Problem Solution Essay IELTS: Sample Questions, Tips, Topics

IELTS Writing section consists of two tasks; namely, IELTS Writing Task 1 and IELTS Writing Task 2. IELTS Writing Task 2 is called an IELTS essay. Problem solution essay IELTS, also known as cause and solution essay IELTS, is a frequently asked essay type on the IELTS exam. It is one of the most difficult essay genres, but it also gives you a chance to show that you can recognise problems and provide them with workable answers.

In this article on Problem Solution Essay IELTS, we will cover the following points:

• Overview of IELTS essay or IELTS Writing Task 2
• Problem Solution Essay IELTS Scoring Criteria
• Problem Solution Essay IELTS Topics
• Problem and Solution Essay IELTS Template
• Mistakes to Avoid on the Problem Solution Essay IELTS
• Problem Solution Essay IELTS Sample

IELTS Essay: An Overview

IELTS Writing consists of two tasks. The following points provide an overview of both the IELTS Writing tasks:

• IELTS Writing Task 1: On the IELTS writing task 1 for IELTS academic, candidates are required to write a summary of a given graph (bar, line, pie)/table/process in at least 150 words. It is advised that candidates do not spend more than 20 minutes on this task.
• IELTS Writing Task 2: On the IELTS writing task 2, candidates are required to write a discursive essay in an academic/semi-formal/neutral style of at least 250 words. It is advised that candidates spend around 40 minutes on an IELTS essay.

Problem Solution Essay IELTS Scoring Criteria

It is extremely critical for candidates to understand the IELTS essay scoring criteria as it will help them understand the requirements of the IELTS exam. Here are the 4 criteria based on which your IELTS problem solution essay will be evaluated:

• Task Response: It refers to addressing the problem that has been stated in the question rather than going off-track. You are expected to take a clear stand with well-articulated and clear ideas.
• Coherence and Cohesion: A coherent essay is one that has clarity and is properly structured. There should be logic, seamless flow, and integration of your ideas. A cohesive essay is one where cohesive devices and linking words such as connectors, conjunctions, etc. are appropriately used. Remember that the examiner should be able to understand your essay, its main idea, and the points that you want to convey to him/her.
• Lexical Resource: It refers to the appropriate and accurate usage of a range of vocabulary.
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy: When we discuss grammatical accuracy and range, we are speaking at the "sentence level." Your sentences should contain a variety of structures while also being accurate.

Problem Solution Essay IELTS Topics

IELTS problem solution essay questions cut across various topics. Some of these topics include Environment, Education, Traffic, Poverty, Health, etc. The following points provide an overview of the IELTS problem solution essay topics:

• Environment: Pollution, Climate Change, Deforestation, Loss of Wildlife, etc.
• Education: Quality of Education, Skewed Access to Education, Student Stress, etc.
• Health: Access to Healthcare, Affordability of Healthcare, Healthcare Quality, Nutrition, etc.
• Infrastructure: Inadequate Public Transport, Traffic Congestion, Issues with Particular Means of Transport, etc.
• Social Media: Social Media Addiction, Fake News, etc.
• Technology: Privacy, Cyberattacks, etc.
• Economic Issues: Inflation, Economic Growth, Recession, etc.

Cause and solution essay IELTS questions ask you to discuss a given problem/cause and then suggest solutions or ways to mitigate that problem:

• What is/are the problem(s)/cause(s)?
• How to solve/mitigate?

Now that you have a good overview of the problem and solution essay IELTS, let us move to a template and sample question.

Problem and Solution Essay IELTS Template

The table given below provides a problem solution essay IELTS template:

Problem Solution Essay IELTS Sample

This section of the article will focus on a problem solution essay IELTS sample:

Question: Non-recyclable home waste, such as plastic bottles, glass items, etc., is currently the most prevalent environmental concern. Why are people not recycling them and what could be done to mitigate its effects?

Solution:

Recycling common home objects like plastic bottles and glassware is an important activity that helps address the issue of inadequate solid environmental waste management. People, however, typically do not adhere to this environmentally friendly practice. This essay will concentrate on the causes of individuals not choosing to recycle household waste and how to solve this issue.

The absence of public understanding of such environmentally friendly practices is the most frequent reason why people choose not to recycle their home waste. People are ignorant about the advantages of recycling and the negative results of dumping all of their rubbish in one location. Furthermore, those who are aware of these environmentally friendly practices do not take the required steps to put them into practice out of inconvenience or because there are no incentives to do so. As a result, home waste is frequently not separated or recycled at the source.

It is crucial for local governments to run awareness-raising efforts explaining the environmental, financial, and social advantages of garbage recycling in order to motivate people to recycle household waste at the source. This can be accomplished with the assistance of community mobilisation, glow signs, hoardings, and brochures that concisely state the advantages of recycling rubbish vs not doing so. Additionally, it is crucial for local governments to make recycling simple for citizens by setting up the required small-scale infrastructure, such as bins, waste-collecting and recycling kiosks, etc., as well as by paying them for recycling their regular household waste.

To sum up, the main causes of low recycling rates are a lack of knowledge about the advantages of recycling household waste and people's resistance to doing the same. Positive benefits in this area will be seen quickly if individuals are given the appropriate information, financial incentives, and convenience of garbage recycling.

Problem Solution Essay IELTS Mistakes to Avoid

Here are some mistakes that you need to avoid while writing an IELTS problem solution essay:

• Not addressing the question prompt directly and going off-track.
• Writing too many problems and too many solutions without explaining them.
• Not having a proper flow in your essay by writing random problems and random solutions.
• Having no link between problems and solutions.

Now that students are aware of various aspects of cause and solution essay IELTS, it is advised that they practice well for their IELTS exam and score well. For help with university applications, students seeking to study abroad can contact our Shiksha Study Abroad Counsellors. The comments section below allows candidates to contact us as well.