In these type of questions, instead of discussing the causes of a problem, you need to discuss the problems related to a particular issue in society, and then suggest what can be to solve these problems:
Problem Solution Essay Example: Immigration
This problem solution essay example is about the issue of professionals leaving their own developing countries to go and work abroad in more developed countries.
This is the question:
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?
Brainstorming Relevant Ideas
For this IELTS problem solution essay example question you need to brainstorm the kinds of problems that developing countries will face if they start to lose important workers, such as doctors and teachers.
Remember you need to make sure you relate your ideas specifically to the question and you mustn't make them too general. Simply saying that there will not be enough workers left in the developing country is not enough as a developed country could face these same problems.
For instance, in the UK there has been a loss of doctors, who have moved to other countries for better work conditions. So you need to make sure you specifically relate your response to the issue of developing nations.
When you brainstorm solutions, you should again not make them too general. Try to think of some specific ideas with detail.
Problem Solution Essay Example
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
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?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own experience or knowledge.
Write at least 250 words.
Model Answer:
The primary goal of many people is to provide for their families. However, for poorer nations, what that often means is that many experienced professionals end up seeking a better life in the more developed nations. Though this can cause problems there are measures to mitigate the issues that arise.
The main problem of this exodus of workers is that the poorer countries often lose their top specialists and are left with novices. These professionals often have the skills and ideas to significantly boost the economy, which is important to improve the standard of living of its residents. The loss of these workers is why developed countries keep improving while the poorer countries remain stagnant. Aside from the brain drain, the other issue is the lack of needed personnel. With so many people exiting the country or leaving their jobs to fulfil the requirements to work abroad, there is often a void in the workplace. For example, in many developing countries, hospitals and schools are often understaffed, causing a decline in services.
Though such problems have been going on for quite some time, there are plausible solutions. The first is to offer what the migrating professionals are looking for: proper compensation and benefits. Doing this will require a lot of coordination and possible tax breaks to make things work, but the results will be well worth it if the talented and experienced workers can stay. The second solution is to prevent workers from leaving until they have served the country for several years. Thus, should the experts go, at least the people left behind will not be fresh graduates anymore. Most governments spend much on their citizens' safety and basic needs and, therefore, it is right that the workers first contribute to their economy before being allowed to leave.
In summary, while it is good that the global economy requires workers from all corners of the world, it is not ideal that poorer countries suffer because of it. The public and private sectors need to work together to mitigate this problem before it is too late.
(339 words)
Comments
The problem solution essay example meets the requirements of the task as it discusses both problems and solutions and uses ideas and examples to support the various points.
The response also ensures that the problems are related to issues of developing countries.
There are good examples of topic-related words and phrases:
- exodus of workers
- top specialists
- novices
- standard of living
- personnel
- void in the workplace
- understaffed
- served the country
- contribute to their economy
There is also a good mix of grammatical structures in this problem solution essay example and a variety subordinate/dependent clauses. For example:
- These professionals often have the skills and ideas to significantly boost the economy, which is important to improve the standard of living of its residents. (relative clause)
- The loss of these workers is why developed countries keep improving, while the poorer countries remain stagnant. (noun clause and adverbial clause)
- Though such problems have been going on for quite some time, there are plausible solutions. (adverbial clause)
- ....the results will be well worth it if the talented and experienced workers can stay. (adverbial clause)
- The second solution is to prevent workers from leaving until they have served the country for a few years. (adverbial clause)
If you are a weaker candidate you should aim for fewer than the 339 words in this essay as you will not have time to write this much with such accurate grammar.
Competing for Jobs Essay
This IELTS essay is about the competition for jobs between younger and older people.
The way that the question is posed in this essay can often cause problems for students. Take a look at the question:
Nowadays more and more older people who are looking for work have to compete with younger people for the same jobs.
What problems does this cause?
What are some possible solutions?
Understanding the Task
So there are two parts to the question, but in the first part should you be talking about problems or causes as both are mentioned?
It’s common for students to make errors in answering the question because they rush to start writing without spending a few minutes analysing the question.
If you look carefully you should see that you need to write about the problems that arise if older people have to compete for jobs with younger people, not the causes of having to compete, even though the word 'causes' is in the question.
Also, the question is focused around the problems for ‘older people who are looking for work’. You'll likely then want to focus on the potential problems for older people, not younger people, as the question is implying that the issue is for the former.
Organisation
And don’t forget that there are two parts to the question:
- Problems
- Solutions
So it is a good idea to brainstorm two problems and think of solutions to those. You could organise your essay in one of two ways:
- Body Paragraph 1: problem – solution
- Body Paragraph 2: problem – solution
Or
- Body Paragraph 1: problem x 2
- Body Paragraph 2: Solution/s
Now take a look at the model answer:
Job Competition Model Essay
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
Nowadays more and more older people who are looking for work have to compete with younger people for the same jobs.
What problems does this cause?
What are some possible solutions?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own experience or knowledge.
Write at least 250 words.
Competing for Jobs Essay
It is common these days for older people who need employment to compete with people much younger for the same type of work. While this can create problems, there are steps that can be taken to reduce the impacts.
The main problem is that older people may find it more difficult to secure work, which arises because younger people are more likely to have up-to-date qualifications and experience. For example, information technology is integral to a variety of jobs these days and the skills needed for this are rapidly changing. Young people may well have recent knowledge through university or through using technology in their leisure time. If older people cannot secure work, this leads to other problems. As they are likely to have a family to support, they may not have an adequate income to provide for their children’s education or other such necessities.
It is the government that needs to take measures to ameliorate such problems. This needs to begin with ensuring that older people have all the skills needed to compete in the job market, which could be achieved by providing free training on the most important job requirements at local community colleges, for example. In addition to this, the government needs to encourage employers to change their employment practices by promoting the value of experience that older workers can bring to a job.
To conclude, the main issue with competition for work between these groups is that older people may start to find it more difficult to find work. However, despite this, through the right training and changes to recruitment practices, older people can compete on an equal footing to the younger generation in the jobs market.
(282 Words)
Comments
Task Achievement
The essay addresses all parts of the task as it explains the problems in paragraph one and the solutions in paragraph two. The main ideas are well-developed and supported.
All the ideas presented are directly related to the questions asked and the writer does not go off-topic.
Coherence and Cohesion
The essay is also organised logically as it introduces the topic and sets out the thesis in the introduction. Each body paragraph then has a central topic (problems in body one and solutions in body two), and the essay finishes with a conclusion that summarises the main ideas presented.
A range of cohesive devices are also used well so the essay can be read with ease and all the ideas, sentences and paragraphs are linked together well.
Lexical Resource
There is a wide range of vocabulary used which is related to the topic and the writer uses collocations well.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
The grammar is very accurate and there is a wide range of sentence structures used. There are plenty of examples complex sentence structures used correctly which are important for a good score. For example:
- While this can create problems, there are steps that can be taken to reduce the impacts.
- If they cannot secure work, this leads to other problems.
- As older people are likely to have a family to support, they may not have an…
- This needs to begin with ensuring that older people have…
IELTS Overpopulation Essay
This model essay is about overpopulation in cities. You specifically have to talk about the problems of overpopulation, and suggest some solutions to this problem.
Note that this question specifically asks you what governments and individuals can do.
Here is the question:
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.
Organising a Problems & Solutions Essay
Note that this overpopulation essay question specifically asks you what governments and individuals can do.
You MUST, therefore, write about what both of these can do in order to fully answer the question.
Note as well that you must talk about serious problems.
The easiest way to organize a problems and solutions essay is as follows:
Body 1: Problems
Body 2: Solutions
In this essay, a separate paragraph has been written about government and individual solutions, so it is organized as follows:
Body 1: Problems
Body 2: Solutions - Government
Body 3: Solutions - Individuals
Model Essay
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
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.
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own experience or knowledge.
Write at least 250 words.
IELTS Overpopulation Essay - Sample Answer
Many countries of the world are currently experiencing problems caused by rapidly growing populations in urban areas, and both governments and individuals have a duty to find ways to overcome these problems.
Overpopulation can lead to overcrowding and poor quality housing in many large cities. Poorly heated or damp housing could cause significant health problems, resulting in illness, such as bronchitis or pneumonia. Another serious consequence of overcrowding is a rising crime rate as poor living conditions may lead young people in particular to take desperate measures and turn to crime or drugs.
In terms of solutions, I believe the government should be largely responsible. Firstly, it is vital that the state provides essential housing and healthcare for all its citizens. Secondly, setting up community projects to help foster more community spirit and help keep young people off the street is a good idea. For example, youth clubs or evening classes for teenagers would keep them occupied. Finally, more effective policing of inner city areas would also be beneficial.
Naturally, individuals should also try to address these problems. One way is to put pressure on the government to ensure they tackle the problems by, for instance, forming action groups to lobby the government and request intervention and adequate funding. They could also form Neighbourhood Watch areas to try and help reduce the high levels of crime.
Therefore, it is clear that the problems caused by overpopulation in urban areas are very serious. Yet if governments and individuals share a collective responsibility, then it may well become possible to offer some solutions.
(260 words)