You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Present a written argument or case to an educated non-specialist audience on the following topic.

The private motor vehicle has greatly improved individual freedom of movement. Moreover, the automobile¹ has become a status symbol. Yet the use of private motor vehicles has contributed to some of today’s most serious problems. How can the use of private motor vehicles be reduced?

You should write at least 250 words.
You should you your own ideas, knowledge and experience and support your arguments with examples and relevant evidence.

Topic words:
Private motor vehicles
privately² owned cars
Serious problems eg. Pollution, traffic jams, accidents

Task words:
How can … be reduced?
Note: answer question “how can…” not “Should the use of cars be reduced?” The task is in the final question, not in the preceding sentences.

The answer must:
Suggest some ways to stop people from using their cars so much, eg. Government measures, education campaigns.

Sample Essay

The private motor vehicle has given us a freedom our ancestors could not dream about. We can travel swiftly, and usually safely, over the roads which have been built to accommodate our cars. People can display their wealth by driving a car which may cost as much as another person’s home. - Introduction: advantages of cars (brief)

Sadly the car has become a disadvantage as well as a boom. The car pollutes the atmosphere, may be involved in serious accidents, and by its very numbers blocks roads and chokes cities. How can we reduce its use? - Brief statement of problem: disadvantages of cars

The car is only desirable if we can use it easily, so we might begin by reducing access to parking spaces in the cities and simultaneously³ increasing the quality and availability of public transport. Cars could be banned form certain parts of the city, thus forcing people to walk or to use public transport. - Ideas for cutting the number of cars

The expense of buying and running a car can be raised. If the motorist is faced with a high purchase price, high road tax, high insurance premiums⁴ and substantial fines he or she may reconsider the purchase. A corresponding reduction in the price of public transport would help this financial argument against car ownership.

Neither of these arguments will sway the super rich who can afford the status cars, but it would perhaps encourage them to look at other ways of demonstrating their wealth. However we do it, reducing the number of cars on the road will reduce the problems of pollution and the congestion⁵ which can bring cities to a standstill. - Conclusions: states the benefits of reducing the number of cars

Remember: this sample answer is one of several satisfactory ways to answer the question. Other essays which respond to the writing task would also be acceptable.

Source: Prepare for IELTS, by Vanessa Todd & Penny Cameron, 1996, UTS, Australia. For non-profit educational use only.