IELTS Problem–Solution Essay: Structure and Model Answer
A problem–solution essay must answer the exact questions in the prompt. Causes explain why a situation happens; problems describe its harmful effects; solutions explain how to improve it. Do not substitute one for another simply because you have memorised a causes-and-solutions template.
IELTS Writing Task 2 requires at least 250 words. The essay below is an original teaching model, not an examiner-scored script or a promise of a particular band. See the official Writing task guidance.
First identify what the question asks
| Instruction | What the first part needs | What the second part needs |
|---|---|---|
| What are the causes and solutions? | Reasons the situation occurs | Measures addressing those reasons |
| What problems does this cause, and how can they be solved? | Consequences of the situation | Measures addressing those consequences |
| Why is this happening? Is it positive or negative? | Reasons for the trend | An evaluation, not a list of solutions |
Build a cause–solution plan
Many cities experience serious traffic congestion. What are the causes of this problem, and what solutions can be suggested?
- Cause 1: unreliable public transport encourages driving. Response: improve bus reliability and capacity.
- Cause 2: similar starting times concentrate demand. Response: stagger working hours where possible.
- Development: explain how each response changes travel behaviour and mention a practical constraint.
A four-paragraph plan works here: introduction, causes, solutions and conclusion. A paired structure can also work: introduce the issue, develop cause 1 with solution 1, develop cause 2 with solution 2, and conclude. Choose the structure that makes your explanation easiest to follow.
Original model essay
Practice response: 277 words. No official band score has been assigned.
Traffic congestion makes journeys unreliable in many growing cities. Although population growth adds pressure to the road network, two more direct causes are dependence on private cars and public transport that does not offer a practical alternative. Improving the reliability of buses and reducing unnecessary car journeys would address these causes more effectively than simply asking people to travel less.
The first cause is that many commuters cannot depend on public transport to reach work on time. If a bus arrives unpredictably or requires several changes, driving can seem the safer option even when roads are crowded. A second cause is that employers and schools often start at similar times. This concentrates journeys into a short period, so a road that operates reasonably well at midday becomes congested during the morning peak.
One response would be to give buses priority on the busiest routes and publish reliable service information. Faster, more predictable journeys would make the bus a credible choice for some people who currently drive. However, this measure needs sufficient capacity: encouraging passengers onto an already overcrowded service would undermine the policy. Employers could also offer staggered starting times where the work allows it. Moving some journeys outside the peak would reduce simultaneous demand without preventing people from reaching their jobs. Neither proposal requires every traveller to change behaviour, but both should be evaluated against actual journey times and passenger numbers.
In conclusion, congestion is partly caused by unreliable alternatives to driving and by journeys concentrated at the same time. Better bus services and flexible starting times offer targeted responses. Their success would depend on careful implementation and evidence that they make everyday travel more dependable.
What to notice in the model
- The introduction identifies two causes and previews targeted responses.
- The causes paragraph explains a mechanism: unreliable services make driving attractive, while common starting times concentrate journeys.
- The solutions paragraph links each measure to a cause and develops a limitation instead of listing unrelated policies.
- The conclusion returns to the same argument without introducing a new cause.
Practise improving a vague solution
Weak sentence: The government should improve transport. Add an action, a mechanism and one implementation condition.
Show a possible revision
The city could introduce bus-priority lanes on congested routes, making journey times more reliable and encouraging some commuters to leave their cars at home. Enough buses would need to run during peak hours to accommodate the extra passengers.
The revision explains what changes, why it could help and what it requires. It avoids invented statistics or a claim that one policy solves every problem.
Check your answer before submitting
- Have you answered causes, effects or evaluation as the actual prompt requests?
- Does each solution address a problem already explained?
- Have you developed a few ideas rather than listed many?
- Are your examples relevant and your claims appropriately qualified?
- Does the conclusion match the position developed in the body?