120 Problem Solution Essay Topics for Students

A problem solution essay asks you to identify a clear issue, explain why it happens, and present realistic steps that could improve the situation. In such papers, instructors expect you to analyze the causes of a problem and outline specific actions that address it. This format shows how well you can think through cause and effect and whether you can organize structured arguments. In IELTS exams, we run into these focus areas most commonly:

• Climate change and global warming, as the ten hottest years on record have all occurred since 2015, and 2024 reached about 1.29°C above the 20th-century average.
• Mental health issues and access to mental health services, since according to the WHO, more than 1 billion people live with different mental health conditions. 
• Public transportation and traffic congestion, because US drivers lose about 43 hours a week in traffic jams, resulting in a loss of time and productivity. 
• Global poverty in developing countries as 24% of the world live on less than $5 a day.

Below, you will find carefully selected problem and solution essay ideas. The list is organized to help you choose topics that allow strong reasoning and practical responses.

Choosing Good Problem Solution Essay Topics

Strong problem and solution essay ideas allow you to clearly explain them in a few sentences. Before you decide what to write about, you need to narrow broad issues to a specific angle and make sure you can describe at least two realistic solutions in separate body paragraphs. Don't forget to pick subjects where you can provide concrete examples and evidence. Take a look at the infographic below to understand the steps in more detail:

If you still struggle to choose an idea and turn it into a structured solution essay, our essay writing service can take over and help you submit authentic papers.

Problem Solution Essay Topics Sorted by Education Level

Below are problem and solution essay topics organized by education level. The subject may be similar across levels, but the depth of analysis changes.

Problem Solution Essay Topics for Middle School

Topics for middle school should be understandable without heavy research. The problems below are visible in everyday life, so students can explain their causes and suggest practical solutions.

1. How can families throw away less food?
2. How can people cut down on plastic pollution in everyday life?
3. How can neighborhoods keep parks and streets cleaner?
4. What can people do to spend less time on their phones?
5. How can neighbors help older people who live alone?
6. What can families do to use less water and electricity at home?
7. How can teens stay safe on social media apps?
8. What can communities do to help people eat healthier?
9. How can small towns deal with traffic during busy hours?
10. What can families do to spend less money each month?

Problem Solution Essay Topics for High School

In high school, the scope widens because students can handle more complex topics. The problems become more complex, and the solutions require clearer reasoning and stronger evidence.

1. How can communities help young people spend less time on social media?
2. What can governments do to make everyday living more affordable?
3. How can cities ease heavy traffic during rush hour?
4. What can be done to make mental health support easier to get?
5. How can neighborhoods cut down on plastic waste?
6. What laws could help close the gender pay gap?
7. How can developing countries make clean drinking water more available?
8. What can be done to lower unemployment among young adults?
9. How can communities protect people from online scams?
10. What steps can governments take to slow global warming?

Problem Solution Essay Topics for College

College-level prompts already demand system-level thinking. Writers must consider economics, policy, ethics, and long-term impact. Surface-level answers will not hold up, and solutions must also connect to real institutions.

1. How can many countries accelerate renewable energy adoption?
2. What policies could reduce student loan debt on a national scale?
3. How can governments prevent human trafficking more effectively?
4. What long-term strategies can reduce global poverty in developing nations?
5. How can urban planning reduce environmental degradation?
6. What reforms could improve access to mental health services nationwide?
7. How should governments regulate self-driving cars to protect public safety?
8. What measures can reduce income inequality in major cities?
9. How can international agreements strengthen responses to global warming?
10. What policies can reduce healthcare inequality across regions?

College students are often asked to write more complex essays that cover issues in a broader context. The extended essay topics in our article can help you land on the right ideas.

Problem Solution Essay Topics List by Subjects

The section below groups topics for problem solution essay by subject. Regardless of which field you're in, you will be able to find a focused idea for building structured arguments.

Social Problem Solution Essay Topics

These topics deal with issues that affect communities and everyday life. They ask you to look at why a social problem exists and what specific actions could reduce it.

1. How can cities reduce repeat shoplifting in high-theft retail districts?
2. What strategies can reduce rental price spikes in short-term rental hotspots?
3. How can municipalities prevent organized phone theft rings in tourist zones?
4. What policies can reduce youth gang recruitment in low-income neighborhoods?
5. How can governments reduce financial fraud targeting elderly citizens online?
6. What reforms can reduce case backlogs in overburdened court systems?
7. How can cities reduce food insecurity in neighborhoods without grocery stores?
8. What policies can reduce exploitation of gig economy delivery workers?
9. How can local authorities reduce homelessness among veterans, including those living with PTSD?
10. What measures can reduce identity theft linked to data breaches?

Problem Solution Essay Topics About Environment

This section focuses on environmental damage and sustainability challenges. To argue these topics, you will need to connect human behavior and policy gaps to environmental challenges.

1. How can coastal cities reduce flooding caused by poor drainage systems?
2. What policies can speed renewable energy adoption in oil-dependent regions?
3. How can governments reduce plastic waste generated by online shopping?
4. What measures can reduce illegal sand mining in river ecosystems?
5. How can urban areas reduce heat islands caused by dense construction?
6. What strategies can reduce food waste in large restaurant chains?
7. How can developing countries fund clean water infrastructure upgrades?
8. What policies can reduce deforestation linked to cattle farming?
9. How can ports reduce air pollution from cargo ships?
10. What regulations can reduce environmental degradation caused by mining operations?

Problem Solution Essays About Health

The questions below examine gaps in healthcare access and public health responses. Strong problem solution essays should explain how the problem affects people and propose structured improvements in services or prevention efforts.

1. How can rural regions improve access to mental health services?
2. What policies can reduce misinformation about vaccines on short-form video apps?
3. How can hospitals reduce burnout among emergency room staff?
4. What reforms can lower insulin prices for diabetes patients?
5. How can cities reduce childhood obesity linked to limited recreational space?
6. What strategies can reduce opioid overdoses in suburban counties?
7. How can governments improve early cancer screening participation?
8. What measures can reduce maternal mortality in underserved communities?
9. How can employers reduce workplace stress linked to long shift patterns?
10. What policies can expand affordable telehealth access nationwide?

Problem Solution Essay Topics About Technology

Here, the focus is on digital platforms, regulation, and technological risks. The goal is to identify a specific weakness in systems or oversight and outline practical fixes that institutions could enforce.

1. How should governments regulate self driving cars in mixed pedestrian zones?
2. What policies can reduce data harvesting by social media platforms?
3. How can universities reduce AI-assisted academic cheating?
4. What regulations can prevent deepfake scams targeting small businesses?
5. How can governments reduce cyberattacks on hospital systems?
6. What effective solutions can limit addictive design features in social media apps?
7. How can companies reduce electronic waste from rapid device upgrades?
8. What measures can reduce algorithm bias in automated hiring systems?
9. How can election commissions reduce misinformation spread through messaging apps?
10. What policies can strengthen consumer protection against subscription traps?

Problem Solution Essay Topics Psychology

The prompts below explore behavior and mental processes. You will need to explain why certain patterns develop and suggest targeted interventions based on research or structured support.

1. How can cognitive behavioral therapy reduce chronic procrastination in college students?
2. What strategies can reduce peer pressure tied to appearance-based social media trends?
3. How can communities reduce loneliness among widowed seniors?
4. What interventions can improve attention span in children exposed to short-form video content?
5. How can early childhood programs reduce aggression in high-conflict households?
6. What measures can reduce stigma around seeking mental health support in men?
7. How can mindfulness training reduce exam anxiety among university students?
8. What strategies can reduce burnout in high-pressure corporate environments?
9. How can parents reduce screen dependency in early childhood?
10. What approaches can improve impulse control in adolescents?

If you're required to write something that convinces the readers about a certain issue, you can take a look at our list of persuasive essay topics.

Problem Solution Essay Topics About Politics

This section addresses governance and public policy. Essays should identify weaknesses in current systems and propose reforms that are realistic within political limits.

1. How can governments cut corruption in public contract bidding?
2. What policies can boost turnout among first-time voters?
3. How can election officials limit misinformation during national campaigns?
4. What reforms can make campaign funding more transparent?
5. How can developing countries protect the independence of their courts?
6. What policies can ease political polarization in parliament?
7. How can governments speed up asylum application reviews?
8. What safeguards can stop abuse of emergency powers in crises?
9. How can trade agreements help lower global poverty?
10. What rules can ensure foreign aid is used ethically?

Topics for Problem Solution Essay About Family

Family topics examine economic stress, communication breakdown, and digital influence within households. Each question allows practical, behavior-based solutions.

1. How can families manage rising childcare costs in urban areas?
2. What strategies can reduce conflict between working parents and teenagers?
3. How can families address social media addiction affecting daily routines?
4. What can households do to reduce debt during inflation periods?
5. How can parents reduce peer pressure linked to online trends?
6. What approaches can improve communication in blended families?
7. How can families balance work-life demands with caregiving duties?
8. What strategies can help families save money on monthly groceries?
9. How can parents manage screen time conflicts among siblings?
10. What can families do to support members dealing with anxiety disorders?

Problem Solution Essay Topics About Sports

These topics look at safety, fairness, and management in sports. The ideas below can also be used as topics for group discussions about sports.

1. How can youth football leagues adjust rules to reduce concussions?
2. What rules can prevent doping in international track events?
3. How can cities increase girls’ participation in competitive sports?
4. How can professional leagues prevent corruption in player transfers?
5. How can high school teams prevent injuries from overtraining?
6. How can major sports events cut down on waste and pollution?
7. How can sports academies prevent burnout in teenage athletes?
8. What policies can ensure equal funding for men’s and women’s leagues?
9. How can rural areas create safe, affordable sports facilities?
10. How can debates about a favorite sports team escalate, and how can platforms reduce bullying?

More Problem Solution Essay Ideas

This section includes more problem-solution essay topics grouped by tone and difficulty. The structure does not change. You define a clear problem, explain its cause, and suggest realistic solutions.

Easy Problem Solution Essay Topics

The ideas for problem solution essay below can be considered simple because the causes and solutions are clear. You do not need deep policy analysis to understand these issues, but rather logic and examples.

1. How can apartment buildings reduce package theft in shared entryways?
2. What can small coffee shops do to cut down on single-use cup waste?
3. How can offices reduce unnecessary meetings during the workweek?
4. What can cities do to make bike lanes safer at busy intersections?
5. How can households lower their electricity bills without major renovations?
6. What steps can shorten long wait times at government service centers?
7. What are effective ways to reduce electricity use in apartment buildings?
8. What can gyms do to manage overcrowding after work hours?
9. How can companies reduce employee burnout during tight project deadlines?
10. How can small businesses improve communication during difficult customer service situations?

Fun Problem Solution Essay Topics

“Fun” does not mean shallow. These questions you'll find below still require clear reasoning and workable solutions. The tone may feel lighter, but the structure remains precise.

1. How can cities manage food truck crowding during weekend festivals?
2. What can streaming services do to reduce subscription overload for users?
3. How can theme parks cut ride wait times during holiday seasons?
4. What can online marketplaces do to prevent fake product reviews?
5. How can concert venues reduce ticket resale scams?
6. How can writing workshops spark original poem ideas for teens with writer’s block?
7. How can sports leagues schedule games to reduce player travel fatigue?
8. What can coworking spaces do to reduce noise distractions?
9. How can video game companies limit toxic behavior in multiplayer matches?
10. What can event organizers do to reduce waste at large music festivals?

Bringing It All Together

A problem solution essay requires a clear, well-defined issue. You explain why the problem exists and present realistic steps that can improve the situation. Strong topics for a problem solution essay are specific and manageable, which makes analysis possible and solutions practical. When the focus is tight, each body paragraph supports a clear purpose, leading to a structured and logical argument.