Travel & InfrastructureCauses & SolutionsIntermediateHigh Frequency

Roads in Major Cities

Prompt

The roads in major cities today are often difficult to travel on. What are the causes of this? What are some possible solutions?

#urban_congestion#infrastructure#transportation#city_planning#vehicle_volume

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Band 7 → 9 — Band 7 students identify several causes and solutions logically, while Band 9 students demonstrate understanding of systems thinking—that road expansion worsens congestion, and propose integrated solutions addressing root causes like land-use planning and transit investment.

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Key concepts in this essay

induced demand
public transportation adequacy
urban sprawl
land use patterns
multi-modal solutions

Pitfalls the model essay avoids

Identifying symptoms (too many cars) rather than underlying causes (urban sprawl, public transit inadequacy, economic factors driving commuting)
Proposing single-solution fixes (wider roads, more parking) without recognizing induced demand or addressing root causes
Not discussing that different cities have different congestion causes requiring tailored solutions

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