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- Problem Solution Essay Example
This problem solution essay example is about the issue of professionals leaving their own developing countries to go and work abroad in more developed countries.
An increasing number of professionals, such as doctors and teachers, are leaving their own poorer countries to work in developed countries.
What problems does this cause?
What solutions can you suggest to deal with this situation?
Brainstorming
For this problem solution essay example question you need to brainstorm the kinds of problems that developing countries will face if they start to lose important workers, such as doctors and teachers.
So you need to make sure you specifically relate your response to the issue of developing nations .
When you brainstorm solutions, you should again not make them too general. Try to think of some specific ideas with detail.
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
What problems does this cause?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own experience or knowledge.
Write at least 250 words.
Model Answer:
The primary goal of many people is to provide for their families. However, for poorer nations, what that often means is that many experienced professionals end up seeking a better life in the more developed nations, causing problems to their mother country.
The main problem of this exodus of workers is that the poorer countries often lose their top specialists and are left with novices. These professionals often have the skills and ideas to significantly boost the economy, which is important to improve the standard of living of its residents. The loss of these workers is why developed countries keep improving while the poorer countries remain stagnant. Aside from the brain drain, the other issue is the lack of needed personnel. With so many people exiting the country or leaving their jobs to fulfil the requirements to work abroad, there is often a void in the workplace. For example, in many developing countries, hospitals and schools are often understaffed, causing a decline in services.
Though such problems have been going on for quite some time, there are plausible solutions. The first is to offer what the migrating professionals are looking for: proper compensation and benefits. Doing this will require a lot of coordination and possible tax breaks to make things work, but the results will be well worth it if the talented and experienced workers can stay. The second solution is to prevent workers from leaving until they have served the country for several years. Thus, should the experts go, at least the people left behind will not be fresh graduates anymore. Most governments spend much on their citizens' safety and basic needs and, therefore, it is right that the workers first contribute to their economy before being allowed to leave.
In summary, while it is good that the global economy requires workers from all corners of the world, it is not ideal that poorer countries suffer because of it. The public and private sectors need to work together to mitigate this problem before it is too late.
(339 words)
The response also ensures that the problems are related to issues of developing countries.
- exodus of workers
- top specialists
- standard of living
- void in the workplace
- understaffed
- served the country
- contribute to their economy
There is also a good mix of grammatical structures in this problem solution essay example and a variety subordinate/dependent clauses . For example:
- These professionals often have the skills and ideas to significantly boost the economy, which is important to improve the standard of living of its residents. (relative clause)
- The loss of these workers is why developed countries keep improving, while the poorer countries remain stagnant. (noun clause and adverbial clause)
- Though such problems have been going on for quite some time, there are plausible solutions. (adverbial clause)
- ....the results will be well worth it if the talented and experienced workers can stay. (adverbial clause)
- The second solution is to prevent workers from leaving until they have served the country for a few years. (adverbial clause)
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Problem-solution essays Situation-problem-solution-evaluation
Problem-solution essays are a common essay type, especially for short essays such as subject exams or IELTS . The page gives information on what they are , how to structure this type of essay, and gives an example problem-solution essay on the topic of obesity and fitness levels.
What are problem-solution essays?
Problem-solution essays consider the problems of a particular situation, and give solutions to those problems. They are in some ways similar to cause and effect essays , especially in terms of structure (see below). Problem-solution essays are actually a sub-type of another type of essay, which has the following four components:
The 'situation' may be included in the essay prompt, in which case it will not be needed in the main body. If it is needed, it can often be included in the introduction, especially for short essays, as with the example essay below . The 'evaluation' may be included as part of the conclusion (also as in the example below), or omitted altogether, especially for short essays. For these reasons, problem-solution essays are more common than situation-problem-solution-evaluation essays (or SPSE essays).
There are two main ways to structure a problem-solution essay. These are similar to the ways to structure cause and effect essays , namely using a block or a chain structure. For the block structure, all of the problems are listed first, and all of the solutions are listed afterwards. For the chain structure, each problem is followed immediately by the solution to that problem. Both types of structure have their merits. The former is generally clearer, especially for shorter essays, while the latter ensures that any solutions you present relate directly to the problems you have given.
The two types of structure, block and chain , are shown in the diagram below. This is for a short essay, which includes the 'situation' in the introduction and 'evaluation' in the conclusion. A longer essay, for example one of around 1,000 words, with citations , would probably have these two sections as separate paragraphs in the main body.
if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[728,90],'eapfoundation_com-banner-1','ezslot_2',113,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-eapfoundation_com-banner-1-0'); Example essay
Below is a problem-solution essay on the topic of obesity and poor fitness . It uses the block structure . Click on the different areas (in the shaded boxes) to highlight the different structural aspects in this essay, i.e. Situation, Problem, Solution, Evaluation. This will highlight not simply the paragraphs, but also (for problems and solutions) the thesis statement and summary , as these repeat the problems and solutions contained in the main body.
Consumption of processed and convenience foods and our dependence on the car have led to an increase in obesity and reduction in the fitness level of the adult population. In some countries, especially industrialized ones, the number of obese people can amount to one third of the population. This is significant as obesity and poor fitness lead to a decrease in life expectancy , and it is therefore important for individuals and governments to work together to tackle this issue and improve their citizens' diet and fitness. Obesity and poor fitness decrease life expectancy. Overweight people are more likely to have serious illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease, which can result in premature death. It is well known that regular exercise can reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, which means that those with poor fitness levels are at an increased risk of suffering from those problems. Changes by individuals to their diet and their physical activity can increase life expectancy. There is a reliance today on the consumption of processed foods, which have a high fat and sugar content. By preparing their own foods, and consuming more fruit and vegetables, people could ensure that their diets are healthier and more balanced, which could lead to a reduction in obesity levels. In order to improve fitness levels, people could choose to walk or cycle to work or to the shops rather than taking the car. They could also choose to walk up stairs instead of taking the lift. These simple changes could lead to a significant improvement in fitness levels. Governments could also implement initiatives to improve their citizens' eating and exercise habits. This could be done through education, for example by adding classes to the curriculum about healthy diet and lifestyles. Governments could also do more to encourage their citizens to walk or cycle instead of taking the car, for instance by building more cycle lanes or increasing vehicle taxes. While some might argue that increased taxes are a negative way to solve the problem, it is no different from the high taxes imposed on cigarettes to reduce cigarette consumption. In short, obesity and poor fitness are a significant problem in modern life, leading to lower life expectancy . Individuals and governments can work together to tackle this problem and so improve diet and fitness . Of the solutions suggested, those made by individuals themselves are likely to have more impact, though it is clear that a concerted effort with the government is essential for success. With obesity levels in industrialized and industrializing countries continuing to rise, it is essential that we take action now to deal with this problem.
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Below is a checklist for the main body of an essay. Use it to check your own writing, or get a peer (another student) to help you.
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Author: Sheldon Smith ‖ Last modified: 22 January 2022.
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Compare & contrast essays examine the similarities of two or more objects, and the differences.
Cause & effect essays consider the reasons (or causes) for something, then discuss the results (or effects).
Discussion essays require you to examine both sides of a situation and to conclude by saying which side you favour.
Problem-solution essays are a sub-type of SPSE essays (Situation, Problem, Solution, Evaluation).
Transition signals are useful in achieving good cohesion and coherence in your writing.
Reporting verbs are used to link your in-text citations to the information cited.
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- Problem Solution
Problem Solution - Essay Example
- Subject: Business
- Type: Essay
- Level: Undergraduate
- Pages: 1 (250 words)
- Downloads: 4
- Author: carteritzel
Extract of sample "Problem Solution"
HOW TO CHANGE A CULTURE: Lessons from NUMMI (A Business Problem and its Solution) ID number: of Human ResourcesProfessors Name:Name of University (affiliation)Location of University:Date of Submission: January 31, 2014Estimated Word Count = 330 (text only)1. Section 3 (Causes of the Problem) – the cause of the problem at the old GM Fremont plant (before NUMMI) was a dysfunctional attitude among the workers due to their low morale. In particular, this had translated into a bad attitude about work and production problems, resulting into the low quality of output it produced.
Absenteeism was high, wildcat strikes can happen anytime, and workers sometimes deliberately sabotaged quality. Taken together, all these point out to one single kind of problem, and this is the seeming lack of commitment by top management in terms of culture. Put differently, the corporate culture was not conducive to the introduction of new improvements that could have helped with the overall quality and quantity of the plants output. This kind of an environment at the plant in turn produced the low morale of the workers there.
The challenge is to find ways to motivate the employees without necessarily threatening them or their sense of security pertaining to their jobs, as proposed change is always perceived as a threat (Shook, 2010, p. 65). An important thing is to gain employees trust.2. Section 4 (Possible Solutions) - the new combined management at the NUMMI plant made the right decisions regarding gaining employee trust so that there will be cooperation from the workers. In particular, it is vital to have the so-called “employee buy-in” wherein the workers are themselves convinced of the proposed solutions coming from management.
However, not all of the proposed solutions came from the top only, the workers down below in production lines were also given new responsibilities together with the corresponding authority to detect problems with quality, if ever these defects come up, by allowing them to “stop the line” which is a novel or new idea for most of the previous workers at the old GM Fremont plant. In other words, they are now given the capability to manage their work. They are now empowered to check quality. ReferenceShook, J.
(Winter 2010). How to change a culture: Lessons from NUMMI. MIT Sloan Management Review, 51(2), 62-68. Retrieved January 31, 2014 from http://www.lean.org/admin/km/documents/0D7A98AE-DE1F-4A19-B1E2-74D91F8F8E06-51211%20with%20art.pdf
- Final Solution
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Problem Solution essays
Essay guide
Essay examples, problem solution essays.
Sample problem solution essays are the kind that requires you to discuss an issue, address it effectively, and convince the reader to care about it deeply, so they are invested in finding a cure. Only then will they agree with your thoughts. A problem solution essay is much about persuasion and clear reasoning than anything else. Because of its nature, the writer has to think deeply and do lots of research depending on their audience. After addressing a concern, a problem/solution essay will go on to give solutions. You are allowed to give personal opinions here as long as they are backed up ideally to engage the reader.
There are thousands of problem solution essay ideas online if you are looking for inspiration. Before writing, you want to think deeply about the issue you are about to address, gather all the material necessary to write it, then go for it. The length will be determined by the topic and instructions given.
How to write a problem solution essay
Before writing a problem and solution essay, think about the things that you think could be changed. Since you will be addressing an issue and its probable proposition, start by coming up with a suitable topic for problem solution essay. This involves a brainstorming session since you do not want to come up with titles that you cannot sufficiently support. Since the topics you have selected are personally known to you – could be an issue with school sports or something else that needs addressing – think of antidotes to these problems. What has already been done to try and solve then but hasn't worked according to you? These thoughts will make it easy to write the essay.
Once you have good problem solution essay topics, gather your material. The resources you can find online to help you write your essay are all going to be useful at this point to make writing easier. If your solutions are based on personal opinions and you have no data to back them up, then you will need to be persuasive.
Another list you will want to make is that of what it takes to address these issues. The feasibility of your offers will make a good argument when you start to write your essay. Finally, how to write a problem solution essay. You have gathered all the material you need to write your essay, and you are now ready to pen it down. Your goals are to convince the reader that the problems are worthy of their attention and the solutions feasible. The essay needs to be persuasive, and the solutions worth the cost. This essay follows a simple structure that is shared by other essay types and so it is not the most complicated. If you have a proper argument, then it will be reasonably easy to write.
Problem Solution Essay Examples
Problem solving.
Critical Thinking and Problem solving
Unemployment - problems and solutions
What does a problem solution essay structure look like?
Good problem and solution essay examples follow a simple structure; Introduction, Statement of the problem/s, Solution/s, and Conclusion. These are stated each on its own and in that order. As we mentioned above, the length of the essay will depend on the topic and target audience, among other things.
Here is an example of a structure for a problem solution essay sample;
Introduction
This part should not be longer than one paragraph as it only introduces the essay, states the problem, and outlines the propositions. At this point, it has to come out clearly to the reader that the problem needs a cure.
State the Problem
The reader needs persuasion that the problem you are introducing does exist and needs a fix. Only when they are made to care about this problem will they want to be part of the antidote. This part will form the body of the essay, and so you can be liberal with your words. Some of the ways you can capture the reader's attention and make them care about the problems include sharing a heartfelt narrative or using statistics they cannot ignore.
What is the Solution?
No one wants to read devasting stories without cures. Now that you have stated the problem, what do you suggest be done? This part will need to be reasonable because the cost for the fixes should not be too high. You will want to be as detailed as possible by citing examples where those fixes have worked. You will base your thoughts on the fact that someone may want to adopt your model and implement the fixes.
The Conclusion
The wrap-up needs to create a picture of urgency, just as the body. Here, you will show how the world would look with all the antidotes implemented. You can also be dramatic to let the reader know what would happen if nothing was done about the prevailing situation.
Outline and format of a problem solution essay
When you look at problem solution essays examples online, they mainly follow the format we have already outlined above. They have an introduction, a body that states the issue as well as what should be done, and a conclusion. A problem solution essay example will explain everything the reader needs to know about a concern and what needs to be done. This problem solution essay outline will help you write the essay once you have gathered your resources.
After writing, you want to edit your work to check typos and grammar concerns. There will also be paragraphs to indent and format and headers to check.
Think about Statement
Arguable thesis means that it can be argued. It must either state or refute an argument about your topic. To be debateable, a thesis must have some possibility of being true. However, the thesis should not be universally accepted as true. Instead, it should be something that people can disagree with. A thesis can be both an observation or an opinion.
observation + opinion (the "why") = thesis
Seeing if your thesis creates a powerful antithesis is an excellent approach to determine how strong it is.
Common thesis pitfalls:
- A thesis in the form of a fragment.
- A thesis that is overly broad.
- A thesis that is phrased as a question. (The thesis is usually derived from the solution to the question.)
- Extraneous information is included in a thesis.
- A thesis that begins with the words "I believe" or "In my opinion."
Do you need problem solution essay sample? You're at the right place
It takes some time to put together material for problem solution essay examples college. Sometimes, you may need some inspiration to get you started if you have never done this sort of essay before. We do understand this well, and we can help you find the ideal problem solution essay topics for college. Our team of writers is well-versed with all sorts of problem and solution essay topics, regardless of the difficulty level. A sample will help you write your own in your words or you can tweak it a little then hand it in if it is part of your assignment.
Part of our work when you hire us is to come up with a problem solution essay topics list where you can choose the right one for you. We will then provide you a sample just in time for you to turn it in, talk to us and let us know how we can be of help.
Also, check out these problem solution essay topics
There are many topics for problem solution essays as the world has so many issues to solve. When choosing problem solution essay topics, you want to select those that are close to your heart. These are easy to write about as the issues are personal to you. If you are stuck, you can check online for problem solution essay examples already done by others for inspiration. A problem solution essay example college doesn't have to be too complex, but it still needs to be persuasive as that is the only way you can capture the attention of the reader.
Here are some problem solution essay topics for college students that you can tweak a little and make your own;
- Bullying in school
- The dangers of procrastination
- Fractures in family relationships
- Obesity and its effects on the young
- The effects of the overuse of social media
- What can be done about pollution?
- Endangered species
- Safety issues in online dating
- Addressing teen suicide
- Work-life balance
- How can parents handle a child's cell phone and social media used?
- Parents being held responsible for their children's health
- What can be done to parents that project their insecurities onto their children?
- Who can parents make online learning more effective?
- What can be done to help college students lead healthy lifestyles?
- How do college students ensure they choose marketable degrees?
- How can college be made more affordable?
- How can the issue of racial discrimination be solved in our society?
- What are the ways of reducing gender pay gap?
- How can the problem of cyberbullying be solved?
- How can body shaming issue be solved?
- What can our society do to reduce the impact of gender roles?
- How can body positivity movement be prevented from going too far?
- How to encourage people to adopt children?
- How can domestic violence be reduced in our society?
- What are the ways to prevent white collar crime?
- How can police brutality be eliminated?
- How is it possible to eliminate the association between poverty and crime?
- What are the ways to prevent large corporations from polluting the environment?
- What are the most effective ways of reducing driving under influence (DUI) rates?
- What are the ways to reduce racial violence?
- What is the best way to prevent deaths from drunk driving?
- How can teenagers be convinced to drive more safely?
- What can be done to prevent divorce?
- How can kids with divorced parents be helped to do well in school, have strong relationships, and build successful lives and marriages?
- What can be done to eliminate or prevent racism?
- Many schools fail to provide adequate sex education programs. How can we reduce the stigma around this topic?
- Numerous students get bad grades due to reasons other than laziness. How can we help struggling learners?
- For many students, a strict schedule remains a big issue. Should students be offered the possibility of flexibility?
- Youth unemployment – practical training courses
- Bad credit – personal finance management education
- Rising inflation – monetary policy
- Impoverished regions – government financing for small businesses
- How can college instructors create effective online classes?
- How can college students be sure they have a marketable degree?
- How can college students study effectively and earn better grades?
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How to Plan & Write IELTS Problem Solution Essays
IELTS problem solution essays are the most challenging essay type for many people. The way they are worded can vary hugely which can make it difficult to understand how you should answer the question.
Generally, you’ll be asked to write about both the problem, or cause, and the solution to a specific issue. Sometimes, however, you will only be required to write about possible solutions.
The 3 essay types:
- Problem and solution
- Cause and solution
- Just the solution
Hence, it’s essential that you analyse the question carefully, which I’ll show you how to do in this lesson. I’m also going to demonstrate step-by-step how to plan and write IELTS problem solution essays.
Here’s what we’ll be covering:
- Identifying IELTS problem solution essays
- 6 Common mistakes
- Essay structure
- How to plan
- How to write an introduction
- How to write main body paragraphs
- How to write a conclusion
Want to watch and listen to this lesson?
Click on this video.
Click the links to see lessons on each of these Task 2 essay writing topics.
Once you understand the process, practice on past questions. Take your time at first and gradually speed up until you can plan and write an essay of at least 250 words in the 40 minutes allowed in the exam.
The Question
Here are two typical IELTS problem solution essay questions. They consist of a statement followed by the question or instruction.
1. One problem faced by almost every large city is traffic congestion.
What do you think the causes are? What solutions can you suggest?
2. Since the beginning of the 20th century, the number of endangered species has increased significantly and we have witnessed more mass extinctions in this period than in any other period of time.
State some reasons for this and provide possible solutions.
These are some examples of different ways in which questions can be phrased. The first half of the questions relate to the problem or cause, the second half to the solution.
What issues does this cause and how can they be addressed?
What are some resulting social problems and how can we deal with them?
What problems arise from this and how can they be tackled?
Why is this? How might it be remedied?
What are the reasons for this, and how can the situation be improved?
Why is this happening, and what measures can be taken to tackle this problem?
And here are a few questions where you only have to write about the solution.
How can this situation be improved?
What solutions can you suggest to deal with this problem?
How can this problem be solved?
What measures could be taken to prevent this?
It’s important that you are able to recognise the common synonyms, words and phrases used in problem solution questions. Here are the key words and their synonyms used in the questions above.
- Problem – issues, resulting, situation
- Cause – reasons, why
- Solution – deal with, addressed, tackled, remedied, improved, measures taken, solved, prevent
Before we move on to some common mistakes, I want to quickly explain the difference between a problem and a cause. Read the following examples.
Problem – I've missed the last bus home after visiting my friend for the evening.
Cause – I misread the timetable and thought the bus left at 22.45 when it actually left at 22.35.
The ‘cause’ is the reason for the ‘problem’. We’ll be looking at question analysis in more detail in a minute.
6 Common Mistakes
These six errors are common in IELTS problem solution essays.
- Confusing problem and causes questions.
- Having too many ideas.
- Not developing your ideas.
- Not developing both sides of the argument equally.
- Not linking the problems and solutions.
- Not being specific enough.
It is common for an essay to consist of a list of problems and solutions without any of them being expanded on or linked to each other. Sometimes, a student will focus on just the problem or only the solution which leads to an unbalanced essay. Both these issues will result in a low score for task achievement.
You must choose just one or two problems and pick solutions directly linked to them. Explain them and give examples.
Another serious error is to write generally about the topic. You need to be very specific with your ideas. Analysing the question properly is essential to avoiding this mistake. I’ll show you how to do this.
Essay Structure
Now let’s look at a simple structure you can use to write IELTS problem solution essays. It’s not the only possible structure but it’s the one I recommend because it’s easy to learn and will enable you to quickly plan and write a high-level essay.
1) Introduction
- Paraphrase the question
- State 1 key problem/cause and related solution
2) Main body paragraph 1 – Problem or Cause
- Topic sentence – state the problem or cause
- Explanation – give detail explaining the problem or cause
- Example – give an example
3) Main body paragraph 2 – Solution
- Topic sentence – state the solution
- Explanation – give detail explaining the solution
4) Conclusion
- Summarise the key points
This structure will give us a well-balanced essay with 4 paragraphs.
One Problem/Cause & Solution or Two?
Most questions will state problems, causes and solutions in the plural, that is, more than one. However, it is acceptable to write about just one.
This will give you an essay of just over the minimum 250 words. To write about two problems/causes and solutions will require you to write between 350 and 400 words which are a lot to plan and write in the 40 minutes allowed.
It is better to fully develop one problem/cause and solution than ending up with one idea missing an explanation or an example because you run out of time.
The step-by-step essay structure I’m going to show you includes one problem and solution but you can write about two if you feel able to or more comfortable doing so.
How To Plan IELTS Problem Solution Essays
Here’s the question we’re going to be answering in our model essay followed by the 3 steps of the planning process.
One problem faced by almost every large city is traffic congestion.
What do you think the causes are? What solutions can you sugge st?
- Analyse the question
- Generate ideas
- Identify vocabulary
# 1 Analyse the question
This is an essential step in the planning process and will ensure that you answer the question fully. It’s quick and easy to do. You just need to identify 3 different types of words:
1. Topic words
2. Other keywords
3. Instruction words
Topics words are the ones that identify the general subject of the question and will be found in the statement part of the question.
One problem faced by almost every large city is traffic congestion .
So, this question is about ‘ traffic congestion’ .
Many people will do this first step of the process and then write about the topic in general. This is a serious mistake and leads to low marks for task achievement.
What we need to do now that we know the general topic, is to understand exactly what aspect of traffic congestion we're being asked to write about.
The other keywords in the question tell you the specific topic you must write about.
By highlighting these words, it’s easy to see that you are being asked to write about the problem of traffic congestion in large cities. Your essay must only include ideas relevant to these ideas.
The instruction words are the question itself. These tell you the type of IELTS problem solution essay you must write. This is a ‘causes and solutions’ question.
# 2 Generate ideas
The next task is to generate some ideas to write about.
There are several different ways to think up ideas. I cover them fully on the IELTS Essay Planning page.
We’re going to use the ‘friends technique’. This is the method I prefer as it allows you to take a step back from the stress of the exam situation and think more calmly.
Here’s how it works. Imagine that you are chatting with a friend over a cup of coffee and they ask you this question. What are the first thoughts to come into your head? Plan your essay around these ideas.
Doing this will help you to come up with simple answers in everyday language rather than straining your brain to think of amazing ideas using high-level language, which isn’t necessary.
You might want to try this yourself before reading on for my ideas.
Here are my ideas:
- Too many cars on the roads – increasing numbers of people own cars, more convenient than buses & trains
- Inadequate public transport – crowded, old & dirty
- Poor road layout
- Rush hour traffic – most people travel to & from work at the same times each day
- Car sharing, park-and-ride scheme, congestion charge
- Improve public transport – more frequent and better quality
- Improve infrastructure – bus lanes, cycle lanes will make it safer for people to cycle
- Flexible working hours
For each cause you think of, immediately write down a possible solution. This you will ensure that the problems and solutions you think of are linked.
You don’t need to spend long on this as you only need one or two ideas.
I’ve got more far more ideas here than I need as I spent more time thinking about it that I would in the real exam. I’m going to pick just one cause to develop in the essay and one or two solutions.
My advice on making your selection is to choose ideas you can quickly think of an example to illustrate.
Here are my choices:
Cause – Too many cars on the roads. Why? – increasing numbers of people own cars, more convenient than buses & trains
Solution – Park-and-ride schemes
We’re almost ready to start writing our IELTS problem solution essay but first, we have one more task to do.
# 3 Vocabulary
During the planning stage, quickly jot down some vocabulary that comes to mind as you decide which cause and solution you are going to write about, especially synonyms of key words. This will save you having to stop and think of the right language while you’re writing. For example:
- traffic jam
- heavy traffic
- private transport
- infrastructure
With that done, we can focus on the first paragraph of the essay – the introduction.
How To Write an Introduction
Good introductions to IELTS problem solution essays have a simple 2 part structure:
- State 1 key problem/cause and related solution/s (outline sentence)
- Have 2-3 sentences
- Be 40-60 words long
- Take 5 minutes to write
1) Paraphrase the question
Start your introduction by paraphrasing the question.
Question: One problem faced by almost every large city is traffic congestion.
What do you think the causes are? What solutions can you suggest?
Paraphrased question:
O ne of the most serious issues facing the majority of large urban areas is traffic jams.
Note my use of synonyms to replace key words in the question statement. You don’t have to replace every key word but do so where possible whilst ensuring that your language sounds natural.
2) Outline statement
Now we need to add an outline statement where we outline the two main points that we’ll cover in the rest of the essay, that is, the cause and the solution I chose earlier. Here they are again.
Cause – Too many cars on the roads. Why? – increasing numbers of people own cars, more convenient than buses & trains
And, this is one way to develop them into an outline sentence.
Outline statement:
The main reason for this is that there are too many private cars on the roads these days and a viable solution is to introduce more park-and-ride schemes.
So, let’s bring the two elements of our introduction together.
Introduction
This introduction achieves three important functions:
- It shows the examiner that you understand the question.
- It acts as a guide to the examiner as to what your essay is about.
- It also helps to keep you focused and on track as you write.
The two ideas in your introduction will become your two main body paragraphs.
Main body paragraph 1 – Too many cars on the roads
Main body paragraph 2 – Park-and-ride schemes
How To Write Main Body Paragraphs
Main body paragraphs in IELTS problem solution essays should contain 3 things:
- Topic sentence – outline the main idea
- Explanation – explain it and g ive more detail
Main Body Paragraph 1
The topic sentence summarises the main idea of the paragraph. That’s all it needs to do so it doesn’t have to be complicated.
It plays an important role in ensuring that your ideas flow logically from one to another. It does this by acting as a signpost for what is to come next, that is, what the paragraph will be about.
If you maintain a clear development of ideas throughout your essay, you will get high marks for task achievement and cohesion and coherence.
We’ll now take the idea for our first main body paragraph and create our topic sentence.
Obviously, we’re going to write about the cause of the problem first.
Main body paragraph 1 – Too many cars on the roads
Topic sentence:
The number of people owning cars increases year on year, with most families now having more than one car.
Next, we must write an explanation sentence that develops the idea.
Explanation sentence:
Most people like the convenience of travelling at the time they want to rather than being restricted to public transport timetables, so they prefer to drive themselves around rather than taking the bus or train. This is despite the fact that they frequently have to sit in long traffic queues as they near the city centre.
Finally, we add an example to support our main point. If you can’t think of a real example, it’s fine to make one up, as long as it’s believable. The examiner isn’t going to check your facts. Alternative, you could add another piece of information to support your idea.
Example sentence:
Whenever I have to attend a meeting in the city, I always drive because it means that I can leave home when I want to rather than getting stressed about getting to the station in time to catch the train.
That’s the 3 parts of our first main body paragraph complete. Here’s the finished paragraph.
We now follow the same process for our second main body paragraph.
Main Body Paragraph 2
Main idea 2 – Park-and-ride schemes
First, we write the topic sentence to summarise the main idea.
Topic sentence:
A solution that is proving successful in many areas is park-and-ride schemes.
Now for the explanation sentence where we expand on this idea.
Explanation sentence:
This is where you park your car for free in a large car park on the outskirts of the city and take a bus for the final part of your journey. The fee you have to pay for the bus trip is usually very small and this public transport system is generally very regular, running every ten minutes or so.
Finally, an example to support this point.
A survey carried out in the city of Exeter showed that the rush hour congestion decreased by 10% when the council set up a park-and-ride scheme to the north of the city. There was an additional drop of another 10% in traffic volume when a second scheme began operating to the south.
That’s the 3 parts of our second main body paragraph complete. Here’s the finished paragraph.
Now we need a conclusion and our IELTS problem solution essay is done.
How To Write a Conclusion
The conclusion is a summary of the main points in your essay and can generally be done in a single sentence. It should never introduce new ideas.
If you're below the minimum 250 words after you’ve written your conclusion, you can add a prediction or recommendation statement.
Our essay is already over the minimum word limit so we don’t need this extra sentence but you can learn more about how to write a prediction or recommendation statement for IELTS problem solution essays on the Task 2 Conclusions page.
The conclusion is the easiest sentence in the essay to write but one of the most important.
A good conclusion will:
- Neatly end the essay
- Link all your ideas together
- Sum up your argument or opinion
- Answer the question
If you achieve this, you’ll improve your score for both task achievement and cohesion and coherence which together make up 50% of the overall marks. Without a conclusion, you’ll score below band 6 for task achievement.
You can start almost any final paragraph of an IELTS problem solution essay with the words:
- In conclusion
or
- To conclude
Now all you need to do is briefly summarise the main ideas into one sentence.
Here’s a top tip . Go back and read the introduction to the essay because this is also a summary of the essay. It outlines what you are going to write about.
To create a good conclusion, you simply have to paraphrase the introduction.
Introduction:
Here is the same information formed into a conclusion. I’ve also added a personal statement at the end to link back to one of my example sentences. You don’t have to do this but in this case, I think that it rounds the essay off better.
That’s it. We’ve completed our essay. Here it is with the 4 paragraphs put together.
Finished IELTS problem solution essay.
Go through this lesson as many times as you need to in order to fully understand it and put in lots of practice writing IELTS problem solution essays from past exam questions. Practice is the only way to improve your skills.
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More help with ielts problem solution essays & other task 2 essays.
IELTS Writing Task 2 – T he format, the 5 question types, the 5 step essay writing strategy & sample questions. All the key information you need to know.
The 5 Types of Task 2 Essay – How to recognise the 5 different types of Task 2 essays. 15 sample questions to study and a simple planning structure for each essay type.
Understanding Task 2 Questions – How to quickly and easily analyse and understand IELTS Writing Task 2 questions.
How To Plan a Task 2 Essay – Discover why essay planning is essential & learn a simple 4 step strategy, the 4 part essay structure & 4 methods of generating ideas.
How To Write a Task 2 Introduction – Find out why a good introduction is essential. Learn how to write one using a simple 3 part strategy & discover 4 common mistakes to avoid.
How To Write Task 2 Main Body Paragraphs – Learn the simple 3 part structure for writing great main body paragraphs and also, 3 common mistakes to avoid.
How To Write Task 2 Conclusions – Learn the easy way to write the perfect conclusion for a Task 2 essay. Also discover 4 common mistakes to avoid.
Task 2 Marking Criteria – Find out how to meet the marking criteria in Task 2. See examples of good and poor answers & learn some common mistakes to avoid.
The 5 Task 2 Essay Types:
Step-by-step instructions on how to plan & write high-level essays. Model answers & common mistakes to avoid.
Opinion Essays
Discussion Essays
Problem Solution Essays
Advantages & Disadvantages Essays
Double Question Essays
Other Related Pages
IELTS Writing Test – Understand the format & marking criteria, know what skills are assessed & learn the difference between the Academic & General writing tests.
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Problem Solution Essay: IELTS Writing Task 2
There are many issues in the world which require an investigation about the causes, effects, and remedies. In IELTS Writing Task 2, a Problem Solution essay asks examinees to write about such things.
The Problem Solution essay will present you with a matter which is currently happening in the world. The question may ask any of the following things:
- The causes of the problem
- The effects of the problem
- Methods for prevention of the problem
- Solutions for the problem
Although these are called Problem Solution essay, sometimes the issue presented may not be an actual problem, but may simply be a situation which may have positive or negative implications.
Examples of Problem Solution Essay question
WRITING TASK 2
You should spend around 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge and experience.
Write at least 250 words.
Format for IELTS Problem Solution Essay
How many paragraphs to write for a Problem Solution IELTS essay and what to write in them depends on how the question is worded.
As we have seen earlier, the Problem Solution essay question may ask any two or three of the following things:
As is customary in any format of essay writing , the first paragraph of a Problem Solution essay is the Introduction , while the last is the Conclusion . Most Problem Solution essay questions ask us about the causes of the problems and their solutions. In such questions, there should be two body paragraphs with a minimum of two ideas each.
In the same manner, sometimes causes, effects, and solutions are asked at once. In that case, we need three body paragraphs with at least two arguments in each.
Be careful about what is asked. The cause of a problem and the effects of a problem are separate things. Likewise, solution is different from prevention. Writing about things which the question has not asked, or omitting some parts of the question results in a lower score.
Expressing cause and effect in Problem Solution essay
The following words and phrases can be used to form sentences to express the cause and effect of something. Learn how to use them in order to secure high marks for the criteria of grammar for Problem Solution essay questions.
Examples sentences
People do not have time to take care of their pets at home due to their busy work schedule.
On account of trusting news on Facebook, many people have been scammed.
An ageing population may give rise to a shortage of manpower.
Obesity is caused by consuming too much packaged foods and sugary drinks .
Many people migrate to cities from towns and villages owing to lack of job opportunities.
Excessive use of social media brings about a decline in face-to-face interaction between people.
Offering solutions and preventive measures
The following are some handy words and phrases which help to create sentences where solutions to a problem can be expressed.
Example sentences
Twitter can employ factcheckers in order to prevent the spread of fake news.
People should allocate time to take their pet animals for walks so that the animals remain healthy and fit.
With the purpose of encouraging people to have more children, the government should provide child benefits.
Introduction paragraph for Problem Solution IELTS essay
Like any other Introduction paragraph in IELTS Writing Task 2 , we should include the following things:
- Paraphrase the statements from the question
- Outline the problems and solutions
This paragraph fulfils all the requirement for a solid introduction. The topic of the essay has been stated at the beginning. Then, as the question asks, the cause of the problem, the effects, and the solutions have been suggested.
IELTS Problem Solution Essay: How to write body paragraphs?
The arguments which have been mentioned in the Introduction paragraph have to be developed in the body paragraphs .
It is advisable to form separate paragraphs for problems and solutions. It is best to include at least two distinct points for each part of the question.
Each of the body paragraph should begin with the main argument. The main argument then has to be explained. If you can think of relevant examples, then include them to elucidate the point.
Remember to use discourse markers when adding more points.
Conclusion for Problem Solution Essay
The basic format of the Conclusion paragraph is same for all IELTS essays.
The points which were outlined in the Introduction paragraph and explained in the body paragraphs should be recapitulated in the final paragraph of the Problem Solution essay.
Next lesson:
How to write “Discuss both views and give your opinion” essay: IELTS Writing Task 2 Best format
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Problem Solution Essay Topics: 250+ Ideas for Students
Table of contents
Are you seeking captivating problem solution essay topics and brilliant suggestions for your paper? If so, you have come to the right place. Every student in school or higher learning institutions can discover enticing subjects and problem solution essay ideas that help prepare an excellent assignment. The first step in creating an essay that will capture readers' attention is choosing a topic. You can find great subjects using this article's exemplary problem solution topics and propositions as inspiration. These themes are categorized in a way that helps you quickly identify problem-solution essay subjects that interest you. This blog post will discuss how to choose excellent topics and ways of streamlining writing processes for students. Don’t have time for writing? Order an essay at StudyCrumb and forget about looking for problem and solution examples for years. Everything is simple – just share details and get a perfect piece matching your instructions.
What Are Problem Solution Essay Topics?
Problems and solutions essay topics offer specific, substantial but manageable issues that can be properly researched and analyzed. They focus on locating existing problems and offering workable remedies. In other words, a problem solution topic allows students to explore the issue at hand and suggest potential solutions. In addition to being very instructive, problem and solution topics are also comprehensive. Working with such papers can be challenging, but anything is possible with appropriate methods and extensive resources. Moreover, there is a truly wide variety of topics, and learners can select from the ones they feel most comfortable tackling. For instance, social, economic, cultural, and technological topics give students insight into different problems to write about.
Characteristics of Good Problem Solution Essay Topics
First things first, there should be enough information to research a good topic for a problem solution essay . Next, it is crucial to select for analysis good problem and solution topics that you are familiar with. Below is a list of things to consider for your problem solution paper topics.
- The subject should have a well-defined issue.
- It is advisable to employ unique vocabulary to engage your target audience.
- The topic itself must be clear and simple to understand.
- Its scope should be narrow enough.
- Lastly, the topic should contain a main idea.
How to Choose a Problem and Solution Essay Topic?
Thinking small is the key to designing good problem and solution essay topics. Choose a particular issue that will result in formulating attainable and unambiguous goals. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to choose a problem solution paper topic.
- Consider the audience: What requirements and interests do they have? Do they currently have any problems that they may be dealing with?
- Take into account the scope of the topic: It can be challenging to conduct an in-depth study on a too broad topic. On the contrary, the audience might not find the issue fascinating or pertinent if it is too narrow.
- Assess available resources: Do you have access to enough information? Are the sources trustworthy and current? Understanding the materials available might assist in deciding whether the subject is appropriate for a problem solution essay.
- If you still find it hard to decide on a subject, ask your professor for help.
Problem Solution Essay Topics List
The best problem solution essay topics adequately present the argument and provide a comprehensive solution. Here are examples of ten best problems and solutions topics you can explore.
- Ways of imparting financial education among youngsters.
- Can the practice of self-defense lessen violent action?
- How do managers handle external and internal disputes in organizations?
- In universities, sexual assaults against women are frequently reported. What can we do to mitigate this issue?
- The best method for companies to alleviate logistics issues.
- Does enforcing gun laws prevent mass shootings?
- Ways of stopping drunk driving.
- How do we motivate individuals to adopt kids in the real world?
- How protected areas save species from becoming extinct.
- Using e-learning to cut education expenses.
Good Problem Solution Essay Topics
Good topics for a problem and solution essay should have a workable solution or a strong implementation plan. The most engaging and intriguing articles should focus on specific issues because such an approach will provide well-articulated answers. Here is a short list of good ideas for a problem solution essay you can draw inspiration from.
- What steps can you take to dispel myths about feminist campaigns?
- How can the negative lifestyle impact of video games on children be reduced?
- What measures can be taken to stop COVID-19 from spreading?
- How might families help in promoting a positive body image among kids?
- What are some ways in which blogging can be improved?
- How issues may be solved at work effectively.
- Is it possible for a middle-aged person to change their job path? What can they do to achieve this?
- How do I assist an individual who is depressed?
- What steps should be taken to solve the texting-while-driving issue?
- Is it appropriate to hold parents accountable for their child's bad lifestyle? What steps may be taken to avoid this issue?
- Which strategies work best in lessening deception in real estate transactions?
- How to handle your spouse's unreasonable expectations.
- What steps may be taken to reduce or stop poverty?
- Addressing flooding problems through erecting dams in high-risk areas.
- How can we encourage more healthy standards of beauty?
Easy Problem Solution Essay Topics
Proposing a solution essay topics is a difficult task in general. However, if you want to concentrate on easy problem and solution essay topics, the following propositions will work wonders for you.
- How do you deal with an envious partner?
- What steps may be taken to stop child labor?
- How confirmation bias affects the ability to solve problems effectively.
- The impact of video games on an individual's capacity for problem-solving.
- Steps that may be taken to boost participation at your preferred athletic event.
- How do you maintain a successful marriage?
- What modifications to the traffic regulations could be made to improve driving?
- What is the best method of handling manipulative and overbearing individuals?
- How can you improve the quality of life in your neighborhood?
- What alternative approaches are there to marijuana use besides making it legal?
- How can you simplify the process of creating a great image of yourself?
- What are some healthy weight-loss options?
- How can you maintain hydration without indulging in calorie-dense, sugary beverages?
- What is the best way of eradicating poverty through wealth redistribution?
- How should parents explain to their children that Santa Claus is a myth?
Interesting Problem and Solution Essay Topics
An interesting problem solving essay topics may spark discussions that last an hour or longer and provokes everyone around to participate in them. Furthermore, readers are more motivated to read writings on such engaging themes. Below is a list of interesting problem/solution essay topics you can choose from.
- How can parents approach their kids' use of social networking sites?
- How should a nation handle the problem of unauthorized immigration?
- Can we stop rise of bigotry and prejudice?
- How can society support marriage while preserving people's right to choose their sexuality freely?
- How might parents stop their children from abusing drugs?
- Ways in which young-age marriage can be used to combat social issues like adolescent pregnancies.
- Addressing the problem of sexual abuse in colleges and universities.
- What should be done to reduce gambling tendencies among students?
- How do married couples improve their relationship?
- Prevalence of domestic violence against both genders.
- The risk posed by global warming is considerably more present today.
- Why are teenagers abandoning their studies in great numbers?
- How do teaching styles influence students' ability to solve problems?
- Absenteeism issue might be resolved using Holmes' method.
- How do organizations utilize digital platforms in advertising their products and services?
Funny Problem Solution Essay Topics
An incredible method of engaging readers in your problem solution topics is making them sound amusing. Here are a few insightful and fun problem solution essay topics you might focus on.
- What benefit does having your phone robbed have?
- Why does your partner whine so much? How could it be improved?
- What enjoyable online activities can a couple engage in together?
- How should your preferred junk food be made more nutritious?
- What exercise options are there for folks who are not athletic?
- Which methods will help learners save $100 in a month?
- What is it that can alter how individuals feel about you?
- How can you host a loud party without offending residents?
- Ways of helping people who struggle with low self-esteem.
- How can you encourage folks to use your pseudonym?
- How do we stop ourselves from making impulse purchases?
- Why is it that whenever I start giggling, I cannot stop?
- How do you inform your partner that their cooking is terrible without offending them?
- Ways in which 3D printing could fix the cooking issues in dormitories.
- Having the best sense of humor among your pals frequently keeps them from treating you seriously. What can alter how others perceive you?
Local Problem Solution Essay Topics
Writing about existing issues in your area is a fantastic addition to your problem solution research paper topics. Some of such problems facing your locality may include drug abuse, pollution, or crime. Here are problems and solutions essay topics that you can select.
- How to stop police violence.
- Techniques for managing customer debt.
- How can long-term joblessness be eliminated?
- Debt management strategies for student loans.
- What should your community do to lower medical costs?
- How graduates may be assisted in finding employment.
- What is the most effective strategy to halt traffic congestion?
- How can the birth rate be raised if it is low?
- Issues brought on by partisanship.
- How can the problem of inadequate car parking spaces be resolved?
- Ways in which youths should be prevented from illegal advertisements?
- Strategies used by governments to prevent fraud in politics.
- What steps can be taken to lessen the gender pay gap?
- Ways of increasing state surveillance.
- What should your municipality do to stop hate crimes?
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Problem Solution Essay Ideas for Students
The main priority of every learner when composing a problem solution essay is to choose interesting problem solution ideas after thorough consideration. Find a concept that you are passionate about. Select one of the many good subjects with a workable answer or a strong action plan. Although it may seem simple, a majority of students of various academic levels encounter difficulties when making this decision. The creative problem and solution essay ideas presented in this paper are meant to pique your curiosity. They will also motivate you to conduct further research and produce an outstanding essay.
Problem/Solution Essay Topics for Middle School
For many individuals, middle school is a particularly difficult time. Adolescents at this age feel like adults but are actually still youngsters. This issue and several other challenges contribute to an excellent collection of problem and solution essay topics for middle school. You are welcome to conduct your own study or choose one of the suggested ideas for problem solving topics.
- How can we get youngsters to use bike helmets?
- Methods of improving student performance in school.
- Strategies that can be used in combating oceans' rising acidity.
- Creative approaches used in delivering boring afternoon classes.
- How to get teenagers to appreciate learning in general and academics in particular.
- What are some ways to reduce the effects of greenhouse emissions caused by transportation?
- Guidelines for caring for your pet without violating its rights.
- How to create comics that aid students in understanding complex ideas.
- Methods for lowering industrial noise pollution.
- What additional creative courses can be added to the curriculum at middle school to help students' minds grow?
- How can school settings be made less isolating?
- Should learners have unlimited discretion in choosing courses they take?
- How might society support and assist those who have autism?
- How should parents prepare their middle schoolers for financial responsibility before they enter college?
- What can educators do to support female adolescents clinging to the idealized pictures they see on media platforms?
Problem Solution Essay Topics for High School
High school students face a unique set of issues compared to middle school students, such as social life nuances. They may use these problems to prepare topics for a problem solution essay. Below is a list of problem and solution ideas that will streamline your essay writing process.
- How can instructors stop negative consequences of physical punishment?
- Why do high school students use drugs? What should be done about this?
- What are the best ways for students to successfully cover their educational costs?
- What should instructors do to ensure that learners gain the required knowledge?
- Many academic institutions have rigid uniform policies. Is it possible to be unique without going against dress codes?
- What can help learners who experience behavioral issues because of challenging home situations?
- Practical approaches to issues of cell phone use in class.
- Ways of stopping high school kids from procrastinating .
- The cost of attending college is continually rising. What is the most effective way to reduce costs?
- Secure methods that students can use to locate academic material on digital platforms.
- Techniques for managing societal pressure in schools.
- What strategies may students use in maintaining academic achievement while dealing with parental separation?
- Practical strategies for eradicating stereotypes from society.
- The issue of persistent student absenteeism and methods of dealing with it.
- How should teenage pregnancy rate be minimized?
Problem Solution Essay Topics for College Students
College students deal with issues different from those of high school and middle school learners. You should write problem solution essay topics for college on subjects that exhibit your capacity for information processing and data synthesis. Think large and demonstrate your ability to tackle prevalent college problems. You can select from a wide range of college problem solution essay topics below.
- How to address racism in universities.
- What is the best method for evaluating learners' performance?
- How to assist first-year students in selecting the appropriate college courses.
- What can be done to encourage more students to enroll in colleges?
- Ways of stopping college students from participating in violent riots and demonstrations.
- In what ways can college students begin making money?
- Learning and hearing lectures can be more difficult in big lecture halls. What steps can colleges take to address this issue?
- How can academics change the unfavorable perceptions that undergraduates have of them?
- How to stop college students from participating in violent protests and riots.
- What can be done to promote the mental well-being of students?
- Ways in which academics change unfavorable perceptions that undergraduates have of them?
- What is the most effective strategy for handling bullies in colleges?
- How to bridge the gap between affluent and low socioeconomic students.
- Methods of maximizing web-based learning during a lockdown.
- What should be done to stop college students from pursuing romantic relationships?
Problems and Solutions Topics by Subject
You can explore many unique problem solution topics. When approaching a solution essay, you will be barely able to exhaust these ideas. Several more subjects, like technology and science, may be investigated in addition to the ones already mentioned. These unique suggestions will grab your curiosity and motivate you to research an outstanding problem solution paper topic. Problem-solving essays pose an issue and challenge you to come up with the best answer. This section gives an insight into different problems and solutions topics by subject.
Problem Solution Essay Topics on Science
There are many problem solution research papers in the field of science since scientific processes are convoluted and plagued with problems. The quality of an individual's life can improve or deteriorate due to advancements in this discipline. If scientific subjects interest you, look at the following ideas for problem solution essay.
- How can researchers obtain more financing for research?
- What is the most effective technique to spread scientific knowledge to a broader audience?
- How can scholars be motivated to conduct experimental studies?
- Ways in which people can be inspired to stay employed in scientific fields.
- How can prejudice against studies be removed?
- Methods of improving research paper outcomes.
- What remedies are available to stop the ozone layer from thinning?
- How might the use of genetic engineering help food supply?
- What changes can be made to the peer review process to make it more effective?
- How stem cells can be used to cure disease.
- Reducing global waste through the use of nanotechnologies.
- What technological advancements are necessary to lessen the likelihood of overpopulation on Earth?
- How might the placement of microchips in a person's brain assist those who are paralyzed?
- Using science to address the issue of alcohol addiction.
- Scientific breakthroughs that could prevent a global environmental crisis.
Read more: Science Research Topics
Psychology Problem Solution Essay Topics
Issues related to psychology are widespread in modern society. The field has a ton of excellent options for developing problem-solution essay topics. Use one of the following ideas for problem solution essays regarding human thoughts, emotions, behavior, and mind.
- How can customers develop their critical thinking skills?
- How can people use apps to cope with anxiety and psychological illness?
- How parents and educators assist students in managing depression.
- Suicide is becoming a big issue for youths. What mitigating steps can we take regarding this?
- How can one determine whether a memory is accurate?
- Many adolescents still experience bullying online, despite multiple efforts. What assistance can society offer?
- How can we provide elders with social interaction opportunities they may require?
- What would be a decent method aimed at preventing parents from pressuring their kids to succeed in school?
- Posttraumatic stress disorder is prevalent among people who undergo trauma. How can this condition be addressed?
- Addiction deprives people of their ability to make constructive contributions to society.
- America's psychological health is in poor shape. How can we improve it?
- Ways in which mental trauma associated with anorexia can be managed.
- How do educators assist young people who struggle with social skills?
- What actions may parents take aimed at assisting their children in case of a new epidemic?
- Continuous stress affects sleep quality. What methods can make it better?
View more: Psychology Research Paper Topics
Cultural Problem Solution Essay Topics
A group of individuals who share certain knowledge, habits, and beliefs is said to have the same culture. You would likely concur that it is a crucial aspect of mankind. That is why instructors frequently provide cultural ideas for a problem solution essay to research. Here are a few problem solution paper ideas that you can adopt.
- How can individuals gain an appreciation for diverse cultures?
- What are the cultural management issues that arise with a multicultural staff?
- Best approaches to promote cross-cultural interaction.
- What potential remedies are there for consumerism?
- Strategies that can be used in advancing cultural diversity in businesses.
- Healthcare disparities based on race and culture.
- What methods can be used to lessen or stop cultural appropriation?
- Steps that may be taken to lessen societal effects on the media's idealized body image.
- Remedies that exist to address ageism.
- Development of cultural relativism and a decline in ethnocentrism.
- Ways of dealing with media propaganda.
- Culture wars are a significant source of conflict.
- Globalization's potential effects on a country's culture.
- Actions that could be taken to lessen adverse effects of the fast fashion sector on consumerism.
- Media and other outside cultural influences destroy national cultures.
Political Problem Solution Essay Topics
Politics is a topic that all people are concerned about. Your acts and inactions will, in one way or another, affect the state of your nation. There is no denying several issues plagues today's politics. If you are searching for topics to write a problem solution essay on politics, look no further. Here is a selection of exciting problem topics for an essay.
- How can human trafficking be stopped legally?
- How can more people be encouraged to cast ballots during elections?
- Ways of avoiding political confrontations.
- What steps should be taken by governments to reduce post-election violence?
- What should governments do to increase the availability of fresh, nutritious meals?
- Actions that the government should take in addressing assimilation problems for immigrants.
- Ways in which legislation restricts sources of funding used by democratic figures.
- What can states do to enhance the lives of disabled people?
- Techniques for preventing piracy.
- Sexism in international politics.
- What kind of situation has the biggest impact on voting behavior?
- Is limiting immigration an honest approach to boosting wages?
- Ways in which diplomacy can be used in lessening military aggression worldwide.
- How can laws and regulations improve the sustainability of the food sector?
- What methods may sub-Saharan nations use to run their economies independently of international aid?
Problem Solution Essay Topics for Business
When running a company, many problems can arise - for instance, marketing tactics or cybersecurity. If you are interested in business, you can pick numerous topics for problem solution essays. Below is a list of problem ideas for your essay that focuses on solving problems.
- What can we do to improve job satisfaction?
- How can innovation be achieved without raising prices?
- Ways of stopping shoplifting in a mall.
- Individuals with fixed incomes and sizable cash reserves are negatively impacted by inflation. How is it to be prevented?
- Many businesses collapse during the first year of operation. How can governments guarantee their longevity?
- Low consumer volume and financial difficulties could be the outcome of poor marketing. What may be done to enhance a standard marketing plan?
- How can you distribute limited resources most effectively?
- Coping mechanism for stress in workplaces.
- How do you establish a competitive advantage in a crowded market?
- Methods of boosting productivity in organizations.
- How can individuals prevent themselves from making bad investments?
- A financial crisis may result in widespread job losses. How can downturns be avoided?
- How companies should convince individuals to utilize performance metrics.
- Staff turnover has a direct impact on corporations. How do we minimize it?
- What should policymakers do to help small businesses in the event of another pandemic?
View more: Business Research Paper Topics
Problem and Solution Essay Topics on Education
Several problems with the school system need fixing to improve the overall quality of education. You will find some topics for problem solution essay in the list below. These problem cause solution topics are clear and straightforward.
- Many educational institutions do not offer sufficient sex education programs. How might the stigma associated with this issue be reduced?
- Measures that should be taken to deal with unruly and disobedient students.
- When studying a subject, people with learning disabilities could feel frustrated. What adjustments can schools make to meet their needs?
- How can academic institutions effectively support students with special needs?
- What techniques can be used to lessen cheating?
- What actions can the education system take to encourage diversity in schools?
- What are the shortcomings of the American educational system as it stands today, and how can they be addressed?
- How can learners be made interested in monotonous subjects?
- Approaches that schools may adopt to encourage teamwork.
- Ways in which students can use communication skills to handle bullying.
- How can educational institutions devote more resources to extracurricular activities?
- What ethical problems do universities face, and how can they be tackled?
- What should be done to make education more widely available?
- Ways in which educational establishments should protect students from minority groups.
- Steps that schools can take to minimize the rate of dropouts.
Read more: Research Paper Topics in Education
Health Problems and Solutions Essay Topics
People frequently have trouble with their health, which is a crucial component of existence. As a result, this field serves as a solid source of problem solution paper topics. Below are health-related topics for a problem and solution essay.
- How do we motivate individuals to take part in clinical studies?
- The best way to look after cancer patients receiving treatment.
- What should be done to increase the number of Americans who enroll in health insurance?
- How can we assist those who are recovering from drug addiction?
- Actions we may take to prevent obesity among children.
- How can medical care be made affordable for everyone?
- Measures for reducing prevalence of cardiovascular disease in the community.
- Steps to address the growing health issues, including asthma, brought on by air pollution .
- Management strategies for speech disorders.
- How to provide enough oxygen for hypoxemia patients.
- Ways of preventing flu during winter.
- How people can be motivated to have regular health checkups.
- How do we make sure those who are sick seek out primary care? How can primary healthcare be made available to everyone?
- Schizophrenia is a challenging mental condition that significantly affects a person's life. What should society do to encourage people to get this condition treated?
- What steps may be taken to stop Alzheimer's disease development?
Problem Solution Essay Topics About Animals
Before people came into existence, animals already inhabited our world. Many species disappeared or went extinct over time because of human activity. Factory farming, the fur trade, and poaching are all problems that need to be fixed. If you are interested in this subject, consider investigating one of the following problem solution research topics. These animal problem solution essay ideas are clear and easy to implement.
- How can we save birds from hazards like high structures and wind farms?
- What could be done to curb animal hunting?
- How can we lessen water contamination, so that marine life is preserved?
- What steps can be taken aimed at ending the dog meat trade?
- How can the cost of veterinary care be reduced for all people?
- Do animals need more rights? How can this be put into practice?
- How will logging affect our environment? How can authorities stop this?
- Ways of preventing commercial initiatives that use animal testing.
- What steps must be taken to end the ivory trade?
- Initiatives that may be taken to make wild animals' habitats safer.
- How do we stop horse meat intake?
- How can we prevent wild animals from being used in circuses?
- The fur trade claims the lives of millions of animals. What should be done to stop this practice?
- Many animals are raised in cruel conditions where they are physically harmed or mistreated. What are the options for resolving this issue?
- Strategies that can be used to minimize poaching.
Environmental Problem Solution Essay Topics
Climate change is currently the most important environmental problem; however, it is not the only one. Yet more worldwide issues require attention, and students can use them for their solution essay topics. The following are problem essay topics for those who care about the environment.
- What actions are necessary to secure renewable energy sources?
- Natural catastrophes are caused by Earth's processes and negatively impact people's lives. How can we get ready for natural disasters?
- What initiatives can be made to avert a shortage of energy resources?
- An increase in UV radiation is caused by ozone loss. Along with other skin conditions, it causes cancer. How are we going to fix this issue?
- Food waste is a major environmental issue because it uses cropland and water. How do we minimize it?
- GMOs increase food output but may threaten biodiversity. What actions could be taken to address the issue?
- How can oil spills in water bodies be cleaned up more quickly?
- Home-based trash management techniques.
- How can governments encourage organic farming?
- Approaches used in preventing a rise in global temperatures.
- Ways of stopping ice caps from melting.
- What causes a global shortage of food resources? How can this issue be addressed?
- How to minimize consequences of inappropriate zoning and biodiversity?
- Using fluorinated gasses in freezers and hair care products significantly affects global warming. How may their negative effects on surroundings be reduced?
- Cleaning up trash costs a large sum of money. How can the littering issue be resolved and entirely eliminated?
More ideas: Environmental Science Topics
Problem Solution Essay Topics on Technology
Technology involves intricate and problematic processes. Just like in science, these issues can either enhance or worsen modern life quality, so problem solution research essay topics on technology are of current importance and investigating them can make one feel like being on the cutting edge of human knowledge. Besides, technology has a lot of various aspects and subfields, allowing for a truly extensive selection of research problems. Below are insightful ideas that you can consider for your problem solution essay topic.
- What should be done to minimize overdependence on technology?
- What precautions are available to stop cheating during online exams?
- Ways in which companies can protect users' confidentiality on social media.
- How can food technology be used to eradicate global starvation?
- Ways in which technological innovations can address drug dependency issues.
- What precautions can you take to keep your kid from developing a smartphone addiction?
- Given how swiftly technology develops, what remedies are available for annoying bugs?
- Ways in which assistive devices may be used to help kids with visual impairment.
- How can backup issues be resolved in companies?
- Ways in which intelligence officers can use social media profiles to arrest criminals.
- How can people coexist with robots at work without losing their jobs?
- How to make technology infrastructure in smart cities better.
- What are possible solutions for cybersecurity issues in cashless societies?
- Wearable technologies raise new privacy concerns. How should problems of body-borne computers be solved?
- What steps can be taken to prevent the loss of online data?
Browse through our blog for more essay topic ideas. Whether you need topics for an explanatory essay or cause and effect essay topics , we’ve got you covered.
Bottom Line on Problem Solution Essay Topics
A topic for a problem solution essay can be a fantastic method to investigate a wide range of problems and develop original answers. Students can create a thorough plan to deal with the issue by examining it, figuring out its cause, and coming up with remedies. Problem and solution essay topic ideas can also aid pupils in honing their critical-thinking abilities and improving their comprehension of the world. Researching the best topics for a problem solution essay can be a terrific approach to changing the world if chosen with attention and consideration.
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- Free Problem And Solution Essay Topics: 100 Examples Of Ideas In 2023
Free Problem and Solution Essay Topics: 100 Examples of Ideas in 2023
Writing a problem and solution essay allows students to utilize their analytical and research skills. Basically, the main goal is to highlight a problem, its underlying cause(s), and possible solution(s). In this case, the best approach in writing this type of essay is to address some features that define a topic of a problem and solution essay. Also, these features include specific problems, a thesis statement, a highlight of several possible solutions, evidence, and analysis. Hence, this article on problem and solution essay topics covers guidelines to follow with possible themes to use.
General Guidelines
When writing essays, students use different strategies to make their writing impactful. Basically, one of the strategies most useful in writing problem and solution essays is persuasion. For example, the goal of these essays is to persuade readers that there is a problem that requires a resolution. As such, a thesis statement captures a covered problem, its causes, and a final solution. Moreover, the most challenging part of problem and solution essay topics is constructing its themes. In essence, writers must capture several elements: a problem that requires a solution, a thesis statement, a highlight of several possible solutions, evidence, and analysis. Also, these elements define a skeleton of a problem and solution essay topic. Unlike standard essays, where a theme is also a paper’s title, a topic in a problem and solution essay is laid out in the introduction section.
Types of Problem and Solution Essays
The goal of a problem-solution essay is to identify a problem, its underlying cause(s), and the final solution(s). For example, these three features define the basic characteristics of problem and solution essays, which come in three different types. Basically, the first type involves essays that outline a problem and solution topic, meaning they analyze issues about this problem and its causes and recommend a solution. Then, the second type concerns essays that describe the cause of a problem and its solution. Also, they do not focus on a problem but on its causes. Further on, the third type relates to essays that address a solution only. In turn, after outlining a problem in the introduction part, the main text focuses on analyzing the answer to this issue.
Examples of Problem and Solution Essay Topics
1. problem and solution prompts on social media.
- The Dangers of Addiction to Social Media
Address addiction to social media as a problem and discusses its adverse impacts. Look at how much addiction affects individuals, families, and communities.
- The Challenges of Evolving Social Networks
Explore issues that complicate social networks’ evolution as a problem and suggest solutions. In this case, some challenges can serve as underlying factors of this complication.
- Negative Impacts of Social Media on Socialization
Here, social media’s adverse impact on people’s socialization is a problem that individuals seek to investigate and offer a solution to.
- How Facebook and Twitter Have Redefined Communication?
Explore how social media platforms have undermined face-to-face communication.
- Social Media and Social Activism
Address the weaknesses of social media platforms in facilitating social activism as a problem.
- Social Media in Education
Explore the problem of social media platforms in enhancing student-teacher engagement.
- Effects of Social Media on Individuality
Explore how social media affects interpersonal relationships.
- The Necessity of Parental Guidance in Teens’ Use of Social Media
Address how addiction to social media affects academic performance.
- The Future of Social Media Networks
Explore some barriers that are likely to undermine the growth of social media platforms.
- How Social Media Affects the Home Environment?
Explore how social media creates conflict between teens and their parents and siblings.
2. Problem and Solution Essay Topics on Environmental Pollution
- Air Pollution and Public Health
Discuss how air pollution leads to health complications.
- What Leads to Water Pollution?
Address water pollution as a problem and explore underlying causes.
- The Politics of Global Warming
Address how failed policies have contributed to global warming.
- The Human Element in Environmental Pollution
Discuss how deforestation affects the natural environment.
- Industries as Lead Agents in Air, Land, and Water Pollution
Discuss the harm that manufacturing plants cause to the natural environment.
- The Case for Environmental Protection and Conservation
Discuss the harm that deforestation and oil exploration causes to the natural environment.
- The Economic and Social Benefits of Conserving the Environment
Discuss the economic and social costs of environmental pollution.
- The Health Costs of Environmental Pollution
Explore how policies that promote the exploitation of mineral resources lead to health complications.
- Youth and the Environment
Address activities that youth engage in that endanger the natural ecosystem.
- The Danger of Particulate Matter
Discuss industries as the primary sources of particulate matter.
3. Problem and Solution Essay Themes on Substance Use and Abuse
- The Benefits of Group Therapy for Drug Addicts
Discuss drug addiction as a problem and how group therapy is essential as an intervention.
- What Leads to Drug Addiction?
Identify unemployment as a leading cause of drug use and abuse in low-income communities.
- The Social Environment and the Drug Problem
Explore how urbanization has led to a drug problem.
- Effectiveness of Government Policies in the Fight Against Opioid Abuse
Address the problem of opioid abuse and explain how the government’s policies are helping to reverse the trend.
- The Essence Group Therapy as Substance Use and Abuse Intervention
Explore the problem of hard drugs and how group therapy helps addicts recover from addiction.
- The Health Implications of Substance Use and Abuse
Discuss how addiction to drugs undermines one’s health.
- Should Marijuana Be Legalized?
Highlight the health effects of marijuana use to argue against its legalization. Use health effects as a problem associated with the drug.
- The Case for Medical Marijuana
Highlight pain as the basis for marijuana legalization for medical purposes. In this case, pain that results from health complications would be the problem that requires a solution.
- The Case for Recreational Marijuana
Claim that, despite the illegality of marijuana consumption, evidence shows that many people are buying the drug on the black market. As such, this illegal trade would be the problem whose solution would be the legalization of the drug for recreational purposes.
- Causes of Substance Use Disorders
Here, the writer can link the trend of substance abuse disorders to dysfunctional families to claim that family therapy is an effective intervention for the problem. In this case, the trend of substance abuse would be the problem, and one of its leading causes would be the breakdown of the family unit.
4. Problem and Solution Essay Topics on Endangered Species
- The Importance of Conserving Endangered Species
- The Value of the Natural Ecosystem in Protecting Endangered Species
- The Protection of Endangered Species: The Role of the Government
- The Protection of Endangered Species: The Importance of Game Reserves and National Game Parks
- Endangered Species and Global Tourism
- Endangered Species and Climate Change
- Human Encroachment as a Threat to Endangered Species
- The Importance of Raising Awareness About Endangered Species
- The Protection of Endangered Species: The Role of the Community
- Endangered Species: Policy Failure or Natural Phenomenon?
5. Problem and Solution Assignment on Obesity
- The Health Effects of Obesity
- Causes of Childhood Obesity
- Obesity and the Food Culture
- Obesity and the Fast-Food Craze
- Obesity and Self-Esteem
- Obesity and Sedentary Lifestyle
- Obesity and the Social Environment
- The Problem of Obesity in America
- Obesity and Parenting
- Obesity in Adolescence
6. Problem and Solution Prompts on Mental Health
- The Reality of Anxiety and Depression in American Youth
- Factors Responsible for Mental Disorders
- The Strength and Weaknesses of the US Mental Health Care System
- Mental Health and US Veterans
- The Importance of Family in the Fight Against Severe Depression
- Mental Health and the Race Factor
- The Evolution of Mental Health Disorders
- Effective Interventions Against Mental Health Disorders
- The Importance of Psychiatric Institutions
- Social Workers and Community Mental Health Care
7. Problem and Solution Essay Topics on Criminal Justice Systems
- The Strengths and Weaknesses of the Criminal Justice System
- Is the US Criminal Justice System Fair?
- Racial Disparity in the US Prison System
- The Problem of Prison Overpopulation in the US
- The Role of the Criminal Justice System in Addressing Runaway Crime
- The Burden of the Criminal Justice System on the Government
- Is the Role of the Criminal Justice System to Rehabilitate or Punish?
- Is Incarceration the Solution to Juvenile Delinquency?
- The Case for Diversionary Programs as an Alternative to Incarceration
- Recidivism: Causes and Solutions
8. Samples of Problem and Solution Ideas on Higher Education
- Higher Education as a Path Towards Economic and Social Mobility
- The Pros and Cons of a University Education
- Does the Lack of a College Degree Reduce One’s Economic Prospects?
- Higher Education in the Era of Multiculturalism
- The Case for Virtual Learning in Higher Education
- Do Student Loans Lead to High College Enrolment?
- The Importance of Student Loans
- The Importance of College Fraternities for International College Students
- The Value of a College Degree
- Higher Education and the Labor Market
9. Examples of Problem and Solution Themes on Homelessness
- The Problem of Homelessness in Major World Cities
- Homelessness as a Problem of the Government
- Homelessness as a Problem in the Community
- Homelessness and Poor Government Policies
- Homelessness as Evidence of Economic Inequality
- The Link Between Homelessness and Mental Health
- Factors Underlying the Increasing Number of Homeless People in America
- The solution to the Homelessness Problem
- Is Homelessness a Result of Policy Failure or Inadequate Houses?
- Is Affordable Housing the Solution to the Problem of Homelessness?
10. Problem and Solution Ideas on Globalization
- Is Globalization to Blame for Increased Cases of Corporate Fraud?
- Globalization and Growth of Multinational Corporations
- Globalization and International Trade
- Is There a Link Between Globalization and Child Labor?
- The Pros and Cons of Globalization
- Should Governments Worry About Borderless Trade?
- The Case for Internationalizing a Business Enterprise
- Globalization and Foreign Policy
- Is Globalization to Blame for Today’s Consumerism Culture?
- What is the Economic Benefit of Globalization for the Developing Countries?
Constructing Problem and Solution Essay Topics: Step-by-Step Guide
In academic writing , students follow an essay structure when organizing different aspects of texts, including the introduction, body, and conclusion sections. For example, it is standard for students to use a thesis statement in the introduction part to provide the main argument of their texts. When constructing a problem and solution essay, students create topics that guide the focus of their writing. Unlike in other articles, topics in problem and solution essays are properly constructed in the introduction section. In other words, while students may use a short topic as the title of their text, the full construction of the theme is in the introduction part. As noted in the previous section on examples of problem and solution essay topics, authors clarify the purpose of their writing in the introduction section.
Skeleton of Problem and Solution Essay Topics
In a problem and solution essay, students analyze a problem and propose a solution. Basically, problems that they choose to analyze should indicate some challenges, but such issues should be possible to resolve. In turn, a skeleton of a problem and solution essay topic has the following characteristics:
- A description of a problem that requires a solution.
- A thesis statement that defines a problem and offers a real solution
- Identification of several possible solutions.
- Evidence in a form of specific facts, details, examples, and reasons in favor of a particular solution.
- An analytical tone.
Altering Problem and Solution Essay Topics for Different Purposes
By considering a skeleton of a problem and solution essay topic, students must emphasize the basic characteristics in the introduction part of their essays. In essence, authors address three issues when constructing a topic in a problem and solution essay. For example, these elements are a problem, a cause, and a solution. In this case, everything else that scholars write, including the thesis, evidence, and analysis, revolves around these three issues. Therefore, when writing different problem and solution essays, all students need to do is alter the approach that they take in constructing a topic. Concerning a problem, they have to look at real issues and situations about what they intend to write. Regarding a cause, writers have to look at real reasons for a problem, and, about a solution, they have to look at what has been done or has not been done to address this problem.
Template for a Problem and Solution Essay Topic
Like all standard types of essays , a problem and solution essay has a template or structure. Basically, the key features of this template are five sections that enable writers to address each element of a skeleton highlighted above. For example, these sections include the introduction, problem, solution, and conclusion parts. Thus, a simple essay outline for problem and solution essay topics should appear as follows:
Content in Each of the Sections
As indicated, all sections of a problem and solution essay give writers a structure that addresses the skeleton’s key features. In summary, the introduction part outlines the writer’s objective captured in the thesis statement. Then, the problem part describes the problem that authors address in their texts. As indicated, students discuss issues and situations about what they intend to write. Here, scholars can use paragraphs to outline some causes of a problem. Further on, the solution part describes what authors perceive to be a solution to a problem. Also, they can use different paragraphs to argue for different solutions. In turn, the conclusion part must cover a summary of a problem and a solution outlined in the introduction section and discussed in body paragraphs.
I. Introduction Paragraph
Like a standard essay, the introduction of a problem and solution essay should give readers an idea about the writer’s mission. As indicated previously, students can not capture all the topic’s skeleton features in the paper’s title. As such, the introduction part is where authors address important aspects, concluding with the thesis statement. In turn, thesis statements must identify problems, their causes, and valid solutions.
II. Problem Section
As part of the main text (body), a problem section is where students delve into a problem and its cause(s). Here, writers use an analytical tone to highlight researched issues that pertain to this problem. Also, a common approach for authors is to offer background information or context of a problem. In turn, such an approach enables scholars to go into detail about situations, such as failures of government policies, which underpin the existence of an issue.
III. Solution Part
The solution section is part of the main text. Here, students overview the main problem to provide a context for the actual solution. In essence, the overview involves reiterating the critical message of the thesis statement. After that, authors highlight what they see as the solution to the problem. Also, if several issues underpin the problem’s existence, writers need to use different paragraphs to recommend appropriate solutions.
IV. Conclusion Paragraph
The conclusion section is the part of an academic text that enables students to conclude their writing. Here, authors restate the thesis statement. In turn, this action involves highlighting the key features of the skeleton of the problem and solution essay topic. Besides restating the thesis, writers offer their personal concluding thoughts about the problem, its cause(s), and recommended solution(s). As a result, such opinions may include advocating for policy reform, legislation, or research.
Summing Up on Problem and Solution Essay Topics
Writing a problem and solution essay is an academic exercise that allows students to use research and analytical skills. Basically, the main goal of such an article is to highlight a problem and how to resolve it. In this case, writers need to use an analytical tone in addressing this issue. Here, students research a specific problem to discover its causes, and, then, relying on research findings, they propose a real solution. In essence, these activities underscore the importance of constructing problem and solution essay topics. Hence, students need to master the following tips:
- highlight a problem that needs a resolution;
- construct a thesis statement to define a problem, its causes, and a solution;
- identify several possible solutions if a problem has several underlying causes;
- use evidence in a form of specific facts, details, examples, and reasons to recommend a particular solution.
- follow an analytical tone to investigate a problem and its causes and recommend a solution.
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- Read Time 12 mins
- Updated On November 14, 2022
- Published In IELTS Preparation 💻
Problem and solution essay IELTS or cause and solution essay IELTS is a common type of essay question asked in IELTS Writing Task 2 Exam. Herein, a problem is presented to the candidate and you are asked to suggest relevant, specific, and possible solutions regarding the same.
Table of Contents
You can either write about 2 problems with both their solutions or discuss one major problem and one solution. As long as you extend and explain your ideas, you will be able to communicate your thoughts to the examiner. Maintain a formal tone throughout your essay. In a problem and solution essay IELTS might ask the candidate to discuss any of the following:
- Cause of the problem
- Effect of a problem
- Methods to prevent the problem
- Possible and effective solutions to the problem
Problem Solution Essay Question: Evaluation Factors
IELTS writing tests are evaluated across 4 main factors or areas when your IELTS band scores are calculated. These areas are:
- Achievement of the task – The examiner notices here to what extent you have addressed all the parts of the task with explained and well-developed ideas.
- Cohesion and Coherence – The logical flow and organization of your ideas and information, are examined here. The examiner notices whether the essay has a logical progression of thoughts.
- Lexical Resource – The vocabulary used in the essay and its accuracy is examined here. You should use lexical items with sophistication.
- Grammatical accuracy and range – Lastly, the examiner evaluates whether the candidate has used the grammatical structures accurately. Sentences with sophisticated clauses and a clear flow should be used.
Tips to Create an IELTS Problem Solution Essay Structure
While structuring the essay in your head, make sure to use a proper approach for these questions. The steps to structure the essays are:
Analyze the question thoroughly
Analyzing the question is a crucial part of answering any IELTS writing essay questions. You can analyze the question in the best way through three main things:
- Keywords : These are the specific words that inform you about the general topic.
- Micro Keywords : These keywords identify the parts of the general topic that the examiner wants you to focus on. They generally give an opinion by emphasizing a sub-category of the topic.
- Action Words : Instruction words or action words make it clear for the candidates what the examiner wants them to do.
Think of Ideas
Now that the purpose of the question is clear to you, form a specific idea for the essay in your head. For each problem you think of, identify a direct solution for the same.
Follow the structure & write down the essay
Write down the essay by ensuring to follow a proper structure, including an introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The essay should include examples and discuss possible solutions.
Also Read: Latest 50+ IELTS Essay Topics in 2022
Problem Solution IELTS Essay Pattern
A basic four-paragraph structure should be used to structure the problem solution IELTS essays. The structure is as follows:
Paragraph 1 – Introduction
In the introduction paragraph, you can first paraphrase the statement part of the question and outline the ideas to be discussed in the essay further. Paraphrasing the questions means rephrasing the sentence without changing its meaning using synonyms. The outline sentence helps the examiner to understand what they can expect from the essay and thus ensure clarity. Cohesion and clarity play an important role in the scoring of the essay.
Paragraph 2 – Problems
In the second paragraph, state the problems you thought of and then explain the first problem and the second problem in the second half of the essay thoroughly.
Paragraph 3 – Solutions
In the third paragraph, list down the solutions to the problems listed above, the first solution with its examples, and then the second solution along with relevant examples that support the solution.
Paragraph 4 – Conclusion
In the conclusion paragraph, cover all the important points discussed in the above 3 paragraphs and end your essay.
Problem Solution Essay IELTS: Key Points to Remember
Some of the main points to remember while attempting the problem solution essay questions in IELTS are:
- You have only 40 minutes to complete the essay writing task, and you have to write a minimum of 250 words.
- Use linking words, collocations, and phrases to ensure a flow in the essay.
- If you are using any facts or statistical data, make sure it is accurate and reliable.
- Make sure that the introduction is clear and engaging. It helps the examiner to get a sense of what will be discussed in the essay further.
- Use refined and accurate grammar and vocabulary, which will help the examiner understand your proficiency in the language.
- Provide relevant examples to explain your content. An explanation of your opinions is the best way to ensure a higher IELTS score.
- Identify the keywords and secondary keywords. Relate them with the problems and the solutions, and make sure to include the keywords in the content.
- Plan the problems you are going to discuss in your head and the possible solutions before writing them down.
- The paragraphs should be ideally balanced by discussing the problems in one body paragraph and solutions in the second body paragraph.
Also Read: Updated List Vocabulary for IELTS 2022
Common Mistakes
Though problem solution essay IELTS is highly asked in the exam, there are some common mistakes that are made by the candidates. Some of these mistakes that a candidate can avoid while attempting these types of questions are:
- Candidates often do not expand on their ideas and often list down a lot of problems and solutions. The examiners mark the essays on the basis of the explanation of the problems and solutions listed. It is usually advised to pick a problem or two along with their solutions and then explain them with relevant examples.
- Another common mistake by the candidates is writing indirectly about solutions that are not directly related to the questions. You should opt for concrete ideas rather than writing a generalized answer. Identify the keywords and the micro-keywords from the question and try to include those in the topic.
- Many people often list down good problems but fail to link them with the solutions. Each problem should have a directly linked solution that actually solves the problem.
- Learn to identify the problem and solution and causes and solution questions as both of them might look similar but have a certain difference in how they are to be structured.
- Avoid writing in absolute terms by using qualifiers which ensure that your sentences look like claims rather than proven facts.
Problem Solution Essay IELTS Sample Questions
There are many themes for the problem solution essay topics IELTS related to various problems. Some of the problem solution essay IELTS topics questions for your practice are as given below:
Theme 1 – Cities
- Nowadays, it is getting difficult for people to enjoy their lives in cities. Why do you think this is? What can the government do to make life in cities more enjoyable?
- In large cities, the issue of overpopulation has been a significant cause of concern which leads to a lack of jobs and traffic congestion. What is the cause of this? How can government help in solving this problem?
- In many cities and urban areas around the world, crime is increasing. What is the cause of this? How can governments help to prevent the crimes?
Theme 2 – Technology & the internet
- People from older generations face difficulty in using new technology. What is the cause behind this? What are some possible solutions to this problem?
- A lot of children spend time on social media surfing the internet and playing video games which hurts their studies and grades and makes them experience loneliness and health problems such as obesity. What is the reason behind this? What can the parents do to prevent it?
- The internet has changed the way information is consumed and shared among people. What are some serious issues a person can face associated with the internet, and what solutions can be implemented?
Theme 3 – Environment or Climate Change
- Sea levels are steadily rising in recent years. What do you think is the reason behind this? How can it be fixed?
- Many countries around the world are suffering from poor water and air quality, which is harmful to all of us, especially older people. What is the cause of this? How can it be solved?
- Climate change and global warming is a serious threat the world is facing, which is reducing the average life expectancy. What are some causes of this? How can governments and healthcare sectors solve this problem?
IELTS Advantages & Disadvantage Essay Topics
Foreign Language IELTS Sample Essay
A sample of the Problem Solution Essay Example Question IELTS for Writing Test 2 is given below for your reference:
As social media continue to develop, more and more youngsters have unsupervised access to all the contents available over the internet in order to meet and chat with friends and even strangers, which can lead to some potentially dangerous situations. What solutions can you suggest to deal with this problem?
IELTS Problem Solution Essay
In the modern era, a large number of young people use the internet to meet and talk with friends via social media. Due to social media and the growth of the internet in the 21st century, many children are facing issues related to their health and the expression of their feelings as a result of the lack of face-to-face interaction. This issue can be solved by opting for some measures.
To begin with, there are many people all over the world who use the internet for their work or education purposes. As a result, everyone uses it until late at night, which can lead to a variety of health issues, such as vision problems from constantly staring at computers or mobile phones and spinal curvatures from excessive sitting in front of computers and laptops. Secondly, due to the nature of online meetings and conversations, there is a lack of face-to-face interaction among people due to which youngsters are unable to express their feelings due to the loss of peer interaction.
Parents can help in resolving these issues by blocking the access of children to websites that are not children-friendly. In addition to that, parents can encourage children to go out and play instead of being on the internet all day in exchange for a surprise or more quality time. Social media companies can also contribute to the solution by restricting the access of children to the platforms on the basis of their age, which can protect them from content that is not suitable for them. For example, the social media platform Facebook recently updated its privacy policies to restrict access to children under the age of ten.
To summarize, young people use the internet to interact with various types of people online without any supervision, which gives them a sense of freedom and confidence in sending unethical messages to others. To stay out of it, parents should monitor their communication and provide suitable guidance and advice to their children.
Problem Solution Essay IELTS is a type of question that includes problems for which you have to find the solutions through a logical flow of thought. 40 minutes are given to complete the 250 words essay writing task. The structure of the essay for a problem-solving question includes an introduction, discussion of problems, possible solutions with examples, and a conclusion.
The introduction has an overview of the essay. The main body paragraphs discuss the problems along with their direct solutions and examples. The conclusion paragraph summarizes your opinion on the task. You need to discuss the problems caused by the issues and the measures to reduce or eliminate the problem altogether.
You do not just need to state problems and solutions but also need to explain the thought process to reach that solution. Make sure the essay is readable and has a logical flow and cohesion.
You can practice for the Problem Solution Essay IELTS by writing on various topics or themes available on the internet ranging from the internet, cities, poverty, problems of rural areas or developing countries, lifestyle in developed countries, success, news, etc.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can i write the problem and solution both in one paragraph.
Ans. No, you can not write the problem and solution both in the same paragraph as this will affect the flow and understanding of the essay. The cause and the solution or the problems and the solution will both be discussed in two different paragraphs of the main body.
How can I identify a problem solution essay type?
Ans. In the problem solution essay questions, a topic is given, and you will have to discuss the issues or problems faced in regards to that particular topic. Often, these questions can also ask for your opinion on a particular issue.
What is the difference between a cause solution essay and a problem solution essay?
Ans. Problem solution essay and cause solution essay are highly similar. However, there is a subtle difference between the two. A problem solution essay question asks about the problem with regards to a particular topic, whereas the cause solution essay asks about the causes behind an issue. The problem is to be mentioned in both the essays. However, in the cause solution essay, you should focus more on the cause of that particular statement.
How can I write a solution paragraph?
Ans. First of all, for a solution paragraph, you need to develop ideas related to the given problem in your mind to check whether or not your ideas are directly relevant to the problem. After then, you have to decide how you will explain the solution to all the problems in a precise manner. After then, develop your solution with the help of a detailed explanation.
Kanika Singh
Kanika took a detour from academics for the corporate world. Now she works as a senior editor specialising in content creation, marketing, and strategy.
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Problem/Solution Essay Example #1
Exercise: analyze an essay..
Read one of the two Problem/Solution Example Essays to complete this exercise.
- Label the introduction paragraph, the body paragraphs, and the conclusion paragraph.
- Circle the hook.
- What is the general topic of the essay?
- Underline the thesis.
- Underline each of the topic sentences.
- Do each of the topic sentences support the thesis?
- Does the conclusion paragraph start by restating the thesis?
No More Traffic Jams
There is nothing worse than being trapped in your car, waiting in the middle of a traffic jam. It is frustrating, knowing that there is nothing you can do and that you are going to be late to work. Traffic jams often occur during rush hour or right after a large event because there are more cars on the road than normal. Traffic jams can also be caused by car accidents or road construction. They usually occur on major roads that many people use to travel to work or school. Traffic jams are a problem because they make people late for work or school, they can cause car accidents, and they are frustrating. How can we reduce the number of traffic jams? Possible solutions include carpooling or using public transportation. The best way to solve traffic jams is by using public transportation because it will be efficient, economical, and reliable.
First, using public transportation is efficient. A bus is a very efficient way to move lots of people from one place to another using only one vehicle. Instead of having one vehicle for each person on the road, busses take many cars off the road as people ride together. Trains are even more efficient at reducing the number of cars on the road. Because trains have their own dedicated rail system to get people around, all of the cars are eliminated without adding any more traffic to the roads. Not only are busses and trains more efficient at carrying passengers, but time spent on a bus or a train is more efficient for the passenger. This encourages more people to use public transportation. It is easy to see how efficient public transportation is and the impact that it has on reducing traffic.
Another reason that public transportation is the best solution to traffic jams is because it is so economical. People want to use public transportation instead of driving their own car because they can save money. Public transportation usually does not cost very much, especially for people who use it often. There are discounts for seniors and students, which makes it an even more economical way for these groups to travel around town. Using public transportation also eliminates the need to pay for parking, car insurance, and car maintenance, not to mention gasoline. All of the expenses related to owning a car are replaced with one simple fare. Because it is so economical, public transportation is a good solution to traffic jams by encouraging more people to travel together and reduce the number of cars on the road.
Finally, public transportation is the best solution because it is reliable. Many people set up carpools to reduce traffic, but this is only a temporary solution. Every time someone has a change in their schedule, the carpool needs to be adjusted. For example, if someone has to go to the doctor or sleeps in, the carpool will not work that day. If someone changes jobs or transfers to a new school, the carpool will need to be adjusted again. Public transportation, on the other hand, is more reliable. The bus and train schedules don’t change every time that one rider needs to go to the doctor. The schedules are set and people can plan on them. People who use public transportation will find that it is reliable and can help limit the number of cars on the road.
Because it is efficient, economical, and reliable, public transportation is the best way to reduce the number of traffic jams. There are other possible ways to address this problem, but using public transportation is clearly the best. Traffic jams during very busy hours on the road can be reduced and more people can get to work on time and avoid the frustration caused by sitting in the middle of a long line of cars. Cities and governments should consider ways to improve their public transportation system and encourage more people to use it. If they do, they will surely see fewer traffic jams on their roads and much happier drivers.
CC BY-NC : This work is released under a CC BY-NC license, which means that you are free to do with it as you please as long as you (1) properly attribute it and (2) do not use it for commercial gain.
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- Essay Task 2
How to Write Problem Solution Essay in IELTS
- Essay Types
- Double Question
- Advantage Disadvantage
- Problem Solution
- Essay Length
IELTS problem-solution tasks are the easiest of the IELTS essay types as you are required to explain the given problem(s) and provide some relevant suggestions/solutions. In this IELTS Task 2 Writing guide, we will take a look at how to produce a well-written essay for an IELTS writing task 2 problem and solution task.
Table of Contents
1.1 understanding the question, 1.2 example problem/solution questions.
- Essay Structure for Problem/Solution Essays
- 3.1 Identify key words and phrases
3.2 Organise your ideas
3.3 identify vocabulary, 4.1 introduction, 4.2 main body paragraphs, 4.3 conclusion.
- 5.1 Complete the sample problem/solution essay
5.2 Problem Solution Sample Essay
1. problem/solution overview.
A problem and solution essay is a common type of IELTS writing task 2 essay question .
Remember, there are five main types of writing task 2 questions:
- Advantage/disadvantage
- Double question
- Problem/solution
You will have 40 minutes to write at least 250 words which you use to explain one or more of the following
- A common problem/ problems in the world
- A cause/causes of a problem
- A possible solution/solutions
There are a few different ways that a problem/solution question may be worded and it is important to understand exactly what you are being asked to do.
Here are the three main types of problem/solution question aims:
- Write about a problem and possible solutions to that problem
- Write about a cause of a problem and possible solutions
- Only write about the solutions
And here are some ways the question may be worded for each aim:
- What problems arise from this and how can they be tackled?
- What do you think the causes are? What are the solutions?
- What solution can you suggest to deal with this problem?
Identifying common synonyms in the instruction words will also help you to identify the aim:
Problem : Situation; resulting in…; issue
Cause : Reason; why
The only solution : address; present; solve; improve; tackle; remedy; deal with
Take the time to read the question carefully! It is a common mistake to answer the wrong question.
Here are some example problem/solution questions. Try to work out what the aim is for each question:
The internet has transformed the way information is shared and consumed, but it has also created problems that did not exist before. What are the most serious problems associated with the internet and what solutions can you suggest?
Also, read the following IELTS Essay Writing Guides
- IELTS Discussion Type Questions
- Double Question IELTS Essay Topics
- Opinion-based Task 2 IELTS Guide
- IELTS Advantage Disadvantage Essay Type
Overpopulation of urban areas has led to numerous problems. Identify two serious ones and suggest ways that governments and individuals can tackle these problems.
One problem faced by almost every large city is traffic congestion What do you think the causes are? What solutions can you suggest?
More and more wild animals are on the verge of extinction and others are on the endangered list. What are the reasons for this? What can be done to solve the problem?
In many developing countries, there is a problem with declining quality of air and water from both industry and construction. What measures could be taken to prevent this?
2. Essay Structure for Problem/Solution Essays
You will see more than one way to structure a problem/solution IELTS essay. We’ve given you two options to choose from that are nice and easy to follow and enable you to produce a clear and cohesive essay everytime:
Essay structure 1
Essay structure 2
Note that essay structure 2 suggests that it is an option to write about more than one problem and solution . In fact, the essay question will usually ask for problems and solutions in the plural.
However, it is acceptable to write about one problem and solution so that you fully develop your ideas rather than rushing through your essay and missing any important examples or explanations.
Why not time yourself writing an essay in test conditions and see what option works for you!
3. Planning your Problem/Solution Essay
Taking the time to plan your essay will really make a big difference. Read on for some useful tips to help your planning.
3.1 Identify keywords and phrases
It’s a good idea to start your planning by confirming the topic of your essay by locating the topic words .
Here’s the question for our model 9 band writing task 2 answer at the end of this guide:
Some people think that children nowadays are spending an excessive amount of time watching TV or using a computer or mobile phone.
Describe some of the problems that too much screen time can have for children , and what can be done to tackle them .
The topic of this essay is about the amount of time children spend using screens (TV, computer, mobile phones).
By looking at the instruction words , we can see this question also asks for problems and solutions in the plural form (although remember it is ok to focus on a single problem and solution in the exam).
A list is a great way to organise your ideas before you start writing your IELTS essay about problem and solution. Your ideas do not have to be elaborate or in-depth, just put pen to paper and start to jot down some ideas for an IELTS essay. You could choose to only write down ideas you will use in your essay, or you might end up with more than you need (we suggest ticking off the ideas you use to avoid repetition)
We have used a simple bullet point list to note down ideas for our model essay:
- Childhood obesity
- Mental health issues
- Targeted junk food adverts
Solutions :
- Government incentives for active children
- Limited screen time imposed by parents
- Lessons to educate children on the dangers of too much screen time
- Restrictions on adverts at certain times
Writing down any useful vocabulary for IELTS that comes to mind during the planning process could improve your score in Lexical resources . Ask yourself if you know any idioms, collocations or other unusual IELTS essay vocabulary linked to your essay topic.
4. Writing your Problem/Solution Essay
There are three key things to include in your problem/solution introduction:
- Paraphrase the given IELTS statement and question
- State the problem/cause/solution
- State what your essay will do
To successfully paraphrase the statement, you can use synonyms, change the word order or change the word class (e.g from a noun to an adjective). The tricky part is making sure you keep the meaning of the statement the same. Look what we’ve done for our model answer:
You can also briefly state what your essay will do using an outline statement . Here’s an example sentence:
This essay will look at these problems in more detail and propose some solutions.
For each problem or cause you write about, you should create a topic sentence which introduces each main idea.
Here are some possible ways you could structure your topic sentences:
- One major problem connected to _____ is…
- Another issue is that…
- A final problem is the…
- One cause of ____ is …
- One reason for ____ is …
- A further way to explain ____ is …
- One contributing factor to ____ is…
You could also use the structure that + a clause. Here are some examples:
One major problem connected to childrens’ health is lack of exercise .
Another issue is that there are a large amount of junk food advertisements on television aimed at children .
As well as language for problems, you will also need to introduce solutions to these problems. Even though the topic of your essay will be different, you can learn language chunks/sentence starters to do this. Take a look at these examples:
- To deal with this problem, _____ could …
- The way forward might be for _____ to …
- The solution is for people to …
- In order to solve this issue, _____ should …
When you provide a solution, it is a good idea to keep the actor of the sentence more general, for example:
- The government
You can also learn lexical chunks related to solutions to common problems. Here are just a few suggestions for our model answer:
- The government could bring in a law to ban junk food advertising.
- The government could allocate more money to healthy eating campaigns.
- Parents could set aside time in the day to do activities as a family away from screens.
- Schools could employ more physical education teachers to improve students’ fitness levels.
We’ve used the tips above to create the following body paragraphs:
Your conclusion for any IELTS writing task 2 essay is very important as without it, you will not score above a band score 6.0 in Task achievement .
Always make your conclusion easy to identify for the examiner by starting with:
- In conclusion,…
- To conclude,…
- To sum up,…
- In summary,…
Now you will need to paraphrase (again) what you have written for your introduction in your own words. Compare out model answer introduction and conclusion:
You can also include the following points in your conclusion (it is not necessary to include all the points):
- State the seriousness of the problem (we’ve used the phrase ‘ increasingly serious ’)
- Suggest who you think should solve the problem (we’ve gone with a balance between the government and parents )
- Make suggestions about what to do in the future (we’ve kept this general: ‘ reducing the amount of screen time ’)
- State what might happen if nothing is done to solve the problem (again, we’ve kept this general to reduce the word count: ‘ these problems will only intensify ’)
5. Example Problem/Solution Essay and Exercise
Below you will find the complete problem/ solution essay that we have been using throughout this guide, except we have removed some of the keywords.
Your task is to select the missing words and complete the sample answer. Good luck!
5.1 Complete the Sample Problem/Solution Essay
Describe some of the problems that too much screen time can have for children, and what can be done to tackle them.
Nowadays, governments and health experts around the world have become increasingly concerned about the general health of children. They are particularly worried about problems caused by too much time spent in front of a TV, computer or mobile. This essay will look at these problems in more detail and propose some solutions.
One major problem connected to childrens’ health is lack of exercise: in recent years , the amount of time children spend being sedentary in front of a screen has increased drastically, and as a result, childrens’ fitness levels have plummeted. This is a significant problem in the USA, for example , where children spend an increasing amount of time watching a TV screen. To try and solve this problem, governments should implement incentives for children that spend more time being active, such as giving vouchers for sport equipment or free tickets to sporting events.
Another issue is that there are a large amount of junk food advertisements on television aimed at children. This means that children are being targeted to buy unhealthy junk food and processed meals which can lead to weight and other health problems due to the high amounts of fat and sugar in the food. The answer could be for the government to ban these adverts at certain times of the day. If they did this, children would not be subjected to these unhealthy marketing tactics.
To sum up, there is no doubt that the problem of too much screen time is becoming increasingly serious for the youth of today. Unless action is taken urgently, these problems will only intensify. My opinion is that responsibility for reducing the amount of time in front of a screen lies mainly with the government, but also with the parents.
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A 250-word essay is different lengths on a page depending on whether it is double- or single-spaced. Academic essays usually are required to be double-spaced. Generally, a double-spaced, 250-word essay takes up 0.6 page in length, assuming ...
A 250-word essay is complete with a minimum of three paragraphs and a maximum of five or six. A simple, and yet effective, structure for a 250-word essay includes an introduction and a conclusion, with three additional paragraphs making up ...
A 500-word essay averages two double-spaced pages. The length of a document depends on the paper and margin sizes as well as the general text formatting.
Problem Solution Essay Example · An increasing number of professionals, such as doctors and teachers, are leaving their own poorer countries to work in developed
Problem-solution essays consider the problems of a particular situation, and give solutions to those problems. They are in some ways similar to
(“Problem Solution Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words”, n.d.) Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/business/1627034-problem-solution.
Before writing a problem and solution essay, think about the things that you think could be changed. Since you will be addressing an issue and its probable
This will give you an essay of just over the minimum 250 words. To write about two problems/causes and solutions will require you to write between 350 and 400
Write at least 250 words. Format for IELTS Problem Solution Essay. How many paragraphs to write for a Problem Solution IELTS essay and what to
Problems and solutions essay topics offer specific, substantial but manageable issues that can be properly researched and analyzed. They focus
Writing a problem and solution essay allows students to utilize their analytical and research skills. Basically, the main goal is to
You have only 40 minutes to complete the essay writing task, and you have to write a minimum of 250 words. · Use linking words, collocations, and
Exercise: Analyze an essay. Read one of the two Problem/Solution Example Essays to complete this exercise. Label the introduction paragraph
How to Write Problem Solution Essay in IELTS · The internet has transformed the way information is shared and consumed, but it has also created problems that did