IELTS with Mujahid · Academic Writing
Sending your writing to your instructor for review...
Compare your response against a high-band sample — don't aim to copy it, use it to see how ideas are organised and supported.
The diagrams illustrate how West Park Secondary School changed between its construction in 1950 and 2010.
Overall, the school site developed considerably, with housing and farmland giving way to a science block, a car park and sports facilities, and by 2010 the car park had become the largest feature while the playground had shrunk.
In 1950, the school consisted of a single main building next to the main road. Three houses stood to its west, while farmland lay in the south-west of the site and the playground occupied the south-east.
By 1980, the houses had been demolished and replaced by a car park and a new science block, which was built beside the main building. The farmland had been converted into a sports field, whereas the playground remained in the same position.
The most noticeable changes took place between 1980 and 2010. The car park was greatly enlarged and extended southwards, taking over the area of the former sports field. As a result, only a small sports field remained, located between the car park and a reduced playground. The main building and the science block, however, stayed exactly as they had been in 1980.
Over the past thirty years, the number of private vehicles has grown enormously, and in many large cities congestion has become part of daily life. I believe the statement is largely true for major urban centres, although it exaggerates the situation worldwide. Governments can discourage car use through a combination of financial penalties and better alternatives.
The claim is accurate for many big cities. Rapid economic growth has made cars affordable for millions of households, while urban roads have not expanded at the same pace. In cities such as Jakarta, Lagos and Bangkok, commuters can spend hours each day in stationary traffic, which wastes fuel and time and worsens air pollution. However, the statement overlooks cities that have managed congestion well, such as Singapore and Copenhagen, and smaller towns where traffic remains light.
Governments can take several measures to reduce car use. First, they can make driving more expensive by introducing congestion charges and higher parking fees in city centres. London's congestion charge, for example, noticeably reduced traffic after its introduction in 2003. Second, and more importantly, authorities must invest in reliable and affordable public transport, because people will only leave their cars at home if the alternative is convenient. Metro systems, dedicated bus lanes and safe cycling routes can all play a part. Finally, limits on new vehicle registrations, as used in Singapore, and car-free zones can further control numbers.
In conclusion, traffic jams are a genuine feature of many cities, though not of every place. By combining charges, quality public transport and restrictions, governments can persuade drivers to leave their cars at home.