There are many issues in the world which require an investigation about the causes, effects, and remedies. In IELTS Writing Task 2, a Problem Solution essay asks examinees to write about such things.
The Problem Solution essay will present you with a matter which is currently happening in the world. The question may ask any of the following things:
- The causes of the problem
- The effects of the problem
- Methods for prevention of the problem
- Solutions for the problem
Although these are called Problem Solution essay, sometimes the issue presented may not be an actual problem, but may simply be a situation which may have positive or negative implications.
Examples of Problem Solution Essay question
WRITING TASK 2
You should spend around 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
| A lot of fake news and erroneous information circulate on social media sites. Why is this the case? What problems does this cause and what can be done to solve them? |
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge and experience.
Write at least 250 words.
WRITING TASK 2
You should spend around 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
| In many countries of the world, the average age of the population is rising rapidly. What are the reasons for an ageing population? What are the effects of an ageing population? |
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge and experience.
Write at least 250 words.
WRITING TASK 2
You should spend around 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
| Many people love to have pet animals like dogs and cats in their homes. Why do people like to own pets? How can people with jobs take care of pets properly? |
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge and experience.
Write at least 250 words.
Format for IELTS Problem Solution Essay
How many paragraphs to write for a Problem Solution IELTS essay and what to write in them depends on how the question is worded.
As we have seen earlier, the Problem Solution essay question may ask any two or three of the following things:
- The causes of the problem
- The effects of the problem
- Methods for prevention of the problem
- Solutions for the problem
| Paragraphs | Format |
|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction |
| 2 | Body paragraph 1 |
| 3 | Body paragraph 2 |
| 4 | Body paragraph 3 |
| 5 | Conclusion |
As is customary in any format of essay writing, the first paragraph of a Problem Solution essay is the Introduction, while the last is the Conclusion. Most Problem Solution essay questions ask us about the causes of the problems and their solutions. In such questions, there should be two body paragraphs with a minimum of two ideas each.
In the same manner, sometimes causes, effects, and solutions are asked at once. In that case, we need three body paragraphs with at least two arguments in each.
Be careful about what is asked. The cause of a problem and the effects of a problem are separate things. Likewise, solution is different from prevention. Writing about things which the question has not asked, or omitting some parts of the question results in a lower score.
Expressing cause and effect in Problem Solution essay
The following words and phrases can be used to form sentences to express the cause and effect of something. Learn how to use them in order to secure high marks for the criteria of grammar for Problem Solution essay questions.
| due to | as a result of | leads to |
| caused by | causes | brought about by |
| brings about | accounts for | gives rise to |
| results in | owing to | on account of |
Examples sentences
People do not have time to take care of their pets at home due to their busy work schedule.
On account of trusting news on Facebook, many people have been scammed.
An ageing population may give rise to a shortage of manpower.
Obesity is caused by consuming too much packaged foods and sugary drinks.
Many people migrate to cities from towns and villages owing to lack of job opportunities.
Excessive use of social media brings about a decline in face-to-face interaction between people.
Offering solutions and preventive measures
The following are some handy words and phrases which help to create sentences where solutions to a problem can be expressed.
| to | so | in order to |
| so as to | so that | with the purpose of |
Example sentences
Twitter can employ factcheckers in order to prevent the spread of fake news.
People should allocate time to take their pet animals for walks so that the animals remain healthy and fit.
With the purpose of encouraging people to have more children, the government should provide child benefits.
Introduction paragraph for Problem Solution IELTS essay
Like any other Introduction paragraph in IELTS Writing Task 2, we should include the following things:
- Paraphrase the statements from the question
- Outline the problems and solutions
| A lot of fake news and erroneous information circulate on social media sites. Why is this the case? What problems does this cause and what can be done to solve them? |
| Introduction: |
|---|
| Inaccurate and bogus information appear on Facebook and Twitter all the time. This is occurring as a result of the ease of uploading any content on the internet without verification, leading unwary people to being manipulated or even defrauded. As far as I am concerned, adopting caution while reading and acting upon such news is the only solution. |
This paragraph fulfils all the requirement for a solid introduction. The topic of the essay has been stated at the beginning. Then, as the question asks, the cause of the problem, the effects, and the solutions have been suggested.
IELTS Problem Solution Essay: How to write body paragraphs?
The arguments which have been mentioned in the Introduction paragraph have to be developed in the body paragraphs.
It is advisable to form separate paragraphs for problems and solutions. It is best to include at least two distinct points for each part of the question.
Each of the body paragraph should begin with the main argument. The main argument then has to be explained. If you can think of relevant examples, then include them to elucidate the point.
Remember to use discourse markers when adding more points.
| A lot of fake news and erroneous information circulate on social media sites. Why is this the case? What problems does this cause and what can be done to solve them? |
| Example: |
|---|
| Introduction: Inaccurate and bogus information appear on Facebook and Twitter all the time. This is occurring as a result of the ease of uploading any content on the internet without verification, leading unwary people to being manipulated or even defrauded. As far as I am concerned, adopting caution while reading and acting upon such news is the only solution. Causes: The main culprit for the dissemination of fake news in social media is its universal accessibility. What I mean by this is that anyone anywhere in the world can create accounts on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter. Due to the lack of barrier to entry, provocateurs, pranksters, or even fraudsters spread misinformation. While some may take such information in jest, others may be negatively affected by relying on such news. On top of that, information does not need to be verifiably correct to appear on social sites. A real news from BBC looks the same as any fake news published by unscrupulous agents. Problems: There are several dire consequences which arise from the presence of misleading facts. If people are not cautious, they may be believing and acting upon false information. For example, in my hometown, the adverse effects of taking the vaccine against Covid-19 were blown out of proportion by some people on Facebook. As a result, many individuals were reluctant to get the immunization against the disease. In more benign instances, common people may be manipulated by organizations or politicians so as to garner support from them on various issues. I have seen a multitude of posts with false accusations against politicians or celebrities to garner fervor and hysteria against them. Solutions: How can we curb these problems? People should cultivate a habit of fact-checking from multiple sources to corroborate the veracity of news. Unless claims made in one social media post are substantiated, we should refrain from reacting to them, sharing them, or be influenced by them. Furthermore, Facebook and Twitter now have added the function of hiding or reporting fake information. |
Conclusion for Problem Solution Essay
The basic format of the Conclusion paragraph is same for all IELTS essays.
The points which were outlined in the Introduction paragraph and explained in the body paragraphs should be recapitulated in the final paragraph of the Problem Solution essay.
| A lot of fake news and erroneous information circulate on social media sites. Why is this the case? What problems does this cause and what can be done to solve them? |
| Example: |
|---|
| Introduction: Inaccurate and bogus information appear on Facebook and Twitter all the time. This is occurring as a result of the ease of uploading any content on the internet without verification, leading unwary people to being manipulated or even defrauded. As far as I am concerned, adopting caution while reading and acting upon such news is the only solution. Causes: The main culprit for the dissemination of fake news in social media is its universal accessibility. What I mean by this is that anyone anywhere in the world can create accounts on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter. Due to the lack of barrier to entry, provocateurs, pranksters, or even fraudsters spread misinformation. While some may take such information in jest, others may be negatively affected by relying on such news. On top of that, information does not need to be verifiably correct to appear on social sites. A real news from BBC looks the same as any fake news published by unscrupulous agents. Problems: There are several dire consequences which arise from the presence of misleading facts. If people are not cautious, they may be believing and acting upon false information. For example, in my hometown, the adverse effects of taking the vaccine against Covid-19 were blown out of proportion by some people on Facebook. As a result, many individuals were reluctant to get the immunization against the disease. In more benign instances, common people may be manipulated by organizations or politicians so as to garner support from them on various issues. I have seen a multitude of posts with false accusations against politicians or celebrities to garner fervor and hysteria against them. Solutions: How can we curb these problems? People should cultivate a habit of fact-checking from multiple sources to corroborate the veracity of news. Unless claims made in one social media post are substantiated, we should refrain from reacting to them, sharing them, or being influenced by them. Furthermore, Facebook and Twitter now have added the function of hiding or reporting fake information. Conclusion: To summarize, social media has become the home of fake news on account of its availability in the hands of virtually everyone on the planet. This gives rise to the propagation of scams and propaganda by fraudulent actors. Hence, we should never let our guards down when it comes to believing information on the internet. |
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