An IELTS problem solution essay answers a Writing Task 2 question that asks for the problems, causes or effects of a situation and then for solutions, with each solution tied to something the essay has already named. The Academic paper gives a point of view, argument or problem to discuss, allows no more than 40 minutes for the task and expects at least 250 words, and the published task description lists presenting a solution to a problem among the skills tested. Task 2 contributes twice as much as Task 1 to the Writing score.
Task Response covers how well the argument is developed in response to the task, so useful preparation centres on a repeatable plan: identify the question form, choose two problems or causes, attach one solution to each and explain how it would work. A model answer on traffic congestion shows that plan in use, and the closing section sets out the checks to run on each practice script.
What forms can a problem solution question take?
Three forms appear often in practice material: problems and solutions, causes and solutions, and causes and effects. The wording of the question decides which parts the essay must contain, so the first step is to underline each instruction before planning anything.
A question that asks what problems a situation creates and how they might be tackled sets two tasks, and a question that asks for causes and effects sets two different ones with no request for a solution. Task Response checks whether all the main parts of the prompt have been addressed, which means both halves of the question need real space in the answer.
- Problems and solutions: name the difficulties a situation creates, then say how each could be reduced.
- Causes and solutions: explain why the situation exists, then propose measures that act on those causes.
- Causes and effects: give reasons and consequences, with no solution unless the question asks for one.
How do you match each solution to a stated problem?
Each solution answers one named problem, and the link should be visible in the sentence itself. If the second paragraph says that commuters have no practical alternative to driving, the solution in the third paragraph should supply that alternative and say so, using phrases such as 'To address this lack of alternatives' or 'This dependence could be reduced by'.
A simple check is to list the problems in one column and the solutions in another before writing, then draw a line between each pair. A solution with no line to a problem is usually off topic, and a problem with no solution leaves part of the prompt unanswered. Two matched pairs developed fully tend to serve the task better than four pairs mentioned briefly.
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Enquire about this tutorWhat paragraph structure suits a problem solution essay?
A four-paragraph structure uses an introduction, one paragraph on the problems or causes, one paragraph on the solutions and a conclusion. Organising a response into paragraphs helps with topic organisation and so supports Coherence and Cohesion, and paragraphs are expected at Band 6 and above in Task 2.
The introduction paraphrases the question and states in one or two sentences what the essay will cover. The second paragraph gives two problems or causes, each with a reason or an example, and the third gives a solution for each of them in the same order, explaining how it would work. Nothing new is added in the conclusion, which simply restates the link between the main causes and the main measures.
Planning for around five minutes before writing leaves most of the 40 minutes for the essay itself and usually produces a clearer order of ideas.
How do you develop a solution so that it is convincing?
A developed solution names the action, the body that would take it, the mechanism by which it works and the likely result. 'The government should build more cycle lanes' names an action, and adding that safer lanes would let commuters swap short car journeys for cycling, which would reduce traffic on main roads, shows how it would work.
A reliable pattern is action, then mechanism, then result, with a short example from general knowledge or experience where one fits. Task Response looks at how relevant and well supported the main ideas are, so an explanation of the mechanism usually does more for the argument than an additional idea left undeveloped.
Examples do not need statistics. A reference to a type of city, a familiar scheme or a common experience is enough, and invented figures are better avoided because they cannot be checked.
Model answer: Causes and solutions essay on traffic congestion
Task: Write about the following topic. In many cities, traffic congestion is becoming a serious problem. What are the main causes of this, and what measures could be taken to reduce it? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. Write at least 250 words. You should spend no more than 40 minutes on this task.
"Traffic congestion has become a daily difficulty in many cities, and it results mainly from rising private car ownership and weak public transport. This essay examines both causes and suggests measures that address each one.
"The first cause is that growing incomes allow more households to buy cars, whilst road space stays almost fixed. When a commuter lives far from a railway station, or the only bus runs infrequently, driving becomes the sensible choice, so roads fill with vehicles carrying a single occupant. A second cause is poor planning, because offices, schools and shops are often concentrated in the centre, which sends thousands of people towards the same streets at the same hours.
"To reduce dependence on cars, city authorities could introduce a charge for vehicles entering the centre. Drivers would then weigh the cost of each trip, and some would switch to other modes, provided that those alternatives exist. For this reason the revenue should fund frequent, affordable buses and tram lines, which would give commuters a realistic option and probably reduce the number of cars at peak times. Cities that have introduced charging zones have often reported fewer vehicles on central streets. The concentration of journeys could be tackled through planning rules that encourage employers to open offices in suburban districts and to offer staggered working hours. If fewer people travel at the same moment, pressure on main roads would fall, and a shorter commute would make walking or cycling more attractive. Employers gain too, since staff arrive less tired and more punctual.
"Congestion arises from car dependence and clustered activity, and a combination of road charging, better public transport and planning reform would tend to ease it.
What this model answer does:
- Task Response: both parts of the question are answered, with two causes in the second paragraph and a solution for each in the third.
- Task Response: each solution names the cause it acts on, and the mechanism is explained, for example how a charge changes the cost of a commute and how the revenue funds alternatives.
- Coherence and Cohesion: four paragraphs with a clear order, and linking phrases such as 'For this reason' and 'provided that' show how ideas connect.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy: modal verbs, conditional clauses and a hedged generalisation ('have often reported') keep the predictions proportionate.
- Lexical Resource: topic vocabulary such as 'congestion', 'peak times', 'staggered working hours' and 'single occupant' is used with some flexibility.
Which hedging language suits causes and solutions?
Hedging language presents a prediction as likely instead of certain, which suits solutions because nobody can be sure of their effect. Modal verbs, adverbs of frequency and verbs such as 'tend to' keep claims proportionate and show examiners a flexible control of vocabulary and grammar.
Compare 'Charging drivers will end congestion' with 'Charging drivers could reduce congestion, particularly if public transport improves'. The second sentence states a condition and a scale, which makes it more accurate and shows the range of sentence forms that the published guidance links to Grammatical Range and Accuracy.
- For solutions: could, would, may help to, is likely to, should lead to
- For causes: is often the result of, tends to arise from, is partly due to
- For conditions: provided that, as long as, unless, if
Which mistakes tend to weaken a problem solution essay?
Mistakes tend to cluster around the prompt, the link between problems and solutions, and the development of ideas. Knowing them in advance makes each one easy to check for in a practice script.
A discussion of two opposing views, or an opinion on whether the issue is serious, also strays from the task when the question asks for causes and solutions.
- Answering only the problem or only the solution, which leaves a main part of the prompt unaddressed.
- Writing solutions that connect to no problem named earlier in the essay.
- Listing three or four solutions in single sentences with no explanation of how they would work.
- Using absolute language such as 'will solve' or 'always' for predictions.
- Copying the question word for word in the introduction.
- Adding new ideas in the conclusion.
How should you practise and check a problem solution essay?
Practise in stages, beginning with plans only, moving to single body paragraphs and finishing with complete timed essays, so that each skill is secure before time pressure is added. A useful first set is ten past-style questions on which you underline the question form and the exact wording of each part, then plan two matched problem and solution pairs in about five minutes each.
Next, write only the solution paragraph for each plan and concentrate on the mechanism behind every measure. Complete essays of at least 250 words within the 40-minute limit come last, with a short block of time kept for checking.
Mark each script against the four published criteria, reading once for each. Task Response asks whether every part of the prompt is addressed, the position is clear and the ideas are supported; Coherence and Cohesion looks at paragraphing and linking; Lexical Resource looks for flexible vocabulary; and Grammatical Range and Accuracy looks for a range of sentence forms. A separate read for each criterion tends to reveal further weaknesses that a single general impression misses.
Related guides
- What is IELTS? Format, versions and scoring
- Opinion (agree or disagree) essay
- Discuss both views essay
- Advantages and disadvantages essay
- IELTS Writing Task 2 topics
- IELTS Speaking test format
- IELTS Speaking Part 1 questions
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Frequently asked questions
- Do you need to give your own opinion in a problem solution essay?
- Only when the question asks for one. A causes and solutions question asks for explanation and proposals, so the position is usually clear from the choices you make and the reasons you give. A short line in the introduction naming the main causes and measures is enough to show a clear position, and the conclusion can restate it.
- How many problems and solutions should be included?
- Two matched pairs usually give enough space to explain each point properly within the time allowed. Three can work when each is brief, but ideas left undeveloped tend to weaken the argument. Choose the number that lets you state the problem, explain the mechanism of the solution and add a result or example for every pair.
- Is it acceptable to write more than 250 words?
- The task asks for at least 250 words, so a longer answer meets the requirement. Extra length helps only when it adds developed ideas, and it takes time away from checking. Practise to find the length you can write and proofread within 40 minutes, and aim for that length consistently.
- Can personal experience be used as an example?
- Yes, the task wording invites relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. A brief, general example such as a familiar city scheme or a commuting pattern you know well supports a solution, provided it stays relevant to the point. Avoid long personal stories and figures you cannot verify, since they use time without extending the argument.
- Should the conclusion be written before or after the body paragraphs?
- Write it last, once the body paragraphs show which causes and measures the essay actually contains. A conclusion drafted in advance often promises ideas that never appear. If time runs short, a one-sentence conclusion restating the link between the main causes and measures is better than an unfinished body paragraph.
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