problem solving ielts speaking

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How to solve some common problems in speaking.

Article contributed by Dominic Cole of dcielts.com

Each part of the speaking test asks you to speak in a slightly different way. This means that each part can create its own problems and it’s sensible to prepare different techniques and strategies for each part. Here are some common problems and ideas for how to solve them.

Part 1 - extending your answer

In this part of the test the most common problem is knowing how to extend your answers. You get about 12 questions in 4 minutes and so you shouldn’t give very long answers but you also want to try and extend your answers slightly.

There are many ways to extend an answer but the best way is to answer the question directly and then explain that answer in a few short statements. It’s normally best to keep the structure of what you say simple, e.g.:

Here is what I think - this is why I think it - and this is an example

One way to do this is to use some simple connecting language - this is the language we use most in speech. These are the words you should use most and how they can help you

because - explain with a reason for example - add an example but - add a different idea so - talk about the consequences and - add another similar idea

How often do you use a computer?

Actually not that much. [short answer first]. That’s because I mostly use my smart phone to send mails and check things online. It’s much easier to carry a phone around than a computer and so I only ever really use my computer now for writing documents and word processing.

Another possible technique is to make comparisons. This works particularly well when you are asked questions about your habits or what people in your country do - both very common question types. Here you don’t give one answer but two short answers - normally joined by but . Some words to help you here are

sometimes quite often from time to time mostly some people most people

What type of music is popular in your country?

I suppose different kinds of music are popular with different people [short answer first]. Some people - mostly the younger generation - prefer to listen to pop and dance music but older people tend to prefer traditional folk music or classical music.

Part 2 - speaking for 2 minutes

The common problem here is knowing how to speak for 2 minutes. It’s important that you do to avoid being penalised for lack of fluency. The solution comes in two parts. The first part is learning how to use your one minute preparation time well.

Typically the best thing to do in your preparation time is not to try and think of words - something a lot of candidates do - but rather concentrate on ideas. The problem with trying to think of words is that you probably won’t find many in one minute and the ones you do find may not be that helpful. Ideas are better just because they give you more to talk about. And it’s important to note that you can also add ideas in that are not on the prompt.

To make this work you need to make notes in your preparation time that you can use. The best thing to do is jot down a few words about each item you are asked to talk about. This is how it can work:

Talk about a journey you have made. You should say:

where you went what transport you used who you travelled with

And why the journey was memorable

Cambridge - last year - job interview by car - train expensive with Pete - best friend - 15 years

These idea notes allow me to add details about the interview and what it was for, compare the costs of train and car travel and talk about my friend. Now there is lots to say.

The second part of the solution for getting to two minutes is to use the cue card to help you structure what you say. It can be much easier if you try and speak about each topic on the card separately for 30 seconds or so than try and give one long answer. It allows you to break your talk up a bit and gives you natural pauses when you speak.

Part 3 - thinking and speaking

In the last part of the test you’re given harder thinking type questions based on your long-turn speaking in part 2. The problem here is that unlike in part 1 when the questions are very straightforward you may need some thinking time but you also need to start speaking immediately.

One solution here is to learn to discuss the question and not to try and answer it immediately and to structure your answer. This is in some ways the opposite of what you do in part 1. There are a variety of different strategies for doing this but here is one possibility to consider. You start off by saying you don’t know the answer and explain why and discuss possible different ideas and then at the end state a conclusion. It really doesn’t matter if you say “I don’t know” as the points are for how you use language not for your ideas.

F- focus on the question by rephrasing it in your own words E - explain why it is a harder question for you A - analyse different possible answers R - repeat the main idea

Is it better to get the news online or from conventional newspapers?

I’m not sure which is the best way to get the news [focus on question]. It’s tough question for me to answer because I don’t actually read the news that often [explain why the question is hard]. I suppose it could be better to read the news online because it’s cheaper to use the net than buy a paper. But then again not everyone has internet access and I suppose some people find it more convenient to have a paper they can carry around everywhere. [analyse possible answers]. So to answer your question I don’t really know which is the solution as they both have their own advantages. [repeat the main idea]

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How to Plan & Write IELTS Problem Solution Essays

IELTS problem solution essays are the most challenging essay type for many people. The way they are worded can vary hugely which can make it difficult to understand how you should answer the question.

Generally, you’ll be asked to write about both the problem, or cause, and the solution to a specific issue. Sometimes, however, you will only be required to write about possible solutions.

The 3 essay types:

Problem and solution
Cause and solution
Just the solution

Hence, it’s essential that you analyse the question carefully, which I’ll show you how to do in this lesson. I’m also going to demonstrate step-by-step how to plan and write IELTS problem solution essays.

Here’s what we’ll be covering:

Identifying IELTS problem solution essays
6 Common mistakes
Essay structure
How to plan
How to write an introduction
How to write main body paragraphs
How to write a conclusion

Want to watch and listen to this lesson?

Click on this video.

Click the links to see lessons on each of these Task 2 essay writing topics.

Once you understand the process, practice on past questions. Take your time at first and gradually speed up until you can plan and write an essay of at least 250 words in the 40 minutes allowed in the exam.

The Question

Here are two typical IELTS problem solution essay questions. They consist of a statement followed by the question or instruction.

1. One problem faced by almost every large city is traffic congestion.

What do you think the causes are? What solutions can you suggest?

2. Since the beginning of the 20th century, the number of endangered species has increased significantly and we have witnessed more mass extinctions in this period than in any other period of time.

State some reasons for this and provide possible solutions.

These are some examples of different ways in which questions can be phrased. The first half of the questions relate to the problem or cause, the second half to the solution.

What issues does this cause and how can they be addressed?

What are some resulting social problems and how can we deal with them?

What problems arise from this and how can they be tackled?

Why is this? How might it be remedied?

What are the reasons for this, and how can the situation be improved?

Why is this happening, and what measures can be taken to tackle this problem?

And here are a few questions where you only have to write about the solution.

How can this situation be improved?

What solutions can you suggest to deal with this problem?

How can this problem be solved?

What measures could be taken to prevent this?

It’s important that you are able to recognise the common synonyms, words and phrases used in problem solution questions. Here are the key words and their synonyms used in the questions above.

Problem – issues, resulting, situation
Cause – reasons, why
Solution – deal with, addressed, tackled, remedied, improved, measures taken, solved, prevent

Before we move on to some common mistakes, I want to quickly explain the difference between a problem and a cause. Read the following examples.

Problem – I've missed the last bus home after visiting my friend for the evening.

Cause – I misread the timetable and thought the bus left at 22.45 when it actually left at 22.35.

The ‘cause’ is the reason for the ‘problem’. We’ll be looking at question analysis in more detail in a minute.

6 Common Mistakes

These six errors are common in IELTS problem solution essays.

Confusing problem and causes questions.
Having too many ideas.
Not developing your ideas.
Not developing both sides of the argument equally.
Not linking the problems and solutions.
Not being specific enough.

It is common for an essay to consist of a list of problems and solutions without any of them being expanded on or linked to each other. Sometimes, a student will focus on just the problem or only the solution which leads to an unbalanced essay. Both these issues will result in a low score for task achievement.

You must choose just one or two problems and pick solutions directly linked to them. Explain them and give examples.

Another serious error is to write generally about the topic. You need to be very specific with your ideas. Analysing the question properly is essential to avoiding this mistake. I’ll show you how to do this.

Essay Structure

Now let’s look at a simple structure you can use to write IELTS problem solution essays. It’s not the only possible structure but it’s the one I recommend because it’s easy to learn and will enable you to quickly plan and write a high-level essay.

1) Introduction

Paraphrase the question
State 1 key problem/cause and related solution

2) Main body paragraph 1 – Problem or Cause

Topic sentence – state the problem or cause
Explanation – give detail explaining the problem or cause
Example – give an example

3) Main body paragraph 2 – Solution

Topic sentence – state the solution
Explanation – give detail explaining the solution

4) Conclusion

Summarise the key points

This structure will give us a well-balanced essay with 4 paragraphs.

One Problem/Cause & Solution or Two?

Most questions will state problems, causes and solutions in the plural, that is, more than one. However, it is acceptable to write about just one.

This will give you an essay of just over the minimum 250 words. To write about two problems/causes and solutions will require you to write between 350 and 400 words which are a lot to plan and write in the 40 minutes allowed.

It is better to fully develop one problem/cause and solution than ending up with one idea missing an explanation or an example because you run out of time.

The step-by-step essay structure I’m going to show you includes one problem and solution but you can write about two if you feel able to or more comfortable doing so.

How To Plan IELTS Problem Solution Essays

Here’s the question we’re going to be answering in our model essay followed by the 3 steps of the planning process.

One problem faced by almost every large city is traffic congestion.

What do you think the causes are? What solutions can you sugge st?

Analyse the question
Generate ideas
Identify vocabulary

# 1 Analyse the question

This is an essential step in the planning process and will ensure that you answer the question fully. It’s quick and easy to do. You just need to identify 3 different types of words:

1. Topic words

2. Other keywords

3. Instruction words

Topics words are the ones that identify the general subject of the question and will be found in the statement part of the question.

One problem faced by almost every large city is traffic congestion .

So, this question is about ‘ traffic congestion’ .

Many people will do this first step of the process and then write about the topic in general. This is a serious mistake and leads to low marks for task achievement.

What we need to do now that we know the general topic, is to understand exactly what aspect of traffic congestion we're being asked to write about.

The other keywords in the question tell you the specific topic you must write about.

By highlighting these words, it’s easy to see that you are being asked to write about the problem of traffic congestion in large cities. Your essay must only include ideas relevant to these ideas.

The instruction words are the question itself. These tell you the type of IELTS problem solution essay you must write. This is a ‘causes and solutions’ question.

# 2 Generate ideas

The next task is to generate some ideas to write about.

There are several different ways to think up ideas. I cover them fully on the IELTS Essay Planning page.

We’re going to use the ‘friends technique’. This is the method I prefer as it allows you to take a step back from the stress of the exam situation and think more calmly.

Here’s how it works. Imagine that you are chatting with a friend over a cup of coffee and they ask you this question. What are the first thoughts to come into your head? Plan your essay around these ideas.

Doing this will help you to come up with simple answers in everyday language rather than straining your brain to think of amazing ideas using high-level language, which isn’t necessary.

You might want to try this yourself before reading on for my ideas.

Here are my ideas:

Too many cars on the roads – increasing numbers of people own cars, more convenient than buses & trains
Inadequate public transport – crowded, old & dirty
Poor road layout
Rush hour traffic – most people travel to & from work at the same times each day
Car sharing, park-and-ride scheme, congestion charge
Improve public transport – more frequent and better quality
Improve infrastructure – bus lanes, cycle lanes will make it safer for people to cycle
Flexible working hours

For each cause you think of, immediately write down a possible solution. This you will ensure that the problems and solutions you think of are linked.

You don’t need to spend long on this as you only need one or two ideas.

I’ve got more far more ideas here than I need as I spent more time thinking about it that I would in the real exam. I’m going to pick just one cause to develop in the essay and one or two solutions.

My advice on making your selection is to choose ideas you can quickly think of an example to illustrate.

Here are my choices:

Cause – Too many cars on the roads. Why? – increasing numbers of people own cars, more convenient than buses & trains

Solution – Park-and-ride schemes

We’re almost ready to start writing our IELTS problem solution essay but first, we have one more task to do.

# 3 Vocabulary

During the planning stage, quickly jot down some vocabulary that comes to mind as you decide which cause and solution you are going to write about, especially synonyms of key words. This will save you having to stop and think of the right language while you’re writing. For example:

traffic jam
heavy traffic
private transport
infrastructure

With that done, we can focus on the first paragraph of the essay – the introduction.

How To Write an Introduction

Good introductions to IELTS problem solution essays have a simple 2 part structure:

State 1 key problem/cause and related solution/s (outline sentence)
Have 2-3 sentences
Be 40-60 words long
Take 5 minutes to write

1) Paraphrase the question

Start your introduction by paraphrasing the question.

Question: One problem faced by almost every large city is traffic congestion.

What do you think the causes are? What solutions can you suggest?

Paraphrased question:

O ne of the most serious issues facing the majority of large urban areas is traffic jams.

Note my use of synonyms to replace key words in the question statement. You don’t have to replace every key word but do so where possible whilst ensuring that your language sounds natural.

2) Outline statement

Now we need to add an outline statement where we outline the two main points that we’ll cover in the rest of the essay, that is, the cause and the solution I chose earlier. Here they are again.

Cause – Too many cars on the roads. Why? – increasing numbers of people own cars, more convenient than buses & trains

And, this is one way to develop them into an outline sentence.

Outline statement:

The main reason for this is that there are too many private cars on the roads these days and a viable solution is to introduce more park-and-ride schemes.

So, let’s bring the two elements of our introduction together.

Introduction

This introduction achieves three important functions:

It shows the examiner that you understand the question.
It acts as a guide to the examiner as to what your essay is about.
It also helps to keep you focused and on track as you write.

The two ideas in your introduction will become your two main body paragraphs.

Main body paragraph 1 – Too many cars on the roads

Main body paragraph 2 – Park-and-ride schemes

How To Write Main Body Paragraphs

Main body paragraphs in IELTS problem solution essays should contain 3 things:

Topic sentence – outline the main idea
Explanation – explain it and g ive more detail

Main Body Paragraph 1

The topic sentence summarises the main idea of the paragraph. That’s all it needs to do so it doesn’t have to be complicated.

It plays an important role in ensuring that your ideas flow logically from one to another. It does this by acting as a signpost for what is to come next, that is, what the paragraph will be about.

If you maintain a clear development of ideas throughout your essay, you will get high marks for task achievement and cohesion and coherence.

We’ll now take the idea for our first main body paragraph and create our topic sentence.

Obviously, we’re going to write about the cause of the problem first.

Main body paragraph 1 – Too many cars on the roads

Topic sentence:

The number of people owning cars increases year on year, with most families now having more than one car.

Next, we must write an explanation sentence that develops the idea.

Explanation sentence:

Most people like the convenience of travelling at the time they want to rather than being restricted to public transport timetables, so they prefer to drive themselves around rather than taking the bus or train. This is despite the fact that they frequently have to sit in long traffic queues as they near the city centre.

Finally, we add an example to support our main point. If you can’t think of a real example, it’s fine to make one up, as long as it’s believable. The examiner isn’t going to check your facts. Alternative, you could add another piece of information to support your idea.

Example sentence:

Whenever I have to attend a meeting in the city, I always drive because it means that I can leave home when I want to rather than getting stressed about getting to the station in time to catch the train.

That’s the 3 parts of our first main body paragraph complete. Here’s the finished paragraph.

We now follow the same process for our second main body paragraph.

Main Body Paragraph 2

Main idea 2 – Park-and-ride schemes

First, we write the topic sentence to summarise the main idea.

Topic sentence:

A solution that is proving successful in many areas is park-and-ride schemes.

Now for the explanation sentence where we expand on this idea.

Explanation sentence:

This is where you park your car for free in a large car park on the outskirts of the city and take a bus for the final part of your journey. The fee you have to pay for the bus trip is usually very small and this public transport system is generally very regular, running every ten minutes or so.

Finally, an example to support this point.

A survey carried out in the city of Exeter showed that the rush hour congestion decreased by 10% when the council set up a park-and-ride scheme to the north of the city. There was an additional drop of another 10% in traffic volume when a second scheme began operating to the south.

That’s the 3 parts of our second main body paragraph complete. Here’s the finished paragraph.

Now we need a conclusion and our IELTS problem solution essay is done.

How To Write a Conclusion

The conclusion is a summary of the main points in your essay and can generally be done in a single sentence. It should never introduce new ideas.

If you're below the minimum 250 words after you’ve written your conclusion, you can add a prediction or recommendation statement.

Our essay is already over the minimum word limit so we don’t need this extra sentence but you can learn more about how to write a prediction or recommendation statement for IELTS problem solution essays on the Task 2 Conclusions page.

The conclusion is the easiest sentence in the essay to write but one of the most important.

A good conclusion will:

Neatly end the essay
Link all your ideas together
Sum up your argument or opinion
Answer the question

If you achieve this, you’ll improve your score for both task achievement and cohesion and coherence which together make up 50% of the overall marks. Without a conclusion, you’ll score below band 6 for task achievement.

You can start almost any final paragraph of an IELTS problem solution essay with the words:

In conclusion

To conclude

Now all you need to do is briefly summarise the main ideas into one sentence.

Here’s a top tip . Go back and read the introduction to the essay because this is also a summary of the essay. It outlines what you are going to write about.

To create a good conclusion, you simply have to paraphrase the introduction.

Introduction:

Here is the same information formed into a conclusion. I’ve also added a personal statement at the end to link back to one of my example sentences. You don’t have to do this but in this case, I think that it rounds the essay off better.

That’s it. We’ve completed our essay. Here it is with the 4 paragraphs put together.

Finished IELTS problem solution essay.

Go through this lesson as many times as you need to in order to fully understand it and put in lots of practice writing IELTS problem solution essays from past exam questions. Practice is the only way to improve your skills.

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More help with ielts problem solution essays & other task 2 essays.

IELTS Writing Task 2 – T he format, the 5 question types, the 5 step essay writing strategy & sample questions. All the key information you need to know.

The 5 Types of Task 2 Essay – How to recognise the 5 different types of Task 2 essays. 15 sample questions to study and a simple planning structure for each essay type.

Understanding Task 2 Questions – How to quickly and easily analyse and understand IELTS Writing Task 2 questions.

How To Plan a Task 2 Essay – Discover why essay planning is essential & learn a simple 4 step strategy, the 4 part essay structure & 4 methods of generating ideas.

How To Write a Task 2 Introduction – Find out why a good introduction is essential. Learn how to write one using a simple 3 part strategy & discover 4 common mistakes to avoid.

How To Write Task 2 Main Body Paragraphs – Learn the simple 3 part structure for writing great main body paragraphs and also, 3 common mistakes to avoid.

How To Write Task 2 Conclusions – Learn the easy way to write the perfect conclusion for a Task 2 essay. Also discover 4 common mistakes to avoid.

Task 2 Marking Criteria – Find out how to meet the marking criteria in Task 2. See examples of good and poor answers & learn some common mistakes to avoid.

The 5 Task 2 Essay Types:

Step-by-step instructions on how to plan & write high-level essays. Model answers & common mistakes to avoid.

Opinion Essays

Discussion Essays

Problem Solution Essays

Advantages & Disadvantages Essays

Double Question Essays

Other Related Pages

IELTS Writing Test – Understand the format & marking criteria, know what skills are assessed & learn the difference between the Academic & General writing tests.

IELTS Writing
Problem Solution Essays
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2 February 2024 IELTS Speaking Part 2,3 Problem Solving Sample Answer

Discover band 9 sample answers for IELTS Speaking Part 2 and 3 along with our free IELTS speaking materials in this recent IELTS Speaking answer.

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About the article

IELTS Speaking sections 2 and 3 pose significant challenges. Yet, with best IELTS online classes and free IELTS Speaking answers, conquering them is feasible.

Dive into this article showcasing band 9 Speaking responses to recent questions, curated by experts. It could be the decisive factor in your success!

Talk about a person who solved a problem intelligently.

You should say:

Who is this person?
What was the problem?
How did the person solve it?
Explain why you think the person did it in this way.

The person I'd like to talk about is Deepali, a colleague of mine who works as a software engineer in a reputable IT company. Recently, she encountered a significant problem while working on a crucial project.

The issue revolved around optimising a key software application that experienced frequent crashes during peak usage hours. This not only disrupted user experience but also posed a risk to the company's reputation and client satisfaction.

Deepali's approach to solving this problem was both methodical and innovative. She started by conducting a detailed analysis of the software's performance metrics and architecture to identify the root cause of the crashes. Turns out, the culprit was poorly optimised database queries. Instead of going for quick fixes, Deepali came up with a smart plan. She proposed a complete overhaul of the database structure and introduced new query strategies to optimise performance.

But what impressed me the most was how she led the team through it all. She kept everyone in the loop, gathered feedback, and made sure everyone understood their role in implementing the changes.

The results were impressive – the software's performance stabilised, response times improved significantly, and user experience during peak loads became seamless. Deepali's mix of technical know-how, teamwork, and problem-solving skills really saved the day.

I think Deepali's approach teaches us a lot. She didn't just patch up the problem temporarily; she tackled it at its core for a long-term solution. That kind of thinking is what sets apart great engineers from just good ones.

Deepali's intelligent problem-solving methodology not only resolved a critical technical issue but also contributed to enhancing the overall efficiency and reliability of the software application.

What is the difference between a parent's and a teacher's role in a child's education?

When it comes to shaping a child's education, both parents and teachers bring unique strengths to the table. Parents are like the roots of a tree, providing the foundational support, values, and love that help a child grow. They also have a deep emotional connection that shapes a child's character. Meanwhile, teachers act as the branches, extending knowledge, skills, and discipline in a structured setting. They specialise in delivering academic content and guiding students through learning milestones. Collaboration between parents and teachers is key to a child's holistic development. I guess it is rightfully said, “It takes a village to raise a child."

How can we help children to recognise their abilities?

I believe that helping children tap into their potential must begin by providing a supportive environment that encourages exploration, resilience, and self-awareness. Parents and educators play integral roles in this process. Encouraging children to pursue diverse interests, providing access to resources like books, art supplies, and educational tools, and offering constructive feedback nurture their curiosity and skills. Additionally, promoting a growth mindset—where mistakes are seen as opportunities to learn—and celebrating small achievements boost children's confidence and motivation. I think it's akin to nurturing a garden; consistent care, varied stimuli, and patience are essential to help children recognise their strengths and blossom into individuals who can tap their full potential.

Do you think the government provides adequate support for education?

While progress has been made in education, I am convinced that the Government can step up its efforts. Challenges persist, especially in the allocation of resources and infrastructure development. Many schools, particularly in rural areas, fall short of providing basic facilities like adequate classrooms and sanitation, which hampers the learning process. Additionally, there remains an ongoing issue of teacher shortages and the quality of education delivery. Therefore, while some support is evident, there is room for improvement in ensuring equitable, quality education for all.

Why are some people well-rounded and others good at only one thing?

The diversity in people's abilities and expertise stems from a blend of factors such as genetics, upbringing, and personal experiences. Some individuals thrive in multiple areas because they've been exposed to diverse interests and have a natural curiosity. They're like Swiss Army knives, versatile and adaptable. Conversely, those who excel in a specific field often dedicate countless hours honing their skills in that sector, driven by passion and determination. It's like comparing a generalist who knows a bit about everything to a specialist who delves deep into a single domain. Both approaches have their merits, highlighting the richness of human talent and potential.

Describe a Person who Solved a Problem in smart way IELTS speaking cue card

Describe a person who solved a problem in smart way cue card - sample answer 1, describe a person who solved a problem in smart way cue card - sample answer 2, describe a person who solved a problem in smart way cue card - sample answer 3, related ielts cue card topics, ielts speaking part 3 - follow up questions.

The IELTS exam includes an IELTS cue card component of the speaking test in which you will be asked to describe your point of view on a specific topic. There are three sections to the IELTS speaking test . You will be asked to describe yourself in the first portion, and the IELTS cue card will be in the second. In the third section, you must answer the follow-up questions for the part 2 topic.

One of the most extensively asked IELTS speaking cue card questions is, "Describe a Person who Solved a Problem in a Smart way." As a result, this blog will look at how to respond to these types of IELTS speaking cue card topics .

Introduction

Some people are described as hardworking, while others are described as street-smart. But every now and then, street-smart folks have a better and faster solution to a certain situation.

Who is this person?

So, I am referring here to my friend Misha, who came up with a brilliant answer to a problem.

What was the problem?

I liked coming to school and attending courses, but I didn't like carrying a bag full of books from home to school and back every day, either because I was physically weak or because I was a little too sluggish. But, whatever the cause, I was desperate for a solution to the difficulty of lugging books. So, I asked Misha for any solution that sprang to me at random. She merely advised me to allow her some time to ponder before leaving.

How did he/she solved it?/ And explain why you think he/ she did it in a smart way

She had also discussed it with our teachers. The plan was to keep a set of books at school as well as one at home. This just required a small investment, but it eradicated the problem for many children whose weight was simply relocated from their shoulders to our school lockers. This concept worked well, and I believe it has been adopted in other schools as well. It makes perfect logic. I was quite proud of my friend for assisting us and using her creative thinking to tackle such problems.

It was a brilliant idea because it would not only help me save electricity but would also save me time organising them at home.

There are numerous circumstances from which I draw inspiration for my essay, but I'd like to highlight one in which my best friend solved a problem in a wise way.

Her name was Samaira. She is a business analyst by profession with exceptional inventive and presenting abilities. She is kind, friendly, and always willing to help her friends and neighbours. I recall an incident around 6 months ago when her neighbour had a difficulty that she solved quite easily and smartly.

Even after attempting to start his vehicle for half an hour, the neighbour was unable to do so. He attempted every means of starting the vehicle, including the choke approach and the kick, but it was ineffective. He was so furious that he began ranting in public, and everyone gathered there to see what the problem was.

How did he/she solve it?

We attempted to assist him after observing everything which was happening. To be more specific, I was perplexed by the condition of that automobile, but my friend, Samaira, quickly identified the issue. She had just removed the spark plug that produced the spark while attempting to start the vehicle. She cleaned it, and after properly positioning it, the vehicle started, and everyone praised her for it.

And explain why you think he/ she did it in a smart way

I thought it was really wise of her because, at the time, no one sought to help the neighbour because of his anger issues. However, she was able to assist him simply because of her helping attitude. I have noticed quite a few times that she remains calm and controlled in stressful situations, and she solves them very cleverly because of her reasoning abilities.

Thus, this was the one circumstance in which I felt motivated and impressed by how she tackled the problem.

Globalisation and technological advancements have definitely created new markets and boosted competitiveness. People nowadays prefer new smart tricks rather than old conventional methods for solving difficulties. Today, I'd like to describe an experience in which someone intelligently assisted me in solving a difficulty.

Last year, one of my cousins helped me in passing my exam. We all were suffering from pandemic issues one or two years ago. Thus, all educational institutes and coachings were closed. This decision had a negative impact on schooling. I took a government exam last year and enrolled in a training programme for it, but I had to stay at home owing to the lockdown.

What was the problem?/ How did he/she solve it?

I was new to this course, so I couldn't prepare for this exam by myself. I discussed this issue with my cousins, who had also taken the same exam. She had cleared that exam in just one attempt and had a good knowledge of that exam. Therefore, she decided to begin taking my online lessons. This trick took some time to get used to, but we executed it quite successfully and thoroughly enjoyed the process. I studied with her for about five to six months.

I believe she intelligently solved the situation because I initially chose to study on my own, which was difficult. My cousin lives in another area of town, and owing to the lockdown, the police did not allow her to go from one location to another.

I really appreciated her for providing a thoughtful solution. As a result, we solved the problem, and I was able to pass the exam on the first attempt.

Check the other IELTS cue card topics to practice :

Describe a Long Car Journey You Went On

Describe a Cafe you Like to Visit

Describe an Activity that You do After School/Work

Question: Do you think children are born smart, or do they learn to become smart?

Answer: Some people are born brilliant owing to genes, but these characteristics can also be learned through environment and quick learning. Smartness thrives mostly in one's surroundings since those who think beyond the normal area are smarter.

Question: How do children become smart at school?

Answer: Children who participate in academic, volunteering, extracurricular, and sports activities become more innovative. They work hard, pay attention, lead a team, and communicate with people at various levels while participating in activities, which culminates in their becoming leaders and smart children.

Question: Why are some people well-rounded and others only good at one thing?

Answer: Some people listen to their intuitive minds and act accordingly; they also dabble in a variety of activities. On the other hand, few people thrive in a single field, which is a positive thing. However, in a diverse atmosphere where one must think and act with the presence of mind rather than just being book-smart, persons with a fundamental understanding of various subjects come in helpful.

Question: Why does modern society need talent of all kinds?

Answer: Because no one person can be adept in everything, modern civilisation requires a wide range of talent. So, in order to have a harmonious society, there must be a mix of people with diverse talents who can collaborate for the good of the entire society.

Question: How can we assist youngsters in realising their potential?

Answer: The first step is to identify your strengths. This is not an easy undertaking in many cases. Then, it's a matter of ensuring that children receive the assistance and tools they require to explore and develop their skills fully. Schools must be able to provide children with equipment, resources, or facilities that they may not have at home or that their parents cannot provide.

Answering your questions honestly and wisely can assist you in easily overcoming the IELTS speaking cue card question challenge. Overall, you can practise to enhance your skills and increase your IELTS Speaking section score by taking mock tests or practice exams.

We hope you now have an idea of how to answer the “Describe a Person who Solved a Problem in a Smart Way” type of questions in your IELTS speaking test. But, still, if you are, if you want to get further details or would like to prepare for IELTS, then you can contact Prepare IELTS (PI) expert counsellors for further guidance. Our team of education experts is dedicated to providing you with the best test material and guidance to ace the IELTS exam . You can get a one-on-one counselling session and an IELTS online practice test via our platform. Contact us at [email protected] or call us at +91 9773398388 for further queries.

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IELTS Test Centers in India: Check city-wise IELTS exam Center Since Indian students are writing and speaking in English with Indian accent, with not much exposure to foreign accent, it can be the cause of

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IELTS Speaking Part 2&3 #16 Describe a person who solved a problem in a clever way

Post category: ielts speaking 2019 past

Describe a person who solved a problem in a clever way. You should say: Who the person was When you met the person Where you met the person And explain why you think he or she was clever.

Sample answer:

Well, I would like to talk about my mother, who I consider to have the smartest ways to deal with any problems she encounters. My mother’s intelligence has been shown since she was still in school. At that point, she was an excellent student in almost every subject she had, especially math. She could figure out really complicated exercises which no one in the class can.

And I think that was actually the reason why she was always the favorite students of all her teachers. Even after leaving school, she can still apply her amazing problem- solving skills to cope with various situations at work or at home. My mother is the only person I know who have no difficulty balancing between work, family’s matters, and her own personal life. It is mainly due to her effective working techniques and time management skills: For example, she can easily sort out how much money needed to be spent on a particular aspect of the family and she never misses a deadline for any of her works at the company.

Another reason why I think my mother is such a smart person is because of the endless efforts she put into studying. My mother has never stopped learning even after she left university. She has tried her best to broaden her knowledge day by day by reading books or watching the news on TV. I can say that that woman is always well-prepared and ready to face any hardships life could throw at her. I have learned a lot from my mother and hopefully can become a person just like her in my future.

Follow-up questions:

What is the difference between the role of a teacher and a parent in the education of children? Well, primarily, I think parents are more responsible for imparting values and ethics to their children and teachers at school are given the task of equipping children with academic skills. You could also say that parent’s educate more by example, how they do things and react to things whereas teachers teach children how to do things based on a curriculum designed by educational experts, it’s not such a personal experience.
What suggestions would you give to teachers to improve education? I know when I was at school some of the subjects seemed very uninteresting to us as students. I think maybe teachers need to look at how they relate the subject matter to the real world or the student’s experience of the real world. I know they are now using more technology in schools than before and this is a good thing. In general, students have to see that something is relevant, or at least interesting, so if teachers can make it obvious why it’s important to learn something then maybe students will be more interested.
What is the best way to educate children in your opinion? Children need to be taught real skills, things which will be relevant in their future life. They need to learn what will be needed by society in the future. Most children seem to learn quicker by doing things than listening to teachers talking about something. If children can be involved in a variety of activities that help develop the skills they need then I think they will learn successfully.
How can we help children realise their talents? The first thing is to identify those talents. That is not an easy thing to do in many cases. It’s then a case of making sure that children receive support and the resources to explore and develop their talent to the fullest. Schools need to be able to give children access to equipment, resources or facilities that they may not have in the home environment or that their parents cannot provide.
Does the government provide enough support to education in your view? They can always provide more… but it’s not the quantity so much as the quality of support they provide. It must be relevant and focused on the key areas of education. It must be well planned and provide the best possible resources and facilities for children to grow and develop their academic and life skills.
Other possible questions: Do you think children’s wise are influence by their parent? Do you think children have a good habit nowadays? Why? Why children are clever than before? Nature or nurture? Why? What kind of skills is helpful for children? Why? Do you think parent should send their children to better school? Why?

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IELTS Speaking cue card: A friend who cleverly solved a problem

Talk about a friend who cleverly solved a problem You should say: Who he/she is? What the problem was? What solution he gave? And explain why you think his solution was clever.

(Download CUE Card)

Sample Answer

We come across many problems in our day-to-day life. Some people can find workable solutions while others may seek help for tackling their problems. Today, I’m going to talk about a close friend who gave an effective solution to my problem. His name is Rishabh Agarwal. He is from Haryana. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering.

I’m the manager of a primary school in Mumbai. It rains heavily in Mumbai in the rainy season which lasts from mid-June to early October. School kids cannot play any outdoor games during these months because playgrounds become slippery and muddy. The long rainy season affects children’s health and moods as well. It’s also not possible for kids to be in sport halls all the time. I discussed this problem with Rishabh and asked for his advice to handle this situation.

He came up with a clever idea of having pedals installed in school desks so that kids can pedal in classrooms. I loved his creative idea and thought of implementing it in our school. Within a month pedals were installed in five classrooms. It was an experiment to check kids’ response. To our surprise, children started using pedals regularly and the overall outcome was very positive. All students became physically active and their fitness and health levels improved dramatically. In studies too, kids did considerably well.

In my view, Rishabh’s solution was very clever for two main reasons. First of all, it was very practical. Secondly, it was not expensive. If the school had to spend a lot of money on this solution, I think it wouldn’t have been approved by the management committee. Sometimes a complex problem has a simple solution, we have to just strike the right note. I think those who use their knowledge in a practical way are better problem-solvers.

Some more ideas for this cue card

You were getting sleepless nights. Your friend recommended making your own tongue twisters and automatically falling asleep in the process.
Water glasses in your kitchen were full of hard water stains. You asked your friend for advice, who recommended mixing vinegar in your cleaning liquid. Amazing results.
Your child/nephew/cousin dropped their curry on a newly painted wall in a temper tantrum. It was looking ugly. Your friend helped you out by creating a swirly crème and brown design on the wall. It looked professional.

Another Similar Cue Card Describe when a person solved a problem in a smart way. You should say: What was the problem? Who solved it and how? And w hy do you think it a smart way?

SAMPLE ANSWER TWO:

We encounter so many problems in our everyday activities, which need only a spark of an idea to tackle with them. But, often, due to the lack of right reasoning along with the panic in our heads, the problem appears to be a herculean task and we fail to find the right solution. Similarly, I can recount an incident, when the sheer smartness and instantaneous wits of my friend helped tackle the situation in an unnoticed, humorous manner. During my school days, I used to take part in dramatics and had also won a few accolades in it. So, once, during an act in a very lengthy play in an Inter Public School Drama Competition, I met this forgetfulness of my dialogues. As it was a very crucial act, my forgetfulness could have brought embarrassment and eventually the poor scores to our school team.

It was then, when my friend and co actor Aditya came to my recue on the stage. In that act, there were a number of dialogues coupled together, which I had to speak in one go. My friend was acting as a villain in that play. I recited the initial lines glibly but then, suddenly, I lost the memory of my successive dialogue and began fumbling. Generally, it takes a few seconds lapse for the immersed audience to acknowledge the forgetting error in actors in a play; but once it happens, it results into a sarcastic laughter from their side and a total collapse of the successive act. So, before that could happen to us, my friend Aditya, who was there with me in that particular act, sprung up with a boisterous laugh, characteristic of a typical villain. He instantaneously gazed into my eyes, as if giving me the time to recollect the dialogues. Within a flash of time, I was able to remember my part. Once he got the affirmative gesture from me, he discontinued laughing and I resumed with my dialogues.

Well, the spontaneity, with which my friend came up with this additional laughter act, was equivalent to the drop of a hat. He not only disallowed the audience to take cognizance of that error, but, additionally, he also won brownie points for his sudden laughter. I think that was the only best thing to do at that time, which he did. I was highly impressed with his outstanding wits and presence of mind.

STRONG WORDS

Follow-up questions.

Q. 1 Why can’t most people act smartly amidst problems?

Sample Answer: I think, when a person is stuck in a problem, they usually ponder over the problem only, which makes it appear prodigious. This leads to the panic in their minds and an overall confusion which results in a further distance from the solution. Their hearts start sinking and minds go blank of knowledge which results in the total surrender to a problem.

Q. 2 How should one handle a problem?

Sample Answer: I think, one should not perceive the problem as a true problem. It should be considered as a little glitch only, in the path of accomplishment. One should treat it lightly and focus on the ideas to find a way out. Earnest efforts put together with a smart approach can make any problem go disappear.

Q. 3 Are problems good or bad to a person?

Sample Answer: By the first look, any problem appears to be the worst adversary to the person. But, actually, they serve as a mean to learn new skills and better coping mechanisms. It was the problem only, that gave birth to new inventions and innovations. For instance, problem of not having light in the night gave birth to Edison’s invention of light bulb. Every wrong path actually leads to a reduction of the total no. of paths and finally we are left with the right solution only.

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Describe a Puzzle You Tried to Solve - IELTS Speaking Cue Card Answer

Describe a puzzle you tried to solve..

You should say:

what it was like

how easy or difficult it was

how long it took for you to solve it

explain how you felt about it.

Describe a Puzzle You Tried to Solve - IELTS Speaking Cue Card Answer

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Model Answer 1

Last year, I embarked on a challenging journey to solve a 3D wooden puzzle, an intricate model of the Eiffel Tower. This puzzle, with its numerous small pieces and complex structure, represented a significant challenge. Initially, its complexity was overwhelming; aligning the tiny wooden pieces accurately required immense patience and attention to detail. Despite being an avid puzzle enthusiast, I found this particular puzzle to be a test of my problem-solving skills and perseverance.

The process was both time-consuming and demanding. It took me about three weeks to complete, dedicating an hour each evening after work. This gradual progression was essential, as it allowed me to approach the task with a fresh perspective daily. The complexity of the puzzle lay not only in its physical assembly but also in understanding the intricate connections between each piece, which was crucial for the structural integrity of the model.

As I neared the completion of the puzzle, my initial feelings of frustration and doubt transformed into excitement and anticipation. The satisfaction of placing the final piece was immense. It was not just about completing the puzzle; it was about the journey – the ups and downs, the moments of insight, and the sheer joy of overcoming a challenge.

Reflecting on this experience, I realize it was more than just a leisure activity. It was a metaphor for life's challenges, teaching me the importance of patience, persistence, and attention to detail. Solving this puzzle was a rewarding experience that enhanced my problem-solving skills and reinforced my belief that no challenge is too great if tackled with determination and a positive mindset.

Why this is a High Scoring Answer

The sample answer, "Describe a puzzle you tried to solve," beautifully illustrates a high-scoring response for several key reasons, aligning perfectly with the IELTS Speaking test's evaluation criteria.

Fluency and Coherence: The response flows smoothly, with natural progression from one idea to the next. For instance, the speaker begins by introducing the puzzle and gradually delves into the challenges and learning experiences it presented. This seamless narrative showcases the ability to speak at length without noticeable effort or loss of coherence.

Lexical Resource: The answer is rich in vocabulary, demonstrating the speaker's proficiency in English. Terms like 'intricate model', 'structural integrity', and 'perseverance' not only add depth to the narrative but also show a broad lexical range, which is highly regarded in the IELTS assessment.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: The speaker uses a variety of complex structures correctly. Sentences like "Initially, its complexity was overwhelming" or "Reflecting on this experience, I realize..." demonstrate an advanced level of grammatical knowledge and accuracy.

Moreover, for those aspiring to achieve similar fluency and depth in their IELTS preparation, exploring our comprehensive range of exclusive IELTS books (download pdf) could be immensely beneficial. These resources, designed to cater to your specific learning needs, will guide you through each aspect of the IELTS test, ensuring you're well-equipped to articulate your thoughts as effectively as demonstrated in the sample answer.

In the context of the IELTS Speaking test, where interaction is key, this answer reflects an engaging, well-structured monologue. It addresses the task directly, maintaining relevance throughout, and exemplifies the qualities of a high-band response. By weaving a narrative around the challenge of solving a complex 3D puzzle, the speaker effectively demonstrates their language skills, meeting the IELTS criteria for a high score.

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Model Answer 2

Recently, I found myself engrossed in the world of digital puzzles, specifically a challenging online crossword that tested not only my vocabulary but also my lateral thinking abilities. This particular puzzle was a blend of traditional crossword elements with a modern twist, incorporating pop culture references and current events, making it a stimulating intellectual exercise.

The difficulty of this puzzle was not to be underestimated. Each clue was a riddle in itself, requiring a deep dive into a diverse range of topics. I spent several evenings unraveling the intricacies of the clues, often finding myself lost in research, which ranged from historical events to the latest technological advancements. This process, while time-consuming, was incredibly enriching, as it broadened my knowledge and understanding of various subjects.

It took me nearly a month to complete the crossword, dedicating a few hours each week. The sense of accomplishment I felt upon solving the final clue was unparalleled. The journey through this puzzle was not just a test of my linguistic skills, but it also honed my research abilities and critical thinking. It was a unique blend of education and entertainment, challenging yet immensely satisfying.

Completing this digital crossword puzzle was a testament to the power of perseverance and intellectual curiosity. It reinforced my belief in the importance of continuous learning and staying intellectually engaged. The experience was not just about solving a puzzle; it was about embracing the process of learning and discovery, and the joy that comes with it.

In the IELTS Speaking test, delivering a response like the one provided to "Describe a puzzle you tried to solve" demonstrates several key elements that contribute to a high score. Let's analyze why this particular answer is exemplary:

Fluency and Coherence: The speaker's narrative about solving a digital crossword is fluid and logically structured. The journey from encountering the puzzle to the eventual triumph is narrated in a coherent, easy-to-follow manner. This is evident in the transition from describing the puzzle's initial appeal to discussing the challenges and final resolution.

Lexical Resource: The vocabulary used is varied and contextually appropriate, showcasing an extensive lexical range. Words and phrases like 'lateral thinking abilities,' 'stimulating intellectual exercise,' and 'unraveling the intricacies' elevate the quality of the response. They not only describe the puzzle-solving experience but also indicate a high level of language proficiency.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: The response demonstrates a strong command of grammar. The use of complex sentence structures, such as "This process, while time-consuming, was incredibly enriching," shows the speaker's ability to use English accurately and flexibly.

To further enhance your preparation and attain a similar level of proficiency in the IELTS Speaking test, our exclusive IELTS books (download pdf) are an invaluable resource. These eBooks, tailored to your needs, provide comprehensive insights and strategies to master each section of the IELTS, ensuring you're well-prepared for a high-scoring performance.

Model Answer 3

One memorable challenge I encountered was solving a large, complex jigsaw puzzle depicting a breathtaking landscape of the Grand Canyon at sunset. The puzzle, composed of 2000 pieces, was a vibrant tapestry of colors and intricate details, each piece a tiny part of the majestic whole. The sheer scale and detail of the puzzle made it a formidable task.

Initially, the puzzle seemed almost insurmountable. The myriad of pieces, with their subtle color variations, made it difficult to discern where each piece belonged. However, I approached it methodically, starting with the edges and gradually working towards the center, focusing on small sections at a time. This systematic approach, coupled with patience, proved to be effective.

The endeavor took me approximately two months to complete. I dedicated several hours each week to it, often losing track of time as I became absorbed in fitting the pieces together. The process was meditative and therapeutic, providing a respite from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Upon completing the puzzle, the sense of achievement was overwhelming. The completed image, with its stunning portrayal of the Grand Canyon's natural beauty, was a reward in itself. This experience was more than just a pastime; it was a journey of persistence, focus, and attention to detail. It taught me the value of seeing a complex task through to completion, no matter how daunting it may seem at the outset.

In retrospect, this puzzle-solving experience was a powerful metaphor for problem-solving in real life. It reinforced the importance of breaking down large tasks into manageable parts, maintaining patience, and staying committed to the goal. The satisfaction derived from this achievement was not just in the completion of the puzzle, but in the skills and lessons learned along the way.

The response provided for "Describe a puzzle you tried to solve" is a quintessential example of a high-scoring answer in the IELTS Speaking test, and here's why:

Fluency and Coherence: The answer is a well-structured narrative that takes the listener on a journey from the initial encounter with the puzzle to its completion. It flows naturally, maintaining coherence throughout, as seen in how the speaker methodically describes the process of tackling the puzzle, "starting with the edges and gradually working towards the center."

Lexical Resource: The speaker employs a diverse range of vocabulary, effectively painting a vivid picture of the experience. Phrases like "a vibrant tapestry of colors," "intricate details," and "overwhelming sense of achievement" demonstrate an extensive lexical range, crucial for a high score in IELTS Speaking.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: The response showcases a variety of complex grammatical structures used accurately. For instance, the use of past continuous tense in "I was becoming absorbed in fitting the pieces together" and comparative phrases like "more than just a pastime" display grammatical proficiency.

For those of you seeking to enhance your IELTS Speaking skills, our exclusive IELTS books (download pdf) can be a game-changer. They offer tailored strategies and insights to help you articulate your thoughts as clearly and effectively as in this example.

In the IELTS Speaking test, it's crucial to engage directly with the task provided. This response does exactly that, offering a detailed and personal account of solving a jigsaw puzzle. The speaker not only describes the puzzle but also reflects on the experience, drawing parallels to life's challenges and the importance of perseverance. This level of introspection and the ability to connect personal experiences with broader themes are indicative of a high-scoring IELTS Speaking response.

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Describe a person who solved a problem in a smart way IELTS Cue Card

Updated on 26 april, 2023.

Mrinal Mandal

Study abroad expert.

The IELTS Speaking section includes a Cue Card task where the candidate is given a topic to speak about for 1-2 minutes. One such topic is "Describe a person who solved a problem in a smart way." The candidate is expected to talk about a person they know who showed exceptional problem-solving skills and explain how they solved the problem. They must also provide details such as when and where the incident took place, and why the person's approach was considered smart. The candidate may also be asked follow-up questions related to the topic.

Describe a person who solved a problem in a smart way. Who this person is What problem they solved How they solved the problem Why you think their solution was smart

Download e-books for ielts preparation, describe a person who solved a problem in a smart way follow up question, important ielts exam resources.

Model Answer 1:

I'd like to talk about a person I know who solved a problem in a smart way. His name is John, and he's a software engineer at a tech company.

A few months ago, John's team was tasked with creating a new app that would help streamline their company's communication system. The app needed to be user-friendly, efficient, and compatible with various operating systems.

John knew that creating such an app would be a challenge, but he was up for it. He began researching different programming languages and methods that could be used to build the app, and after several weeks of testing and refining, he came up with a solution.

John's solution was to use a hybrid programming language that would allow the app to run smoothly on multiple operating systems. He also incorporated a unique feature that would automatically update the app whenever a new version was available, thus eliminating the need for manual updates.

I think John's solution was smart because it was both efficient and effective. He took the time to research and experiment with different programming methods before settling on the best one. Additionally, his solution addressed all of the requirements of the project and provided an extra benefit of automatic updates.

Overall, I think John's problem-solving skills are truly remarkable, and I'm glad to know him.

Tentative Band Score: 5

Model Answer 2:

The person I want to describe is my friend Sarah. Sarah is a computer science graduate and works as a software engineer in a leading tech company. Last year, her team was working on a project to develop a new feature for their company's flagship product. The project was very challenging, and the team was struggling to find a solution to a particularly tricky problem.

Sarah took the initiative to brainstorm possible solutions to the problem. She came up with several different ideas and presented them to the team. After some discussion, the team agreed that Sarah's solution was the most promising. However, there was a catch: implementing her solution would require a significant amount of extra work and could potentially delay the project.

Undeterred, Sarah decided to take on the extra work herself. She spent several long nights working on the solution, often staying in the office until the early hours of the morning. Her dedication paid off, and her solution ended up being a huge success. Not only did it solve the original problem, but it also made the entire project more efficient and streamlined.

What I admire most about Sarah's problem-solving approach is her willingness to take on extra work and go above and beyond to find a solution. She never gave up, even when the problem seemed insurmountable. Her dedication and hard work inspired the rest of the team and helped them to achieve a successful outcome.

In conclusion, Sarah's problem-solving skills and dedication to finding a solution in a smart way helped her team overcome a significant challenge and achieve a successful outcome. Her example shows that sometimes the best solutions require extra effort and a willingness to think outside the box.

Tentative Band Score: 6

Q1. How did the person you described approach problem-solving in general? Were there any particular strategies or methods they tended to use? A1. The person I described, John, tended to approach problem-solving in a systematic and analytical way. He would start by gathering as much information as possible about the problem, and then analyze it carefully to determine the root cause. From there, he would brainstorm potential solutions and evaluate each one carefully before choosing the best option.

Q2. In your opinion, what qualities make someone a good problem-solver? How do these qualities apply to the person you described? A2. I think that good problem-solvers tend to be analytical, creative, and persistent. They are able to think outside the box and come up with innovative solutions to complex problems. These qualities definitely apply to John, as he was able to use his creativity and persistence to develop a unique solution to the problem his team was facing.

Q3. Have you ever had to solve a complex problem yourself? What did you learn from the experience? A3. Yes, I have had to solve complex problems in the past. One thing I learned is that it's important to stay calm and focused, even when the problem seems overwhelming. It's also helpful to break the problem down into smaller, more manageable parts, and to seek out advice and input from others who may have different perspectives.

Q4. In what ways can technology be used to solve problems in our society? Can you think of any examples where technology has been used effectively in this way? A4. Technology can be used to solve a wide range of problems in our society, from environmental issues to healthcare challenges. For example, artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms can be used to help doctors diagnose and treat diseases more effectively. Smart grids can help reduce energy waste and improve efficiency in the power sector. And mobile apps can be used to provide education and support to people in remote or underserved communities.

Q5. Do you think that problem-solving skills are innate or can they be learned? What steps can people take to develop their problem-solving abilities? A5. I think that problem-solving skills can be learned and developed over time. Some people may have a natural inclination towards problem-solving, but with practice and experience, anyone can become a better problem-solver. Some steps people can take to develop their problem-solving abilities include seeking out challenging problems to solve, practicing brainstorming and idea generation, and seeking feedback and advice from others.

Q6. Are there any specific industries or fields where problem-solving skills are especially important? Why do you think this is the case? A6. I think problem-solving skills are important in almost every industry and field, as every job requires some level of problem-solving ability. However, some fields where problem-solving is especially important include engineering, software development, healthcare, and finance. These industries often deal with complex systems and require creative thinking to solve difficult problems.

Q7. How do you think our education system could better prepare students for problem-solving in the real world? Should problem-solving be taught as a separate subject or integrated into other areas of study? A7. I think our education system could do a better job of teaching problem-solving skills by integrating them into other areas of study. Rather than teaching problem-solving as a separate subject, we should be teaching students how to apply problem-solving techniques in the context of their other coursework. This would help students develop a more holistic understanding of problem-solving and how it can be used in a variety of situations.

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The IELTS speaking cue cards come into play for the second part when the candidate will be choosing cue cards and then speaking on a topic for two minutes at least.

Mrinal Mandal is a study abroad expert with a passion for guiding students towards their international education goals. He holds a degree in mechanical engineering, earned in 2018. Since 2021, Mrinal has been working with upGrad Abroad, where he assists aspiring students in realizing their dreams of studying abroad. With his expertise and dedication, he empowers individuals to navigate the complexities of international education, making their aspirations a reality.

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Describe a time when you used the internet to solve a problem: IELTS Speaking Part 2 Sample Answer

Updated On Jan 10, 2024

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Describe a time when you used the internet to solve a problem: IELTS Speaking Part 2 Sample Answer

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The IELTS Speaking Module is designed to assess your English Language Speaking Skills. To ensure a good score in the IELTS Speaking Module, you must study and practice the common Speaking Question types. Below is a sample Speaking Module with responses. By studying the sample answers, you can have a reference to begin drafting your own Speaking section answers.

Describe a time when you used the internet to solve a problem

You should say

What problem it was?
When you did do this?
How long did it take you?
And explain why you used the internet to solve this problem.

Sample Answer 1

So I’m going to talk about this time when I needed a foreign book for my studies. I was in my junior year at university and we had this assignment that required us to find the latest statistics, some of which are very hard to come by .

Apparently, in order to get access to new data, you must know the right source and pay some fees. I found out that the statistics that I needed were published in a book but unfortunately it was not available for sale in my country. And even if I’d had it delivered, by the time it arrived it’d have been too late.

So I had to contact a friend in America and asked him to buy a hard copy and then have the statistics pages scanned and emailed to me. It took some time but eventually, I got the data in time. It was a bit of a hassle for my friend so I decided to buy him a small gift in return.

Sample Answer 2

In this technology-dominating era, the dependency of humans on computers and machines doesn’t seem to be ceasing or decreasing. Whenever in trouble or confusion, we find our rescue on the internet and look for potential solutions on Google and YouTube. I am no exception. So, talking about a time when I used the internet to find a solution, it was when I had to study through the internet.

Back in 2019, when my final exams were approaching for the 12th standard, I fell sick all of a sudden. Upon getting all the tests done, I was diagnosed with Jaundice. This caused me trouble studying, and I had zero energy to tackle day-to-day life. Thus, I stopped going to school for a month.

Meanwhile, I shared this issue with my teachers, and they were generous enough to help me out. I added all of my teachers to a WhatsApp group where they used to send me notes and study material. Simultaneously, I used Google and YouTube a lot to find answers to my questions.

For the entire month, I studied through varying websites and online platforms. I was simultaneously catching up with the concepts being explained in the classroom. All in all, I stayed up-to-date with everything and passed the exams with flying colors.

Come by: to visit a place for a short time, often when you are going somewhere else Eg: Rose has promised her grandma that she’ll come by her house next week.
Statistics: information based on a study of the number of times something happens or is present, or other numerical facts Eg: According to the official statistics, women live longer than men.
Hassle: (a situation causing) difficulty or trouble: Eg: John got into a hassle with his neighbor

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Explore More Time Cue cards >>

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Courtney Miller

Courtney is one of our star content writers as she plays multiple roles. She is a phenomenal researcher and provides extensive articles to students. She is also an IELTS Trainer and an extremely good content writer. Courtney completed her English Masters at Kings College London, and has been a part of our team for more than 3 years. She has worked with the British Council and knows the tricks and tips of IELTS.

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Ielts cue card sample 488 - describe a problem in your city/ hometown, describe a problem you have noticed in your city/ hometown..

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what causes this problem

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Topic: describe a problem in your city/hometown..

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IELTS Writing Task 2

IELTS Problem Solution Essays

Problem solution essays are a type of essay question sometimes given to you in the test.

In this type of essay you need to discuss the problems with regards to a particular topic and then suggest possible solutions to these problems.

You can also watch a video of this lesson:

One of the first things you want to make sure that you are able to do is identfy one of these questions when it arises.

Here are some examples of this type of question.

Examples of Problem Solution Essay Questions:

Overpopulation of urban areas has led to numerous problems.

Identify one or two serious ones and suggest ways that governments and individuals can tackle these problems.

Nowadays many people have access to computers on a wide basis and a large number of children play computer games.

What are the negative impacts of playing computer games and what can be done to minimize the bad effects?

The internet has transformed the way information is shared and consumed, but it has also created problems that did not exist before.

What are the most serious problems associated with the internet and what solutions can you suggest?

In the developed world, average life expectancy is increasing.

What problems will this cause for individuals and society?

Suggest some measures that could be taken to reduce the impact of ageing populations.

An important note. Some essays ask for reasons and solutions, not problems and solutions. Writing about a reason (or cause) is not the same as writing about a problem.

Check these model essays to see the difference.

IELTS Problem Solution Essay Example

In order to understand these types of problem solution essays further and how to organize your writing, we'll look at a problem solution example essay:

Model Answer

The enormous growth in the use of the internet over the last decade has led to radical changes to the way that people consume and share information. Although serious problems have arisen as a result of this, there are solutions.

One of the first problems of the internet is the ease with which children can access potentially dangerous sites. For example, pornography sites are easily accessible to them because they can register with a site and claim to be an adult. There is no doubt that this affects their thoughts and development, which is a negative impact for the children and for society. Another major problem is the growth of online fraud and hacking. These days, there are constant news stories about government and company websites that have been hacked, resulting in sensitive information falling into the hands of criminals.

It is important that action is taken to combat these problems. Governments should ensure that adequate legislation and controls are in place that will prevent young people from accessing dangerous sites, such as requiring more than simply confirming that you are an adult to view a site. Parents also have a part to play. They need to closely monitor the activities of their children and restrict their access to certain sites, which can now be done through various computer programs. Companies must also improve their onsite IT security systems to make fraud and hacking much more difficult by undertaking thorough reviews of their current systems for weaknesses.

To conclude, the internet is an amazing technological innovation that has transformed people’s lives, but not without negative impacts. However, with the right action by individuals, governments and businesses, it can be made a safe place for everyone.

(285 words)

Writing about Problems

From the problem solution essay, look at the problems paragraph, and answer the following questions (then click on the link below to see the answers):

How many problems are discussed?
What are they?
What expressions are used to introduce the problems?
How are the problems illustrated further?
What results are discussed for each problem?

Show / hide answers

1) How many problems are discussed?

2) What are they?

children can access potentially dangerous sites growth of online fraud and hacking

3) What expressions are used to introduce the problems?

One of the first problems of the internet is... Another major problem is...

4) How are the problems illustrated further?

For example, pornography sites are easily accessible to them because they can register with a site and claim to be an adult. These days, there are constant news stories about government and company websites that have been hacked.

5) What results are discussed for each problem?

There is no doubt that this affects their thoughts and development, which is a negative impact for the children and for society.

...resulting in sensitive information falling into the hands of criminals.

Your answers to these questions should tell you a lot about how to plan and organize a problem paragraph.

You only need two or three problems as remember you do not have much time and you need to explain the problems.

When you brainstorm your ideas for problem solution essays, think about (a) what the problem is (b) how you will explain it (c) and what the effect is . Your paragraph will then follow this pattern.

Here is an example of the brainstorming for this paragraph:

Problem 1: children can access potentially dangerous sites

Explanation / Example: Pornography sites
Result: Affects thought & development - negative for children & society

Problem 2: growth of online fraud and hacking

Explanation / Example: Evident from the constant news stories
Result: Criminals get sensitive information

Here they are illustrated in the paragraph, with the introductory expressions underlined:

One of the first problems of the internet is the ease with which children can access potentially dangerous sites . For example, pornography sites are easily accessible to them because they can register with a site and claim to be an adult . There is no doubt that this affects their thoughts and development, which is a negative impact for the children and for society . Another major problem is the growth of online fraud and hacking . These days, there are constant news stories about government and company websites that have been hacked , resulting in sensitive information falling into the hands of criminals.

Writing about Solutions

Answer the following questions about the solutions paragraph:

How many solutions are given?
What three different groups of people does the writer say are responsble for these solutions?
How would the solutions be implemented?
What three modal verb structures are used to make the suggestions?

1) How many solutions are given?

adequate legislation and controls monitor the activities of children / restrict access improve company IT security systems

3) What three different groups of people does the writer say are responsble for these solutions?

Governments Parents Companies

Stricter criteria for accessing sites Using computer programs Reviewing current IT systems for weaknesses

5) What three modal verb structures are used to make the suggestions?

should need to must

Your answers to these questions provide you with some key tips on writing a solutions paragraph. Some of these points are now explained further.

The people involved

When you come to brainstorm your solutions, think of the key 'actors' who are involved. It is usually governments and individuals in some way or another.

There may be another group specifically realted to the topic. For example, in this case it is companies and parents. If you are discussing crime it could be the police. If it is violence on TV it could be TV and film producers.

You can then brainstorm your ideas under each 'group' and organize them in the same way.

Developing your solutions

Also, try to make sure your solutions are not too simplistic. It's all too easy to make sweeping generalizations about what people can do. For example, look at this idea:

The government should introduce stricter laws.

It it common to see such statements in IELTS problem solution essays with no further explantion. Give more detail about how or why this would work. For example:

Governments should ensure that adequate legislation and controls are in place that will prevent young people from accessing dangerous sites, such as requiring more than simply confirming that you are an adult to view a site.

Some specific detail has now been given on how this solution could work.

Modal Verbs

Modal verbs can be used to make suggestions in problem solution essays. These are usually found in solutions paragraphs.

Check out this grammar lesson if you are unsure how to use modal verbs .

Here again is a plan for the problem solution essay for the solutions paragraph:

Solution 1: Governments

Idea: Adequate legislation and controls for young people
How: More complex website access criteria

Solution 2: Parents

Idea: Monitor children and restrict access
How: Use a computer program

Solution 3: Companies

Idea: Improve IT security systems
How: Review current systems in place

Here is the paragraph again. Note how it follows the plan and the clear topic sentence that tells the reader the essay is moving on to discuss solutions (modals verbs are underlined):

It is important that action is taken to combat these problems. Governments should ensure that adequate legislation and controls are in place that will prevent young people from accessing dangerous sites , such as requiring more than simply confirming that you are an adult to view a site . Parents also have a part to play. They need to closely monitor the activities of their children and restrict their access to certain sites , which can now be done through various computer programs. Companies must also improve their onsite IT security systems to make fraud and hacking much more difficult by undertaking thorough reviews of their current systems for weaknesses.

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Brainstorming and planning is a key step in developing your IELTS essay. This lesson has tips on how to coming up with ideas and organising them.

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Tips for Problem Solution Essay in IELTS: Guide to Achieve IELTS Band 9 in Essays

IELTS writing explores a variety of essay topics. Ranging from topics that deal with your personal opinions to ones where you analyse various social issues. It is the only section where you get to write down your ideas and opinions in an organised manner. Needless to say this section is very minutely judged and you need to be absolutely focused in order to do well.

One topic that is quite recurrent in writing section is the problem-solution type essay in IELTS. Here you are given a troubling scenario and are asked to suggest suitable solutions to that particular problem.

Types of IELTS Essay Writing

Years of observation revealed that there are 5 main types of essay questions in IELTS writing task 2; opinion, discussion, advantage/ disadvantage, problem-solution essays and direct question.

Each of these has its own demands and therefore needs to be structured accordingly. This article deals with problem solution essays IELTS in particular. Let us find out more!

All About Problem- Solution Essays in IELTS

One of the first things you have to make sure you are able to do is, figure out which type of IELTS essay topics is given. To do that skilfully, you need to know what a problem-solution type question looks like.

Here are some examples of problem-solution type of questions:

Problem Solution Essay IELTS Sample

Overpopulation of urban areas has led to numerous problems. Identify one or two serious ones and suggest ways that governments and individuals can tackle these problems.
Nowadays many people have access to computers on a wide basis and a large number of children play computer games. What are the negative impacts of playing computer games and what can be done to minimize the bad effects? The internet has transformed the way information is shared and consumed, but it has also created problems that did not exist before. What are the most serious problems associated with the internet and what solutions can you suggest?
In the developed world, average life expectancy is increasing. What problems will this cause for individuals and society? Suggest some measures that could be taken to reduce the impact of ageing populations.

Also Read: Describe a Person Who is Very Open: IELTS Speaking Cue Card Sample Answers

Tips to Approach Problem Solution Essay IELTS

While you work on such types of essays you must remember that some essays ask for reasons and solutions, not problems and solutions. Writing about a reason (or cause) is not the same as writing about a problem.

When you writing about Problems, here are some things you must keep in mind:

Tips to Remember

Ask yourself the following questions. Their answers should tell you a lot regarding how you can plan and organise a paragraph that deals with the given “problem”.
How many problems are discussed?
What are they?
What expressions are used to introduce the problems?
How are the problems illustrated further?
What results are discussed for each problem?
You only need two or three problems because you do not have too much time and you need to explain the problems in a stipulated time.
When you brainstorm your ideas for problem solution essays, think about (a) what the problem is (b) how you will explain it (c) and what the effect is. Your paragraph should follow this pattern.

Here’s How to Brainstorm

Problem 1: children can access potentially dangerous sites

Explanation/ example: Pornography sites
Result: Affects thought & development – negative for children & society.

Problem 2: the growth of online fraud and hacking

Explanation/ example: Evident from the constant news stories
Result: Criminals get sensitive information

Ask These Questions

Let us now look at what writing about solutions should look like:

You must ask the following questions and use their answers to form your response to get IELTS band 9 in essays.

How many solutions are given?
What three different groups of people does the writer say are responsible for these solutions?
How would the solutions be implemented?
What three modal verb structures are used to make the suggestions?

Also Read : 10 Must Follow IELTS Reading Tips and Tricks to Boost Your Band Score

When You Brainstorm Focus on the Following Three Units of the IELTS Essay topic:

Think of the key ‘people’ who are involved.

It is usually governments and individuals in some way or another. Sometimes it is also companies and parents. If you are to discuss crime it could be the police. If it is violence on TV it could be TV and film producers.

Develop Your Solutions

Your solutions should not too simplistic. It’s all too easy to generalise about what people can do.

Modal Verbs

Modal verbs can be used to make suggestions in problem-solution essays in IELTS. These are usually found in solutions paragraphs.

Plan for the Problem Solution Essay for the Solutions Paragraph

Solution 1: Governments

Idea: Adequate legislation and controls for young people
How: More complex website access criteria

Solution 2: Parents

Idea: Monitor children and restrict access
How: Use a computer program

Format of a Problem-Solution Essay in IELTS Writing

The format of this kind of essay is quite straightforward. Here is a rough sketch that you can follow for a good response:

Introduction

Sentence 1- Paraphrase Question
Sentence 2- Outline Sentence

Main Body Paragraph 1

Sentence 1- State Problem
Sentence 2- Explain the problem
Sentence 3- Result
Sentence 4- Example

Main Body Paragraph 2

Sentence 1- State Solution
Sentence 2- Explain Solution
Sentence 3- Example
Sentence 1- Summary
Sentence 2- Recommendation or prediction

IELTS Sample Essay on Problem Solution Type

IELTS band 9 essay-Solution essay has a good plan, a clear execution of the plan with relevant vocabulary and zero grammatical or spelling errors.

Take a look at your model essay for better understanding:

Sample IELTS Essay Topics

Global warming is one of the biggest threats humans face in the 21st Century and sea levels are continuing to rise at alarming rates. What problems are associated with this and what are some possible solutions.

Climate change is among the principal dangers facing people this century and ocean levels are increasing dramatically. This essay will first suggest that the biggest problem caused by this phenomenon is the flooding of homes and then submit building flood protection as the most viable solution.

The foremost problem caused by sea levels creeping up is the flooding of peoples’ residences. Millions of people all over the world live in coastal areas and if the sea rises by even a few feet, they will be inundated with water and lose their property. The shelter is one of the most basic of human needs and widespread flooding would cause millions of people to become homeless, not to mention losing all of their possessions. The devastation brought about by this was clear for all to see during the 2011 Tsunami in Japan, in which millions of people were displaced.

Break the Paragraph

A possible solution to this problem would be to build flood barriers. Flood defences, such as dikes, dams and floodgates, could be built along coasts and waterways, thereby stopping the water reaching populated areas. The Netherlands is one of the most populated areas in the world and also one of the most vulnerable to flooding and they have successfully employed various flood defence systems.

To conclude, stemming the rising tides caused by increasing global temperatures is one of the foremost challenges we face and it will ultimately lead to many of the worlds’ cities being left underwater, but a possible solution could be to utilise the flood prevention techniques already used by countries like Holland. It is predicted that more and more countries will be forced to take such measures to avoid a watery catastrophe.

Writing a full essay for the IELTS Writing Task 2 can seem daunting to. However, if you are armed with the right kind of ideas and stylistic elements, your essay can easily fetch a band 8 or 9.

Also Read : IELTS Writing Task Evaluation with Sample Answer: A Guide To Better Band Score

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Home / IELTS Speaking Topics in 2024 / IELTS Speaking topic – Modern problems #1

IELTS Speaking topic – Modern problems #1

This is a sample response for IELTS Speaking Part 2 and 3. In addition to the model answer there are highlighted words and phrases. Teal is for vocabulary relating to this topic, yellow is for generally useful words and phrases.

IELTS Speaking Part 2

what the problem was
what was done to solve it
if the solution was effective

and say what else could be done to solve it

Model answer

Over the past twenty or so years my city has been suffering from increasing smog levels. Mist and fog would mix with exhaust fumes produced by the many cars and form a thick, greyish blanket enveloping the city, especially in the morning hours. Concerned about emotional and physical well-being of citizens, the local government decided to introduce a number of measures to battle the issue.

The first measure was to discourage using cars with just the driver in it and incentivize carpooling . They installed cameras that would record the amount of people in the vehicle and charge empty cars a small fee . Conversely, cars with multiple people in them were allowed to use dedicated carpooling lanes. Unfortunately, both measures were met with lack of enthusiasm. People were reluctant to share their commute with others.

Another attempt to tackle the problem was stricter vehicle inspection. As it turned out, the procedure had been rather lenient and perfunctory – nobody would bother to check if cars were roadworthy. The more thorough inspection found out that as much as 70% of road-going vehicles failed to meet modern emission standards . Naturally, the new requirement upset the drivers, but the regulation was non-negotiable, so they had to oblige. As a result, the city air became considerably cleaner.

I think I would’ve approached it in a less punitive way. Instead of charging people money, the government could educate people on the other ways of commuting such as bicycles or even walking. After all, an angry commuter is less productive at work.

IELTS Speaking Part 3

Globalisation and population.

The world around us grows increasingly globalised. Is it a good or a bad thing? There is no straightforward answer to that. On one hand people grow more alike and therefore become more understanding of one another. The cultural borders slowly disappear and become one. They say that the multitude of languages we have now will be reduced to a handful of English dialects and Chinese. Therefore, communication will become almost effortless. On the other hand, the variety of cultures, habits and views that we still have will be probably gone as well. Sure enough, we will learn whether a homogeneous world is a good thing or not, even during our lifetimes.

How will growing population affect our lives? We can already see one alarming trend – that is, soaring housing prices. Very few people can afford a down payment on a place of their own, which has almost never been the case in the past. As land prices go through the roof, we are likely to see more block of flats type of buildings and fewer single-family houses. One more likely change associated with population growth is likely shortage of meat. At the current rate the amount of produced meat products is unsustainable which will mean that meat substitutes are likely to replace genuine meat. In the future soy, synthetically-grown meat, algae and even insects could be the main protein source for most of us.

Man and the environment

In what ways does humanity affect the environment? Well, there are too many to name all of them. Deforestation, hunting for game or food, oil spills and industrial waste, cars and other emission -generating vehicles. The latter destroy the ozone layer and as a result heat from the sun gets trapped in the atmosphere, creating the dreaded greenhouse effect . This in turn leads to climate change that tips the intricate balance maintained in the biosphere and leads to animal migration, many species eventually dying out. Forest fires are on the rise partially because of this reason too. It’s all a big domino effect situation.

Should humanity prioritise colonising other planets or preserving Earth? Colonising another planet is not realistic in the near future. The technology is simply not there – we have no means to transport people to another celestial object en masse . We have no way to terraform the surface of, say, Mars. We can’t haul enough construction materials to create self-sustaining infrastructure there. And we will not be able to do any of the above in the next fifty years or so. It is very likely however that an environmental catastrophe of huge scale will happen in the same time scope. Therefore, taking care of our mother world is of utmost importance.

What recent development is likely to reduce human impact on the environment? The biggest change that is coming in the next decade is overall shift from petrol and diesel engines to electric ones. The legislation is already there to gradually oust obsolete technology in favour of the new, better and greener one. It is uncertain how welcomed this change is going to be, but as we all know producing electricity on industrial scale is much less damaging to nature than billions of small, inefficient and poorly-maintained gas cars.

Modern problems vocabulary

Smog (n) – a thick, mist-like phenomenon, a mixture of exhaust gases and fog Exhaust fumes – gases produced by cars and other vehicles Carpooling (n) – the practice of sharing your car with friends or colleagues who have the same commute route Emission standards – regulations on how toxic exhaust fumes can get Cultural borders – differences between different cultures and nationalities Homogeneous world – a world that is uniform, i.e. more or less the same wherever you go Alarming (adj) – worrying or concerning Shortage of – insufficient amount of something Unsustainable (adj) – impossible to continue for long period of time. Unsustainable lifestyle is the one you will not be able to lead or afford for a long time. Emissions (n) – (here) harmful gases produced as a part of working process, e.g. cars Greenhouse effect – a situation when sunlight is trapped inside the atmosphere of the planet unable to escape which leads to rising temperatures Species (n) – biological class of animals or other living things. Self-sustaining (adj) – able to support one’s life Legislation (n) – the process or situation of making and upholding laws Oust (v) – to replace something that is outdated or obsolete

General vocabulary

Alike (adj) – similar, like one another Multitude (n) – variety, difference between Soaring (adj) – increasing quickly and considerably Down payment – an initial payment on a loan that you have to take in addition to monthly payments (or installments) To be the case – to be like so. All of my friends have found jobs already but that is not the case for me Substitute (n) – replacements for something Algae (n) – seaweed that grows underwater and can be used as food Dreaded (adj) – feared or hated Domino effect – a situation when one event triggers another and creates a chain reaction Means to – resources, materials or ways to do something En masse – (French) together or at the same time Haul (v) – to transport goods or cargo Utmost (adv) – great or extreme Obsolete (adj) – out of date, archaic Inefficient (adj) – not used or functioning in the best way possible

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Speaking skills: Speaking matters

1 Speaking skills: Speaking matters
2 Speaking matters: Developing fluency
3 Speaking matters: Developing and dealing with accuracy
4 Speaking matters: Assessing speaking
5 Speaking matters: Personalization
6 Speaking matters: Problem-solving
7 Speaking matters: Role-play
8 Speaking matters: Pairwork

Speaking matters: Problem-solving

By Adrian Tennant

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This article looks at problem-solving activities and what they are like. It covers how to set them up, why it's good to use them, the disadvantages and what you should do after the activity.

Introduction

Students need a reason to speak in the classroom. Many speaking activities seem to have no aim other than to get students to talk to each other, but for what reason? By doing the activity what will they achieve? Some activities, like pairwork activities, try to create a purpose by creating an information gap - i.e. where one student has some of the information and another student the rest and, only by speaking to each other can they complete the task. However, this simple transference of information only replicates a small part of what speaking in real life is used for.

Role-plays are another favourite classroom activity designed to get students speaking, but these often focus on creating scenarios or situations where students practise functional language such as giving directions, asking for information, etc. Although this is realistic, it is still often on a level of one student having information that another student doesn't. In real life, we often speak about something when we both, or all, share a lot of the same information. This can take the form of a discussion or a debate where we have opinions, but it can also take the shape of a discussion based on having to solve a problem. In this article, we'll take a closer look at problem-solving speaking activities.

What are problem-solving activities like?

There are a number of types of problem solving activities. For the sake of simplicity I'll split them into three types:

1. The opinion problem-solving activity.

In this type of activity students are given information to discuss where there is not necessarily one right or wrong answer. This type of activity differs from a normal discussion in that there is a built-in problem within the information.

You and three friends rowed out to a small island in the middle of a lake. When you landed you forgot to tie the boat up properly and it has drifted away. Night is now approaching. It is 3km back to the shore, but one of your friends can't swim. You do not have any food with you and you don't know if anyone knows where you are. What do you do?

Students are then expected to discuss the problem and come up with a solution. To help students you can provide a set of ideas/options for them to choose from. You can also make the activity more complicated by giving each student a 'role card' with an extra piece of information on it (that might be a problem) i.e.

There is no wood on the island so you can't build a fire. At night the temperature drops to freezing .

2. The logical thinking problem-solving activity.

In this type of problem-solving activity there is usually one correct solution. To arrive at the solution the students need to discuss information they are given and logically work out what the solution is. There are two ways in which the information can be given, either split between a number of students so that they don't have the same information and they must share it, or where they all have the same information and simply have to discuss things together. In the later version a set of questions can often help students work out the answer. (See activity 2 in the 'Practical ideas' section below for a logical thinking activity).

3.The information gap problem-solving activity.

How does this differ from a normal information gap (i.e. a pairwork information gap where one student has information that the other student doesn't)? Well, the main difference is that in a normal information gap activity it is simply a matter of transferring the information, i.e. two students have a profile of a person. Student A knows the person's age and nationality, etc. Student B then asks 'How old is he?' and fills in the missing information they obtain in the correct space, etc. In a problem-solving information gap, getting the missing information is not the ultimate aim, but merely a stepping stone on the way to solving a problem.

Why use problem-solving activities?

Apart from the fact that these kinds of activities can be a lot of fun they are also very stimulating. They usually require students to communicate information to each other where the focus is on expressing ideas and opinions and not simply repeating phrases. In many ways, problem-solving activities replicate 'real' speaking in that people have a need to speak. Problem-solving activities can also be an effective way of practising language items that have been taught, i.e. both grammar and vocabulary. They are also a great way of developing students' cognitive abilities helping them to process language in a meaningful way.

Are there any disadvantages to problem-solving activities?

Yes, there are. One of the major problems is that stronger students often dominate the discussions, taking over and giving the less able students little opportunity to contribute. Often, this is due to the need for one person to organize and collate information and ideas. One way around this is to give certain students specific tasks, i.e. someone to 'chair' the discussion, someone to make sure everyone has a turn, etc.

Another disadvantage of this type of activity is that students may become frustrated when trying to solve the problem and, especially if they don't have the language skills in English, will switch to their L1. To avoid this it is important that you, the teacher, consider what language they are likely to need in order to complete the task and to pre-teach any necessary phrases, expressions or vocabulary you think they do not possess. Remember, using a problem-solving activity is not the main focus of your lesson/teaching but simply a way in providing students with a forum for using the language they have learnt.

How do you set up a problem-solving activity?

As with other speaking activities, how you set up the activity will often be the difference between a successful activity and one that doesn't work. The first thing to consider is whether the activity uses the language you want the students to practise. If not, then ask yourself why exactly you are using it. Then, it is important to look at the language that is needed and make sure that you pre-teach any new language before they start the activity. This will help the activity run smoothly with the focus being on solving the problem rather than working out the meaning of any new language. Finally, think about whether you want students to work alone to begin with and then discuss the problem with other students or whether you will start with pair or groupwork. Whenever you decide to use pair or groupwork think about who you get to work together so that there is a balance in each group.

What should I do after the activity?

Just as with roleplays, don't just move onto a different activity. If you move on immediately after the activity and don't at least discuss what happened, then students will often lose interest in problem-solving activities, or at least won't benefit to the full. There needs to be an obvious outcome and a rounding-up of the activity. Opening up the activity to a class discussion where you compare solutions is an obvious follow-up. It is also important that during the activity you note down any mistakes students made with the language and think about how you will tackle these either after the activity or in a subsequent lesson.

Some practical ideas

An opinion problem-solving activity

Here I am going to use the idea I mentioned earlier but give a few variations to show how it can be run in a number of different ways.

Variation 1

Put students in groups of 3-5 and give each group a copy (or copies) of the following handout:

Ask students to talk to each other and make a list of possible solutions. Ask them to also think about what problems they might face/encounter with each solution. i.e. If they stay on the island, where will they sleep and what will they eat? What if there is no food on the island? etc.

Variation 2

Give the students the same handout, but also give them the following options (either as part of the handout or written on the board).

One of you swims to the shore to get help.
Try and make a fire on the island to attract attention.
Find somewhere to sleep for the night and then try and get off in the morning.
Look for the boat and get one person to try and swim to it and bring it back.
All swim back to the shore taking it in turns to help the person who can't swim.

Variation 3

Give the students the same handout, but also give each one a role card with extra information. i.e.

A logical thinking problem-solving activity

A new teacher starts working at school. In her class there are a set of triplets, Ana, Bryan and Carl. Unfortunately, the teacher can't remember which one is which, but she has some notes about the three kids.

She knows that two of the triplets are boys and one is a girl.

Carl, one of the boys, is always calm and patient.

One of the triplets likes playing football and he has a tattoo on his arm.

One of the triplets has red hair, one brown and one blonde.

The triplet who doesn't get angry easily has short blonde hair.

The triplet with red hair has an earring and she likes to sing.

The triplet who has a tattoo gets angry easily.

Can she work out who is who?

Students should be able to work out the answer simply with the information provided, but, if you want to help them you could also give them a set of questions to answer. e.g.

Should the teacher have known which triplet was Ana? Why?
Which triplet likes to sing? How do you know?
What colour is Ana's hair?
What else do you know about Ana?
What kind of person is Carl?
Does he have a tattoo?
How do you know?
What colour is Carl's hair?
Does Carl like football?
Which triplet likes football?

These questions guide students through step-by-step, enabling them to work out the answer.

An information gap problem-solving activity

A simple example of this would be to use the same worksheet as above but cut the information about the triplets into strips, put students in small groups and give each student one or two strips. Tell students they have the information between them but that they must not show their information to the other students in their group.

A new teacher starts working at school. In her class there are a set of triplets, Ana, Bryan and Carl. Unfortunately, the teacher can’t remember which one is which, but she has some notes about the three kids. Can she work out who is who?

One of the triplets likes playing football and he has a tattoo on his arm

The triplet who doesn’t get angry easily has short blonde hair.

British English

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Discover band 9 sample answers for IELTS Speaking Part 2 and 3 along with our free IELTS speaking materials in this recent IELTS Speaking answer. ... Deepali's intelligent problem-solving methodology not only resolved a critical technical issue but also contributed to enhancing the overall efficiency and reliability of the software application.
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You can get a one-on-one counselling session and an IELTS online practice test via our platform. Contact us at [email protected] or call us at +91 9773398388 for further queries. This IELTS Speaking Cue Card invites you to explore the essence of effective problem-solving,adaptability, and creative thinking in overcoming challenges.
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IELTS Speaking Part 2&3 #15 Describe an English lesson that you enjoyed. Describe a person who solved a problem in a clever way. You should say: Who the person was When you met the person Where you met the person And explain why you think he or she was clever. Sample answer: Well, I would like to talk about my mother, who I consider to have the.
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Band 8 Sample Answer. (Who this person is) I had the chance to meet Lisa, a student at one of the most prestigious (admired and respected by people) universities in the world - the National University of Singapore, who I think is the most creative person I've ever got to know so far. I met Lisa during an outreach programme in my country.
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IELTS Speaking topic - Modern problems #1. This is a sample response for IELTS Speaking Part 2 and 3. In addition to the model answer there are highlighted words and phrases. Teal is for vocabulary relating to this topic, yellow is for generally useful words and phrases.
Speaking matters: Problem-solving
They usually require students to communicate information to each other where the focus is on expressing ideas and opinions and not simply repeating phrases. In many ways, problem-solving activities replicate 'real' speaking in that people have a need to speak. Problem-solving activities can also be an effective way of practising language items ...

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How to Plan & Write IELTS Problem Solution Essays

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# 3 Vocabulary

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About the article

Describe a Person who Solved a Problem in smart way IELTS speaking cue card

Table of Contents

Introduction

Who is this person?

What was the problem?

How did he/she solved it?/ And explain why you think he/ she did it in a smart way

How did he/she solve it?

And explain why you think he/ she did it in a smart way

What was the problem?/ How did he/she solve it?

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IELTS Speaking Part 2&3 #16 Describe a person who solved a problem in a clever way

Sample answer:

Follow-up questions:

IELTS Speaking cue card: A friend who cleverly solved a problem

Sample Answer

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SAMPLE ANSWER TWO:

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