Plan this two-part essay about transport 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:
Public transport in rural areas is often much worse than in cities, which affects people's lives.
What problems does this cause? What can governments do about it?
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.
Public transport in rural areas is often far worse than in cities, and this affects the lives of those who live there. This essay will outline the main problems and suggest what governments can do.
The most serious consequence is isolation. Without regular buses or trains, people who do not own a car, such as teenagers, elderly residents and those on low incomes, struggle to reach hospitals, shops and workplaces. A villager who needs a specialist appointment may have to rely on relatives or pay for an expensive taxi. Young people may be unable to attend college or take a job in a nearby town, which limits their opportunities and encourages them to move away, leaving the community older and smaller. Poor transport also forces households to buy and maintain cars they can barely afford, and this increases pollution.
Governments have several options. They can subsidise bus and rail routes that are not commercially profitable, treating them as an essential service in the same way as schools or clinics. Flexible alternatives may suit areas with few passengers: demand-responsive minibuses that are booked by phone or an app, community-run vehicles and shared taxis cost less than fixed timetables while still giving people a way to travel. Authorities could also encourage employers and schools to organise shared transport, and invest in better roads and cycle paths so that residents can travel safely to the nearest station. In Switzerland, the PostBus network links even tiny villages to the national system, showing that rural public transport can work with sustained public funding.
In conclusion, poor rural transport isolates vulnerable people and drives young residents away. Subsidies, flexible services and better connections would make rural life more practical and fairer.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| rural isolation | loneliness in countryside areas |
| bus service | regular bus routes |
| car-dependent | needing a car |
| on-demand transport | service called when needed |
| transport equity | fair access to travel |
| remote village | distant small village |
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