This is my IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of improving public health from the real IELTS exam.

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IELTS Essay: Improving Public Health

Some people say that to prevent illness and disease, governments should focus more on reducing environmental pollution and housing problems.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Certain concerned parties today contend that the optimal means of improving public health is to confront pressing environmental and housing problems. In my opinion, though these solutions would be helpful, it is more important to prioritize proper nutrition.

On the one hand, there are current issues concerning housing and the environment that impact health. Many illnesses and conditions are either directly or indirectly related to one’s environment. For instance, a person who lives in an overcrowded metropolis such as Hanoi or Beijing must deal on a daily basis with the immediate dangers of air pollution, potential drinking water contamination, car accidents, and elevated crimes rates. If there were fewer individuals in these cities and the air was cleaner because there were more open, green areas, then it is probable that hospitals would be able to focus more on a reduced number of patients.

On the other hand, there are various causes for diseases and the primary one is poor nutrition. In the last several decades, lifespans globally have increased exponentially, largely as a result of advances in medical science and greater understanding of the human body. A standout example of this would be the plant-based diets that are widely recommended by most nutritionists. A person who consumes little meat, reduces their carbohydrate intake, and mostly does not eat sugar will drastically lower the risk of conditions ranging from diabetes and heart disease to Alzheimer’s and cancer. National health authorities can widely and effectively address these health problems by legislating the levels of unhealthy ingredients in food products.

In conclusion, those in favor of combatting housing and environmental problems make legitimate arguments though improving the average citizen’s diet is in fact the best guarantee of good health. Naturally, governments should pursue a balanced policy.

Analysis

1. Certain concerned parties today contend that the optimal means of improving public health is to confront pressing environmental and housing problems. 2. In my opinion, though these solutions would be helpful, it is more important to prioritize proper nutrition.

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

1. On the one hand, there are current issues concerning housing and the environment that impact health. 2. Many illnesses and conditions are either directly or indirectly related to one’s environment. 3. For instance, a person who lives in an overcrowded metropolis such as Hanoi or Beijing must deal on a daily basis with the immediate dangers of air pollution, potential drinking water contamination, car accidents, and elevated crimes rates. 4. If there were fewer individuals in these cities and the air was cleaner because there were more open, green areas, then it is probable that hospitals would be able to focus more on a reduced number of patients.

1. Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
2. Explain your main idea.
3. Develop it with specific or hypothetical examples.
4. Keep developing it fully.

1. On the other hand, there are various causes for diseases and the primary one is poor nutrition. 2. In the last several decades, lifespans globally have increased exponentially, largely as a result of advances in medical science and greater understanding of the human body. 3. A standout example of this would be the plant-based diets that are widely recommended by most nutritionists. 4. A person who consumes little meat, reduces their carbohydrate intake, and mostly does not eat sugar will drastically lower the risk of conditions ranging from diabetes and heart disease to Alzheimer’s and cancer. 5. National health authorities can widely and effectively address these health problems by legislating the levels of unhealthy ingredients in food products.

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. Add as much information as you can and make sure it links logically.
5. Continue your development.

1. In conclusion, those in favor of combatting housing and environmental problems make legitimate arguments though improving the average citizen’s diet is in fact the best guarantee of good health. 2. Naturally, governments should pursue a balanced policy.

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.

Certain concerned parties today contend that the optimal means of improving public health is to confront pressing environmental and housing problems. In my opinion, though these solutions would be helpful, it is more important to prioritize proper nutrition.

On the one hand, there are current issues concerning housing and the environment that impact health. Many illnesses and conditions are either directly or indirectly related to one’s environment. For instance, a person who lives in an overcrowded metropolis such as Hanoi or Beijing must deal on a daily basis with the immediate dangers of air pollution, potential drinking water contamination, car accidents, and elevated crimes rates. If there were fewer individuals in these cities and the air was cleaner because there were more open, green areas, then it is probable that hospitals would be able to focus more on a reduced number of patients.

On the other hand, there are various causes for diseases and the primary one is poor nutrition. In the last several decades, lifespans globally have increased exponentially, largely as a result of advances in medical science and greater understanding of the human body. A standout example of this would be the plant-based diets that are widely recommended by most nutritionists. A person who consumes little meat, reduces their carbohydrate intake, and mostly does not eat sugar will drastically lower the risk of conditions ranging from diabetes and heart disease to Alzheimer’s and cancer. National health authorities can widely and effectively address these health problems by legislating the levels of unhealthy ingredients in food products.

In conclusion, those in favor of combatting housing and environmental problems make legitimate arguments though improving the average citizen’s diet is in fact the best guarantee of good health. Naturally, governments should pursue a balanced policy.

Answers

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

Certain concerned parties today contend some people now argue

optimal means of improving public health best ways of keeping people healthy

confront pressing environmental and housing problems deal with modern problems related to the environment and where people live

solutions remedies

prioritize proper nutrition care more about eating right

On the one hand firstly

current issues concerning new problems having to do with

illnesses sicknesses

conditions illnesses

either directly or indirectly related to one’s environment right from or somehow from what’s around you

overcrowded metropolis big cities

deal on a daily basis with the immediate dangers of air pollution handle every day with risks from unhealthy air

potential drinking water contamination possibly drinking bad water

elevated crimes rates more criminal offenses

more open, green areas public spaces and parks

then it is probable that therefore there is a good chance that

focus more on a reduced number of patients concentrate more on fewer sick people

On the other hand however

various causes for different reasons for

primary one main one

poor nutrition unhealthy

In the last several decades over 20 to 30 years

lifespans how long people live

increased exponentially went up a lot

largely as a result of advances in medical science mostly because of better medicine

greater understanding of the human body better conception of human health

A standout example of this would be the best instance of this is

plant-based diets mostly just eating vegetables

widely recommended by most nutritionists the advice of most doctors

consumes little meat not eating too many animals

reduces their carbohydrate intake not having so many grains and breads

mostly does not eat sugar will drastically lower the risk of conditions ranging from diabetes and heart disease to Alzheimer’s and cancer not eating sweet foods makes it less likely you will get diabetes or have a heart attack or suffer from dementia or get cancer

National health authorities can widely and effectively address governments can unilaterally deal with

legislating putting into law

levels how high it is

unhealthy ingredients in food products fats, sugar, carbs

those in favor of combatting housing and environmental problems make legitimate arguments people who support working against these problems make good points

in fact the best guarantee of good health the optimal way to make sure you are healthy

Naturally of course

pursue a balanced policy follow a more moderate path





Pronunciation

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

ˈsɜːtn kənˈsɜːnd ˈpɑːtiz təˈdeɪ kənˈtɛnd 
ˈɒptɪməl miːnz ɒv ɪmˈpruːvɪŋ ˈpʌblɪk hɛlθ 
kənˈfrʌnt ˈprɛsɪŋ ɪnˌvaɪərənˈmɛntl ænd ˈhaʊzɪŋ ˈprɒbləmz
səˈluːʃənz 
praɪˈɒrɪˌtaɪz ˈprɒpə nju(ː)ˈtrɪʃən
ɒn ðə wʌn hænd
ˈkʌrənt ˈɪʃuːz kənˈsɜːnɪŋ 
ˈɪlnɪsɪz 
kənˈdɪʃənz 
ˈaɪðə dɪˈrɛktli ɔːr ˌɪndɪˈrɛktli rɪˈleɪtɪd tuː wʌnz ɪnˈvaɪərənmənt
ˌəʊvəˈkraʊdɪd mɪˈtrɒpəlɪs 
diːl ɒn ə ˈdeɪli ˈbeɪsɪs wɪð ði ɪˈmiːdiət ˈdeɪnʤəz ɒv eə pəˈluːʃən
pəʊˈtɛnʃəl ˈdrɪŋkɪŋ ˈwɔːtə kənˌtæmɪˈneɪʃən
ˈɛlɪveɪtɪd kraɪmz reɪts
mɔːr ˈəʊpən, griːn ˈeərɪəz
ðɛn ɪt ɪz ˈprɒbəbl ðæt 
ˈfəʊkəs mɔːr ɒn ə rɪˈdjuːst ˈnʌmbər ɒv ˈpeɪʃənts
ɒn ði ˈʌðə hænd
ˈveərɪəs ˈkɔːzɪz fɔː 
ˈpraɪməri wʌn 
pʊə nju(ː)ˈtrɪʃən
ɪn ðə lɑːst ˈsɛvrəl ˈdɛkeɪdz
ˈlaɪfspænz 
ɪnˈkriːst ˌɛkspəˈnɛnʃ(ə)li
ˈlɑːʤli æz ə rɪˈzʌlt ɒv ədˈvɑːnsɪz ɪn ˈmɛdɪkəl ˈsaɪəns 
ˈgreɪtər ˌʌndəˈstændɪŋ ɒv ðə ˈhjuːmən ˈbɒdi
ə ˈstændaʊt ɪgˈzɑːmpl ɒv ðɪs wʊd biː 
plɑːnt-beɪst ˈdaɪəts 
ˈwaɪdli ˌrɛkəˈmɛndɪd baɪ məʊst nju(ː)ˈtrɪʃənɪsts
kənˈsjuːmz ˈlɪtl miːt
rɪˈdjuːsɪz ðeə ˈkɑːbəʊˈhaɪdreɪt ˈɪnteɪk 
ˈməʊstli dʌz nɒt iːt ˈʃʊgə wɪl ˈdræstɪk(ə)li ˈləʊə ðə rɪsk ɒv kənˈdɪʃənz ˈreɪnʤɪŋ frɒm ˌdaɪəˈbiːtiːz ænd hɑːt dɪˈziːz tuː ˈæltsˌhaɪməz ænd ˈkænsə
ˈnæʃənl hɛlθ ɔːˈθɒrɪtiz kæn ˈwaɪdli ænd ɪˈfɛktɪvli əˈdrɛs 
ˈlɛʤɪsleɪtɪŋ 
ˈlɛvlz 
ʌnˈhɛlθi ɪnˈgriːdiənts ɪn fuːd ˈprɒdʌkts
ðəʊz ɪn ˈfeɪvər ɒv ˈkɒmbætɪŋ ˈhaʊzɪŋ ænd ɪnˌvaɪərənˈmɛntl ˈprɒbləmz meɪk lɪˈʤɪtɪmɪt ˈɑːgjʊmənts 
ɪn fækt ðə bɛst ˌgærənˈtiː ɒv gʊd hɛlθ
ˈnæʧrəli
pəˈsjuː ə ˈbælənst ˈpɒlɪsi

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:

C_____________________________________d that the o_____________________________________h is to c___________________________________________________________s. In my opinion, though these s_________s would be helpful, it is more important to p________________________n.

O________________d, there are c___________________g housing and the environment that impact health. Many i___________s and c___________s are e_____________________________________________t. For instance, a person who lives in an o________________________s such as Hanoi or Beijing must d_______________________________________________________________n, p____________________________________________n, car accidents, and e________________________s. If there were fewer individuals in these cities and the air was cleaner because there were m______________________________s, t____________________________________t hospitals would be able to f____________________________________________s.

O_________________d, there are v___________________r diseases and the p_______________e is p________________n. I__________________________s, l____________s globally have i_____________________y, l_______________________________________e and g________________________________________y. A___________________________________e the p_________________s that are w_____________________________________s. A person who c_____________________t, r_________________________e, and m________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________r. N_________________________________s these health problems by l___________g the l________s of u___________________________________s.

In conclusion, t______________________________________________________________________s though improving the average citizen’s diet is i_____________________________h. N____________y, governments should p___________________________y.

Listening Practice

Learn more about this topic by watching from YouTube below and practice with these activities:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPl0naO6GR0&t=2s

Reading Practice

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

https://www.wri.org/insights/crisis-affordable-housing-problem-cities-everywhere

Speaking Practice

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

Cities

1. Have you ever lived in a city?
2. What do you enjoy most about living in the city?
3. Which city would you like to live in in the future?
4. Do most people in your country live in cities?



Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS essay topics below:

Some feel governments, rather than private companies, should be in charge of medical services.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

https://howtodoielts.com/ielts-essay-private-public-healthcare/