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This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of housing shortages from the real exam.
It’s kind of a tricky question and not a very common topic.
A very similar question came up on the test a few years ago, so it is good to get some practice with this unusual topic!
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Dave
Before reading, listen and take notes on my sample answer:
IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer Essay: Housing Shortages (Real Past IELTS Exam/Test)
There are severe social consequences to housing shortages in cities and only the government can solve these problems.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Real IELTS Exam/Test
Many people today feel that limited housing in urban areas can only be seriously addressed by governmental action. In my opinion, private investiture in this area will always be low so governments bear the burden of responsibility.
Only limited support for housing problems will come from the private sector. Large real estate and construction firms are mainly motivated to generate the greatest profits and will therefore largely cater projects towards a wealthy clientele. This means building large apartments and homes that likely replace smaller homes, exacerbating any existing housing crisis. In New York City, for example, ambitious developers knocked down government housing projects and built luxury apartments and brownstone homes. These efforts push poor residents out of the city and further away from their work and engender a variety of social problems.
The only realistic solution for housing shortages in major urban areas in governmental intervention. Governments can either build themselves or accept bids from construction companies. There are inspirational examples of public works projects in cities all around the world. The typical process is that the government will delineate an undeveloped or poorly planned area for new homes and accept bids from private companies. Since these areas are unavailable for unregulated commercial exploitation, the government holds power over the private companies. Once these projects are completed, they can house thousands of residents affordably, which allows occupants to find quality jobs in the city and eventually move out of these housing developments.
In conclusion, the government is the major catalyst in all housing solutions in cities. Governments ought to prioritise these efforts before cities become too gentrified and this hinders upwards social mobility.
Analysis
1. Many people today feel that limited housing in urban areas can only be seriously addressed by governmental action. 2. In my opinion, private investiture in this area will always be low so governments bear the burden of responsibility.
- Paraphrase the overall topic for the essay.
- Write a clear opinion – choose a side!
1. Only limited support for housing problems will come from the private sector. 2. Large real estate and construction firms are mainly motivated to generate the greatest profits and will therefore largely cater projects towards a wealthy clientele. 3. This means building large apartments and homes that likely replace smaller homes, exacerbating any existing housing crisis. 4. In New York City, for example, ambitious developers knocked down government housing projects and built luxury apartments and brownstone homes. 5. These efforts push poor residents out of the city and further away from their work and engender a variety of social problems.
- Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end of it.
- Begin developing or explaining your main idea.
- Continue to develop it with specific details.
- Here I give an example of a real city – be as specific as possible.
- Conclude with the result of your example.
1. The only realistic solution for housing shortages in major urban areas in governmental intervention. 2. Governments can either build themselves or accept bids from construction companies. 3. There are inspirational examples of public works projects in cities all around the world. 4. The typical process is that the government will delineate an undeveloped or poorly planned area for new homes and accept bids from private companies. 5. Since these areas are unavailable for unregulated commercial exploitation, the government holds power over the private companies. 6. Once these projects are completed, they can house thousands of residents affordably, which allows occupants to find quality jobs in the city and eventually move out of these housing developments.
- Another topic sentence with a main idea at the end.
- Start developing your main idea.
- You don’t always need a specific example if it is a common occurrence.
- Develop the process in detail.
- The more nuanced your argument, the higher your score.
- State the result again to conclude the paragraph.
1. In conclusion, the government is the major catalyst in all housing solutions in cities. 2. Governments ought to prioritise these efforts before cities become too gentrified and this hinders upwards social mobility.
- Repeat your overall opinion.
- Add in a final detail or thought for full marks from the IELTS examiner.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean?
Many people today feel that limited housing in urban areas can only be seriously addressed by governmental action. In my opinion, private investiture in this area will always be low so governments bear the burden of responsibility.
Only limited support for housing problems will come from the private sector. Large real estate and construction firms are mainly motivated to generate the greatest profits and will therefore largely cater projects towards a wealthy clientele. This means building large apartments and homes that likely replace smaller homes, exacerbating any existing housing crisis. In New York City, for exampe, ambitious developers knocked down government housing projects and built luxury apartments and brownstone homes. These efforts pushe poor residents out of the city and further away from their work and engender a variety of social problems.
The only realistic solution for housing shortages in major urban areas in governmental intervention. Governments can either build themselves or accept bids from construction companies. There are inspirational examples of public works projects in cities all around the world. The typical process is that the government will delineate an undeveloped or poorly planned area for new homes and accept bids from private companies. Since these areas are unavailable for unregulated commercial exploitation, the government holds power over the private companies. Once these projects are completed, they can house thousands of residents affordably, which allows occupants to find quality jobs in the city and eventually move out of these housing developments.
In conclusion, the government is the major catalyst in all housing solutions in cities. Governments ought to prioritise these efforts before cities become too gentrified and this hinders upwards social mobility.
Answers
limited housing not enough places to live
urban areas cities
seriously addressed dealt with well
governmental action steps taken by the government
private investiture companies
bear the burden of responsibility have a duty towards
limited support not much help
private sector companies/corporations
firms companies
generate the greatest profits make the most money
largely cater projects towards a wealthy clientele mostly just care about rich projects
likely replace smaller homes probably get rid of small houses/apartments
exacerbating making worse
existing housing crisis already there problems with housing
to a great degree significantly
ambitious developers knocked down companies looking to make money destroyed
housing projects where lots of people live, tends to be poorer people
built luxury apartments construct nice homes
brownstone homes nice homes made from a brown material
pushes poor residents out of the city gentrifies
further away from their work not near their jobs
engenders creates, leads to
realistic solution practical resolution
governmental intervention governments stepping in
accept bids take offers
inspirational examples strong instances of
public works projects built for the public
typical process normal way
delineate allow for, circumsribe
unavailable for unregulated commercial exploitation cannot be developed for profit
holds power over controls
house verb meaning to provide a house for
affordably cheaply
occupants residents
major catalyst biggest driver behind
prioritise consider most important
gentrified getting richer and pushing out poorer residents
hinders upwards social mobility stops people from getting richer
Pronunciation
ˈlɪmɪtɪd ˈhaʊzɪŋ
ˈɜːbən ˈeərɪəz
ˈsɪərɪəsli əˈdrɛst
ˌgʌvənˈmɛntl ˈækʃ(ə)n
ˈpraɪvɪt ɪnˈvɛstɪʧə
beə ðə ˈbɜːdn ɒv rɪsˌpɒnsəˈbɪlɪti.
ˈlɪmɪtɪd səˈpɔːt
ˈpraɪvɪt ˈsɛktə
fɜːmz
ˈʤɛnəreɪt ðə ˈgreɪtɪst ˈprɒfɪts
ˈlɑːʤli ˈkeɪtə ˈprɒʤɛkts təˈwɔːdz ə ˈwɛlθi ˌkliːɑːnˈtɛl
ˈlaɪkli rɪˈpleɪs ˈsmɔːlə həʊmz
ɛksˈæsə(ː)beɪtɪŋ
ɪgˈzɪstɪŋ ˈhaʊzɪŋ ˈkraɪsɪs
tuː ə greɪt dɪˈgriː
æmˈbɪʃəs dɪˈvɛləpəz nɒkt daʊn
ˈhaʊzɪŋ ˈprɒʤɛkts
bɪlt ˈlʌkʃəri əˈpɑːtmənts
ˈbraʊnˌstəʊn həʊmz
ˈpʊʃɪz pʊə ˈrɛzɪdənts aʊt ɒv ðə ˈsɪti
ˈfɜːðər əˈweɪ frɒm ðeə wɜːk
ɪnˈʤɛndəz
rɪəˈlɪstɪk səˈluːʃən
ˌgʌvənˈmɛntl ˌɪntə(ː)ˈvɛnʃən
əkˈsɛpt bɪdz
ˌɪnspəˈreɪʃən(ə)l ɪgˈzɑːmplz
ˈpʌblɪk wɜːks ˈprɒʤɛkts
ˈtɪpɪk(ə)l ˈprəʊsɛs
dɪˈlɪnɪeɪt
ˌʌnəˈveɪləbl fɔːr ʌnˈrɛgjʊleɪtɪd kəˈmɜːʃəl ˌɛksplɔɪˈteɪʃən
həʊldz ˈpaʊər ˈəʊvə
haʊs
əˈfɔːdəbliː
ˈɒkjʊpənts
ˈmeɪʤə ˈkætəlɪst
praɪˈɒrɪˌtaɪz
ˈʤɛntrɪfraɪd
ˈhaɪndəz ˈʌpwədz ˈsəʊʃəl məʊˈbɪlɪti
Listen and repeat:
Vocabulary Practice
Remember and fill in the blanks:
Many people today feel that l______________g in u_____________s can only be s___________________d by g__________________________n. In my opinion, p____________________________e in this area will always be low so governments b________________________________y.
Only l__________________t for housing problems will come from the p________________r. Large real estate and construction f__________s are mainly motivated to g________________________________s and will therefore l________________________________________e. This means building large apartments and homes that l___________________________s, e_______________________g any e________________________________s. This has happened t________________________e in New York City where a_________________________________n government h______________________s and b________________________________s and b__________________________s. This p________________________________y and f__________________________k and e___________________s a variety of social problems.
The only r__________________n for housing shortages in major urban areas in g______________________________n. Governments can either build themselves or a__________________s from construction companies. There are i______________________s of p________________________________s in cities all around the world. The t____________________s is that the government will d__________________e an undeveloped or poorly planned area for new homes and accept bids from private companies. Since these areas are u_____________________________________________________________n, the government h___________________r the private companies. Once these projects are completed, they can h________e thousands of residents a______________y, which allows o______________s to find quality jobs in the city and eventually move out of these housing developments.
In conclusion, the government is the m______________t in all housing solutions in cities. Governments ought to p________________e these efforts before cities become too g______________d and this h___________________________________y.
Listen and check:
Listening Practice
Watch a specific housing crisis problem in the short video below:
Reading Practice
Read here about how going green can help with the housing crisis:
Speaking Practice
Answer the questions below from the real speaking exam:
Where you Live
- Where is your hometown?
- Would you like to live there in the future?
- What don’t you like about your home?
Writing Practice
Write about the following related topic and then read my sample answer:
Some believe that because everyone needs a place to live, governments should provide houses for those who are too poor to afford their own.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Real Past IELTS Exam/Test
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