Car ownership has increased so rapidly over the past thirty years that many cities in the world are now ‘one big traffic jam.’ How true do you think this statement is? What measures can governments take to discourage people from using their cars?
Sample Response
In this rapidly progressing scientific era, technological advancements have enthralled the entire globe. Considerably, car ownership has displayed unprecedented growth over the past three decades. This has consequently led to the heavy congestion of traffic. According to my perspective, governments can definitely initiate some suggestive measures to control this menace. Commencing the discussion, the purchase and use of private cars have shown tremendous development over the past few decades. There are numerous reasons for which many individuals want to own private cars and freedom of commuting is perhaps the most important of them. Many also express immense enthusiasm concerning the new cars launched in the market as they come with new features, technology, safety measures and luxury. Consequently, the number of cars on the roads is increasing fast and it creates more traffic congestions than the roads and commuters can tolerate. Moreover, many authorities in developing countries bother the least to build more roads, suitable parking lots and their action further worsen the traffic problems. Further reinforcing my perspective, governments can take some stringent measures to reduce car ownership and control traffic congestions. Firstly, the administration should emphasise building adequate parking lots, new roads and flyovers to reduce the traffic jam pandemonium while also campaigning to encourage citizens to walk and ride bicycles whenever possible. Besides, the government must encourage the commuters to utilize more affordable public transportations like buses and metro trains rather than using their cars. Finally and most importantly, the government need to increase the tax on car ownership while also improve public transportations so that many people are dissuaded from purchasing cars. To recapitulate, concerned authorities should take strict measures to control car ownership in order to control the heavy traffic congestions and pollution. Apart from this, people should be made aware of the positive sides of walking and using eco-friendly transportations like bicycles.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use natural collocation Original: heavy congestion of traffic Suggested revision: severe traffic congestion Why it matters: Traffic congestion is the standard collocation, with severe indicating intensity.
- 2. Fix viewpoint phrase Original: According to my perspective Suggested revision: From my perspective Why it matters: From my perspective is the correct expression for introducing a personal view.
- 3. Choose accurate adjective Original: suggestive Suggested revision: effective Why it matters: Suggestive does not mean capable of achieving the intended result in this context.
- 4. Use reasons why Original: for which many individuals Suggested revision: why many individuals Why it matters: Reasons why is the idiomatic structure before this clause.
- 5. Use uncountable noun Original: congestions Suggested revision: congestion Why it matters: Congestion is uncountable when referring generally to road traffic.
- 6. Use precise expression Original: bother the least Suggested revision: make little effort Why it matters: Make little effort clearly expresses the intended lack of action.
- 7. Fix meaning and agreement Original: their action further worsen Suggested revision: their inaction further worsens Why it matters: Inaction matches the stated failure to build, and the singular noun requires worsens.
- 8. Use uncountable form Original: public transportations like Suggested revision: public transport such as Why it matters: Public transport is uncountable, and such as introduces examples precisely.
- 9. Fix subject agreement Original: need Suggested revision: needs Why it matters: The singular subject government requires the verb needs.
- 10. Use parallel form Original: improve Suggested revision: improving Why it matters: The gerund improving is needed to remain parallel with increasing.
- 11. Use clearer transition Original: Considerably Suggested revision: Notably Why it matters: Notably introduces the important observation more naturally than Considerably.
- 12. Use direct wording Original: displayed unprecedented growth Suggested revision: increased dramatically Why it matters: Increased dramatically is a more natural way to describe rising car ownership.
Suggested Rewrites
- heavy congestion of traffic severe traffic congestion
- According to my perspective From my perspective
- suggestive effective
- for which many individuals why many individuals
- congestions congestion
- bother the least make little effort
Why this response received Band 7.0
The essay presents a clear view, addresses both parts of the task, and develops a practical range of government measures in a logically organised structure. Its main weakness is that some proposed road-building measures manage congestion rather than discourage car use, while several ambitious expressions are awkward or imprecise. Prioritise sharpening the first-part evaluation and selecting measures that directly reduce private-car journeys.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
Both questions are answered with a clear position and relevant measures, although the evaluation and some solutions are not fully precise.
Explain how true the traffic-jam claim is across cities and focus every measure on discouraging car use directly.
Coherence and Cohesion
The response progresses clearly through the position, explanation, measures, and conclusion, with generally effective paragraphing and linking.
Use less formulaic transitions and make the relationship between each policy and its intended result more explicit.
Lexical Resource
A broad topic vocabulary supports detailed discussion, but frequent awkward collocations and unsuitable word choices reduce precision.
Prefer natural, exact expressions such as traffic congestion, effective measures, and public transport over inflated wording.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
The essay uses varied complex structures successfully, though agreement, plural, and parallel-form errors remain noticeable.
Check agreement and parallel verb forms carefully, especially in sentences containing coordinated policy actions.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
Car ownership has increased so rapidly over the past thirty years that many cities in the world are now ‘one big traffic jam.’ How true do you think this statement is? What measures can governments take to discourage people from using their cars?
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.