IELTS Writing Task 2: how to write a problem-solution essay on increase of waste; with effective mind mapping technique and model answer

November 6, 2018June 9, 2023

This IELTS Writing Task 2 post offers insights into writing a great answer to a problem-solution topic. This problem-solution topic asks the candidates to provide some reasons for the increasing waste around the world and suggest some practical solutions. In this post, you will find a plan that can help you to write this problem-solution essay effectively along with a mind-map or brainstorming idea. You will also find a great model answer which can help you build your own answers for other problem-solution essays.

Let’s take a close look at the question first:

What kind of essay structure should you follow?

In most IELTS Writing Task 2 essays, a 4-paragraph structure is followed. For this specific problem-solution essay, we should also follow a 4-paragraph essay structure.

Paragraph 1: Introduction (Introduce the topic with some background information in 40/45 words)

Paragraph 2: (Explain 2/3 reasons with examples in around 100 words)

Paragraph 3: (Suggest 2/3 best solutions with examples in around 100 words)

Paragraph 4: (Conclude the essay with a positive tone and what might happen if the solutions are not adopted.)

How to plan for your answer to a problem-solution topic:

When you start writing your task 2 answers, what strategies do you follow? Do you have a plan that you arrange beforehand and apply it accordingly?

It is always a very good idea to plan before you write something; even it takes 5/7 minutes of your time. A good plan reduces the pressure of real-time thinking and writing together. It also improves your power of thinking and arranging ideas. So, utilize the opportunity of thinking beforehand and taking some necessary notes that can help you to present your thoughts in an organized way.

For this problem-solution topic, we need to analyze the question and try to understand what the task requirements are. Let’s look at this question again and find out what they want us to write:

At present, we are producing more and more garbage.

Why do you think this is happening?

What can governments do to help reduce the amount of garbage produced?

As you can see, there are two questions on this topic and we should answer them effectively. We should also remember to write a minimum of 250 words to illustrate our ideas, thoughts, suggestions etc.

So, here is a plan that I’ve made to establish my ideas, thoughts, and suggestions. You can do the same by doing some brainstorming and taking some notes. You need not be accurate to do this, just put down your thoughts and do some regular practice.

Now, let’s have a look at the plan:

Now let’s have a look at the model answer and find out whether the mind mapping has helped in writing the answer.

Model answer:

With the ongoing development in the world, different sorts of problems are arising and the massive surge of garbage is one of those concerning issues. This essay will talk about the major causes of the issue and then submit some viable solutions like recycling which can be adopted by governments to minimize the problem.

Primarily, the population of the world has been escalating rapidly due to the high rate of births. The high population increases the consumption of different products which in return produces more waste. The massive amount of plastic bottles found in different islands is ocular evidence of this. Likewise, the demand for different products has been augmented by the materialistic insight and constant eye-catching advertisements of luxurious life. Recently, a great increase has been observed in the use of metals and plastics in my hometown due to changes in lifestyle and this is producing rubbish dramatically in city landfills. Besides, advancements of new technology with no suitable know-how of disposal are another reason and most of the mills and factories in developing and undeveloped nations are strong evidence of this.

The most effective step to solve this issue is a quick approach toward recycling programs by governments. Some countries in the Middle East have already adopted such a program where factories are bound to follow special protocols so that the waste can be stored for recycling, and the result has been brilliant. A secondary solution can be an awareness building program where mass people will practically observe the bad effects of increasing waste through statistical and other visual presentations. This has been done in my hometown and positive outcomes have been reported.

In fine, the huge increase in waste products is one of the foremost challenges that we are facing at present. It is high time to take a combined approach toward reducing it quickly and it can only be done by adopting solutions such as recycling and building awareness among people. Otherwise, it will ultimately lead to a global catastrophe.

(325 words)

Comments on the writing sample answer:

After analyzing the answer, it is clear that the essay has a clear 4-paragraph structure.

The mind map also has a positive correlation with the answer.

All the examples provided are logical and realistic.

We can see some excellent use of important vocabulary and connecting words or linkers. This gives the writer extra benefits in earning a good band score.

There is also good use of different sentence patterns.

Important vocabularies:

arise: to begin to occur or to exist, to originate from a source

surge: to rise suddenly to an excessive or abnormal value

concerning issues: problems that create worries

viable: capable of working, functioning, or developing adequately

adopted: used or chosen in place of or in preference to an original

primarily: chiefly, mainly, originally,

escalate: to increase in extent, volume, number, amount, intensity, or scope

consumption: the act or process of taking, eating or using something

in return: as a result

massive: huge, big,

ocular evidence: a proof based on what has been seen

likewise: similarly, in addition,

augmented: made greater, larger, bigger

materialistic insight: an act or result that is overly concerned or preoccupied with material possessions rather than with intellectual or spiritual things

eye-catching: something that arrests the eye, attractive,

luxurious: of the finest and richest kind

dramatically: rapidly, sharply

landfill: an area where a large heap of waste is buried

know-how: knowledge of how to do something smoothly and efficiently

disposal: the systematic destruction

approach: to make advances to especially in order to create the desired result

special protocol: a detailed plan of a scientific or medical experiment, treatment, or procedure

practically: almost, nearly

statistical: of, relating to, based on, or employing the principles of statistics

outcomes: results, consequences

foremost challenges: the main problems