Writing a problem-solution essay
Below are seven essay questions. Read the questions. Then, put a tick () beside
the questions that require you to use a problem-solution structure. Put a cross ()
beside those that do not. The underlined words may help you to reach your
decision.
1.
Discuss why sex education is neglected in Hong Kong. Then, point out some of
the dangers of ignoring sex education and suggest how sex education can best be
provided for young people. (1995)

2.
It is common in Hong Kong secondary schools for older students to tutor younger
students in schemes organized by schools. Discuss the tutor system and mention
its difficulties, but emphasise the benefits of the scheme for both the tutors and
the younger students. (1996) 
3.
Explain why new towns in Hong Kong such as Tuen Mun and Ma On Shan have
not been successful in terms of their provision of facilities, and suggest what the
government should do to improve the situation. (1996)

4. Give at least one reason for the decline of tourism since the
latter half of 1997, and suggest three possible ways to combat
this decline and to help promote tourism in Hong Kong in the
future. (1998) 
5. Explain why English first names have become so popular in
Hong Kong. Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of
using English first names. (1997) 
6. Give reasons why overseas holidays are popular among Hong
Kong people, and compare the benefits of travelling abroad to
the benefits of staying in Hong Kong during holidays. (1997) 
7. Write an article entitled “Let’s make all public facilities
accessible to wheelchairs” Justify your view.

When you are asked to discuss or
analyse a problem and suggest ways to
solve the problem, you can use a
problem-solution essay format.
In a problem-solution essay, the number of
problems and solutions can vary. However,
you must be sure to present at least one
solution for each problem you raise. There
are TWO ways of handling the ideas. In the
first arrangement, all the problems are listed
before the solutions given. In the other
arrangement, one problem is followed by
several solutions to the problem.
If you need to cover several related problems in
your essay, you should use one of the following
essay outlines.
Outline 1
Outline 2
Situation
Situation
Problems 1, 2 and 3
Problem 1, Solution 1
Solutions to problems 1, 2 and 3
Problem 2, Solution 2
Evaluation of the solutions
Problem 3, solution 3
Evaluation of the solutions
In both of these outlines, it is normal to
begin a new paragraph for each problem or
solution. In addition, you need to begin the
essay with a situation and end with an
evaluation of the solution. (SPSE pattern)
‫‏‬
Below are some steps that you can follow when you are
discussing problems.
1. Identify the problem and the history or background of the
problem. To identify the problem, you can use expressions
e.g.

As far as I can see, the main problem is …

The problem seems to be that …
To discuss the background of the problem, you can use
expressions such as

The problem has been caused mainly by …
2. Discuss who is affected by the problem and who is responsible
for the problem. You can use expressions such as

The people who seem most affected by the situation are …

The source of the problem seems to be …

In my opinion, the problem originated from …
3. Discuss the extent of the problem and what will happen if it is
not solved. You can use expressions such as

The problem is quite serious because …

If the problem is not dealt with …
‫‏‬
Below are some steps that you can follow when you are
discussing solutions.
1. Introduce the solution. You can use expressions such as

One way to solve the problem is to …

Perhaps one solution is to …
2. Discuss who can get involved in solving the problem. You
can use expressions such as

For this solution to work, different people need to get
involved …
3. Discuss the cost and practicality of the solution. You can use
expressions such as

The cost of this solution is reasonable/too expensive …

The cost to the Government will not be great…

This solution is practical/impractical…

This is a good way to solve the problem because it is easy to
carry out.
4. Discuss how effective the solution will be and how long it will
take to solve the problem using the solution. You can use
expressions such as

This solution will definitely get results, but it may take a long
time to solve the problem.

This solution is effective and it can put an end to the problem
quite quickly.