PTE Academic Write Essay · Problem and solution · beginner

Addressing Unreliable Public Transport Systems Problem Solution

The prompt

In many cities, public buses and trains are often late or crowded. What problems does unreliable public transport cause, and what can cities do to improve it?

20 minutes. Write 200 to 300 words. A BandLadder practice prompt, not a recalled exam question.

Plan before you write

Position:
Unreliable public transit diminishes urban productivity and environmental sustainability, necessitating infrastructure investment and technology integration.
Paragraph 2:
The consequences of inconsistent transit include reduced economic efficiency and increased reliance on private vehicles.
Paragraph 3:
Cities can mitigate these issues through infrastructure expansion and the implementation of real-time tracking systems.
  1. Name one or two specific problems, not a general complaint.
  2. Match each solution to a problem and say who would carry it out.
  3. Keep problems and solutions in separate paragraphs so the structure is visible.

Sample essay

Urban centers frequently struggle with public transportation systems that are plagued by delays and overcrowding. This inefficiency creates significant challenges for both commuters and the environment, requiring strategic intervention from municipal authorities to restore functionality.

The primary consequence of unreliable public transit is a substantial decline in economic productivity. When buses and trains fail to arrive on schedule, employees experience increased tardiness and stress, which adversely affects professional output. Furthermore, commuters often abandon public options in favor of private automobiles to gain predictability. This shift exacerbates traffic congestion and elevates carbon emissions, undermining broader urban sustainability goals. For instance, in cities where transit systems are consistently over capacity, the resulting road congestion leads to gridlock that further delays the very buses meant to alleviate it.

To address these systemic failings, cities must prioritize targeted infrastructure investment and digital innovation. Expanding fleet capacity and adding dedicated lanes can significantly reduce the frequency of delays caused by traffic. Simultaneously, the integration of real-time monitoring technology allows passengers to plan their journeys accurately, thereby reducing frustration. For example, cities that have successfully implemented smart-tracking mobile applications report higher satisfaction rates and smoother passenger flow during peak hours, as users can adjust their schedules based on live data rather than static timetables.

In conclusion, the unreliability of public transport imposes a heavy burden on urban life, ranging from lost productivity to environmental degradation. By combining physical infrastructure expansion with modern technological solutions, municipal governments can create efficient transit networks that incentivize public usage and improve the overall quality of life for all residents.

259 words. Use the structure and vocabulary, not the sentences: PTE flags memorised templates.

Why this scores well

This response scores highly for its logical development of ideas and precise academic vocabulary. The most common error on this prompt is failing to provide a balanced discussion that addresses both the problems and the solutions explicitly.

Vocabulary from the essay

mitigate
to make something less severe or painful
adversely
in a way that prevents success or development
exacerbates
to make a bad situation even worse
infrastructure
the basic physical systems of a region
systemic
relating to a system as a whole
degradation
the process of declining to a lower state
gridlock
a situation where traffic is completely stopped
incentivize
to provide a motive or reward

Write it yourself and get a PTE score

Answer this prompt in 20 minutes and get an AI score on the PTE essay traits, with the sentences that cost you marks.

Practise PTE Write Essay

See also the Write Essay guide.

Frequently asked questions

How long should a PTE essay be?

Between 200 and 300 words; outside that range the form score drops to zero. This sample is 259 words, written for the 20-minute limit.

What type of essay is this?

Problem and solution. Name one or two specific problems, not a general complaint.

What does PTE reward in the essay?

This response scores highly for its logical development of ideas and precise academic vocabulary. The most common error on this prompt is failing to provide a balanced discussion that addresses both the problems and the solutions explicitly.

More society essays