how to write a discussion essay in ielts

A Beginner’s Guide to IELTS
Common Grammar Mistakes [for IELTS Writing Candidates]

Writing Correction Service

Free IELTS Resources
Practice Speaking Test

Select Page

IELTS Discussion Essays [Discuss Both Views/Sides]

Posted by David S. Wills | Jun 14, 2021 | IELTS Tips , Writing | 3

In this lesson, I’m going to explain what an IELTS discussion essay is and how you can write a good one. I will talk about structure and content, as well as looking briefly at discussion essay thesis statements, which many people find tricky. I’ve also written a sample essay, which you can find at the bottom of this page.

What is a Discussion Essay?

As the name suggests, a discussion essay is an essay that discusses things! More specifically, it is a type of IELTS writing task 2 essay that requires you to look at two different points of view . You can easily recognise these essays by the following phrase:

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Sometimes it is phrased a little differently. It might say:

Discuss both sides and give your opinion

Discuss both points view and give your opinion

The important thing is that these all mean the same. When you see any of these, you know that you need to write a discussion essay. Importantly, this instruction tells you that you need to do two things:

Discuss both views (there will have been 2 views mentioned in the previous sentence(s))
Give your opinion (i.e. state which view you agree with)

If you failed to do either of these things, you would not have satisfied the basic criteria for Task Achievement .

Example Discussion Essay Questions

Here is a list of 5 discussion essay questions either from the IELTS exam, reportedly from the IELTS exam, or from reputable publications that have copied the IELTS question style. (Not that you absolutely should avoid fake IELTS questions when practising.)

Some people say that parents should encourage their children to take part in organised group activities in their free time. Others say that is important for children to learn how to occupy themselves on their own. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Some people prefer to spend their lives doing the same things and avoiding change. Others, however, think that change is always a good thing. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Some people feel that manufacturers and supermarkets have the responsibility to reduce the amount of packaging of goods. Others argue that customers should avoid buying goods with a lot of packaging. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Some people believe that higher education should be funded by the government. Others, however, argue that it is the responsibility of individuals to fund their higher education. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Some people believe that it is important for children to attend extra classes outside school, while others believe that they should be allowed to play after school. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

You can see in these questions that there is a similar pattern. In each case, the question phrase (“Discuss both views and give your own opinion”) is the same and in the previous sentence or sentences, there are two opposing views. This, then, makes “discuss both views” questions a sort of opinion essay .

How to Answer IELTS Discussion Questions

First of all, it is important when answering any IELTS task 2 question that you read the question carefully so that you understand it, then provide an answer that directly responds to the question, following its instructions carefully.

As discussed above, you are required to do two things: 1) Discuss both views, and 2) Give your own opinion. You absolutely must do both of those. It doesn’t really matter what your opinion is or whether you give equal weighting to both sides of the argument. Instead, you must cover both sides and also give some sort of opinion. (It is important, though, according to the marking rubric , that you are consistent in your opinion.)

Your answer of course should be structured carefully so as to present your ideas in a thoroughly logical way that is easy for your reader to interpret. I almost always use a four-paragraph structure in my essays, but some people prefer to use five paragraphs in this sort of essay. The difference would look like this:

You might be wondering why I have given my opinion in the body of the five-paragraph essay but not in the four-paragraph essay. Well, actually I would give my opinion in the body of both. However, my opinion would be more subtly woven into the text of the four-paragraph essay. I personally find this to be a better method, but it is equally possible that you could write an amazing five-paragraph essay. That issue is discussed further in this video:

Discussion Essay Thesis Statement

In academic writing, a thesis statement (sometimes called an essay outline ) is the part of the essay where you insert your opinion. It typically comes at the end of the introduction and guides the reader by explaining your opinion on the issues that have been introduced.

But do you really need to provide one in such a short essay? Well, a 2018 study into successful IELTS essays concluded that thesis statements were “obligatory” – i.e. you absolutely do need one. In fact, that study found that thesis statements appeared in 100% of successful IELTS discussion essays! Therefore, we can conclude they are very important.

Because a discussion essay will tell you to “Discuss both views and give your opinion,” you must introduce the two views and then give your opinion in the introduction. Here is an example:

Introductory paragraph:

In some parts of the world, children are forced to go to cram schools and other facilities of extracurricular learning, but many people believe that this is unfair and that they should be allowed to enjoy their free time instead. This essay will look at both perspectives and then conclude that it is indeed unfair.

My first sentence clearly introduces two different ideas:

Children should do extra classes
Children should not do extra classes

Note how I have successfully used synonyms to avoid repeating anything from the question. I have also framed the issue in a new way so that I am not just paraphrasing. (You can learn why paraphrasing is not always helpful here .)

My second sentence is the thesis statement. In this sentence, I outline what the essay will do (“look at both perspectives”) and then give my opinion (“it is unfair”). This is a simple but effective thesis statement.

Thesis Statement Advice

Your IELTS discussion essay thesis statement should do two things:

Tell the reader what the essay will do
Present your opinion

Because this is a formal essay, it is best not to be too personal. Instead of saying “I will…” or “I think…” it is better to say “This essay will…” Here are some simple templates that you can follow most of the time:

This essay will look at both sides and then argue that…
This essay will discuss both views but ultimately side with…

Just make sure to avoid being overly vague. You are required to give your opinion consistently throughout the essay, so don’t say “This essay will look at both sides and then give my opinion .” It is not really the best approach because the examiner wants to see that you can be consistent in presenting an opinion. That is clearly stated in the marking rubric. For band 7, it says:

presents a clear position throughout the response

It could be concluded, then, that your opinion is not clear from the start and so you have not done enough to warrant a band 7 for Task Achievement.

Body Paragraphs

As I mentioned above, there are really two main approaches you could take to the body paragraphs:

Discuss one view per paragraph and incorporate your opinion into each.
Discuss one view per paragraph and then have another for your opinion.

I suppose there is also a third option:

Compare and contrast the two viewpoints in each paragraph.

This last one may be a little harder to do successfully without jeopardising your score for Task Achievement or Coherence and Cohesion , but advanced candidates may find it useful.

Remember that there is no single perfect formula for an IELTS essay. That’s not how languages work and that’s not how IELTS works. Different people could come up with different ways to present a successful essay. The most common essay structures are mere guidelines for particularly useful methods of approaching an essay.

how to write a discussion essay in ielts

Does a Discussion Essay Have to be Balanced?

Because the question says “Discuss both views,” it is quite logical to think that you must provide some degree of balance, but you certainly don’t need to give equal weighting to both sides. Remember that you are also going to give your opinion, so if you come down strongly on one side of the issue, it might be odd to give equal attention to both.

If you do feel very strongly about one side, you might want to present your discussion of the other side as quite negative. However, IELTS is a thinking exam as well as an English exam and an intelligent person can always look at both sides of an issue and explain – at the very least – why someone might believe a thing that is different to his own view. This seems quite important, but there is nothing explicitly mentioned in the marking rubric.

I would suggest that if you think a two-sided issue is basically one-sided (i.e. you strongly disagree with the other view), you should still write one or two sentences about why people believe that and then devote the rest of your essay to disputing their view.

Another approach is to write BP1 as a very short paragraph that explains why people might think one thing, but then have BP2 as a very long paragraph that debunks the opposing view and then explains why the other is correct.

(You can read more about IELTS essays and balance here .)

Sample Answer

Here is my full sample answer to the above question about whether or not children should be made to do extracurricular activities:

In some parts of the world, children are forced to go to cram schools and other facilities of extracurricular learning, but many people believe that this is unfair and that they should be allowed to enjoy their free time instead. This essay will look at both perspectives and then conclude that it is indeed unfair. In countries like South Korea, most children are made to go to an array of cram schools outside of regular school hours. Their parents do this in order to give their child a better future because it helps the child to learn more and thus gives them the academic advantages needed to apply to the best universities or jobs in future. These schools often provide children with an advantage over their peers because they improve their foreign language or math skills more quickly, and thus the children who do not attend these schools might have comparatively poor grades. However, whilst this attitude may result in better academic performance, it is certainly not good for the mental health of these children. It is no coincidence that places like South Korea have the highest rates of suicide among their young populations. The fact is that children are not equipped to spend fourteen or sixteen hours per day in classrooms, memorising facts and figures. In a sense, it is a form of child abuse. Children should be allowed to go home and spend time with friends and family to build social skills. They should be allowed to occupy themselves in order to become more creative and learn how to understand their own mind instead of being trained to repeat what they are told. In conclusion, it is understandable that some parents want their children to go to extra classes, but this is damaging to children and they should be given the freedom to play and socialise outside of regular school hours.

In BP1, I have looked at the topic of cram schools (ie the side of the argument in favour of extra lessons). I explored why parents might want their kids to do this and show the supposed benefits. Note that I never embraced any of these benefits. I was careful to use language that distanced these ideas from my own opinion, which was the opposite, so I said “Their parents do this in order to…”

In BP2, I looked at the opposite side. I was careful to make sure that my first sentence linked to the previous paragraph, highlighting that the benefits are quite minor compared to the drawbacks. All of my sentences here justify my position, which is that it is cruel to force these extra lessons on children.

My conclusion ties all of this together. The first clause references BP1 and the second summarises the main argument in BP2.

You can find two more sample essays here:

A discussion essay about sports facilities
A discussion essay about sports abilities

About The Author

David S. Wills

David S. Wills is the author of Scientologist! William S. Burroughs and the 'Weird Cult' and the founder/editor of Beatdom literary journal. He lives and works in rural Cambodia and loves to travel. He has worked as an IELTS tutor since 2010, has completed both TEFL and CELTA courses, and has a certificate from Cambridge for Teaching Writing. David has worked in many different countries, and for several years designed a writing course for the University of Worcester. In 2018, he wrote the popular IELTS handbook, Grammar for IELTS Writing and he has since written two other books about IELTS. His other IELTS website is called IELTS Teaching.

10 IELTS Writing Tips

April 12, 2016

Describe a Business [IELTS Speaking Part 2]

March 31, 2020

Describe an Unusual Meal You Had [IELTS Speaking Part 2]

June 15, 2020

How to Describe a Graph

October 31, 2022

It is sometimes debatable whether asking children to get extra education after school or letting them play that is actually beneficial for them. Even though both viewpoints have benefits and drawbacks but I believe ,in the childhood age, children have to take rough and discipline education after school to be succeed in the future.

To begin with, many educational experts believe that playing is one of the essential aspects that have to be gotten by children to grow and happy. By using the playing approach, children can have a good mental and psychic health. Besides, letting children play after school can also support them to increase their emotional stimuli and get a positive social interaction. With this way, experts believe children can grow as a better adult in the future and have a freedom to get a better life in the upcoming times.

However, I completely contra with the first idea because I believe childhood is a better time to train children about academic or other skills that benefits them in the future. Based on scientific journal that I read, the ability of children in learning new things are more spectacular compared to adults. A lot of artists, scientist, and even football player who currently becoming a superstar in this era is a string of process that is began since their in the childhood. For instance, nowadays, I am working in the field of election supervision, it because since in my childhood my father love to force me learning about social and political issues by getting additional class. Thus, making children to get extra class after school is an appropriate preference if parents desire to see their son getting a good future.

To conclude, based on experts children have to get a freedom to play after schools but in my viewpoint it will be more advantages if they utilize the playing time with joining additional class after school.

VERY GOOD MR DIRWAN But actually you mixed both of the ideas , you need to take one side for this sort of essay writting, as it is mentioned in the above instruction. By the way WELL DONE . love from Pakistan to my sweet brother.

I have not checked in here for some time because I thought it was getting boring, but the last few posts are really great quality so I guess I’ll add you back to my everyday bloglist. You deserve it my friend. ??

Download my IELTS Books

How To Plan & Write IELTS Discussion Essays

Students can find it difficult to identify IELTS discussion essays and often confuse them with either opinion essays or advantage and disadvantage essays.

This is one of the issues I’ll be covering in this lesson. I’m also going to show you how to plan and write discussion essays step-by-step.

Here’s what we’ll be covering:

Identifying IELTS discussion essays
3 Common mistakes
Essay structure
How to plan
How to write an introduction
How to write main body paragraphs
How to write a conclusion

Want to watch and listen to this lesson?

Click on this video.

Click the links to see lessons on each of these Task 2 essay writing topics.

Once you understand the process, practice on past questions. Take your time at first and gradually speed up until you can plan and write an essay of at least 250 words in the 40 minutes allowed in the exam.

The Question

The first part of the question for an IELTS discussion essay will be a statement containing two opposing views.

You will then be asked to discuss both sides of the argument and give your own opinion. Here is some typical wording that might be used:

Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Discuss both these views and then give your own opinion.
Discuss both sides of this argument and give your own opinion.

Here's a question from a past test paper.

Some people think that zoos are cruel and should be closed down. Others, however, believe that zoos can be useful in protecting wild animals.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

I’ll be using this question to guide you through the process of planning and writing an IELTS discussion essay.

The key to identifying this type of question is the fact that you are required to discuss BOTH views. This is different to opinion questions where you must decide between two opposing views and make an argument to support your own opinion.

Opinion essays , also known as ‘agree or disagree’ essays, a generally worded in one of these ways:

What is your opinion? / Do you agree or disagree? / To what extent do you agree or disagree?

The other essay type that students mistake for discussion essays is advantages and disadvantages essays . With these, the statement will contain just one view and the question will typically be written as shown in this sample question.

School children are using computers in school more than ever.

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this and give your own opinion.

The consequence of incorrectly identifying the question type is that you will use the wrong structure for your essay. This is a major reason why people make the mistakes we’ll now look at.

3 Common Mistakes

These three errors are common in IELTS discussion essays.

Not stating your opinion.
Not giving arguments for both views.
Not developing both sides of the argument equally.

The most common mistake that students make is not giving their opinion. The question will clearly state that you must choose one side of the argument to agree with. If you fail to do this, you will get a low score for task achievement.

It doesn’t matter which side of the argument you take or even, that you actually agree with it.

However, you must give equal attention to both sides. A common error is to provide a stronger argument for the view you favour. This leads to an unbalanced essay and a low score for task achievement.

Essay Structure

Now let’s look at a simple structure you can use to write IELTS discussion essays. It’s not the only possible structure but it’s the one I recommend because it’s easy to learn and will enable you to quickly plan and write a high-level essay.

1) Introduction

Paraphrase the question
State two supporting reasons
Give your opinion

2) Main body paragraph 1

Topic sentence – outline the view you don’t agree with
Explanation – explain why this view is held by some people
Example – give an example

3 ) Main body paragraph 2

Topic sentence – outline the view you do agree with

4) Conclusion

Summarise the key points and state your opinion

This structure will give us a well-balanced essay with 4 paragraphs.

We now need some ideas to add into the structure and we’ll have everything we need for our essay.

How To Plan IELTS Discussion Essays

# 1 analyse the question.

This is an essential step in the planning process and will ensure that you answer the question fully. It’s quick and easy to do. You just need to identify 3 different types of words:

1. Topic words

2. Other keywords

3. Instruction words

We’ve already considered the instruction words (the actual question) so we’ll focus on the first two.

Topics words are the ones that identify the general subject of the question.

Some people think that zoos are cruel and should be closed down. Others, however, believe that zoos can be useful in protecting wild animals.

So, this question is about ‘ zoos ’.

Many people do this first step of the process and then write about the topic in general. This is a serious mistake and leads to low marks for task achievement.

What we need to do now that we know the general topic, is to understand exactly what aspect of zoos we're being asked to write about.

The other keywords in the question tell you the specific topic you must write about. They define the opinions stated in the statement.

Some people think tha t zoos are cruel and should be closed down . Others, however, believe that zoos c an be useful in protecting wild animals .

By highlighting these words, it’s easy to see that you are being asked to write about the opposing views that zoos are cruel and should be closed down and that zoos can be useful in protecting wild animals. Your essay must only include ideas relevant to these ideas.

# 2 Decide on your opinion

As already mentioned, it doesn’t matter if you genuinely agree with the view you take in your essay or not. IELTS discussion essays are about your ability to write a well-structured essay in the English language and you will not be assessed on any opinion you might hold.

So, choose one view and make sure that your opinion is clear throughout the essay.

For this model essay, I’m going to agree with the statement that zoos are cruel and should be closed down.

# 3 Generate ideas

The next task is to generate some ideas to write about.

There are several different ways to think up ideas. I cover them fully on the IELTS Essay Planning page.

We’re going to use the ‘friends technique’. This is my preferred method as it allows you to take a step back from the stress of the exam situation and think more calmly.

Here’s how it works. Imagine you are chatting with a friend and they ask you the question in a casual conversation. What answers would you give them off the top of your head? Plan your essay around these ideas.

Doing this will help you to come up with simple answers in everyday language rather than straining your brain to think of amazing ideas using high level-language, which isn’t necessary.

You might want to try this yourself before reading on for my ideas.

Here are my ideas:

Cruel – closed down:

Cramped cages – animals distressed
Unnatural environments
Most animals not endangered
Animals become a public spectacle for entertainment

Useful – protect wild animals:

Research work to learn more about wild animals
Breeding programmes for endangered species
Some species saved from extinction
Seeing wild animals close up inspires people to want to help protect them

I’ve got more ideas here than I need so I’m going to pick two to develop in the essay – one for each of the main body paragraphs.

Idea 1 – Cramped cages & unnatural environments, animals distressed.

Idea 2 – Breeding programmes for endangered species, some species saved from extinction.

We’re almost ready to start writing our IELTS discussion essay but first, we have one other small task to do.

# 4 Vocabulary

In an IELTS essay, it’s important to be able to say the same things in different ways, either by paraphrasing and/or using synonyms. During the planning stage, quickly jot down a few synonyms of key words you could use to save you having to stop and think of the right language while you’re writing.

For example:

zoos – animals in captivity, collections of wild animals, menagerie, wildlife park

cruel – to cause suffering, inhumane

protect – safeguard, preserve

animals – creatures, species

With that done, we can focus on the first paragraph of the essay – the introduction.

How To Write an Introduction

Good introductions to IELTS discussion essays have a simple 3 part structure:

1) Paraphrase the question

2) State two supporting reasons (outline statement)

3) Give your opinion (thesis statement)

Have 2-3 sentences
Be 40-60 words long
Take 5 minutes to write

Start your introduction by paraphrasing the question.

Question: Some people think that zoos are cruel and should be closed down. Others, however, believe that zoos can be useful in protecting wild animals.

There are various phrases you can use to do this. Here are three examples. They all say the same thing using different language.

Some people argue that… while others say that…
It is considered by some…. while there are others who think….
It is often argued that... whilst others disagree and think...

Choose one and add the details in the question statement in a paraphrased form. I recommend putting the view you don’t agree with first.

Paraphrased question:

Some people argue that zoos help to preserve wild creatures, while others say that they are inhumane and should be abolished.

Note my use of synonyms. You don’t have to replace every key word but do so where possible whilst ensuring that your language sounds natural. There aren’t any suitable synonyms of ‘zoo’ that I can think of, so I've repeated this word from the statement.

2) Thesis and outline statements

Now we need to add an outline statement where you outline the two main points that you’ll cover in the rest of the essay (ideas 1 and 2 above) and a thesis statement where you state your opinion.

Outline & thesis statements:

While the development of breeding programmes contributes to the preservation of endangered species, I believe that the poor conditions that many animals held in captivity are kept in make the existence of zoos unacceptable.

So, let’s bring the three elements of our introduction together.

Introduction

This introduction achieves three important functions:

It shows the examiner that you understand the question.
It acts as a guide to the examiner as to what your essay is about.
It also helps to keep you focused and on track as you write.

The two ideas in your introduction will become your two main body paragraphs.

Main body paragraph 1 – Breeding programmes for endangered species, some species saved from extinction.

Main body paragraph 2 – Cramped cages & unnatural environments, animals distressed.

How To Write Main Body Paragraphs

Main body paragraphs in IELTS discussion essays should contain 3 things:

It is easier to begin by discussing the opinion you don’t agree with and then present the reasons for the opposing view that you support. So, we’ll start with idea 1.

Main Body Paragraph 1

The topic sentence summarises the main idea of the paragraph. That’s all it needs to do so it doesn’t have to be complicated.

It plays an important role in ensuring that your ideas flow logically from one to another. It does this by acting as a signpost for what is to come next, that is, what the paragraph will be about.

If you maintain a clear development of ideas throughout your essay, you will get high marks for task achievement and cohesion and coherence.

We’ll now take the idea for our first main body paragraph and create our topic sentence.

Topic sentence:

On the one hand, there are many projects in existence in zoological parks around the world where species facing extinction have been successfully bred in captivity and their numbers increased substantially.

Next, we must write an explanation sentence that expands on the idea. This explains to the examiner what we mean or why this is the case.

Explanation sentence:

This is important for ensuring the survival of animals under threat from poaching and the destruction of their natural environments.

Finally, we add an example to support our main point. If you can’t think of a real example, it’s fine to make one up, as long as it’s believable. The examiner isn’t going to check your facts.

Example sentence:

A good example of this is the golden lion tamarin from Brazil which nearly died out because of logging and mining activities which are destroying its habitat. Today, a third of wild golden lion tamarins were raised in captivity.

That’s the 3 parts of our first main body paragraph complete. Here’s the finished paragraph.

We now follow the same process for our second main body paragraph.

Main Body Paragraph 2

Main idea 2 – Cramped cages & unnatural environments, animals distressed.

First, we write the topic sentence to summarise the main idea. I started main body paragraph 1 with the phrase ‘On the one hand...’, so main body paragraph 2 will naturally begin, ‘On the other hand... .

These are great cohesive devices to use when making a direct contrast between two opposing views and they link the ideas together well. They can be used in most IELTS discussion essays and will help to earn you a good score for cohesion and coherence.

Topic sentence:

On the other hand, a significant percentage of zoos house their animals in cramped cages with very little space to move around or behave naturally.

Now for the explanation sentence where we expand on this idea.

Explanation sentence:

This can lead to them becoming distressed and depressed as well as suffering physically through lack of exercise.

Finally, an example to support this point.

A friend of mine recently visited a wildlife park while on holiday abroad and was very upset to see the lions pacing up and down in a narrow, bare pen and eagles in enclosures so small that they were unable to fly.

That’s the 3 parts of our second main body paragraph complete. Here’s the finished paragraph.

Now we need a conclusion and our IELTS discussion essay is done.

How To Write a Conclusion

Conclusions to IELTS discussion essays should do two things:

Summarise the main points
State your opinion

This can generally be done in a single sentence.

If you're below the minimum 250 words after you’ve written your conclusion, you can add a prediction or recommendation statement.

Our essay currently has 231 words so we’re on target and don’t need this extra sentence but you can learn more about how to write a prediction or recommendation statement for IELTS discussion essays on the Task 2 Conclusions page.

The conclusion is the easiest sentence in the essay to write but one of the most important.

A good conclusion will:

Neatly end the essay
Link all your ideas together
Sum up your argument or opinion
Answer the question

If you achieve this, you’ll improve your score for both task achievement and cohesion and coherence which together make up 50% of the overall marks. Without a conclusion, you’ll score below band 6 for task achievement.

You can start almost any final paragraph of an IELTS discussion essay with the words:

In conclusion

To conclude

Now all you need to do is briefly summarise the main ideas into one sentence.

Here’s a top tip . Go back and read the introduction to the essay because this is also a summary of the essay. It outlines what you are going to write about.

To create a great conclusion, you simply have to paraphrase the introduction. Let’s give it a go.

Introduction:

Here is the same information formed into a conclusion:

That’s it. We’ve completed our essay. Here it is with the 4 paragraphs put together.

Finished IELTS discussion essay.

Go through this lesson as many times as you need to in order to fully understand it and put in lots of practice writing IELTS discussion essays from past exam questions. Practice is the only way to improve your skills.

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

Click on the HTML link code below.
Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.

Like this page?

More help with ielts discussion essays & other task 2 essays.

IELTS Writing Task 2 – T he format, the 5 question types, the 5 step essay writing strategy & sample questions. All the key information you need to know.

The 5 Types of Task 2 Essay – How to recognise the 5 different types of Task 2 essays. 15 sample questions to study and a simple planning structure for each essay type.

Understanding Task 2 Questions – How to quickly and easily analyse and understand IELTS Writing Task 2 questions.

How To Plan a Task 2 Essay – Discover why essay planning is essential & learn a simple 4 step strategy, the 4 part essay structure & 4 methods of generating ideas.

How To Write a Task 2 Introduction – Find out why a good introduction is essential. Learn how to write one using a simple 3 part strategy & discover 4 common mistakes to avoid.

How To Write Task 2 Main Body Paragraphs – Learn the simple 3 part structure for writing great main body paragraphs and also, 3 common mistakes to avoid.

How To Write Task 2 Conclusions – Learn the easy way to write the perfect conclusion for a Task 2 essay. Also discover 4 common mistakes to avoid.

Task 2 Marking Criteria – Find out how to meet the marking criteria in Task 2. See examples of good and poor answers & learn some common mistakes to avoid.

The 5 Task 2 Essay Types:

Step-by-step instructions on how to plan & write high-level essays. Model answers & common mistakes to avoid.

Opinion Essays

Discussion Essays

Problem Solution Essays

Advantages & Disadvantages Essays

Double Question Essays

Other Related Pages

IELTS Writing Test – Understand the format & marking criteria, know what skills are assessed & learn the difference between the Academic & General writing tests.

IELTS Writing
Discussion Essays
Back To Top

* New * Grammar For IELTS Ebooks

$9.99 each Full Set Just $ 23.97

Find Out More >>

IELTS Courses

Full details...

IELTS Writing Ebook

Discount Offer

$7 each Full Set Just $ 21

Find out more >>

Testimonials

“I am very excited to have found such fabulous and detailed content. I commend your good work.” Jose M.

“Thanks for the amazing videos. These are ‘to the point’, short videos, beautifully explained with practical examples." Adari J.

"Hi Jacky, I bought a listening book from you this morning. You know what? I’m 100% satisfied. It’s super helpful. If I’d had the chance to read this book 7 years ago, my job would be very different now." Loi H.

"Hi Jacky, I recently got my IELTS results and I was pleased to discover that I got an 8.5 score. I'm firmly convinced your website and your videos played a strategic role in my preparation. I was able to improve my writing skills thanks to the effective method you provide. I also only relied on your tips regarding the reading section and I was able to get a 9! Thank you very much." Giano

“After listening to your videos, I knew I had to ditch every other IELTS tutor I'd been listening to. Your explanations are clear and easy to understand. Anyways, I took the test a few weeks ago and my result came back: Speaking 7, listening 9, Reading 8.5 and Writing 7 with an average band score of 8. Thanks, IELTS Jacky." Laide Z.

Contact

About Me

Site Map

Disclaimer

IELTS changes lives.

Let's work together so it changes yours too.

IELTS is a registered trademark of the University of Cambridge, the British Council, and IDP Education Australia. This site and its owners are not affiliated, approved or endorsed by the University of Cambridge ESOL, the British Council, and IDP Education Australia.

IELTS Luminary - Free Tips, Strategies, eBooks and Detailed Essay Feedback . Overall, this is the best free IELTS and other test prep website.

How to Write an IELTS Discussion Essay: Your Comprehensive Guide

Are you preparing for the IELTS and wondering how to score high in the Writing section? Do you find the "Discuss Both Views and Give Your Opinion" essay a bit daunting? You've landed in the right place. Welcome to our comprehensive guide on how to write an IELTS Discussion Essay!

As the name suggests, the IELTS Discussion Essay requires you to discuss different perspectives on a topic and then provide your viewpoint. Sounds challenging? Don't worry! In this article, we’ll break down everything you need to know to craft an impressive IELTS Discussion Essay. From understanding the basics, brainstorming ideas, planning your response, writing an engaging essay, and avoiding common pitfalls – this guide is packed with practical tips and strategies.

Pro Tip: Unlock a higher IELTS Writing score with our downloadable in-depth eBooks and tailored Essay Feedback directly from an exp erienced IELTS examiner.

Whether you're an IELTS beginner or a seasoned test taker looking to boost your band score, this in-depth guide will help you n avigate the complexities of the IELTS Discussion Essay. As we journey together through this guide, you’ll gain the knowledge and confidence needed to master this crucial component of the IELTS Writing section.

Let's start your journey towards IELTS success. Keep reading, and by the end of this guide, you'll be well-equipped to tackle any IELTS Discussion Essay that comes your way! Let's dive in and unravel the secrets of a top-scoring IELTS Discussion Essay.

Knowing the Basics of an IELTS Discussion Essay

What is an ielts discussion essay.

An IELTS discussion essay, also known as "Discuss Both Views and Give Your Opinion" essay, is a common task in the IELTS Writing Test. This type of essay tests your ability to present a well-rounded discussion on a given topic, your capability to generate ideas and your proficiency in English language usage.

An IELTS discussion essay primarily involves exploring various perspectives on a given issue and subsequently presenting your personal stance on the matter. It's not just about stating your opinion; it's about having the skills to analyse different viewpoints and justify your position with sound reasoning and concrete examples.

Mastering how to write an IELTS discussion essay can significantly boost your IELTS Writing band score. With this guide and consistent practice, you can confidently demonstrate your proficiency in handling a balanced and coherent discussion in your essay.

How to Identify an IELTS Discussion Essay Question

Recognising an IELTS discussion essay prompt is essential in answering the task accurately. Not every IELTS Writing Task 2 is a discussion essay. It's important to distinguish between different essay types, like opinion essays , advantages and disadvantages essays , or problem solution essays .

An IELTS discussion essay question will usually include the instruction "Discuss both views and give your opinion" or "Discuss both sides of this argument and then give your own opinion." It is crucial to understand that you need to provide a balanced discussion of both viewpoints before presenting your opinion.

Some questions might phrase the task differently but still require a balanced discussion. For instance,

"Some people believe A, while others believe B. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion."

By understanding the nuances of these instructions, you can accurately identify the IELTS discussion essay task and tackle it with a well-prepared strategy.

Stay tuned to learn how to effectively brainstorm ideas, plan your essay, write persuasively, and revise your work to create a high-scoring IELTS discussion essay.

Preparing to Write Your IELTS Discussion Essay

How to Achieve a High Band Score in IELTS Academic Task 1 Report - eBook by IELTS Luminary

Understanding the Essay Topics

IELTS discussion essay topics are as varied as they are intriguing. They often explore global issues and public interest topics like advancements in technology, environmental sustainability, modern education models, and societal norms.

To effectively tackle these topics, immerse yourself in "hot topics" and current affairs. Familiarize yourself with both sides of common debates. Reading widely can also help. Check out reliable news outlets, opinion pieces, and other resources related to common IELTS discussion essay topics.

Remember, understanding IELTS discussion essay topics isn't about becoming an expert in every field. Rather, it's about building a broad base of knowledge that can help you think critically, generate relevant ideas, and articulate your thoughts coherently.

Brainstorming Ideas for Your IELTS Essay

IELTS Speaking eBook - How to Achieve a High Band Score in IELTS Speaking - IELTS Luminary

Brainstorming is a powerful tool for generating ideas for your IELTS discussion essay. It allows you to tap into your creativity and critically consider different viewpoints.

Start by carefully reading the essay prompt. Understand what it's asking you to discuss. From there, jot down all your initial thoughts, ideas, and arguments related to both sides of the topic.

Consider potential reasons, examples, and points that support each viewpoint. This comprehensive brainstorming process not only helps you gather rich content for your essay but also paves the way for a balanced and well-rounded discussion.

Planning the Discussion Essay

Essay planning is an essential step in the IELTS writing process. A well-structured essay plan helps you organize your ideas, makes sure you address all parts of the prompt, and guides your writing process.

A typical IELTS discussion essay includes an introduction, two body paragraphs (each discussing a different viewpoint), and a conclusion.

Introduction: State the topic and your intention to discuss both views. Use clear, concise language.

Body Paragraph 1: Discuss the first viewpoint. Use a topic sentence to introduce the viewpoint, and then present supporting ideas and examples.

Body Paragraph 2: Discuss the second viewpoint. Use a similar structure as the first body paragraph but ensure your points are distinct.

Conclusion: Summarize your discussion, state your personal viewpoint, and give a closing thought or implication.

Use this structure as a blueprint when planning your IELTS discussion essay. It will help ensure your essay is coherent, logical, and ready to impress the examiners.

Writing the IELTS Discussion Essay

Crafting an engaging introduction.

Paraphrase the essay question to clarify the issue under discussion.

To begin the introduction, rephrase the given essay question. This demonstrates your understanding of the topic and avoids mere repetition. Paraphrasing can also make the topic clearer and more understandable for the reader.

Next, give a thesis statement that answers the question in brief.

The thesis statement is crucial. It briefly summarizes your main argument or stance on the topic. It acts as a roadmap, telling the reader what to expect from the essay and how the discussion will unfold.

Remember, the introduction does not have to be lengthy; a few well-crafted sentences can set a strong foundation for your essay.

This is a piece of advice that emphasizes brevity and quality. You don't need an extended introduction; rather, it should be concise and effective in introducing the topic and setting the stage for the discussion.

Discussing Both Views in Detail

The body of your IELTS discussion essay is where you delve into the crux of your argument. This should be split into two paragraphs, each discussing a different view.

For each viewpoint, start with a clear topic sentence that outlines the main idea. This will guide the reader through your argument. Following the topic sentence, provide supporting details, examples, or reasons that back up the viewpoint. Make sure your ideas are logically ordered and each paragraph is cohesive and focused.

Sharing Your Own Viewpoint

In the IELTS discussion essay, after discussing both views, it's crucial to share your personal viewpoint. This is where you can make a compelling argument supporting your position. Your viewpoint can agree with either of the discussed perspectives, both of them, or be entirely different.

Justify your opinion with strong reasoning and relevant examples. Make sure to connect your viewpoint with the points you've discussed previously. Use cohesive devices to ensure your argument flows smoothly from the discussion of the two viewpoints to your personal stance.

Wrapping up with a Strong Conclusion

The conclusion is your final chance to impress the reader. It's where you summarize your discussion and restate your viewpoint.

Start your conclusion by paraphrasing the main discussion points. Next, restate your personal viewpoint, ensuring it aligns with what you've discussed in the body of your essay. Try to end your essay on a strong note, possibly by summarizing the implications of the discussion or giving a final thought related to the topic.

Remember, a strong conclusion doesn't introduce any new information but effectively wraps up your essay, leaving a lasting impression on the reader.

By following these steps, you can create a compelling, coherent, and high-scoring IELTS discussion essay. Stay tuned to further explore editing techniques and common mistakes to avoid for your IELTS writing tasks.

Polishing Your Discussion Essay

Reviewing and editing your ielts discussion essay.

The importance of reviewing and editing your IELTS discussion essay cannot be overstated. This step ensures that your essay is clear, coherent, and free from mistakes.

Start by reading your essay aloud to check for flow and coherence. Look out for any awkward phrasing or unclear ideas. Consider whether your arguments make sense and whether you've supported your points with strong evidence.

Pay close attention to your language use. Look for any grammatical, punctuation, or spelling errors. Also, check if your vocabulary is varied and appropriate. Ensure your sentences are not too long or complex as this could lead to more errors.

Editing isn't just about correcting mistakes. It's also about refining your arguments, ensuring your points are clear, and your ideas are logically connected.

Tips for Avoiding Common Mistakes

Avoiding common mistakes can significantly enhance your IELTS discussion essay quality. Here are a few key pitfalls to steer clear of:

Going off-topic: Ensure your discussion remains focused on the topic throughout. Every paragraph should contribute to your overall argument.

Writing too much: Stay within the recommended word count. Writing too much can lead to unnecessary errors and wasted time.

Unequal discussion of views: Remember to discuss both views equally. Your essay should not heavily lean towards one view unless it's your personal viewpoint.

Inadequate planning: Failing to plan your essay can lead to a disorganized argument. Spend adequate time understanding the prompt, brainstorming ideas, and planning your essay.

Conclusion Writing

By following these steps, you can create a compelling, coherent, and high-scoring IELTS discussion essay.

IELTS Discussion Essay: A Band 9 Sample

Here is an example of an IELTS Discussion Essay, adhering to the guidelines provided in our comprehensive guide.

Essay Question:

Some people believe that unpaid community service should be a compulsory part of high school programs (for example, working for a charity, improving the neighbourhood, or teaching sports to younger children). To what extent do you agree or disagree?

"Many advocate for mandatory community service in high schools, emphasizing its role in fostering personal growth and benefiting local communities. While the inclusion of community service undoubtedly offers numerous developmental benefits, the debate centres on whether it should be an enforced obligation or a choice made out of genuine interest. This essay will discuss both perspectives on this issue before concluding with my own viewpoint.

On one hand, integrating unpaid community service into high school programs can offer multiple benefits. It provides students with the opportunity to develop essential life skills such as responsibility, teamwork, and empathy. For example, volunteering at a local charity could improve their understanding of societal issues and instill a sense of social responsibility. Furthermore, teaching sports to younger children could enhance leadership skills, fostering a sense of accomplishment and confidence among high school students.

On the other hand, critics argue that community service should not be mandatory. They assert that it may impose additional pressure on students, who are already burdened with academic responsibilities. Also, forced volunteering may not yield genuine compassion or social awareness, as the service is carried out from obligation, not personal interest or motivation. Instead, they suggest that schools should encourage, not enforce, participation in community service, allowing students to engage in activities that truly resonate with them.

In conclusion, while mandatory community service could nurture important skills and values among high school students, it is equally important to consider the potential stress and insincerity it might cultivate. In my opinion, community service should be encouraged, but not compulsory, in high schools, allowing students to discover their passions and contribute meaningfully to society."

As you can see, this essay adheres to the structure of an IELTS discussion essay. It has an introduction that outlines the topic and intention to discuss both views, two body paragraphs discussing each view, and a conclusion that summarizes the discussion and provides the writer's personal viewpoint.

You can boost your IELTS Writing score with our comprehensive eBooks and personalised Essay Feedback by an experienced IELTS examiner.

How To Write A Discussion Essay

In writing task 2 you will be asked to write a discursive essay ( 250 words minimum ). You will be given a question asking you to give your opinion, discuss a problem or issue. You could also be asked to provide solutions, evaluate a problem, compare and contrast different ideas or challenge an idea. In this post, we will be focussing on how to write a discuss both views and give your opinion essay .

One of the first things you should do is read the marking criteria to see what the examiners expect. This is really important, as you need to know what they are looking for in the band 7+ boxes.

You should be able to give the examiners exactly what they want, in order to get a 7+ band score.

If you would like to purchase a 34 page PDF download that is easy to read and print out please take a look at the bookshop >

WRITING TASK 2 Discuss Both Views and Give Your Opinion Essay STRUCTURE

The structure that I advise my students to use, will be sure to get you a band score of 7+. You need to practice using this structure, with as many questions as you can, before sitting your IELTS test. This writing task 2 structure has been proven to be successful for my students and when perfected, can easily help you to achieve a high band score.

TIP >> Before you start writing, plan your ideas so that you can organise the information clearly. You must decide how much you agree or disagree with and why. Take 5 minutes and plan out your ideas, opinions and examples.

TIP >> It is very important that spend a full 40 minutes on this task as the score you get for writing task 2 is two-thirds of your total writing score. You also need to write a minimum of 250 words and use your own ideas.

TIP >> Remember to write in a formal tone, this is an academic essay, therefore your writing should be formal.

IT IS A 5-PARAGRAPH STRUCTURE >>

Paragraph 1 – The Introduction

This is the introduction to the essay and where you should start off by paraphrasing the question.

Do you understand what I mean, when I say ‘paraphrase’ the question?

This means that you rewrite the question in your own words using synonyms. You can’t just copy the question again or use the same words in the question. Paraphrase and show off your vocabulary knowledge by using synonyms. When practising your essay writing, use an online thesaurus to help you. This is a great tool and can help you to learn many new words.

After that, give your view/opinion on the issue. A good way to say this is to start with… ‘In my opinion, I believe that……..’

The last sentence in the introduction should outline for the examiner exactly what you will discuss in the main body paragraphs. For example, ‘ this essay will discuss both views and state my own position’.

There are three sentences you need in the introduction >>

Paraphrase the question / State both views
Give your view/opinion
Outline what is going to be discussed in the essay

Paragraph 2 – Main Body Paragraph 1

In this paragraph, you should write about the first argument/viewpoint, discuss it, then give an example. You should give specific information and only write about one main idea in each main body paragraph.

Start the paragraph by introducing the first view (View A). This is where you need to have a topic sentence. The next sentence(s) should discuss the view, going into detail. The third sentence should give an example that supports the view.

The example you give could be something from your own experience or made up – it is ok to make up something as the examiners will not fact check your information. They want to see your ability to use English at a certain level. You could make up an example from a report, journal, newspaper or University study to support your view.

This is how the paragraph should look >>

Introduce the view (View A – topic sentence)
Discuss/give detail

Paragraph 3 – Main Body Paragraph 2

In this paragraph, you should write about your second view (View B). You should give specific information and only write about one main idea in each main body paragraph.

Start the paragraph by introducing the view (View B). This is where you need to have a topic sentence. The next sentence(s) should discuss the view, going into detail. The third sentence should give an example that supports the view.

This is how the paragraph should look >>

Introduce the view (View B – topic sentence)

Paragraph 4 – Your Opinion

In this paragraph, you should write your opinion. You should give specific information and only write about one main idea in each main body paragraph.

Start the paragraph by introducing your opinion. This is where you need to have a topic sentence. The next sentence(s) should explain your opinion, going into detail. The third sentence should give an example that supports your opinion.

Introduce your opinion (topic sentence)
Explain your opinion

Paragraph 5 – The Conclusion

In the final paragraph, you write the conclusion giving a summary of your main points and state which view is more important. You should not enter any new information or ideas in this paragraph.

Summary of the main points
State which view is more important

EXPRESSING YOUR OPINION >>

To get a high score in IELTS academic writing task 2, you should use as many different structures, collocations and idioms as you can.

SEQUENCING IDEAS >>

You can use phrases like these to make statements, for example; On the one hand sunbathing can give your body vitamin D, on the other hand, it can also be very dangerous for your health.

SAMPLE Discuss Both Points of View and Give your own opinion ESSAY >>

**All questions have been reported by students who have taken the IELTS exam.**

It is undeniable that modern technology has a huge influence on people’s lives. The use of the internet, for example, has become more common and some claim that it has been able to connect people who are far apart, while others argue that its use can lead to social isolation or confinement. This essay will discuss both views and state my own position.

Firstly, during the last two decades, there have been many tech developments and advancements, bringing convenience to all. One significant attribute of this modernization is the internet, while this technology has made our lives more convenient in many aspects, including our approach to communication. In the past, we only used mail or the telephone to send our messages across the globe, whereas today, the internet allows us to reach out to almost everyone in just a few seconds. The inconvenience of long distances is eliminated as we can talk and even see distant friends or relatives for an unlimited time. For example, the internet connects people whose relatives or families are abroad, through Facebook, Twitter or Skype anytime and anywhere.

Secondly, this technological development has its drawbacks, as it has been observed that some individuals tend to spend a lot of their time surfing the internet or on different social networking sites. Communities meet online via private Facebook groups, instead of in a community hall to discuss matters, since this does not allow them to socialise physically with people, they isolate themselves in this virtual world. Both teenagers and adults use much of their time online and this does not allow them to develop their interpersonal skills. For instance, a study from 2015 by The Social Media Explorer saw that over 93% of teenagers aged 16-19 have a social media presence, with more than three social accounts per person.

Thirdly, in my opinion, I believe that the internet can bring people closer together, as it can make both socialising and work much easier for those who travel. Communities can speak freely at any time, in groups, asking for help or advice, though it is up to the individuals to acknowledge how much time they are spending online and whether this is a cause for concern. Isolation cannot be blamed on the internet, as it is just a tool to use, the individual must be in charge of their own time. For example, a person who works from home online for many hours in the day should make sure they have adequate breaks and make time for socialising, as to not feel isolated or removed from their own community.

In conclusion, it is a fact that the internet has brought more convenience into society and allowed many people to be closer. However, people should take responsibility to balance the use of the internet so that other aspects of their lives will not become neglected.

(Word Count – 476 / Band Score 9)

Task Achievement – The answer discusses both sides of the argument and ends with a clear opinion. the main body paragraphs are supported with relevant examples. The essay exceeds the word count, but all sentences are relevant and focussed.
Coherence and Cohesion – The answer has been divided into clear logical paragraphs and each main body paragraph only has one main idea. There are cohesive links between the main body paragraphs ( Firstly, Secondly, Thirdly, In conclusion ).
Lexical Resource – There is evidence of a wide range of vocabulary, with no errors in the text.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy – The answer has no grammatical errors. The sentences have a wide range of structures including relative clauses ( in which.. .).

TIP >> Use each of the main body paragraphs (paragraphs 2 and 3) to discuss both views, giving examples that are relevant. Remember to give your opinion, state your opinion in the fourth paragraph. In the conclusion (paragraph 5), summarise your main points and state which view is more important.

WRITING TASK 2 BAND SCORE 9 CRITERIA >>

If you would like to view more high band score discussion essay examples please click the button below >

We hope you found this post useful in helping you to study for the IELTS Test . If you have any questions please let us know in the comments below or on the Facebook page.

The best way to keep up to date with posts like this is to like us on Facebook , then follow us on Instagram and Pinterest . If you need help preparing for the IELTS Test, join the IELTS Achieve Academy and see how we can assist you to achieve your desired band score. We offer an essay correction service, mock exams and online courses.

150+ IELTS Academic Essay List

It is more important to have a good family than to have friends. Family can…

IELTS Discussion Essay Sample 5 – Environment

IELTS Writing Task 2 discussion essay example that is a band score 8. The question…

IELTS Writing Task 2: Discussion Essays- Benchmark IELTS

Essay Types
Double Question
Advantage Disadvantage
Problem Solution
Essay Length

Discussion essays are a common type of IELTS writing task 2 essay question where you are given two sides of an argument to discuss and give your opinion. This guide is full of writing tips, useful language and a sample essay to help you produce a high-level IELTS writing task 2 discussion essay. Read on to learn more!

1.1 understanding the question, 1.2 example discussion essay questions, 2.1 essay structure 1.

2.2 Essay structure 2
3.1 Identify key words and phrases

3.2 Organise your ideas

3.3 identify vocabulary, 4.1 introduction, 4.2 main body paragraphs, 4.3 conclusion.

5.1 Complete the sample Discussion essay

5.2 Discussion Sample Essay

1. discussion essay overview.

As with all IELTS writing task 2 essay questions, you will have 40 minutes to produce a formal essay ( at least 250 words in length).

With a discussion essay, you will be presented with two sides of an argument and then asked to give your opinion .

Remember, there are five main types of writing task 2 questions:

Advantage/disadvantage
Double question
Problem/solution

A discussion question should be easy to identify: You will first be given an IELTS statement and then a question that will usually be worded something like:

Discuss both sides and give your opinion
Discuss both sides

With this type of essay question, you can choose to either take a thesis-led approach where you give your opinion in the i ntroduction and conclusion , or an evidence-led approach where you give your opinion in the conclusion .

We will show you both structures later in this guide and a sample essay that takes an evidence-led approach.

Here are some example discussion essay questions. Pay attention to the question words so you quickly identify a discussion essay question:

Some people say that governments are responsible for dealing with environmental issues. Other people believe that it is the individual’s responsibility to take action to protect the environment.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Some people think that environmental problems should be solved on a global scale while others believe it is better to deal with them nationally.

There seems to be an increasing number of serious crimes committed each year. While some think the best way is to use the death penalty as a deterrent, many people believe that other measures will be needed.

Discuss both sides.

Some people feel that it is better to live in a city while others believe that life is better in the countryside.

Also, read the following IELTS Essay Writing Guides

Double Question IELTS Essay Topics
Opinion-based Task 2 IELTS Guide
IELTS Advantage Disadvantage Essay Type
Problem Solution IELTS Writing Task Statement

Many people think governments should fund art, while others believe that artists should be responsible for funding their work.

Discuss both views.

2. Essay Structure for Opinion Essays

2.1 essay structure 2.

Evidence-led

Note that we have suggested giving two topic sentences per body paragraph . However, it is perfectly fine to spend more time writing one topic sentence and developing that idea fully .

The best way to see what structure works best is to complete an essay under timed conditions.

3. Planning your Discussion Essay

Planning your essay should only take 5 minutes but could make a real difference to your overall score.

We’ve put together some useful tips to plan a discussion essay.

3.1 Identify keywords and phrases

You should always make sure you understand exactly what topic you have been asked to write about by locating the topic words in the IELTS statement.

Take a look at the statement for our model answer. We’ve underlined the topic words for you:

Some people think that environmental problems should be solved on a global scale while others believe it is better to deal with them nationally .

The topic of this essay is environmental problems . We have also put some other keywords in bold that give more information about the topic, in this case, the question is not just about environmental problems but about dealing with these problems on a global scale or nationally .

If you want to score well in Coherence and Cohesion, then you need to create a logical and well organised essay. You could organise your ideas using notes, bullet points, columns, or whatever method you like. For a discussion essay, you could consider arranging your ideas by argument and supporting examples:

Argument 1:

Environmental issues should be addressed at global level/ richer nations = financial ability
International cooperation is necessary worldwide
World leaders can make laws to promote the use of renewable energy and reduce the use of finite resources
Resources to develop and invest in green technology / drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Different nations need to reduce carbon emissions

Argument 2:

National laws that impose rules
Regional and community action is more effective than global efforts
Recycling quotas and waste reduction
Communities can coordinate direct action
Litter picking campaigns

Although it is not essential, it is a great idea to note down any unusual or useful vocabulary during the planning process to increase your score in Lexical resource .

Here are some ideas we came up with for our sample essay linked to the topic of environmental problems :

Finite resources
Greenhouse emissions
Enact meaningful change
Recycling quotas
Green technology

4. Writing your Discussion Essay

The first thing you need to do is rewrite the given IELTS statement in your own words. This is called paraphrasing and it is a key skill needed for the writing section of the IELTS exam.

Look at the example of our paraphrase statement, can you see what’s changed?

Notice that we have taken an evidence-led approach where we do not give our opinion in the introduction and instead put this in the conclusion.

We suggest also adding an outline sentence to briefly explain what our easy will do:

This essay will examine both points of view .

For both of your main body paragraphs, you will need language to introduce the two discussion points given in the statement.

Each body paragraph should focus on one side of the argument .

Here’s a reminder of our recommended essay structure for the body paragraphs (remember, you do not have to write about two points in each paragraph, you can stick to one ):

Impersonal Passive: The impersonal passive is useful for this type of essay when introducing ideas. Here are some example sentence starters:

People often say that…
A common argument is that…
People often claim that…
Some people say that…
People generally think that…
People often put forward the argument that…

Here is another example taken from our sample essay:

It is often argued that these environmental issues should be tackled globally.

Relative clauses: Relative clauses are an efficient way of providing more information about the main idea of your sentence as well as a way of increasing your Grammatical range and accuracy .

Here is a reminder of the relative pronouns needed to form a relative clause:

And here are some example relative clauses linked to the topic of our sample essay:

On the other hand, there are many people who believe that environmental change is only possible at a more local level and that only individual nations can make the biggest difference.
It is believed that there should be national laws that impose rules such as recycling quotas and waste reduction.

Your conclusion is an essential part of your writing tasks 2 essay and you will find it difficult to score over a band score 6.0 in Task achievement if you do not include one .

There are two main things you need to do for a successful conclusion:

Restate both sides of the argument (using different words than you did in your introduction)
Give your opinion/ restate your opinion on which side of the argument you think is the most important (this will depend on whether you have taken a thesis-led or evidence-led approach)

Take a look at our conclusion for the sample answer and identify the opinion:

In conclusion, although it is clear that environmental issues need to be addressed at a global level, it is my view that national efforts can make the biggest difference. Communities can work together to implement policies quickly and effectively and enact meaningful environmental change.

5. Example Discussion Essay and Exercise

Here is the discussion essay that we have been using in this guide.

We have removed some keywords so you can test your knowledge on discussion essays by selecting the correct missing word.

5.1 Complete the Sample Discussion Essay

There is no doubt that the modern world is facing many serious environmental problems, such as climate change, an increase in natural disasters and air pollution. It is often argued that these environmental issues should be tackled globally. However, there are also those that argue that these problems can only be dealt with at a regional level. This essay will examine both points of view.

One reason that people believe environmental issues should be addressed at a global level is that richer, more developed nations have the financial ability and power to do so. World leaders can make laws to promote the use of renewable energy and reduce the use of finite resources. Furthermore, they also have the resources to develop and invest in green technology that could drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Another argument that can be put forward is that, to make major environmental changes, international cooperation is necessary worldwide. For instance, different nations need to work in unison to agree on their reduction in carbon emissions.

On the other hand, there are many people who believe that environmental change is only possible at a more local level and that only individual nations can make the biggest difference. It is believed that there should be national laws that impose rules such as recycling quotas and waste reduction. Additionally, it is argued that regional and community action is more effective than global efforts. For example, communities can coordinate direct action such as litter picking campaigns.

Exam Updates & Tips!

Signup for preparation and special offers!

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

IELTS Charlie

Your Guide to IELTS Band 7

IELTS Discuss Both Views Essay: tips, common mistakes, questions & essays

In this lesson we are going to look at how to answer an IELTS Discuss Both Views essay, also known as a 2 sided discussion essay .

You will learn about this IELTS Writing Task 2 essay, using authentic IELTS essay questions , plus the most common mistakes. And I will finish with an IELTS model essay written by me in response to a sample IELTS essay question . So let’s get started!

What Is Your Task?

In this IELTS question type, you are presented with 2 contrasting opinions on a particular topic. Your task is to discuss these two views AND give your own opinion on the topic.

Some people say History is one of the most important school subjects. Other people think that, in today’s world, subjects like Science and Technology are more important than History.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Cambridge IELTS 13 Academic Test 3

In this task, you are presented with two contrasting views on the topic of education, specifically, what are the most important school subjects.

View 1: History is one of the most important school subjects
View 2: “Subjects like” Science and Technology are more important than History

You need to do two things in this task:

Present the reasons for each view
Present your own view. (This can include saying what you think about each of the two views)

Let’s look at this task in more detail.

Firstly, you need to present the REASONS for each view.

WHY do some people think that History is one of the most important school subjects?
WHY do some people think that subjects like Science and Technology are more important than History?

To get a Band 7 or higher, you should try to present the reasons for each view in an objective way. i.e. you need to think about the argument from the viewpoint of the people who think this. What are the reasons for their view that History is one of the most important school subjects?

Here are a few reasons why these people may think this:

You need to understand your country’s past if you can really understand your country today
Understanding History gives you a shared cultural understanding with other people
Because the study of History may require a lot of reading and writing, it helps you to develop literacy skills

I don’t necessarily agree with these reasons. I just think these may be the reasons why some people think History is so important.

And why do some people think that subjects like Science and Technology are more important that History? Here are a couple of possible reasons:

the study of science and technology helps you to develop skills that are important in getting a job in today’s world
it’s useful to have a good understanding of science to help you navigate the modern world (e.g. advanced in health and electronics)

It’s important to understand that the 2 views given in an IELTS test question are going to be sensible, reasonable views. They won’t be crazy ones, such as “some people think that playing computer games is one of the most important school subjects”! So there WILL be good reasons for these views. You just need to think about and explain what they are.

Secondly, you need to present your OWN view. Your opinion. You need to say what YOU think.

For a high band score, it’s a good idea to base your view on your discussion of the 2 views . You could point out the weaknesses or limitations of the view you disagree with, and suggest which view is stronger.

“Studying History can certainly boost literacy skills, but then so can any other subject requiring lots of reading and writing.”

“S cientific and technological subjects should be given priority in the curriculum because they help young people get well-paid jobs in modern companies.”

You can write sentences like these either at the end of each body paragraph, or in your final paragraph, where you present your own opinion.

For more information about this, and how to make your position clear throughout your essay, read this special lesson on how to answer an IELTS Discuss Both Views essay question .

How To Plan An IELTS Discuss Both Views Essay

If you are aiming for a high band score (band 7 and above) it is absolutely vital that you plan your essay. A good plan will help you to see if you have answered the question, developed your ideas and organised them BEFORE you start writing.

We’re going to plan an essay using my 4 Step Planning Process .

Step 1: Understand The Task

First, you need to make sure you understand exactly what you need to write about. So you need to read the question carefully, not quickly!

These three questions will help you to get a really clear understanding of your task:

What is the topic about?

What is the topic NOT about?

How should you respond to the topic?

Let’s go back to this essay question, and answer those 3 questions:

In a discuss both views essay, you have 2 contrasting ideas…but what OVERALL issue are both groups thinking about? In this task, it’s the most important school subjects . Some people think History is one of those important school subjects, but other people think that Science and Technology are the most important school subjects.

It’s also a good idea to quickly think about what the topic is NOT about, so you don’t start writing about those things. The task is NOT about university, it’s about school (so students aged between 5 and 18).

The instruction, “discuss both these views and give your own opinion” tells you how to respond to the topic. Make sure you do that! Don’t write an essay that only argues why History is important – that would be an opinion essay and this will limit your band score for Task Response to Band 5 at best.

Step 2: Decide Your Position

Next, you need to decide your position. In other words, you need to decide what you think.

In a discuss both views essay, your position is your discussion of the two views, plus your own view , so it’s a little more complicated than for other tasks.

When you discuss the two views, you need to present the reasons for the views. Why do these people take this view? But it’s also a good idea to point out any strengths or weaknesses in the 2 views, so that your own view comes through.

Step 3: Extend Your Ideas

When you decided your position, you may have started thinking about the reasons for your position, the reasons for your answer. In other words, WHY are you taking this view?

Giving reasons for your view is essential in an IELTS essay. In fact, all IELTS questions tell you to “give reasons for your answer”. So in Step 3, you need to think about your reasons a little more.

However, just presenting your reasons is not enough. You need to develop them.

The two best ways of developing your ideas is by:

giving explanations of what you mean
giving specific examples which illustrate what you mean

Together, these add more detail to your answer.

You MUST do this to get Band 7. If you fail to develop your ideas in detail, your band score for Task Response may be limited to Band 6.

Read more about how to develop your ideas in an IELTS essay.

Step 4: Structure Your Essay

The final step in the planning process is to structure your essay. This simply means deciding which main ideas to put in which paragraphs.

In a discuss both views essay, here’s the structure I would recommend:

Paragraph 1: introduce essay
Paragraph 2: present the reasons for the 1st view
Paragraph 3: present the reasons for the 2nd view
Paragraph 4: present your opinion

How To Write Your IELTS Discuss Both Views Essay

Let’s go through how to write the different parts of the essay.

How To Write The Introduction

In the introduction to an IELTS Discuss Both Views essay, you can do two things: introduce the main topic and the two views. (You can also present your opinion in a third sentence, but it is not essential.)

Introduce The Topic

You can begin with a background sentence which introduces your reader to the topic of the essay. This is not absolutely essential, but it helps to show the examiner that you understand the task.

In our example question above, the task presented us with 2 views:

“Some people say History is one of the most important school subjects. Other people think that, in today’s world, subjects like Science and Technology are more important than History.”

But what is the wider topic? What big topic are the 2 groups of people discussing?

It’s the most important school subjects.

So you could introduce the first sentence like this:

“There is often a lot of debate on the topic of the most important school subjects.”

or you could even write a question:

“What are the most important school subjects?”

If you find identifying the wider topic difficult, then don’t write this sentence. Just present the two views instead.

Introduce The 2 Views

Next, you need to introduce the two views.

The best way to do this is to paraphrase the two views in one sentence.

How To Paraphrase

Think about the meaning of the two views, and briefly rewrite them using your own words. Try not to use the same grammatical structures as in the essay question, and try to move language around. In other words, be flexible. This is important if you are aiming for a Band 7 or higher.

In the example essay question above, the two views are:

Here is one way of paraphrasing these views:

“Some people argue that one of the most essential subjects is History, while others disagree and want to see Science and Technology prioritised.”

or you could write about the “argument” rather than the “people”:

“One argument is that one of the most essential subjects is History, while another takes the view that Science and Technology should be prioritised instead.”

How NOT To Paraphrase

When you paraphrase, do NOT just change individual words with synonyms, or you will get some very strange sentences, e.g.

“Many citizens say the study of the past is among the most crucial educational topics. Other individuals ponder that, in nowadays earth, areas like scientific knowledge and technological skills are more essential than the past.”

DON’T DO THIS! It sounds unnatural and can be confusing.

Present Your Opinion

You could also add your own opinion as a third sentence, but I don’t think this is necessary. It’s better to get straight to the body.

Just start writing the body.

How To Write The Body Paragraphs

In an IELTS Discuss Both Views essay, you need to present the arguments for the two different views, plus your own opinion.

Write the arguments for each view in a separate paragraph.

When discussing the arguments for each view, the body paragraph should contain:

A reason for the view (your main idea)
A more detailed explanation of this reason
An example which illustrates this reason

You can include a second reason for each view in the same paragraph.

Read a more detailed explanation of how to write the body paragraphs here .

How To Write The Conclusion (Opinion Paragraph)

In the conclusion to an IELTS Discuss Both Views essay, you need to do one thing:

state your own opinion

The best way to do this is by pointing out the weaknesses in the view you disagree with, and the strengths of the view you agree with.

You do not need an additional paragraph which summarises your points again.

Common Mistakes in an IELTS Discuss Both Views Essay

These are the most common mistakes made by Test Takers when writing an IELTS Discuss Both Views essay:

presenting too many reasons for each view: you MUST develop ALL of your ideas to get a high band score, so it’s best to present 1-2 reasons for each view and explain them all
not giving your own opinion
not writing your opinion in much detail. You should try to give some reasons for your view
Writing an overly general statement about the topic in the introduction (e.g. “Healthcare is a topic of hot debate.”)
Your main ideas are not explained and illustrated enough. You need to develop all of your ideas to get a band 7 and higher.
Including ideas and information that does not directly answer the essay question
Not fully understanding the essay question(s). This is often caused by reading the question quickly, not carefully.
Using memorised phrases (e.g. “a hot topic”, “in a nutshell”, “my considered opinion”)
Using “research studies” as examples: examples should illustrate your ideas, not prove them. Read about how to use examples in IELTS essays .
Trying to use rare or “novel” language: examiners are looking for groups of words used naturally, not rare words.

Sample IELTS Discuss Both Views Essay Questions

Some people think that parents should teach children how to be good members of society. Others, however, believe that school is the place to learn this.

Cambridge IELTS 8 Academic Test 1

Some people think that the teenage years are the happiest times of most people’s lives. Others think that adult life brings more happiness, in spite of greater responsibilities.

Cambridge IELTS 9 GT Test B

Some people believe that it is best to accept a bad situation, such as an unsatisfactory job or shortage of money. Others argue that it is better to try and improve such situations.

Cambridge IELTS 14 Test 1

Some people like to try new things, for example, places to visit and types of food. Other people prefer to keep doing things they are familiar with.

Discuss both these attitudes and give your own opinion.

Cambridge IELTS 16 General Training Test 2

Some people say that advertising is extremely successful at persuading us to buy things. Other people think that advertising is so common that we no longer pay attention to it,

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Cambridge IELTS 15 Academic Test 3

Model IELTS Discuss Both Views Essays

Here is an IELTS Discuss Both Views Essay that I wrote in response to this task:

Some people say that now we can see films on our phones or tablets there is no need to go to the cinema. Others say that to be fully enjoyed, films need to be seen in a cinema.

Cambridge IELTS Book 13 General Training Test 3

Now that mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets have become more powerful and affordable, there is some debate as to whether there is a need any longer to go to the cinema to watch movies.

It’s certainly true that going to the cinema is not essential. The versatility and portability of these devices mean you can easily watch films while lying on your bed at home, sitting in a cafe or commuting to work or college. Moreover, online services such as Netflix provide low-cost and rapid access to a vast catalogue of movies, whereas cinemas only screen a handful of films at any one time.

However, there are strong arguments in favour of going to the cinema, foremost of which is that modern cinemas, such as IMAX, offer surround sound systems and huge screens, meaning that moviegoers are immersed in a movie, an experience that cannot be replicated by mobile devices. In addition, new movie releases tend to be exclusive to cinema chains, so if you want to watch the latest Bond or Batman movie on your tablet, you may have a long wait.

Personally, I think that while there are clear arguments for both views, someone’s preferences are likely to be influenced by the kind of movie they want to watch. Sci-fi and action movies, for example, are far more enjoyable in a cinema because of the special effects they include, whereas gentle romantic comedies or biopics can easily be enjoyed on a tablet or phone. It also depends on whether you want to watch movies with friends: it’s simply much easier to watch them together in a cinema rather than huddled over a small screen with a tiny speaker.

(282 words)

Read my full plan and comments for this essay .

More IELTS Discuss Both Views Sample Essays

Privacy Overview

Discover the 7 STEPS to BAND 7 in IELTS Writing Task 2

Free IELTS lessons signup

Academic practice
General practice
Task 1 Academic
Task 1 General
Task 2 (essay)

IELTS Writing Task 2: discuss both views + give your opinion

In this guide, you'll learn how to answer IELTS writing task 2 questions that ask you to discuss both points of view before giving your opinion . This type of question is often confused with an agree/disagree question or a give your opinion question. In the latter types of questions, you can choose an opinion and generate your arguments. However, for a discuss both views + give opinion question, you have to discuss both points of view impartially before giving your own view.

In this lesson you will see IELTS writing task 2 sample question + model answer and learn:

how to impartially discuss the points of view
how to present your own point of view
how to give a band 9 answer

IELTS question - discuss both views + give opinion

Let's look at an example of IELTS writing task 2 question that asks you to discuss both views and give your opinion:

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

It is commonly believed that nowadays main factors that affect a child's development are media, pop culture and friends. A different point of view is that family plays the most significant role.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Write at least 250 words.

Generate arguments for each point of view:

First of all, you have to identify the two opinions . These are:

External factors have more considerable influence on a child's development.
The family has a greater influence on a child's development.

Next, let's brainstorm for arguments that support each side:

External factors have a more considerable influence on a child's development.
Children tend to copy the behaviour of their favourite fictional characters.
Children spend a lot of time with their peers.
Technology has an all-pervasive impact on children.
Parents are always present in the life of a child.
The younger the children are, the more malleable their character is.
Parents can set boundaries and have more control over their children.

Choose your point of view:

For our essay, we will agree that although external factors influence the development of a child, parents and family still have the upper hand.

Our reason: A child's choice of friends, books or music depends on the values instilled in them by their parents.

Band 9 answer structure for discuss both views + give opinion essay

Though there are many ways to structure your IELTS essay, we’ll use this time-tested band 9 essay structure:

Introduction
Body paragraph 1 – discuss the first opinion
Body paragraph 2 – discuss the second opinion
Body paragraph 3 – give your own opinion

It is often held that teachers, peers and the media have a significant influence on the life of children. While some people argue that these factors are predominant in shaping a child's future, others believe that parents impact their offspring in more critical ways. This essay will discuss both these points of view and argue in favour of the latter.

On the one hand, the books children read and the music they listen to form their belief system. In other words, children tend to copy the behaviour of their favourite personality or fictional character. Moreover, when little ones work and play in groups, they are influenced by their peers. Finally, other factors, like the media, prompt children to want things regarded as fashionable. For instance, children demand toys that they see on television.

On the other hand, a child's personality is malleable at a very young age, and parents are always present in their life at this stage. Also, very young children love to imitate. For example, children who come from a dysfunctional family often exhibit behavioural problems at school. An emotionally secure environment at home is critical for the child's confidence. Moreover, parents also teach children about setting boundaries.

In my opinion, children's choice of friends, books or music depends on the values instilled in them by their parents. Therefore, parents hold more substantial sway over their offspring than media, pop culture and friends circle.

In conclusion, the outside world influences the intellectual and social development of children. However, I believe that it is parents who set the stage for these developments by laying a strong foundation from a very young age.

Band 9 answer sample

(273 words)

Skip to primary navigation
Skip to main content
Skip to primary sidebar
Skip to footer

IELTS Advantage

IELTS Preparation Courses

Writing Task 2 Discuss Both Views Lesson

How to write a Task 2 discussion essay:

Introduction: paraphrase the question, state both points of view, make a thesis statement and outline your sentence.
Main body paragraph 1: state the first viewpoint, discuss it, state whether you agree or disagree and give an example to support your view.
Main body paragraph 2: state the second viewpoint, discuss it, state whether you agree or disagree and give an example to support your view.
Conclusion: summarise and state which viewpoint is better or more important.
Remember that each Task 2 essay requires a different structure. It is important to learn each structure and practise your writing at home.

Introduction

This lesson will help you answer IELTS Writing Task 2 discussion (or discuss both views and give your opinion) questions.

These particular questions require a different approach to opinion essays because you have to discuss both sides rather than argue in favour of one side.

This post will look at:

Identifying the question

Example Questions

Sample Answer

Task Achievement

Coherence and Cohesion

Lexical Resource

Many students fail to do well in these questions because they do not do what the question asks them to do and do not use an appropriate structure . This post will help you overcome these problems and give you a sample answer.

We will also look at ‘lexical resource’ and ‘coherence and cohesion’; two of the IELTS examiners’ marking criteria when marking your essays. Understanding the marking scheme will help you get inside an IELTS examiner’s head and give them exactly what they want.

Identifying the Question

Look at the three questions below and choose the one you think is a discussion question.

Computers are being used more and more in education and so there will soon be no role for the teacher in education.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Computers are being used more and more in education.

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages and give your own opinion.

Computers are being used more and more in education. Some people say that this is a positive trend, while others argue that it is leading to negative consequences.

Discuss both sides of this argument and then give your own opinion.

The first question is an opinion question, and we can tell this from the instructions ‘To what extent do you agree or disagree?’.

The second question is obviously an advantages and disadvantages question.

The third question is the discussion question. We can tell this from the typical instructions in the question, ‘Discuss both sides of the argument and then give your opinion’.

You may also be asked to ‘Discuss both views and give your opinion’ or ‘Discuss both sides of the argument and give your opinion’.

Each of these questions is asking us to do different things, and we, therefore, need a different structure for each question .

Here are a few other typical discussion questions:

A growing number of people feel that animals should not be exploited by people and that they should have the same rights as humans, while others argue that humans must employ animals to satisfy their various needs, including uses for food and research.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Bloodsports have become a hot topic for debate in recent years. As society develops it is increasingly seen as an uncivilized activity and cruel to the helpless animals that are killed. All blood sports should be banned.

Discuss the main arguments for this statement and give your own opinion.

Some people think that the best way to reduce crime is to give longer prison sentences. Others, however, believe there are better alternative ways of reducing crime.

As you can see, they typically state two opinions and then ask you to discuss both and give your opinion. Make sure you do these things in the essay. If you only discuss both views and fail to give your opinion you will lose marks.

For discussion questions, I suggest you use the following four-paragraph structure.

Introduction

1- Paraphrase Question

2- State Both Points of View

2- Thesis Statement

3- Outline Sentence

Main Body Paragraph 1

1- State first viewpoint

2- Discuss first viewpoint

3- Reason why you agree or disagree with viewpoint

4- Example to support your view

Main Body Paragraph 2

1- State second viewpoint

2- Discuss second viewpoint

Conclusion

Sentence 1- Summary

Sentence 2- State which one is better or more important

Practice

Here is a sample answer, but I have mixed up the sentences. Can you match the sentences below to the structure above?

This exercise will help you understand the structure.

In conclusion, while the benefits of technology, particularly the internet, allow students to tap into limitless sources of information, some still feel that people should be wary of this new phenomenon and not allow it to curb face-to-face interaction.
There is an ever-increasing use of technology, such as tablets and laptops, in the classroom.
The internet has provided students with access to more information than ever before.
Moreover, learners can research and learn about any subject at the touch of a button. It is therefore agreed that technology is a very worthwhile tool for education.
However, many disagree and feel that technology deprives people of real human interaction.
Human interaction teaches people valuable skills such as discourse, debate and empathy.
Despite this, human interaction is still possible through the internet, and this essay disagrees that technology should be dismissed for this reason.
This essay agrees that an increase in technology is beneficial to students and teachers. This essay will discuss both points of view.
For instance, Skype and Facebook allow people to interact in ways that were never before possible.
Wikipedia is a prime example, where students can type in any keyword and gain access to in-depth knowledge quickly and easily.
However, as long as we carefully consider the importance of human interaction in education, the educational benefits are clearly positive.
It is often argued that this is a positive development, whilst others disagree and think it will lead to adverse ramifications.

Example Answer

Computers are being used more and more in education. Some people say this is a positive trend, while others argue that it leads to negative consequences.

There is an ever-increasing use of technology, such as tablets and laptops, in the classroom. It is often argued that this is a positive development, whilst others disagree and think it will lead to adverse ramifications. This essay agrees that an increase in technology is beneficial to students and teachers.

The internet has provided students with access to more information than ever before. Moreover, learners can research and learn about any subject at the touch of a button. It is therefore agreed that technology is a very worthwhile tool for education. Wikipedia is a prime example, where students can type in any keyword and gain access to in-depth knowledge quickly and easily.

However, many disagree and feel that technology deprives people of real human interaction. Human interaction teaches people valuable skills such as discourse, debate and empathy. Despite this, human interaction is still possible through the internet, and this essay disagrees that technology should be dismissed for this reason. For instance, Skype and Facebook allow people to interact in ways that were never before possible.

In conclusion, while the benefits of technology, particularly the internet, allow students to tap into limitless sources of information, some still feel that people should be wary of this new phenomenon and not allow it to curb face-to-face interaction. However, as long as we carefully consider the importance of human interaction in education, the educational benefits are clearly positive.

This is one of the four areas you will be assessed on in the IELTS writing test.

Task achievement refers to your ability to address all parts of the question and present a fully developed answer. By following the structure above, we have fully discussed both sides of the argument and given our opinion. This is exactly what the question asked us to do, no more, no less.

Discourse markers (words like ‘however’, ‘despite this’ and ‘In conclusion’) are also referred to as ‘linking words’ and ‘linking phrases’, or ‘sentence connectors’. They are quite formal and are used more in academic writing than informal speech.

You gain marks for using these under the ‘coherence and cohesion’ section of the marking scheme. These words ‘stick’ the other words together and lend continuity to sentences and paragraphs.

If you do not include discourse markers in your IELTS writing, your answer will appear illogical and more difficult to understand.

However, this does not mean that you should try to insert as many of these words into your writing as possible. This is a common mistake in IELTS writing. Using too many of them, or using them inappropriately, can make your writing sound too heavy and unnatural. They are important but must only be used at the appropriate time.

Try to identify any discourse markers in the essay above . Don’t look at the essay below yet. How many can you find?

Student Sample Answer with Discourse Markers

Here is the sample answer again with the discourse markers in bold .

The internet has provided students with access to more information than ever before. Moreover , learners can research and learn about any subject at the touch of a button. It is therefore agreed that technology is a very worthwhile tool for education. Wikipedia is a prime example , where students can type in any keyword and gain access to in-depth knowledge quickly and easily.

However , many disagree and feel that technology deprives people of real human interaction. Human interaction teaches people valuable skills such as discourse, debate and empathy. Despite this , human interaction is still possible through the internet, and this essay disagrees that technology should be dismissed for this reason. For instance , Skype and Facebook allow people to interact in ways that were never before possible.

In conclusion , while the benefits of technology, particularly the internet, allow students to tap into limitless sources of information, some still feel that people should be wary of this new phenomenon and not allow it to curb face-to-face interaction. However , as long as we carefully consider the importance of human interaction in education, the educational benefits are clearly positive.

This is also one of the four criteria you will be marked on, and it refers to your ability to use a wide range of accurate vocabulary.

A common mistake is to repeat the same words over and over again. You will lose marks if you do this. A solution to this problem is to use synonyms. You can either think of synonyms as you are writing or leave time, in the end, to add them in.

Can you identify any synonyms in the essay above?

Here are some examples:

Computers- technology

Computers- the internet

Education- in the classroom

Education- students and teachers

Positive trend- positive development

Negative Consequences- adverse ramifications

By varying your vocabulary this way, you are demonstrating that you have a wide vocabulary, which will boost your band score. However, like discourse markers, be careful not to use inappropriate/inaccurate words. Only use words you are confident about. Mistakes will lead to fewer marks.

Do you need me to correct your essays and give you feedback on them? Check out our essay correction service .

I hope this post helps you with discussion questions, and if you have any questions, please comment below.

About Christopher Pell

My name is Christopher Pell and I'm the Managing Director of IELTS Advantage.

I started IELTS Advantage as a simple blog to help 16 students in my class. Several years later, I am very humbled that my VIP Course has been able to help thousands of people around the world to score a Band 7+ in their IELTS tests.

If you need my help with your IELTS preparation, you can send me an email using the contact us page.

IELTS Writing Task 2: Discussion Sample Essay

Today we’re going to look at a discussion essay IELTS sample that’s considered Band 9. This Band 9 scored essay matched the pattern for the “discussion” type of Writing Task 2 question. Discussion essays are sometimes also called “discuss both sides” essays. In this kind of essay, you will be presented with two statements of opinion that oppose each other. You will then be asked to “discuss both sides” of the debate, and to give your own opinion. For more information on this and other question types, including tips, tricks, and general advice for the discussion essay question type, see Magoosh’s full guide to IELTS Writing Task 2 question types .

Discussion Essay IELTS Sample: Band 9

The essay below is a band 9 model IELTS essay, patterned after Magoosh’s IELTS Writing Task 2 Template .

IELTS Writing Discussion Essay Practice Question

Some people seek a lot of advice from family and friends when choosing their career. Others feel it is better to choose a career more independently. Discuss both views and give your opinion. Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Get a higher IELTS score? Start your online IELTS prep today with Magoosh.

Write at least 250 words.

Discussion Essay IELTS Sample Band 9 Response

Choosing a career can be a challenging process. It can be difficult to say whether this decision should be made alone, or made with input from loved ones. In my opinion, it is best to find one’s career independently, with no more than a small amount of advice from family or friends. Below, I will explain why I feel that we must ultimately face career decisions on our own.

Getting career guidance input from loved ones can be confusing rather than useful. Family and friends likely have different careers, and thus give different, conflicting advice. Suppose, for instance, that your father is a teacher, your mother is an accountant, and your best friend is a nurse. They have all made very different career decisions, and only have knowledge on their respective careers. Different people will likely only steer you to their careers, without giving good advice on your own best path.

In contrast, focusing on one’s own preferences and skills provides a clearer path to the right career. After all, individuals have the best knowledge of their own abilities and interests. As an example, if someone has gone to university to study biology, they will know more about biology careers than a family member or friend who does not have that same kind of training. Ultimately, your career must be built on your own training and experience, not the training and experience of others.

For the reasons I’ve outlined above, I really do believe that career decisions are a matter of personal knowledge. Other people, even trusted family and friends, simply cannot understand your career the way you can. To select your field of work wisely, you must face this important decision alone.

Scorer Commentary (Discussion IELTS Essay Sample, Band 9)

The score report below is based on the official IELTS Writing Task 2 rubric . This report also looks very similar to the Magoosh IELTS essay scoring service .

Overall Band Score: 9

What was done well in the essay:

At 283 words, this essay exceeded the 250 word minimum. (This is very important for getting full points!)
Each part of the task was fully addressed. Both sides of the issue were discussed in the first and second body paragraphs. Moreover, reasons and relevant examples were included.
Each paragraph had its own clear topic sentence and supporting details, with explanations of the details, and summarization of the most important ideas.
Transitional language was used to clearly tie in all paragraphs to clear main ideas from the introduction and conclusion.
Vocabulary and grammar were used clearly and fluently. There were no serious errors in grammar or word use; word choice and sentence structure varied and avoided significant repetition.

More Model Essays for IELTS Writing Task 2

Would you like the see model essays for the other common IELTS Writing Task 2 question types as well? Magoosh has you covered! Just click the links below.

Advantage/Disadvantage Essay
Two-Part Question Essay
Causes/Solutions Essay
Agree/Disagree Essay

David is a Test Prep Expert for Magoosh TOEFL and IELTS. Additionally, he’s helped students with TOEIC, PET, FCE, BULATS, Eiken, SAT, ACT, GRE, and GMAT. David has a BS from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and an MA from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. His work at Magoosh has been cited in many scholarly articles , his Master’s Thesis is featured on the Reading with Pictures website, and he’s presented at the WITESOL (link to PDF) and NAFSA conferences. David has taught K-12 ESL in South Korea as well as undergraduate English and MBA-level business English at American universities. He has also trained English teachers in America, Italy, and Peru. Come join David and the Magoosh team on Youtube , Facebook , and Instagram , or connect with him via LinkedIn !

View all posts

More from Magoosh

Person pointing pencil at head to indicate causes and solutions essay

5 responses to “IELTS Writing Task 2: Discussion Sample Essay”

Contractions must be avoided because they are a sign of informal writing style. Whereas essay’s should be written in formal way.

You are correct that contractions shouldn’t be used in the formal Task 2 essay. However, note that they can be used at times, such as in IELTS Speaking or in Task 1 if you are asked to write an informal letter.

Happy studying!

Greetings, and thank you for this model essay. I wanted to ask a question relating to the discussion essay’s addressing of the task. Since the two views are 1) Some people think it is beneficial to ask for advice from friends/loved ones, and 2) others think that it is better to do so alone, why isn’t the 2nd paragraph addressing the benefits but instead talks about how it can be confusing? Isn’t a discussion essay’s structure supposed to be something like this:

2nd paragraph: Reasons people believe asking for help to decide for a career is good 3rd paragraph: Reasons people believe doing it on your own is good Conclusion: Giving your own opinion

Thank you for your time!

Good question! The short answer is that both approaches work! The directions are simply to “discuss both views,” but you don’t have to provide support for both sides. You can also discuss the problems or issues with one side, as this essay has done. Does that make sense? I’d suggest reviewing more sample essays to get a better sense of this.

Hope this helps, and best of luck to you!

IELTS Discussion Essay Model Answer

This IELTS discussion essay sample answer is estimated at band 9. See comments below the essay for advice and tips.

Completing university education is thought by some to be the best way to get a good job. On the other hand, other people think that getting experience and developing soft skills is more important. Discuss both sides and give your opinion.

It is considered by some that being a university graduate is the key to securing a good job, while there are others who think that it is better to have experience and soft skills. In my opinion, I believe that having university education is essential for academic jobs, while soft skills and experience are more useful in business.

On the one hand, many think it is easier for most people to find a good job if they are university graduates with a good degree. In other words, having tertiary education puts people one step ahead of others who do not and this can be the deciding factor in getting a good job. The competition to get in to universities and the increasing number of graduates show just how significant this level of education is for people’s future work opportunities.

On the other hand, having work experience and soft skills, such as leadership skills and other interpersonal skills, can also throw the balance in favour of the applicant, according to some. For many positions there are an overwhelming number of applicants and, therefore, it is often thought that having relevant experience in that line of work or having acquired useful soft skills that can be valuable to a company, can put one ahead of the game when applying for a position.

Finally, in my opinion, whether needing high level education or skills and experience, depends on the position being applied for. Take for example law, medicine or teaching, it is impossible to be considered for a position without the required educational background. In contrast, in business, it would be more important for a candidate to have soft skills and experience in that line of business so they can step into a position without further training and be of immediate benefit to the company.

In conclusion, getting a good job requires a relevant background either in experience or education depending on the type of work and field. People should make sure they attain the necessary skills or degrees before applying for a job in order to be sure of success.

Comments : This is a a band score 9 essay. It has over 300 words but all sentences are relevant, focused and well written. Band score 8.5 and 9 students can attempt long essays successfully but students from band 8 to band 6, should aim for around 270 to 290 words. Both sides are clearly discussed and the opinion is also clearly given. Linking devices are well used.

Recommended

IELTS Opinion Essay Model
IELTS Advantage Disadvantage Essay Model
All Writing Task 2 Lessons, Tips and Model Essays
Over 100 IELTS Essay Questions
Discussion Essay Practice Questions

Get my free lessons by email

Subscribe for free to get my new IELTS lessons sent to your email inbox.

Email Address

Hi Liz need your guidance.. today was my IELTS exam and in writing portion I wrote 4 paragraph and forget to leave line spacing.. but I wrote arrow sign before starting my next paragraph.. will it affect my score??

I’ve never actually heard of someone using an arrow sign to indicate a paragraph in an IELTS essay. When I advise people to leave an empty line between paragraphs, it because this is how we write these days and it also makes the paragraphs 100% clear and easy to see. The examiner needs to see paragraphs to give you a score for paragraphing. So, leaving an empty line ensures there is no confusion. However, it isn’t a rule to leave an empty line. It is possible to indent the first word instead. The reason I don’t recommend this is because it is often not obvious or clear to the reader that the word in indented. So, to avoid unclear paragraphing leaving an empty line is much better. Regarding your choice of using arrows, if the examiner realises that you are indicating paragraphs, it will be ok. But I don’t know whether this will be the case because I’ve never heard of someone doing it in an IELTS essay. My recommendation is to talk it over with your test centre and see what they say. Having clear well organised paragraphs is part of the marking criterion of Coherence & Cohesion, which counts for 25% of your marks. Not having paragraphs at all would lower your score in that marking criterion, but would not impact any other part of the marking for writing task 1. Hopefully, the examiner will understand your arrows and you will be fine.

Hi liz, your lessons helped me a lot when I was applying to study abroad. Now, Im in my dream country and after 2 yrs here I am again to learn from you. Thank you so much for all the lessons you provide, I pray for your better health and happiness.

It was lovely to read your message and hear how well you are doing. I wish you all the best with your future life in your dream country 🙂

Dear Madam with reference back to the advanced lesson on the opinion essay, I’m just wondering how to write a good one when IELTS opinion essay is followed by a direct question. (Test 3, Book # 8, IELTS Cambridge Series) Increasing the price of petrol is the best way to solve growing traffic and pollution problems. To what extent do you agree or disagree? What other measures do you think might be effective?

Each question will be answered in one body paragraph. So, one body paragraph will be your opinion and one will be solutions (but stick to no more than 2 solutions because otherwise it might read like a list).

Many thanks for your guidance.

Thanks for your reply.

Ma’am we don’t see you anymore on YouTube channel. Is everything alright? Your videos are very beneficial for all IELTS students and we want more from you. Thank You!

Thanks for your message. I’ve been battling a serious illness for many years. You can read my story here: https://ieltsliz.com/determination-my-story/ . This year is the first year where my health feels more stable. If my health continues to improve, I might make a couple of videos this year. But it will depend on my health. I’m glad there are people out in the world who still want my lessons 🙂

I only now found your website and just saw this very recent comment from you. I’m so sorry to hear this, but I’m glad that this year brought some health improvement and I wish you that this will continue to go on like that. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. Sending you positive vibes and some healing energy.

Thanks. I really appreciate your support

Hello Liz! Greetings from India, I hope you are doing well. Will you once come live on your youtube channel? So that your followers and well-wishers can see you. Thanks in advance mam.

Thanks for your message. It made me smile. I am currently planning a video but it is taking a lot of time because I can only do very small amounts of work each week due to illness. However, if you can be patient a bit longer, I hope to have a video ready in a few weeks or a couple of months.

Hi Liz, so sorry about your health, I hope you are fast recovering. Your lectures have been very helpful

please add more samples of each and type of essays . One sample isn’t enough okay . I will wait for your response

There are plenty of sample essays on the main writing task 2 page – just use the red menu bar at the top of the website to access the different sections of this website.

Hi Liz, I hope you’re doing well. I have a question regarding your e-book, does it provide model answers or only ideas and vocabulary?

The Ideas for Essay Topics is for ideas. It’s about gaining ideas for cover 150 common essay topics so that you don’t waste time trying to think of ideas in the test. The ideas can also be used in speaking part 3. The ideas are presented as vocabulary exercises to help you remember the ideas and learn vocabulary. For model essays, you can find some free ones in the main writing task 2 section of this website.

Hi Liz, Hope you are doing well. Kindly check my response (introduction paragraph) to a discussion essay on the topic:

Some people say that advertising is extremely successful at persuading us to buy things. Other people think that advertising is so common that we no longer pay attention to it. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Response: It is considered by some people that advertisements for various goods persuade the public to purchase them while others believe that advertising does not grab any attention now as it has become a common practice. In my opinion, advertising is a useful tool to make people buy goods but making this a usual activity is not attracting the public much.

Your reply will be appreciated, Thank you.

You have the right techniques and content. The task now is to produce an essay which explains precisely what you mean with each point.

*I tried to improve my previous lengthy version* word count: 284 Whilst it is often believed by many that completing a tertiary education is essential in securing a well-paid job, I strongly believe that a robust job experience and interpersonal skills offer superior potential for success.

On the one hand, academic credentials are necessary for applying high paying jobs. Many employers often mandate university diplomas and degrees as a prerequisite for applying jobs. Therefore, individuals without them are forced to opt for more labour oriented jobs, with lower income and no potential for future advancement. Additionally, the likelihood of poverty rises significantly from the the lack of a steady stream of income. Almost 90% of the blue collar labourers in the US, for example, are either secondary or primary school dropouts. Their monthly average earnings of $2000 is unfortunately insufficient for many to lead a comfortable life.

On the other hand, some contend that work experience and acquired skills are far more beneficial. Instead of going to a university, people who enter into a workforce from a young age have better social skills and problem solving abilities. These workers learn how to handle arguments and criticism from colleagues and customers, which are invaluable skills in running businesses. Furthermore, workplaces allow the employees to learn decision making lessons from seniors to promote self-independence. These contribute to the overall success of an individual in handling various businesses ventures. For instance, many university dropouts like Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerbergs have built the wealthiest technological companies of the twenty-first century after working at other companies for decades.

In conclusion, although some might argue that university graduates can apply for more comfortable jobs, in my view, people learn invaluable lessons on managing businesses by solely working for a longer time.

Some people believe that teenagers should be required to do unpaid community work in their free time. This can benefit teenagers and the community as well. To what extent do you agree or disagree? It is an undeniable fact the students are the building blocks of the nation and they should be motivated to do some voluntary tasks which will be fruitful not only for them but also for the society. However, I strongly agree with the given notion and views will be discussed along with the relevant examples in the subsequent paragraphs. To initiate with, there are multifarious reasons that clarify the fcat of how trend can have positive outcomes. First and foremost, youth can teach the value of eductaion to the parents of those children who do not let them study and force them to work. Further, they can teach them free and encourage them to study. For example, people who belong to slum areas mostly drag their offsprings in the labour work like them. Hence, it is apparent how this can bring positive changes. In addition to this, Youngters can easily vanish some problems from the society as they are physically and mentally strong enough. They can be the part of some NGOs which help the needy. They can provide them knowledge of right and wrong so that they can stop doing such things on loop. To cite an example, crimes namely child labour, Female feticide are mostly commited by the uneducated one. So , youth can curb such issues to make their society crime free. On the other hand, there are number of individuals who refute the above mentioned notion and believe that this has many deterimental effects on both scoiety and youth. Firstly, they opine that this can not tell them the value of money and also break their confidence of working in the multinational companies. More so, they can be influenced by the comapny they will be the part of. To exemplify, many NGOs faced major consequences for the sake of changing or helping the society. To conclude, there is no denying fact that every decison of life has both positive or negative outcome. However, I strongly assert that this above mentioned notion has more positive points than its negatives. So, youth must be the part of some social works in their free time.

It is believed by some that university education is essential to acquire a good job whereas other thinks that soft skills and relevant experience in that field adds more value. In my opinion, University degree is necessary for academic jobs such as Teacher or Doctor and soft skill and experience is important for business. On the one hand, tertiary education is required to apply for a job in the field of science, research, education, medicine, administrative services. Without a college degree, one can’t do justice to his role as his work will be highly dependent on the education he has received. If we see the large no of students applying for college degree worldwide, is significant which highlight the role of university degree for success in academic jobs. On the other hand, soft skills and experience is highly in demand for business. For instance, if someone has skills and experience for craft, carpenter, mechanic, electrician etc. he can easily apply for these jobs without having a college degree. Also, people working as salesman or cashier in shops like Walmart, Costco may not need higher degree and experience will be sufficient to get the job. This is justified as college education has not practical implementation in these types of job. In conclusion, Students should aim to complete the college degree and acquire experience which will enable them to get high skilled jobs job very easily, however everyone can’t complete the college for any reason, they can train themselves in soft skills of their choice and gain some experience to apply for less skilled jobs.

Please as a beginning linker for my paragraphs… In place of “on the one hand” can I start the first body paragraph with “to begin with” then the second with “however”. Or can I maintain “on the one hand” for the first paragraph then “however” for the second

Your method of linking will always depend on your main points. One linking device is not a higher band score than another. As long as they are used appropriately, they are all good.

Some people thought that the best way for finding a good job is to have a higher education whereas others thought that the best way is to have experience and soft skills. I believe that completing university education is essential for academic positions while experience and soft skills are good for non academic ones.

Academic jobs need qualified people in terms of higher education. People who complete university education dig deeply in their field, thus, they become know the roots of their field and they can deliver the information in a good way. For instance, when teachers in schools and lecturers in universities apply for a job, they are selected depending on their education. Lecturers are chosen if they have a doctorate degree in addition to some research and teachers who have master’s degrees are more qualified to teaching in schools than those with the bachelor’s degrees. Thus, the competition between applicants in the academic jobs depends on their higher education.

On the other hand, non academic jobs like business, don’t require higher education in their fields. Non academic people tend to have more experience and soft skills related to their field rather than taking a master’s or a doctorate degree. This is due to the nature of their job since it just needs knowledge in the basics and then adding the skills to it. For example, people who study the bachelor’s degree in business can improve themselves by attending conferences and have a training in their field. Such experience is going to help them in finding a good job. As time goes on, they will become experts in their field although they don’t have a higher degree. Thus, non academic positions look for the experience and the soft skills of applicants regardless of their university education.

To conclude, the best way to get a good job depends on the nature of the job. If the job is academic, then higher education is a must to find a suitable job because having higher degrees are reflected when people do their job in an interesting way. While if the job is non academic, then experience and soft skills are more important than higher education because people can learn their jobs while they doing them. In general, having both higher education and experience in your field makes you very qualified person and you can find the best job.

Hello, Liz! Thank you for everythng you ae doing! I have a question regarding the essay! Is it ok to say “in my opinion, I believe…”. Is it not redundancy here? You don’t believe “in your opinion”, do you?

You can use it the way I’ve stated or just use simply “In my opinion” or “I believe that”. You can choose just one definitely.

Hi Liz It is a discussion essay, is it okay to write “in my opinion” in thesis statement of such type of essay where opinion is not required in question? Also is it okay to us “I” and “my” in introduction paragraph? I m confused.

This is a discussion essay which asks for your opinion: Discuss both sides and give your opinion. You should introduce all in the introduction and that means using I or my.

It is considered by some that best way to get a job can be done by completing tertiary education , while there are others who think that it is better to have job experience and improving soft skills plays more important. I consider that having university education and having soft skills both plays very important role in getting job.

On the one hand , having a bachelor degree is the crucial in order to get a job. In other words, most employers only choose the candidates who have a higher education because most jobs are required academic studies which only can be learnt in university and it is impossible to do that job without studying in undergraduate such as : medicine , law , engineering . Furthermore, students learn how to compete with their peers in university which makes them more competitive and deal with harsh conditions. For example, many project has to be done in specific date and students has to complete their homework before the deadline.

On the other hand , working in business require candidates to have some specific skills and experience in order to work rather than just a degree because there are so many candidates who has a university degree apply to position and having necessary experience and soft skills put one steps ahead than others. Another reason is that , nowadays, business model always change and requires employees to have experience or soft skills such as leadership , teamwork which can not be learnt in university. So , having these skills are crucial to get a job. Finally, I believe that having university degree and having experience are both crucial for getting a job . Take for example medicine, law. Employees can not handle the job requirement without having either necessary degree and softs skills . In conclusion, having degree or experience and soft skills are very important to get a job nowadays. I believe employee has to fulfill these requirements before applying to job.

Nowadays landing a dream job is like some achievement in life. For getting a good job it is necessary to have a good experience related to the studies and also soft skills plays a vital role in landing in a good job. Let us discuss this in detail in this essay. Firstly, in today’s competitive world education is the key to success to proceed way forward in our life for getting a good job with decent pay. To achieve an education from the university is not only the key factor but also other factors such as getting a good practical experience while studying and also it is important to develop individual soft skills such as communication, problem-solving, Leadership, and adaptability. Companies are highly in need of people with good technical skills as well as mentioned soft skills so that they can get the job done with good quality. So it is very indeed to develop the soft skills along with university education so the students can tune themselves to land into their dream job. Along with the education, students should have practical knowledge such as applying the theory in labs, and in real life so that creativity and innovation will come up which makes them epic among other students so that chances of getting a job is high when compared to other people. In an organization, it is vital to have good communication and leadership skills to execute the project in a successful manner, and also this will make them successful in their career and to achieve good heights in their job. In a conclusion, I would like to add that both education and practical experience along with soft skills make an individual as successful in their life by getting a good job with a good salary.

Many believe that the key to getting a great job is completing your tertiary education. However, others assume that it is more advantageous to get your hands dirty by doing real jobs that will make them learn real-world challenges, and will also upgrade their skill sets over time. I believe that finishing academics first, will lead grab the desired job.

Most insist that colleges play a paramount role in shaping students’ futures. Every student has dreamt of a job and certainly, some require specialized or specific certifications, it is mandatory to attend universities. For example, Dream jobs like Doctors, Engineers, or Scientists. Moreover, in colleges students will get hands-on experience under the supervision of their tutors.

Conversely, some assume that it is more advantageous to get hands dirty while working and gaining knowledge. Some jobs like marketing do not require any professional degree because in colleges you gain theoretical knowledge rather practical. A recent study shows that majority of successful people in the field of marketing and sales never attended universities. For instance, Apple’s late CEO Steve Jobs never went to college but, still, he brought a whole new dimension in the field of mobiles and laptops.

Consequently, I do agree that certificates or degrees are not the only paths to success, but it is not like everyone is Steve Jobs or Bill Gates, it is just like they were lucky enough to get opportunities which they were able to capitalize. Therefore I believe it is necessary to complete your education rather than directly go to the real world.

In conclusion, it is not like, to be successful a person has to be graduate, Nither not. But I believe that seeing the real-world scenarios, One should first complete their education and then explore jobs.

It is widely believed that having an academic degree is dramatically valuable in setting up a good career path, while some consider experience and soft skills are more significant. In my perspective, I suppose that either knowledge or experience and skills are essential factors which determine whether a potential applicant can be hired for a great job.

On the one hand, taking tertiary education has been the most classical method to prepare for entering the labor market. It can be seen that since the first university was established, there have been numerous students taking part in this academic institution in order to access a huge range of knowledge. Moreover, college life is considered one of the most crucial times in developing one’s characteristics and mindset. The only downside of university, however, is the opportunity costs that force students to waste several chances to get involved in other activities such as making money or traveling.

On the other hand, being well-qualified for the experiences and skills collected is not only remarkable but also puts the applicant one step ahead of others. Furthermore, if these acts, such as volunteering for a charity or learning leadership skills, are certified by a legit organization, it will be a huge step towards the success of getting a job. For example, nowadays, HR professionals from top-ranking companies have preferred the number of working experiences and related skills rather than just focus on the academic performance when filtering the resumes.

Finally, I strongly believe that the requirements of any job not only ask for these qualifications but also depend on the working conditions and the position that we aim for. For instance, a doctor or lawyer must have appropriate levels of knowledge in specific fields while a businessman needs more practical challenges.

In conclusion, preparing for a career is definitely an inevitable mission for everyone. To climb that career ladder, job-seekers should attempt both qualifications including the GPA and certifications for participating in other activities or acquiring any soft skill. Although it may vary in different companies and fields, illustrating an outstanding and comprehensive background can be significantly advantageous in impressing the recruiters.

Some of the people believe that University educations plays an essential role for attaining a good job, whereas others anticipate that soft skills and experience are they key factors for find a Job. In my opinion, education and experience together makes a person successful for earning perspective. It is considered by many people to University degree helps them to find work easily. In other words, the competition for enrolling students in institution each year illustrates that university degree helps one to get an easy Job such as doctors, engineers and lawyers. Therefore, many people first part to consider their higher studies after their High school according their desire and Job market. On the other hand, many people had a mind set to make their child in soft skills or get them engage in low Jobs in order to achieve experience. They believe that experience will make them familiar with Market strategy and soft skills will raise their demand in the Job opportunity. In addition, various industries the experiences are listed as mandate requirement for recruitment such as business & sales job offers. However, few cases are due to their financial conditions which opt the education and select job for their family survival. In my opinion, the leading indicators to be successful in earnings one shall possess higher education studies as well experiences. Although, the initial days will be on less wages but with passage of time they will be considered as pioneer of relevant field. For example, the doctor as expert surgeon when he posses hands of experience. To sum up all, it is mandatory one shall achieve higher education and get some experience in order to develop the required skills for performing. For a successful future, it is combination of both necessities University degree and relevant experiences.

It is considred by some that the best approach to obtain a decent job is through completion of university education, while there are others who thick that achieving the required experience and building up soft skills is more essential. This essay will briefly discuss both views and will draw my personal opinion.

On the one hand, many think that completing graduate and post-graduate studies will help them to obtain the most needed jobs. In their opinion, getting bachelor degree and even master degree will enable them to work in a more professional and academic jobs. In other words, without these degrees, it will be impossible for to be hired professional positions since nowadays there is a high competition to acquire these positions. For example, many jobs require completion of graduate studies including law, medicine, engineering and sciences.

On the other hand, many believe that it is more crucial to develop and enhance the person’s soft skills in addition to build up a good work experience. These people after graduation from high school will start immediately looking for jobs in order to accelerate their work experience and to acquire soft skills such as cummunications, interpersonal and leaderships skills. Moreover, they can work in different fields and expand their knowledge in many areas to meet certain jobs requirements such as multi field consultations, employment supervisions and management.

In conclusion, after a carefull analysis of both sides, the choice whether to continue college studies or to achieve experiences and soft skills is dependent on the person’s targeted job. In my opinion, continuation of graduate studies is necessary and it will open more opportunities in the future.

Some people believe that a university degree is the most effective way to attain a decent job. In contrast, other people argue that work fields need more experience and soft skills than educational background. In my perspective, university graduates fit the academic career whereas soft skills are more needed in technical jobs. University is the best place for people to develop their way of thinking. In college, students are taught to think scientifically. In order to attain this skill, students need to complete their studies by completing various tasks, such as daily assignments, group work, and final papers. Most of the subjects that are taught in university are theoretical. As a final result, university graduates are expected to not only mastering a particular knowledge but also a critical way of thinking. That is why university education is suitable for those who seek careers that require strong academic backgrounds, such as doctor, lawyer, judge, and teacher. On the other hand, some professions require experience and soft skills more rather than merely an educational background. Experience is needed especially in the work fields that produce utilized products such as business, manufacture, and software industry. In these industries, the works need people who technically master how to produce the product. Therefore, experienced ones with soft skills are more needed in this field. I believe that both educational background and experience with soft skills matter in terms of building our careers. Educational background can build our mindset to be critical and creative. On the other hand, experience and soft skills can support our hard skills to make ourselves more qualified. The thing that we should consider is which one we should emphasize more, which depends on the career path we wish to pursue. In summary, we should decide first what career we would like to seek, therefore we can decide what kind of educational background and other qualifications requirement we should attain.

Your website is very helpful in preparing for the IELTS writing section, and I really appreciate it. also, there is confusion, that it was told to me by my IELTS trainer and in few youtube videos that whenever we give an example to support the essay we shouldn’t be writing “for example” but here you’ve used that form so is it okay to do so because that’s how I prefer to write.

Of course it’s fine to use “For example”. It is 100% appropriate and suitable for essay writing. However, a good score for Coherence and Cohesion requires that you show flexibility and range – this means don’t repeat the same linking words unless there is no choice. There are many such linking words you can use as a paraphrase: such as, for instance, namely and so on. One linking word is not a higher score that the other. They are all suitable. Here is a link of linking words: https://ieltsliz.com/linking-words-for-writing/ and a link to my main writing task 2 page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/

Some people consider having university degrees as the key to employment whereas others think building and developing soft skills and experience is an effective way to get a job. In my opinion, having both degree certificates and relevant skills is essential for getting the targeted position due to the growing competition. On the one hand, Most people strive for earning university credentials to get hired to the workplace of their choice. They consider so because some jobs typically require candidates to have qualifications related to the job position as employers may consider this as an essential tool to gauge applicant’s knowledge about their areas of work. Job postings, for example, doctors, teachers, professors, engineers, etc. require a certain level of knowledge about the concerned field which can only be reflected from the qualification of the job applicant. On the other hand, some people start working for building soft skills and experience rather than joining colleges and universities to crack their target job. Employers of some areas such as business, technical, IT basically look for candidates having relevant experience and soft skills rather than degree certificates for the post they want to hire ensuring low cost of hiring and quick adaptation of the new employees to their workplace. Thus, in response to such hiring trends, candidates get to indulge in training for soft skills development to reserve their position in a job market from their early stage of learning. However, both graduate degree certificates and essential skills are important factors in the competitive job market. Due to the growing number of university graduates and limited job positions, employers nowadays look for the best candidate who can competitively give a good return to the company after getting hired. For this reason, people work for earning both qualifications and skills to assure their future career. To give an example, the employer is more interested to hire a university graduate scholar with the computer, analytical, and organizing skills than the one having either of them. To recapitulate, both qualification and experience are equally crucial in getting a job depending upon the nature of the job people are looking for. Thus candidates should make sure about the emphasizing factor of getting hired before applying for employment. However, Earning both university degrees and relevant soft skills and experience is the best method to secure the demanded job position.

Your website is very helpful and I love all the lessons you provide. I have a question. In a discussion essay where do we need to keep the sequence in which the opinion is presented in the question. E.g. If I agree with the second opinion should my first body paragraph have the second opinion (and I restate that I agree with it) or should I follow the sequence as the question.

Also, can I use “you” in my essay e.g. “On the one hand, some people think that if a friend differs from some of your actions, he acts as a deterrent to the deeds that might turn out bad and I agree with that”

Is it correct?

The body paragraphs present the two sides in the order that you have written them in your introduction. Keep a logical order at all times so that the reader knows what is coming next. The pronoun “you” is rarely used because we mainly refer to the third person in formal essays. Your example is not written in a way that I can understand. Unfortunately, the meaning is not clear and I can’t help you with it. If you post a clear example, I’ll be able to help.

Please expert in the house help me vet this

Nowadays, people who move from one country to another for work. Some people think children of these families suffer because of this, while others think it is helpful to them.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

It is recently believed by certain individuals that children whose families travel across the globe due to their nature of job suffer a lot while others think these children enjoy the benefits. In my opinion, such happening has both negative and positive impacts on them, however, it depends on whether the parents travel with their kids or not.

On the one hand, children whose parents move around nation to nation leaving them behind due to their job may be led into waywardness. In other words, the absence of proper guidance would result them into committing crimes and behaviors that are nonchalant. Consequently, they may get into troubles that would affect their entire lives such as being jailed or rusticated from school. Another point is that such kids would lack companionship because the primary people to display love to them are absent. For instance, a female child who is raped would want to discuss the matter with her mother but if she is unavailable, the kid would return to her shell and fight it alone. Thus, resulting to depression and suicidal because of absence of love and care.

On the other hand, exploring other traditions and cultures can also be beneficial to kids that travel with their families. This means that, they would have wide knowledge of what the cultural beliefs are in the other countries which will help them to network globally when they become adults. For example, kids expose to other traditions and beliefs does not usually experience cultural shock and therefore would be able to represent their nation at any point. Another plus side is that it will keep the family bond solid which means that children will not be far from their parents and other siblings.

Finally, in my opinion, whether children are affected negatively or positively when their families travel around the world depends on if they embark on the journey together. Take for example, kids that are around their families every time will not engage in actions that can affect their lives because they would be cautioned. In contrast, those that are far from their relatives can be easily controlled by peer pressure.

In conclusion, the plus side and downsides depend solely on families embarking on these journeys with their children.

Liz, I simply love your site. Thank you so much!

You’re welcome 🙂

Hello thank so much now I am using your books and they really help me😊✌️

Hello Liz, you mentioned before that one shouldn’t be impartial in an opinion essay and that you should agree or disagree but not something in between. i am sensing that this isn’t the case here in the model essay. it simply didn’t take one side.

if you feel it did, would it be possible that you give an example to a “wrong impartial” opinion to this essay topic? Thank you

I think you are confusing the term “impartial”. Being impartial means you are sitting on the fence. This means you are turning an opinion essay into a discussion essay with no clear opinion of what you really think – it’s just 50/50. An opinion essay requires a clear opinion or you will get a low score. This might be a one-sided opinion or it might be a partial agreement/disagreement or a specific opinion. Please see my advanced lessons to learn about this. It is available to purchase in my online store: https://elizabethferguson.podia.com/ . It takes me 1 hour to explain this essay in full in that advanced lesson.

Hi Mam! i hope you are doing good. I want to appreciate your effort for playing a positive role in helping to educate people free of cost in today’s era of materialism. thank you for all the tips and tricks to score high in ielts. Stay blessed. Reagrds

You’re very welcome. Happy 2021 !!

Dear Liz, Thank you for all your free classes and materials. Your grammar book helped me a lot.

I just had my LRW exam today and these were my questions for Task 1 and 2 Your post is not delivered yet ( forgot the exact wordings. Write a letter to the post office manager. State your details Describe the documents Say what you want them to do

Task 2 People argue that spending a lot of money on marriage parties, birthday parties, and other celebrations is a waste of money. Others, however, believe that these celebrations are important for individuals and society. Discuss both sides and give your opinion.

Thanks again Take care

Glad the Grammar E-book is useful. Good luck with your results !!

Dear Liz, I found your site by chance and it is amazing. Coud you look at my discussion essay and give ypur opinion please? Many thanks in advance!!!!!!!!

It is considered by some people that traditional shopping is the only way for making purchasing properly while there are others who prefer online shopping. In my opinion, it depends on many factors and premises. On the one hand, online shopping is more effortless. With just a click of a mouse or a tap on a screen, people can buy within seconds. Online shopping has become popular due to its convenience, accessibility and speed. With the continued success of e-commerce, many now question the existence of traditional stores. It is so great that you can shop anytime and anywhere. For example, you can easily visit the website, find the product you want to buy and wait for the product being delivered to you. If you need time to reconsider about the products, all you have to do is put the product in the virtual shopping bag or on the virtual wish list. On the other hand, only traditional shopping allows to touch, try and “smell” your purchase and understand whether you need this one or may be it is just an impulse. Besides, only real shopping gives the possibility to assess the quality and features of goods, while online shopping can be misleading in respect of authenticity of products to reality. One more problem of online shopping is the safety of online payments, which also might be an advantage in favor if traditional shopping since the payments are being controlled. In conclusion, both kinds of shopping have merits and shortages. The benefits of both shopping online and shopping in real stores are countless. However, it is true that sometimes merits could become shortages and vice versa, depending on the different perspectives that people hold.

Some people think doing the university education is the best way to get a good jobs. However, some other people believes that experience and improving the soft skill is more important than education for getting a better job. in today’s labor market both are important, in my opinion education is playing more important role at first to get the better job and carrier development. Education is an ability how to find jobs, learn to earn, as much you learn that much you earn, what a democracy, human can learn as much he or she wish to, this new technology make is very easy to access to the books, journal and all the social media, education is a great advantage teach you how to work, clarifies your favorite carrier path, it guide you how to grow and further develop your future and enjoy your favorite field of interest and so no….. Education and the experience is an interchangeable, whiles experience is to develop future what you have learn in the university, wider your understanding of knowledge, and deep dive on your carrier field, researches, inventions an innovations and so no, to grow to the highest level of the economy and knowledge in the world, in addition soft skill is import as others, but education is the first priority, gives you an opportunity make to you understand well the skills and knowledge. In conclusion, both educations and the experience is an opportunity to find the best job. without proper education cannot find the best jobs and without experience cannot grow and wider the knowledge. however, if we look to the history we have some scholars the touched the ceiling without school educations, now we study their principles in the schools, thy were hard worker and talents.

Thanks for the good work Liz, we are praying for you to get get back to your feet asap.

Ahead of the game sounds like an idiom, isn’t it?

Yes, “ahead of the game” in an idiom. Some idioms are suitable for writing task 2, but only a few. The idiomatic language that is safe to aim for are phrasal verbs that are clearly not informal.

Question: In some countries owning a home rather than renting one is very important for people. Why might that be the case? DO you think this is a positive or negative situation?

Answer: Buying your own apartment now becomes more familiar in certain countries than renting an apartment. However, I assume that this trend has positive aspects and it also has several benefits.

One of the lucrative benefits is that people would become owners of permanent accommodation by buying a home. Besides, it can be possible to get huge facilities for instance saving money. People have to pay relatively less money when they will have their own apartment. In addition, it is easy to furnish them according to their own ways as well as their own apartment is secure rather than renting. Because you will have no worries about moving to another renting house when you have your own apartment.

Another issue is there are several countries such as in Finland renting a house is much more costly. Every month people have to pay 800-900 euros per month if they want to rent a private family apartment. I think this is too much to afford. On the other hand, if I have my own apartment, at the same time I can save the rest of the money. In this case owning a home is much better and flexible than renting.

Finally, I would say owning an apartment has other benefits. For example, people can get a spacious living room with a beautiful veranda which provides huge daylight. Moreover, most of the private apartments have 2 bedrooms where rooms are larger than rented houses. It is possible to set up any furniture in the way that people want. Living in an apartment is much more relaxing, comfortable and cosy.

In conclusion, although people have different views about this issue, my opinion supports the positive side of owning an apartment rather than renting.

Governments give a lot of support to artists, even though some people think it is a waste of money that could have been used elsewhere.Discuss both views and give your opinion? An artist receives too much assistance from local government while some argued that money should be utilized on other neccessary matters rather than wasting on artists . I agree with this statement that government should take notice of important tasks on priority basis for a developed nation . On the one side , artists performs national representation at international level for earning name and fame in field through competition .As we know that not a single task is easy to master whether it is a game or dance, all this demands enthusiasm and dedication towards goal which is impossible for everyone to achieve . Therefore, this is not a big deal if a government is sending funds or prizes to artist because without money capability is nothing in today’s world . On the other side, for a developing nation such as India , discoveries in each and every field has been essential for the growth of a nation .Government should assist scientists for inventing treatment for death causing diseases such as cancer and free of cost treatment for every citizen so that nobody can die because of lack of money.In addition , free education to poor children must be provided so that they could stand on their feet one day . In conclusion, although artists represents a nation but fulfilling basic amenities of citizens in relation of food , education and health has been prioritized by the governments. Please review my essay mam

If the essay requirement says we need to discuss both sides and give our opinions (like this model essay), can I say that I prefer one option over another? Because in this model essay, the author suggests that both opinions are good and there is no preference. I’m just wondering if we would be marked on this.

Thank you so much

When you give your own opinion, you can choose any opinion you want – either one sided or balanced (partial/specific agreement) approach.

Hi Liz, I have been posting many essays to get your feedback …Can you please give me your feedback. thanks a lot. 🙂

To being with, many people think that the university education is important to get a decent job. Firstly, at universities, students learn and graduate in a desired specialization which is important to land up in a good job in that area. For example, if someone graduates as Chartered Accountant from a University, then they can get a good job in the Financial sector. Secondly, proponents of this theory believe that academics are important to carry out certain types of jobs which on the other hand cannot be done alone with gaining experience. For instance, doctors cannot perform surgeries without learning basic anatomy of the body which they learn though academics at Universities. Also, many universities offer internships programs in various companies which help the students to gain extra practical knowledge. This improves their chances to get a good job once they get graduated.

On the other hand, others believe that jobs can be a carried out by acquiring experience and soft skills. However, this holds applicable and true in certain types of jobs only. For example, jobs like housekeeping and driving, only relevant experience and some soft skills are required. Also, they believe that more experience they gain, more efficiently they can carry out their jobs and in-turn they can be more productive.

Hence, in conclusion, I believe that University education provides theoretical knowledge as well as hands-on practice through internships which tents to get a better job. I also agree that gaining experience and soft skills are equally important for getting a job in certain professions.

Sorry I do not offer this service. Please read the HOME page to learn more about how to use my site 🙂

Hi liz, My question is, can we write information that is completely made up to support our ideas? For example, “A recent study done by University of Melbourne shows that men who eat at least 10 grams chocolate a day can run faster than those who do not eat it.”

Why would you choose to do that? It won’t help your score. You never need to state the source of information and you don’t need to present numbers in your task 2 essay. Just explain your idea in your own language.

Dear mam, In opinion essay , when we give separate opinion on one side . Can we go both side in conclusion or should we have the same position in conclusion and opinion ? I am totally confuse in it. Please guide me. Thank you.

Please get my Advanced Lessons which will give you all your answers and lots of details: https://elizabethferguson.podia.com/

Also, I tend to have occasional long sentences, is it ok to use a semi-colon? Or do we just stick to comma and full stop for this test?

Thanks a bunch in advance!

Just stick to commas and full stops. To add information using clauses which are considered complex grammar features.

Thank you for the amazing model answers you provide, your website is really helpful! I finished watching your advanced video on the discussion essays and I have a question regarding writing them, since I want to follow your structure.

If I agree with one side of the argument, I understand from your video that I should state my opinion in the introduction, right? Because a teacher told me that I shouldn’t write my opinion in the introduction (even if the question says give your opinion) but should instead explain it throughout the BP of the essays and the conclusion. So I want to make sure, it is okay if I paraphrase the question (people’s arguments) in a statement then express my opinion in the next statement “In my opinion, I believe that….” and agree with either side?

Also coming to the BPs, I was told by that teacher that if I explain reasons for people’s arguments in BP1 and BP2 (even though I added “I agree” in the BP that I agree with) it will affect my CC and TR. They said that I should explain that I do not agree with one BP and giving reasons for the opinion of people that I don’t agree with would mess up my TR & CC. Is this true? In your video, you explained that it’s okay to explain reasons for both sides then simply add I agree in the BP you agree with. So I’m a little lost here, I wish you can tell me what is right in this point.

Thanks in advance. I really appreciate all your efforts.

Has your teacher completed the IELTS examiner training course? Possibly not. It is 100% fine to put your opinion in the introduction – you are introducing your opinion. It is also 100% ok to state you agree with whichever body paragraph you agree with – in that paragraph you will state that you and other people agree (or disagree) and then give reasons. You only need a separate body paragraph when your opinion does not agree fully with either side (a specific opinion/partial agreement). Is your teacher telling you IELTS rules? No. Your teacher is giving you advice based on their own opinion of IELTS. Always differentiate between rules and advice when it comes to IELTS. Always ask your teacher if they are giving you fixed rules for IELTS or just their own personal advice. There is a lot of conflicting information about IELTS because of exactly that problem.

Hi Liz thank you for your imformative website. I ‘ve got a question. Is the hook and general statement the same? Thank you

In the following link you will find a video lesson about writing an introduction. That lesson will explain about the hook and background statement: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/

Hi Liz, I had Ielts computer based based exam today, in the writing 2 task I had written nearly about 270 words, but in conclusion part when I was writing my last sentences, time is up and the computer shuted down. I could not finish my last senteces and there was some unsense words. Is it a huge problem or not? Also, thank you sharing your information with us.

The most important thing is that you wrote a conclusion, even if you didn’t finish it. Having a conclusion is crucial. An incomplete conclusion will not affect things as much as an absent conclusion. Don’t worry too much about it.

I am planning to start this essay with “Few people believe that…..” can we paraphrase “some” with “few”

The meaning of “few” is “not many”. It means a small number. “Few people” = a small number of people. This is not the same as “some”.

thank you liz

Hi Liz, Many thanks to you for the service!

My question is, if I start with one tense form, should I follow the same tense throughout the essay? Or can I use different tenses in the essay?

Thanks in advance!

It isn’t possible to use one tense all the way through. You might need to use a perfect tense or a passive or a conditional statement. The tense will depend on what you want to say. It isn’t something you can decide beforehand. See my model essays and review how many different tenses are used: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/

For Discussion Essays: Some books like IELTS Preparation & Practice, Reading & Writing Academic published by Oxfird suggest writing a 4 paragraph essay: intro+ first group+second group+conclusion(which restates the writes opinion). However you suggest a separate paragraph for the writer’s opinion(4th body paragraph). Does that mean that their style is wrong or could lead to a lower score?

It means that there are other options. There is no rule stating you must have 4 paragraphs in total. It is fine to have 5. You can get band 9 with either 4 or 5.

Hello liz, i have read in many books that the opinion discussive essay, the opinion is only given in the conclusion unlike the opinion personal view point( the agree or disagree type). The books write, this essay will discuss both sides and give a concluding view and rather give the opinion in the conclusion. Can you please clarify that for me, thank you

Unfortunately, I am not able to control what is written in other books. The instructions from IELTS do NOT state to “discuss both sides and conclude your opinion”.

Hullo Liz, Firstly I would like to thank you to help all of us selflessly…thanx to u. Today I gave my ielts in essay it was a discussion essay wherein I wrote my opinion in introduction as u say then main body paras Discussing both the sides but then I gave the conclusion n did not elaborate on my opinion… Will I lose marks? Plz tell…really worried. Thanx

I don’t understand. You said you gave your opinion in the introduction, body paragraphs and conclusion. At what point do you feel that you didn’t explain it?

Everybody told me that examples are not cardinal for essay but in some great ielts experts point of view like you mam and jay sir shows examples are vital. Through this students get more brand. Mam help me to solve my query.

Please mam help me my ielts exam on 17 August .

Please mam🙁🙁

I have never said examples are vital or 100% essential to an IELTS essay. I’m not sure what you are referring to. Examples are one way to support and illustrate a main point – you choose whether to illustrate that way or not. I suggest you review my model essays.

Hi Liz, From my observation of the given example, I understood that , in the conclusion especially for discussion essays, we have to give a brief of our view on the topic and we should not include anything from the other paragraphs. Is my understanding correct?

Your reply here would be much appreciated.

There is no such rule in IELTS. Your conclusion is a summary of the main points.

in the salad days of millenium, the society polarised into two groups. first, some people have a say that passing from University provide best to way to grab a good profession while other opinion that it is a bad to acquire proficiency and soft skills the following paragraphs would shed the light on both the approaches before making notes To commence with the first notion, there are Myriad things to be shared in its favour, first and foremost, it is undeniable education is essential part of one’s life. the majority of individuals believe that getting a degree from University Open the doors of word class opportunities and student can obtain a fine occupation for their future. In the other words, tertiary education help the students to understand the various concept which is related to their career which they have chosen by them. with the help of education they enhence their creativity on particular subject which is significant for future work opportunities

shifting towards the second school of thought, having experience of work and soft skills such as communication skills leadership skills and other interpersonal skills act as a boon for people to access a great livelihood. if individuals have a great proficiency in their skill which helps in getting a job as we all know more than half of companies prefer those employees who have a great experience in their work instead of University credentials. for instance if someone want to get a job in insurance company then they must be have a good communication skills for this job

Sorry, I don’t offer marking or comments on writing. However, I will say avoid learning phrases that you think will impress the examiner such as “in the salad days of millenium, the society polarised into two groups”. Such phrases damage your score. This is not creative writing. In a test, each sentence must be created by you in the test room. Also don’t use hook, it isn’t needed for IELTS essays and is a complete waste of time. Go to the main section for writing task 2 on this site and learn how to write an introduction for IELTS = click on the RED BAR at the top of the site. Or get my paid Advanced Lessons to learn more.

Hi Liz, Thank you so very much for your helpful blogs. I am following only you for my IELTS GT preparation. I have one doubt, I am aiming to score 7.5 or 8 band in writing. Is it fine if I write approx 300 words of essay? Definitely related to demand of question. I always try to write around 270-280 words but I feel that there is still something missing which I should add on to make it more accurate. Kindly suggest.

If you are adding words to your introduction or conclusion, it won’t help your score. If you are adding more to your body paragraphs, think carefully if it is actually 100% vital. More words open you to the possibility of more errors or a less focused essay.

It is considered by some people that finishing university education is the most effective way to get a decent job, however, have experience and developing soft skills are the keys for finding good jobs still thought by many people. In my opinion, although experience and developing soft skills are important for finding good jobs, I believe the completing university courses can improve the person’s knowledge and other skills in a very effective way as well as the best way for people to prepare their careers.

Attending the university courses can let people gain knowledge effectively, most universities offer high-quality courses both online and offline, students can achieve professional theory knowledge from different aspects through interaction with their professors, once they have questions they can get feedback and answers quickly. On the other hand, universities offer many practical classes which allow students gain experience, students also have plenty opportunities to discuss in their groups and cooperate with other students from other majors which also cultivate their social skills. Both knowledge and practical skills, as well as social skills, are very essential for finding a good job.

There is no doubt that work experience and developing soft skills or social skills are vital for finding jobs, the companies are more likely to employ the person who has job experience which people usually can find on job recruitments’ qualifications. When people find a job, he/she should be a good work player who is not only professional about her/his area but also should know how to communicate with others as well as cooperate with others. A report says that persons who have strong communication skills are much more welcomed in a work environment.

In conclusion, although both experience and developing soft skills are vital factors for finding jobs, I still believe that attending the universities is the best way for people who prepare their careers because people can gain experience and social skills in the campus as well.

hello ! thanks for your tips . And i have a question , is it okay to write ” in this following essay i will shed light on both views and state my own position” in last sentence ?

Never memorise a sentence to put in your essay. Each sentence should be entirely created by yourself in the test. If the instructions say “discuss both sides and give your opinion”, you do not need to repeat those instructions. The examiner knows what you are going to do – what the examiner doesn’t know is what ideas you will use. Use my model essays to guide you or get my Advanced lessons to learn in depth.

I just watched your advanced task 2 lesson and have couple questions on it. For the discussion essay, the balanced opinion seems more profound than one-sided opinion. Will I get lower band score if I choose to write one-sided opinion? Or will I get higher band if I choose to write balanced opinion. And can I choose one-sided opinion in any topics?

Thank you! 🙂

The balanced opinion essay means the discussion essay with specific opinion. Sorry for that. 🙂

I taught both options so that you would have a choice. The choice will depend on the question and the ideas you have for it. Sometimes a one-sided approach isn’t always the easiest option. No, you don’t get a higher or lower score for one or the other. Your score is not based on your choice of one-sided or specific view point. It is based on how relevant your ideas are and if you addressed the task with a clear opinion.

Thank you very much Liz!!!!:)

I am writing to seek your help with double views and opinion statement essay type.

Here is the question prompt I am practicing: Some people say that advertising encourages us to buy things that we rarely do not need. Others say that advertisements tell us about new products that may improve our lives. Which viewpoint do you agree with?

Here is the introductory paragraph I have written with my opinion: Aggressive product promotions are considered to be one of the efficient ways of attracting new customers. While some people believe that advertisements allures the buyers and instigates them to purchase the unnecessary items, the others consider it to be an effective method of promoting awareness about the latest trends – I second this thought.

Please guide, is it write way of supporting an argument in a formal way? If not, please suggest how can I improve.

Thanks Jasmeet Kaur

Paraphrase the statement given and then present your opinion. Two separate statements. Try writing that and post it. See this page if you don’t understand: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2-how-to-write-an-introduction/

I’m struggling to reach a higher bandscore than 6.0 in writing. Therefore I bought your advanced writing lessons to spot some of my possible mistakes. Beside the fact that I have problems to structure my thoughts quickly, I’m sometimes confused by the question itself. After watching your lessons, I have tried to answer some essay questions and I came across with some I don’t know how I should organise them.

Firstly, for example, the discussion essay about the death penalty on your website. This question only mentions that I have to discuss both side. So, I’m not sure if I have to write a balanced view or can I also write a one-sided view? Moreover, I think I should not give my opinion, however, a one-sided view seems to reflect my personal point of view. How would you organise your essay?

Secondly, I’m really confused with the question “Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?” You said, it doesen’t matter whether there is a “do you think” include or not, because I have to make a choice which side outweigh the other…admittedly there are many official Model answer from IELTS books, which don’t give an opinion in terms of this question. Are there any differents I didn’t recognise?

I would be really grateful if you could help me.

Kind regards, Wiebke

In my Advanced lesson for the Discussion Essay there is a model essay for a Discussion without an opinion. Please take a look at it. Any question that is asking you to choose options will require an opinion – there are many ways to voice an opinion.

Dear Liz. Your advanced lessons are so helpful and clear.

Unfortunately I can’t say the same regarding the Official Cambridge Guide to IELTS which contains 8 full practice tests with sample answers for writing. I have to say that the sample answers for task 1 are very good but the ones for task 2 are so confusing. For instance, a discussion essay was turned into advantage disadvantage one.. the opinion is not mentioned in the introduction or in the BP, it is given in the conclusion… I wish I can send you a picture of it so you can mark it.

Another issue that confuses me; can we use questions in the essay? In one example of adv. Outweigh Disadv. they ended up the introduction with a question: is this a development we should welcome? The opinion is also put in the conclusion only… Thanks in advance

IT is not the task of IELTS to make their test easy. That is the task of teachers and ex-examiners. We provide the easy to follow models, not IELTS. About your second query, you should present supporting points which are statements, not questions. There isn’t enough length in the essay to start creating questions which will then need addressing further. Just stick with statements.

Hi liz In the introduction can I write “in this essay I will deliberately discuss the both views and formulate my opinion at the end of the essay ” instead answering directly in the introduction

Do not memorise sentences or phrases. You can learn words and linking devices. All sentences and phrases should be created by yourself. See my model essays.

then what do you recommend? and how do they examine grammar?

Grammar is marked by using a range of tenses that are suitable and appropriate to the essay and the subject. You can’t push a future prefect into your essay because you think it will give you a higher score. All tenses must be used correctly. The examiner will also pay attention to sentence structures, so you need to pay attention to not being too repetitive. Furthermore, the examiner will look at the density of grammar errors, for example band 5 = frequent errors, band 6 = some errors, band 7 = few errors. So, you can see your aim is to produce a range of suitable grammar and also reduce the errors you make. At all times, you only use the grammar you are familiar with to reduce errors. I am currently putting together a grammar e-book which will explain all this in great detail.

How can I buy your grammar book?

It won’t be available to buy for a few months. It is 90% complete, but it will take me a few months to edit it and get it ready for people to buy.

Hi Liz, thank you a lot for your useful advice and if it is possible, please give feedback, this is my first essay.

Instruction is simply to discuss not to give opinion.

In last decades, with the impact of growing globalization, it is noticed significant positive affects in the economy of the world, whereas this globe challenges brings some negative aspects with itself. Regarding the advantages of the globalization, a number of leading companies of the world gain more profits, while some affected countries are forced to lose their cultural values.

On the one hand, there is a competition between huge international companies over the world. They compete to produce products in better quality and lower prices. As a result, this overseas rivalry helps to boost world economy, at the same time, people all over the world take advantages in connection with buying more qualitative and less expenses products. For instance, it is obviously seems that the products which are manufactured by Samsung, Apple, Huawei and some other main companies have wide functions and simultaneously they are sold in lower prices.

On the other hand, there are some affected countries that people who live in these countries are obliged to get used to customs and traditions of the hegemon countries. In this manner, impacted society uses international languages, listens to singers who are famous all over the world and eats meals which are popular overseas and so on. To illustrate, McDonalds, KFC, Mado serve to people in more than half of the world countries, Justin Timberlake, Beyoncé, Rihanna are listened by at least one of three people and English, German, Russian languages have been more important than their native languages.

In conclusion, the monosemous acceptance of globalization is not proper approach. When this term is talked over, both sides should be taken into account.

Mam, why your advanced writing task 2 lessons have only 1) opinion, 2) discussion and 3) adv/disadvantages type essays lessons? What about a) problems/solutions, b) two-part (direct question) and c) positive/negative development type essays? Kindly reply, because I want to learn structure of each type of IELTS (GT) essay. Thank you.

Because I became too sick to make more videos.

First of all, thank you for your prompt reply, Hope you are doing well now. I will pray for your health and speedy recovery. Can I expect video lessons on those missing type essays in near future? Or do you think it is sufficient enough to just go through your sample essays on those type of essays to get an idea of written structure?

The three Advanced lessons available teach you enough skills to be able to apply the same logical. However, you will need to review model essays and other tips. Did you see my free writing task 2 lessons? See this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/ . Yesterday I put up a lesson about a mixed task essay with tips: https://ieltsliz.com/model-essay-for-tv-weight-problems/ . Just take a look around my site. It is unlikely I will make a new video soon. I’m still too sick for videos. But I post regular lessons on my site and am working on e-books “Ideas for IELTS Essays” and “Grammar for Writing Task 2”.

Yes, I already read the tips mentioned in the first link and just went through the second link now, both were so helpful. You are an indeed a blessing for students who are struggling with their IELTS score. Thank you for your help and tips. I am desperately waiting for your e-books. Best wishes and prayers for your health.

Thanks. I do plan to get back to making videos, but not until my health is completely recovered which might take a long time. As soon as I can, I’ll be making Advanced lessons for every single part of the IELTS test.

Hopefully you’ll be able to make more videos for your students very soon. Lot of respect and prayers for you mam. One of your students from other part of the world 🙂

Pleaaaase shed some light on the following: in the introduction of Task 2, what is the best waybto phrase that the X will be discussed in the essay. Do you say ‘This essay will discuss/This essay disagrees” or do you make use of pronouns such as ‘I’ “I agree that/ I will discuss X” . So confused as someone (online tutors) would say one thing, someone something different again. So now I don’t know which would be acceptable by an IELTS examiner.

You don’t need to use it at all. It is not required for IELTS. As you see, none of my model essays use that kind of sentence.

Speak Your Mind Cancel reply

Notify me of new posts by email.

Advanced IELTS Lessons & E-books

Recent Lessons

Ielts liz personal update 2024, ielts model essay -two questions essay type, ielts bar chart of age groups 2024, ielts topic: urban planning, ielts listening transcripts: when and how to use them, 2024 ielts speaking part 1 topics.

Click Below to Learn:

IELTS Test Information

Copyright Notice

Privacy Policy & Disclaimer

Click here: Privacy Policy
Click here: Disclaimer

Return to top of page

Exam English Prep Online IELTS, Cambridge and Language Cert courses

Getting you ready to pass your IELTS, CAE, FCE, PET or Language Cert exam

christopherianwils
Sep 12, 2022

How To Plan & Write IELTS Discussion Essays

Updated: Mar 15, 2023

The Question

The first part of the question for an IELTS discussion essay will be a statement containing two opposing views.

You will then be asked to discuss both sides of the argument and give your own opinion. Here is some typical wording that might be used:

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Discuss both these views and then give your own opinion.

Discuss both sides of this argument and give your own opinion.

Here's a question from a past test paper.

Some people think that zoos are cruel and should be closed down. Others, however, believe that zoos can be useful in protecting wild animals.

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

Opinion essays, also known as ‘agree or disagree’ essays, a generally worded in one of these ways:

What is your opinion? / Do you agree or disagree? / To what extent do you agree or disagree?

The other essay type that students mistake for discussion essays is advantages and disadvantages essays. With these, the statement will contain just one view and the question will typically be written as shown in this sample question.

School children are using computers in school more than ever.

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this and give your own opinion.

The consequence of incorrectly identifying the question type is that you will use the wrong structure for your essay. This is a major reason why people make the mistakes we’ll now look at.

3 Common Mistakes

These three errors are common in IELTS discussion essays.

Not stating your opinion.

Not giving arguments for both views.

Not developing both sides of the argument equally.

It doesn’t matter which side of the argument you take or even, that you actually agree with it.

However, you must give equal attention to both sides. A common error is to provide a stronger argument for the view you favour. This leads to an unbalanced essay and a low score for task achievement.

Essay Structure

1) Introduction

Paraphrase the question

State two supporting reasons

Give your opinion

2) Main body paragraph 1

Topic sentence – outline the view you don’t agree with

Explanation – explain why this view is held by some people

Example – give an example

3 ) Main body paragraph 2

Topic sentence – outline the view you do agree with

4) Conclusion

Summarise the key points and state your opinion

This structure will give us a well-balanced essay with 4 paragraphs.

How To Plan IELTS Discussion Essays

# 1 Analyse the question

This is an essential step in the planning process and will ensure that you answer the question fully. It’s quick and easy to do. You just need to identify 3 different types of words:

1. Topic words

2. Other keywords

3. Instruction words

We’ve already considered the instruction words (the actual question) so we’ll focus on the first two.

Topics words are the ones that identify the general subject of the question.

So, this question is about ‘zoos’.

Many people do this first step of the process and then write about the topic in general. This is a serious mistake and leads to low marks for task achievement.

What we need to do now that we know the general topic, is to understand exactly what aspect of zoos we're being asked to write about.

The other keywords in the question tell you the specific topic you must write about. They define the opinions stated in the statement.

Some people think that zoos are cruel and should be closed down . Others, however, believe that zoos can be useful in protecting wild animals.

# 2 Decide on your opinion

So, choose one view and make sure that your opinion is clear throughout the essay.

For this model essay, I’m going to agree with the statement that zoos are cruel and should be closed down.

# 3 Generate ideas

The next task is to generate some ideas to write about.

We’re going to use the ‘friends technique’. This is my preferred method as it allows you to take a step back from the stress of the exam situation and think more calmly.

Doing this will help you to come up with simple answers in everyday language rather than straining your brain to think of amazing ideas using high level-language, which isn’t necessary.

You might want to try this yourself before reading on for my ideas.

Here are my ideas:

Cruel – closed down:

Cramped cages – animals distressed

Unnatural environments

Most animals not endangered

Animals become a public spectacle for entertainment

Useful – protect wild animals:

Research work to learn more about wild animals

Breeding programmes for endangered species

Some species saved from extinction

Seeing wild animals close up inspires people to want to help protect them

I’ve got more ideas here than I need so I’m going to pick two to develop in the essay – one for each of the main body paragraphs.

Idea 1 – Cramped cages & unnatural environments, animals distressed.

Idea 2 – Breeding programmes for endangered species, some species saved from extinction.

We’re almost ready to start writing our IELTS discussion essay but first, we have one other small task to do.

# 4 Vocabulary

For example:

zoos – animals in captivity, collections of wild animals, menagerie, wildlife park

cruel – to cause suffering, inhumane

protect – safeguard, preserve

animals – creatures, species

With that done, we can focus on the first paragraph of the essay – the introduction.

How To Write an Introduction

Good introductions to IELTS discussion essays have a simple 3 part structure:

1) Paraphrase the question

2) State two supporting reasons (outline statement)

3) Give your opinion (thesis statement)

Have 2-3 sentences

Be 40-60 words long

Take 5 minutes to write

Start your introduction by paraphrasing the question.

Question: Some people think that zoos are cruel and should be closed down. Others, however, believe that zoos can be useful in protecting wild animals.

There are various phrases you can use to do this. Here are three examples. They all say the same thing using different language.

Some people argue that… while others say that…

It is considered by some…. while there are others who think….

It is often argued that... whilst others disagree and think...

Choose one and add the details in the question statement in a paraphrased form. I recommend putting the view you don’t agree with first.

Paraphrased question:

Some people argue that zoos help to preserve wild creatures, while others say that they are inhumane and should be abolished.

2) Thesis and outline statements

Now we need to add an outline statement where you outline the two main points that you’ll cover in the rest of the essay (ideas 1 and 2 above) and a thesis statement where you state your opinion.

Outline & thesis statements:

So, let’s bring the three elements of our introduction together.

Introduction

This introduction achieves three important functions:

It shows the examiner that you understand the question.

It acts as a guide to the examiner as to what your essay is about.

It also helps to keep you focused and on track as you write.

The two ideas in your introduction will become your two main body paragraphs.

Main body paragraph 1 – Breeding programmes for endangered species, some species saved from extinction.

Main body paragraph 2 – Cramped cages & unnatural environments, animals distressed.

How To Write Main Body Paragraphs

Main body paragraphs in IELTS discussion essays should contain 3 things:

It is easier to begin by discussing the opinion you don’t agree with and then present the reasons for the opposing view that you support. So, we’ll start with idea 1.

Main Body Paragraph 1

The topic sentence summarises the main idea of the paragraph. That’s all it needs to do so it doesn’t have to be complicated.

It plays an important role in ensuring that your ideas flow logically from one to another. It does this by acting as a signpost for what is to come next, that is, what the paragraph will be about.

If you maintain a clear development of ideas throughout your essay, you will get high marks for task achievement and cohesion and coherence.

We’ll now take the idea for our first main body paragraph and create our topic sentence.

Topic sentence:

Next, we must write an explanation sentence that expands on the idea. This explains to the examiner what we mean or why this is the case.

Explanation sentence:

This is important for ensuring the survival of animals under threat from poaching and the destruction of their natural environments.

Finally, we add an example to support our main point. If you can’t think of a real example, it’s fine to make one up, as long as it’s believable. The examiner isn’t going to check your facts.

Example sentence:

That’s the 3 parts of our first main body paragraph complete. Here’s the finished paragraph.

We now follow the same process for our second main body paragraph.

Main Body Paragraph 2

Main idea 2 – Cramped cages & unnatural environments, animals distressed.

On the other hand, a significant percentage of zoos house their animals in cramped cages with very little space to move around or behave naturally.

Now for the explanation sentence where we expand on this idea.

This can lead to them becoming distressed and depressed as well as suffering physically through lack of exercise.

Finally, an example to support this point.

That’s the 3 parts of our second main body paragraph complete. Here’s the finished paragraph.

Now we need a conclusion and our IELTS discussion essay is done.

How To Write a Conclusion

Conclusions to IELTS discussion essays should do two things:

Summarise the main points

State your opinion

This can generally be done in a single sentence.

If you're below the minimum 250 words after you’ve written your conclusion, you can add a prediction or recommendation statement.

The conclusion is the easiest sentence in the essay to write but one of the most important.

A good conclusion will:

Neatly end the essay

Link all your ideas together

Sum up your argument or opinion

Answer the question

You can start almost any final paragraph of an IELTS discussion essay with the words:

In conclusion

To conclude

Now all you need to do is briefly summarise the main ideas into one sentence.

Here’s a top tip . Go back and read the introduction to the essay because this is also a summary of the essay. It outlines what you are going to write about.

To create a great conclusion, you simply have to paraphrase the introduction. Let’s give it a go.

Introduction:

Here is the same information formed into a conclusion:

That’s it. We’ve completed our essay.

IELTS Writing Task 2

IELTS discussion essay: model answer and analysis

Updated : February 2024

Below is an IELTS question for writing task 2 and my model answer. It is on the topic of Education. After analysing the question, I can see that it’s about whether homework is a good idea or not in helping kids in their educational development . It asks me to discuss both views and also asks for my opinion .

In this case, you must state your opinion in the introduction, the body and conclusion.

In this essay I will need to do 3 things:

Write about why some people think school children should not be given homework by their teachers.
Write about why other people think homework plays an important role in the education of children.
Give my opinion on the issue and explain.

Task Question

Some people believe that school children should not be given homework by their teachers, whereas others argue that homework plays an important role in the education of children. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Model Answer

Some people think it is not a good idea for teachers to assign home study tasks to school children, while others say it is an essential part of learning. I believe pupils need homework to achieve better exam results as it gives them a chance of entering higher education.

On the one hand, some believe that homework is of no benefit and becomes a burden to school children. This is because pupils spend their whole day studying, taking part in after school clubs and feel exhausted after returning home. For instance, in Japan, the majority of minors are under pressure to complete vast amounts of homework along with extracurricular activities. If they fail to finish their assignments they may not do well in exams, meaning they would be unable to get into a good high school. I think home assignments are beneficial but children should not be put under this kind of pressure.

On the other hand, it is widely believed that homework plays a vital role in the development of knowledge for students and I agree with this. In other words, home study tasks help pupils understand school subjects better which allows them to attain higher grades. For example, according to extensive research, children aged between 10 and 16 who are given a large amount of mathematics homework do far better in tests than those who are not given any home assignments. I believe that home study tasks improve a child’s chances of entering tertiary education which leads to a rewarding career.

To conclude, although views differ concerning children being assigned homework, I would argue that home assignments are necessary to help pupils get high grades, enabling them to secure a place at university and improve their career chances.

Click this blue button to see an analysis of the model answer.

Word count is 290 words. I advise keeping it under 300 words as you may not have the time to write a long essay in the exam and it is not necessary to write a very long essay.

The structure is:

Introduction: Paraphrased task question with a thesis statement (opinion)
Main body 1: Discussed first view, explained and gave an example with my opinion.
Main body 2: Discussed second view, agreed, explained and gave an example.
Conclusion: Referred to the differing views, opinion rephrased

Make sure to check the task question again before writing your essay. you could lose a band score if it goes off-topic.

Planning time is crucial here, allow 10 minutes to plan an essay and make sure you have some good supporting points to back up your topic sentences.

With a discussion essay, you have to state others views and give supporting sentences with detail and specific examples. Discussion essays often ask your opinion. Click here to see this lesson about stating an opinion.

When we state others views, especially in IELTS Discussion essays, there is specific language that should be used. For more detail on this, click here to see this lesson.

There is a lot of confusion about whether to use personal pronouns in IELTS essays (I, me, my, our, etc..) but if the question asks to ‘what extent do you agree?’ or ‘give your own opinion’ then you need to write personal pronouns… click here to see a lesson on this .

Note on paraphrasing: I have paraphrased the word ‘ homework’ in this essay with the phrases ‘ home study tasks ‘ and ‘ home assignments’ . Sometimes there is no way to avoid repetition but if you have a good understanding of synonyms and referencing you can avoid too much repetition. There are often words that are hard to paraphrase such as ‘people’ or ‘children’.

Not every word from the task question needs paraphrasing and you can repeat words as long as you can demonstrate a wide range of vocabulary. Be very careful not to over paraphrase.

Any Comments? leave them below

3 thoughts on “IELTS discussion essay: model answer and analysis”

Thanks to analysing for this essay,as it helps me very well as I want

IELTS Discussion Essay on Films With Sample Answer (Without Opinion and With Opinion)

In the IELTS exam, a discussion essay can come in two ways - without opinion and with opinion. Learn to write a band 9 essay with sample answer.

Share this article:

About the article

Understand how to write discussion essay in two ways .

In the IELTS exam, a discussion essay can come in two ways - without opinion and with opinion. When it comes with an opinion, you can have a one sided opinion or a balanced opinion.

Without opinion

There are varying opinions regarding the enjoyment movies bring when viewed in different modes. Some people say that now we can see films on our phones or tablets and there is no need to go to the cinema. Others say that to be fully enjoyed, films need to be seen in a cinema.

Discuss both these views.

Write at least 250 words.

Some believe that cinemas are redundant now as we have smartphones and tablets to watch movies, while others are of the opinion that for full enjoyment we need to see the movies in the theatres.

On the one hand, some opine that laptops, tablets and mobiles are extremely easy to carry, and these devices have easy access to different entertainment formats, which are offered at a very affordable price. Various service providers bring the latest movies to our homes. These days Netflix has become common in every household. Even different movie channels on television offer a plethora of movies of varied genres. One can choose to watch any movie without any extra cost. Furthermore, people can watch the movies of their favourite stars without the trouble of going to a cinema.

On the other hand, it is believed that a theatre can bring one the large screen effect along with that state of the art sound.Nothing can provide us the visual and audio experience that we can get when we see a movie in a theatre. One cannot imagine watching the latest action movie ‘The Avengers’ on a mobile or a tablet screen.Also, the fun of watching a movie with one’s family and friends on a Sunday afternoon with such effects is not possible elsewhere.

To conclude, although some opine that mobiles do give us easy access to movies and series at an affordable cost, others believe that the experience of watching a movie on a full size screen in a theatre is far better.

With Opinion

Some people say that now we can see films on our phones or tablets and there is no need to go to the cinema. Others say that to be fully enjoyed, films need to be seen in a cinema.

Discuss both these views and give your opinion.

One sided opinion

Some believe that cinemas are redundant now as we have smartphones and tablets to watch movies, while others are of the opinion that for full enjoyment we need to see the movies in the theatres.In my viewpoint, no device can match the entertainment that we get when we see movies on a cinema screen.

On the other hand, it is believed that a theatre can bring one the large screen effect along with that state of the art sound and I agree.Nothing can provide us the visual and audio experience that we can get when we see a movie in a theatre. One cannot imagine watching the latest action movie ‘The Avengers’ on a mobile or a tablet screen.Also, the fun of watching a movie with one’s family and friends on a Sunday afternoon with such effects is not possible elsewhere.

Balanced Opinion

On the other hand, it is believed that a theatre can bring one the large screen effect along with that state of the art sound. Nothing can provide us with the visual and audio experience that we can get when we see a movie in a theatre.Also, the fun of watching a movie with one’s family and friends on a Sunday afternoon with such effects is not possible elsewhere.

Finally, I believe that the experience varies according to the type of film one has to see. If it is a serious family drama, it can be viewed on a tablet anywhere, but one cannot imagine watching the latest action movie ‘The Avengers’ on a mobile or tablet screen.

Phone: +91 8466016171
Whatsapp: +91 8208375580
Email: contact@leapscholar.com

IELTS Writing Task 2: Most popular 50+ Essay Topics of 2024

Updated On February 27, 2024
Published In IELTS Preparation 💻

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) writing section is a 1-hour test that comprises two questions: task 1 and task 2, which assess your vocabulary, grammar, word count, collocations, and ability to construct complex sentences with moderation and without repetition.

Table of Contents

To begin, it is pivotal to understand that the IELTS essay topics vary for IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training Tasks. In Task 1 of IELTS Academic, you must write a report on a graph, diagram or chart, whereas, for IELTS General Training Task 1, you must write a letter. Task 2 of the General and Academic modules is essay writing; while the topics for essays in both modules may differ, the essay writing strategy remains the same.

Examiners use the following criteria to calculate Academic IELTS Writing Task 1 and Task 2 scores: Task Achievement, Task Response, Coherence, Grammatical Range and Accuracy, and Lexical Resource.

IELTS Writing Task 2 for Academic

The IELTS Academic Writing section consists of two tasks that must be completed in one hour:

Writing Task 1

In Task 1, you are assigned a graph, visual information, table or chart, which you are required to describe in your own words. You must write a report in 150 words, accurately describing what the information in the graph or picture represents. The IELTS writing task 1 marking criteria accounts for 33% of the total IELTS writing evaluation score, and you should try to finish this part in 20 minutes or less because IELTS writing task 2 is more difficult and will take at least 40 minutes to complete.

Crack IELTS Exam in first attempt

Attend Leap’s free masterclass to get tips, tricks and advance strategies to crack IELTS exam in first attempt

Writing Task 2

IELTS writing task 2 marking criteria has a 66% weightage, where you must complete a 250-word essay in 40 minutes. Candidates must respond to a problem, a point of view, or an argument in this task, with a curated response. The essay’s content should be written with perfect grammar and focused solely on the topic. As task 2 holds more weight, candidates should devote significant time to it and ensure a properly curated essay for a good band score.

Let us now review some fundamentals of IELTS essay structure that you can apply to this task. A typical writing piece includes an introduction, the main body consisting of a few paragraphs, and a conclusion. In the introduction, you should write the context of your issue and a thesis statement representing the main idea of your text.

The central section of your essay will discuss various facts and arguments that support or oppose the thesis statement. Finally, restate the thesis statement, bolstering it with new details from the main body.

Here’s a list of the latest IELTS essay topics and sample questions to help you efficiently prepare for task 2 of the IELTS Writing section.

Latest IELTS Essay Topics for 202 4

IELTS essay writing topics are usually based on current events and world affairs. You will find a series of essay writing topics for IELTS in the following listicles. Also, one of the most effective ways to prepare for answering essays in the Writing section of IELTS is to work on the sample essay questions. The topic categories and essay writing samples to help students looking for the latest IELTS essay topics are stated below:

Environment

Environmental Crisis: One of the most common topics in IELTS is the environment essay IELTS band 9. Many students, however, do not see the need to prepare for this because it is one of the most specific topics resulting in a loss of marks.

Click here for the Environmental Crisis essay sample and answers for practice.

Global Warming: It is common for IELTS speaking and writing sections to include questions about broad discussion topics, such as climate change, the greenhouse effect, global warming, and deforestation.

Click here for the Global Warming essay format, sample and answers for practice.

Sustainable Energy: If you are unfamiliar with the framework and concepts of an essay, it can be a daunting task. All of the sentences must be related and formed in such a way that they provide a clear view and information. You may be penalised if you veer off-topic while writing your essay. Sustainable energy and nuclear power topics are debated topics; hence practising them will give you an edge over your peers.

Click here for the Sustainable Energy essay structure, sample and answers for practice.

Fossil Fuels: The IELTS essay topics for writing task 2 are usually based on common themes frequently discussed in the average aspirant’s daily life. One such theme is the use of renewable energy sources in place of nonrenewable resources such as fossil fuels.

Click here for the Fossil Fuels essay sample and answers for practice.

Personality

Importance of First Impression: IELTS examiners have a short attention span and read hundreds of essays daily. Hence, it is pivotal for you to get the start right and make a good first impression in your First Impression is Important IELTS essay.

Click here for the Personality essay sample and answers for practice.

Hobbies: ‘Hobbies’ is a common theme in both the IELTS Writing Task 2 and the Speaking section. This is a simple, mark-fetching topic with few challenges for students taking the exam.

Click here for the Hobbies essay sample and answers for practice.

Fashion: Fashion is a recurring topic with global themes and one of the best topics to practise your public speaking skills.

Click here for the Fashion essay sample and answers for practice.

Importance of Leisure Activities and School Values: The IELTS Essay on Education is one of the most challenging tasks, with unpredictable questions in the exam. These education essay topics, like the Importance of leisure activities, are opinion-driven and assess students’ ability to express their knowledge and skills thoughtfully.

Click here for the Education essay sample and answers for practice.

Government and Society: As an IELTS exam candidate, you should review as many common topics for Writing Task 2 as possible. One such common IELTS test theme is government and society, with which you should be well-acquainted.

Click here for the Government and Society essay sample and answers for practice.

Ideal Society: Candidates should practise sample questions and answers for the Ideal Society IELTS essay to gain a firm grasp on writing and vocabulary and improve their overall band score.

Click here for the Ideal Society essay sample and answers for practice.

Social Media: Social media essays are a popular topic in IELTS writing task 2. For a social media IELTS essay band 9 and similar topics, the most straightforward approach is maintaining the proper word count and being aware of various approaches to the topic.

Click here for the Social Media essay sample and answers for practice.

Business & Global Consumerism

International Trade: Over the years, one of the topics covered in the IELTS exam has been global business. Your answer for such topics should contain everything; your responses, solutions, arguments, reasons, opinions, and evidence are critical to answering the question.

Click here for the International Trade essay sample and answers for practice.

Management and Leadership: In any organisation, leadership and management are critical roles. Your essay for such topics should always be pertinent to the question.

Click here for the Management and Leadership essay sample and answers for practice.

Foreign Languages: Foreign languages and language barriers are recurring themes in the IELTS writing task 2. Express your own opinions on such topics.

Click here for the Culture essay sample and answers for practice.

Sports and children: Sport is a recurring theme, and the essay content should not deviate from the main points at any point in the essay.

Click here for the Sports essay sample and answers for practice. Covid 19

Covid impact: The topics of IELTS Writing task 2 are usually drawn from current events worldwide, making Covid-19 an anticipated topic.

Click here for the Covid 19 essay sample and answers for practice.

Obesity: Overweight essays are among the most common topics in IELTS writing task 2. Obesity, recent trends in health among children and adults, and other similar topics may also be discussed in relation to overweight.

Click here for the Health essay sample and answers for practice.

Types of IELTS Essays

IELTS essay writing topics are usually classified under various sections. You can expect essays in the IELTS exam from any of the following types:

Opinion Essays

In this essay category, you must discuss your opinion on the given topic. Naturally, the best way to score high in such essays is to have prior knowledge of common topics that are popular in the IELTS exam.

Sample Questions:

Most teenagers today own a smartphone. Provide your opinion to discuss the advantages and disadvantages.
Crime novels and TV series have become quite popular in recent years. What is your opinion about these crime dramas?
Developing nations often require international assistance. Many believe that this assistance should be monetary, while some think practical help and advice would be more beneficial. Discuss both these views along with your opinion.
Many consider automobiles to be the biggest source of pollution in urban areas, while some believe industries are responsible for it. Explain both views and provide your opinion.
Many people believe individuals involved with creative arts should be financially supported by the government. Some others believe they should find separate resources. Discuss each of the views and give your opinion.
Some believe success in life comes from hard work, dedication, and motivation. While many believe success depends on other important factors like money and appearance. Discuss both views and provide your opinion.
Many think that governments should fund programs in search of life on other planets. However, others believe governments should focus on unresolved issues on the planet. Provide your opinion and discuss both views.

You can also check out this detailed guide on Opinion Essays to learn the appropriate structure for maximum scores!

Discussion Essays

In the case of discussion essays, the candidates need to put forward an explanation for or against any given topic. Such essays are the most common to appear in the IELTS exam.

Sample Questions:

Many believe living in big cities comes with more advantages than residing in the countryside. Do you agree or disagree with this?
The shopping habits of people depend more on their age group than on any other factors. Do you agree or disagree with this?
More and more children and minors are becoming overweight in developed nations. This is a major problem for most wealthy countries. Explain the causes and impacts of this issue.
The internet is a great invention that brings a host of advantages for the world population. However, there are several issues in terms of security and control of personal data. Do you agree or disagree with this?
Advertising prevents originality in people and makes them look the same and do the same. Do you agree or disagree with this?
Parents today often tend to organise extra classes on weekends or even after school. Do you believe this is at all useful? Or do you think the education provided in school is sufficient?
Some people believe that capital punishment should be done away with. Do you agree or disagree with this?

We have covered valuable tips & tricks to attempt Discussion Essays that can come in handy in your exam.

Solution Essays

For solution essays, you will have to provide a solution to a particular issue. At times, questions might be provided as to why a specific issue has occurred, and candidates have to provide their opinion on the answer.

The massive movement of people from agricultural areas to cities in search of employment can lead to serious problems in both places. What are the problems, and how can these be solved?

Check out our sample question and answer on Solution Essays for a more thorough explanation.

Advantage or Disadvantage Essays

In this type of essay, students have to write about a particular topic’s positive and negative sides. Such essays test your argument construction skills and how well you can use English to communicate your views as clearly and coherently as possible.

International tourism has greatly benefited many places. However, there have been major concerns about its impact on the local environment and inhabitants. Do the negative impacts of international tourism outweigh the benefits?
Some countries have recently passed laws to restrict the daily working hours of employees. Explain whether this will have a positive or negative impact.
More and more people today are visiting extreme places such as Antarctica or the Sahara desert. What are the advantages or disadvantages of such travels?
Social media is gradually replacing in-person face-to-face contact with many people worldwide. Do the benefits of social media outweigh the disadvantages?

Use the sample questions from the Advantage/Disadvantage Essay type to practise your writing skills.

Direct Question Essays

For this type of essay, the topics will be provided as direct questions, which students have to answer based on their experiences and thoughts.

Shopping used to be a routine domestic task in the past. However, today, it has become more of a hobby. Is this a positive trend?
You can get more information on these rare essay-type questions on our Direct question essay structure blog.

Preparation Tips for IELTS Writing Task 2

Many students believe they don’t need to prepare much because they speak English reasonably well. Well, the IELTS exam is not that easy. In fact, even native English speakers may find the test difficult. As a result, candidates should prepare for this section rigorously and methodically and start early preparation.

Begin your IELTS preparations at least 6 months before your intended test date, and ensure to devote some time daily to all 4 sections.
Choose writing topics for both tasks, especially writing task 2, and try to write about them daily. Time yourself; remember that you must complete both tasks in one hour.
Spend significant time learning new vocabulary and brushing up on your grammatical skills. Following that is structured thinking, allowing you to convey your ideas logically. While writing, pay close attention to lucidity, logic, and clarity.
You should expand your ideas because the IELTS writing task 2 could cover any topic. Go through all the resources like magazines, books, and online materials to expand your knowledge and vocabulary. Additionally, practice as many mock tests as possible.

As mentioned above it’s only practice that can get you the desire scores. But along with it you also need the best preparation materials and guidance. And the best solution we suggest is to register for the LeapScholar IELTS courses . Along with live classes from the best IELTS tutors, you’ll also have access to mock tests, speaking and writing evaluations and comprehensive study materials. As a reward you’ll also receive a course completion certificate.

How to Answer Task 2 Essays in IELTS Writing Section?

Students can employ the following steps to successfully enhance their ability to answer essays in the Writing section:

Step 1: Read and Understand the Question

The first step to nailing task 2 essays is to read and understand the question carefully. Most of the time, candidates answer the question without understanding what it demands. Candidates should carefully analyse the question, identify the question type and try to identify the keywords. Finally, they should clearly understand the instructions and then attempt to answer.

Step 2: Plan the Answer

Once students have understood the question, they need to plan the structure of the answer. This will allow candidates to organise their ideas and produce a clear and coherent response.

Step 3: Write a Solid Introduction

The introduction of the essay should give an idea of what the essay is all about. Make sure to write an appropriate introduction conveying the gist of the essay.

Step 4: Carefully Curate the Main Body

The main body is the essential part of the essay, where you must provide the necessary details. State your points accordingly and substantiate them with explanations, examples, and other relevant data. Once done, you need to give a proper conclusion.

Tips for IELTS Writing Task 2

Candidates can use the following tips to ace their IELTS Writing test:

Although IELTS is a difficult test to master, one can achieve a good score with systematic and consistent preparation. If you require assistance in acing your IELTS Writing Task 1 and 2, our Leap Scholar experts will provide the necessary guidance, tips, and tricks to help you pass your IELTS test with flying colours. If you are planning to prepare for the essay task in the Writing section, you can go through this comprehensive guide to get an idea about the latest IELTS essay topics. You can prepare for the essay task accordingly with the help of sample essay topics and questions provided in the above sections.

Still unclear about some portions of IELTS, then enrol for IELTS professional coaching. IELTS Prep app by Leap Scholar is a one-stop solution for your study abroad dream. You can access specially crafted lessons by experts accredited by IDP, British Council, and Cambridge. About 1M + students have trusted us with their IELTS prep journey. Join us, download our IELTS prep app and get access to the best resources!

Frequently asked questions

How can you score well in ielts writing task 2.

Ans. IELTS Writing Task 2 mainly has four performance descriptors: Task Response, Cohesion & Coherence , Lexical Resource, and finally Grammatical range and accuracy. The scoring happens on four parameters, so follow these and prepare with the correct books and practice questions.

What are the most popular questions asked in IELTS Writing Task 2?

Ans. The different types of questions in IELTS Writing Task 2 include: Problem/ Causes questions, Opinion questions, Advantage/ Disadvantage questions, Discussion of views, etc.

What are the main themes on which IELTS Writing Task 2 questions are based on?

Ans. Some of the broad themes include Environment, Food, Health, Art, Business, Communication, Crime & Punishment and more. Ideas and topics are taken under these broad themes for question framing.

Is it necessary to use complex words in IELTS Writing section?

Ans. Having a good vocabulary is an added advantage. However, difficult words should not be forcefully put in sentences. Your sentences should be organic and should fit the meaning and the context of your essays.

How to develop ideas for IELTS Writing Task 2 2024?

Ans. The easiest ways to generate ideas for IELTS Writing Task 2 are by analyzing model essays, finding ideas on google, talking to experts, watching movies, asking yourself some questions about the topic, generating main ideas from specific examples.

How many mistakes are acceptable in IELTS Writing Task 2?

Ans. Making one or two mistakes is overlooked by the examiner if the overall essay is good. However, making more mistakes than that can lead to lower IELTS band score.

What are the basic topics in IELTS writing task 2?

Some of the common IELTS topics for Writing Task 2 are Art, Environment, Education, Health, Jobs and Employment, Sport, Science and Technology Friends and Family, Government and Society etc.

Know more about IELTS

Get free speaking practice samples.

Describe a Skill That you can teach other people
Describe a Place you Visited Where the Air was Polluted
Describe a Famous Person that you are Interested in
Describe a Course That You Want to Learn
Describe a Person who Solved a Problem in Smart Way
Describe a Prize That You Received
Describe a Volunteering Experience You Have Had
Describe a Piece of Good News
Describe Something you Taught to Your Friend
Talk About an Interesting Old Person you Met Recently
Describe a Dinner you Really Enjoyed
Describe a Story or Novel That Was Interesting to You
Describe a Time When you Shared Something with Others
Describe a Toy you Liked in Childhood
Describe an Interesting Neighbour
Describe a Competition You Would Like to Take Part In
Describe an interesting activity that you remember enjoying most in your Primary School
Describe Your Childhood Friend
Describe an Object You Find Particularly Beautiful
Describe a Place Where you are Able to Relax
Describe a person you know who likes to talk a lot
Describe a place where you would like to go to relax
Describe a period when you were busy
Describe a long-term goal you would like to achieve
Describe a situation when you helped someone
Describe a job you would not like to do in the future
Describe a time when you used a map
Describe a skill that you learned in your childhood
Describe an unusual holiday you had
Describe an exciting activity that you experienced with someone else
Describe a person who is good at making people feel welcome in his/her home
Describe A Time You Successfully Did Something Difficult
Describe Something in Your Country That You Are Interested In
Describe a Beautiful City
Describe something you do regularly that helps you work and study better
Describe a photo that you took and are proud of
Describe a party that you enjoyed
Describe a useful object in your home that you can’t live without
Describe a good advertisement that you think is useful
Describe an occasion when someone or something made noise
Describe a sportsperson that you admire
Describe something that you picked up that was thrown by someone else
Describe a time that something changed your life in good ways
Describe a successful person who you once studied or worked with

Get Free Reading Practice Samples

William henry perkin reading answers
Why zoos are good reading answers
Bioluminescence reading answers
Classifying societies reading answers
Artificial artists reading answers
Jargon reading answers
The Origins of Laughter Reading Answers
The Innovation of Grocery Stores Reading Answers
All About the Otter Reading Answers
The Triune Brain Reading Answers
Saving the Soil Reading Answers
Trans Fatty Acids Reading Answers
A Disaster of Titanic Proportions Reading Answers
Why Companies Should Welcome Disorder Reading Answers
Book Review Reading Answers
Tea Times Reading Answers
Why are Finland's Schools Successful Reading Answers
Intelligence and Giftedness Reading Answers
Animal Minds Parrot Alex Reading Answers
Crop Growing Skyscrapers Reading Answers
Secrets of the Swarm Reading Answers
Walking with Dinosaurs Reading Answers
The Development of Travel Under the Ocean Reading Answers
What's so Funny Reading Answers
The Culture of Chimpanzee Reading Answers
Clutter Bugs Beware Reading Answer
Stepwells Reading Answers
Glaciers Reading Answers

Get Free Writing Practice Samples

Advantages and Disadvantages Essay with Sample Answers
Agree and Disagree Essay with Sample Answers
Problem Solution Essay Topic with Sample Answers
Every year several languages die out
Positive or Negative Development Essay with Sample Answers
Honesty is the best policy essay
Online shopping essay
Environment essay topics
Prevention is better than cure essay

Get Free Listening Practice Samples

Family excursions listening answers
Public library listening answers
Hiring a public room listening answers
Notes on social programme listening answers
Accommodation request form listening answers
Transport survey listening answers
Mic house agency repairs listening answers
Holiday rentals listening answer
Job enquiry listening answers
Homestay application listening answers
Library information listening answers
Free activities in the burnham area listening answers

IELTS Important Information

IELTS Exam Date
IELTS Exam Fee
IELTS Modules
IELTS Speaking Practice Test
IELTS Writing Practice Test
IELTS Reading Practice Test
IELTS Listening Practice Test
IELTS Test Centres
IELTS Results
Types of IELTS
IELTS Pattern
IELTS Exam Eligibilty
IELTS Slot Booking
IELTS Band Score
IELTS Registration
IELTS Books
IELTS Preparation
IELTS Practice Test
IELTS Speaking Cue Card
IELTS Speaking Part 1
IELTS Writing Task 1
IELTS Writing Task 2
Task 1 Pie Chart
Task 1 Table Chart
Task 1 Bar Graph
Task 1 Line Graph
Task 1 Diagram
IELTS Computer Based Test
IELTS Paper Based Test
IELTS One Skill Retake
IELTS for UKVI
IELTS Vocabulary

IELTS Test Centre and Dates in India

IELTS Test Centre and Dates in Hyderabad
IELTS Test Centre and Dates in Bangalore
IELTS Test Centre and Dates in Chennai
IELTS Test Centre and Dates in Amritsar
IELTS Centre and Dates in Ludhiana
IELTS Test Centre and Dates in Mumbai
IELTS Test Centres and Dates in Ahmedabad
IELTS Centre and Dates in Delhi
IELTS Test Centres and Dates in Chandigarh
IELTS Center and Dates in Pune

Manisha Angre

Experienced IELTS prep trainer and education management industry veteran. Specializes in public speaking, international education, market research, mentoring, and management.

A Guide on Most Common English Words Used in Daily Life

Top IELTS Tips and Tricks For Best IELTS Scores 2024

60+ IELTS Essay Topics 2024: IELTS Writing Task 2 Samples & Tips

Trending now.

Scholarships

Events & Webinars

Course Finder

Universities

Counsellors

Back to all Blogs

PTE vs IELTS: Understanding the Key Differences

PTE or Pearson Test of English is a computer-based exam of English language proficiency intended to evaluate non-native English speakers' speaking, writing, reading, and listening abilities. It is for students in preparation for further education or employment in an English-speaking setting. Governments, universities, and colleges worldwide recognize PTE as evidence of English language competency.

The International English Language Testing System, or IELTS , is a standardized test that assesses non-native English speakers' language skills in situations where English is the major language of communication, such as in the workplace or during study. The four language abilities evaluated on the IELTS are speaking, reading, writing, and listening. More than 10,000 entities globally accept it, including companies, universities, colleges, immigration agencies, and professional associations.

Exploring the Formats: PTE vs IELTS

Pte (pearson test of english).

The PTE Exam lasts for 3 hours with a 10-minute break that can be taken between reading and listening portions.

Breakdown of the structure:

Speaking & Writing (77 - 93 minutes):

It includes a personal introduction, Reading sentences Aloud, repeating the given sentences, Describing a certain image, Answering short questions, etc.

Reading (32 - 40 minutes):

Multiple-choice Questions, with combinations of choosing a single answer and choosing multiple answers, re-ordering the paragraphs, and filling in the blanks.

Listening (45 - 57 minutes):

Summarizing spoken texts, filling in the blanks, highlighting correct summaries, highlighting incorrect words, selecting missing words, etc.

IELTS (International English Language Testing System)

The exam lasts 2 hours and 45 minutes in total. There is no break during this exam.

Listening (30 minutes): It has 40 questions in total in the form of 4 recorded monologues and conversations, the recordings which are played only once, answering questions as you listen.

Reading (60 minutes): It also has 40 questions in total. You must read 3 long texts from books, journals, magazines and newspapers. Variety of question types, including multiple choice, matching and sentence completion

Writing (60 minutes):

Task 1: Describe a graph, table, chart, or diagram (150 words)
Task 2: Write an essay in response to a point of view, argument, or problem (250 words)

Speaking (11-14 minutes):

Part 1: Introduction and interview (4-5 minutes)
Part 2: Long turn – speak for 1-2 minutes on a topic (cue card)
Part 3: Discussion (4-5 minutes)

Understanding the Difference

IELTS allows only one skill retake. You can only retake one of the four IELTS test components - speaking, writing, listening, or reading. If you do not pass the PTE exam , you must schedule, pay, and take the entire exam again . In contrast to PTE, IELTS gives you a fair second chance to obtain your required score.

Over 12,000 organizations accept your IELTS scores. However, only a few thousand organizations and academic institutions worldwide accept your PTE results. Put it succinctly, IELTS is recognized by more employers, academic institutions, professional associations, and immigration departments than PTE Academic.

Exam Fees and University Acceptance

The PTE exam fee costs between USD150 and USD250 , although the exact amount varies by country of origin and testing facility. Thousands of colleges, universities, and governments worldwide - including those in the US, Australia, Canada, and the UK - accept the exam.

However, the IELTS exam fee varies , often ranging from USD215 to USD250 , depending on the country of origin and test centre. More than 10,000 organisations worldwide recognise the IELTS exam, including colleges, universities, governments, and professional associations.

Both tests are commonly accepted for study, employment, and immigration ; nonetheless, the decision between them frequently depends on personal preferences and the particular needs of the school or organisation you are applying to.

Which Exam is easier?

This question varies depending on the students and how well they are prepared. The PTE exam is computer-based, while the IELTS exam is taken by a real-life assessor. Students find the PTE exam more user-friendly because of its automated scoring system. However, the face-to-face speaking portion of the IELTS exam might be difficult for certain people who are uncomfortable speaking in public or conversing with an examiner in real-time.

Which Exam should you take?

The decision between PTE and IELTS is based on personal preference. For people who are accustomed to paper exam formats, IELTS might be a better option, whereas PTE is more appropriate for those who are accustomed to digital interfaces. The PTE Speaking portion rigorously grades pronunciation, so if you have a good accent, you should take the IELTS instead. Expert consultation might help you make an informed choice.

Choosing the correct English proficiency test can be difficult for many students and professionals who desire to further their education or careers in English-speaking nations . Several aspects to consider include the test format, scoring system, availability of test centers, and the test's recognition by other institutions.

Both tests provide unique challenges. IELTS can be challenging, especially in writing, where higher literary standards are demanded. The Academic Reading component of IELTS may include more complicated texts than the General Training Reading test. PTE may appear to be slightly more straightforward for students because it focuses on application rather than core concepts.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is PTE easier than IELTS?

Which test is easier will rely on each person's readiness level and personal preferences. Because of its computerised scoring approach, some people believe PTE to be more user-friendly than IELTS, while others can find the face-to-face speaking portion challenging.

Is PTE equal to 6.5 in IELTS?

Since the PTE and IELTS have different scoring schemes, it is inaccurate to compare test results directly. The minimal scores needed for admission or immigration may vary depending on the institution or organisation.

Which is better, IELTS or PTE for PR?

For immigration-related purposes, including applications for PR (Permanent Residency), both IELTS and PTE are commonly recognised. The decision between the two exams is frequently influenced by individual preferences, test format familiarity, and the particular needs of the nation or immigration office.

Begin your Overseas Journey with us

Recent blogs.

Writing Correction
Online Prep Platform
Online Course
Speaking Assessment
Ace The IELTS
Target Band 7
Practice Tests Downloads
IELTS Success Formula
Essays Band 9 IELTS Writing Task 2 samples – IELTS Band 9 essays
Essays Band 8 IELTS Writing – samples of IELTS essays of Band 8
Essays Band 7 IELTS Writing – samples of IELTS essays of Band 7
Essays Band 6 IELTS Writing – samples of IELTS essays of Band 6
Essays Band 5 IELTS Writing – samples of IELTS essays of Band 5
Reports Band 9 IELTS Writing – samples of IELTS reports of Band 9 (Academic Writing Task 1)
Reports Band 8 IELTS Writing – samples of IELTS reports of Band 8
Reports Band 7 IELTS Writing – samples of IELTS reports of Band 7
Letters Band 9 IELTS Writing Task 1 – samples of IELTS letters of Band 9
Letters Band 8 IELTS Writing – samples of IELTS letters of Band 8
Letters Band 7 IELTS Writing – samples of IELTS letters of Band 7
Speaking Samples
Tests Samples
2023, 2024 IELTS questions
2022 IELTS questions
2021 IELTS questions
2020 IELTS questions
High Scorer’s Advice IELTS high achievers share their secrets
IELTS Results Competition
IELTS-Blog App

IELTS Speaking questions from the UAE – April 2024

Recent IELTS exams

IELTS Speaking New Questions UAE April 2024

A very kind student of ours ZA has just taken IELTS in the UAE and remembered these questions:

Speaking test

Part 1 (Interview)

– What is your full name? – Do you work or study? – Where are you from? – What do you like about your hometown? – Is there anything you dislike about your hometown? – Why did you choose your job? – What kind of job would you like to do in the future?

Part 2 (Cue Card)

Describe a visit to a friend or a relative that you enjoyed. You should say

– who you visited – when you visited – what you did during your visit

and explain why you enjoyed the visit.

Follow-up question: Do you usually visit this person?

Part 3 (Discussion)

– Do people visit each other’s homes in your country? – Do you think most people enjoy having visitors? – When visiting someone in another city, is it better to stay at their hosts’ house or in a hotel? – How do people in your country welcome visitors? – Is visiting friends and family still popular in your country? – Why do you think people visit each other less frequently now compared to the past?

IELTS Speaking questions from UK – January 2024 A lovely IELTS test taker SN was among the first...
IELTS Speaking questions from the UK – January 2024 A kind IELTS test taker MZ took the IELTS test...
IELTS Speaking questions from the UK – February 2024 Our student took IELTS in the UK quite recently and...
IELTS Speaking questions from Australia – February 2024 Our student took IELTS in Australia quite recently and remembered...
IELTS Speaking questions from Uzbekistan- February 2024 Our student took IELTS in Uzbekistan quite recently and remembered...

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

IMAGES

IELTS Discussion Essays
How To Write A Discussion Essay
IELTS discussion essay on university education. IELTS 18
IELTS Discussion Essays [Discuss Both Views/Sides]
How To Write A Discussion Essay
How To Write A Discussion Essay In Ielts

VIDEO

IELTS Writing Task 2: Discussion essay (3)| Advertising
IELTS WRITING TASK 2 ESSAY
IELTS Writing Task 2: Opinion essay (5)| Language Barriers
Writing Workshop: IELTS Academic Task 1
IELTS Writing Task 2: Discussion essay (2)| Migration of professionals
IELTS WRITING TASK 2 Essay

COMMENTS

IELTS Discussion Essays [Discuss Both Views/Sides]
What is a Discussion Essay? As the name suggests, a discussion essay is an essay that discusses things! More specifically, it is a type of IELTS writing task 2 essay that requires you to look at two different points of view. You can easily recognise these essays by the following phrase: Discuss both views and give your opinion.
IELTS Discussion Essays
IELTS Writing Task 2 - T he format, the 5 question types, the 5 step essay writing strategy & sample questions. All the key information you need to know. All the key information you need to know. The 5 Types of Task 2 Essay - How to recognise the 5 different types of Task 2 essays. 15 sample questions to study and a simple planning ...
Pro Tips How to Write an IELTS Discussion Essay
Use clear, concise language. Body Paragraph 1: Discuss the first viewpoint. Use a topic sentence to introduce the viewpoint, and then present supporting ideas and examples. Body Paragraph 2: Discuss the second viewpoint. Use a similar structure as the first body paragraph but ensure your points are distinct.
IELTS Writing Task 2 Discussion Essay: Explanation & Breakdown With
Download Study Plan. The IELTS Writing Task 2 is a 250-word essay that tests your ability to communicate your ideas in a clear, concise, and well-organized way. One of the most common question types for this task is the discussion essay. In an IELTS discussion essay, you will be presented with a statement that contains two opposing views.
How To Write A Discussion Essay
For example, ' this essay will discuss both views and state my own position'. There are three sentences you need in the introduction >>. Paraphrase the question / State both views. Give your view/opinion. Outline what is going to be discussed in the essay. Paragraph 2 - Main Body Paragraph 1.
IELTS Writing Task 2: Discussion Essays- Benchmark IELTS
As with all IELTS writing task 2 essay questions, you will have 40 minutes to produce a formal essay ( at least 250 words in length). With a discussion essay, you will be presented with two sides of an argument and then asked to give your opinion. Remember, there are five main types of writing task 2 questions: Advantage/disadvantage. Discussion.
IELTS Discussion Essay: Overview, Structure And Tips
IELTS Discussion Essay Structure. It is suggestable to write the IELTS Discussion Essay with three parts in four or five separate paragraphs: 2.1. Introduction. - Paraphrase the statement / State both views. (e.g. It is often held that teachers, peers and the media have a significant influence on the life of children.
IELTS discussion essays: expressing others opinions
How to write about people's opinions in IELTS discussion essays. Updated: April 2023. When writing a discussion essay in IELTS writing task 2 you have to state other people's opinions as well as give your own opinion. Discussion essays also ask for your opinion so it is important to state your view not only in the introduction but also in the main body paragraphs, and then refer to the ...
IELTS Writing Task 2
In this video, I show you step-by-step how to write Task 2 Discussion Essays. Here's what it covers:• How to Identify discussion essays • 3 Common mistakes• ...
IELTS Discuss Both Views Essay: tips, common mistakes, questions & essays
In this lesson we are going to look at how to answer an IELTS Discuss Both Views essay, also known as a 2 sided discussion essay.. You will learn about this IELTS Writing Task 2 essay, using authentic IELTS essay questions, plus the most common mistakes.And I will finish with an IELTS model essay written by me in response to a sample IELTS essay question.
IELTS Task 2 Question Types: Discussion Essay ...
Some believe that students should begin learning a language very early in school while others think these subjects should be taught later. Discuss both sides and give your own opinion. Read my sample here. Some feel that individuals should have the right to strike in all jobs while others feel there are exceptions.
IELTS discuss both views essay
Band 9 answer structure for discuss both views + give opinion essay. Though there are many ways to structure your IELTS essay, we'll use this time-tested band 9 essay structure: Introduction. Body paragraph 1 - discuss the first opinion. Body paragraph 2 - discuss the second opinion.
IELTS Discussion Essay Sample Questions
Below is a list of IELTS discussion essay sample questions for IELTS writing task 2. These are also known as two sided essays. Discussion Essay Tips. identify both sides. find supporting points for both side. only give your opinion if the task asks for it. use discussion essay language. follow a safe discussion essay model.
2023 IELTS Discuss Both Views and Give Your Opinion Lesson
Introduction: paraphrase the question, state both points of view, make a thesis statement and outline your sentence. Main body paragraph 1: state the first viewpoint, discuss it, state whether you agree or disagree and give an example to support your view. Main body paragraph 2: state the second viewpoint, discuss it, state whether you agree or ...
IELTS Writing Task 2 Discussion Sample Essay (Band 9)
Today we're going to look at a discussion essay IELTS sample that's considered Band 9. This Band 9 scored essay matched the pattern for the "discussion" type of Writing Task 2 question. Discussion essays are sometimes also called "discuss both sides" essays. In this kind of essay, you will be presented with two statements of opinion ...
IELTS Discussion Essay Video Lesson: Useful Language
IELTS Discussion Essay Video Lesson: Useful Language. Learn expressions to use in your discussion essay for IELTS writing task 2 with this video lesson. It is important to use a variety of language to express both sides in your essay. Being able to have flexible language for giving other people's opinions is a good way to increase your ...
IELTS Discussion Essay Model Answer
This IELTS discussion essay sample answer is estimated at band 9. See comments below the essay for advice and tips. Completing university education is thought by some to be the best way to get a good job. On the other hand, other people think that getting experience and developing soft skills is more important.
IELTS Writing. How to write "Discussion Essays."
#IELTS#WritingIn this video, you will learn the complete structure of how to write discussion essays. Do you want to prepare effectively for IELTS, under the...
How To Plan & Write IELTS Discussion Essays
How To Write an Introduction. Good introductions to IELTS discussion essays have a simple 3 part structure: 1) Paraphrase the question. 2) State two supporting reasons (outline statement) 3) Give your opinion (thesis statement) It should: Have 2-3 sentences. Be 40-60 words long. Take 5 minutes to write.
IELTS discussion essay: model answer and analysis
Updated : February 2024. Below is an IELTS question for writing task 2 and my model answer. It is on the topic of Education. After analysing the question, I can see that it's about whether homework is a good idea or not in helping kids in their educational development.It asks me to discuss both views and also asks for my opinion.. In this case, you must state your opinion in the introduction ...
IELTS Writing Task 2: sample discussion essay
IELTS Writing Task 2: sample discussion essay. Here's an example of how I write a 4-paragraph essay for "discuss and give your opinion" questions. Notice that I give my opinion in 3 places (introduction, paragraph 3, conclusion). Some people believe that studying at university or college is the best route to a successful career, while others ...
How to Identify & Answer Discussion Question Types in IELTS Writing
IELTS Writing Task 2 Essay Structure - Discussion. There is one main, fool-proof way to outline this type of essay, and we suggest that you follow this without straying from the procedure. This is the best way to map out your ideas for the Discussion Essay: I. Introduction II. First View III. Second View IV. Conclusion
IELTS Discussion Essay on Films With Sample Answer (Without Opinion and
Understand how to write discussion essay in two ways . In the IELTS exam, a discussion essay can come in two ways - without opinion and with opinion. When it comes with an opinion, you can have a one sided opinion or a balanced opinion. Example: Without opinion
IELTS Writing Task 2: Most popular 50+ Essay Topics of 2024
IELTS writing task 2 marking criteria has a 66% weightage, where you must complete a 250-word essay in 40 minutes. Candidates must respond to a problem, a point of view, or an argument in this task, with a curated response. The essay's content should be written with perfect grammar and focused solely on the topic.
HOW TO WRITE DISCUSSION ESSAYS
ielts discussion type essay එකක් ලියන විදිහ මුල සිට ඉතා සරලව කියාදීම මෙම video ව මගින් සිදු කෙරේ ...
PTE vs IELTS: Understanding the Key Differences
Part 3: Discussion (4-5 minutes) Understanding the Difference. IELTS allows only one skill retake. You can only retake one of the four IELTS test components - speaking, writing, listening, or reading. If you do not pass the PTE exam, you must schedule, pay, and take the entire exam again. In contrast to PTE, IELTS gives you a fair second chance ...
IELTS Speaking questions from the UAE
Speaking test. Part 1 (Interview) - What is your full name? - Do you work or study? - Where are you from? - What do you like about your hometown? - Is there anything you dislike about your hometown? - Why did you choose your job? - What kind of job would you like to do in the future?

Writing Correction Service

IELTS Discussion Essays [Discuss Both Views/Sides]

What is a Discussion Essay?

Example Discussion Essay Questions

How to Answer IELTS Discussion Questions

Discussion Essay Thesis Statement

Thesis Statement Advice

Body Paragraphs

Does a Discussion Essay Have to be Balanced?

Sample Answer

About The Author

David S. Wills

Related Posts

10 IELTS Writing Tips

Describe a Business [IELTS Speaking Part 2]

Describe an Unusual Meal You Had [IELTS Speaking Part 2]

How to Describe a Graph

Leave a reply Cancel reply

Download my IELTS Books

Recent Posts

Recent Comments

How To Plan & Write IELTS Discussion Essays

The Question

3 Common Mistakes

Essay Structure

How To Plan IELTS Discussion Essays

# 2 Decide on your opinion

# 3 Generate ideas

# 4 Vocabulary

How To Write an Introduction

1) Paraphrase the question

2) Thesis and outline statements

How To Write Main Body Paragraphs

Main Body Paragraph 1

Main Body Paragraph 2

How To Write a Conclusion

Like this page?

Other Related Pages

* New * Grammar For IELTS Ebooks

IELTS Courses

IELTS Writing Ebook

Discount Offer

How to Write an IELTS Discussion Essay: Your Comprehensive Guide

Knowing the Basics of an IELTS Discussion Essay

How to Identify an IELTS Discussion Essay Question

Preparing to Write Your IELTS Discussion Essay

Understanding the Essay Topics

Brainstorming Ideas for Your IELTS Essay

Planning the Discussion Essay

Writing the IELTS Discussion Essay

Discussing Both Views in Detail

Sharing Your Own Viewpoint

Wrapping up with a Strong Conclusion

Polishing Your Discussion Essay

Tips for Avoiding Common Mistakes

Conclusion Writing

IELTS Discussion Essay: A Band 9 Sample

How To Write A Discussion Essay

WRITING TASK 2 Discuss Both Views and Give Your Opinion Essay STRUCTURE

IT IS A 5-PARAGRAPH STRUCTURE >>

EXPRESSING YOUR OPINION >>

SEQUENCING IDEAS >>

SAMPLE Discuss Both Points of View and Give your own opinion ESSAY >>

WRITING TASK 2 BAND SCORE 9 CRITERIA >>

Related Posts

150+ IELTS Academic Essay List

IELTS Discussion Essay Sample 5 – Environment

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

IELTS Writing Task 2: Discussion Essays- Benchmark IELTS

Table of Contents

3.2 Organise your ideas

5.2 Discussion Sample Essay

2. Essay Structure for Opinion Essays

3. Planning your Discussion Essay

3.1 Identify keywords and phrases

4. Writing your Discussion Essay

5. Example Discussion Essay and Exercise

5.1 Complete the Sample Discussion Essay

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Exam Updates & Tips!