IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer: Problems with Purchasing Cars (Real Test)

This is an IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer about purchasing cars in developing countries from the real IELTS and it’s a very good question to practice on!

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The question is about the effects of purchasing cars and it is a two part IELTS question.

I really like this topic because I live in the city and see the effects of cars firsthand everyday!

I deal with a common question in this IELTS essay as well: Should you use statistics in your writing? What if they are not real?

Read below for some ideas, analysis and vocabulary practice!

Dave

IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer: Problems with Purchasing Cars (Real Test)

More and more people in developing countries are purchasing cars for the first time. What problems does this cause? What do you think are the possible solutions?

It is a pressing problem that increased automobile purchases in developing countries is leading to a host of problems that governments will have to deal with in the future. I believe that the biggest problems centre around traffic and governments can impose higher taxes and support public transport to minimise the impact.

The rise of the automobile as a popular means of travel in developing countries inevitably leads to worsening road conditions. This is because developing nations often have narrower roads and fewer lanes. Once the growing middle class in previously impoverished countries begins to replace buses, motorbikes, and bicycles with cars, there is often a concurrent rise in the number of gridlocked roads. For example, research from The Economist linked a 40% rise in traffic jams to a 15% rise in automobile purchases in 2017 in Vietnam.

To fully address this problem, there are two potential fixes that governments can apply. Firstly, governments should enact higher taxes on all automobile purchases to deter buyers. This has had a massive impact in cities like Singapore where purchasing a car is prohibitively expensive for most residents. Another solution would be to invest further in public awareness campaigns of alternative modes of travel. A standout example of this would be in Vietnam, where these campaigns coupled with reduced fares to make busing more affordable, have cut down drastically on the number of vehicles on the road.

In conclusion, traffic problems caused by cars are a serious issue that governments must work hard to combat. If efforts are made to reduce automobiles on roads in favor of more efficient transport they will see their initial investment returned many times over in improved, sustained economic growth.

Word count: 282

IELTS Examiner Sample Answer Analysis

1. It is a pressing problem that increased automobile purchases in developing countries is leading to a host of problems that governments will have to deal with in the future. 2. I believe that the biggest problems centre around traffic and governments can impose higher taxes and support public transport to minimise the impact.

My first sentence just restates the topic for the essay. Write this sentence quickly because the next sentence is much more important!
Next is the overall opinion. This is a two part question, so try to give an opinion for each part if you can (you don’t have to include your main ideas even though I do).

1. The rise of the automobile as a popular means of travel in developing countries inevitably leads to worsening road conditions. 2. This is because developing nations often have narrower roads and fewer lanes. 3. Once the growing middle class in previously impoverished countries begins to replace buses, motorbikes, and bicycles with cars, there is often a concurrent rise in the number of gridlocked roads. 4. For example, research from The Economist linked a 40% rise in traffic jams to a 15% rise in automobile purchases in 2017 in Vietnam.

My first sentence is a topic sentence that has the topic for that paragraph – worsening road conditions. Read more about topic sentences here.
The second sentence explains why this is common in developing countries. Be strict with yourself – focus on developing nations and don’t get off-topic!
My third sentence focuses specfically on what changes occur. Be as specific as possible to boost your task achievement, vocabulary, and cohesion/coherence scores at the same time!
The fourth sentence gives a statistic to support my opinion. In my opinion, using a statistic is fine but you should be careful about using them in both paragraphs. My statistic is not real but examiners will not bother to look it up – don’t use another statistic for your second paragraph though!

1. To fully address this problem, there are two potential fixes that governments can apply. 2. Firstly, governments should enact higher taxes on all automobile purchases to deter buyers. 3. This has had a massive impact in cities like Singapore where purchasing a car is prohibitively expensive for most residents. 4. Another solution would be to invest further in public awareness campaigns of alternative modes of travel. 5. A standout example of this would be in Vietnam, where these campaigns coupled with reduced fares to make busing more affordable, have cut down drastically on the number of vehicles on the road.

My first sentence is another topic sentence – this time focused on the second question: the solutions. Try to paraphrase words like solutions (fixes, changes, improvements, make better, reduce traffic, etc.). Flexible paraphrasing will boost your IELTS vocabulary score a lot!
The second sentence gives my first solution.
The third sentence gives a very specific and detailed example of how this has been effective in the past.
My fourth sentence gives another solution. It is best to focus on just one solution but the question ask for solutionS so to be safe I wrote about two solutions.
The fifth sentence develops my second solution with another specific and detailed example. Specific and detailed – that’s how you get a good score for task achievement!

1. In conclusion, traffic problems caused by cars are a serious issue that governments must work hard to combat. 2. If efforts are made to reduce automobiles on roads in favor of more efficient transport they will see their initial investment returned many times over in improved, sustained economic growth.

My first sentence restates my overall opinion and the main topic.
The second sentence gives an extra detail that lots of examiners will require for band 7+. You can read more about conclusions here.

Word count: 282

Aim for around 250-300 words. 250 is probably too short to fully develop your answer and over 300 is a waste of time – quality over quantity!

Sample Answer Vocabulary

What do the words in bold mean? If you’re not sure, don’t use a dictionary – try to figure out the meaning from the whole sentence then check your answers below!

It is a pressing problem that increased automobile purchases in developing countries is leading to a host of problems that governments will have to deal with in the future. I believe that the biggest problems centre around traffic and governments can impose higher taxes and support public transport to minimise the impact.

The rise of the automobile as a popular means of travel in developing countries inevitably leads to worsening road conditions. This is because developing nations often have narrower roads and fewer lanes. Once the growing middle class in previously impoverished countries begins to replace buses, motorbikes, and bicycles with cars, there is often a concurrent rise in the number of gridlocked roads. For example, research from The Economist linked a 40% rise in traffic jams to a 15% rise in automobile purchases in 2017 in Vietnam.

To fully address this problem, there are two potential fixes that governments can apply. Firstly, governments should enact higher taxes on all automobile purchases to deter buyers. This has had a massive impact in cities like Singapore where purchasing a car is prohibitively expensive for most residents. Another solution would be to invest further in public awareness campaigns of alternative modes of travel. A standout example of this would be in Vietnam, where these campaigns coupled with reduced fares to make busing more affordable, have cut down drastically on the number of vehicles on the road.

In conclusion, traffic problems caused by cars are a serious issue that governments must work hard to combat. If efforts are made to reduce automobiles on roads in favor of more efficient transport they will see their initial investment returned many times over in improved, sustained economic growth.

Answers:

pressing problem important problem

developing countries 3rd world countries

host of problems lots of different problems

deal with try to resolve

impose enact

minimise the impact lessen the effect

rise increase

inevitably leads to will defintely cause

worsening road conditions more and more traffic

narrower roads roads without much space

fewer lanes narrow roads

growing middle class more people with disposable income

previously impoverished poor in the past

concurrent related or caused by

gridlocked full of traffic

The Economist a magazine about economics

linked caused by or related to

To fully address this problem to fix this issue

potential fixes possible solutions

deterdisincentivise

prohibitively expensive too expensive to buy

invest further put more money into

public awareness campaigns information for the public with an important message

alternative modes of travel different ways of travelling

standout example good example

coupled with combined with

reduced fares less expensive tickets

affordable cheap

cut down drastically reduce a lot

serious issue important topic

combat fight

initial investment returned many times over get your money back and more

sustained long-term

Pronunciation

ˈprɛsɪŋ ˈprɒbləm

dɪˈvɛləpɪŋ ˈkʌntriz

həʊst ɒv ˈprɒbləmz

diːl wɪð

ɪmˈpəʊz

ˈmɪnɪmaɪz ði ‘impækt

raɪz

ɪnˈɛvɪtəbli liːdz tuː

ˈwɜːsnɪŋ rəʊd kənˈdɪʃənz

ˈnærəʊə rəʊdz

ˈfjuːə leɪnz

ˈgrəʊɪŋ ˈmɪdl klɑːs

ˈpriːviəsli ɪmˈpɒvərɪʃt

kənˈkʌrənt

‘gridlɒkt

ði i(ː)ˈkɒnəmɪst

lɪŋkt

tuː ˈfʊli əˈdrɛs ðɪs ˈprɒbləm

pəʊˈtɛnʃəl ˈfɪksɪz

dɪˈtɜː

prəˈhɪbɪtɪvli ɪksˈpɛnsɪv

ɪnˈvɛst ˈfɜːðə

ˈpʌblɪk əˈweənəs kæmˈpeɪnz

ɔːlˈtɜːnətɪv məʊdz ɒv ˈtrævl

ˈstændaʊt ɪgˈzɑːmpl

ˈkʌpld wɪð

rɪˈdjuːst feəz

əˈfɔːdəbl

kʌt daʊn ˈdræstɪk(ə)li

ˈsɪərɪəs ˈɪʃuː

ˈkɒmbæt

ɪˈnɪʃəl ɪnˈvɛstmənt rɪˈtɜːnd ˈmɛni taɪmz ˈəʊvə

səsˈteɪnd

Listen and repeat:

Vocabulary Practice

Remember and fill in the blanks:

It is a _______________ that increased automobile purchases in _______________ is leading to a _______________ that governments will have to _______________ in the future. I believe that the biggest problems centre around traffic and governments can _______________higher taxes and support public transport to _______________.

The _______________ of the automobile as a popular means of travel in developing countries _______________ _______________. This is because developing nations often have _______________ and _______________. Once the _______________ in _______________ countries begins to replace buses, motorbikes, and bicycles with cars, there is often a _______________ rise in the number of _______________ roads. For example, research from _______________ _______________a 40% rise in traffic jams to a 15% rise in automobile purchases in 2017 in Vietnam.

_______________, there are two _______________ that governments can apply. Firstly, governments should enact higher taxes on all automobile purchases to _______________ buyers. This has had a massive impact in cities like Singapore where purchasing a car is _______________ for most residents. Another solution would be to _______________ in _______________ of _______________. A _______________ of this would be in Vietnam, where these campaigns _______________ _______________ to make busing more _______________, have _______________ on the number of vehicles on the road.

In conclusion, traffic problems caused by cars are a _______________ that governments must work hard to _______________. If efforts are made to reduce automobiles on roads in favor of more efficient transport they will see their _______________ in improved, _______________ economic growth.

Listen and check your answers here: