🎯 The Core Concept#
A Problem & Solution Essay asks you to: Identify problems (or causes) and suggest solutions. It’s about analysing why something is happening and what can be done about it.
(Source: IELTS Simon Writing Video Course Lesson 8 Problem & Solution Essay)
在 Problem & Solution Essay 中，你必須 清楚指出問題（或原因），並提出 具體可行的解決方案。
🔍 What does a Problem & Solution Essay look like?#
- What do you think are the causes of this? What solutions can you suggest?
- What problems will this cause? Suggest some measures that could be taken.
- Why is this the case? What can be done to solve this problem?
🧱 How to Structure a Problem & Solution Essay?#
| Para. | Sent | What to write? |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction | 2 | 引入主題 + 給出概括性答案（會討論原因和解決方案） |
| Main Body 1 | 5 | 討論 問題（或原因） — 通常列出 2-3 個原因 |
| Main Body 2 | 5 | 提出 解決方案 — 針對每個原因提出對應的解決措施 |
| Conclusion | 1 | 總結，重申解決問題的必要性 |
主體段可以使用 “Firstly, Secondly, Finally” 的結構來展開多個論點。
⏱️ Planning (10 minutes)#
| Time | 核心任務 | |
|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | ~1 min | 仔細閱讀題目，劃出關鍵字，確保不跑題。 |
| Step 2 | ~3 mins | 規劃 4 段 結構：Introduction (2 sentences), Body 1 (5 sentences), Body 2 (5 sentences), Conclusion (1 sentence) |
| Step 3 | ~6 mins | 分別構思 原因 和 解決方案，寫下關鍵字並整理次序。 |
解決方案應該要 針對原因提出，這樣文章才會有邏輯連貫性，也是Task Response 高分技巧。
🧱 Step-by-Step Process#
Step 1: Read & Understand#
Essay Prompt (來自 Lesson 8 影片):
In many countries schools have severe problems with student behaviour. What do you think are the causes of this? What solutions can you suggest?
拆解重點:
- 主題: student behaviour problems in schools
- 題型: Problem & Solution — 問 causes 和 solutions
- 任務: 必須清楚指出 原因，並提出 解決方案
Step 2: Plan Your Structure#
4-paragraph structure:
| 段落 | 內容規劃 |
|---|---|
| Introduction | Topic: student behaviour is getting worse Answer: there are several reasons, but steps can be taken |
| Main Body 1 | Discuss the causes of bad student behaviour |
| Main Body 2 | Suggest solutions to improve student behaviour |
| Conclusion | Summarise and restate the need for action |
Step 3: Plan Ideas for Main Paragraphs#
這是規劃的核心。不要求寫完整句子，用關鍵詞記下想法即可。
Brainstorm:
- Body 1 (Causes 原因):
parents too lenient,teachers lack training,celebrity influence - Body 2 (Solutions 解決方案):
parents set firm rules,train teachers,celebrities as role models
Develop Ideas:
Ask yourself “Why?” to dig deeper.
- Point:
parents too lenient - Ask Why: Why does this cause bad behaviour? ->
Because children get whatever they want and can't accept limits. - What result? ->
They find it difficult to accept teachers' demands or school rules.
Think of Examples
- For ‘celebrity influence’:
e.g., musicians and football players who didn't finish school - For ‘solutions’:
e.g., schools could train both teachers and parents
Group Ideas (組織論點):
| Body 1: Causes of Bad Behaviour | Body 2: Solutions |
|---|---|
| 1. Parents too lenient/permissive - children get whatever they want - can’t accept limits imposed by teachers/school | 1. Parents must set firm rules - use reasonable punishments - demonstrate that actions have consequences |
| 2. Teachers lack training - classroom management issues - lack of support within schools | 2. Schools should train teachers & parents - effective disciplinary techniques - improve communication |
| 3. Celebrity influence - success without finishing school - e.g. musicians, football players | 3. Celebrities must be role models - understand their responsibility |
📝 Full Band 9 Essay (270 words)#
In many countries schools have severe problems with student behaviour. What do you think are the causes of this? What solutions can you suggest?
It is true that the behaviour of school pupils in some parts of the world has been getting worse in recent years. There are a variety of possible reasons for this, but steps can definitely be taken to tackle the problem.
In my opinion, three main factors are to blame for the way young people behave at school nowadays. Firstly, modern parents tend to be too lenientor permissive. Many children become accustomed to getting whatever they want, and they find it difficult to accept the demands of teachers or the limits imposed on them by school rules. Secondly, if teachers cannot control their students, there must be an issue with the quality of classroom management training or support within schools. Finally, children are influenced by the behaviour of celebrities, many of whom set the example that success can be achieved without finishing school.
Student behaviour can certainly be improved. I believe that the change must start with parents, who need to be persuaded that it is important to set firm rules for their children. When children misbehave or break the rules, parents should use reasonable punishments to demonstrate that actions have consequences. Also, schools could play an important role in training both teachers and parents to use effective disciplinary techniques, and in improving the communication between both groups. At the same time, famous people, such as musicians and football players, need to understand the responsibility that they have to act as role models to children.
In conclusion, schools will continue to face discipline problems unless parents, teachers and public figures set clear rules and demonstrate the right behaviour themselves.
📚 High-band Topic Vocabulary#
| Category | Vocabulary |
|---|---|
| Causes (原因) | to blame for, lenient, permissive, accustomed to, imposed on them, classroom management, influenced by, set the example |
| Solutions (解決方案) | tackle the problem, set firm rules, misbehave, reasonable punishments, actions have consequences, disciplinary techniques, act as role models |
| Linking Words (連接詞) | Firstly, secondly, finally, also, at the same time |
在寫作中靈活運用同義詞，能有效提升 Lexical Resource 的分數。
📊 Two Patterns for Main Paragraphs#
| Pattern | When to use | Example from this essay |
|---|---|---|
| Firstly, Secondly, Finally | 當你有多個論點時（如列出多個原因或解決方案） | 列出三個原因：parents, teachers, celebrities |
| Idea, Explain, Example | 當你有一個主要觀點時 | 一個主題句，接著解釋和例子 |
在 Problem & Solution Essay 中，“Firstly, Secondly, Finally” 模式非常適合用來列出多個原因和對應的解決方案。
💡 Key Takeaway#
Problem & Solution Essay 的三大關鍵：
- 清楚指出原因 — 用 “Firstly, Secondly, Finally” 列出 2-3 個原因
- 提出對應解決方案 — 針對每個原因提出具體可行的措施
- 4 段結構 — Introduction (2 sentences) + Body 1 (5 sentences) + Body 2 (5 sentences) + Conclusion (1 sentence)
不要期望一次就熟練這個技巧，這需要大量練習。多做幾次規劃練習，你會越來越得心應手。