Sanjay spends two hours stuck in Bengaluru traffic every morning. When asked to write about urban congestion, his only suggested solution was ‘the government should take strict steps’. A vague solution like this is typical of Band 6 Task Response.

An effective IELTS problem–solution essay requires identifying whether the question asks for causes, problems, or effects, and allocating one body paragraph to each element. Match every solution to a specific cause, explaining who acts and how the remedy functions.

Practice question: In many cities, traffic congestion is getting worse every year. What are the main causes of this problem, and what measures could be taken to solve it?

Check the Question: The Three Variants

The final instruction line tells you which variant you have. Giving solutions when only causes and effects are asked does not answer the question. If the effects are asked as a separate direct question, it is a two-part question; see the essay types.

Variant Body 1 Body 2
Problems and solutions 2 problems Matching solutions
Causes and solutions 2 causes Matching solutions
Causes and effects 2 causes 2 effects (no solutions needed)

See how to analyse the question.

The Matching Rule: Connect Every Solution to a Cause

Solutions should directly resolve the causes you describe. If you identify two causes in Body 1, pair each with a matching remedy in Body 2:

  • Cause 1: Overcrowded, infrequent public transport pushes commuters towards private vehicles.
  • Solution 1: City and state governments invest in frequent, affordable metro and bus services.
  • Cause 2: Too many private cars compete for limited road and parking space in central districts.
  • Solution 2: City planners introduce congestion charges and restrict street parking at peak hours.

For paragraph structure, see body paragraphs.

Specific Solutions vs Vague Appeals

Vague solutions are typical of Band 6 Task Response; a specific one says who acts and what they do.

Incorrect: The government should take strict action to solve this problem.

Correct: City authorities could introduce a congestion charge for private cars entering the centre at peak hours.

Name the agency and the policy.

Incorrect: Many cities suffer from heavy traffic because bus services are poor, so schools should plant more trees.

Correct: Because inadequate bus services drive commuters towards private cars, municipal transport departments should run buses more frequently.

Every solution should resolve a cause already established in your essay.

Incorrect: The primary cause of gridlock is population growth, and authorities should construct wider highways to solve it.

Correct: The primary cause of gridlock is rapid population growth, which strains existing road networks and increases daily transit delays.

If the question asks for causes and effects, describe the consequence; do not add a remedy.

Useful Sentence Frames for Causes and Solutions

  • Causes: This situation stems largely from… or A further cause is…
  • Solutions: One practical measure would be to…
  • Outcomes: This would reduce congestion because…

Practise conditional patterns in our lesson to master conditional sentences.

Tip

In your 5-minute plan, name who will act on each measure.

Model Body Paragraph: Solutions

Model Body 2: Solutions (Band 7+)

The first cause, inadequate public transport, calls for investment by city and state governments in frequent, affordable services, such as the expanding metro networks of several Indian cities. Commuters who can reach work quickly and cheaply by train have less reason to drive, which would ease pressure on crowded roads. The second cause, too many private cars entering central districts, could be tackled by city planners through congestion charges at peak hours and parking restrictions. If driving into the centre costs more than taking public transport, fewer commuters are likely to choose their cars. Together, these two measures would offer commuters both a convenient alternative and a financial reason to use it.

Why It Works

  • Task Response: Names who acts and explains why each measure would work, with one measure per cause.
  • Coherence and Cohesion: Refers back to “The first cause…” and “The second cause…” instead of a “First… In addition…” chain.
  • Lexical Resource: Precise collocations: “congestion charges”, “parking restrictions”, “crowded roads”.
  • Grammatical Range and Accuracy: An accurate conditional (“If driving into the centre costs more…”) and relative clause (“Commuters who can reach work…”).

Try It

Practice question: Many young people are leaving rural areas to work in cities. What problems does this cause, and how can they be solved?

Write a four-line plan pairing two problems with two realistic solutions.

Show sample answer
  • Problem 1: Rural regions lose agricultural labour and skilled younger workers.
  • Solution 1: State governments can provide farming subsidies, machinery grants, and rural business loans.
  • Problem 2: Rapid urban influx overburdens municipal housing, clean water supplies, and transit infrastructure.
  • Solution 2: Regional planners can establish satellite industrial hubs outside major cities to distribute employment.

Key Takeaways

  • Read the final question sentence to identify the required essay variant.
  • Allocate one body paragraph to causes and one to practical solutions.
  • Match every proposed solution directly to an earlier cause.
  • Specify the institution or authority responsible for taking each concrete action.

The bottom line: In a problem–solution essay, pair every cause with a realistic remedy that says who acts and how it works.