Plan this problem and solution essay about tourism with the ideas and outline below, write it on a 40-minute timer, then compare it with a band-8 model answer.
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
Air travel for holidays is increasing, and it is a major cause of pollution.
What problems does this cause and what solutions can you suggest?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
GoPrep wrote this practice question in the style of the exam. It is not an official IELTS question.
Pick two or three points from one or both columns. You do not need all of them, and your own examples score better than memorised ones.
Spend the first few minutes planning, then write.
0 words of 250 minimum
Your answer stays on this page only. Copy it before you leave.
Write your own answer first, then compare: how it answers the exact question, what each paragraph does, and which phrases you could borrow.
Air travel for holidays is growing rapidly and contributes significantly to pollution. This essay will explain the problems this causes and suggest some solutions.
The growth in flying has several causes. Tickets have become cheap, thanks to budget airlines, and the middle class is expanding in many countries, so more people can afford to fly. Business travel also contributes, since companies send staff to meetings abroad, although video calls have reduced this need somewhat.
The consequences are serious. Aircraft burn fossil fuels and release carbon dioxide high in the atmosphere, where it has an especially strong warming effect, so aviation is an important contributor to climate change. Airports also cause local problems, including noise, poor air quality and the destruction of land for new runways. For island nations and low-lying coastal regions, the resulting sea-level rise is a threat to their existence.
A number of solutions are possible. Governments could tax flights, particularly frequent or short-haul ones, and use the money to fund greener alternatives. A fuel tax or a carbon charge on tickets would make the true environmental cost visible to passengers. Investment in high-speed railways and better international train connections would give people a comfortable alternative for journeys within a continent; France has already banned some domestic flights where a train journey takes under two and a half hours. The industry should also be supported to develop cleaner fuels and more efficient engines, although these technologies are still some way from being widely used. Finally, people can be encouraged to take holidays closer to home, for example by promoting domestic tourism and offering longer, less frequent trips instead of several short ones abroad.
In conclusion, cheap tickets and rising demand have made flying a major source of pollution, but taxation, better trains, cleaner technology and nearer holidays could reduce its impact.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| aviation emissions | pollution from planes |
| carbon offset | paying to balance emissions |
| flight tax | tax on air tickets |
| high-speed rail | fast train service |
| reduce your carbon footprint | lower your pollution |
| short-haul flight | flight over short distance |
Answer random Part 1, 2 and 3 questions on an exam timer.
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Compare an IELTS band with TOEFL, Duolingo and PTE scores and CEFR levels.
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