Some people think that environmental problems are too big for individuals to solve, while others think that the government cannot solve these environmental problems unless individuals make some action. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Sample Response
In today’s modern world, we are constantly confronted with the issue of environmental problems which are becoming more severe nowadays in the newspaper. Some people are of the opinion that individuals can hardly make a change to environmental problems, while some believe that governments can help in solving environmental issues. I strongly agree that governments do play an indispensable role in tackling these problems. Some people think that the environmental problems are not an easy task for individuals to deal with, but in fact, we can actually take up some good habits which could prove useful in dealing with environmental problems. For example, we can always bring along recycle bags with us so that we can cut down the usage of plastic bags. It can be clearly seen that individuals can actually contribute to helping reduce environmental issues as fewer plastic bags being used means that less air pollution which is caused by the burning of plastic bags in the rubbish dump sites. It is certainly true that environmental problems cannot be solved without the help of governments. To begin, governments have more power than individuals in coping the environmental problems. They can, for instance, set up laws that ban the emission of wastes from factory directly into the air and watercourses. As a consequence, less air pollution and water pollution guarantee the good health of citizens. By doing this, citizens will be healthier and they can now live in a pollution-free country. In conclusion, environmental problems should be tackled immediately with the cooperation of individuals and governments. I believe that the environmental problems will be solved one day and our country will continue to prosper and flourish in the years to come.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Remove redundancy Original: today’s modern world Suggested revision: modern world Why it matters: 'Today’s' and 'modern' repeat the same time reference.
- 2. Clarify news reference Original: becoming more severe nowadays in the newspaper Suggested revision: becoming more severe, according to news reports Why it matters: The original phrase incorrectly places the problems inside a newspaper.
- 3. Correct collocation Original: change Suggested revision: difference Why it matters: 'Make a difference to' is the appropriate collocation for having an effect.
- 4. Use concise verb pattern Original: help in solving environmental issues Suggested revision: help solve environmental issues Why it matters: 'Help' can take the bare infinitive directly in this construction.
- 5. Fix subject complement Original: the environmental problems are not an easy task Suggested revision: environmental problems are not easy Why it matters: Problems cannot grammatically be described as a task in this structure.
- 6. Use natural collocation Original: actually take up some good habits Suggested revision: adopt some good habits Why it matters: People 'adopt' habits rather than 'take up' them in this context.
- 7. Correct word form Original: bring along recycle bags Suggested revision: bring reusable bags Why it matters: 'Recycle' is a verb, while 'reusable' correctly describes the bags.
- 8. Use natural collocation Original: cut down the usage of plastic bags Suggested revision: reduce the use of plastic bags Why it matters: 'Reduce the use of' is more natural and concise in formal writing.
- 9. Complete linking phrase Original: To begin, Suggested revision: To begin with, Why it matters: The standard linking expression requires 'with'.
- 10. Add required preposition Original: the Suggested revision: with Why it matters: The verb 'cope' requires the preposition 'with'.
- 11. Use precise verb Original: set up laws Suggested revision: introduce laws Why it matters: Governments normally 'introduce' or 'enact' laws.
- 12. Use uncountable noun Original: wastes Suggested revision: waste Why it matters: 'Waste' is normally uncountable when referring generally to factory pollution.
Suggested Rewrites
- today’s modern world modern world
- becoming more severe nowadays in the newspaper becoming more severe, according to news reports
- change difference
- help in solving environmental issues help solve environmental issues
- the environmental problems are not an easy task environmental problems are not easy
- actually take up some good habits adopt some good habits
Why this response received Band 6.0
The response’s clearest strength is its relevant use of examples showing how both citizens and governments can contribute to environmental protection. However, it only partially examines the two stated views and the opinion shifts from emphasizing government leadership to general cooperation without fully reconciling these positions. The priority is to analyse each claim directly and sustain one precise position through the introduction, body, and conclusion.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
The response addresses individual and government action with relevant examples, but it does not fully discuss the precise logic of both stated views and its position is only partly consistent.
Explain why problems may exceed individual capacity and why government action depends on individuals, then make the relationship between these views and your opinion explicit.
Coherence and Cohesion
The argument follows a broadly clear sequence and uses cohesive devices effectively, though paragraphing is absent and some links are repetitive or mechanical.
Separate the introduction, each main view, and the conclusion into clear paragraphs with more precise transitions between claims.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is adequate for the topic and includes some less common expressions, but repetition and several awkward collocations limit precision.
Replace repeated references to environmental problems with precise terms and correct combinations such as reusable bags, waste emissions, and dealing with pollution.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
The response uses both simple and complex sentences, but recurring errors with articles, prepositions, agreement, and clause construction reduce accuracy.
Edit each complex sentence for complete clause structure and accurate noun phrases, especially after causal linkers such as as and means that.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
Some people think that environmental problems are too big for individuals to solve, while others think that the government cannot solve these environmental problems unless individuals make some action. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.