2.7. Problem-Solution Essays
When You'll See This Question Type
Problem/solution questions ask you to identify the causes of a problem and suggest ways to address it. They typically look like:
"Overfishing of the world's oceans threatens many species with extinction and is putting the livelihood of millions of people at risk. What are the causes of this problem and what can be done to prevent it?"
"A rise in childhood obesity is a real threat to health. What are the causes of this problem and what measures can be taken to solve it?"
The key words to look for: causes, problems, reasons, solutions, measures, what can be done.
Structure for Problem/Solution Essays
Paragraph 1: Introduction
→ Paraphrase the problem + briefly state that there are both causes and solutions
Paragraph 2: Causes / Problems
→ 2-3 causes, each explained with cause & effect language
Paragraph 3: Solutions
→ 2-3 solutions, each connected to a cause and explained with purpose language
Paragraph 4: Conclusion
→ Restate that the problem is serious but solvable
The key to scoring well: connect your solutions to your causes. If you identify "lack of environmental laws" as a cause, a logical solution is "bring in laws to protect fish species." Random, unconnected solutions score lower.
Step 1: Brainstorming Causes and Solutions
Let's work through the overfishing question:
"Overfishing threatens many species with extinction and puts millions of livelihoods at risk. What are the causes and what can be done?"
| Causes of overfishing | Ways to prevent overfishing |
|---|---|
| Factory fishing makes huge catches too easy | Ban fishing of certain endangered species |
| Growing worldwide demand for fish | Bring in laws to protect fish species and limit catches |
| Fishing provides quick profit for companies and governments | Create an international body to police the oceans |
| Huge areas of ocean not protected by environmental laws | Put taxes on fishing to make it less attractive to companies |
| Illegal fishing is difficult to police | Raise public awareness through media |
| The problem doesn't get enough publicity | Fund sustainable fishing research |
You don't need all of these. Pick 2-3 causes and 2-3 solutions that connect logically.
Step 2: Writing the Causes Paragraph
This paragraph uses cause and effect language (covered in detail in Lesson 2.6).
The two key patterns:
| Pattern | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Cause → Effect | CAUSE + results in / leads to / causes + RESULT | "Factory fishing leads to massive catches that deplete stocks." |
| Effect ← Cause | RESULT + is due to / because of / owing to + CAUSE | "Overfishing is due to the lack of environmental laws." |
Worked example — causes paragraph:
There are a number of reasons why overfishing of the world's fish stocks has reached crisis levels. Firstly, catching large numbers of fish has become very easy as a result of modern methods of factory fishing. Secondly, the scarcity of fish results in higher prices, making fishing a more attractive industry for governments and companies to invest in. This leads to even more fishing and causes a vicious circle of increasing demand and diminishing supply. Furthermore, fishing in most parts of the world remains uncontrolled due to the lack of environmental laws. Finally, where laws do exist, they are difficult to enforce on account of the lack of an international maritime police authority.
What makes this paragraph effective:
| Feature | How it's done |
|---|---|
| Topic sentence | "There are a number of reasons why..." — tells the reader this paragraph is about causes |
| Multiple causes | Three main causes covered |
| Cause/effect language | Six different expressions used naturally |
| Logical connections | Each cause leads to the next (higher prices → more investment → more fishing) |
| No solutions yet | Causes and solutions are separated into different paragraphs |
Step 3: Writing the Solutions Paragraph
This paragraph uses purpose language — expressions that show why a solution would help.
The key purpose expressions:
| Expression | What follows | Example |
|---|---|---|
| in order (to) | infinitive | "Ban fishing of certain species in order to save them from extinction." |
| so as (to) | infinitive | "Impose taxes so as to discourage overfishing." |
| so (that) | full clause | "Raise awareness so that the public becomes more informed." |
| with the purpose of | gerund (-ing) | "Create an international body with the purpose of enforcing laws worldwide." |
| in this way | full clause | "Governments can impose taxes on the fishing industry. In this way, companies may be less likely to see fishing as easy profit." |
Worked example — solutions paragraph:
What can be done in order to prevent fish species from being wiped out by overfishing? One immediate measure is to put a complete ban on the fishing of certain species of fish so as to save them from extinction. Environmental agencies should work to give the problem a higher profile in the media so that the public become more aware. Governments can help by imposing taxes on the fishing industry. In this way, companies may be less likely to see fishing as an easy way to make money. Governments should also bring in stricter laws in order to protect fish stocks from uncontrolled factory fishing. Finally, an international body ought to be created with the purpose of enforcing these laws worldwide.
What makes this paragraph effective:
| Feature | How it's done |
|---|---|
| Topic sentence | Opens with a rhetorical question that signals this is the solutions paragraph |
| Solutions match causes | Each solution addresses a cause from the previous paragraph |
| Purpose language | Five different purpose expressions used naturally |
| Practical suggestions | Specific, actionable ideas (bans, taxes, laws, international body) |
| Variety | Mix of sentence structures (imperative, conditional, passive) |
Step 4: The Full Essay
Putting it all together with introduction and conclusion:
Introduction:
Overfishing is one of the most serious environmental challenges facing the world today, threatening marine species and the livelihoods of millions of coastal communities. There are several identifiable causes of this problem, and a number of measures could be taken to address it.
Body 1 (Causes): [as above]
Body 2 (Solutions): [as above]
Conclusion:
In conclusion, overfishing is driven primarily by modern industrial fishing methods, economic incentives, and inadequate regulation. However, through a combination of stricter legislation, economic disincentives, and increased public awareness, it is possible to reverse this trend and protect the world's marine ecosystems for future generations.
Notice how the conclusion mirrors the causes and solutions — it doesn't introduce new ideas, it summarises the argument.
The Cause → Solution Connection
The strongest problem/solution essays create clear links between causes and solutions. Map them out:
| Cause | Connected Solution |
|---|---|
| Factory fishing makes huge catches too easy | Ban fishing of certain endangered species |
| Most oceans have no environmental protection | Bring in stricter laws to protect fish stocks |
| Illegal fishing is hard to police | Create an international body to enforce laws |
| Problem lacks public awareness | Raise awareness through media campaigns |
| Fishing is too profitable | Impose taxes on the fishing industry |
This logical connection is what separates a Band 6 response (lists causes, lists solutions) from a Band 7+ response (connects causes to solutions logically).
Practice: Write a Problem/Solution Essay
Question:
"A rise in childhood obesity is a real threat to health, with an increasing number of children now classified as overweight. What are the causes of this problem and what measures can be taken to solve it?"
Step 1: Brainstorm (3 minutes)
| Causes | Solutions |
|---|---|
| ? | ? |
| ? | ? |
| ? | ? |
Step 2: Plan (2 minutes)
- Choose 2-3 causes and 2-3 connected solutions
- Assign to paragraphs
Step 3: Write (30 minutes)
- Introduction: paraphrase + state there are causes and solutions
- Body 1: Causes with cause/effect language
- Body 2: Solutions with purpose language
- Conclusion: summarise
Step 4: Check (5 minutes)
- Did you answer both parts (causes AND solutions)?
- Are your solutions connected to your causes?
- Did you use a variety of cause/effect and purpose expressions?
- Are there any systematic errors?
Sample brainstorm:
| Causes | Solutions |
|---|---|
| Easy availability of fast food and sugary drinks | Tax unhealthy food; subsidise healthy alternatives |
| Less physical activity — more screen time, less outdoor play | Include mandatory physical education in school curricula |
| Parents working long hours — relying on convenience food | Educate families about nutrition through school programmes |
Key Takeaways
- Problem/solution essays have a clear structure: Introduction → Causes → Solutions → Conclusion
- Always connect your solutions to your causes — this shows logical thinking
- Use cause & effect language in the causes paragraph (due to, leads to, results in, as a result of)
- Use purpose language in the solutions paragraph (in order to, so that, so as to, with the purpose of)
- Pick 2-3 causes and 2-3 solutions — quality over quantity
- Map causes to solutions before you start writing to ensure logical connections