# Environmental pollution: causes and solutions: IELTS Writing Task 2 samples Writing Task 2 - Environment Pollution of the air, water and land is a serious problem in many parts of the world. What are the main causes of environmental pollution, and what measures could be taken to reduce it? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. Write at least 250 words. Source: Sample answers and examiner notes are written by Testmigo. ## Band 6 sample Environmental pollution is one of the biggest problem in the world today. The air in many cities is dirty, rivers are full of rubbish and plastic can be found everywhere. This situation is getting worse every year. This essay will discuss the main causes of this problem and suggest some solutions. There are several causes of pollution. The first cause is factories. Many factories release smoke and chemicals into the air and rivers, because it is cheaper for them than cleaning the waste. For example, in my country some factories near the river put their dirty water directly into it, and now the fish are dying. The second cause is traffic. In big cities there are millions of cars and motorbikes, and their smoke make the air very unhealthy to breathe. Another cause is plastic. People use plastic bags and bottles only one time and then throw them away, so a lot of it ends up in the sea and on the beaches. There are some solutions for these problems. Firstly, government should make strict laws for factories. If a factory pollutes the environment, it should pay a big fine or it should be closed. Secondly, governments should improve public transport, like buses and metro trains, so less people will use their private cars. Finally, people should change their habits. They can bring their own bag when they go to shopping and recycle their rubbish. In conclusion, pollution is caused by factories, traffic and plastic. Governments and people should work together to solve this problem, otherwise our environment will become more worse in the future and it will affect our health and the health of the next generation. **Examiner notes.** This Band 6 essay answers both parts of the question, and each solution matches a cause, which keeps the structure easy to follow. However, the causes are listed quickly ("The first cause is factories", "The second cause is traffic") with only one developed example, and the plastic point gets a single sentence. Errors such as "one of the biggest problem", "so less people" and "more worse" are noticeable but do not block meaning. For Band 7, the writer would explain why each cause happens and how each solution would actually work. ## Band 7 sample Pollution has become one of the most pressing issues of our time, affecting the air people breathe, the water they drink and the land on which food is grown. This essay will argue that the main causes are industry, transport and modern farming methods, and that a combination of stricter regulation and investment in cleaner alternatives is needed to tackle them. The first major cause is industry. In many fast-growing economies, factories and power stations burn large amounts of coal and release waste into rivers, partly because environmental laws are weak or poorly enforced. Transport is a second key factor. As incomes rise, more families buy cars, and in crowded cities the exhaust fumes from millions of vehicles produce the thick smog that is now common in many capitals. Agriculture also plays a part, since chemical fertilisers and pesticides are washed from fields into streams and lakes, where they kill fish and contaminate drinking water. Several measures could address these problems. Governments should not only introduce tougher environmental standards but also make sure they are enforced, for instance by carrying out regular inspections and imposing heavy fines on companies that break the rules. At the same time, they could invest in renewable energy such as solar and wind power, and expand affordable public transport so that people have a realistic alternative to driving. Farmers, meanwhile, could be offered training and financial support to switch to methods that use fewer chemicals. In conclusion, environmental pollution is largely caused by industry, transport and farming. Although individuals can help by recycling and using less energy, the most effective solutions require governments to regulate polluters firmly and to make cleaner choices easier and cheaper for everyone. **Examiner notes.** This Band 7 essay identifies three clear causes and explains each one, for example linking factory waste to laws that are "weak or poorly enforced". The solutions paragraph mirrors the causes, and the measures are specific, such as "regular inspections" and support for farmers to use fewer chemicals. Vocabulary is precise ("exhaust fumes", "contaminate drinking water"). However, the solutions are described rather than evaluated, and the role of individuals appears only in the conclusion. A Band 8 essay would show why the suggested measures would work and connect causes and solutions more tightly. The Band 8 sample is free with an account on the [topic page](https://testmigo.com/ielts/writing/topics/task-2/environmental-pollution-causes-solutions). ## Common questions ### How many words should I write? At least 150 words for Task 1 and 250 for Task 2. Writing a little more is fine; an answer under the minimum loses marks. ### Can I use these sample answers in my test? No. Memorised material is marked down and you will not get this exact question. Use the samples to see what each band does with the same task.