Environmental pollution has consistently appeared as a major topic in IELTS Writing Task 2, accounting for approximately 15% of all test questions between 2020-2023. Based on analysis of past exams, questions about pollution types, causes, and prevention measures are particularly common. Let’s examine a recent exam question that exemplifies this trend.
Some people believe that the government should focus on reducing air pollution in big cities. Others think there are more important environmental problems to address. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Urban air pollution levels comparison between clean and polluted cities
Analysis of Question
- Topic: Environmental priorities
- Task: Discussion + Opinion
- Key aspects to cover:
- Arguments for prioritizing urban air pollution
- Arguments for other environmental issues
- Personal stance with justification
Sample Essay 1 (Band 8.0)
While urban air pollution poses significant health risks to city dwellers, I believe that governments must take a holistic approach to addressing various environmental challenges rather than focusing solely on air quality in metropolitan areas.
Those who advocate for prioritizing air pollution in cities present compelling arguments. The immediate impact on human health is particularly concerning, with respiratory diseases and cardiovascular problems directly linked to poor air quality. For instance, major Asian cities like Beijing and Delhi frequently experience hazardous levels of PM2.5 particles, forcing schools to close and outdoor activities to cease. Moreover, air pollution’s economic cost through reduced productivity and increased healthcare expenses makes it an urgent issue requiring immediate attention.
However, other environmental problems deserve equal consideration. Climate change, for example, threatens not just urban areas but entire ecosystems and agricultural systems worldwide. Rising sea levels endanger coastal communities, while extreme weather events affect food security globally. Similarly, water pollution compromises drinking water sources for both urban and rural populations, while deforestation contributes to biodiversity loss and further climate destabilization.
In my opinion, governments should adopt an integrated approach to environmental protection. While air pollution in cities requires urgent attention, it cannot be effectively addressed in isolation. Many environmental issues are interconnected – for example, deforestation reduces nature’s capacity to filter air pollutants, while climate change can worsen urban air quality through increased temperature inversions. Therefore, a comprehensive strategy addressing multiple environmental challenges simultaneously would be more effective than focusing on a single issue.
Diagram showing interconnections between different types of environmental problems
Sample Essay 2 (Band 6.5)
Nowadays, air pollution in big cities is a serious problem, but some people think other environmental issues are more important. I will discuss both sides and give my opinion.
On one side, air pollution in cities is very dangerous for people’s health. When people breathe dirty air, they can get sick with breathing problems and heart disease. For example, in my city, many children have asthma because of the pollution from cars and factories. Also, when the air is very polluted, people cannot go outside, and this affects their daily life and work.
However, there are other big environmental problems too. First, global warming is changing the weather and causing natural disasters. Second, many rivers and lakes are polluted, so people don’t have clean water to drink. Third, cutting down forests is killing many animals and making climate change worse.
In my opinion, the government should try to solve all these problems together. Air pollution is very important, but we cannot ignore other environmental issues. If we only focus on air pollution, other problems will get worse and eventually affect the air quality too. For example, if we don’t stop cutting down trees, there will be fewer trees to clean the air in cities.
Band Score Analysis
Band 8.0 Essay:
- Task Response: Fully addresses all parts with clear position
- Coherence: Logical organization with clear progression
- Lexical Resource: Sophisticated vocabulary (holistic approach, cardiovascular, ecosystems)
- Grammar: Complex structures used accurately
Band 6.5 Essay:
- Task Response: Addresses main points but less developed
- Coherence: Clear overall structure but simpler linking
- Lexical Resource: Adequate but repetitive vocabulary
- Grammar: Mix of simple and complex structures with some errors
Key Vocabulary
- holistic (adj) /həˈlɪstɪk/ – comprehensive, complete
- cardiovascular (adj) /ˌkɑːdɪəʊˈvæskjʊlə/ – relating to heart and blood vessels
- PM2.5 particles (n) /ˌpiːˈem tuː ˈpɔɪnt faɪv/ – fine particulate matter
- ecosystem (n) /ˈiːkəʊˌsɪstəm/ – biological community of organisms
- biodiversity (n) /ˌbaɪəʊdaɪˈvɜːsəti/ – variety of life forms
For practice, try writing your own essay addressing this alternative question:
“What are the main causes of water pollution in developing countries, and what measures can governments take to address this issue?”
Share your practice essays in the comments section for feedback and discussion.
