Family & ChildrenProblem–Solution
IELTS Essay: Elderly Care in Care Homes (Band 9 vs 6.5)
In short
Below is a full Band 9 model answer to this IELTS Writing Task 2 question, the same question written at Band 6.5, and a criterion-by-criterion breakdown of exactly what separates them — so you can see what to change in your own writing. Then check your essay with the free tool.
The question
In many countries, a growing number of elderly people are being cared for in residential care homes rather than by their own families. What problems does this trend cause, and what solutions can you suggest?
How to approach a Problem–Solution question
A problem/solution question needs realistic causes or problems in one body paragraph and directly matching solutions in the other. Keep the two linked — each solution should address a problem you actually raised — and be specific: vague answers like 'the government should do more' score poorly compared with concrete, plausible measures.
The plan
- 01Introduction: paraphrase the trend and signal the problems and solutions to come.
- 02Body 1: problems - loneliness and loss of dignity, weakened family bonds, and high financial cost.
- 03Body 2: solutions - tax relief and leave for home carers, better local facilities, and cultural change.
- 04Conclusion: summarise that incentives, better design and respect for duty can mitigate the problems.
Band 9 model answer
Across much of the developed world, elderly relatives are increasingly entrusted to residential care homes instead of being looked after by their own children. This shift carries significant emotional and financial costs, though a combination of policy support and cultural change could ease the worst of them.
The most obvious problem is emotional. Many older people experience acute loneliness and a loss of dignity when removed from familiar surroundings, and the sense of having been abandoned by their families can accelerate cognitive and physical decline. There is a societal cost too: as caring for one's parents ceases to be the norm, the bonds of obligation that once held families together gradually weaken, leaving the next generation with no expectation of being looked after themselves. Financially, quality care is expensive, and the burden frequently falls on the state or on savings families can ill afford.
Several measures could reverse or soften this trend. Governments could offer meaningful tax relief and paid carer's leave to those who look after ageing relatives at home, making family care a realistic option rather than a sacrifice. Where residential care is unavoidable, investment in smaller, community-based facilities - situated close to relatives and staffed generously - would preserve dignity and encourage frequent visits. Equally important is a cultural shift, reminding younger people through schools and the media that caring for elders is a shared duty, not an inconvenience to be outsourced.
In conclusion, although the growing reliance on care homes brings emotional and economic difficulties, targeted financial incentives, better-designed facilities and a renewed respect for family obligation could substantially mitigate them.
The same question at Band 6.5
These days, more and more old people are living in care homes instead of staying with their family. This situation create some serious problems for them, but I think there are also some solutions that can help to solve these problems.
The main problem is that old people can feel very lonely in the care home. They are far from their family and their old friends, so they become sad and sometimes their health is getting worse. Another problem is the money, because the care homes are very expensive and not every family can pay for it. Also, when children send their parents to care home, they lose the close relationship between them, which is not good for the family.
There are some solutions for this problem. Firstly, the government should give money or help to the families who want to take care of their old parents at home. For example, the government can give some money every month to help these families. In this way, more people will keep their parents in the house instead of the care home. Secondly, the care homes should be cheaper and also they should be near to the city, so the family can visit their parents more easily and more often.
In conclusion, living in care homes cause some problems like loneliness and high cost for the old people and their families. But if the government help the families and make the care homes better, I believe this problem can be reduced in the future.
What separates them, criterion by criterion
| Criterion | Band 9 | Band 6.5 |
|---|---|---|
| Task Response | Fully answers both parts - develops emotional, social and financial problems, then offers matched, practical solutions. | Addresses problems and solutions but explains each only briefly and in general terms. |
| Coherence & Cohesion | Cohesion is varied and embedded ('The most obvious problem...', 'Where residential care is unavoidable'). | Uses mechanical markers ('Firstly', 'Secondly', 'Also') and simple additive links between sentences. |
| Lexical Resource | Precise phrasing: 'acute loneliness', 'bonds of obligation', 'meaningful tax relief', 'community-based facilities'. | Everyday vocabulary repeated - 'old people', 'care home', 'problem' and 'money' recur throughout. |
| Grammatical Range & Accuracy | Sophisticated, accurate sentences with subordination and colons used correctly for emphasis. | Simple structures with subject-verb errors such as 'This situation create' and 'the government help'. |
Examiner's note
The Band 9 answer addresses both parts of the task fully, pairing well-developed problems with practical, matched solutions in precise and varied language. The Band 6.5 is on-topic and organised, but its analysis is thin, its cohesion mechanical, and its subject-verb errors and everyday vocabulary place it at a solid but unremarkable level.
Vocabulary from the Band 9 answer
| Word / phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| entrusted to residential care homes | placed in the care of care homes |
| acute loneliness | very intense, severe loneliness |
| a loss of dignity | the loss of one's sense of self-respect |
| accelerate cognitive and physical decline | speed up the worsening of the mind and body |
| bonds of obligation | the sense of duty that ties family members together |
| meaningful tax relief | a significant reduction in the tax someone must pay |
| community-based facilities | care centres located within local neighbourhoods |
| renewed respect for family obligation | a fresh appreciation of the duty to care for one's family |
Frequently asked questions
How many problems and solutions should I include?
Two well-developed problems and two solutions usually work best. Depth and clear explanation score higher than a long list of points you cannot develop.
Do my solutions need to match the problems I raised?
Ideally yes. Linking each solution to a specific problem strengthens coherence, though a strong, relevant general solution is also acceptable.
Should I give my personal opinion in a problem-solution essay?
The task does not ask for one, so focus on analysing the problems and solutions. A brief evaluative comment in the conclusion is fine, but a full opinion is not required.