below is a model introduction to the Problem / Solution Essay exam question . You will see that the introduction contains 3 sentences:
- A general statement related to the topic.
- T he exam question in my own words (check out more paraphrasing tips here )
- A sentence which suggests it is a serious or controversial issue, or a statement saying that the issue will be discussed and some solutions will be suggested
A sample of a three-sentence introduction
More and more people are driving private cars nowadays than ever before. Congestion caused by too much traffic on the roads and streets in major cities and towns all around the world is a growing concern . This issue will be discussed in this essay along with some possible solutions that may be implemented to alleviate the problem.
Paragraph 1- Discuss 2 problems
Paragraph 2 – Discuss 2 solutions
Write a conclusion (2-3 sentences)
You can also check out more IELTS Writing topics and Essay Structures here .
Written by Janet Wilson
![problem solution essay topic ielts](https://blog.e2language.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Janet.webp)
anurag says:
More and more people are driving private cars nowadays than ever before. Congestion caused by too much traffic on the roads and streets in major cities and towns all around the world is a growing concern.
the in ” the roads” appears to be wrong as the passage is not specifying a particular road nor ” roads ” was used in the passage earlier.
Please confirm if the observation is correct or not.
Tamniyah says:
More and more people are driving private cars nowadays than ever before . That well be caused by too much traffic on the roads and streets in major cities and towns all around the ward is growing concern .
Where do you think the cars will cause traffic? At home? In outer space? Please confirm if sometimes, common sense in simple matters such as this is is far more necessary than complicating things.
M Ashraf Uddin says:
This on line teaching method is good. I am getting in to it. Let’s hope for the best.
Charan says:
These days,there is an ongoing debate between people(about/whether) ( reframing the question) . While it is possible to claim that (negative) , my view is that (positive). In this essay, I shall explain my point of view by analysing both sides of argument.
Para2 There are a couple of reasons why I (agree or advantages or disagree/disadvantages). One of the reason is that(. ) .While the other reason why I (support/don’t support) (2nd point)
Para3 On the other hand, those who agree (for/against)
Para4 In conclusion, there are strong arguments on both sides of the case, my opinion is that (. ). I believe this because .
Sir, I have my exam this Friday that is 11/03 . Can you explain me how this format is going to help me.
Chinyere says:
I need more tips on writing and reading.my IELTS exam is within a short time thanks
olivia says:
We’d love to help! If you’re interested in our services we can suggest you a package that’s right for you! Just message the expert Duty Tutors here: https://help.e2language.com/support/tickets/new
Share with them your test, previous scores, and next exam date.
Very useful and helpful
Leave a Reply Cancel Reply
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
You may use these HTML tags and attributes:
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .
IELTS Preparation with Liz: Free IELTS Tips and Lessons, 2024
- Test Information FAQ
- Band Scores
- IELTS Candidate Success Tips
- Computer IELTS: Pros & Cons
- How to Prepare
- Useful Links & Resources
- Recommended Books
- Speaking Part 1 Topics
- Speaking Part 2 Topics
- Speaking Part 3 Topics
- 100 Essay Questions
- On The Day Tips
- Top Results
- Advanced IELTS
IELTS Solution Essay Sample Questions
Below is a list of IELTS solution essay sample questions for writing task 2. These types of essays usually ask you to either give solutions or causes and solutions to a particular world issue. Most world issues are common issues that many countries and people face today.
IELTS Solution Essay Tips
- do you need to give only solutions?
- do you need to give both causes and solutions?
- does the question involve causes or problems?
- Analyse the topic / issue in the essay question.
- do not start writing until you have all points prepared. You are being marked on your ideas.
- Put the causes in one body paragraph and the solutions in another.
- Use flexible language of cause and consequences.
- Use a safe solution essay model to follow. There are some model essays linked below for you.
Solution Essay Practice Questions
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?
Many offenders commit more crimes after serving their first punishment. Why is this happening, and what measures can be taken to tackle this problem? CLICK HERE: MODEL ESSAY
With the development of social media, more and more youngsters are being allowed unsupervised access to the internet in order to meet and chat with friends which can lead to potentially dangerous situations. What solutions can you suggest to deal with this problem?
Overpopulation in many major urban centers around the world is a major problem. What are the causes of this? How can this problem be solved?
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 this problem?
Many small, local shops are closing as they are unable to compete with large supermarkets in the area. How does this effect local communities? How could this situation be improved?
An increasing number of professionals, such as doctors and teachers, are leaving their own poorer countries to work in developed countries. What problems does this cause? What solutions can you suggest to deal with this situation? CLICK HERE: MODEL ESSAY
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
- This pages contains 100 essays listed by topic and also essays listed by type: Opinion, Discussion etc.
- Advantages / Disadvantages Model Essay
- Discussion Essay Model Answer
- ALL MODEL ESSAYS & TIPS FOR WRITING TASK 2
FREE SUBSCRIBE Subscribe to get new lessons & tips by email. Email Address Subscribe
ADVANCED IELTS
![problem solution essay topic ielts](https://ieltsliz.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Grammar-E-book.png)
Recent New Lessons
Ideas in ielts essays & in ielts speaking, test yourself with linking words, ielts speaking part 2 cue card topics – 2024, new reading exercise for you (july 2024), ielts gt writing task 1 letter: using the prompts for a high score.
Click Below to Learn:
- IELTS Test Information
- Writing Task 1
- Writing Task 2
Copyright Notice
Copyright © Elizabeth Ferguson, 2014 – 2024
All rights reserved.
Privacy Policy & Disclaimer
- Click here: Privacy Policy
- Click here: Disclaimer
Return to top of page
Copyright © 2024 · Prose on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in
IELTS Problem and Solution Writing Samples Band 8
Some people say that the main environmental problem of our time is the loss of particular species of plants and animals. others say that there are more important environmental problems., nowadays, the way people interact with each other has changed because of technology. how does technology affect the types of relationships that people make is this positive or negative development, many people believe that children who grow up with little money are more equipped to deal with the problems life throws at them, in comparison to the kids who are born in wealthy families. this essay aims to substantiate this assertion., many parents are unhappy because of the increasing amount of violence in their children by computer games, tv programs, and other leisure activities. how harmful are these for children discuss possible solutions., in some countries, younger people are neglecting their right to vote. what problems does this cause, and what are some possible solutions, it is commonly said that today's children are facing huge challenges. this essay indent to discuss the causes of these pressures and give some suggestions to solve them., the increase in the production of consumer goods results in damage to the natural environment. what are the causes of this what can be done to solve this problem, some cities create housing areas by providing taller buildings. others create housing by building houses on a wider area of land. what solution is better, in many countries, people are now living longer than ever before, some people say an ageing population creates problems for governments, other people think there are benefits if society has more elderly people. to what extent do the advantages ofhaving an ageing population outweigh the disadvantages, in many large cities, people waste hours of their time every day because of traffic congestion on the road. what are the causes of this, what solution can you suggest, in some parts of the world, traditional festivals and celebrations have disappeared or are disappearing. why is this happening what measures could be taken to ensure they do not disappear., people in the current generation are not fit and active. what are the problems with this issue what can be done to encourage people to participate in sports activities, global warming is one of the most serious issues that the world is facing today. what are the causes of global warming and what measures can governments and individuals take to tackle the issue, nowadaysn teenagers are suffering from a lot of pressure.write an esay of about 250 words to list the causes of teen pressure and give solutions to overcome, nowadays, more and more children are being brought up in single parent families. what are the causes of this what effects can be seen as a result of this, many people in poor countries die from diseases that are curable because they cannot afford the medication required. do you believe that drug companies should make their products available at reduced prices in these countries, some people think the increasing business and cultural contact between countries brings many positive effects . others say it causes the loss of national identities.discuss both of these views and give your own opnion., in many countries, people are now living longer than ever before. some people say an ageing population creates problems for governments. other people think there are benefits if society has more elderly people. to what extent do the advantages of having an ageing population outweigh the disadvantages, modern children are suffering from the diseases that were once considered to only be meant for adults. obesity is a major disease prevalent among children. what are its causes, and what solutions can be offered, an increasing number of professionals such as doctor and teacher are leaving their own poorer countries to work in developed countries. what problem does this cause what can be done to deal with this situation.
- Unlimited Task 1 checks Get all the feedback you need to keep improving your charts and letters.
- Unlimited Task 2 checks Practice and perfect your skills with essays.
- Personalized suggestions Know how to boost your score.
- Detailed mistakes analysis Get instant feedback. Spot every mistake.
- Topic ideas generator Get topic-specific ideas to enhance your writing.
- Vocabulary helper Get the right words for any topic.
- Progress tracking Track your writing improvements.
![problem solution essay topic ielts IELTS Deal](https://ieltsdeal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/cropped-new-logo-12121-2.png)
IELTS Writing Task 2: Problem-solution Essay with Tips, Structure, Sample answer and Vocabulary
This post deals with IELTS Writing Task 2, essay writing. In this post, I’m discussing how to handle a problem-solution a topic where candidates are asked to present the effects or results of unlimited use of cars. They are also asked to decide whether discouraging people to use cars might be a good solution or not. The special tips, structuring, and sample answer, provided here is an excellent one that you can follow to achieve a higher band score. Also, take a look at the use of different vocabularies which I’ve explained at the end of the post with explanations. You should write some of the words and try to make sentences for your English language improvement.
![problem solution essay topic ielts IELTS Writing Task 2: Problematic Essay with tips, structure, sample answer and vocabularies](https://ieltsdeal.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Task2-problematic-use-of-ca.png)
Title or rubric of the essay:
People around the world now use more cars than ever. the unlimited use of cars may cause many problems. what kind of problems do you think cars may cause in order to minimize the problems, should we discourage people to use cars, special tips:.
For problem-solution topics, firstly, you must plan on the answer you will write.
Think about some common effects of the over-use of cars such as environmental problems, traffic jams, and accidents.
For the solution part, you must propose at least 2/3 solutions. You must also support or refute the solution proposed in the question and show reasons.
Your essay structure will look somewhat like the one below:
Introduce the topic and state or give a hint on what you are going to write in the next paragraphs in two or three lines. | |
State the problems that overuse of cars can cause. Remember to use examples or explanations to support your logical points. | |
State why you support or don’t support the idea of discouraging people to use cars. Also, mention if there are any other solutions to solve this problem. Use logical examples. | |
Conclude by briefly discussing what you have stated in the previous paragraphs. However, there is always something special that you can write from your brain to express your creativity. |
Sample answer:
There is no denying that having a car has become an essential part of many people’s lives in this modern world. Such a transport offers flexibility to human life and work. It also provides ready access to an array of services and leisure options. However, unlimited use of cars also causes a variety of problems that need to be addressed.
Most of the problems associated with frequent car use are becoming increasingly familiar to mass people. The extensive use of cars has real environmental costs. Vehicles are prime sources of urban air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Environmental experts suggest that road traffic is the source of one-third of all harmful air pollution in the world. Car exhaust seriously contributes to acid rain, carbon dioxide, and lead, which are accountable for global warming and health hazards. Another problem is the number of traffic jams spotted almost every day during rush hour. This is because using cars is becoming more popular than walking, cycling or using public transport. The most alarming matter, however, is that cars are less safe compared to all other transport. It causes deadly accidents with huge numbers of casualties every year.
It is suggested by many that the use of cars should be discouraged which I cannot support much. I think such decisions would lead to shrinking mobility for people and a decline in the car industry. In my opinion, a much better solution would be for car manufacturers to devise more eco-friendly cars, which can run on hydrogen or solar power. Moreover, traffic jams can be alleviated by constructing more underground tunnels, ring roads, one-way systems, and parking garages. Besides, safety issues can be avoided by educating drivers as well as pedestrians to be more cautious on the road.
Therefore, to sum up, I believe that discouraging car use might seem a quick solution to many problems currently facing society, but it is most unlikely to be a permanent solution.
Word count: 315
Vocabulary practice:
Deny: to refuse, to reject
I’m not denying that it was her fault.
Essential: important, necessary, crucial, vital
Education is an essential part of our life.
Flexibility: Easiness, litheness, suppleness
Cars offer flexibility in our life.
Array: Range, group
There is an array of colors in the shop.
Address: to tackle, to deal with
We must address this problem as soon as possible.
Associated: Linked, connected, related
There are a few problems associated with it.
Frequent: Common, regular
This is a frequent matter for us.
Extensive: Widespread, wide-ranging
The extensive use of those drugs can cause harm to your body.
Prime: Major, main, chief, key
Computers are the prime source of knowledge for the young generation nowadays.
Exhaust: Waste gases
Car exhaust is responsible for air pollution.
Accountable: Responsible, liable
Your bad attitude is accountable for your failure.
Hazard: Danger, risk
This food has some health hazards .
Rush hour: a period of heavy traffic
Traffic jam occurs mostly during rush hours .
Alarming: Disturbing, shocking, upsetting, frightening
It has become an alarming issue .
Casualty: victim, dead person, injured person, wounded person
There were some casualties in this accident.
Discourage: Dispirit, dampen, dishearten
She was discouraged by her mother to go there.
Shrinking: reduced, lessened
This would lead to a shrinking support for the community.
Mobility: the ability to move about
Cars offer personal mobility to a wide range of areas.
Manufacturer: Maker, producer
The manufacturer of the product is Nestle.
Devise: Plan, work out, prepare, make
We must devise some new designs for the roads.
Eco-friendly: Ecological, environment-friendly
This product is eco – friendly .
Alleviate: Lessen, diminish, reduce
Poverty must be alleviated .
Issue: Problem
Pedestrian: Walker, hiker
This road is for pedestrians only.
Cautious: Careful, watchful, vigilant, alert
We need to be cautious about this experiment.
Unlikely: Improbable, doubtful
It is unlikely that government will go for such a decision.
Permanent: Enduring, lasting, durable, long-lasting
This is not a permanent solution.
Here is the end of the post.
If you like it, make sure you leave a comment below.
![problem solution essay topic ielts error](https://ieltsdeal.com/wp-content/plugins/ultimate-social-media-icons/images/visit_icons/Follow/icon_Follow_en_US.png)
Leave a Reply Cancel reply
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
![problem solution essay topic ielts IELTS Writing Task 2: Agree disagree topic on using forensics to solve old cases; with 3 model answers](https://ieltsdeal.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/forensics-task-2.png)
IELTS Writing Task 2: Agree disagree topic on using forensics to solve old cases; with 3 model answers
This IELTS Writing Task 2 post offers some sample answers to an agree-disagree topic. This agree-disagree topic asks the candidates to provide arguments as to whether new science related to criminal forensics should be used to look at old cases or not. In this post, you will find three great model answers which may help […]
![problem solution essay topic ielts IELTS Writing Task 2: an advantage-disadvantage essay on taking a gap year before starting university education; with plans and model answer](https://ieltsdeal.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Writing-Task-2-gap-year-advan-disad.png)
IELTS Writing Task 2: an advantage-disadvantage essay on taking a gap year before starting university education; with plans and model answer
This IELTS Writing Task 2 post offers the insights of writing a great answer to an advantage-disadvantage essay. This task 2 question asks the candidates to provide their personal opinions on taking a gap year before starting university education. In this post, you will find a plan that can help you to write this answer […]
Recent posts
- IELTS Speaking Part 2 Topics: Gift
- IELTS Speaking Part 2 Topics: Birthday
- IELTS Speaking Part 2 Topics: Family
- IELTS Speaking Part 2 Topics: Movie
- IELTS Speaking Part 2 Topics: Book
- Link copied!
IELTS Problem / Solution Essay Sample (Corrected)
Even though doctors all over the world agree that fast food is bad for people's health, more and more people are eating it..
Why are more people eating fast food?
What can be done about this problem?
There are a lot of people who have argued over whether fast food is still as bad as thought and found in the end that dining of on healthy food could possibly save them from upcoming health problems. However, there is another increasing number of people who do not seem to care so much and consume fast food more often.
On the one hand, it is understood that life tends to be very busy nowadays. Due to a huge revolution in technology, it has opened up many people more choices for many people and the time has become the most valuable resource overall. In order to save more time and rather progress with work than spending too much time for on lunch, the eating time has become to something when many people just want to quickly fill themselves up and get back to work. This is where fast food comes into play as a simple, fast and time-saving solution. One reason why people prefer fast food is that it is fairly easy to obtain. Moreover, it is often cheaper than a proper cooked meal and the expected level of quality is everywhere more or less the same.
On the other hand, fast food does not equal healthy food. This is a major drawback, which has made the society to concern more more concerned about the future of people’s health. I personally believe that keeping people more informed about the disadvantages of fast food would help to a raise awareness of the problem. Therefore, advertising a healthy lifestyle could be one of the first steps to deal for dealing with this issue. Secondly, not only should doctors be the ones who stand for advise on balanced eating, but famous people , as good examples , may well contribute to solving this problem.
In order to save people from health problems, a good and balanced diet is the first thing to concentrate on. Even though many people still prefer fast food, a lot could be done to influence their decisions starting with advertising a healthy lifestyle and setting good examples to follow.
(331 words)
Band Score Estimate (prior to corrections)
Brief comments:
- A bit long and a bit discursive; not quite straight-forward enough
![problem solution essay topic ielts IELTS teacher Claudia](https://fiverr-res.cloudinary.com/t_profile_original,q_auto,f_auto/attachments/profile/photo/d091bea894ebb9d7085cdc905da9015e-1617207703758/e231ebe6-38a1-41ad-8654-ead2dfff143a.jpg)
"I have 7+ years of IELTS teaching experience . I will correct your grammar and give suggestions for more appropriate word use. I will give you tips on how to answer the question in the way the IELTS examiners expect." — Claudia, IELTS teacher from the UK
MORE ESSAY SAMPLES
![problem solution essay topic ielts two women discussing in front of computer](https://ieltsleader.com/templates/img/ielts-essay/ielts-discussion-essay.jpg)
IELTS Discussion Essay Sample
![problem solution essay topic ielts word yes made from wooden scrabble letters](https://ieltsleader.com/templates/img/ielts-essay/ielts-agree-disagree-essay.jpg)
IELTS Agree / Disagree Essay Sample
![problem solution essay topic ielts two hands thumbs up and down](https://ieltsleader.com/templates/img/ielts-essay/ielts-advantages-disadvantages-essay.jpg)
IELTS Advantage / Disadvantage Essay Sample
![problem solution essay topic ielts light bulb in dim light](https://ieltsleader.com/templates/img/ielts-essay/ielts-problem-solution-essay.jpg)
IELTS Problem / Solution Essay Sample
![problem solution essay topic ielts question mark figure filled with led lights](https://ieltsleader.com/templates/img/ielts-essay/ielts-direct-question-essay.jpg)
IELTS Two-part Question Essay Sample
How it works.
See a sample →
1. Choose your plan
- Detailed feedback
- Overall band score + for each criterion
- Grammar and content corrections
- Suggestions for improvement
2. Submit your order
We are here to help.
Whether you have any questions, want to leave feedback or discuss cooperation possibilities, do not hesitate to contact us. We are here to help and will answer as soon as possible. In the meantime, discover our site and let it help you smooth your IELTS journey and make your studies more efficient.
You will find useful information on all the four IELTS test components:
Got a question? We'd love to hear from you!
![](http://presentationhelp.xyz/777/templates/cheerup2/res/banner1.gif)
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
The list of Task 2 Problem and Solution topics that were added by IELTS student in 2024.These Problem and Solution questions could be repeated from previous months. Keep in mind that the provided Problem and Solution questions are not predictions. The collection of Problem and Solution questions is updated every hour. Choose one of the topics and start practicing answering this type of ...
It's not the only possible structure but it's the one I recommend because it's easy to learn and will enable you to quickly plan and write a high-level essay. 1) Introduction. Paraphrase the question. State 1 key problem/cause and related solution. 2) Main body paragraph 1 - Problem or Cause.
Procedure: introduce the focus of the lesson: Academic Writing Task 2 - Problems and Solutions essays. elicit environmental problems in general or show the class some pictures related to overfishing and elicit the topic. give students a copy of Worksheet 1 and draw attention to the essay question. elicit keywords from the question to identify ...
The IELTS problem solution essay topics can be drawn from a variety of sources and are based on real-world situations and issues. Therefore, to do well in writing task 2, it is important to be familiar with the range of IELTS problem solution essay topics. Identifying IELTS Problem Solution Essays
IELTS Task 2 Question Types: Problems and Solutions. by Dave | Understanding Task 2 Writing | 0 Comment. I have collected here a variety of problems and solutions essays from the real IELTS test. Enjoy and consider signing up for my Patreon Ebooks here. Dave.
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.
A problem-solution essay is an academic composition that addresses a specific issue by presenting well-structured solutions. This format is designed to assess a candidate's capacity to analyze complex problems, offer plausible remedies, and communicate ideas effectively. : Setting the stage by introducing the problem and its significance.
Body paragraph 2 - solutions. Sentence 1 - briefly state the main solutions: In my opinion, the best solution to this problem is promoting active lifestyle. Sentences 2-3 - write the first solution and explain it: Firstly, millions of people stay less active because they use cars instead of walking.
8- Explain solution to first problem. 9- Explain solution to second problem. 10- Example of solution to second problem. Conclusion Sentence 11- Summary of main points in paragraphs 2 and 3. For more structures, check out our IELTS task 2 structures guide. Now let's look at each paragraph in more detail. Introduction
Problem Solution Essay IELTS. Problem-solution essays are among the most important IELTS Writing Task 2 topics on the academic paper. While being so common, a lot of students are not doing well on these topics. This article will focus on some of the more common errors and then take you stepwise to answer certain questions.
Worksheet 1 Time: 5-7 minutesProcedure: introduce the focus of the lesson: Academic Writi. Task 2 - Problems and Solution essays.elicit environmental problems in general or show the class some pictures r. ated to overfishing and elicit the topic.give students a copy of Worksheet.
Subscribe: RSS. This tutorial discusses how to write problem-solution essays in IELTS Writing Task 2. A "problem and solution" essay, as its name suggests, proposes a problem to you and asks you to suggest a solution or solutions to it. It may also ask about the causes of the problem or the effects which the problem has. Listen and you will ...
A problem-solution essay has some key elements. First, it must identify a problem. Second, it must propose one or more solutions to that problem. Third, it must explain why the proposed solution is the best option. Before you start writing a problem-solution essay, it's important to first understand the problem.
Tips to Create a Problem Solution Essay IELTS Structure. Analyse the question thoroughly. Think of Ideas. Follow the structure & write down the essay. Problem Solution Essay IELTS Pattern. Paragraph 1 - Introduction. Paragraph 2 - Problems. Paragraph 3 - Solutions. Paragraph 4 - Conclusion.
The Problem Solution Essay IELTS is essential, as it tests language competency and analytical and problem-solving ability. This essay style encourages applicants to identify essential concerns, provide possible remedies, and assess their efficacy. Mastering this essay style is critical for earning a good grade since it indicates a candidate's ...
How: Use a computer program. Solution 3: Companies. Idea: Improve IT security systems. How: Review current systems in place. Here is the paragraph again. Note how it follows the plan and the clear topic sentence that tells the reader the essay is moving on to discuss solutions (modals verbs are underlined):
Below is an IELTS model answer for the IELTS problem solution essay in writing task 2. There are five types of essays in IELTS writing task 2 and the "solution" type essay is a common one. ... This is why you need to prepare lots of ideas for topics so that your essays can contain relevant, highly focused points. Reply. vipin subhash says ...
This article explains and shows you how to reach a band 9 on your writing task 2 with a problem and solution essay. In my library of IELTS content, you will find articles on all of the task 2 essay types. What is the problem solution essay? The problem solution essay can be the hardest for many students. This can be due to how the question is ...
In this essay. I will look into the reason associated with the issue and the way to figure it out will be provided. 7. band. It is commonly said that today's children are facing huge challenges. This essay indent to discuss the causes of these pressures and give some suggestions to solve them.
Writing Problem / Solution Essay. The IELTS Writing Task 2 Problem / Solution Essay task tests your ability to write about a problem(s) and suggest ways that the problem(s) may be solved. You will be given a statement about a contemporary issue and two questions. One asks you to identify the cause of the problem, the other to suggest solutions to solve it.
IELTS Solution Essay Tips. Read the instructions carefully to identify the task ... there is a problem with declining quality of air and water from both industry and construction. What measures could be taken to prevent this? ... This pages contains 100 essays listed by topic and also essays listed by type: Opinion, Discussion etc.
Download recent IELTS Writing & Speaking topics on our Telegram channel: https://t.me/IELTSFasTrack Let's write a full Task 2 essay together and I'll show yo...
This trend presents significant challenges to democratic processes and the future governance of nations. This essay will explore the problems associated with youth disengagement in elections and propose viable solutions to address this issue. 8. band. It is commonly said that today's children are facing huge challenges.
This post deals with IELTS Writing Task 2, essay writing. In this post, I'm discussing how to handle a problem-solution a topic where candidates are asked to present the effects or results of unlimited use of cars. They are also asked to decide whether discouraging people to use cars might be a good solution or not.
I will correct your grammar and give suggestions for more appropriate word use. I will give you tips on how to answer the question in the way the IELTS examiners expect." See the IELTS Writing Task 2 Problem/Solution Essay Sample that has been corrected and assessed by an IELTS examiner. You can also see and learn from the mistakes!