IELTS Writing Task 2 essay with model answer

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Write about the following topic

Fresh water has always been a limited resource in some parts growing worldwide demand has made twice a global issue. What are the causes and what measure could government and individuals take to respond.

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

Model Answer:

Over fifty percent of t he Earth is covered with water, this makes it ironic that there is a shortage of drinking water. There is an important distinction between sea water and freshwater. While some countries have always coped with shortage of potable water, others have had it in abundance and continue to squander it. In this essay, I will explore the reasons for the shortage and suggest ways in which countries can respond to the looming crisis ahead.

There are a number if reasons for the fresh water shortage. Firstly, many individuals in western societies waste this valuable resource on frivolous activities. An example of this is gardening. In the UK, for instance, over half the population wasted five hundred gallons of water per year. The problem is not limited to gardening. It also  includes washing of cars and filling of paddling pools during the summer months. All the while there are children in Africa who walk for miles just to find clean water to drink. Such is the injustice of today's world.

Submit Task For Review ($15)

Furthermore, it is the same nations that create the maximum pollution that is responsible for the contamination of the Earth's water resources. The dumping of heavy metal waste causes metals to leach into drinkable water sources, making water unsuitable for consumption. This reduces the supply even further.

There are a number of strategies that can be employed to tackle this problem. Firstly, governments must place sticker controls on the disposal of heavy metal waste by industrial companies. Moreover, they  must educate the population on the appropriate use to tap water. An example of one such control is a hose-pipe ban. If every individual was mindful of sensible water use, there would be a better distribution of this resource. Finally, I think governments must invest in techniques to make sea water drinkable.

In summary, there are many causes for the potable water shortage. It is clear that there is enough water for the survival of the human race; however, there is not enough water for the stupidity of the human race!

Total Words: 375

Task Achievement: 8

Coherence & Cohesion: 8

Lexical resources: 8

Grammar: 8

Overall Score: Band 8

For unlimited feedback with speaking and writing tasks sign up for IELTS Twenty20 Online Course today!

Study 20 minutes a day for 20 days and Ace the IELTS exam.