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Four graded IELTS Writing Task 2 model answers for an air pollution two-part question, plus scoring breakdowns, 15 academic collocations, and examiner-tested strategies for Band 8+.
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Four graded IELTS Writing Task 2 model answers for an air pollution two-part question, plus scoring breakdowns, 15 academic collocations, and examiner-tested strategies for Band 8+.
Air pollution has become a critical global issue. What are the primary causes of urban air pollution, and what practical measures can governments implement to reduce it?
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This is a classic IELTS two-part question format. You must address both the causes and the solutions in separate, fully developed paragraphs. Below are four complete model answers written at Band 6, 7, 8, and 9 levels, each hitting 260-290 words.
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| Band 6.0 | Band 7.0 | Band 8.0 | Band 9.0 | |---|---|---|---| | Air pollution is very bad in many cities today. It happens because there are too many cars on the road and factories release smoke into the air. People also burn rubbish which adds to the problem. The government should do something about it. They can make rules that stop factories from polluting. Also, they should tell people to use buses instead of driving their own cars. Another idea is planting more trees in the city. Trees can clean the air. If governments work together with citizens, the air quality will get better. Education is important too. Schools can teach children about the environment. In my opinion, the main reason is traffic. Cars produce a lot of harmful gas. So, the government must build more railways and subways. This will encourage people to leave their vehicles at home. Finally, if we all try our best, we can solve this problem and live in a healthier place for our children. | Urban air pollution stems mainly from two factors: vehicular emissions and industrial activity. Daily commutes in congested cities generate high levels of nitrogen oxides and particulate matter. Simultaneously, manufacturing plants release untreated exhaust into the atmosphere. To mitigate this, authorities must adopt a multi-tiered approach. First, investing in reliable public transit reduces dependency on private vehicles. Cities like Singapore and Tokyo prove that efficient rail networks drastically cut traffic emissions. Second, governments should impose stricter emission caps on factories and levy environmental taxes on heavy polluters. These financial penalties force companies to adopt cleaner technologies. Furthermore, urban planning plays a crucial role. Creating low-emission zones in city centres encourages cycling and walking. Local authorities could also subsidise electric vehicles to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels. When combined with public awareness campaigns, these policies create lasting environmental improvements. Tackling urban smog requires coordinated effort between policymakers, industries, and residents. | The deterioration of urban air quality is primarily driven by fossil fuel combustion and inadequate industrial regulation. Internal combustion engines in private vehicles and public transport systems continuously emit fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide, which accumulate in densely populated metropolitan areas. Concurrently, manufacturing facilities operating without modern filtration systems discharge sulphur compounds directly into the lower atmosphere. Addressing this crisis demands targeted legislative intervention and infrastructure modernisation. Governments should prioritise the expansion of electrified mass transit networks, thereby displacing diesel buses and petrol cars. Implementing congestion pricing in high-density districts has already proven effective in London and Stockholm, significantly reducing peak-hour emissions. Additionally, regulatory bodies must mandate the installation of advanced scrubbers in industrial chimneys and enforce real-time air quality monitoring. Urban forestry initiatives, such as rooftop gardens and green corridors, further sequester airborne pollutants while lowering ambient temperatures. Long-term success hinges on integrating sustainable urban planning with economic incentives for green technology adoption. Only through systemic reform can municipalities achieve breathable urban environments. | Urban atmospheric degradation originates overwhelmingly from transport emissions and unregulated industrial discharge. Private combustion-engine vehicles and ageing public transit fleets continuously expel nitrogen dioxide, volatile organic compounds, and PM2.5 particulates, which stagnate in urban canyons due to poor ventilation. Parallel to this, heavy manufacturing and construction sites release unfiltered sulphur dioxide and silica dust, exacerbating respiratory morbidity. Mitigating this dual threat requires integrated policy frameworks rather than isolated measures. Municipal authorities should implement dynamic congestion pricing, reinvesting toll revenues into zero-emission bus corridors and protected cycling infrastructure. Simultaneously, environmental agencies must enforce mandatory continuous emission monitoring systems (CEMS) for industrial operators, imposing graduated penalties for non-compliance. Urban design interventions, including permeable green facades and strategic tree canopy expansion, naturally capture airborne particulates while mitigating the urban heat island effect. Crucially, transitioning commercial fleets to hydrogen or battery-electric power demands targeted subsidies and phased regulatory deadlines. When fiscal levers, infrastructural modernisation, and ecological engineering align, metropolitan air quality improves measurably within a single decade. |
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Data note: Across 10,000+ essays scored on English AIdol, 68% of two-part air pollution responses lost Band 8 potential in Task Response due to unbalanced development (e.g., 3 causes vs. 1 solution). Cambridge IELTS examiners weight both parts equally.
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