Scorify.uzThe question
A large amount of edible food is thrown away every day by households and supermarkets in wealthy countries. Why is this happening, and what measures could be taken to reduce it?
Write at least 250 words.
What the question asks
Although the question starts with why, treat it as a cause and solution essay. Explain two reasons for the waste, such as buying too much and strict date labels, and then match them with measures for shoppers, shops and governments.
Essay plan
- Introduction: State that edible food is wasted and that you will explain the causes and suggest remedies.
- Body 1: causes: Cheap food and bulk offers, poor planning at home, confusion over date labels, and supermarket appearance standards.
- Body 2: solutions: Education and better labelling, donation of surplus to food banks, penalties for large-scale waste, smaller packs.
- Conclusion: Summarise the causes and the joint responsibility of consumers, businesses and governments.
Band 7+ sample essay
It is surprising that in countries where food is plentiful, so much of it ends up in the bin while it is still fit to eat. The causes are mostly related to habits and business practices, and they can be addressed with a combination of education and regulation.
One reason is that food is so affordable and easy to buy that people stop valuing it. Shoppers are tempted by special offers such as buy-one-get-one-free deals, take home more than they can eat, and discard what is left. Planning is another weakness, as families often buy for an imaginary dinner party and then eat out. In addition, many consumers misunderstand the difference between a best-before and a use-by date, and throw away perfectly safe products. On the commercial side, supermarkets sometimes reject vegetables simply because they are the wrong shape or size.
To tackle these causes, schools and media campaigns could teach households how to plan meals, store food properly and use leftovers creatively. Clearer and simpler date labels would also prevent unnecessary disposal. Supermarkets, for their part, should sell imperfect fruit at lower prices and give unsold but safe products to charities and food banks, which are grateful for such supplies. Governments could encourage this behaviour by offering tax benefits for donations and fining companies that waste large quantities.
Finally, selling smaller packages and loose items would let single people and small families buy only what they need.
In summary, food waste in rich countries results from cheap abundance, weak planning and unclear labels, and it can be reduced if shoppers, retailers and authorities all play their part.
268 words.
Why this essay scores well
- Task Response: every part of the question is answered and the position stays consistent from the introduction to the conclusion.
- Coherence and Cohesion: each paragraph has one clear idea, linked with natural connectors rather than a list of memorised phrases.
- Lexical Resource: topic vocabulary is precise and varied, without forcing rare words.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy: a mix of simple and complex sentences, with conditionals and relative clauses used accurately.
Useful vocabulary
- edible — safe and good to eat
- special offer — a temporary discount to attract buyers
- discard — throw away
- best-before date — date until which food is at its best quality
- leftovers — food remaining after a meal
- food bank — a charity that gives out free food
- surplus — an amount more than needed
- abundance — a very large quantity
Common mistakes on this question
- Spending the whole essay on hunger in poor countries instead of the causes and measures in wealthy ones.
- Giving solutions only for households and ignoring supermarkets and governments.
- Using the word garbage repeatedly instead of precise terms like food waste or surplus.
Study guides
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Frequently asked questions
What type of essay is this IELTS Task 2 question?
It is a problem and solution question. Although the question starts with why, treat it as a cause and solution essay. Explain two reasons for the waste, such as buying too much and strict date labels, and then match them with measures for shoppers, shops and governments.
How many words should the essay be?
Write at least 250 words. Most strong answers are 260–290 words, planned in about five minutes and completed in 40 minutes.
How many paragraphs should I write?
Four paragraphs work well: an introduction, two body paragraphs and a conclusion. Each body paragraph needs one main idea, an explanation and an example.