IELTS Writing Task 2 – Partly Agree (Free Public Transport)

It is often argued that offering free buses and trains is the most effective solution to traffic congestion in large cities. I partly agree with this view, because free fares would encourage some drivers to leave their cars at home, but I believe that faster and more reliable services are even more important.

On the one hand, I agree that free public transport would help to reduce traffic. For many people, cost is a key reason for driving, because buying several tickets for a family can cost more than one car journey. If fares were removed, this reason would disappear, and some drivers would switch to buses and trains. For example, a parent who drives two children to school every day might start taking the bus if the whole family could travel for free. As a result, there would be fewer cars on the roads, especially during the morning rush hour.

On the other hand, I do not believe that free fares alone are the best way to solve the problem. Many people drive not because public transport is expensive, but because it is slow, crowded or not available where they live. For instance, a worker in the suburbs who needs two buses and an hour to reach the office will probably keep using the car, even if the ticket costs nothing. For this reason, making buses and trains faster and more reliable would probably take more cars off the road than simply making them free.

In conclusion, I partly agree that making public transport free would reduce traffic, as it removes the cost of travelling by bus or train. However, faster and more reliable services would be an even better way to persuade drivers to leave their cars at home.

It is often argued that a ban on advertising for junk food would be the most effective way to tackle childhood obesity. I partly agree with this view, because such adverts clearly influence what children want to eat, but I believe that healthier school meals and more physical activity are even more important.

On the one hand, I agree that banning these adverts would help. Advertising for sweets, fizzy drinks and fast food often uses cartoon characters and free toys, because companies know that children find them hard to resist. If these adverts disappeared, children would ask their parents for unhealthy snacks less often. For example, a child who sees a burger advert during every cartoon break is much more likely to beg for a fast-food meal on the way home. As a result, families would buy fewer unhealthy products.

On the other hand, I do not believe that an advertising ban alone is the best way to solve the problem. Many children gain weight not only because of adverts, but because they eat poor meals every day and get very little exercise. For instance, a teenager who has chips for lunch at school and spends every evening gaming will still put on weight, even if they never see a single advert. For this reason, healthier school meals and daily sport would probably do more to reduce obesity than a ban on its own.

In conclusion, I partly agree that banning adverts for unhealthy food would reduce childhood obesity, as it removes a strong influence on children's choices. However, better school meals and more physical activity would be an even more effective solution.

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