Some people think that environmental problems are too big for individuals to solve, while others think that the government cannot solve these environmental problems unless individuals make some action.

Practice this IELTS Writing Task 2 question on IELTSX. Some people think that environmental problems are too big for individuals to solve, while others think that the government cannot solve these environmental problems unless individuals make some action.

Environmental problems too big individuals solve government cannot solve unless individuals make action - IELTS Writing Task 2

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Write at least 250 words.

A student's answer to this task, and the feedback on it

Written by an IELTSX user under exam conditions and published unedited and anonymously. Band 8 ยท 289 words.

Environmental issues have become a major concern around the world. While some people believe that these problems are too serious for individuals to deal with, others argue that governments can only succeed if ordinary people also take responsibility. In my opinion, both governments and individuals have important roles to play in protecting the environment.

On the one hand, some people argue that environmental problems are beyond the ability of individuals to solve. This is because many issues, such as climate change, air pollution, and deforestation, are caused by large industries and require international cooperation. For example, a single person reducing their use of plastic cannot significantly reduce global pollution if factories continue to produce waste on a large scale. Therefore, governments need to introduce strict laws, invest in renewable energy, and control companies that damage the environment.

On the other hand, others believe that individual actions are essential for solving environmental problems. This view is based on the idea that governments cannot force people to behave in an environmentally friendly way without public support. Simple actions, such as recycling, saving electricity, using public transport, and reducing unnecessary consumption, can have a positive impact when millions of people do them. For instance, if citizens reduce their dependence on private cars, it can help decrease air pollution in cities.

In my opinion, neither governments nor individuals can solve environmental problems alone. Governments have the power to create effective policies and control major sources of pollution, while individuals can support these efforts through their daily choices. Cooperation between both sides is the most effective approach.

In conclusion, although environmental problems are large-scale issues that require government action, individual responsibility is equally important. Only through joint efforts can meaningful environmental improvements be achieved.

Examiner feedback

This is a very strong Band 8.0 essay. It is characterized by clear organization, a balanced argument, and high grammatical accuracy. The response directly answers the prompt with a consistent and logical position, and the vocabulary is both precise and appropriate for an academic context.

Task Response - 8

- Fully addresses all parts of the task by discussing both the limitation of individual action and the necessity of public support for government policy. - Presents a clear and well-developed position throughout the essay, concluding that cooperation is the most effective approach. - Main ideas are extended and supported with relevant examples, such as the mention of plastic waste and private car usage.

Coherence & Cohesion - 8

- Information and ideas are sequenced logically with a clear progression from the macro-perspective (government) to the micro-perspective (individual). - Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, with each paragraph focusing on a distinct central topic. - Cohesive devices such as "On the one hand," "Therefore," and "In conclusion" are used naturally to guide the reader through the argument.

Lexical Resource - 8

- Uses a wide range of vocabulary fluently and flexibly (e.g., "deforestation," "renewable energy," "dependence," "international cooperation"). - Collocations are generally accurate and natural (e.g., "introduce strict laws," "positive impact," "meaningful environmental improvements"). - Spelling and word formation are accurate throughout the essay.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy - 8

- Demonstrates a wide range of structures including complex sentences and conditional clauses (e.g., "if factories continue...", "if citizens reduce..."). - The majority of sentences are error-free, showing high control of grammar and punctuation. - Uses a variety of sentence beginnings and structures to maintain interest and flow.

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