Of all the questions students come across in their IELTS exams every year, the problem/solutions essay questions are the most challenging ones. The way they are presented in the question paper is often difficult to comprehend by a majority of students.
What these questions expect you to do is write about a problem, its cause and effect, along with providing a reasonable and logical solution to the issue posed. There might be a few times where you will only be asked to pen down suitable solutions to the problems, and not the other way around!
It is very important that you are able to analyze what the examiner expects from you. Let’s understand the problem/solution essay questions step by step and learn how to answer them better!
What are problem/solution essay questions?
Problem/solution essay question is a part of the writing task two in almost every IELTS exam. The questions are based on a contemporary statement, that is going to be followed by two questions. You will be required to identify the problem, the cause of the problem, and suggest a desirable solution to the same problem.
To answer a problem/solution essay question, you must analyze the question in advance, carefully in order to understand what is required to be done. In order to gain an edge over the others in the exams, it is expected that you highlight the keywords and your opinions in the answer sheet.
A typical problem/solution essay question will look like the following:
In the developed world, average life expectancy is increasing.
What problems will this cause for individuals and society?
Suggest some measures that could be taken to reduce the impact of ageing populations.
The problem/solution essay questions need to be started with proper planning. You should carefully format the answer in your mind before you begin penning down your thoughts. You should have all the points clearly in front of you, including the main causes and the desired solution, only then can you sufficiently answer the question.
Marking criteria
The marketing criteria for all the answers in any writing task in your IELTS exam, including the problem/solution essay will be based on the following four basis:
1. Task response
Your score under this criterion will depend on how well you are in terms of paying attention to the requirements of the question. It will also depend on your skills being relevant in terms of the questions. Going off-topic and not making sense will only lead you to a lower score spectrum.
2. Cohesion and coherence
Concisely crafted pieces, written in not more than four paragraphs with a logically central idea is what your examiner is looking for. Your score in this criterion depends on your ability to present your ideas in a structured manner, with the right linking words supporting the body of the written piece and having a central topic flowing in a particular paragraph.
3. Lexical resources and vocabulary
You can score well in this particular section by keeping in mind just three things:
1. Your ability to use appropriate words
2. Your ability to use the words in their right collocative manner
3. And, your ability to spell those words right.
These three tips will go a long way as far as this particular section is concerned.
4. Grammar range and accuracy
Errors must not be made in the most common grammar rules. You must avoid using the wrong tenses and the wrong verbs as much as possible. Also, you must not forget to focus on the sentence structure and syntax, word order in the sentence, as well as the correct punctuation marks.
Each criterion carries a 25% weightage in order to determine your final score for that answer.
How to answer a problem/solution essay question
A problem/solution answer is crafted out of three basic elements:
- An introduction
- Two main paragraphs
- And, a conclusion
Your introduction must consist of three sentences.
- First, you will have to present a background statement, that is going to be a general statement highlighting the problem presented in the question.
- The second sentence will be the paraphrasing of the question, i.e. rewriting the question in our own words.
- The third part of the introduction involves a thesis statement presented by you. In this statement, you need to explain to the examiner what your goals are regarding the upcoming answer. The ideas that you are going to be presenting in the following body paragraphs should be presented here in a brief manner.
Once you are done with your introduction, it is now time to begin writing the main body paragraphs to your answer.
Body paragraphs will be divided into two parts, consisting of a few sentences each.
In the first body paragraph, you must begin writing about the prominent problem that is present in the question itself. You should explain the problem, talk about the key points, and support those relevant points with accurate examples. Finally, when you move on to the second body paragraph, you must end the first paragraph with a closing statement, i.e. the sentence that is going to act as a transition between the two paragraphs.
The second body paragraph will have you writing about the possible solutions to the problems presented in the question. You need to explain your viewpoints, explain them clearly and diligently, and support your opinions with a logical explanation and an example. You will not tie up all the loose ends and end the second body paragraph with a closing statement.
Your conclusion must be simple, crisp, and all-inclusive.
Your problem/solution essay answer will end with a conclusion that will wrap up the final answer to this task. Your conclusion must begin with phrases like “To conclude” or “To sum up” and so on. This will be followed up by briefly describing what solutions and problems you talked about in your essay, or you could also again paraphrase the question supporting it with the solution briefly.
There is no specific requirement to actually state your opinion on the problem/solution essay questions in the IELTS exam. However, it is recommended that you are offering your opinions or recommendations at least in the final conclusion paragraph, instead of the introduction paragraph.
Planning ahead
Before beginning to write your answer down, you must plan in advance correctly.
You must analyze the question once you read it, before starting to pen down your thoughts randomly. Comprehending the question gives you the idea of what is expected out of you for that particular question. Frame out the structure of your answer correctly, in your mind, before you begin writing.
Ensure you are using keywords present in the question prompt and the keywords are being highlighted properly. You lose the edge over other candidates when you are not undertaking the practice of not highlighting the keywords.
Use formal language, brainstorm all the ideas, opinions, and keywords before you start writing, without having to push yourself to get the best answer.
Avoid making spelling mistakes, or grammatical errors. Even if you do not have the best answers, avoiding spelling mistakes and grammatical errors are going to give you an edge over the others.
Write fast. Write as fast as you can, of course in a legible manner.
What should you not do?
- There are multiple things that you must avoid doing while presenting your answer to a problem/solution essay question.
- Answering the question without having supporting explanations, arguments, or examples. Always, always ensure that you have explanations and examples that support your arguments in the answer.
- Not being able to answer all parts to the question. Always make sure you are answering both parts presented in the question. Avoid skipping any one part. There are two parts present in the question for a reason, never skip a part. To avoid this mistake, always spare a few minutes to plan your answer in advance.
- Avoid repeating words in your answer. Broaden your vocabulary horizon, ensure you are using different synonyms, wherever possible, throughout the essay.
- Do not exceed the word limit to your answer. Stick to the safe zone as far as the number of words is concerned. Though there is no upper cap, still stick to a healthy word limit, i.e. 260-280 words.
- Structuring your essay correctly is extremely important. Not being able to follow the basic structure of your essay reflects the lack of planning. Planning your answer in advance will lead you to have a cohesive and coherent answer, following the framework that is required.
Follow our YouTube channel “Unlock IELTS with Richa” for more such great tips and tricks to crack your upcoming IELTS exam in an easy way. All the best!
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