Scorify.uzThe question
In many countries, the gap between the rich and the poor is increasing. What problems does this cause and what solutions can be proposed?
Write at least 250 words.
What the question asks
Two tasks: identify problems caused by inequality, and suggest solutions. Give each its own paragraph and link solutions to the problems you mentioned.
Essay plan
- Introduction: Paraphrase the question and state that the essay will examine problems and solutions.
- Body 1: problems: Social tension and crime, unequal access to healthcare and education, wasted talent.
- Body 2: solutions: Progressive taxation, investment in public education, and support for small businesses and training.
- Conclusion: Summarise that the problems are serious but can be reduced by government action.
Band 7+ sample essay
In many parts of the world, wealth is becoming concentrated among a small proportion of the population while others struggle to meet basic needs. This essay will outline the main problems this trend creates and propose some practical solutions.
The first problem is social division. When ordinary families see little chance of improving their lives, frustration grows, which can lead to higher crime rates and political unrest. Inequality also affects access to essential services: wealthy citizens can pay for private healthcare and elite schools, whereas poorer children may receive lower-quality education, which limits their future opportunities. As a result, society loses the talents of many capable people.
There are several ways to address these issues. Governments could introduce progressive taxation, where higher earners pay a larger percentage, and use the revenue to improve public schools and hospitals. Investment in vocational training would help low-income workers acquire skills for better-paid jobs, while loans and advice for small businesses could create employment in poorer regions. Technology can play a part too: free online courses and low-cost internet access allow people in poorer regions to learn valuable skills without moving to expensive cities, which gives them a realistic chance to improve their income over time.
Individuals and companies also have a role to play. Employers can offer fair wages and apprenticeships, and charities can provide scholarships for talented students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Such measures give people tools to climb the economic ladder rather than depend on assistance.
In conclusion, widening inequality leads to social tension and unequal opportunities, but fairer taxation, better public services and targeted training can reduce these problems.
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
- concentrated — held by a few
- social unrest — public disorder and anger
- progressive taxation — higher tax rates for higher incomes
- disadvantaged background — a poor or difficult start in life
- apprenticeship — paid training for a skilled job
- essential services — basic public needs
- income inequality — unequal distribution of earnings
Common mistakes on this question
- Listing problems but offering solutions that do not match them.
- Writing a very long first body paragraph and a short second one.
- Using vague solutions such as “the government should do something”.
Study guides
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IELTS Writing Task 1 Vocabulary for Graphs, Charts and Processes
Useful verbs, nouns, adverbs and sentence patterns for describing line graphs, bar charts, tables and processes in IELTS Task 1, with more than twelve example sentences.
Linking Words for IELTS and How to Use Them Correctly
A practical list of IELTS linking words grouped by function, with correct and incorrect examples, punctuation rules and a warning about overusing connectors.
Frequently asked questions
What type of essay is this IELTS Task 2 question?
It is a problem and solution question. Two tasks: identify problems caused by inequality, and suggest solutions. Give each its own paragraph and link solutions to the problems you mentioned.
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.