IELTS Solution Essays: Useful Patterns to Come Up With Ideas

In IELTS Writing Task 2, you might encounter a question that asks for possible solutions to societal problems. Solution questions in IELTS writing often ask you to:

• identify causes of the problem. 
• suggest solutions; and
• explain why these solutions are effective.

It's important to have brainstorming techniques to generate ideas quickly given that time is really limited for the IELTS writing tasks. Here are some strategies and patterns to help test takers think faster and organize ideas more effectively:

1. Start with a clear basic structure
 A standard four-paragraph essay works well:

1. Introduction: Paraphrase the question and state what you discuss in your essay.
2. Body Paragraph 1: Discuss causes or effects of the problem, depending on what the question is asking.
3. Body Paragraph 2: Suggest solutions with explanations and examples.
4. Conclusion: Summarize your main points and give a final thought.

2. Useful patterns for generating ideas

Pattern 1	The "Educate, Regulate, Motivate" Framework  Educate (teach): Raise awareness of the problem and teach better habits. Example: Conduct health classes in schools to combat obesity. Regulate (make rules): Make laws or policies to alleviate or reduce the problem. Example: Tax sugary drinks to discourage consumption. Motivate (give rewards):  Reward or incentivize good behavior. To incentivize means to encourage a behavior by offering people something they want, such as certain benefits, money or prizes.  Example: Offer subsidies for gym memberships to promote exercise.​
Pattern 2	The "Who, What, Where, How" Approach Who can implement solutions? (The government, individuals, schools, companies) What actions can be taken? (Policies, education, regulations, awareness campaigns) Where should the efforts focus? (Homes, schools, workplaces, communities) How can these actions be effective? (Funding, incentives, collaboration) ​Example: Juvenile crime Who: Schools can introduce programs. What: Teach conflict resolution and moral values. Where: Target areas with high crime rates. ​How: Early intervention prevents long-term criminal behavior.​​
Pattern 3	The "Prevention vs. Cure" Method Prevention: Focus on stopping the problem from occurring. Example: Healthy eating campaigns to prevent obesity. Cure: Focus on addressing the problem once it exists. Example: Subsidized gym memberships for obese individuals.
Pattern 4:	The "Short-Term vs. Long-Term" Approach Short-term solutions: Immediate actions to alleviate the issue. Example: Increased police patrols in high-crime areas. Long-term solutions: Sustainable changes to solve the root cause. Example: Education reforms to reduce inequality and discourage criminal behavior.

3. Practice with common topics
Here are sample ideas for frequently asked problems:

​Juvenile Crime:

• Causes: Lack of parental supervision, peer pressure, poverty.
• Solutions:
  • Educate: Introduce moral education in schools.
  • Regulate: Stricter laws on curfews for minors.
  • Motivate: Offer extracurricular programs to keep youth engaged.

Poverty:

• Causes: Unemployment, unequal wealth distribution.
• Solutions:
  • Educate: Provide free vocational training.
  • Regulate: Implement minimum wage laws.
  • Motivate: Encourage companies to hire from disadvantaged communities through tax benefits.

Obesity:

• Causes: Sedentary lifestyles, unhealthy diets.
• Solutions:
  • Educate: Campaigns to promote healthy eating.
  • Regulate: Restrict junk food advertising.
  • Motivate: Subsidize healthy food options.

4. Examples of how to begin sentences that describe solutions

• Cause-Effect link:
  • "One effective way to tackle this issue is by _______________."
  • "If governments prioritize funding for _______________, the problem could be significantly reduced."
• Providing examples:
  • "For instance, countries like __________ have successfully implemented _______________."
  • "A clear example of this can be seen in _______________."
• Concluding with optimism:
  • "While the problem is complex, these solutions can pave the way for _______________."
  • "By taking these steps, it is possible to mitigate _____________ significantly."

Do note that these frameworks may not work for all types of solution essays but they are a good foundation for how to come up quickly with ideas when under pressure inside the exam room. Try out these strategies and patterns with different kinds of topics so that you'll get faster at brainstorming and organizing ideas not just for problem-solution essays, but for other types of academic writing.