The shortage of housing in big cities can cause severe consequences. Only government action can solve this problem.

Practice this IELTS Writing Task 2 question on IELTSX. The shortage of housing in big cities can cause severe consequences. Only government action can solve this problem.

Housing Shortage Big Cities Government Action Solution - IELTS Writing Task 2

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

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 7.5 · 262 words.

There has been considerable debate among members of society over whether the shortage of housing in large cities leads to serious challenges to citizens’ quality of life. While many people hold the belief that only the government can address this issue, I concur with those who contend that some individuals also possess the abilities to tackle the problem.

One of the primary responsibilities of the government in addressing housing shortages is to implement policies that increase the availability of affordable housing. For instance, governments can subsidize construction projects, provide low-interest loans to developers, or regulate property prices to ensure housing remains accessible. By taking these measures, the government can tackle systemic issues such as urban overcrowding and rising rents, which are beyond the capacity of individual citizens to solve. Consequently, strong governmental intervention is crucial for creating a framework that supports both social equity and sustainable urban development.

Nevertheless, wealthy individuals and private organizations can also make a significant contribution to alleviating housing shortages. For example, philanthropists can invest in affordable housing projects or donate funds to community-based housing initiatives. In addition, private developers may collaborate with local authorities to build mixed-income residential complexes that serve low- and middle-income families. These efforts not only complement government initiatives but also accelerate the provision of housing, demonstrating that individuals with resources can play an active and meaningful role in addressing this pressing social issue.

In conclusion, while some believe that resolving the housing shortage is solely the government’s responsibility, I maintain that wealthy individuals can also play a significant role in tackling this problem.

Examiner feedback

This is a high-quality response that demonstrates strong linguistic control. To reach a higher band, the writer should aim for a more extended development of ideas, particularly by addressing all elements of the prompt (such as the 'consequences') and expanding the word count closer to 280-300 words to allow for more nuanced arguments.

Task Response - 7

- The candidate addresses all parts of the task, specifically the debate regarding whether only government action is the solution. - A clear position is maintained throughout: the government is essential but not the sole actor. - The 'severe consequences' mentioned in the prompt are touched upon (overcrowding, rising rents) but not deeply explored, which prevents a higher score. - At approximately 225 words, the essay is slightly under the traditional 250-word expectation, which limits the depth of idea development required for Band 8 or 9.

Coherence & Cohesion - 8

- The information is sequenced logically with a clear progression from government roles to private sector contributions. - Cohesive devices (e.g., 'Consequently', 'Nevertheless', 'In addition') are used naturally and effectively. - Each paragraph has a clear central topic that is easy to follow. - Referencing and substitution are handled well to avoid repetitive phrasing.

Lexical Resource - 8

- The essay uses a wide range of sophisticated vocabulary: 'subsidize', 'social equity', 'alleviating', 'philanthropists', 'mixed-income residential complexes'. - Collocations are very natural and convey precise meanings. - Spelling and word formation are accurate throughout. - There is a good balance between common and less common lexical items used in the correct context.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy - 8

- A wide variety of complex sentence structures is used effectively (e.g., 'While many people hold...', 'These efforts not only... but also...'). - The majority of sentences are error-free. - Punctuation is used correctly to enhance readability. - Grammatical control is strong, with only minor potential for 'slips' rather than systematic errors.

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