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This is a cause and solution IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer on the topic of agriculture written by me, Dave, a former British Council IELTS examiner.
Be careful with the structure of these IELTS essays: you should write one paragraph clearly explaining why (the cause) and one clearly explaining a possible solution.
Don’t waste your time talking generally about the topic – get as specific as you can as quickly as you can.
The recent questions from the IELTS writing task 2 exam are here, task 1 is here and the speaking questions and topics are here.
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Dave
IELTS Examiner Sample Answer from Cambridge 13: Agriculture (by Dave)
In spite of the advances made in agriculture, many people around the world still go hungry. Why is this the case? What can be done about this problem?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own experience or knowledge. Write at least 250 words.
Recent years have witnessed tremendous developments in agricultural science yet every day people all over the world continue to suffer and even die from hunger. In my opinion, this is because innovations rarely impact the developing world and the best solution for it is to direct humanitarian funding towards these advances.
The main cause of more advanced agricultural methods not reaching the people who need it the most is that the developing world has trouble implementing these methods. There are a number of reasons for this ranging from limited financial resources to poor existing infrastructure to political instability, depending on the country in question. One example of this would be in many African nations, where malnourishment has historically been highest. Countries like the Congo have seen revolution after revolution over the last several decades, which has effectively destabilised the entire country. The universities where students would learn about changes in agriculture are frequently shut down or destroyed. The young people who would become agricultural scientists end up drawn into the conflict as soldiers or victims. Long-term economic neglect means that the government has very limited ability to subsidise farming. These problems are present to varying degrees in countries around the world and offer one possible explanation for the continued prevalence of hunger.
The solution that I believe would be most effective is directing humanitarian funds previously focused on food aid towards education and agricultural infrastructure. Food aid is a notoriously poor solution because it only offers an immediate solution and warlords often exploit it to support their continued mistreatment of their people. It hurts more than it helps. However, there would be better long-term effects if international organisations and governments redirected that money into helping build better farms, provide more modern equipment, and sending qualified professions to train people in need. There is a TedTalk by a young man in Kenya who built his own windmill out of old bicycle parts and by reading a book in the local library. It is large enough to power his own house and he was seeking financing for a larger one that would power irrigation channels for the entire village. If more people like him can be found or trained then this will have an impact that lasts for decades and is relatively impervious to the factors preventing agricultural advances from taking root in developing countries.
In conclusion, developing companies face myriad problems that hinder their ability to take advantage of newer agricultural models and we should direct more funding to helping these countries learn more about new farming methods. This is likely to be an important issue in the world as the gap between rich and poor, developed and undeveloped widens while technological progress continues its indifferent march forward.
IELTS Examiner Sample Answer Analysis
1. Recent years have witnessed tremendous developments in agricultural science yet every day people all over the world continue to suffer and even die from hunger. 2. In my opinion, this is because innovations rarely impact the developing world and the best solution for it is to direct humanitarian funding towards these advances.
1. The first sentence is only to repeat the topic – this sentence is not very important and you should write it very quickly.
2. My second sentence states my opinion – this sentence is super important if you want above band 5 for task achievement but you can also write it quickly.
1. The main cause of more advanced agricultural methods not reaching the people who need it the most is that the developing world has trouble implementing these methods. 2. There are a number of reasons for this ranging from limited financial resources to poor existing infrastructure to political instability, depending on the country in question. 3. One example of this would be in many African nations, where malnourishment has historically been highest. 4. Countries like the Congo have seen revolution after revolution over the last several decades, which has effectively destabilised the entire country. 5. The universities where students would learn about changes in agriculture are frequently shut down or destroyed. 6. The young people who would become agricultural scientists end up drawn into the conflict as soldiers or victims. 7. Long-term economic neglect means that the government has very limited ability to subsidise farming. 8. These problems are present to varying degrees in countries around the world and offer one possible explanation for the continued prevalence of hunger.
1. The first sentence is my topic sentence, which tells the reader what the whole paragraph is about. Once you write about your main idea, you can ONLY talk about that main idea for the rest of the paragraph.
2. The second sentence details some of the main reasons. Try to be as specific as possible – avoid being general!
3. My third sentence starts my example of African countries. Don’t feel bad using your own country as an example – it is what you know best!
4. The fourth sentence makes my example more specific. Develop your examples. They should be specific and detailed!
5. My fifth sentence keeps developing the example of the Congo.
6. The sixth sentence keeps developing the example of the Congo. Develop, develop, develop!
7. The seventh sentence keeps developing the example of the Congo.
8. My eighth sentence is more general and related it back to the main idea for the paragraph.
1. The solution that I believe would be most effective is directing humanitarian funds previously focused on food aid towards education and agricultural infrastructure. 2. Food aid is a notoriously poor solution because it only offers an immediate solution and warlords often exploit it to support their continued mistreatment of their people. 3. It hurts more than it helps. 4. However, there would be better long-term effects if international organisations and governments redirected that money into helping build better farms, provide more modern equipment, and sending qualified professions to train people in need. 5. There is a TedTalk by a young man in Kenya who built his own windmill out of old bicycle parts and by reading a book in the local library. 6. It is large enough to power his own house and he was seeking financing for a larger one that would power irrigation channels for the entire village. 7. If more people like him can be found or trained then this will have an impact that lasts for decades and is relatively impervious to the factors preventing agricultural advances from taking root in developing countries.
1. The first sentence is a topic sentence with my main idea: we should put humanitarian money into training and infrastructure for agriculture.
2. The next sentence says why the current use of food aid is ineffective.
3. My third sentence expands this – don’t be afraid to write the occasional short, simple, accurate sentence!
4. The fourth sentence gives very specific details about what kind of infrastructure and training is needed to solve the problem.
5. My fifth sentence gives a concrete example of a TedTalk I watched. Don’t worry if you can’t remember the name!
6. The sixth sentence continues the example.
7. My seventh sentence relates it back to the main idea and concludes the paragraph.
1. In conclusion, developing companies face myriad problems that hinder their ability to take advantage of newer agricultural models and we should direct more funding to helping these countries learn more about new farming methods. 2. This is likely to be an important issue in the world as the gap between rich and poor, developed and undeveloped widens while technological progress continues its indifferent march forward.
1. The first sentence summarises my arguments. This sentence is not very important so write it as fast as you can!
2. My second sentence gives an extra detail – this sentence is important so make sure that you have enough time for it at the end.
Sample Answer Vocabulary
How many of the words in bold below do you know? You might understand them a bit, not 100%. To practice try to write a dictionary definition of each one and then check your answers below.
Recent years have witnessed tremendous developments in agricultural science yet every day people all over the world continue to suffer and even die from hunger. In my opinion, this is because innovations rarely impact the developing world and the best solution for it is to direct humanitarian funding towards these advances.
The main cause of more advanced agricultural methods not reaching the people who need it the most is that the developing world has trouble implementing these methods. There are a number of reasons for this ranging from limited financial resources to poor existing infrastructure to political instability, depending on the country in question. One example of this would be in many African nations, where malnourishment has historically been highest. Countries like the Congo have seen revolution after revolution over the last several decades, which has effectively destabilised the entire country. The universities where students would learn about changes in agriculture are frequently shut down or destroyed. The young people who would become agricultural scientists end up drawn into the conflict as soldiers or victims. Long-term economic neglect means that the government has very limited ability to subsidise farming. These problems are present to varying degrees in countries around the world and offer one possible explanation for the continued prevalence of hunger.
The solution that I believe would be most effective is directing humanitarian funds previously focused on food aid towards education and agricultural infrastructure. Food aid is a notoriously poor solution because it only offers an immediate solution and warlords often exploit it to support their continued mistreatment of their people. It hurts more than it helps. However, there would be better long-term effects if international organisations and governments redirected that money into helping build better farms, provide more modern equipment, and sending qualified professions to train people in need. There is a TedTalk by a young man in Kenya who built his own windmill out of old bicycle parts and by reading a book in the local library. It is large enough to power his own house and he was seeking financing for a larger one that would power irrigation channels for the entire village. If more people like him can be found or trained then this will have an impact that lasts for decades and is relatively impervious to the factors preventing agricultural advances from taking root in developing countries.
In conclusion, developing companies face myriad problems that hinder their ability to take advantage of newer agricultural models and we should direct more funding to helping these countries learn more about new farming methods. This is likely to be an important issue in the world as the gap between rich and poor, developed and undeveloped widens while technological progress continues its indifferent march forward.
Answers:
witnessed tremendous developments: saw great changes
innovations: new ideas/inventions
direct humanitarian funding towards: put more charity money into
trouble implementing these methods: difficult time making these changes
ranging from: including
poor existing infrastructure: bad roads, buildings, etc.
political instability: problems with the government related to war, strife, and mismanagement
malnourishment: lack of nutrients for the body
historically been highest: in the past has been the greatest
revolution: when people in a country revolt and try to change the government
destabilised: lack of clear leadership, uncertain times
drawn into the conflict: become part of a war/fighting
neglect: don’t pay attention to
subsidise farming: governments giving money to farmers
present to varying degrees: exists either a little or a lot
one possible explanation: one reason why
continued prevalence: still strong/common
notoriously: famous for being bad
warlords: the revolutionaries who start wars in some African countries
long-term effects: impact over a long period of time
redirected: change the direction
in need: to need something
seeking financing: looking for money
irrigation: providing water for farms
relatively impervious: cannot be touched/impacted to some extent
taking root: begins to have an effect
face myriad problems: have many problems
hinder: hold back or harm
gap between rich and poor: the difference between rich and poor
indifferent: uncaring
Vocabulary Practice
Recent years have ___________________ in agricultural science yet every day people all over the world continue to suffer and even die from hunger. In my opinion, this is because ___________________ rarely impact the developing world and the best solution for it is to ___________________ these advances.
The main cause of more advanced agricultural methods not reaching the people who need it the most is that the developing world has ___________________. There are a number of reasons for this ___________________ limited financial resources to ___________________ to ___________________, depending on the country in question. One example of this would be in many African nations, where ___________________ has ___________________. Countries like the Congo have seen ___________________ after revolution over the last several decades, which has effectively ___________________ the entire country. The universities where students would learn about changes in agriculture are frequently shut down or destroyed. The young people who would become agricultural scientists end up ___________________ as soldiers or victims. Long-term economic ___________________ means that the government has very limited ability to ___________________. These problems are ___________________ in countries around the world and offer ___________________ for the ___________________ of hunger.
The solution that I believe would be most effective is directing humanitarian funds previously focused on food aid towards education and agricultural infrastructure. Food aid is a ___________________ poor solution because it only offers an immediate solution and ___________________ often exploit it to support their continued mistreatment of their people. It hurts more than it helps. However, there would be better ___________________ if international organisations and governments ___________________ that money into helping build better farms, provide more modern equipment, and sending qualified professions to train people ___________________. There is a TedTalk by a young man in Kenya who built his own windmill out of old bicycle parts and by reading a book in the local library. It is large enough to power his own house and he was ___________________ for a larger one that would power ___________________ channels for the entire village. If more people like him can be found or trained then this will have an impact that lasts for decades and is ___________________ to the factors preventing agricultural advances from ___________________ in developing countries.
In conclusion, developing companies ___________________ that ___________________ their ability to take advantage of newer agricultural models and we should direct more funding to helping these countries learn more about new farming methods. This is likely to be an important issue in the world as the ___________________, developed and undeveloped widens while technological progress continues its ___________________ march forward.
Links about Agriculture
Take a look! This will help you to review some of the vocabulary you learned from the sample answer above!
The Agricultural Revolution
Amazing Japanese Agriculture
Developing Agriculture to End Hunger
The Dark Side of Agriculture in Ethiopia
Comment below – what kind of fruits and vegetables are grown in your country?
Where I’m from, it’s mainly…
There’s a bit of everything but mostly…
We are best known for…
Depends on the season. Right now…
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