Writing Task 2: Problem & Solution Essay: Question 6
Syllabus W.task2
In many towns and cities, the number of young people training to become electricians, plumbers and other skilled tradespeople has fallen sharply over the past two decades, even though demand for these services continues to rise.
What problems does this trend cause, and what measures could be taken to address them?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. Write at least 250 words.
Show worked solution Hide worked solution
Worked solution
Examiner notes: why this is a band 9 response
Task Response
The introduction paraphrases the prompt and sets up a clear two-part structure, and both body paragraphs deliver on it precisely: the first develops two distinct problems (unsafe, delayed repairs and stalled housebuilding), and the second offers two concrete measures (careers guidance and guaranteed apprenticeships) rather than one vague fix repeated twice. The Milldale example grounds the final measure in a specific, plausible outcome, and the conclusion draws the two halves together without introducing a new, unaddressed idea.
Coherence & Cohesion
Topic sentences (“The most immediate problem is…”, “Several measures could tackle this shortage effectively”) clearly signal the shift from problem to solution, and internal linking (“this shortage”, “the financial barrier that pushes many teenagers toward degrees instead”) ties each new sentence back to what came before without relying on a mechanical list of connectives.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is precise and topic-appropriate (“registered electrician”, “vocational careers”, “guaranteed apprenticeships”) rather than generic, and collocations are used naturally and accurately throughout (e.g. “restore the pipeline”, “financial barrier”).
Grammatical Range & Accuracy
The response uses a wide range of structures with full control, including a colon-led clarifying clause (“Milldale Technical College illustrates this well: after partnering…”), passive constructions (“cannot be fixed promptly”), and varied sentence openings. There are no errors of tense, agreement or word form anywhere in the essay.
Common pitfalls specific to this task
See commonMistakes above: the most damaging is answering “why has the shortage happened” rather than “what problems does the shortage cause”. A band 9 response must stay focused on the consequences of the trend, not its causes, unless the prompt explicitly asks for both.