IELTS Writing Task 2 | Car ownership has increased over the past thirty years

• Introduction:
• Paraphrase the overall essay main topic.
• Write a clear opinion.
• 1st Body Paragraph
• Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea.
• Explain your main idea.
• Develop it with specific or hypothetical examples.
• 2nd Body Paragraph
• Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea.
• Explain your new main idea.
• Include specific details and examples.
• Add as much information as you can and make sure it links logically.
• Conclusion:
• Summarise your main ideas.
• Include a final thought.

• It has become increasingly common in recent years for cities to be inundated with cars and, consequently, increased levels of traffic. In my opinion, this is a very real phenomenon and governments could do more to encourage other modes of transport.
• There is little doubt that the main cause of traffic is more cars in urban areas. One natural consequence of a burgeoning global middle class isa rise in automobile ownership. This is reflected not only in statistics but also in the day-to-day reality of millions living in densely populated cities such as Los Angeles, Beijing, and London. The average person living in those cities must choose between sitting in traffic, using public transport, or residing near to their workplace. There is little chance this pattern will change in the future as many people see owning a car as a sign of social status and a mark of success in life generally.
• Since most car owners will not be dissuaded by higher prices, the best method to combat traffic is to stimulate other kinds of transportation. Since most cities already possess public transportation in the form of buses and subways, governments can simply commit to maintaining and expanding existing options. A standout example of this would be the London Underground which has dozens of lines and is maintained to a high standard. Another pragmatic solution would be to encourage the use of bikes and motorbikes. Many European countries do this by providing free bicycles for short rides. In Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam, urban planners provide lanes specifically for compact motorbikes where there is far less traffic than in the lanes for bulky cars.
• In conclusion, there is clear evidence that cities are more crowded than ever before and the state can curb this trend by enacting policies to promote bicycles and motorbikes in cities. This is a crucial reform not only for quality of life but also the environmental impact.

Vocabulary and Useful Expressions

• It has become increasingly common in recent years for: it happens more and more
• inundated with: filled with
• consequently: as a result
• increased levels of traffic: more cars on the road
• very real phenomenon: actual development
• encourage: push, motivate
• modes of transport: way of getting around
• There is little doubt that: almost definitely true
• urban areas: cities
• One natural consequence: one real result
• burgeoning global middle class: more people with money
• automobile ownership: having cars and private vehicles
• reflected: mirrored
• statistics: numbers
• day-to-day reality: real life
• densely populated cities such as: urban areas with lots of people
• average person: normal person
• sitting in traffic: in gridlocked streets
• public transport: buses, metros, etc.
• residing near to their workplace: living near where you work
• There is little chance this pattern will change in the future: not much of a chance it will be different later
• sign of social status: shows how rich you are
• mark of success in life generally: shows you have done well in life
• dissuaded by: not encouraged
• best method to combat traffic: best way to reduce too many cars on the road
• stimulate: encourage
• possess: have
• in the form of: in the way
• subways: metros, undergrounds
• commit to maintaining and expanding existing options: support what is there already
• A standout example of this would be: a good instance is
• London Underground: the subway in London
• dozens: many
• maintained to a high standard: kept to a good level
• pragmatic solution: real fix
• providing free bicycles for short rides: giving bikes to ride around
• urban planners provide lanes specifically for: compact: people who plan cities carve out places for small
• far less traffic than in the lanes for bulky cars: a lot fewer people than in the places where big cars are
• clear evidence: good support
• crowded: lots of people
• state can curb this trend: government can hold back this pattern
• enacting policies to: promote: putting in place laws to help
• crucial reform: key change
• quality of life: standard of living
• environmental impact: effect on nature