Structuring a Problem /Solution IELTS Essay: From Diagnosis to Solution

---

Academic Argumentation

Problem solution is all about explaining what a problem is and what solutions you have.
To get an advantage over other students, you want to do more than just say what they are.
The structure below will show you how to create an intellectually sound analysis of the situation and solution.
The more detailed the problem is and the better you connect it to the solution, the higher your marks.

You will learn to:
1. Use structure to gain organisation marks
2. Use structure to strengthen your task response

---

Examiners, and university lecturers, are looking for

This essay appears to ask you to simply talk about problem and solutions but actually, the same academic logic from the agree/disagree structure applies.

Additionally, you need to show your ability to think critically about the subject. (You’ll find this in my problem/solution pages.

Essentially, you need to not only show the details of both parts, but you need to critically evaluate them, for a band 7+.

At university, this means that you give the idea “climate change can be solved by reducing carbon emissions” and say why this does not work entirely.

The word “entirely” is really important here, we’ll practice more on further pages, but it means that you are not saying “it’s all wrong”.

You are saying “While reducing carbon emissions it’s important, this solution has proven to be impractical as society demands consumption and growth of the economy” or something along those lines.

---

Structure:

The structure, in plain terms, overall, is

Introduction: background and thesis (your point-of-view)

Body paragraphs: one problem and its solution.
do not put any more problems or solutions in this paragraph!
Body 2 has the same structure.

Conclusion: summarise all the ideas. 

Notes:

*note: you can write three paragraphs but then each one will not have depth and you will lose task response marks.

*this structure is not fixed. You can adjust it depending on your needs, but the general purpose of ‘explaining your problems/solutions’ does not change.

*note on templates. This is where you are given exact phrases to use and you ‘fill in the blanks’. Examiners see thousands of essays per year and can recognise templates. You will lose marks if you do this. (You will also find university extremely hard if you do this)

Paragraph Structure

Background sentence

Topic sentence (what reason for your point-of-view are you giving?)

Explain your reason 2-3 sentences

Example (if space permits)

Result/summary

---

Common Mistakes

No depth or detail.

More than one reason in the paragraph

Illogical explanation

Reason doesn’t ‘prove’ the thesis

Overly complicated grammar

Unclear ideas

Using the wrong words

No academic language

---

These pages will teach you how to write strong problem/solution essays.

Education Problem/Solution Essays

Health Problem/Solution Essays

Environment Problem/Solution Essays

Meet the teacher!