Climate change and its effects on public health have become increasingly prevalent topics in IELTS Writing Task 2 exams. Based on recent trends and the growing global concern over environmental issues, it’s highly likely that questions related to this theme will continue to appear frequently in future tests. Let’s examine a relevant question that has appeared in past IELTS exams and provide sample essays for different band scores.
Some people believe that climate change is the biggest threat to public health. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Analyzing the Question
This question asks for your opinion on whether climate change is the most significant threat to public health. To answer effectively, you should:
- Clearly state your position (agree/disagree/partially agree)
- Provide reasons and examples to support your stance
- Consider counterarguments if appropriate
- Conclude by restating your main points
Now, let’s look at sample essays for different band scores.
Sample Essay 1 (Band 8-9)
Climate change has emerged as one of the most pressing global issues of our time, with far-reaching consequences that extend beyond environmental concerns. While there are numerous threats to public health, I strongly agree that climate change represents the most significant and pervasive danger to human wellbeing on a global scale.
The impact of climate change on public health is multifaceted and profound. Firstly, rising temperatures and extreme weather events directly contribute to an increase in heat-related illnesses and deaths. Heatwaves, which are becoming more frequent and intense due to global warming, pose a severe risk to vulnerable populations, particularly the elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions. Moreover, climate change exacerbates air pollution by creating conditions that favor the formation of ground-level ozone and particulate matter, leading to a surge in respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
Furthermore, climate change disrupts ecosystems and alters the distribution of disease vectors, resulting in the spread of infectious diseases to new regions. For instance, warming temperatures have expanded the habitable range of mosquitoes carrying malaria and dengue fever, exposing previously unaffected populations to these deadly diseases. Additionally, extreme weather events such as floods and droughts can contaminate water sources and compromise food security, leading to malnutrition and water-borne illnesses.
While other public health threats, such as smoking or obesity, are undoubtedly serious, they are often localized or affect specific demographics. In contrast, climate change is a global phenomenon that impacts every region and population, making it uniquely pervasive. Moreover, its effects are long-lasting and potentially irreversible, creating cascading health consequences that will be felt for generations to come.
In conclusion, the comprehensive and far-reaching impact of climate change on human health, coupled with its global scale and long-term consequences, makes it the most significant threat to public health. Addressing this issue requires urgent and coordinated action on a global scale to mitigate its effects and protect the health of current and future generations.
Analysis of Band 8-9 Essay
This essay demonstrates the characteristics of a high-scoring response:
- Clear position: The writer strongly agrees with the statement and maintains this stance throughout.
- Well-developed arguments: Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of climate change’s impact on health, providing detailed explanations and examples.
- Cohesion and coherence: The essay flows logically, with clear transitions between ideas.
- Lexical resource: The writer uses a wide range of vocabulary accurately (e.g., “multifaceted,” “pervasive,” “exacerbates”).
- Grammatical range and accuracy: The essay employs various complex structures correctly.
- Task response: The essay fully addresses all parts of the task, providing a well-balanced and thorough discussion.
Sample Essay 2 (Band 6-7)
Climate change is a big problem in the world today, and many people think it is the biggest threat to public health. I agree that it is a very important issue, but I’m not sure if it’s the biggest threat.
Climate change can affect people’s health in many ways. For example, when the temperature gets higher, more people get sick from heat-related illnesses. Also, extreme weather like floods and storms can hurt people and damage hospitals and clinics. This makes it harder for people to get medical help when they need it.
Another problem is that climate change can make some diseases spread more easily. For instance, mosquitoes that carry diseases like malaria can live in more places when it gets warmer. This means more people might get sick from these diseases.
However, there are other big threats to public health too. Things like smoking, unhealthy diets, and lack of exercise are also very dangerous. These problems cause many deaths from diseases like cancer and heart disease. Also, in some countries, public health campaigns prevent diseases by educating people about healthy habits.
In conclusion, while climate change is definitely a serious threat to public health, it’s hard to say if it’s the biggest one. I think all health threats are important, and we should try to deal with all of them, including climate change.
Analysis of Band 6-7 Essay
This essay demonstrates the characteristics of a mid-range response:
- Position: The writer partially agrees with the statement, showing some nuance in their opinion.
- Arguments: The essay presents relevant points, but they are less fully developed compared to the higher band essay.
- Cohesion: There is a clear structure, but transitions between ideas could be smoother.
- Vocabulary: The writer uses some topic-specific vocabulary, but the range is more limited than in the Band 8-9 essay.
- Grammar: Sentences are generally well-formed, with some attempts at complex structures, but with less variety than the higher band essay.
- Task response: The essay addresses the main parts of the task, but the discussion could be more comprehensive.
Key Vocabulary to Remember
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Climate change (noun) – /ˈklaɪmət tʃeɪndʒ/ – Long-term alterations in temperature and typical weather patterns in a place.
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Public health (noun) – /ˈpʌblɪk helθ/ – The health of the population as a whole, especially as monitored by the government.
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Exacerbate (verb) – /ɪɡˈzæsəbeɪt/ – To make a problem or situation worse.
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Vector-borne disease (noun) – /ˈvektər bɔːrn dɪˈziːz/ – Illnesses caused by parasites, viruses, or bacteria transmitted by insects or animals.
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Ecosystem (noun) – /ˈiːkəʊsɪstəm/ – A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.
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Malnutrition (noun) – /ˌmælnjuːˈtrɪʃn/ – Lack of proper nutrition, caused by not having enough to eat or not eating enough of the right things.
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Mitigation (noun) – /ˌmɪtɪˈɡeɪʃn/ – The action of reducing the severity, seriousness, or painfulness of something.
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Pervasive (adjective) – /pəˈveɪsɪv/ – Spreading widely throughout an area or a group of people.
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Irreversible (adjective) – /ˌɪrɪˈvɜːsəbl/ – Not able to be undone or altered.
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Cascading (adjective) – /kæˈskeɪdɪŋ/ – (of a process or sequence of events) Occurring in a series of stages, each of which triggers or initiates the next.
In conclusion, the impact of climate change on public health is a crucial topic that is likely to remain relevant in IELTS Writing Task 2. To prepare effectively, practice writing essays on related themes such as:
- The role of governments in addressing climate change and public health
- The economic impact of climate change on healthcare systems
- Individual responsibility in mitigating climate change effects on health
Remember to structure your essays clearly, use relevant examples, and demonstrate a range of vocabulary and grammatical structures. Feel free to practice by writing your own essay on this topic and sharing it in the comments section for feedback and discussion.