IELTS Problem Solution Essay Samples: 5 Band 9 Model Answers with Analysis

Introduction

Problem/Solution Essays are a distinctive IELTS Writing Task 2 format that tests your ability to analyze complex issues and propose practical remedies. Unlike opinion or discussion essays that focus on perspectives, problem/solution essays require you to demonstrate analytical thinking by identifying root causes and suggesting realistic, actionable solutions.

The hallmark of high-scoring problem/solution essays is specificity and practicality. Examiners look for candidates who can move beyond vague generalizations like "the government should do something" to propose concrete measures with clear implementation pathways. Your solutions should logically address the causes you've identified, creating a coherent cause-and-effect relationship throughout your essay.

Many candidates struggle with this essay type because they either identify superficial causes, propose unrealistic solutions, or fail to connect their solutions meaningfully to the problems they've outlined. Success requires thinking critically about underlying factors rather than surface symptoms, and suggesting solutions that could realistically be implemented within existing social, economic, and political constraints.

Typical Question Wording

Problem/Solution essays can be identified by these characteristic phrasings:

Direct Problem-Solution Format

·        "What problems does this cause? What solutions can you suggest?"

·        "What are the causes of this problem? How can this issue be addressed?"

·        "Why is this happening? What measures could be taken to solve this?"

Cause-Solution Format

·        "What are the reasons for this trend? What can be done to address it?"

·        "What factors contribute to this issue? What solutions would you recommend?"

Single-Focus Variations

·        "What can be done to solve this problem?"

·        "How can this issue be addressed?"

Key Recognition Tip: Look for questions asking about causes/reasons and solutions/measures. Some questions ask only for solutions without causes, though this is less common.

Strategy for Success

1. Identify 2-3 Root Causes (Not Symptoms)

Distinguish between underlying causes and surface-level symptoms to demonstrate analytical depth.

Symptom vs. Root Cause Example:

·        Topic: Youth unemployment

·        Symptom: "Young people can't find jobs"

·        Root Causes:

o    Educational systems not aligned with market demands

o    Economic recession reducing entry-level positions

o    Employers preferring experienced candidates

Strategy: Ask yourself "Why?" repeatedly until you reach fundamental causes rather than just describing the problem in different words.

2. Match Each Cause with a Logical Solution

Create clear cause-solution pairs that demonstrate coherent thinking. Each solution should directly address a specific cause you've identified.

Effective Pairing Example:

·        Cause: Educational curricula emphasize theoretical knowledge over practical skills

·        Solution: Integrate mandatory internship programs and industry partnerships into university degrees

Poor Pairing (No Clear Connection):

·        Cause: Young people lack work experience

·        Solution: The government should create more jobs (doesn't address the experience gap)

3. Keep Solutions Practical and Specific

High-band solutions include:

·        Specific actors: Who should implement this?

·        Clear actions: What exactly should be done?

·        Implementation details: How would this work in practice?

Vague Solution (Band 6): "The government should do more to help the environment."

Specific Solution (Band 9): "Governments could implement graduated carbon taxes that start at modest levels and increase annually over a decade, providing businesses with predictable timelines for transitioning to low-carbon operations while generating revenue for renewable energy subsidies."

5 Band 9 Sample Essays

Sample 1: Urban Overcrowding

Question: Many cities around the world are experiencing serious problems due to overcrowding. What are the main causes of this issue, and what solutions can you suggest?

Band 9 Model Answer:

Urban overcrowding has become one of the most pressing challenges facing modern cities, with megacities like Tokyo, Mumbai, and Mexico City struggling to accommodate rapidly expanding populations. This phenomenon stems from identifiable socioeconomic factors and requires coordinated policy interventions to address effectively.

The primary driver of urban overcrowding is rural-to-urban migration motivated by economic opportunity disparities. Rural areas in developing countries often lack adequate employment, educational facilities, and healthcare infrastructure, compelling residents to relocate to cities where these resources concentrate. In China, for example, an estimated 300 million people have migrated from rural provinces to urban centers over the past three decades seeking better-paying jobs and educational opportunities for their children. This mass migration overwhelms urban infrastructure designed for smaller populations, creating housing shortages, traffic congestion, and overburdened public services.

A secondary contributing factor is inadequate urban planning and zoning regulations that fail to anticipate or manage population growth. Many cities expand haphazardly without strategic development plans, resulting in inefficient land use, insufficient public transportation networks, and inadequate housing supply. When housing construction cannot keep pace with population growth, prices skyrocket and informal settlements proliferate, as evidenced by extensive slum development in cities like Mumbai and Lagos.

To address the root cause of rural-urban migration, governments must implement regional development policies that reduce economic disparities between rural and urban areas. This requires substantial investment in rural infrastructure, including roads, internet connectivity, healthcare facilities, and educational institutions. China's "New Rural Reconstruction" initiative demonstrates this approach by investing billions in rural development to make these areas economically viable, thereby reducing migration pressures on already overcrowded cities. Additionally, establishing industrial parks and economic zones in rural or secondary cities can distribute employment opportunities more evenly across regions.

Regarding inadequate urban planning, cities must adopt comprehensive long-term development strategies that include mixed-use zoning, expanded public transportation systems, and accelerated affordable housing construction. Singapore's success in managing population density through meticulous urban planning—including extensive public housing programs and integrated transport systems—provides a replicable model. Specifically, cities should streamline construction permits for residential buildings, incentivize vertical development in appropriate zones, and mandate that new developments include affordable housing units.

In conclusion, urban overcrowding primarily results from economic inequality between regions and insufficient urban planning. Solutions require both rural development to reduce migration pressures and strategic urban management to accommodate growth sustainably. Only through coordinated approaches addressing both causes can cities achieve sustainable population levels and improved quality of life.

(Word count: 403)

Analysis:

Task Response (Band 9): Comprehensively addresses both causes and solutions with clear, logical connections between them. Solutions are specific and practical with real-world examples (China, Singapore).

Coherence and Cohesion (Band 9): Excellent organization with causes presented first, then corresponding solutions. Clear topic sentences and effective transitions ("The primary driver," "A secondary factor," "To address"). Strong cause-solution pairing.

Lexical Resource (Band 9): Sophisticated vocabulary ("socioeconomic factors," "coordinated policy interventions," "haphazardly," "mixed-use zoning"). Precise terminology used naturally.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy (Band 9): Complex sentence structures with perfect accuracy. Wide variety of grammatical forms including relative clauses, participle phrases, and conditional constructions.

Sample 2: Digital Addiction

Question: Many people, especially young adults, spend excessive amounts of time on their smartphones and social media. What problems does this cause, and what solutions can you suggest?

Band 9 Model Answer:

Excessive digital device usage has emerged as a defining behavioral challenge of the 21st century, with studies indicating that average users check their phones over 150 times daily. This compulsive engagement generates significant psychological and social problems that demand targeted interventions.

The most serious consequence of digital addiction is its detrimental impact on mental health, particularly among adolescents and young adults. Constant social media exposure creates relentless social comparison opportunities, as users compare their everyday realities with carefully curated highlight reels of peers' lives, leading to anxiety, depression, and diminished self-esteem. Research published in the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology found that limiting social media use to 30 minutes daily significantly reduced depression and loneliness among participants. Furthermore, the dopamine-driven feedback loops engineered into social media platforms—likes, comments, and notifications—create genuine addictive responses comparable to gambling, making voluntary reduction extremely difficult for users.

Additionally, excessive screen time severely erodes face-to-face social skills and meaningful relationship quality. Young people increasingly substitute digital interactions for in-person connections, resulting in reduced empathy development, weakened communication abilities, and social anxiety in physical settings. Family relationships suffer when members physically present together remain mentally absorbed in digital devices, a phenomenon termed "phubbing" (phone snubbing) that research links to decreased relationship satisfaction and increased conflict.

Addressing the mental health dimension requires both individual behavioral strategies and platform-level design changes. Users should implement structured digital detox practices, such as designating phone-free periods during meals and before bedtime, utilizing app-blocking software during work hours, and physically removing devices from bedrooms to improve sleep quality. More fundamentally, regulatory bodies should mandate that social media platforms remove psychologically manipulative design features—particularly infinite scrolling, autoplay, and notification barrages engineered specifically to maximize engagement time. The European Union's proposed Digital Services Act represents movement in this direction by requiring platforms to allow users to disable addictive algorithmic recommendations.

To rebuild face-to-face social connections, educational institutions should integrate device-free periods into daily schedules and teach digital citizenship curricula that emphasize balanced technology use and in-person communication skills. Schools could designate phone-free zones in cafeterias and social areas, creating natural opportunities for direct interaction. Parents should model healthy device use by establishing family technology rules that apply equally to adults and children, such as mandatory phone-free family dinners and weekend outdoor activities.

In conclusion, digital addiction primarily causes mental health deterioration and social skill erosion. Effective solutions require both user-level behavioral modifications and systemic changes to platform design and institutional policies that prioritize human well-being over engagement metrics.

(Word count: 415)

Analysis:

Task Response (Band 9): Fully addresses problems and solutions with specific, practical recommendations. Clear connections between identified problems and proposed solutions.

Coherence and Cohesion (Band 9): Well-organized structure with problems presented before matched solutions. Effective discourse markers and logical progression throughout.

Lexical Resource (Band 9): Sophisticated vocabulary ("compulsive engagement," "dopamine-driven feedback loops," "phubbing," "engagement metrics"). Topic-specific terminology used precisely.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy (Band 9): Complex grammatical structures with perfect accuracy. Varied sentence patterns including nominalization, relative clauses, and participle constructions.

Sample 3: Climate Change

Question: Climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing humanity. What are the main causes of this problem, and what measures can be taken to address it?

Band 9 Model Answer:

Climate change represents an existential threat to human civilization, with global temperatures having risen approximately 1.2°C above pre-industrial levels and consequences including extreme weather events, sea level rise, and ecosystem collapse becoming increasingly evident. Understanding the fundamental drivers of this crisis is essential for formulating effective responses.

The predominant cause of climate change is greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel combustion for energy generation, transportation, and industrial processes. Coal-fired power plants, petroleum-powered vehicles, and natural gas heating systems collectively release over 35 billion tonnes of CO2 annually, creating an atmospheric blanket that traps heat and disrupts climate patterns. The energy sector alone accounts for approximately 75% of global emissions, making it the critical intervention point. This reliance on fossil fuels persists primarily because existing infrastructure represents trillions in invested capital that industries resist abandoning, and because fossil fuels remain economically competitive with renewables in many markets due to insufficient carbon pricing.

A secondary but substantial contributor is deforestation and land-use changes, particularly in tropical regions. Forests function as carbon sinks, absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere, yet an estimated 10 million hectares of forest are destroyed annually—primarily for agricultural expansion, logging, and urban development. The Amazon rainforest, which stores approximately 150 billion tonnes of carbon, has lost roughly 17% of its coverage over the past 50 years. This deforestation not only releases stored carbon but eliminates future absorption capacity, creating a dual negative impact.

To address fossil fuel dependence, governments must implement comprehensive carbon pricing mechanisms that make emissions economically costly, thereby incentivizing transition to clean energy. Carbon taxes or cap-and-trade systems should start at meaningful levels—economists suggest $50-100 per tonne—and increase predictably over time, allowing businesses to plan transitions while generating revenue for renewable energy subsidies and just transition programs for affected workers. Simultaneously, governments should mandate aggressive renewable energy targets and streamline permitting processes for wind and solar projects, while investing heavily in grid modernization to handle variable renewable output and energy storage technologies.

Concerning deforestation, a dual approach of financial incentives and strict regulation is necessary. International payment-for-ecosystem-services programs should compensate developing nations and landowners for forest preservation, as demonstrated by Costa Rica's successful PES program that reversed deforestation trends by paying landowners for maintaining forest cover. Concurrently, governments must enforce stringent penalties for illegal logging and land clearing, enhance monitoring through satellite technology, and establish protected conservation zones with adequate resources for enforcement.

In conclusion, climate change primarily stems from fossil fuel emissions and deforestation. Effective solutions require making emissions economically prohibitive through carbon pricing while accelerating clean energy transition, combined with protecting and restoring forests through financial incentives and robust enforcement mechanisms.

(Word count: 436)

Analysis:

Task Response (Band 9): Comprehensively addresses causes and solutions with specific, detailed measures. Solutions are practical and directly address identified causes.

Coherence and Cohesion (Band 9): Excellent structure with clear cause-solution pairing. Effective use of transitions and logical flow. Each paragraph maintains clear focus.

Lexical Resource (Band 9): Sophisticated environmental vocabulary ("greenhouse gas emissions," "carbon sinks," "cap-and-trade systems," "payment-for-ecosystem-services"). Precise technical terms used appropriately.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy (Band 9): Complex sentence structures with perfect grammar. Wide variety including relative clauses, participle phrases, and nominalization.

Sample 4: Youth Unemployment

Question: Youth unemployment is a serious problem in many countries. What are the main reasons for this, and what measures could be taken to reduce it?

Band 9 Model Answer:

Youth unemployment has reached crisis proportions in numerous countries, with rates exceeding 20% in several European nations and approaching 50% in parts of Africa and the Middle East. This phenomenon results from structural economic factors and educational system failures that require coordinated interventions across multiple sectors.

The primary cause is the mismatch between educational curricula and labor market requirements. Traditional education systems, particularly universities, often emphasize theoretical knowledge while neglecting practical skills employers actually seek. A philosophy graduate possesses abstract thinking abilities but may lack competencies in data analysis, project management, or digital tools that modern workplaces require. This skills gap means graduates cannot fill available positions even when job openings exist, creating simultaneous unemployment and labor shortages in technical fields. Furthermore, rapid technological advancement renders some educational programs obsolete before students graduate, as curricula update slowly while market demands evolve continuously.

A compounding factor is employers' preference for experienced candidates even for entry-level positions, creating a paradoxical barrier where young people cannot gain employment without experience but cannot acquire experience without employment. This experience requirement stems partly from employers' rational desire to minimize training costs by hiring immediately productive workers, and partly from economic conditions that reduce companies' willingness to invest in developing junior talent. During economic downturns, entry-level positions are often eliminated first, disproportionately affecting young job seekers.

To address the skills mismatch, educational institutions must forge stronger partnerships with industry to align curricula with market demands. Universities and vocational schools should integrate mandatory internship programs where students complete substantial work placements—ideally 6-12 months—during their studies, providing practical experience while establishing professional networks. Germany's dual vocational training system, which combines classroom education with apprenticeships and maintains youth unemployment below 7%, demonstrates this model's effectiveness. Additionally, educational institutions should establish industry advisory boards that regularly review and update curricula, ensuring programs teach relevant contemporary skills rather than outdated methodologies.

Regarding the experience paradox, governments should subsidize entry-level hiring through programs that reduce the financial risk employers face when hiring inexperienced workers. Wage subsidy programs could cover 30-50% of entry-level salaries for 6-12 months, making youth hiring economically attractive for businesses while allowing young workers to prove their value. Australia's Youth Jobs PaTH program provides such subsidies and has successfully placed thousands of young people in employment. Complementarily, governments could offer tax incentives to companies that maintain robust graduate training programs and achieve retention targets for young employees.

In conclusion, youth unemployment primarily stems from educational systems producing graduates with skills misaligned to market needs, combined with employer preferences for experienced workers. Solutions require educational reform emphasizing practical skills and work integration, alongside government incentive programs that make entry-level hiring economically favorable for businesses.

(Word count: 444)

Analysis:

Task Response (Band 9): Thoroughly addresses reasons and measures with specific, practical solutions. Clear connections between causes and solutions with real-world examples.

Coherence and Cohesion (Band 9): Excellent organization with causes analyzed first, then corresponding solutions. Smooth transitions and logical progression throughout.

Lexical Resource (Band 9): Sophisticated vocabulary ("structural economic factors," "skills mismatch," "paradoxical barrier," "retention targets"). Precise economic terminology.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy (Band 9): Complex sentence structures with perfect accuracy. Wide variety of grammatical forms including conditionals, relative clauses, and participial phrases.

Sample 5: Plastic Pollution

Question: Plastic pollution is damaging oceans and harming marine life. What are the causes of this problem, and what solutions would you suggest?

Band 9 Model Answer:

Plastic pollution has reached catastrophic proportions in marine environments, with an estimated 8 million tonnes entering oceans annually and microplastics now detected in the deepest ocean trenches and remotest waters. This environmental crisis stems from systemic issues in production, consumption, and waste management that require comprehensive solutions across the plastic lifecycle.

The fundamental cause of plastic pollution is the massive scale of single-use plastic production driven by convenience-oriented consumer culture and inadequate product design. Manufacturers produce over 400 million tonnes of plastic annually, with approximately 40% designated for single-use applications—packaging, bottles, bags, and containers used briefly then discarded. This throwaway culture emerged because plastics are extraordinarily cheap to produce and convenient to use, creating economic incentives favoring disposable products over reusable alternatives. Retailers and food service industries default to plastic packaging because it reduces costs and extends product shelf life, while consumers accept these materials due to habit and convenience without considering environmental consequences.

Compounding this production issue is inadequate waste management infrastructure, particularly in developing nations. Even when consumers attempt to dispose of plastic responsibly, many countries lack comprehensive recycling systems or proper landfill management. In nations across Southeast Asia and Africa, insufficient waste collection systems mean substantial plastic volumes enter waterways directly. Rivers essentially function as conveyances transporting terrestrial plastic waste to oceans, with ten river systems—including the Yangtze, Ganges, and Nile—accounting for approximately 90% of river-borne ocean plastic. Additionally, only 9% of all plastic ever produced has been recycled globally, meaning the vast majority persists in landfills or natural environments indefinitely.

Addressing overproduction requires regulatory frameworks that make producers financially responsible for their products' end-of-life management. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws should mandate that manufacturers pay fees proportional to the volume and recyclability of packaging they produce, creating economic incentives to reduce packaging and design for recyclability. Germany's packaging regulations successfully reduced waste by requiring producers to fund collection and recycling systems, demonstrating EPR's effectiveness. Furthermore, governments should ban specific problematic single-use plastics—including bags, straws, and polystyrene food containers—for which viable alternatives exist, as over 60 countries have already done with measurable success.

To address waste management deficiencies, wealthy nations and international organizations must provide substantial financial and technical assistance to develop comprehensive waste infrastructure in countries lacking it. This includes funding waste collection systems, recycling facilities, and proper landfills in nations currently contributing disproportionately to ocean plastic. The World Bank's investment in waste management projects across Southeast Asia exemplifies this approach. Simultaneously, implementing deposit-return systems for bottles and containers dramatically increases collection rates—Norway's system achieves 97% return rates—preventing these items from entering natural environments.

In conclusion, plastic pollution primarily results from excessive single-use plastic production and inadequate waste management infrastructure. Solutions require making producers financially accountable through EPR laws and single-use bans, while investing substantially in waste management systems in countries currently lacking them.

(Word count: 468)

Analysis:

Task Response (Band 9): Comprehensively addresses causes and solutions with specific, actionable measures. Strong use of examples and statistics. Clear cause-solution connections.

Coherence and Cohesion (Band 9): Excellent organization with causes thoroughly explained before corresponding solutions. Effective transitions and logical flow throughout.

Lexical Resource (Band 9): Wide-ranging sophisticated vocabulary ("convenience-oriented consumer culture," "throwaway culture," "Extended Producer Responsibility," "deposit-return systems"). Environmental terminology used precisely.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy (Band 9): Complex grammatical structures with perfect accuracy. Sophisticated use of relative clauses, participle phrases, and complex noun phrases.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Giving Vague Solutions ("Government Should Do More")

The Problem: The most common weakness in problem/solution essays is proposing generic, unspecific solutions that lack actionable detail.

Examples of Vague Solutions:

·        "The government should do more to help the environment."

·        "People need to be more responsible."

·        "We should raise awareness about this issue."

·        "Education is the key to solving this problem."

Why It Fails: These statements are so general they could apply to almost any problem. They don't demonstrate critical thinking or practical understanding of how solutions could actually be implemented.

How to Make Solutions Specific:

Add WHO, WHAT, and HOW:

Vague (Band 6): "The government should do more about plastic pollution."

Specific (Band 9): "Governments should implement Extended Producer Responsibility laws requiring manufacturers to pay fees proportional to their packaging volume, creating economic incentives to reduce plastic use and fund recycling infrastructure."

Key Elements Added:

·        Who: Governments, manufacturers

·        What: EPR laws with proportional fees

·        How: Creates economic incentives, funds recycling

·        Why: Reduces plastic use at source

2. Not Linking Solutions to Causes

The Problem: Proposing solutions that don't logically address the causes you've identified creates a disconnect that damages coherence.

Example of Poor Connection:

"Youth unemployment is caused by lack of job opportunities. To solve this, universities should improve their curricula."

The cause (insufficient jobs) and solution (better education) don't connect logically—better education doesn't create more jobs.

Example of Strong Connection:

"Youth unemployment stems from educational programs teaching outdated skills misaligned with market demands. To address this, universities should establish industry advisory boards that regularly review curricula and integrate mandatory 6-month internships, ensuring graduates possess skills employers actually seek."

The solution directly addresses the identified cause (skills mismatch).

Strategy: After writing each solution, ask yourself: "Does this solution directly address the specific cause I identified?" If not, revise either the cause or the solution to create logical pairing.

3. Overloading with Too Many Points

The Problem: Attempting to discuss too many causes and solutions results in superficial treatment of each point rather than deep analysis.

Example of Overload:

"Urban overcrowding is caused by: rural migration, high birth rates, lack of planning, economic inequality, poor transportation, insufficient housing, corruption, and inadequate infrastructure. Solutions include: better planning, more jobs, improved transport, housing construction, education, healthcare, rural development, and government reform."

Why It Fails: With 8 causes and 8 solutions, you cannot possibly develop any of them adequately in 250-350 words. This approach demonstrates breadth without depth.

Better Approach:

Focus on 2-3 main causes with thorough explanation and 2-3 corresponding solutions with implementation details. Quality over quantity.

Recommended Structure:

·        Paragraph 1: Cause 1 (thoroughly explained with examples)

·        Paragraph 2: Cause 2 (thoroughly explained with examples)

·        Paragraph 3: Solution to Cause 1 (specific, detailed)

·        Paragraph 4: Solution to Cause 2 (specific, detailed)

Or use a combined approach:

·        Paragraph 1: Causes 1 & 2 (explained)

·        Paragraph 2: Solutions to Causes 1 & 2 (detailed)

4. Confusing Symptoms with Root Causes

The Problem: Identifying surface-level symptoms rather than underlying causes demonstrates shallow analysis.

Example:

Topic: Obesity Symptom: "People are gaining weight" Root Causes: "Fast food availability, sedentary lifestyles due to increased screen time, aggressive food marketing to children"

Strategy to Find Root Causes: Ask "Why?" repeatedly:

·        Problem: Many people are obese

·        Why? → They consume too many calories

·        Why? → Fast food is convenient and heavily marketed

·        Why? → Modern lifestyles prioritize convenience, food companies maximize profits through addictive product formulation

The deeper "whys" reveal root causes rather than just describing the problem.

Practice Questions

Test your skills with these problem/solution essay prompts:

Practice Question 1

Many children today spend very little time playing outdoors and prefer indoor activities. What are the reasons for this trend, and what measures can be taken to encourage outdoor play?

Practice Question 2

Traffic congestion is becoming a serious problem in most cities. What are the main causes of this issue, and what solutions would you propose?

Practice Question 3

The gap between rich and poor is widening in many countries. What problems does this cause, and what can be done to address this issue?

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