IELTS Task 2: causes, problems and solutions essays
Two halves, and the marks are lost when the second half does not answer the first.
How to recognise it
- “What are the causes and what solutions can you suggest?”
- “What problems does this cause and how can they be solved?”
- “Why is this happening and what can be done?”
What it is actually asking
A two-part question, both parts equally weighted. The trap is structural rather than linguistic: the solutions must address the causes you named. An essay that identifies economic causes and then proposes educational solutions has answered two unrelated questions.
The structure
1.Introduction
Rephrase the situation and signal both halves — that you will identify the main causes and then what can be done about them.
2.Body 1 — causes
One or two causes, developed. Naming two properly is better than four in a list, and it makes the next paragraph possible.
3.Body 2 — solutions
A solution for each cause, explicitly connected: 'Since the principal driver is X, the most direct remedy is…'. Say who would act — governments, employers, individuals — because unattributed solutions read as wishes.
4.Conclusion
One sentence on each half.
How this type is under-answered
Solutions that do not correspond to the causes given.
Write the causes first, then take each one and ask what would address that specific thing. The link should be visible in the sentence, not implied by the order of paragraphs.
Common questions
How many causes and solutions should an IELTS essay include?
Two of each, developed, is the reliable structure in forty minutes. Four causes named and none explained scores worse under Task Response than two explained properly, and it leaves no room to match solutions to them.
Do the solutions have to match the causes?
Yes, and this is where most marks are lost on this type. If you name economic causes, the solutions should be economic. The connection needs to be stated explicitly rather than implied by paragraph order.
Should you say who implements the solution?
Yes. 'Governments could subsidise…' or 'employers would need to…' is concrete; 'more should be done' is not, and vague agency is one of the clearest markers of a mid-band essay.
The other four types
Write one and get a band
Our IELTS mock marks Task 2 against all four criteria and shows which sentences moved each one. Full mocks, with Writing marked, come with a pass; the free quick mock covers Listening and Reading.
This guide is written from the IELTS format published by British Council, IDP and Cambridge, in our own words. For the official wording, see the official IELTS sample questions. MockLive AI is an independent practice tool and is not affiliated with the British Council, IDP or Cambridge University Press & Assessment.