Global warming is one of the biggest threats humans face in the 21st century, and sea levels continue to rise at alarming rates. What problems are associated with this, and what are some possible solutions?
Sample Response
Global warming has remained a pressing concern in the present day, as it is known for its severe environmental consequences, such as the rise of sea levels. There are dire implications to this situation, but viable solutions can be proposed to mitigate its impact on human civilization and natural ecosystems.
The threats caused by the current development are alarming. Firstly, the rise in sea level potentially places inhabitants of coastal regions into life-and-death situations as their living environment is at risk of being submerged. Cities such as New York, for example, are not only the home to millions of people but also massive hubs for economic activity; if lost, the damage in both humanitarian and financial terms may be unrecoverable. Another threat, in addition, is saltwater intrusion into agricultural areas, which undermines freshwater supply and soil fertility. This both causes food security issues due to shrinking arable land and exacerbates water scarcity, especially in regions frequently affected by natural disasters. If left unchecked, armed conflict might even result as a consequence of competition for dwindling vital resources.
There are ways to address this crisis, however. A method to safeguard coastal zones is to construct sophisticated infrastructure such as sea walls, and restore natural buffers, such as wetlands, in order to absorb the impact of storms and flooding. Doing so would help inhabitants protect their livelihood through reducing the damage on vulnerable areas caused by natural disasters as a result of global warming. Furthermore, it is necessary to cut down on greenhouse gas emissions, which are a major contributor to this phenomenon. This can be done using policies that facilitate transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources, such as solar power or electric batteries for vehicles, which has been done in some regions in China. The global temperature, therefore, may stabilize and slow the rise in sea level.
In conclusion, the challenges presented by global warming seem daunting, and would require a coordinated effort to mitigate. However, an effective response to preserve the Earth for future generations is still possible, provided there is cooperation between governments, as well as between governments and individuals.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use concise phrasing Original: has remained a pressing concern in the present day Suggested revision: remains a pressing concern Why it matters: The present tense conveys the current situation without redundant time wording.
- 2. Correct preposition Original: to Suggested revision: of Why it matters: “Implications” takes “of” when referring to the consequences of a situation.
- 3. Clarify trend Original: development Suggested revision: trend Why it matters: “Trend” refers more precisely to the ongoing rise in sea levels.
- 4. Use plural noun Original: level Suggested revision: levels Why it matters: The plural form is the conventional expression for this global phenomenon.
- 5. Remove article Original: the home to millions Suggested revision: home to millions Why it matters: The fixed expression is “home to” without an article.
- 6. Remove redundant linker Original: Another threat, in addition, Suggested revision: Another threat Why it matters: “Another” already signals addition, so the inserted connector is redundant.
- 7. Improve noun structure Original: facilitate transitioning from Suggested revision: facilitate the transition from Why it matters: The noun phrase is more natural after “facilitate” in this formal context.
- 8. Clarify category contrast Original: such as solar power or electric batteries for vehicles Suggested revision: such as solar power, or to electric vehicles Why it matters: The revision distinguishes a renewable energy source from a type of vehicle.
- 9. Align verb forms Original: seem daunting, and would require Suggested revision: seem daunting and require Why it matters: The coordinated verbs should share the present-tense structure, without a comma before “and.”
- 10. Add missing object Original: effort to mitigate Suggested revision: effort to mitigate them Why it matters: The transitive verb “mitigate” needs an object referring to the challenges.
- 11. Sentence rewrite Original: Doing so would help inhabitants protect their livelihood through reducing the damage on vulnerable areas caused by natural disasters as a result of global warming. Suggested revision: Doing so would help inhabitants protect their livelihoods by reducing natural-disaster damage in vulnerable areas affected by global warming. Why it matters: The rewrite fixes number agreement, prepositions, and the overloaded modifier chain.
- 12. Sentence rewrite Original: The global temperature, therefore, may stabilize and slow the rise in sea level. Suggested revision: These measures may therefore stabilize global temperatures and slow the rise in sea levels. Why it matters: The new subject clearly links the predicted effects to the proposed measures.
Suggested Rewrites
- has remained a pressing concern in the present day remains a pressing concern
- to of
- development trend
- level levels
- the home to millions home to millions
- Another threat, in addition, Another threat
Why this response received Band 8.0
The response’s strongest feature is its thorough, logically organised coverage of both consequences and solutions, with relevant causal explanation and well-chosen examples. Its main limitation is occasional imprecision in otherwise advanced language, especially awkward collocations and an unclear example involving vehicle batteries. Prioritise tightening these expressions and explaining how each mitigation measure directly reduces sea-level rise or its effects.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
The response fully addresses both required parts with well-developed problems, practical solutions, and relevant explanation of their consequences or benefits.
Make the emissions solution even more exact by explaining how vehicle electrification depends on low-carbon electricity rather than batteries alone.
Coherence and Cohesion
Information is sequenced logically from problems to solutions, and cohesive devices guide the reader effectively through clearly focused paragraphs.
Remove redundant linking combinations such as ‘Another threat, in addition’ so transitions remain economical and unobtrusive.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is wide and often precise, but several awkward collocations and the imprecise phrase ‘electric batteries for vehicles’ prevent consistently natural expression.
Use more exact combinations such as ‘reduce damage to vulnerable areas’ and ‘electric vehicles powered by renewable energy’.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
The response uses varied complex structures with strong control, and only occasional awkward constructions or punctuation choices are noticeable.
Review modifier attachment and relative-clause reference in long sentences so every relationship remains immediately clear.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
Global warming is one of the biggest threats humans face in the 21st century, and sea levels continue to rise at alarming rates. What problems are associated with this, and what are some possible solutions?
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.