IELTS Task 2: The impact of noise pollution on health – Band 6-9 Essays

Introduction

Noise is no longer a background nuisance; it is a genuine public-health concern. In IELTS Writing Task 2, topics about environmental stressors and urban life appear frequently, and exam questions often ask you to analyse causes, solutions, and policy trade-offs. If you are preparing for this theme, you will learn how to frame arguments clearly, integrate evidence logically, and use academic vocabulary confidently.

In this guide, you will find:

• Three full sample essays (Band 5-6, 6.5-7, and 8-9) on The impact of noise pollution on health
• An expert analysis of band scores using official criteria
• A focused vocabulary bank and high-scoring sentence patterns
• Practical checklists and time management tips

Recent memory-based questions reported by trusted sources include:

• Reported on IELTS-Blog: “In many cities, increasing levels of noise from traffic, construction and neighbours are reducing the quality of life. What are the causes of this problem and what measures can be taken to solve it?”
• Reported by candidates and discussed on IELTS Liz: “Some people think the amount of noise people create should be strictly controlled by law, while others believe people have the right to make noise. Discuss both views and give your opinion.”
• Reported on IELTS-Blog: “The main environmental problem affecting people in cities today is noise. To what extent do you agree or disagree?”

For readers who want a broader policy perspective, you can explore how public agencies evaluate the impact of excessive sound through this overview of the impact of noise pollution on public health.

1. Question & Analysis: The impact of noise pollution on health

In many cities, increasing levels of noise from traffic, construction and neighbours are reducing people’s quality of life. What are the causes of this problem and what measures can be taken to solve it?

• Question type and requirements:

  • Cause–solution essay. You must explain major causes and propose practical, prioritised solutions.
  • Clear structure: introduction, causes (1–2 paragraphs), solutions (1–2 paragraphs), conclusion with a short evaluation.

• Key terms:

  • “Quality of life” includes sleep, concentration, stress levels, and social wellbeing—link these to health outcomes.
  • “Measures” should be feasible (e.g., urban planning codes, time-restricted construction, noise barriers, fines, quiet zones).

• Common pitfalls:

  • Listing too many causes without development.
  • Offering unrealistic solutions (e.g., “ban all cars”) or vague ones (“raise awareness”) without how/why.
  • Ignoring health mechanisms: sleep disturbance, cardiovascular risk, anxiety, cognitive load.

• Strategic approach:

  • Plan 2 core causes (urban density + weak regulation) and 2–3 concrete solutions (zoning, insulation standards, enforcement, public transport).
  • Use cause–effect language and exemplify with typical Asian megacities or dense districts to make your argument concrete.

For urban-focused readers, the policy tools you propose should align with how cities fund infrastructure and zoning; a helpful starting point is this discussion of the impact of noise pollution on urban health.

IELTS Task 2 noise pollution and health causes and solutions flowchart

2. Band 8-9 Sample Essay on the impact of noise pollution on health

Band 8-9 essays present a clear, consistent position, develop arguments with depth and examples, and show range and control in vocabulary and grammar.

Essay (300 words):
In many metropolitan areas, ambient noise has become a persistent threat to wellbeing. Two forces drive this trend: urban density without adequate planning, and lax enforcement of noise standards. High-rise living places residents near roads, rail lines and nightlife; when building codes ignore acoustic insulation, sleep disruption and chronic stress follow. Equally, construction sites that operate beyond permitted hours and motorcycles with modified exhausts flourish where monitoring is weak.

Health impacts are neither abstract nor minor. Repeated night-time awakenings elevate cortisol and blood pressure, which, over time, increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. For schoolchildren living on busy corridors, constant background noise reduces attention span and language acquisition. The result is a slow erosion of quality of life, from short tempers at home to reduced productivity at work.

Addressing this requires both infrastructure and governance. First, cities should embed quiet design into planning: double-glazed windows in new builds, noise barriers along arterials, and green buffers around schools and hospitals. Second, time-based regulation matters: enforce quiet hours for construction and nightlife, with escalating fines and the power to suspend licences. Third, shift transport demand by investing in frequent, clean public transit and low-noise road surfaces; fewer cars and calmer speeds reduce both volume and decibels. Finally, transparent data—public noise maps and complaint dashboards—encourage compliance and empower communities.

Critics argue that strict rules may stifle commerce or personal freedom. Yet the right to rest is not trivial: without restorative sleep, health deteriorates and productivity falls. Sensible thresholds, targeted enforcement and stakeholder consultation can balance vibrancy with tranquillity. In short, cities that design for quiet design for health.

Band Score Analysis

Why it excels:

• Prioritises two main causes instead of listing many.
• Links noise to concrete health mechanisms, not vague claims.
• Offers feasible, layered solutions (design, regulation, transport, data).
• Balances counterargument succinctly.
• Uses precise topic vocabulary and strong collocations.
• Cohesive phrases vary naturally (“equally”, “addressing this”, “in short”).
• Sentence variety: subordination, parallelism, and emphatic short sentence.

For those researching psychological outcomes and argument examples, see a concise overview of the impact of noise pollution on mental health.

3. Band 6.5-7 Sample Essay

Band 6.5-7 essays are clear and relevant, but may have uneven development, occasional imprecision in lexis, and some grammar slips. Cohesion is generally effective.

Essay (270 words):
Urban residents are increasingly exposed to unwanted sound, which harms daily life and even health. The main reasons are crowded cities and poor control of noise sources such as road traffic and construction. When flats are built close to highways without enough soundproofing, people cannot sleep well. Also, construction at late hours and loud entertainment venues disturb neighbourhoods for long periods.

The effects go beyond simple annoyance. Continuous noise raises stress and can trigger headaches and high blood pressure. Students in noisy areas also find it difficult to focus on homework. Although some people get used to background sounds, it still reduces the quality of rest and concentration in the long run.

To solve this, governments should update building standards to include double-glazed windows and better materials that block noise. Authorities also need to enforce quiet hours and issue fines to repeat offenders. Another practical step is to improve public transport and bicycle lanes so that citizens depend less on cars and motorbikes, which are very noisy in many Asian cities. Finally, public information, like maps of noise levels and simple advice on arranging furniture or adding curtains, helps households reduce exposure indoors.

In conclusion, noise pollution damages physical and mental health, but a mix of smarter design and stricter rules can reduce it. If cities combine engineering with real enforcement, residents will sleep better and feel calmer, which benefits society and the economy.

Band Score Analysis

Direct comparison with Band 8-9:

• Mechanisms: Band 8-9 specifies cortisol and cardiovascular risk; Band 7 says “stress and headaches.”
• Solutions: Band 8-9 layers design, regulation, transport, data; Band 7 lists similar ideas but with less detail on “how.”
• Counterargument: Band 8-9 acknowledges freedom/commerce; Band 7 mentions adaptation briefly.
• Lexis: Band 8-9 uses “acoustic insulation,” “low-noise surfaces”; Band 7 prefers “soundproofing,” “better materials.”

To deepen your mental-health arguments with accurate phrasing, you may also find this explainer on the impact of noise pollution on mental health useful.

4. Band 5-6 Sample Essay

Band 5-6 essays are understandable but feature limited development, repetitive language, and noticeable grammatical errors. Cohesion may be mechanical.

Essay (255 words):
Noise is becoming a big problem in cities and it really affect people health. There are many reasons like more cars, more buildings, and people are not careful about neighbors. For example, in my city the construction keep working at night and trucks make loud sound. People cannot sleep and next day they feel tired and angry, which is bad for work and study.

Another cause is that government do not make strong rules. Sometimes there is law about quiet time, but nobody check it, so businesses just play music very loud to attract customers. Also houses are build too close to main roads without good windows, so noise going inside. This is not only annoying but also dangerous because it can make the blood pressure go up and cause stress all the time.

To solve, cities should stop the noise by telling people to be quiet. They should ban loud noise in everywhere. Builders must use better material and not work in midnight. Police can give fine if someone is too noisy. Finally, people can wear earplug or play music to cover noise, which is not perfect but help a little.

In conclusion, noise pollution is serious problem and it make health worse and reduce quality life. If government and citizens work together, we can have a more quiet city.

Band Score Analysis

Learning from Mistakes

How to improve from Band 6 to 7:

• Replace generic claims with mechanisms (sleep loss → stress hormones → hypertension).
• Calibrate solutions (quiet hours, insulation standards) instead of absolute bans.
• Upgrade lexis: “acoustic insulation,” “enforcement,” “time-restricted construction.”
• Fix core grammar: subject–verb agreement, passive forms, article usage.

For further reading on typical public-health pathways you can model in your essays, see an application-focused summary of The effects of noise pollution on human health.

5. Essential Vocabulary: The impact of noise pollution on health

6. High-Scoring Sentence Structures

1. Complex subordination

• Formula: Subordinator + dependent clause, main clause
• Example: Although nightlife contributes to local economies, it should observe quiet hours to protect residents’ sleep.
• Why it scores well: Balances two sides; shows control of concession.
• More examples: “While roads are essential, traffic speed can be calmed.” “Because sleep disruption accumulates, weekly limits matter.”
• Pitfalls: Don’t overuse “although” and then contradict yourself.

2. Non-defining relative clauses

• Formula: Noun, which + verb, main clause
• Example: Construction noise, which often peaks at dawn, is easily reduced by strict scheduling.
• Why: Adds precise detail without breaking flow.
• More: “Double glazing, which is standard in colder regions, should be mandated in tropics.” “Noise maps, which reveal hotspots, guide enforcement.”
• Pitfalls: Use commas; don’t use “that.”

3. Participle phrases

• Formula: -ing/-ed phrase, main clause
• Example: Elevating cortisol and blood pressure, chronic night noise undermines cardiovascular health.
• Why: Concise cause-effect packaging.
• More: “Ignoring acoustic codes, developers cut costs.” “Designed with buffers, schools stay quieter.”
• Pitfalls: Avoid dangling modifiers; the phrase should modify the subject.

4. Cleft sentences for emphasis

• Formula: It + be + X + that/who + clause
• Example: It is targeted enforcement that deters persistent violators.
• Why: Emphasises key levers.
• More: “It is sleep quality that suffers first.” “It was lax planning that created the problem.”
• Pitfalls: Don’t overuse; ensure tense and agreement are correct.

5. Advanced conditionals

• Formula: If + were to/should + base, modal + base
• Example: If cities were to publish real-time noise maps, communities would hold venues accountable.
• Why: Hypothetical policy consequences.
• More: “Should fines escalate, compliance would improve.” “If roads used quiet surfaces, night traffic could continue with less harm.”
• Pitfalls: Keep subject–verb agreement; avoid mixed conditionals unless intentional.

6. Inversion for emphasis

• Formula: Only + when/after + aux + subject + verb
• Example: Only after quiet hours are enforced do residents regain restorative sleep.
• Why: Sophisticated emphasis and rhythm.
• More: “Not until insulation is standard will complaints fall.” “Rarely has data been so accessible.”
• Pitfalls: Maintain correct auxiliary order; don’t force inversion in every paragraph.

For readers building arguments around city systems, the lexicon above connects well with this policy-oriented piece on the impact of noise pollution on urban health.

IELTS Writing Task 2 tips on noise and health with checklist

7. Self-Assessment Checklist

Before writing:

• Analyse the question type (agree/disagree, discuss both, cause–solution).
• Decide your stance and 2 main ideas per side.
• Note specific mechanisms (sleep, stress, cardiovascular risk).

While writing:

• Start each paragraph with a clear topic sentence.
• Develop ideas with “how” and “why,” not just “what.”
• Use varied linkers and precise topic vocabulary.

After writing:

• Check for over-general claims; add a concrete example if missing.
• Fix subject–verb agreement and article usage.
• Ensure the conclusion restates your position and priorities.

Time management tips:

• 3–4 minutes to plan; 30 minutes to write; 2–3 minutes to check.
• If stuck, write the body paragraphs first, then the introduction.
• Aim for 270–310 words to allow developed ideas without rushing.

Conclusion

Noise is more than an urban inconvenience; it is a health determinant that affects sleep, stress, and long-term disease risk. To perform well in IELTS Writing Task 2 on The impact of noise pollution on health, focus on mechanisms, propose scalable policies, and present a balanced, evidence-aware position. With steady practice, most candidates can move one band in 6–8 weeks by targeting vocabulary, paragraph development, and core grammar. For those interested in policy frameworks that protect communities, this overview of the impact of noise pollution on public health offers helpful context, and a related primer on impact of noise pollution on mental health can strengthen your medical vocabulary. To see how examiners expect you to describe clinical pathways, review The effects of noise pollution on human health.

Your next step: choose one of the questions above, write a 280-word response, then grade yourself with the checklists and tables here. Share your essay with a peer or teacher for focused feedback, and keep a vocabulary log of precise collocations you can reuse confidently in the exam.