Writing Task 2: Two-Part Problem/Solution and Cause/Effect Essays

In Writing Task 2, some questions require not one but two things at the same time. Usually this is one of the following combinations: cause + solution, problem + solution, or cause + effect. The difference from opinion questions (To what extent do you agree?) is that here you are not just defending your position — depending on the question, you explain causes, problems, effects or solutions. A cause-and-effect question need not ask for a solution.

The key words for recognising such questions are: What are the causes...?, What problems does this create...?, What effects...?, What solutions or measures...?

Sample questions:

• "In many countries, young people spend hours on social media every day. What problems does this create, and how can these problems be solved?"
• "Global tourism is growing rapidly. What are the causes of this growth, and what effects does it have on local communities?"

In both examples the question requires answers to two parts. One body paragraph for each part is a possible plan, not an official fixed paragraph count. Both parts need sufficient development.

One mistake to watch for is this: the student answers only one part of the question — for example, talks about causes throughout the essay and forgets the solutions entirely. Omitting a main part is a problem for Task Response; the specific score depends on assessment of the complete response using the official criteria.

The core requirement is to answer both parts. One plan to try in this lesson is:

1. First body paragraph = the first part of the question (causes or problems).
2. Second body paragraph = the second part of the question (solutions or effects).
3. In the introduction paragraph, write a thesis that reflects both parts:

"This essay will examine the main reasons behind urban congestion and propose two practical measures that could ease the problem."

The first sentence (topic sentence) of each paragraph should show at once which part you are answering:

• "There are two primary reasons why city traffic continues to worsen."
• "Fortunately, several realistic steps could reduce this pressure."

In this way the examiner finds both answers directly and easily while reading the essay.

Another risk is listing everything. When you squeeze five causes and five solutions into one paragraph, every idea stays in one sentence and none develops. This may produce underdeveloped ideas. Task Response considers idea development, while Coherence and Cohesion considers logical organisation and links; a particular idea count is not an automatic loss under two criteria.

For this exercise, try selecting 2 ideas for each part and developing them with explanation and examples. This is not a compulsory paragraph quota.

Compare:

Weak (listing):

"Traffic increases because of cheap fuel, population growth, bad roads, tourism, weather and online shopping."

Strong (development):

"The main cause is over-reliance on private vehicles. Because public transport is slow or overcrowded, many families buy a second car, which doubles the number of rush-hour journeys."

As you can see, the strong version has only one cause, but it answers the questions why and how. Idea count alone does not determine marks; relevance, development and support matter. The example’s claim that a second car necessarily doubles all rush-hour journeys is not a verified fact; do not generalise that result in your own explanation without support.