You should spend about 40 minutes on IELTS writing task 2.
A rise in the standard of living in a country often only seems to benefit cities rather than rural areas. What problems can this cause? How might these problems be reduced?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. You should write at least 250 words.
Sample Answer
With the whole world turning into a single community, living standards have become one of the most sought-after factors for most people. Unfortunately, when standards of living increase, it is primarily urban residents, not those in the countryside, who benefit. This type of unequal standards of living can have opposite problems related to population density and is best mitigated through government actions. This essay will expand on these issues and will provide possible solutions.
Inequality in terms of standard of living engenders population problems for cities and rural regions. Cities have become over-populated in the last century as they offer a more comprehensive range of educational, occupational, and recreational options. High population density means that although residents can generally enjoy a higher standard of living, they must also overcome the concomitant effects of overcrowding, such as more traffic, less sanitary conditions, and higher crime rates. The inverse problem exists outside cities as residents leave and locals struggle to earn a living in sparsely populated towns and villages. This picture is visible in almost every country as the towns and cities have a growing number of advanced healthcare facilities, educational institutions and entertainment centers, whereas, people in the rural areas are dying of common diseases, and lack formal education and basic necessities.
The authorities can best counter these related problems by implementing various initiatives. One real-world example of this would be in Japan, where the government in recent years has addressed dwindling population numbers in the countryside by auctioning off country homes cheaply. Prospective homeowners can often buy houses nearly for free if they agree to live and work in a town with few residents. Another possible measure would be for governments to invest more in urban infrastructure. Since migrations to cities are inevitable, this is a more realistic method to bring in overall development.
In conclusion, rising living standards can be effectively controlled by the inverse issues created for rural and urban areas if governments intervene. This issue will only become more pressing as the global middle class grows.
Structure of the essay
If you were given a cause/solution essay, you have to talk about the problems and the solutions.
Once you are clear about the problems you are going to write about in your essay, you can start planning your essay and then write it.
Introduction:
General Statement – With the whole world turning into a single community, living standards have become one of the most sought-after factors for most people.
Question paraphrased – Unfortunately, when standards of living increase, it is primarily urban residents, not those in the countryside, who benefit.
Outline of the essay – This essay shall expand on these issues and provide possible solutions.
Body Paragraph 1:
Central idea: Inequality in terms of standard of living engenders population problems for cities and rural regions.
Supporting points:
- Cities have become over-populated in the last century as they offer a more comprehensive range of educational, occupational, and recreational options.
- High population density means that although residents can generally enjoy a higher standard of living, they must also overcome the concomitant effects of overcrowding, such as more traffic, less sanitary conditions, and higher crime rates.
- The inverse problem exists outside cities as residents leave and locals struggle to earn a living in sparsely populated towns and villages.
Body Paragraph 2:
Central idea: The authorities can best counter these related problems by implementing various initiatives.
Supporting points:
- Japan’s government in recent years has addressed dwindling population numbers in the countryside by auctioning off country homes cheaply.
- Prospective homeowners can often buy houses nearly for free if they agree to live and work in a town with few residents.
- Another possible measure would be for governments to invest more in urban infrastructure. Since migrations to cities is inevitable, this is a more viable option.
Conclusion:
Summarised the causes and solutions – In conclusion, rising living standards can be effectively controlled by the inverse issues created for rural and urban areas if governments intervene. This issue will only become more pressing as the global middle class grows.