This is an IELTS Writing Task 2 sample answer from the general training exam on the topic of roads being difficult to travel on in major cities today.
It’s a fairly easy question but there are a couple of tricky areas that you can read about below.
Here are some other resources to help you improve your IELTS score:
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Good luck in your studies!
-Dave
Before you read my sample essay, you can take some time to practice your listening with the audio first – take some notes while you listen too:
Writing Task 2
The roads in major cities today are often difficult to travel on.
What are the causes of this?
What are some possible solutions?
Real Past IELTS Exam/Test
As world populations transition from rural to urban settings, there has been a resultant degradation of travel conditions within cities. The main causes of this are all related to overpopulation and the solution is for governments to incentivise living outside city limits.
The clearest source of crowded roads and degrading infrastructure is surging urban populations. Research has shown that now more than half the world is densely packed into cities built hundreds of years ago. Take Boston as an example. Boston was built for a population of under 100,000 people, who mainly travelled by walking or riding horses and carriages. Today the population is nearly a million and that means the narrow roads are gridlocked with traffic during rush hour. The relentless pounding of an overpopulated city also means that the roads suffer from greater wear and tear, which necessitates constant maintenance and exacerbates the average citizen’s daily commute.
In order to mitigate these issues, governments could encourage people to move outside cities. One half measure would be to lower taxes in neighboring districts. Many people could still commute to work from nearby suburbs, as is the case in most major cities already. Governments could also give special tax breaks and dispensations to companies that allow workers to work remotely. This would free people up to live outside of cities or, if they opt to remain in the city, they at least would not contribute to rush hour traffic.
In conclusion, worsening travel conditions for urban dwellers can be curbed through government intervention. The nations that take up this cause will be well placed to compete in a rapidly evolving 21st century.
Analysis
1. As world populations transition from rural to urban settings, there has been a resultant degradation of travel conditions within cities. 2. The main causes of this are all related to overpopulation and the solution is for governments to incentivise living outside city limits.
- In your first sentence, you should paraphrase the overall topic for the essay.
- Then answer the two questions – make sure your answers are 100% clear.
1. The clearest source of crowded roads and degrading infrastructure is surging urban populations. 2. Research has shown that now more than half the world is densely packed into cities built hundreds of years ago. 3. Take Boston as an example. 4. Boston was built for a population of under 100,000 people, who mainly travelled by walking or riding horses and carriages. 5. Today the population is nearly a million and that means the narrow roads are gridlocked with traffic during rush hour. 6. The relentless pounding of an overpopulated city also means that the roads suffer from greater wear and tear, which necessitates constant maintenance and exacerbates the average citizen’s daily commute.
- Your first topic sentence should be simple and contain the main idea for the whole paragraph.
- Begin to develop it. Here I use some fake research – that is fine to do as long as you don’t make it too specific.
- Begin a specific example – a real place, person, city, etc.
- Develop that example – be specific as possible.
- Keep developing the example – don’t switch to a new one.
- Draw your conclusions/the result of your example.
1. In order to mitigate these issues, governments could encourage people to move outside cities. 2. One half measure would be to lower taxes in neighboring districts. 3. Many people could still commute to work from nearby suburbs, as is the case in most major cities already. 4. Governments could also give special tax breaks and dispensations to companies that allow workers to work remotely. 5. This would free people up to live outside of cities or, if they opt to remain in the city, they at least would not contribute to rush hour traffic.
- For the second topic sentence, include another main idea.
- Give your first solution – be specific and clear.
- Develop it as much as you can.
- Give a second solution – it is good if they are related so that you can develop both.
- Conclude the paragraph by stating the result of your solution.
1. In conclusion, worsening travel conditions for urban dwellers can be curbed through government intervention. 2. The nations that take up this cause will be well placed to compete in a rapidly evolving 21st century.
- Repeat your solution or the causes.
- Add in an extra detail/final thought for full points for task achievement.
Vocabulary
As world populations transition from rural to urban settings, there has been a resultant degradation of travel conditions within cities. The main causes of this are all related to overpopulation and the solution is for governments to incentivise living outside city limits.
The clearest source of crowded roads and degrading infrastructure is surging urban populations. Research has shown that now more than half the world is densely packed into cities built hundreds of years ago. Take Boston as an example. Boston was built for a population of under 100,000 people, who mainly travelled by walking or riding horses and carriages. Today the population is nearly a million and that means the narrow roads are gridlocked with traffic during rush hour. The relentless pounding of an overpopulated city also means that the roads suffer from greater wear and tear, which necessitates constant maintenance and exacerbates the average citizen’s daily commute.
In order to mitigate these issues, governments could encourage people to move outside cities. One half measure would be to lower taxes in neighboring districts. Many people could still commute to work from nearby suburbs, as is the case in most major cities already. Governments could also give special tax breaks and dispensations to companies that allow workers to work remotely. This would free people up to live outside of cities or, if they opt to remain in the city, they at least would not contribute to rush hour traffic.
In conclusion, worsening travel conditions for urban dwellers can be curbed through government intervention. The nations that take up this cause will be well placed to compete in a rapidly evolving 21st century.
Answers
transition change to
rural countryside
urban settings in cities
resultant degradation concomitant decline
overpopulation too many people
incentivise encourage
city limits the edge of the city
degrading infrastructure streets, buildings getting old
surging urban populations rising number of people in cities
densely packed filled/crowded/traffic jams
carriages old fashioned transport
nearly almost
narrow thin
gridlocked jam-packed
rush hour peak hours
relentless pounding constant wear and tear
suffer from are hurt by
greater wear and tear more degradations
necessitates requires
constant maintenance always must be cleaned, fixed, etc.
exacerbates makes worse
average citizen’s the normal person’s
daily commute getting to work everyday
mitigate lessen
half measure partial solution
neighboring districts nearby areas
commute travel to work
nearby suburbs towns outside the city
as is the case in so it is in
tax breaks reductions in taxes
dispensations special allowances
work remotely work from home
opt choose
contribute give to
worsening becoming worse
urban dwellers city residents
curbed mitigated
government intervention government regulation
take up this cause deal with this problem
well placed in a good position to
rapidly evolving 21st century the world as it is changing
Pronunciation
trænˈsɪʒən
ˈrʊərəl
ˈɜːbən ˈsɛtɪŋz
rɪˈzʌltənt ˌdɛgrəˈdeɪʃən
ˌəʊvəˌpɒpjʊˈleɪʃən
ɪnˈsɛntɪv raɪz
ˈsɪti ˈlɪmɪts
dɪˈgreɪdɪŋ ˈɪnfrəˌstrʌkʧə
ˈsɜːʤɪŋ ˈɜːbən ˌpɒpjʊˈleɪʃənz
ˈdɛnsli pækt
ˈkærɪʤɪz
ˈnɪəli
ˈnærəʊ
grɪd-lɒkt
rʌʃ ˈaʊə
rɪˈlɛntlɪs ˈpaʊndɪŋ
ˈsʌfə frɒm
ˈgreɪtə weər ænd teə
nɪˈsɛsɪteɪts
ˈkɒnstənt ˈmeɪntənəns
ɛksˈæsə(ː)beɪts
ˈævərɪʤ ˈsɪtɪznz
ˈdeɪli kəˈmjuːt
ˈmɪtɪgeɪt
hɑːf ˈmɛʒə
ˈneɪbərɪŋ ˈdɪstrɪkts
kəˈmjuːt
ˈnɪəbaɪ ˈsʌbɜːbz
æz ɪz ðə keɪs ɪn
tæks breɪks
ˌdɪspɛnˈseɪʃənz
wɜːk rɪˈməʊtli
ɒpt
kənˈtrɪbju(ː)t
ˈwɜːsnɪŋ
ˈɜːbən ˈdwɛləz
kɜːbd
ˈgʌvnmənt ˌɪntə(ː)ˈvɛnʃən
teɪk ʌp ðɪs kɔːz
wɛl pleɪst
ˈræpɪdli ɪˈvɒlvɪŋ ˈtwɛnti fɜːst ˈsɛnʧʊri
Vocabulary Practice
As world populations _____________ from _____________ to _____________ , there has been a _____________ of travel conditions within cities. The main causes of this are all related to _____________ and the solution is for governments to _____________ living outside _____________.
The clearest source of crowded roads and _____________ is _____________. Research has shown that now more than half the world is _____________ into cities built hundreds of years ago. Take Boston as an example. Boston was built for a population of under 100,000 people, who mainly travelled by walking or riding horses and _____________. Today the population is _____________ a million and that means the _____________ roads are _____________ with traffic during _____________. The _____________ of an overpopulated city also means that the roads _____________ _____________, which _____________ _____________ and _____________ the _____________ _____________.
In order to _____________ these issues, governments could encourage people to move outside cities. One _____________ would be to lower taxes in _____________. Many people could still _____________ to work from _____________, _____________ most major cities already. Governments could also give special _____________ and _____________ to companies that allow workers to _____________. This would free people up to live outside of cities or, if they _____________ to remain in the city, they at least would not _____________ to rush hour traffic.
In conclusion, _____________ travel conditions for _____________ can be _____________ through _____________ . The nations that _____________ will be _____________ to compete in a _____________.
Listening Practice
Watch the video below to learn about life in the ancient Indus civilisation:
Reading Practice
Learn more about the example in my essay, Boston, here:
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