Question Type 1: Basic Description Questions

Part Three Question Type 7: Solutions

If the examiner asks a "problem" question, it will normally be followed by a "solution" question. It is a good idea to make a back reference to the two problems that you described in your previous answer. For this reason it is a bad idea to describe more than two problems in the previous answer, because you might forget what the actual problems were. First, begin with a general statement:

• 
  In my view there are a number of actions that could be taken.
  
• 
  I honestly believe that there are a few ways to tackle these problems.
  
• 
  Well I think we could go about this in a number of ways.
  

Highlight your first solution:

• 
  When dealing with the first problem, the easiest way to work it out would be to...
  
• 
  In reaction to the initial issue, the most effective way to get to the root of the problem would be to...
  

Give a brief statement to explain the solution. Now offer a solution to the second problem:

• 
  Now, taking into account the second challenge, the only way to get to the bottom of this dilemma would be to...
  
• 
  Taking on the second problem, the most successful way to confront this would be to...
  

So a complete answer might look like this:

What are the problems associated with in the increase in car use?

(See answers to previous problems)

How could these problems be solved?

In my view, there are a number of actions that could be taken. When dealing with the first problem, the easiest way to work it out would be to develop new technology for car engines which doesn't cause serious air pollution, maybe some kind of special exhaust filter. Taking on the second problem, the most successful way to confront this would be to invest heavily on research into alternative energy sources. In fact, I've heard that we have already produced a car which runs on water.

If you are confident enough, you might want to develop these points further, but don’t do it if you are not sure that you have the vocabulary to continue producing good quality language. It is always better to produce a medium length answer that is accurate in its language than a longer answer that contains many mistakes.

Go back to the problem question section and practise your "solution" structure for the problems that you thought about for each example question.