Raising Fuel Costs to Protect the Environment — 02.01.2026
Essay type: Opinion (agree / disagree — to what extent)Band 6.5-8.0Stance: Largely agreeTarget ≈ 300 wordsModel essay: Band 8.0
Student's Edition
Ngô Đức Thảo
MTESOL · Academic Director
Task 2 Topic
Some people think that one of the best ways to solve environmental problems is to increase the cost of fuels for cars and other vehicles. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
1Task analysis
Item
Detail
Essay type
Opinion (agree / disagree — to what extent)
Main topic
Whether making petrol and diesel more expensive is one of the best ways to reduce environmental problems
Keywords
environmental problems · increase the cost · fuels · cars and other vehicles · one of the best ways
Task focus
Judge a price-based solution (higher fuel costs) to environmental problems caused by vehicles
Required position
Say clearly how far you agree or disagree and keep the same position in every paragraph
Plain-English meaning
If petrol becomes more expensive, people may drive less and pollute less. Is this one of the best solutions?
Hidden trap
The statement says one of the best ways, not the only way — you can agree and still mention it works best with other measures
Chosen stance
Largely agree. Price signals change driving behaviour and fund cleaner transport, provided the policy protects low-income groups
Main-idea plan
BP1 → price signals change behaviour and cut emissions · BP2 → tax revenue finances the shift to cleaner transport (with protection for the poor)
Pressure on manufacturers to build efficient vehicles
Freight companies optimise routes dự phòng
Body 2 — Funding the green transition
Revenue finances public transport and electrification ✓ strongest
Revenue can compensate low-income households
Reduced congestion improves productivity dự phòng
✓ strongest = ý dùng trong bài mẫu · dự phòng = ý thay thế, không có trong bài mẫu.
3Skeleton
Introduction
General statement: Vehicle emissions = smog + climate change
Paraphrased task: Rewrite: much dearer motor fuel = powerful tool
Thesis: Largely agree + careful design
Body 1: Price signal → drivers cut needless trips, firms demand efficient vehicles
Body 2: Ring-fenced revenue → transit, EV infrastructure; protect low-income drivers
Conclusion: Restate the opinion → summarise both reasons → final thought
4Plan & write your paragraphs
How to use: Read the main idea, tap the cue words to add them to the box, then write
your own sentence. Your essay is built automatically at the bottom and saved in this browser.
Introduction(50–70 words)
0 words
Goal: Topic → rewrite the statement → give your opinion.
General statement
Main idea: Vehicle emissions = smog + climate change
Starter: Vehicle emissions are now … ·
Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.
Paraphrased task
Main idea: Rewrite: much dearer motor fuel = powerful tool
Starter: Some argue that making … ·
Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.
Thesis
Main idea: Largely agree + careful design
Starter: I largely agree with … ·
Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.
Body Paragraph 1 — Changing behaviour through price(100–125 words)
0 words
Goal: Reason 1: explain it and give an example.
Topic sentence
Main idea: Price shapes behaviour
Starter: The most compelling argument … ·
Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.
Explanation 1
Main idea: Rising cost forces reconsideration
Starter: Whereas appeals to environmental … ·
Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.
Example
Main idea: Commuters share rides, use transit
Starter: For example, commuters who … ·
Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.
Explanation 2
Main idea: Pressure on carmakers
Starter: At the same time … ·
Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.
Further development
Main idea: Small choices → big reduction
Starter: Over time, these individual … ·
Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.
Link
Main idea: Price works where persuasion fails
Starter: Thus, a well-designed price … ·
Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.
Body Paragraph 2 — Funding the green transition(100–125 words)
0 words
Goal: Reason 2: explain it and give an example.
Topic sentence
Main idea: Taxes fund green transition
Starter: Equally important, higher fuel … ·
Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.
Explanation 1
Main idea: Ring-fenced → metro, cycle lanes, chargers
Starter: If this money is … ·
Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.
Example
Main idea: Electrify the bus fleet
Starter: A city could, for … ·
Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.
Explanation 2
Main idea: Compensate low-income households
Starter: Part of the revenue … ·
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Further development
Main idea: Fairer + more acceptable
Starter: Not only would this … ·
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Link
Main idea: Reduce pollution + fund alternatives
Starter: Consequently, higher fuel costs … ·
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Conclusion(40–55 words)
0 words
Goal: Repeat your opinion, sum up both reasons, final thought. No new ideas!
Restated thesis
Main idea: Largely agree
Starter: In conclusion, I largely … ·
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Summary
Main idea: Price signal + revenue
Starter: It changes behaviour through … ·
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Final thought
Main idea: Protect the vulnerable, offer alternatives
Starter: Nevertheless, its success depends … ·
Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.
📝 My essay
✓ saved
5Language bank (Band 6.5-8.0)
Mỗi đoạn có bảng collocation riêng. ✓ = có trong bài mẫu · + = cụm mở rộng để học viên tự dùng. 7.0 = nền tảng · 8.0 = nâng band.
Introduction
Collocation
Form
Vietnamese
Band
Bài mẫu
vehicle emissions
noun + noun
khí thải xe cộ
7.0
✓
widely recognised
adv + adj
được công nhận rộng rãi
7.0
✓
a major contributor to
noun phrase
nguyên nhân chính gây ra
7.0
✓
urban smog
adj + noun
khói bụi đô thị
8.0
✓
global climate change
noun phrase
biến đổi khí hậu toàn cầu
7.0
✓
considerably more expensive
adv + adj
đắt hơn đáng kể
8.0
✓
the most powerful tools
noun phrase
những công cụ mạnh nhất
8.0
✓
reinvested wisely
verb + adv
được tái đầu tư khôn ngoan
8.0
✓
Body Paragraph 1 — Changing behaviour through price
Collocation
Form
Vietnamese
Band
Bài mẫu
the most compelling argument
noun phrase
lập luận thuyết phục nhất
8.0
✓
human behaviour
adj + noun
hành vi con người
7.0
✓
environmental responsibility
adj + noun
trách nhiệm với môi trường
7.0
✓
easily ignored
verb + adv
dễ bị phớt lờ
7.0
✓
a noticeable rise
adj + noun
mức tăng đáng kể
8.0
✓
combine errands
verb + noun
gộp các việc vặt vào một chuyến
8.0
✓
share rides
verb + noun
đi chung xe
7.0
✓
come under pressure
verb phrase
chịu áp lực
8.0
✓
fuel-efficient and electric models
noun phrase
các mẫu xe tiết kiệm nhiên liệu và xe điện
7.0
✓
a substantial reduction in emissions
noun phrase
sự cắt giảm khí thải đáng kể
8.0
✓
heavy-handed bans
adj + noun
các lệnh cấm cứng rắn
8.0
✓
a well-designed price signal
noun phrase
tín hiệu giá được thiết kế tốt
8.0
✓
Body Paragraph 2 — Funding the green transition
Collocation
Form
Vietnamese
Band
Bài mẫu
generate significant revenue
verb + noun
tạo ra nguồn thu đáng kể
8.0
✓
finance the transition
verb + noun
tài trợ cho quá trình chuyển đổi
8.0
✓
ring-fenced for environmental purposes
passive phrase
được dành riêng cho mục đích môi trường
8.0
✓
safer cycle lanes
noun phrase
làn xe đạp an toàn hơn
7.0
✓
charging infrastructure
noun + noun
hạ tầng sạc điện
8.0
✓
electrify its bus fleet
verb + noun
điện khí hoá đội xe buýt
8.0
✓
a cheap and reliable alternative
noun phrase
lựa chọn thay thế rẻ và đáng tin cậy
7.0
✓
low-income households
adj + noun
các hộ thu nhập thấp
7.0
✓
hit hardest
verb + adv
chịu ảnh hưởng nặng nề nhất
7.0
✓
politically acceptable
adv + adj
dễ được chấp nhận về mặt chính trị
8.0
✓
reduced car use
adj + noun
việc giảm sử dụng ô tô
7.0
✓
Conclusion
Collocation
Form
Vietnamese
Band
Bài mẫu
In conclusion
linker
tóm lại
7.0
✓
raising fuel prices
verb + noun
tăng giá nhiên liệu
7.0
✓
environmental harm
adj + noun
tác hại môi trường
7.0
✓
a clear price signal
noun phrase
tín hiệu giá rõ ràng
8.0
✓
protecting vulnerable groups
verb + noun
bảo vệ các nhóm dễ tổn thương
8.0
✓
genuine alternatives
adj + noun
các lựa chọn thay thế thực sự
8.0
✓
Useful structures
Not only + auxiliary + subject + verb, but … also … (inversion for emphasis)
Participle clause, + main clause (Having / Being / Faced with …)
It is + adj + that + clause (cleft / evaluative structure)
Were / Should + subject + verb, + would … (formal conditional)