ielts writing

a double-edged sword

something can bring both positive (favorable) and negative (unfavorable) effects at the same time

to be ill-equipped to absorb

unable to handle

in tandem with

alongside

to place a considerable strain (pressure) on

puts a lot of pressure (strain) on

substantive

important, serious, or related to real facts

to deprive someone of something

to prevent someone from having something, especially something that they need

to take a toll on

to cause gradual damage, harm, suffering, or negative effects over time

to solidify

to become certain; to become firm

to struggle to cope with

to find it difficult to manage

to grapple with something

to try to deal with or understand a difficult problem or subject

public transport networks

public transport

to bring about

to cause, create, or make something happen

effortless, straightforward

easy

in my opinion

from my perspective, from my point of view

to increase, to rise, to grow

to go up 1

to swell

to increase 2 (populations, budgets, problems)

to grow steadily

to increase at a steady/smooth pace 1

to rise significantly (substantially, sharply)

to go up or grow by a large, measurable, or noticeable amount 1

to surge, to soar

to increase rapidly 1

I hold the belief that…

I believe

small footprint of land

limited land area

urban sprawl

the rapid expansion of cities and towns into surrounding rural or undeveloped land

major

large/important

to enable

to allow, make something possible

urban planner

a professional who designs land use, manages infrastructure etc.

…, thereby …ing

as a result to that

high-rise

a tall modern building with many floors

to curb

to restrain, limit, or keep something under control 2

sufficient

enough or adequate to meet a specific purpose, need, or requirement

to drop, to fall, to decrease

to go down 1

to reduce, to diminish

to go down 2

to fluctuate

to go up and down repeatedly in small waves 1

pressing challenges

urgent problems

to provide accommodation

to house someone