Task 2 · · 18 samples

Increasing the price of petrol is the best way to solve growing traffic and pollution problems. To what extent do you agree or disagree? What other measures do you think might be effective?

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Plan your answer

Try your own response before reading the samples.

Ideas to explore

  • A fuel-price rise may discourage optional car journeys, but it can affect people with limited transport choices more heavily.
  • Frequent, affordable and reliable public transport gives commuters a practical alternative to driving.
  • Combine congestion measures, such as peak-time charges, with investments in cleaner vehicles and safe walking or cycling routes.

Suggested structure

  1. Introduce the problem and state clearly whether higher petrol prices are the best solution.
  2. Explain one benefit and one limitation of increasing fuel prices.
  3. Develop public transport as a main alternative, linking service improvements to reduced car use.
  4. Add one or two complementary measures for congestion and pollution.
  5. Conclude by comparing a price increase alone with a combined approach.
Useful vocabulary & examples
a practical alternative to driving
A realistic option that people can use instead of travelling by car.

Frequent buses would give commuters a practical alternative to driving.

peak-time charges
Fees applied to vehicles travelling in busy areas during the most congested hours.

Peak-time charges could reduce the number of cars entering the city centre.

emissions standards
Official limits on the pollutants that vehicles or other sources may release.

Stricter emissions standards can help reduce pollution from vehicles.

place a heavier burden on
To make a cost or difficulty affect a particular group more severely.

A large fuel-price increase could place a heavier burden on lower-income drivers.

Sample answers

AI-completed learning example

274 words · Illustrative target band

Traffic congestion and environmental pollution have become serious problems around the world. Pollution is especially severe in big cities. While it is possible that higher gasoline prices will largely solve traffic and pollution problems, higher oil prices are not the best solution. However, I believe that other measures are more effective. The major reason why higher petrol prices could help is that they make drivi…

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AI-completed learning example

369 words · Illustrative target band

One of the best solutions is raising the price of fuel to deal with increasing traffic and pollution issues. I completely agree with this and think restricting driving in some areas of the city also assists to overcome it. First of all, I assume that the increase in fuel prices may cause people to use shared transport where it is a usable alternative. A higher fuel price can give drivers a reason to reconsider optio…

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AI-completed learning example

367 words · Illustrative target band

Over the past century, our cities have experienced an enormous rise in traffic congestion, which has led to a long list of environmental pollution problems. Some analysts argue that the best solution to these issues is the rising price of petrol. I certainly believe that this argument has a solid foundation. In this essay, some other measures should support this approach. A higher fuel price can give drivers a reaso…

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