Mastering IELTS Writing Task 2: Sample Essays on the Impact of Green Spaces on City Life

The impact of green spaces on city life is a recurring theme in IELTS Writing Task 2. This topic has appeared frequently in past exams and is likely to remain relevant in future tests due to its significance in urban planning and environmental sustainability. Based on our analysis of previous IELTS exams, we have identified a question that closely aligns with this theme:

Some people believe that green spaces like parks and gardens should be sacrificed to create more housing and infrastructure in cities. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

Let’s examine this question and provide sample essays for different band scores to help you understand how to approach this topic effectively.

Question Analysis

This question asks for your opinion on a controversial urban planning issue. It requires you to consider the balance between green spaces and urban development. Key points to address include:

1. The importance of green spaces in cities
2. The need for housing and infrastructure
3. Potential consequences of sacrificing green spaces
4. Possible alternatives or solutions

Remember to clearly state your position and support it with relevant examples and reasoning.

Sample Essay 1 (Band 8-9)

Green spaces are vital components of urban ecosystems, providing numerous benefits to city dwellers. While the need for housing and infrastructure is undeniable, I strongly disagree with the notion of sacrificing parks and gardens for these purposes. Instead, I believe that a balanced approach to urban development is essential for creating livable and sustainable cities.

Firstly, green spaces play a crucial role in improving the quality of life in urban areas. Parks and gardens offer respite from the concrete jungle, providing opportunities for relaxation, exercise, and social interaction. These areas also contribute significantly to physical and mental health by reducing stress, improving air quality, and encouraging physical activity. For instance, studies have shown that access to green spaces can lower the risk of obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and mental health issues among city residents.

Moreover, urban green spaces are essential for environmental sustainability. They act as the “lungs” of the city, absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen, thereby mitigating the effects of air pollution. Green areas also help regulate urban temperatures, reducing the heat island effect common in densely built environments. Additionally, they provide habitats for urban wildlife, contributing to biodiversity conservation in cities.

While the demand for housing and infrastructure is a pressing concern in many urban areas, sacrificing green spaces is a short-sighted solution that may lead to long-term problems. Instead of eliminating parks and gardens, city planners should focus on innovative approaches to urban development. This could include:

1. Vertical gardening and green rooftops to maximize green space in dense urban areas
2. Redevelopment of brownfield sites for housing and infrastructure projects
3. Implementation of mixed-use developments that integrate green spaces with residential and commercial areas
4. Encouraging the use of sustainable transportation to reduce the need for extensive road infrastructure

In conclusion, while the need for urban development is undeniable, it should not come at the expense of green spaces. The benefits of parks and gardens far outweigh the short-term gains of additional housing or infrastructure. By adopting creative and sustainable urban planning strategies, cities can meet the needs of their growing populations while preserving and even expanding their green spaces, ultimately creating more livable and environmentally friendly urban environments.

Sample Essay 2 (Band 6-7)

The question of whether to sacrifice green spaces for more housing and infrastructure in cities is a complex issue. While I understand the need for urban development, I disagree with the idea of eliminating parks and gardens for this purpose. I believe that both green spaces and urban development are important, and we should find ways to have both.

One reason why green spaces are important is that they make cities more livable. Parks and gardens give people places to relax, exercise, and enjoy nature. This is especially important in busy cities where people might not have their own gardens. For example, in New York City, Central Park is a popular place for people to escape from the busy streets and enjoy some nature.

Another benefit of green spaces is that they help the environment. Trees and plants in parks can help clean the air and reduce pollution. They also provide homes for birds and other animals. This is important because cities can be very polluted and have high population density, which can be bad for people’s health.

However, I understand that cities need more housing and better infrastructure. Many cities are growing, and people need places to live and work. But I don’t think we should destroy green spaces to build these things. Instead, we should look for other solutions. For example:

1. We could build taller buildings to have more homes in less space
2. We could improve public transport so we don’t need to build so many roads
3. We could use empty or old buildings for new homes instead of building on green spaces

In conclusion, I believe that green spaces are too important to sacrifice for urban development. We need to find ways to have both parks and the housing and infrastructure that cities need. By being creative and thinking carefully about how we use space in cities, we can keep our green spaces and still have room for growth.

Sample Essay 3 (Band 5-6)

Some people think we should use parks and gardens to build more houses and roads in cities. I don’t agree with this idea. I think green spaces are very important for cities and we should keep them.

First, parks and gardens are good for people in cities. They give people places to relax and play. When people are stressed from work, they can go to a park to feel better. Children can play in gardens and have fun. If we don’t have these green spaces, people might feel sad and stressed.

Second, green spaces help the environment in cities. Trees and plants in parks help clean the air. They make the city cooler in summer. Animals like birds and squirrels live in these green spaces. If we remove all the parks, the city will be hotter and more polluted.

But I know that cities need more houses and better roads. Many people want to live in cities, so we need places for them. However, I think there are other ways to do this without destroying parks. We can:

1. Build taller buildings to have more homes
2. Use old buildings for new homes
3. Make better buses and trains so we don’t need so many roads

In conclusion, I think green spaces are very important for cities. We should not destroy them to build houses and roads. We need to find other ways to make space in cities without losing our parks and gardens. This will make cities better places to live for everyone.

Explanation of Band Scores

Band 8-9 Essay:

• Task Achievement: Fully addresses all parts of the task with a clear position and well-developed ideas.
• Coherence and Cohesion: Logically organized with a clear progression of ideas and effective use of cohesive devices.
• Lexical Resource: Wide range of vocabulary used accurately and appropriately.
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Wide range of structures used flexibly with rare minor errors.

Band 6-7 Essay:

• Task Achievement: Addresses all parts of the task, though some aspects may be more fully covered than others.
• Coherence and Cohesion: Information and ideas are generally arranged coherently, with some use of cohesive devices.
• Lexical Resource: Sufficient range of vocabulary for the task, with some inaccuracies in word choice or spelling.
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Mix of simple and complex sentence forms with some errors that do not impede communication.

Band 5-6 Essay:

• Task Achievement: Addresses the task only partially, with limited development of ideas.
• Coherence and Cohesion: Basic organization of information, but not always logical.
• Lexical Resource: Limited range of vocabulary, with noticeable errors in word choice and spelling.
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Limited range of structures with frequent grammatical errors.

Key Vocabulary to Remember

1. Urban planning (noun) /ˈɜːrbən ˈplænɪŋ/ – The process of designing and organizing urban areas
2. Infrastructure (noun) /ˈɪnfrəstrʌktʃər/ – Basic physical structures needed for society to function
3. Biodiversity (noun) /ˌbaɪəʊdaɪˈvɜːsəti/ – Variety of plant and animal life in a particular habitat
4. Sustainability (noun) /səˌsteɪnəˈbɪləti/ – Ability to maintain at a certain level without depleting resources
5. Ecosystem (noun) /ˈiːkəʊˌsɪstəm/ – A biological community of interacting organisms and their environment
6. Livability (noun) /ˌlɪvəˈbɪləti/ – The quality of being suitable for living in
7. Heat island effect (noun) /hiːt ˈaɪlənd ɪˈfekt/ – Phenomenon where urban areas are significantly warmer than surrounding rural areas
8. Brownfield site (noun) /ˈbraʊnfiːld saɪt/ – Previously developed land not currently in use

Innovative urban planning solutions

In conclusion, the impact of green spaces on city life is a crucial topic in urban planning and environmental sustainability. As you prepare for your IELTS Writing Task 2, consider practicing with similar questions that explore the balance between urban development and environmental conservation. Some potential future topics might include:

1. The role of urban agriculture in sustainable city planning
2. The impact of green building practices on urban environments
3. The importance of green rooftops in urban areas
4. Strategies for incorporating nature into dense urban environments

We encourage you to practice writing essays on these topics and share your work in the comments section below. This active engagement will help you refine your writing skills and prepare effectively for the IELTS exam.