Test section – Writing Task 2

Problems and Solutions

essays
Activities
1. Generating ideas (1)
2. Generating ideas (2)
3. Language for expressing cause and effect
4. Language for expressing purpose
5. Guided writing practice

Aims
• to help students practise generating ideas to prepare to write
• to provide students with language to express cause and effect / purpose

Learning outcomes
• Students will have worked together to generate ideas related to a Problems and
Solutions IELTS essay.
• Students will have practised using language for expressing cause and effect as well
as purpose.

Information about this section of IELTS

In Writing Task 2, test takers will be asked to write an essay in response to a point of view,
argument or problem. They will be expected to write at least 250 words and are advised to
spend 40 minutes on this task. The essay should be written in formal, academic English.

Time 40-55 minutes

Level B1+
Class Suitable for groups / large classes
F2F / Online
Interaction Pair or group work / Individual work
Materials Worksheets x5 attached

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Page 1 of 13
Activity 1: Generating ideas (1)
Material: Worksheet 1
Time: 5-7 minutes
Procedure:
• introduce the focus of the lesson: Academic Writing Task 2 – Problems and
Solution essays.
• elicit environmental problems in general or show the class some pictures related to
overfishing and elicit the topic.
• give students a copy of Worksheet 1 and draw attention to the essay question.
• elicit keywords from the question to identify what they have to write about, i.e.
describe causes of overfishing and outline possible solutions.
• draw attention to the brainstorming table and elicit initial ideas for each column.
• students work in pairs / groups to generate further ideas for both columns.
• get class feedback.

Activity 2: Generating ideas (2)

Material: Worksheet 2
Time: 3-5 minutes
Procedure:
• give students a copy of Worksheet 2 and elicit if any ideas matched students’ own.
• students work in pairs to put ideas under the correct headings
• ask students to add their own ideas from the previous exercise (optional)
• get class feedback.

Answers

Causes of overfishing
• ‘factory fishing’ makes huge catches too easy
• huge areas of the world’s oceans are not protected by environmental laws
• illegal fishing is difficult to police
• the problem does not get enough publicity
• there’s a growing demand for fish worldwide
• fishing provides a quick return for companies and governments

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Page 2 of 13
Ways to prevent overfishing
• bring in laws to protect fish species and limit fishing
• create an international body to police the oceans and enforce laws
• put taxes on fishing to make it less attractive to companies
• raise public awareness though the media
• ban the fishing of certain species of fish

Activity 3: Language for expressing cause and effect

Material: Worksheet 3
Time: 8-10 minutes
Procedure:
• elicit expressions related to cause and effect.
• give students a copy of Worksheet 3 and draw attention to the language provided,
especially any matches to students’ own ideas from the previous elicitation.
• elicit some example sentences using the target language.
• draw attention to exercise 1 and complete a) open class.
• allow learners time to complete the sentences alone before checking with a partner.
• get class feedback.
• draw attention to exercise 2, where students complete the paragraph using the
language of cause and effect.
• complete the first example open class.
• allow students time to complete the paragraph alone before checking with a
partner.
• get class feedback.

Answers
a) Global warming is partly a result of increasing emissions of greenhouse gases.
b) The decline of the manufacturing industry brought about high unemployment in
many countries.
c) People are more worried about crime on account of exaggerated reports in the
media.
d) Increasing pressure to work overtime causes parents to spend less time with their
children.
e) Many medicines remain unavailable to millions owing to their high cost.
f) Globalisation has given rise to a bland ‘pop culture’ followed by young people
worldwide.
g) The increase in childhood obesity is due to the easy availability of unhealthy food
products.

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Page 3 of 13
 h) The desire for higher profits leads to companies setting up in countries where
labour is cheap.

There are a number of reasons why overfishing of the world’s fish stocks has reached crisis
levels. Firstly, catching large numbers of fish has become very easy 1 because of/as a
result of/owing to modern methods of factory fishing. Secondly, the scarcity of fish 2
results in/gives rise to/leads to higher prices, making fishing a more attractive industry for
governments and companies to invest in. This 3 results in/gives rise to/leads to/brings
about even more fishing and 4 results in/gives rise to/leads to/accounts for/causes a
vicious circle of increasing demand and diminishing supply. Furthermore, fishing in most
parts of the world remains uncontrolled 5 due to/owing to/because of/on account of/as a
result of the lack of environmental laws. Finally, where laws do exist they are difficult to
enforce 6 due to/owing to/because of/on account of/as a result of the lack of an
international maritime police authority.

Activity 4: Language for expressing purpose

Material: Worksheet 4
Time: 7-10 minutes
Procedure:

• give students a copy of Worksheet 4.

• write the first gapped sentence on the whiteboard There are many things that can
be done 1……………………. to prevent fish species from being wiped out by
overfishing.
• elicit which of the phrases 1-3 would complete the gap (3).
• draw attention to the verb form, the infinitive following these phrases.
• elicit the verb forms for the remaining phrases outlined below.
• put students into pairs to complete the rest of the verb using the phrases provided.
• get class feedback.

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Answers

1 so (that) B overfishing is prevented

in this way

2 with the purpose of C preventing overfishing

3 in order A to prevent overfishing

so as

There are many things that can be done 1 in order/so as to prevent fish species from being
wiped out by overfishing. One immediate measure is to put a complete ban on the fishing of
certain species of fish 2 in order/so as to save them from extinction. Environmental
agencies should work to give the problem a higher profile in the media 3 so that the public
become more aware. Governments can help by imposing taxes on the fishing industry. 4 In
this way, companies may be less likely to see fishing as an easy way to make money.
Governments should also bring in stricter laws in order to protect fish stocks from
uncontrolled factory fishing. Finally, an international body ought to be created 5 with the
purpose of enforcing these laws worldwide.

Activity 5: Practice writing task

Material: Worksheet 5
Time: 15-20 minutes
Procedure:
• give students a copy of Worksheet 5.
• depending on your students, you may wish to work through the stages of this final
activity as a whole class, in pairs or individually.
• give students time to read and identify the keywords of the question to identify what
they must write.
• give students time to generate ideas for writing by completing the brainstorming
table with their ideas.
• students work alone / in pairs / groups to write a “problems” paragraph and a

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 “solutions” paragraph using the expressions from the earlier worksheets.
• monitor and get class feedback.
• if you are short of time, this can be set as a homework task.

Follow-up activities
Encourage learners to complete the writing at home, using the brainstorming table and
expressions from the lesson.

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Page 6 of 13
. Writing Task 2 Worksheet 1

Generating ideas (1)

Overfishing of the world’s oceans threatens many species with extinction and is putting
the livelihood of millions of people around the world at risk. What are the causes of this
problem and what can be done to prevent it from happening?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own
knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

Spend 5 minutes brainstorming ideas for the example question above

underneath the headings below:

Causes of overfishing Ways to prevent overfishing

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Writing Task 2 Worksheet 2

Generating ideas (2)

Put each idea under the appropriate heading.

• ‘factory fishing’ makes huge catches too easy

• bring in laws to protect fish species and limit fishing
• create an international body to police the oceans and enforce laws
• fishing provides a quick return for companies and governments
• huge areas of the world’s oceans are not protected by environmental laws
• illegal fishing is difficult to police
• put taxes on fishing to make it less attractive to companies
• raise public awareness though the media
• the problem does not get enough publicity
• there’s a growing demand for fish worldwide
• ban the fishing of certain species of fish

Causes of overfishing Ways to prevent overfishing

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Page 8 of 13
Writing Task 2 Worksheet 3

Language for expressing cause and effect

due to
owing to
RESULT because of
(is) caused by CAUSE
brought about by
on account of
a result of

results in
causes RESULT
gives rise to
CAUSE
leads to
brings about
accounts for

1 Each of the sentences below describes a cause and effect relationship. Choose the best
expression to complete the gap. Use the information above to help you.

a) Global warming is partly [a result of/causes] increasing emissions of greenhouse

gases.

b ) The decline of the manufacturing industry [on account of/brought about] high
unemployment in many countries.

c) People are more worried about crime [on account of/brings about] exaggerated
reports in the media.

d) Increasing pressure to work overtime [owing to/causes] parents to spend less time
with their children.

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Page 9 of 13
 e) Many medicines remain unavailable to millions [owing to/gives rise to] their high
cost.

f) Globalisation [a result of/has given rise to] a bland ‘pop culture’ followed by young
people worldwide.

g) The increase in childhood obesity [is due to/leads to] the easy availability of
unhealthy food products.

h) The desire for higher profits [on account of/leads to] companies setting up in
countries where labour is cheap.

2 Complete the paragraph below by using the cause and effect expressions from the
previous activity.

There are a number of reasons why overfishing of the world’s fish stocks has reached crisis
levels. Firstly, catching large numbers of fish has become very easy 1…………………….
modern methods of factory fishing. Secondly, the scarcity of fish 2……………………. higher
prices, making fishing a more attractive industry for governments and companies to invest
in. This 3……………………. even more fishing and 4……………………. a vicious circle of
increasing demand and diminishing supply. Furthermore, fishing in most parts of the world
remains uncontrolled 5……………………. the lack of environmental laws. Finally, where
laws do exist they are difficult to enforce 6……………………. the lack of an international
maritime police authority.

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Page 10 of 13
Writing Task 2 Worksheet 4
Language for expressing purpose

1 The phrases below are used to show the purpose or the reason for doing something.
Match each one with the verb form which follows it.

1 so (that) A to prevent overfishing

in this way

2 with the purpose of B overfishing is prevented

3 in order C preventing overfishing

so as

2 Now complete the paragraph below with the phrases above.

There are many things that can be done 1……………………. to prevent fish species from
being wiped out by overfishing. One immediate measure is to put a complete ban on the
fishing of certain species of fish 2……………………. save them from extinction.
Environmental agencies should work to give the problem a higher profile in the media
3……………………. the public become more aware. Governments can help by imposing
taxes on the fishing industry. 4……………………., companies may be less likely to see
fishing as an easy way to make money. Governments should also bring in stricter laws in
order to protect fish stocks from uncontrolled factory fishing. Finally, an international body
ought to be created 5……………………. enforcing these laws worldwide.

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Page 11 of 13
Writing Task 2 Worksheet 5

Writing the essay

A rise in childhood obesity is a real threat to health with an increasing

number of children now classified as overweight. What are the causes of
the problem and what measures can be taken to solve them?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from
your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.

1 Working with a partner, try to generate ideas using the table below.

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2 Write a “problems” paragraph about your ideas with the language of cause and effect.

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

3 Write a “solutions” paragraph about your ideas with the language of purpose.

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

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