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 although the government may have a primary roleeven if the government may have a primary role in solving this issue, others can also contribute significantly to addressing the problemtackling the situation.
It is true that governmental action is essential to resolving the housing shortageshortage 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. They can also levyFor instance, they can levy higher taxes on the ownership of multiple properties, which discourages multiple-property ownershipsuch practices and thus makes more affordable housing available toleaves 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 private entitiesRegarding 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 addressing the housing shortagemitigating the housing situation. The reason is that they possess a deep understanding of local needs and can effectivelyproperly advocate for marginalized populations. They can do thisThis can be done by connecting vulnerable communities with financial backers and philanthropists who are willing to make substantial contributions to building sheltersthe 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.
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.