This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of the number of animals and plants declining and the causes and solutions from the real IELTS exam.

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IELTS Essay: Breaking Traffic Laws

Not all drivers obey the laws while driving on roads.

What are the reasons for this?

What can be done to fix this problem?

It is very common globally for motorists to break the rules when driving. The reasons for this typically relate to personality and extreme situations and the best solutions involve various governmental regulations.

Individuals often do not follow traffic laws because of individual temperament and exceptional circumstances. Regarding the former reason, there are many who have a more rebellious attitude towards rules in general that may extend to all areas of their lives including driving. This could itself be the result of upbringing, hereditary factors, or societal influences. The second reason is an impaired state. These situations include being in a rush, driving under the influence of a drug such as alcohol, using a portable device while driving, and being tired. All these contexts imply that the breaking of the rules is a result of neglect rather than harmful intent.

In order to remedy these public safety hazards, governments must implement comprehensive, long-term reforms. The fastest fixes are stricter penalties for infractions. If the repercussions for speeding, for example, include jail time, then this will act as a powerful deterrent. However, it does little to address the root causes of misbehavior. To counter this, governments must regulate the advertising and distribution of alcoholic beverages. Most accidents are caused while individuals are under the influence and therefore any measures taken against the alcohol industry will likely have the greatest impact. The government can also legislate in other related areas including requirements for licenses, raising awareness of driving safety in schools, and limits on the hours truckers and taxis can drive to avoid driver fatigue.

In conclusion, the causes of rule-breaking on roads are personality and the situation and the ideal solutions come from government intervention. Individuals also play a role but governments can affect the greatest changes.

Analysis

1. It is very common globally for motorists to break the rules when driving. 2. The reasons for this typically relate to personality and extreme situations and the best solutions involve various governmental regulations.

  1. Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
  2. Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.

1. Individuals often do not follow traffic laws because of individual temperament and exceptional circumstances. 2. Regarding the former reason, there are many who have a more rebellious attitude towards rules in general that may extend to all areas of their lives including driving. 3. This could itself be the result of upbringing, hereditary factors, or societal influences. 4. The second reason is an impaired state. 5. These situations include being in a rush, driving under the influence of a drug such as alcohol, using a portable device while driving, and being tired. 6. All these contexts imply that the breaking of the rules is a result of neglect rather than harmful intent.

  1. Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
  2. Explain your main idea.
  3. Develop it with specific examples.
  4. Keep developing it fully.
  5. You can have some long sentences like this to really argue your point.
  6. State the fullest possible result.

1. In order to remedy these public safety hazards, governments must implement comprehensive, long-term reforms. 2. The fastest fixes are stricter penalties for infractions. 3. If the repercussions for speeding, for example, include jail time, then this will act as a powerful deterrent. 4. However, it does little to address the root causes of misbehavior. 5. To counter this, governments must regulate the advertising and distribution of alcoholic beverages. 6. Most accidents are caused while individuals are under the influence and therefore any measures taken against the alcohol industry will likely have the greatest impact. 7. The government can also legislate in other related areas including requirements for licenses, raising awareness of driving safety in schools, and limits on the hours truckers and taxis can drive to avoid driver fatigue.

  1. Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
  2. Explain your new main idea.
  3. Include specific details and examples.
  4. Continue developing it…
  5. as fully as possible!
  6. Try some longer sentences to show off your grammatical range.
  7. Conclude with a strong statement and more detail.

1. In conclusion, the causes of rule-breaking on roads are personality and the situation and the ideal solutions come from government intervention. 2. Individuals also play a role but governments can affect the greatest changes.

  1. Summarise your main ideas.
  2. Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.

Vocabulary

What do the words in bold below mean? Make some notes on paper to aid memory and then check below.

It is very common globally for motorists to break the rules when driving. The reasons for this typically relate to personality and extreme situations and the best solutions involve various governmental regulations.

Individuals often do not follow traffic laws because of individual temperament and exceptional circumstances. Regarding the former reason, there are many who have a more rebellious attitude towards rules in general that may extend to all areas of their lives including driving. This could itself be the result of upbringing, hereditary factors, or societal influences. The second reason is an impaired state. These situations include being in a rush, driving under the influence of a drug such as alcohol, using a portable device while driving, and being tired. All these contexts imply that the breaking of the rules is a result of neglect rather than harmful intent.

In order to remedy these public safety hazards, governments must implement comprehensive, long-term reforms. The fastest fixes are stricter penalties for infractions. If the repercussions for speeding, for example, include jail time, then this will act as a powerful deterrent. However, it does little to address the root causes of misbehavior. To counter this, governments must regulate the advertising and distribution of alcoholic beverages. Most accidents are caused while individuals are under the influence and therefore any measures taken against the alcohol industry will likely have the greatest impact. The government can also legislate in other related areas including requirements for licenses, raising awareness of driving safety in schools, and limits on the hours truckers and taxis can drive to avoid driver fatigue.

In conclusion, the causes of rule-breaking on roads are personality and the situation and the ideal solutions come from government intervention. Individuals also play a role but governments can affect the greatest changes.

Answers

For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:

common globally happens all around the world

motorists people who drive

break the rules not obey the law

typically relate to usually have to do with

personality your character

extreme situations rare contexts

best solutions ideal fixes

involve have to do with

various governmental regulations many government laws

do not follow traffic laws disobey traffic rules/laws

individual temperament a person’s character

exceptional circumstances rare instances

regarding the former as it relates to the first mentioned reason

rebellious attitude defiant personality

in general overall

extend to include

be the result of upbringing because of how you were raised

hereditary factors genetics

societal influences the effects of others

impaired state drunk, under the influence, tired, emotional, etc.

being in a rush being in a hurry

driving under the influence of a drug driving drunk, high, etc.

alcohol beer, wine, etc.

using a portable device smartphones

contexts imply situations mean

neglect not paying attention to

harmful intent desiring to hurt

in order to remedy so that it can be fixed

public safety hazards not good for the public

implement comprehensive enact total

long-term reforms changes that take place over a long time

fastest fixes more immediate solutions

stricter penalties harsher punishments

infractions breaking the rules

repercussions implications

speeding driving too fast

jail time going to prison

powerful deterrent strong way of dissuading people

address the root causes handle the main reasons/sources

misbehavior not behaving well

counter fight against

advertising and distribution of alcoholic beverages ads for and selling of beer, wine, etc.

accidents collisions

under the influence using a drug

measures steps

alcohol industry companies that make alcoholic beverages

greatest impact most effect

legislate make laws, rules

requirements for licenses stipulations to be able to drive

raising awareness of know more about

driving safety how safe you are when driving

limits boundaries

truckers people who transport goods

taxis Ubers, cars for tourists, etc.

avoid driver fatigue not get too tired

rule-breaking not obeying the law

ideal perfect

intervention interfering

play a role do something

affect the greatest changes have the most impact

Pronunciation

Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:

ˈkɒmən ˈgləʊbəli 
ˈməʊtərɪsts 
breɪk ðə ruːlz 
ˈtɪpɪk(ə)li rɪˈleɪt tuː 
ˌpɜːsəˈnælɪti 
ɪksˈtriːm ˌsɪtjʊˈeɪʃənz 
bɛst səˈluːʃənz 
ɪnˈvɒlv 
ˈveərɪəs ˌgʌvənˈmɛntl ˌrɛgjʊˈleɪʃənz
duː nɒt ˈfɒləʊ ˈtræfɪk lɔːz 
ˌɪndɪˈvɪdjʊəl ˈtɛmpərəmənt 
ɪkˈsɛpʃənl ˈsɜːkəmstənsɪz
rɪˈgɑːdɪŋ ðə ˈfɔːmə 
rɪˈbɛljəs ˈætɪtjuːd 
ɪn ˈʤɛnərəl 
ɪksˈtɛnd tuː 
biː ðə rɪˈzʌlt ɒv ˈʌpˌbrɪŋɪŋ
hɪˈrɛdɪtəri ˈfæktəz
səˈsaɪətl ˈɪnflʊənsɪz
ɪmˈpeəd steɪt
ˈbiːɪŋ ɪn ə rʌʃ
ˈdraɪvɪŋ ˈʌndə ði ˈɪnflʊəns ɒv ə drʌg 
ˈælkəhɒl
ˈjuːzɪŋ ə ˈpɔːtəbl dɪˈvaɪs 
ˈkɒntɛksts ɪmˈplaɪ 
nɪˈglɛkt 
ˈhɑːmfʊl ɪnˈtɛnt
ɪn ˈɔːdə tuː ˈrɛmɪdi 
ˈpʌblɪk ˈseɪfti ˈhæzədz
ˈɪmplɪmənt ˌkɒmprɪˈhɛnsɪv
ˈlɒŋtɜːm ˌriːˈfɔːmz
ˈfɑːstɪst ˈfɪksɪz 
ˈstrɪktə ˈpɛnltiz 
ɪnˈfrækʃənz
ˌriːpɜːˈkʌʃənz 
ˈspiːdɪŋ
ʤeɪl taɪm
ˈpaʊəfʊl dɪˈtɛrənt
əˈdrɛs ðə ruːt ˈkɔːzɪz 
ˌmɪsbɪˈheɪvjə
ˈkaʊntə 
ˈædvətaɪzɪŋ ænd ˌdɪstrɪˈbjuːʃən ɒv ˌælkəˈhɒlɪk ˈbɛvərɪʤɪz
ˈæksɪdənts 
ˈʌndə ði ˈɪnflʊəns 
ˈmɛʒəz 
ˈælkəhɒl ˈɪndəstri 
ˈgreɪtɪst ˈɪmpækt
ˈlɛʤɪsleɪt 
rɪˈkwaɪəmənts fɔː ˈlaɪsənsɪz
ˈreɪzɪŋ əˈweənəs ɒv 
ˈdraɪvɪŋ ˈseɪfti 
ˈlɪmɪts 
ˈtrʌkəz 
ˈtæksɪs 
əˈvɔɪd ˈdraɪvə fəˈtiːg
ruːl-ˈbreɪkɪŋ 
aɪˈdɪəl 
ˌɪntə(ː)ˈvɛnʃən
pleɪ ə rəʊl 
əˈfɛkt ðə ˈgreɪtɪst ˈʧeɪnʤɪz

Vocabulary Practice

I recommend getting a pencil and piece of paper because that aids memory. Then write down the missing vocabulary from my sample answer in your notebook:

It is very c____________________y for m_____________s to b______________s when driving. The reasons for this t__________y r___________o p____________y and e___________________s and the b_______________s i___________e v___________________________s.

Individuals often d_________________________s because of i_______________________t and e__________________________s. R_____________________r reason, there are many who have a more r______________________e towards rules i_______________l that may e_____________o all areas of their lives including driving. This could itself b____________________________________g, h__________________s, or s_____________________s. The second reason is an i________________e. These situations include b_______________h, d____________________________________g such as a_________l, u_________________e while driving, and being tired. All these c________________y that the breaking of the rules is a result of n__________t rather than h________________t.

I______________________y these p________________________s, governments must i________________________e, l_______________________s. The f_______________s are s_________________s for i______________s. If the r______________s for s____________g, for example, include j____________e, then this will act as a p_____________________t. However, it does little to a_________________________s of m________________r. To c________r this, governments must regulate the a_________________________________________________s. Most a___________s are caused while individuals are u_______________e and therefore any m__________s taken against the a___________________y will likely have the g___________________t. The government can also l______________e in other related areas including r_____________________s, r___________________________________y in schools, and l_________s on the hours t____________s and t______s can drive to a______________________e.

In conclusion, the causes of r__________________g on roads are personality and the situation and the i________l solutions come from government i__________________n. Individuals also p____________e but governments can a_________________________s.

Listening Practice

Learn more about this topic in the video below and practice with these activities:

Reading Practice

Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:

https://www.businessinsider.com/travel-tip-driving-laws-for-countries-around-the-world-2019-7

Speaking Practice

Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:

Public Transport (Model answer available on my Patreon)

  1. Does your city use a lot of public transport?
  2. When was the last time you used public transport?
  3. Will you still use public transport in the future?
  4. What would you like to change about the public transport in your city?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS essay topic below:

Some people believe that the best way to increase the road safety is to increase the minimum legal age for driving cars.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

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