IELTS Problem and Solution Essay: Structure, Tips & Sample Answers
In a problem and solution essay, IELTS Writing Task 2 describes a problem and asks two questions: usually what causes it, and what can be done about it. This type is also called a causes and solutions essay. To score well, you must answer both questions and connect your solutions to the causes you describe.
On this page you will learn how to recognise the question, how to structure your essay, and how to plan it in a few minutes. You will also find a colour-coded band 7+ model essay, a real student essay corrected by an IELTS examiner, and practice questions to try yourself.
Marked by an IELTS examiner See a real student essay with every mistake corrected and explained Band 6.5, with the exact changes that would take it higher. Tap any correction to see why it was made.How to recognise a problem and solution question
The task describes a problem, then asks two questions. The first one is not always about causes, so read both carefully:
| Wording in the task | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| What are the causes of this? / Why is this happening? | Explain the main reasons for the problem. |
| What problems does this cause? / What are the effects? | Explain the results of the situation, not its causes. |
| What can be done? / What solutions can you suggest? | Suggest realistic measures and explain how they would work. |
If the two questions are about different things, for example a cause and your opinion, it is a two-part question. The structure is similar, but each question needs its own kind of answer.
Quick check: which of these are problem and solution questions?
Decide for each task, then open it to check.
Many young people are leaving the countryside to live in cities. What problems does this cause, and what can be done about them?Show answer
Yes. Problems (effects) and solutions. Note that the first question asks about problems, not causes.
More people are working from home. Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?Show answer
No. Advantages and disadvantages. You weigh both sides of a trend.
Obesity among children is increasing in many countries. What are the causes of this, and what measures could be taken to reduce it?Show answer
Yes. The classic version: causes, then solutions.
Some people think schools should teach practical skills, while others think academic subjects are more important. Discuss both views and give your opinion.Show answer
No. Discussion essay. Two views, then your opinion.
In many cities, there is not enough affordable housing. Why is this, and what can governments do to solve the problem?Show answer
Yes. “Why” asks for causes, and the second question asks for solutions.
Structure of a problem and solution essay
Four paragraphs and at least 250 words: one body paragraph for each question. The introduction should already tell the reader your main cause and your main solution.
| Paragraph | What to write | Words |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction | Paraphrase the problem, then answer both questions briefly in one sentence. | 40–50 |
| Body paragraph 1 | Causes (or effects): one or two, each explained, with an example. | 90–100 |
| Body paragraph 2 | Solutions: one or two realistic measures. Show how each one deals with a cause from paragraph 2. | 90–100 |
| Conclusion | Sum up the main cause and the main solution in different words. No new ideas. | 30–40 |
The strongest essays link the two halves: if lack of time is a cause, the solution should save people time. A solution that has nothing to do with your causes looks like a list of general ideas.
Brainstorm and make an outline before you write
Spend the first few minutes thinking, not writing. Note possible causes and solutions, then pair them up: for each cause you keep, find a solution that deals with it.
- 1
Read both questions
Is the first one about causes or effects? Underline exactly what each question asks.
- 2
Brainstorm causes
Note three or four reasons for the problem, then keep the two most important.
- 3
Match the solutions
For each cause, find a realistic solution: who should do what, and how it helps.
- 4
Leave time to check
Write for about 30 minutes, then use the last 5 to check articles, verb forms and spelling.
Write your ideas straight into the four paragraphs, as key words. Here is an example for this task:
Writing Task 2 Academic & General Training 40 minutes
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
In many cities, traffic congestion is getting worse.
What are the causes of this problem, and what measures could be taken to solve it?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
A few minutes of planning could give an outline like this:
- Intro
- cause: too many cars
solution: better buses, trains - Para 2
- Causes: more cars, people live far away
e.g. bus once an hour - Para 3
- Solutions: more buses, trains
fee to drive into the centre
e.g. London, Stockholm - Concl.
- better public transport
Band 7+ model essay
This essay follows the outline above, paragraph by paragraph. The colours show the parts that make it work:
- Answer the main cause and solution, at the start and the end
- Topic sentence one question per paragraph
- Example makes each point convincing
- Linking words show cause and effect
Traffic jams have become a daily frustration in cities around the world, wasting drivers’ time and polluting the air. The problem is mainly caused by rising car ownership and poor public transport, and I believe the most effective solutions are better buses and trains and a charge for driving into city centres.
The main cause of congestion is the growing number of private cars. As incomes rise, more families can afford a car, and many see it as more comfortable and flexible than public transport. At the same time, cities have spread outwards, so people often live far from where they work. In many suburbs, buses run only once an hour, which leaves residents with little choice but to drive. As a result, roads that were designed decades ago now carry far more vehicles than they were built for.
The most effective solution is to give people a real alternative to the car. Governments should invest in frequent and reliable bus and train services, especially between the suburbs and the city centre. In addition, a congestion charge, which drivers pay to enter the centre at busy times, can discourage unnecessary trips. London and Stockholm both introduced such a charge, and traffic in their centres fell noticeably. Finally, employers could allow flexible working hours, so that fewer people travel at the same time.
In conclusion, traffic congestion is largely the result of more cars and inadequate public transport. Better buses and trains, combined with charges for driving into city centres, would give cities the best chance of keeping traffic moving.
Why this essay works: the introduction answers both questions in one sentence, so the reader knows exactly where the essay is going. The solutions are linked to the causes: poor public transport is a cause, and better public transport is the main solution. Cause-and-effect language such as As a result and which leaves residents with little choice shows how one thing leads to another.
Useful phrases for causes and solutions
These are the phrases the model essay uses, plus a few alternatives. Learn two or three for each purpose, so you do not repeat the same one.
| Purpose | Phrases |
|---|---|
| Causes | The main cause of… is… / …is largely due to… / This is mainly because… |
| Effects | This leads to… / …results in… / As a result,… / …, which means that… |
| Solutions | The most effective solution would be to… / Governments should… / This problem could be tackled by… |
| Linking a solution to a cause | This would address the lack of… / If…, fewer people would… |
| Concluding | In conclusion,… is largely the result of… / To sum up, the best way to… is to… |
Try it yourself: practice questions
Now that you have seen how a band 7+ essay of this type is planned and written, try one yourself. Choose a question, set a timer for 40 minutes and follow the same steps: a few minutes of planning, about 30 minutes of writing and 5 minutes of checking.
- HealthObesity among children is increasing in many countries. What are the causes of this, and what measures could be taken to reduce it?
- HousingIn many cities, there is not enough affordable housing. Why is this, and what can governments do to solve the problem?
- EnvironmentLarge amounts of plastic end up in the oceans every year. What are the causes of this problem, and what solutions can you suggest?
- SocietyMany young people are leaving the countryside to live in cities. What problems does this cause, and what can be done about them?
- EducationIn some countries, many students leave school without basic reading and maths skills. Why is this happening, and how can it be solved?
- WorkMore and more people suffer from stress at work. What are the causes of this, and what can employers do about it?
- TechnologyMany people spend too much time on their phones. What problems does this cause, and what can be done to change it?
- CrimeCrime among young people is rising in many cities. What are the reasons for this, and what can be done to prevent it?
More questions with model essays by topic: Education, Technology, Environment, Crime. All 84 questions by topic →
Your checklist for every problem and solution essay
Use it in the last five minutes of the exam, or each time you practise. Any point you cannot tick is your next thing to improve.
Then read the real student essay below: you will probably recognise some of its mistakes in your own writing.
A real student essay, corrected by an IELTS examiner
A student wrote this essay, and an IELTS examiner marked it. Mistakes are in red and crossed out, and the examiner’s corrections are in green right after them. Hover over a correction, or tap it on your phone, to see why it was changed. Read it first, then see the feedback below.
Writing Task 2 Student essay 40 minutes
Write about the following topic:
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?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
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 ofon 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 foron 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 moremore 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 dealfor dealing with this issue. Secondly, not only should doctors be the ones who stand foradvise 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)
6.5
Examiner’s band scorefor the essay as written, before the corrections
What this essay teaches you
The examiner gave this essay band 6.5. Both questions are answered: busy lives, low prices and easy access explain why people eat fast food, and information campaigns and role models are suggested as solutions. The vocabulary is good (comes into play, time-saving, balanced eating), but the mistakes below are frequent. These types of mistake are common in many students’ essays, so they are worth learning:
| Pattern | In this essay | The rule |
|---|---|---|
| Articles | No the with nouns used in general. A singular countable noun needs a or the. | |
| Prepositions | spend time | Learn verbs with their prepositions: spend time on, dine on, advise on. |
| Verb patterns | made society | make + someone + adjective. become + noun or adjective, with no to. |
| Word choice | Phrasal verbs have fixed meanings. Check the meaning before you use one. |
Quiz: cause, effect and solution words
Problem and solution essays depend on a small set of words: due to, because of, lead to, result in, a solution to, affect and effect. They are easy to mix up. Choose the right word for each sentence. Every round picks 10 of 30 sentences at random, so play a few rounds.
Common mistakes in problem and solution essays
| Mistake | What to do instead |
|---|---|
| Answering only one question | Both questions carry equal weight. Give each its own developed paragraph. |
| Writing effects when the task asks for causes | Read the first question carefully. “Why is this happening?” asks for causes, not results. |
| Vague solutions | “The government should do something” is not a solution. Say who should do what, and how it would help. |
| Solutions that do not match the causes | Each solution should deal with a cause you described. This makes the essay feel like one connected answer. |
| Using “On the one hand… On the other hand” | These introduce two opposing views. For causes and solutions, use signals such as “There are several reasons why…” and “This could be tackled by…”. |
Problem and solution essay FAQ
Quick answers to the questions students ask most.
Do I need to give my opinion in a problem and solution essay?
Not directly, unless the task asks for it. But choosing the best solutions is your own judgement, so phrases such as “I believe the most effective solution is…” are natural.
How many causes and solutions should I write about?
One or two of each. A cause or solution that is explained with an example is worth more than a list of five.
What if the task asks about effects instead of causes?
Then write about effects. The structure stays the same: one paragraph for the effects or problems, one for the solutions.
Do the solutions have to match the causes?
It is not a rule, but it makes the essay much stronger. If a lack of time is a cause, a solution that saves people time is the most convincing answer.
How many words should the essay have?
At least 250 words. Most strong essays have 260–300 words. Writing much more takes time you need for checking.
