Only government action can solve housing shortages in big cities. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Sample Response
Housing shortages in large cities have become a serious issue, leading some to believe that only the government can provide a solution. I disagree with this statement as I believe that even if the government may have a primary role in solving this issue, others can also contribute significantly to tackling the situation.
It is true that governmental action is essential to resolving the shortage of houses in major cities. One way in which this is achieved is through legislation and policy-making, whereby the government can implement measures to increase the supply of affordable housing. For instance, they can enact zoning laws to encourage development and finance the construction of affordable homes. Additionally, the government has the legal power to ensure fair practices in the housing market and promote responsible development. For instance, they can levy higher taxes on the ownership of multiple properties, which discourages such practices and thus leaves more affordable houses for lower-income residents.
Nevertheless, I believe that the complexity of the housing crisis necessitates collaboration among multiple stakeholders, particularly private entities and nonprofit organizations. Regarding the former, the private sector has resources that can be mobilized to facilitate the construction of affordable housing projects. Thus, with appropriate incentives such as tax breaks or expedited permit processes, the government can involve private corporations in the construction and management of affordable housing units. Nonprofit organizations and community groups also have a significant role in mitigating the housing situation. The reason is that they possess a deep understanding of local needs and can properly advocate for marginalized populations. This can be done by connecting vulnerable communities with financial backers and philanthropists who are willing to make substantial contributions to the building of a shelter for those at risk of homelessness.
In conclusion, while the government may play a central role in tackling housing shortages in large urban areas, I disagree with the view that no other parties can contribute. In my opinion, the lack of housing for citizens can only be effectively addressed with collective efforts that involve private companies and community organizations.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use direct concession Original: even if the government may have a primary role Suggested revision: although the government may have a primary role Why it matters: Although expresses the intended factual concession more directly than even if.
- 2. Name the problem Original: tackling the situation Suggested revision: addressing the problem Why it matters: Problem is more precise here than the vague noun situation.
- 3. Use standard collocation Original: shortage of houses Suggested revision: housing shortage Why it matters: Housing shortage is the conventional term for this issue.
- 4. Link the second measure Original: For instance, they can levy Suggested revision: They can also levy Why it matters: Also presents taxation clearly as an additional government measure rather than another disconnected example.
- 5. Replace vague reference Original: such practices Suggested revision: multiple-property ownership Why it matters: Naming the practice makes the reference precise.
- 6. Improve housing collocation Original: leaves more affordable houses for Suggested revision: makes more affordable housing available to Why it matters: Affordable housing is the natural uncountable expression in this context.
- 7. Clarify the reference Original: Regarding the former Suggested revision: Regarding private entities Why it matters: Naming the stakeholder removes the need to trace the former back to the previous sentence.
- 8. Use precise wording Original: mitigating the housing situation Suggested revision: addressing the housing shortage Why it matters: This wording identifies the specific problem instead of referring vaguely to a situation.
- 9. Choose natural adverb Original: properly Suggested revision: effectively Why it matters: Effectively describes successful advocacy more naturally than properly.
- 10. Clarify the actor Original: This can be done Suggested revision: They can do this Why it matters: The revision keeps nonprofit organizations as the explicit actor.
- 11. Use concise phrasing Original: the building of a shelter Suggested revision: building shelters Why it matters: The concise plural phrase fits the general discussion of people at risk of homelessness.
- 12. Separate stakeholder roles Suggested revision: Divide the private-sector and nonprofit contributions into separate paragraphs so each stakeholder's role develops in a clear sequence. Why it matters: The paragraph currently shifts between two distinct stakeholder groups within one long block.
Suggested Rewrites
- even if the government may have a primary role although the government may have a primary role
- tackling the situation addressing the problem
- shortage of houses housing shortage
- For instance, they can levy They can also levy
- such practices multiple-property ownership
- leaves more affordable houses for makes more affordable housing available to
Why this response received Band 8.0
The response’s strongest feature is its clear, consistently maintained position, supported by well-developed explanations of how government, private firms, and nonprofit groups can contribute. Its main limitation is that the nonprofit example narrows from the wider housing shortage to emergency shelter and is slightly less fully connected to increasing housing supply. Prioritise making every example directly demonstrate how it resolves the specific shortage.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
The response fully addresses the claim with a clear disagreement and develops relevant roles for government, business, and nonprofit actors.
Connect the nonprofit shelter example more explicitly to the broader shortage of affordable housing.
Coherence and Cohesion
The argument progresses logically through a focused introduction, two well-organised body paragraphs, and a consistent conclusion.
Streamline the longer third paragraph so its two stakeholder strands remain equally easy to follow.
Lexical Resource
A wide and precise vocabulary supports nuanced discussion, with only occasional slightly awkward collocations.
Replace broad phrases such as “mitigating the housing situation” with more exact housing-policy language.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A wide range of complex structures is used accurately, and the few minor lapses do not impede communication.
Refine pronoun reference and article choices in the densest sentences to make an already strong performance more precise.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
Only government action can solve housing shortages in big cities. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.