IELTS Task 2 Writing - Problem and Solution Sample Essay

IELTS Writing Task 2 - Problem and Solution Essay - Inactive Population

Question:

Throughout the developing world more and more adults are less active and as a result less healthy.

Discuss the causes of inactivity and outline some steps societies could take to address this issue.

Before You Write

• Look at the first sentence in the question. What part do you need to talk about?
• Look at the second sentence of the question. Which parts do you need to discuss?

Sample Answer

It is generally acknowledged that modern lifestyles are less beneficial than those several decades ago. Partly as a result, obesity and other health problems are on the rise. This essay will examine some of the causes of this social change and offer some suggestions.

There are several major reasons for this rise in inactivity. First, there is the modern obsession with convenience, especially cars. It cannot be denied that as we grow richer the first major purchase is the family car. While this does have benefits, traveling in this way dramatically decreases the amount of time spent walking and cycling. Another likely cause is the growth in media such as television, the Internet, and now online gaming. All of these activities require people to sit and remain still. They are also fairly addictive, which means that once the youth are exposed to them, they are likely to continue with them into adulthood. The final piece of the puzzle is urbanization. As an increasingly larger proportion of the population lives in cities, it is more difficult for the average person to get sufficient exercise. 

However, what can be done about this? Although reversing car use and urbanization is not an option, there are a number of options on the table. Societies could demand better urban planning from their local and national governments in order to encourage urbanites to use cars less and their bodies more. Making space for usable parks and increasing access to walking trails and natural areas are all good examples of this. A similar strategy could discourage reliance on cars. In this way people would walk a short distance, take public transport, and then walk the remaining distance. All of these ideas would make the general population increasingly active. Unfortunately, these ideas do not directly address the problem of a youth culture obsessed with the Internet.

In conclusion, there are clearly some strategies for boosting the level of activity throughout developing nations. However, it will take political will and local organization for them to succeed.

337 Words


Answers - Before you write

• The focus of the question is "Throughout the developing world more and more adults are less active"
• You need to discuss the "causes of inactivity" and "some steps societies could take." So, you must talk about both the cause of the problem AND offer some solutions.