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IELTS Writing Task 2: Argument Essay with Sample Answer

• Post author By IELTSAcademic
• Post date July 25, 2012
• 23 Comments on IELTS Writing Task 2: Argument Essay with Sample Answer

IELTS Writing Task 2: Question

Try this argument essay question about access to a university education. It’s very important that you write a balanced argument before giving your opinion.

It is sometimes argued that too many students go to university, while others claim that a university education should be a universal right. Discuss both sides of the argument and give your own opinion.

IELTS Writing Task 2: Model Answer

In some advanced countries, it is not unusual for more than 50% of young adults to attend college or university. Critics, however, claim that many university courses are worthless and young people would be better off gaining skills in the workplace. In this essay, I will examine both sides of this argument and try to reach a conclusion.

There are several reasons why young people today believe they have the right to a university education. First, growing prosperity in many parts of the world has increased the number of families with money to invest in their children’s future. At the same time, falling birthrates mean that one- or two-child families have become common, increasing the level of investment in each child. It is hardly surprising, therefore, that young people are willing to let their families support them until the age of 21 or 22. Furthermore, millions of new jobs have been created in knowledge industries, and these jobs are typically open only to university graduates.

However, it often appears that graduates end up in occupations unrelated to their university studies. It is not uncommon for an English literature major to end up working in sales, or an engineering graduate to retrain as a teacher, for example. Some critics have suggested that young people are just delaying their entry into the workplace, rather than developing professional skills. A more serious problem is that the high cost of a university education will mean that many families are reluctant to have more than one child, exacerbating the falling birthrates in certain countries.

In conclusion, while it can be argued that too much emphasis is placed on a university education, my own opinion is that the university years are a crucial time for personal development. If people enter the workplace aged 18, their future options may be severely restricted. Attending university allows them time to learn more about themselves and make a more appropriate choice of career.

(320 words. IELTS 9.0)

Why does this Task 2 answer get an IELTS Band 9 score?

Task response: The model answer fully answers the question by stating several arguments both for and against the expansion of higher education. The candidate’s position is clearly expressed in the conclusion. The style is appropriate to academic writing and the answer is at least 250 words in length.

Coherence and cohesion: The model answer has an introduction and conclusion. Each body paragraph deals with a different side of the argument and begins with a clear topic sentence. Arguments are developed with logical connectives such as therefore and furthermore .

Lexical resource:  There is a good range of vocabulary suited to an argument essay, including reporting verbs like claim and suggest , and hedging verbs like can and appear . There is native-like collocation throughout, including growing prosperity, enter the workplace and  severely restricted .

Grammatical range and accuracy: The model answer uses a wide range of grammatical devices appropriate to academic writing. These include conditionals ( If… ), participle clauses ( …, increasing the… ), concessive clauses ( while it can… ) and passive constructions ( …it can be argued that… ). There are no grammatical errors.

Teacher’s Notes

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IELTS Argumentative Essay Structure: Here’s the Step by Step Guide You should Know

When you write a convincing article, you need more than an argument to make your voice felt. Even the best position would not be convincing if it is not well formulated and reinforced by sound logic and proof. Learn what elements each argumentative essay should contain and how to present the essay in a clean and attractive manner in this simple step-by-step tutorial. Read the article below to get a clear view of IELTS argumentative essay structure

What is an Argumentative Essay?

An argumentative essay is a form of essay writing that takes a stand on the matter. In a strong argumentative article, the writer tries to convince readers to consider and accept their point of view on the matter by outlining their reasoning and presenting facts to back it up.

Argumentative essay writing is a common task for high school students as well as IELTS aspirants Normally, argumentative essay subjects are linked to science, technologies, economics and medical care.

Argument Essay IELTS Structure: IELTS Essay Format

Argumentative essays should have a clear structure such that they are convenient for readers to understand. The purpose of the argumentative essay is to explicitly outline the perspective, the logic and the proof. Follow the IELTS argumentative essay structure below, to write a perfect essay for your IELTS writing task

Introductory Paragraph: IELTS Essay Structure Task 2

The first section of your essay should outline the subject, include the context details required to explain your case, outline the facts that you will be presenting, and state your topic.

The Topic Statement: IELTS Essay Structure Task 2

This is part of the first line of your order. This is a succinct, one-sentence description of your key argument and assertion.

Body Paragraphs: IELTS Essay Structure Task 2

A standard argumentative essay consists of three or four paragraphs that clarify why you endorse your topic. Each topic sentence should cover a different theory or bit of proof and contain a theme sentence that simply and concisely demonstrates why the examiner should agree with your argument. Body paragraphs are where you support up your arguments with examples, analysis, statistics, tests, and text quotes. Discuss and disprove contrary points of view or justify that you disagree with them. Presenting facts and considering a subject from both perspectives adds integrity and can help you win the confidence of the examiner

Conclusion: IELTS Essay Structure Task 2

One section that reiterates the topic and outlines all the points set forth in the sections in your body. Instead of adding additional evidence or further claims, a successful conclusion would cater to the feelings of the reader. In certain cases, authors will use a subjective opinion to illustrate how the topic affects them directly.

Also Read: Art is Considered an Essential Part of All Cultures: A Topic of IELTS Essay

IELTS Writing Task Sample Topic

It is often argued that not many students go to university, while others claim that college education should be a fundamental right. Discuss all sides of the debate and express your own view.

In certain developing nations, it is not uncommon for more than 50% of young people to attend university or college. Reviewers, though, contend that certain undergraduate programmes are useless and that young people will be best off learning expertise at the workplace. In this article, I’m going to discuss all sides of this debate and attempt to draw a conclusion.

Break the Paragraph: IELTS Argumentative Essay Structure

There are many reasons why students now feel that they have the right to higher education. Second, increasing growth in many parts of the world has expanded the number of families with resources to build for the future of their children. Around the same time, declining birth rates mean that one or two kids’ families have become normal, raising the amount of spending for each child. It is not shocking, however, that young people are able to let their families sustain them until they are 21 or 22 years of age. In addition, millions of new positions have been generated in the information industries, and these jobs are normally only available to university graduates.

Nevertheless, it also seems that graduates end up in jobs that are not relevant to their university studies. It is not rare for major English literature to end up employed in sales, or for an engineering graduate to retrain as an instructor, for example. Any commentators have indicated that young people are avoiding their entrance into the workplace rather than learning technical skills. The more important concern is that the higher cost of higher education would ensure that many families are hesitant to have more than one child, alleviating the declining birth rate in some countries.

In summary, while it can be claimed that so much focus is placed on higher education, my own view is that university years are a critical period for personal growth. When individuals enter the workplace at the age of 18, their career opportunities can be heavily limited. Attending a university gives them opportunities to think more about themselves and make a more fitting career decision.

Also Read: Is there a Fact Check in Essay Writing in IELTS? Here’s a List of Do’s and Don’ts

IELTS Argumentative Essay Structure Key Points

Make a question and answer it.

Set a major question that was asked of your essay or in the first few words. Then, accumulate your short paragraph to address the question. For illustration, in your title or introduction, you may ask, “What is the best kind of sandwich? ” And then respond with your sentence fragment: “The best type of sandwich is sour cream and jam.” This approach is successful since interesting questions pull readers in and inspire them to keep reading to find answers.

Make an Argument and Clarify It

Implement a concept that conflicts with your view, and clarify explicitly why you disagree with it. “While some people think that peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are too easy, they are flexible. Transform the subject into a question and answer it. Set a major question in the title of your essay or in the first few words. Then, accumulate your short paragraph to address the question. For instance, in your title or introduction, you may ask, “What is the best kind of sandwich? “And then respond with your sentence fragment: ‘The best form of sandwich is sour cream and jam.’ This approach is successful because interesting questions attract readers and inspire them to continue to read to figure out the answer.

Outline the Crucial Points

Introduce the key argument and clarify how you are going to back that up. For instance, “You can turn whipped cream and jam sandwich into a fine meal by using hand-made bread, toasting bread, and creating extra ingredients.” This approach is useful because it gives readers a good picture about what you’re about to cover in your article. It also acts as a route map to help you remain focused and on schedule.

Also Read: IELTS Writing Task 2 Samples: Exam Questions & Answers to Target Minimum Band 8

5 Argument Types: IELTS Argumentative Essay Structure

When you decide what you’re speaking about and know your conclusion point, imagine how you’re going to make your case. There are five forms of statement statements that can be used to guide your essay:

• Idea: whether the argument is valid or not.
• Description: a dictionary definition of what you argue, and your own personal understanding of it.
• Value: The value of what you’re talking for.
• Cause and consequence: what triggers the dilemma in your article and what effect it has on it.
• Strategy: why the examiner should take care of it and what they should do with it after reading it.

We hope we have given you a perfect article regarding the IELTS argumentative essay structure. To write a perfect argumentative essay you must practice daily. Opt for a lot of mock tests to get better.

Want to become perfect in the IELTS argumentative essay? Follow similar blogs from IELTS Ninja

Also Read: IELTS Essay in Writing Task 2: Here’s How to Organize it Well

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IELTS Writing Task 2: ✍️ Everything You Need to Know

When helping students prepare for the IELTS test, one of the biggest fears is how to do well in IELTS Writing Task 2. 

IELTS Writing Task 2 is the second part of the writing test, where you are presented with a point of view, argument or problem and asked to write an essay in response. Your essay should be in a formal style, at least 250 words in length and you should aim to complete it in under 40 minutes. 

IELTS Writing Task 2: Everything You Need to Know

In this video, I’ll outline exactly what you must do to create an IELTS Writing Task 2 essay that could score a Band 7, 8 or 9.

It doesn’t matter if you’re new to IELTS or if you’ve failed the exam before – I’ve broken everything down into a simple 3-step process that anyone can use to improve their scores! Watch the video above to find out what they are.

5 Steps to a Band 7 in IELTS Writing Task 2

1. Understand the question.

You must understand the question before you attempt to answer it. This way, you’ll know exactly what the examiner is looking for. One of the biggest mistakes students make is not answering the question fully, which stops them from getting a score higher than a Band 5.

To analyse the question , you must first identify the question type, then identify the keywords in the question and finally identify the instructions words. This will help you understand exactly what the examiner wants you to do with the question.

2. Plan your answer.

The students who get the highest marks in Writing Task 2 always plan their answers for up to 10 minutes. Planning helps you organise your ideas and structure your essay before you write it, saving you time and helping you produce a clear and coherent essay.

3. Write an introduction.

The introduction should answer the question directly. This tells the examiner that you know what you are doing straight away and helps you write your main body paragraphs.

4. Write the main body paragraphs.

This is where you give the examiner more detail . You do this by stating your main points and supporting these with explanations and relevant examples.

5. Write a conclusion.

In your conclusion , you should provide a summary of what you already said in the rest of your essay.

4 Ways to Improve your Score in IELTS Writing Task 2

Many people know they need to improve their writing skills but don’t know how to do it. Here are 4 ways you can boost your score in Writing Task 2:

1. Understand the exam.

You must first understand what IELTS Writing Task 2 is, what you are expected to do and how to give the examiners what they want. This is the first stage and one that is often overlooked.

There are many online resources, often with conflicting and poor-quality information, so finding a reliable source of information is key.

2. Identify your weak areas.

If your car breaks down, you would try and identify which part caused the problem. If you get sick, your doctor will run tests to determine the exact cause of your symptoms.

IELTS Writing Task 2 is the same. We must first identify WHY you are not getting the score you need before we can help you improve.

However, be very careful! You wouldn’t ask the average man on the street for medical advice, so make sure you find someone who knows what they are doing and has the expertise to help you with this.

3. Fix the problems.

Now that we know what the problems are, we must fix them.

If your grammar needs work, fix those issues. If your vocabulary is lacking, work on fixing this issue.

Just as a good doctor can help you fix a medical problem, a good IELTS teacher can help you fix your specific issues.

4. Practice and get feedback.

Practice alone will not help you. It is an essential part of your preparation, but you must also get feedback on your work if you are really going to improve.

You wouldn’t try to teach yourself how to drive without an instructor, would you?

Find someone who will give you accurate and helpful feedback on your work. Otherwise, you will not be able to move to the last stage.

Now that you have understood what you need to do, identified the exact areas you need to work on, improved those areas, and received feedback on your work, you are now ready to get the IELTS Writing Task 2 score you deserve.

Writing Task 2 Structures 

I want to warn you about structures because they are not a magic wand that will help you automatically get a higher score. They WILL help you, but please realise that they are just a small part of your overall score.

These structures provide a sentence-by-sentence template for all the main Task 2 question types, making your job much easier on exam day.

• Task 2 Essay Structures

Essential Writing Task 2 Skills 

No matter how good your English is, you must still learn IELTS writing skills before taking the Writing Task 2 test. These helpful guides will take you through each of these skills step-by-step:

• How to Plan an Essay

Making a good plan actually saves you time when you write your essay. This guide will show you how to plan and write a clear essay every time.

• How to Think of Relevant Ideas

This guide provides 5 different methods to help you quickly think of relevant ideas that are directly linked to the question.

• How to Write a Complex Sentence

Complex sentences help you boost your score for grammar. They are actually very simple to write and are not complex at all.

• How to Paraphrase

Paraphrasing is one of the essential IELTS skills for all parts of the IELTS test. You should paraphrase the question in the very first sentence of your essay to help boost your vocabulary score in Writing Task 2.

• How to Write a Supporting Paragraph

Supporting paragraphs are the main body paragraphs and are the meat in the sandwich. This is where you provide the detail the examiner is looking for in the form of explanations and examples.

• How to Write a Thesis Statement

A thesis statement tells the examiner your opinion. Many IELTS Writing Task 2 questions specifically ask for your opinion, and if you don’t write it clearly, you have not answered the question properly. This article shows you how, where and when to give your opinion.

How many words should I write?

Around 250 words? Exactly 250 words or over 250 words? How many words over? How do I know how many words I have? Will I lose marks if I write too many words? This article answers all those questions.

• How to Understand and Analyse Any Question

A critical part of answering any question. This article shows you how to break down any Task 2 question and identify the keywords, micro-keywords and instruction words to help you answer the question effectively.

• How to Write a Great Introduction

The introduction is the first thing the examiner reads; therefore, we must give them a good first impression. I share a very specific sentence-by-sentence structure in this article to help you write introductions quickly and effectively.

• Task 2 Marking Criteria 

Do you know how Task 2 is marked? What is the difference between a Band 5 and a Band 8 answer? This article breaks down the marking criteria and explains it in simple language so you can give the IELTS examiners exactly what they want.

• How to Write a Conclusion

A good conclusion should be a summary of your main points. The conclusion is the last thing the examiner reads, and if you can write a good one, you will leave them with a very good impression.

• Using Examples

Each of your supporting paragraphs should have a specific example that supports and illustrates your main point. This is an essential skill to learn if you want to get one of the higher band scores.

• Cohesive Devices

Cohesive devices (sometimes called linking words) are one of the most misunderstood and misused elements of writing. Therefore, you must learn how to use them and when to use them.

• The Danger of Synonyms

While synonyms are very important, they can also really reduce your mark if used incorrectly.

• Paragraphing and Editing

This article will show you how to make your writing as clear and as easy to read as possible. It will also advise you on whether to use a pen or pencil.

• IELTS Writing Task 2: 8 Steps to Success

Read this blog now to access our 61-page Task 2 strategy.

• IELTS Writing Tips

I have compiled these tips after years of teaching IELTS, and all of them have been approved by IELTS examiners.

• Coherence and Cohesion

This is a video lesson that shows you in practical terms how to improve your coherence and cohesion score.

Writing Task 2 Common Topics 

Knowing the common topics can help you prepare for the test more efficiently. Here are the 10 most common topics over the last few years. Studying hard is great, but don’t forget to study smart.

The article below will show you the top 10 most common IELTS topics.

• Most Common Task 2 Topics 

Full IELTS Writing Task 2 Practice Lessons 

Here are some lessons that I have used when teaching students about IELTS Writing Task 2. I have changed them so that you can easily learn from home. They are very long but contain all the necessary information combined with the skills above.

• Agree or Disagree (Opinion) Lesson

In this lesson, we look at how to tackle an ‘agree or disagree’ question. Many people worry about whether to take one side of the other or discuss both sides. Additionally, people also worry about how to deal with ‘To what extent’ question types. We allay all of these fears in this lesson.

• Discussion Essay Lesson

‘Discuss both views’ questions often confuse people because you are asked to do many things in one essay. As such, it is very important to remember that the question asks you to discuss BOTH views AND give YOUR opinion.

• Problem and Solution Essay Lesson

These questions are much easier than you think. You probably discuss problems and solutions in your day-to-day life all the time. Keep it simple.

• Advantages and Disadvantages Lesson 

There are a couple of different types of advantages and disadvantages questions. This lesson will show you how to answer them.

• Writing Task 2 Exercise with Video

Writing is a skill, and just like any other skill, it is important to practice to improve.

• From Band 6.5 to 8 Demo Lesson

This is my most comprehensive free lesson on IELTS Writing Task 2. We show you how we took one VIP student from Band 6.5 to an amazing 8.

Sample Answers

You must have some good examples to compare your writing and see if you are on the right track. Click the link below for lots of sample answers and over 100 questions.

Task 2 Sample Answers

• Agree or Disagree Sample Essays
• Task 2 Band 9 Sample Essay
• Latest Real Task 2 Questions
• Official Sample Test Questions
• Cambridge Sample Questions
• Free Practice Test
• How To Use Task 2 Samples
• Recent Confusing Questions
• IELTS Writing Practice Guide

IELTS Writing Task 2 Essential Information

• You must write an essay in response to a question.
• You must write 250 words or more.
• Task 2 is worth 2/3 of your total mark on the Writing test.
• You should spend around 40 minutes on this part of the test.
• General Training and Academic are essentially the same for Task 2. However, they are different for Task 1.
• There are certain types of questions that you will be asked, for example, opinion, discussion etc. See below for more detail on these.
• Task Achievement (25%)
• Coherence and Cohesion (25%)
• Lexical Resource (25%)
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy (25%)

Grammar and Vocabulary

Grammar is one of the four things you will be marked on in the Writing Task 2 test. Finding out what your common grammar mistakes are and then fixing them is a very powerful way to boost your score in this area. Here are some common grammar mistakes I have found after making hundreds of tests.

• Top 10 Grammar Mistakes

For most IELTS students, the problem is not grammar in general. In fact, it is usually just 1-2 problem areas. Therefore, when you fix these main weaknesses, you’ll be able to improve your grammar and your writing score dramatically.

• Using Personal Pronouns

Hint- They aren’t as big of a deal as you think.

See the interactive tool below for the answers to the most commonly asked questions we receive about IELTS Writing Task 2: 

IELTS Writing Task 2 FAQs

How can i improve my writing.

You will find all the resources you need on our Writing Task 2 page. Click the link below:

Writing Task 2

We also have two Task 2 courses for those that need to improve their Task 2 skills and strategy. They are both based online and completely free of charge. Learn more about them below:

Task 2 5 Day Challenge

Task 2 Essay Builder

If you need serious help or personalised feedback, you should check out our VIP Course. There is a waiting list, but you can add your name here:

How can I get a Band 7, 8 or 9?

The answer to this question is different for every individual IELTS student, as it depends on a number of factors, including your work ethic, English skills and exam strategy. You'll find a guide to answering this question in this article

If you need serious help with improving your IELTS scores, you should check out our online writing course. There is a waiting list, but you can add your name by clicking the link below:

Can you correct my writing?

Please click the link below and it will give you all the information you need about our writing correction service:

Writing Correction Service

Do you have any sample answers?

Yes, you will find them at the link below:

Will using 'high level' or 'academic' words help me improve my score?

Probably not.

Read my recent article about IELTS vocabulary here:

5 Things You Need to Know about IELTS Vocabulary

Can I use idioms?

No, you should not write idioms for Task 2.

Can I use personal pronouns?

You should avoid using personal pronouns, but it is fine to use them when giving your personal opinion.

Do you write a conclusion for Task 2?

Yes, it is very difficult to get a good score in Task 2 if you haven't finished your essay with a conclusion. You will find an in-depth lesson on conclusions here:

How to Write an Effective Task 2 Conclusion

How many paragraphs should I write?

Most IELTS task 2 essays follow the same basic four paragraph structure:

• Introduction
• Supporting Paragraph 1
• Supporting Paragraph 2

However, you can find more comprehensive help with structuring your Task 2 essays here:

5 Day Challenge

Do I need to plan my essay?

I would highly recommend planning your essay. A good plan acts like a map that guides you through the essay, ensuring that you give the examiner exactly what they need to award you the score you need. You can find help with planning your essays here: How to Plan an IELTS Essay

You must write at least 250 words in Writing Task 2.

I would suggest that you aim to write around 270-280 words in total. Aiming for 20-30 words more than the required amount makes you more likely to reach the word limit without setting an unrealistic goal.

Will I lose marks if I don't write enough words?

Yes, if you don't write the required number of words, you will lose marks in 'Task Achievement' for not answering the question fully. Read more here .

Can I use contractions?

No, should not use contractions when you are writing an academic essay.

IELTS Worldwide

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IELTS Writing Task 2

Ielts writing task 2 page.

This page gives information and advice on IELTS writing task 2.

Task 2 is very similar for the general training and academic modules.

You will have to write a 250-word essay on a common topic.

See the list of essay writing topics .

Writing Test PDF Download

IELTS Writing Task 2 – Structure

• Place your ideas into paragraphs.
• The best IELTS writing task 2 essays have four or five paragraphs.
• Good paragraphing shows the examiner that your essay is well-organized.
• This structure also helps you write well-developed sentences.
• In this way, your essay will meet the 250-word requirement.

IELTS Writing Task 2 – Paragraphs

Students sometimes worry because they don’t know when to begin a new paragraph when they are writing an essay.

In general, you can organize your work as shown in the next section of this page.

This method of organization will demonstrate that you have thought about your response and planned your essay well.

IELTS Writing Task 2 – Paragraph 1 (The Introduction)

• The first paragraph provides is the introduction to the essay.
• This paragraph should include a clear thesis statement .
• The thesis statement is a sentence which indicates your main idea.
• The first paragraph can also give the reader an overview.
• The overview says what your supporting points are going to be.

IELTS Writing Task 2 – Paragraph 2

• In the second paragraph, you should expand on your first supporting point.
• Your essay might appear more persuasive if you state your strongest point in this paragraph.

IELTS Writing Task 2 – Paragraphs 3 and 4

• You should elaborate on your main idea in the third paragraph.
• Here you should give the second supporting point of your argument.
• Then mention the third supporting point in paragraph four.
• This can be the supporting point that you feel to be the weakest.
• You can combine these two points into one paragraph instead.

IELTS Writing Task 2 – Paragraph 5 (The Conclusion)

• In the final paragraph of the task 2 essay, you should come to a conclusion.
• The conclusion should sum up your argument.

IELTS Writing – More Help

If you need help with your report-writing skills for the academic module or letter writing skills for the general training module, please click on the first link below.

Go to Writing Task 1

Writing Task Tips

IELTS Writing Task 2: All You Need to know

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“With the help of this article, know all about the format, tips, and techniques to crack your IELTS Writing Task 2 all before kickstart your IELTS preparations!“

Understanding IELTS Writing Task 2

IELTS Writing Task 2 requires you to write an essay in response to a given general topic. This task is designed to assess your skills based on presenting a clear position, developing an argument logically, and organizing ideas coherently.

To achieve a high score, you must understand the task format and question types, analyze prompts effectively, and structure your essay appropriately. This blog post will break down everything you need to know from the format of the IELTS task 2 writing to tricks to solve it effortlessly.

IELTS Academic Writing Task 2 Test Papers

IELTS General Writing Task 2 Test Papers

Difference between ielts writing task 2 academic vs general.

To understand the differences between Academic and General Training in IELTS Writing Task 2, here is a helpful comparison table:

IELTS Writing Task 2 Format

Task Requirement: Write an academic-style essay in response to a point of view, argument, or problem.

Assessment: Assesses your ability to present a solution or opinion in a logical, structured way.

Duration: 40 minutes

IELTS Writing Task 2 Scoring Criteria

To understand how your IELTS Writing Task 2 essay is evaluated by the examiner, it is crucial to be familiar with the assessment criteria!

Have a look at the table below to learn more about the evaluation criteria!

IELTS Writing Task 2 Question Types

There are 6 types of questions in the IELTS Writing Task 2 and you may get any one type in your IELTS test. Hence, get to know about them to identify the question prompts effortlessly!

• Opinion 

You need to pick a side of the given two sides of an argument write in support of it and provide reasons for your opinion.

• Agree/Disagree

Here, you need to state whether you agree or disagree with a given statement and support it with reasons and examples.

Discussion (Discuss Both Views)

This type requires you to discuss both sides of an issue and then give your own opinion at last.

• Problem/Solution

You have to identify problems related to the topic and suggest possible solutions.

• Advantages/Disadvantages

This question asks you to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of a particular situation or issue.

• Double Question (Direct Questions)

You must answer two or more direct questions related to a single topic and support it with proper examples as well.

Useful IELTS Writing Task 2 Tips

IELTS Writing Task 2 is the second part of the two writing tasks and is one of the most challenging parts of the IELTS test. Most students also find it more difficult than Writing Task 1. Therefore, access to some quick tips for task 2 writing IELTS:

• Understand the Task: Test-takers should identify the key components, the question type, and any specific instructions before outlining the key points that should be covered.
• Plan Before You Write: Before diving into the essay, candidates should spend a few minutes planning the response. A clear outline needs to include an introduction, the main points for each body paragraph, and the conclusion.
• Follow a Structured Essay Format: Every essay type has a specific structure. So, sticking to the traditional essay structure with a clear introduction, well-developed body paragraphs, and a concluding summary enhances the readability of the essay.
• Provide Supportive Examples: Test-takers should support their arguments with concrete examples and evidence. This not only strengthens the expressed opinion but also showcases the ability to develop ideas.
• Use Linking Words and Phrases: Candidates should employ linking words and phrases to connect ideas within and between sentences. This improves the overall flow and coherence of the essay.
• Revise and Proofread: This is one of the most vital steps and test-takers need to allocate some time at the end to review and edit their essay. They should check for grammatical errors, clarity, and coherence and ensure that the essay effectively communicates their ideas.
• Write Regularly Under Time Constraints: Practice writing essays within the 40-minute. This helps improve your time management skills and ensures that you can effectively express your ideas within the given constraints.
• Seek Feedback: To understand the weak areas and improve them, test-takers need to share their practice essays with teachers, peers, or online communities like the one created by IELTSMaterial . Constructive feedback helps identify areas for improvement and provides valuable insights.

Top 8 Common Mistakes to Avoid in IELTS Writing Task 2

1. misunderstanding the question.

Many test-takers misunderstand the question, leading to off-topic essays.

2. Poor Time Management

Struggling to manage time effectively often results in incomplete essays.

3. Lack of Ideas

Difficulty in generating relevant ideas quickly is a common problem.

4. Disorganized Structure

Failing to organize thoughts into clear, logical paragraphs is a frequent mistake.

5. Grammar Errors

Frequent grammar errors can significantly lower the writing score.

6. Limited Vocabulary

Using a limited vocabulary makes it hard to express ideas effectively.

7. Weak Evidence

Providing weak examples usually weakens arguments and doesn’t provide a strong essay.

8. Incorrect Word Count

Not meeting the required word count can negatively affect the score.

Band Descriptors IELTS Writing Task 2

Structure For Answering the IELTS Writing Task 2 Question Types

The IELTS Writing Task 2 section has different types of essays that may be asked, each requiring a specific structure and approach. The main 6 IELTS Writing Task 2 question types and their standard structure are summarized in the table below:

IELTS Writing Task 2 Question Types with Sample Answers

Let's look at the different IELTS writing task 2 essay types that may appear in Writing Task 2:

Opinion Essay

These prompts simply ask for your  opinion  on a topic without presenting two views.

Sample prompt:  "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. What is your opinion on this?

Check out more IELTS Writing Task 2 Opinion Essay below:

• Some People Believe that Nowadays We Have Too Many Choices- IELTS Writing Task 2
• IELTS Writing Task 2 Opinion Essay Topic: Prevention is better than cure
• Universities Should Accept Equal Numbers of Male and Female Students in Every Subject – IELTS Writing Task 2
• Doing an Enjoyable Activity with a Child Can Develop Better Skills and More Creativity Than Reading – IELTS
• All Children Should be Made to Wear School Uniforms- IELTS Writing Task 2

Agree and Disagree Essay

These questions ask your opinion on a statement or proposal. You must decide whether you agree or disagree and support your view.

Sample prompt:   "Unpaid community service should be a compulsory part of high school programs." To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Check out more IELTS Writing Task 2 Agree and Disagree Essay below:

• It is more important to spend public money on promoting a healthy lifestyle – IELTS Writing Task 2
• Foreign Visitors Should Pay More Than Local Visitors for Cultural and Historical Attractions – IELTS Writing Task 2
• Some people believe that air travel should be restricted Sample Essay
• When a Country Develops its Technology the Traditional Skills and Ways of Life Die Out – IELTS Writing Task 2
• Reading stories from a book is better than watching TV Sample Essay

These prompts present two perspectives on an issue and ask you to  discuss  and examine both sides.

Sample prompt:   "Some people think the manufacturers and shopping malls should sell fewer packaged products while others argue that people have the responsibility to buy products with less packaging. Discuss both views and give your opinion."

Check out more IELTS Writing Task 2 Discussion Essay below:

• In Some Countries, a Few People Earn Extremely High Salaries – IELTS Writing Task 2
• Some People Think that Children Should Start School Sooner- IELTS Writing Task 2
• Some People Think that it is Better to Educate Girls and Boys in Separate Schools- IELTS Writing Task 2
• Some Companies Sponsor Sport and Sports Stars as a Way to Advertise Themselves – IELTS Writing Task 2
• University Students Should Study Whatever They Like Sample Essay

Problem/Solution Essay

These questions given in the  problem/solution  essay describe an issue and ask you to propose solutions.

Sample prompt:   "In many cities, public transport systems are inadequate and road congestion is increasing. What are the causes of these problems and what measures could be taken to solve them?"

Check out more IELTS Writing Task 2 Problem/Solution Essay below:

• Many Working People get little or no Exercise either During the Working Day- IELTS Writing Task 2
• Doctors Recommend that Older People Exercise Regularly- IELTS Writing Task 2
• Over Population Of Urban Areas Has Led To Numerous Problems – IELTS Writing Task 2
• An Increase in Production of Consumer Goods Results in Damage to the Natural Environment- IELTS Writing Task
• In the Developed World, Average Life Expectancy is Increasing- IELTS Writing Task 2

Advantages/Disadvantages Essay

These prompts ask you to analyze the  advantages and disadvantages  of an issue.

Sample prompt:  "Studying overseas has many benefits for students. However, there are also some disadvantages. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages and give your own opinion."

Check out more IELTS Writing Task 2 Advantages/Disadvantages Essay below:

• People now have the Freedom to Work and live Anywhere in the World- IELTS Writing Task 2
• In Some Countries People Prefer to Rent a House than Buy One – IELTS Writing Task 2
• Planners Tend to Arrange Shops, Schools, Offices and Homes in Specific Areas – IELTS Writing Task 2
• Technology is Increasingly Being Used to Monitor What People Are Saying And Doing Sample Essays
• In the Past, When Students Did a University Degree, They Tended to Study in Their Own Country – IELTS

Direct Question Essay

These prompts which are also known as  Direct Question  essays give you a statement along with a related question.

Sample prompt:   "A growing number of people are living alone in many major cities. What are the reasons for this? Why do they choose to live alone?

Check out more IELTS Writing Task 2 Direct Question Essay below:

• Is freedom of speech necessary in a free society? – IELTS Writing Task 2
• Many People Like to Wear Fashionable Clothes – IELTS Writing Task 2
• Consumers Are Faced With Increasing Numbers of Advertisements From Competing Companies – IELTS
• There are Many Different Types of Music in The World Today – IELTS Writing Task 2
• More and more people want to buy famous brands with clothes- IELTS Writing Task 2

IELTS Writing Task 2 Topics with Answers

Below is the list of IELTS Writing Task 2 Topics with Answers which you can refer to for the exam.

• Topic: Family
• Topic: Press, news on internet & newspapers
• Topic: Families
• Topic - Environment
• Topic: Invention 
• Topic: Aging Population
• Topic: Art & Technology
• Topic: Career
• Topic: Dangerous Sports
• Topic: Technology
• Topic: Travel & Tourism
• Topic: International Car-free Days & Sample Essay
• Topic: Traffic
• Topic: Transportation
• Topic: TV or Radio
• Topic: Communication Technology
• Topic: Living in Campus
• Topic: Crime
• Collocations - Topic: The Environment
• Useful Collocations - Topic: Government

Trending Essay Topics

• Every year several languages die out
• Some People Think That Parents Should Teach Children How to be Good Members of Society
• Happiness is considered very important in life
• In some countries the average weight of people is increasing
• Young people are encouraged to work or travel for a year between finishing high school
• Research Indicates That the Characteristics We are Born With Have Much More Influence On Our Personality

Academic IELTS Writing Task 2 Topics with Sample Essays

Below is the list of Academic IELTS Writing Task 2 Topics with   Sample Essays :

• Topic 01: Media
• Topic 02: Successful Sports Professionals
• Topic 03:Smoking
• Topic 04: Children today play very violent games
• Topic 05:The birth rate in most developed countries
• Topic 06: Many families find it necessary for both parents go out to work
• Topic 07: Women and men are commonly seen as having different strength and weaknesses
• Topic 08: Increase in violent crime among youngsters
• Topic 09: Good Job
• Topic 10: Different medical traditions
• Topic 11:Need to prepare for tests and examinations
• Topic 12: Eating Fish
• Topic 13:Concerned about the number of children who are overweight
• Topic 14: Freedom of Speech
• Topic: Architecture & History
• Topic: Digital Communication
• Topic: Economic Development
• Topic: Education
• Topic: Environment
• Topic: Food & Transport
• Topic: Government
• Topic: Newspapers
• Topic: Sports
• Topic: Television & Children
• Topic: Economic Growth

The key is to practice regularly and make writing a habit until your final   IELTS Writing  test! With this preparation, you'll be ready to achieve your desired band in no time. We bet you’re all aware of the IELTS Writing Task 2 so now get ready to gather our expert tricks to crack your writing task 1. Pick between  IELTS General Writing Task 1  and the   IELTS Academic Writing Task 1  as per your preference and start now!

Frequently Asked Questions

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What’s better - a longer or shorter essay?

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How strict are they on word count?

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Practice IELTS Writing Task 2 based on Essay types

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7 Steps to Structuring an IELTS Task 2 Essay

Posted by David S. Wills | Apr 6, 2020 | IELTS Tips , Writing | 0

In this week’s article, I want to show you how to structure an IELTS writing task 2 essay. I’ve written about this many times in the past, but today I want to show you a simple, 7-step approach that can guide you to the perfect essay.

First of all, I want to mention that there are lots of ways to write an amazing essay. There are also 5 different kinds of question, hundreds of topics, and lots of different combinations. This means that you cannot just memorise an answer or even memorise a structure. You can learn about that in my IELTS books :

However, this article will give you a guide to writing a great essay structure by logically sequencing your ideas. This can help you to score highly for Coherence and Cohesion, which is worth 25% of your writing score.

IELTS Essay Structure: The Basics

Before we begin with the 7 steps, I would like to give you a short overview. Writing an IELTS essay requires many skills and you have a lot of different criteria to meet in order to get a band 7 or above. Your essay will be judged in four ways, each accounting for 25% of the total score:

• Task Achievement
• Coherence and Cohesion
• Lexical Resource
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy

When thinking about structuring an essay, we are essentially talking about Coherence and Cohesion . Being able to produce a strong structure with logically sequenced ideas will give you a good chance of a high score in this section.

There are lots of different approaches, but most IELTS trainers agree that a four-paragraph structure is the best approach, with five paragraphs sometimes being appropriate. [ Read about 4 vs 5 paragraphs ] You should aim to divide your ideas sensibly and then build them in order to support your thesis or explain the issues as necessary.

Today, the steps that I will describe for you are as follows:

• Analyse the Question
• Brainstorm Ideas
• Plan your Overall Structure
• Plan your Internal Paragraph Structure
• Write a Strong Introduction
• Link your Sentences
• Write a Good Conclusion

1. Analyse the Question

Every IELTS question is different and so it is really important that you read it carefully in order to understand it fully. If you just read it quickly, you might get the wrong idea. It is natural for our brains to see a word and jump to a conclusion. For example, a question that mentions climate change might really be asking about solutions to fossil fuel emissions rather than the consequences of global warming. If you don’t understand the question, you cannot write a good answer.

Before you begin brainstorming , read the question at least twice. Let’s look at an example:

Some people claim that not enough of the waste from homes is recycled. They say that the only way to make people recycle more is to make it a legal requirement. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

When you first look at this question, your eyes will be drawn to keywords like “waste” and “recycle.” That is good, but we need to understand the full sentence. What sort of waste are we talking about? Waste from homes . What does “legal requirement” mean? It means make it a law .

You will always see a statement of some sort above and then the question below. Once you understand the statement, you should read the question. In this case, the question is “To what extent do you agree…?”

Therefore, you need to choose a position ( agree/disagree ) and then write an essay that explains your position.

Note: Some IELTS candidates believe that you have to give a balanced viewpoint. This is not necessarily true. You can read about it in this article .

2. Brainstorm Ideas

Once you understand the question, you can begin to think of ideas to use in your essay. My biggest piece of advice here is: DON’T CHOOSE TOO MANY IDEAS!!

Seriously, it is not helpful to use lots of different ideas or examples in your essay. Yes, this might help you reach 250 words easily, but your essay will definitely get a low score for Coherence and Cohesion (and possibly Task Achievement) because it will not be well organized and probably will lack sufficient development of ideas.

I encourage my writing students to follow the idea of ONE PARAGRAPH, ONE IDEA. In some essay types, this is easy. For example, in an advantages/disadvantages essay , you can just devote one body paragraph to advantages and the other to disadvantages. Simple!

However, in other types of essay, you might find it harder. With agree/disagree essays, you might have two reasons why you agree. In this case, you just put one reason in each body paragraph.

Let’s brainstorm now.

Personally, I agree that laws should be passed that require people to recycle their household waste. Therefore, I would consider the following ideas:

Those are just some ideas. Sometimes you will struggle to think of even two ideas and sometimes you will easily think of five or six. The important thing, though, is to choose the most important ones. Think about what would make the most convincing argument.

3. Plan your Overall Structure

By “overall structure,” I mean your basic paragraph plan. Every IELTS writing task 2 essay should have an introduction and conclusion , and at least two body paragraphs. This is the standard essay format and I highly recommend that you practice with it. Essays that have lots of paragraphs are usually a mess and will receive low scores for Coherence and Cohesion.

I want to write an advanced essay that will score band 9, so I am going to use an interesting structure that will allow me to show off my essay-writing skills. My first body paragraph will look at opposing viewpoints and then refute them, before the second body paragraph concisely states why we do need laws that make people recycle.  

For this essay, my overall structure would look like this:

This is a pretty simple and flexible paragraph structure. I highly recommend that you use it because once you become comfortable with it, you can really adapt it a lot. Even though it is basic and you can use it for scoring band 6, you can also use this structure for band 9 essays.

The reason is that you can vary the content of your body paragraphs greatly. Here, I have tried to give balance to the argument, even though I agree with one side – the need for laws. However, rather than simply state two compelling reasons, I will first dismiss the counter-arguments and then give an argument in favour of my viewpoint.

4. Plan your Internal Paragraph Structure

This is the most difficult part of structuring an essay and it is the reason why most people struggle to get a high score for Coherence and Cohesion.

It is really, really important for IELTS writing that your ideas are sequenced logically. That means they go from one idea to the next in a logical way. Look at these two example passages. One contains a logical flow of ideas and the other does not. Can you tell which is which?

• The case in favour of laws mandating recycling is simple and irrefutable. These laws would ensure that a far higher amount of household waste is recycled, thereby reducing the amount of pollution that goes into our environment. People cannot be trusted to do this for themselves, and the evidence exists in the places where environmental laws are strictly enforced, compared to those where they are non-existent, or weakly enforced.
• These laws would ensure that a far higher amount of household waste is recycled, thereby reducing the amount of pollution that goes into our environment. People cannot be trusted to do this for themselves, and the evidence exists in the places where environmental laws are strictly enforced, compared to those where they are non-existent, or weakly enforced. The case in favour of laws mandating recycling is simple and irrefutable.

Which one is correct? Answer: #1.

In this answer, I began with a topic sentence . This is a sentence that introduces an idea. I then explained that idea in more detail. Finally, I added another sentence that built upon the previous two. Both the second and third sentences supported the first. When you put them in the wrong order, they make no sense.

Finally, notice that I used certain words to refer back to previous ideas: these laws , do this .

5. Write a Strong Introduction

It’s really important with any kind of writing to give a strong introduction. This grabs your reader’s attention but also tells them what to expect from your writing. If an examiner reads a really terrible introduction, they will think that your body paragraphs are likely to be very bad, too.

As such, it is important that you devote a little time to writing an excellent intro.

What does that involve?

I recommend that people generally write a three-sentence introduction. (However, remember that there is no one perfect way to write an essay and so there are other good possibilities.)

I suggest this:

• General statement that addresses the topic.
• Slightly more specific statement that relates wider topic to specific question.
• A sentence that shows essay intention or overview. (This is often called an outline sentence .)

For the above question, I would write an introduction like this:

Pollution remains a significant problem all around the world and this is causing people to debate possible solutions. One such solution is for governments to impose laws requiring citizens to recycle certain kinds of waste from their homes. This essay will argue that environmental laws are essential to reducing waste and thereby saving the planet.

Let’s look at how those sentences are structured:

• A very general statement: pollution is a problem; people discuss solutions.
• More specific statement: introduce potential solution with simple detail
• Essay statement: state that laws are essential for solving problem

6. Link your Sentences

Next, you are going to need to write the body paragraphs. With your essay structure already written, it should not be too hard to do this. You need to follow a simple but effective internal paragraph structure that develops and supports each idea.

When you do this, it is important that you link your sentences. Now, if you have a good enough structure, your sentences will already be linked. That is because your ideas will flow naturally from one to the next.

As you will know, it is possible to use “ cohesive devices ” (also called transitional or linking words/phrases etc). These include words and phrases like: however, therefore, next, after that, meanwhile, on the other hand . They are very useful and help guide your reader, but you should not overuse them or it will make your writing weak.

Let’s look at my third paragraph as an example.

The case in favour of laws mandating recycling is simple and irrefutable. These laws would ensure that a far higher amount of household waste is recycled, thereby reducing the amount of pollution that goes into our environment. People cannot be trusted to do this for themselves, and the evidence exists in the places where environmental laws are strictly enforced, compared to those where they are non-existent, or weakly enforced. In the United Kingdom, people are required to recycle most of their household waste, and the environment is far cleaner than other countries, such as China, where people can throw any trash away without consequences.

How many cohesive devices did I use?

None. My sentences were already well-organized, so I did not need to use any.

You can read all about not using too many cohesive devices here .

7. Write a Good Conclusion

Finally, you must finish all your IELTS writing task 2 essays with a conclusion . This means a final paragraph that summarizes everything you have said so far and then references your key ideas. This can be either one or two sentences, but don’t write much more than that.

A conclusion will also differ according to the question type. Some might require you to make a suggestion or state an opinion, while others will really just require you to summarize you have said.

It is a pretty good idea to follow a structure like this:

• Paraphrase your main idea.
• Re-state your main arguments.

For example, here is my conclusion from the above question:

In conclusion, laws are absolutely essential to ensure that people recycle their household waste. Without such laws, very few people would actually go to the trouble of recycling; however, if governments enforce these laws, almost everyone would have to comply.

In this conclusion, the first sentence paraphrases my main idea (laws are necessary) and the second sentence re-states my main arguments (people would not recycle without laws; laws make people recycle).

Note that I have avoided repeating myself. In these two lines, I have simply referred to my previous arguments but I have not copied the things I already said. I have used new language for it.

Sample Band 9 Answer

Next, I will show you my answer for this question. Remember that this is just one possible answer. There are other ways to write a band 9 score. However, I do think that this is the best way because it is easy to learn and apply to your own essays. I recommend that you download the essay as a Microsoft Word (.docx) file because I have annotated it fully. You can see a clear explanation of what purpose each sentence has.

Sample Answer

Pollution remains a significant problem all around the world and this is causing people to debate possible solutions. One such solution is for governments to impose laws requiring citizens to recycle certain kinds of waste from their homes. This essay will argue that environmental laws are essential to reducing waste and thereby saving the planet. The case against laws imposing mandatory recycling revolve around the notion that people can learn to recycle by themselves, and this is true to an extent. With the improvement of education, people typically litter less and recycle more. However, our planet is presently in the grips of environmental catastrophe and it would take several generations for people to make changes to their lives. It is also sometimes argued that poor people cannot afford to make the sacrifice necessary to use less plastic and switch to sustainable products, and it is therefore unfair to punish them. However, mandatory recycling would not require people to immediately give up plastics; instead, they would simply be required to dispose of them in an ethical manner at a government-run recycling facility. The case in favour of laws mandating recycling is simple and irrefutable. These laws would ensure that a far higher amount of household waste is recycled, thereby reducing the amount of pollution that goes into our environment. People cannot be trusted to do this for themselves, and the evidence exists in the places where environmental laws are strictly enforced, compared to those where they are non-existent, or weakly enforced. In the United Kingdom, people are required to recycle most of their household waste, and the environment is far cleaner than other countries, such as China, where people can throw any trash away without consequences. In conclusion, laws are absolutely essential to ensure that people recycle their household waste. Without such laws, very few people would actually go to the trouble of recycling; however, if governments enforce these laws, almost everyone would have to comply.

You can download a copy of that sample essay here . This will allow you to see all of my annotations like this:

Improving your Writing Skills

If you really want to get better at IELTS writing, the best way is to have an expert check your work. People who use my writing correction service find that they can quickly identify their mistakes and improve their overall IELTS score.

E-mail me at david [at] ted-ielts [dot] com to find out more, or check the above link.

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.

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How to write an argument for an IELTS Task 2 essay

By ielts-jonathan.com on 17 June 2022 0

Introduction to IELTS and Academic Writing.

The kind of writing we are going to describe here is ONLY suitable for IELTS Task 2 Writing and not TASK 1 .

Because in Task 1, you are not required to add additional opinion, or comment or speculate on why figures or numbers might be so.

In Task 1, you should only report the figures you can see .

You should not speculate, predict or introduce personal experience in your writing.

Task 2 Writing

For Task 2, often your writing can be improved substantially by providing support to your ideas, your opinions or when answering the prompt given.

Providing Support

Academic writing tends to be impersonal in style in order to be objective .

This may make it appear formal.

Unfortunately, too many IELTS Candidates write in a subjective style .

The result can be:.

If an IELTS Task 2 appears too subjective, this can affect the tone of the writing and lower the Score.

Therefore, it is important to notice how academic writers express themselves and support their opinions.

Support consists of evidence.

Here are four kinds of evidence to make your argument stronger:.

1. Example: from your own experience or from what you heard or read.

2. Common Sense: things that you believe everybody knows.

3. Expert Opinion: the opinions of experts or professionals

(e.g. scientists or doctors) — this comes from research.

4. Statistics: numbers (e.g 75% ) — this also comes from research.

Task: Read the arguments for the following statement:

Here is the statement to consider.

Statement: “Smoking should be banned in all public places”

This is the position I am going to take.

Position: Agree

So, now I am going to agree with this statement by providing an example .

1. Example:

For example / for instance / let me give an example

“ Let me give an example: Whenever I go to a restaurant or bar and there are people smoking near me, I feel that I am breathing in their smoke. This makes me a smoker even though I don’t want to be ”.

or by providing a shared belief.

2. Common Sense:

Everyone knows / it’s common knowledge that / it’s no secret that

“ It’s common knowledge secondhand smoke is very unhealthy for nonsmokers ”.

or by providing figures or percentages .

3. Statistics:

“ Secondhand smoke causes about 250,000 respiratory infections in infants and children every year, resulting in about 15,000 hospitalizations each year ”.

or by providing the voice of another .

4 . Expert Opinion:

According to…/ to quote…/ the book _____ says…

“ According to the Environmental Protection Agency, secondhand smoke causes approximately 3,000 lung cancer deaths in nonsmokers each year ”.

For the IELTS test, there is not enough time or number of words to allow completely for this academic style, so although IELTS writing is not informal, it is much more semi-academic in style .

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I hope that you found this information useful and you have taken on board some of the tips.

Please share to someone you know and in the meantime take a look at my

Facebook Page  and  Website for IELTS answers   and you can also join my Facebook Group  here too.

I also recommend taking a look at my free blog below, or sign up to my Newsletter which gives further instruction on how to give that perfect Task Response:

The Best Approach to Task 2 Writing

Paragraphing in Task 2 Writing

Strong Arguments for Task 2

Writing the Introduction

Writing a Line of Argument

Cohesion for Task 2 Writing

Writing – Benefits of a Foreign University Education

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100 IELTS Essay Questions

Below are practice IELTS essay questions and topics for writing task 2. The 100 essay questions have been used many times over the years. The questions are organised under common topics and essay types. IELTS often use the similar topics for their essays but change the wording of the essay question.

In order to prepare well for writing task 2, you should prepare ideas for common topics and then practise applying them to the tasks given (to the essay questions). Also see model essays and tips  for writing task 2.

Below you will find:

• Essay Questions By Topic
• Essay Questions by Essay Type (for example Opinion, Discussion etc)

Please also note that my new Grammar E-book is now available in my store along with my Ideas for Essay Topics E-book and Advanced Writing Lessons. To visit store, click here: IELTS LIZ STORE

1) Common IELTS Essay Questions

IELTS practice essay questions divided by topic. These topics have been reported by IELTS students in their tests. Essay questions have been recreated as accurately as possible.

• Art   (5 essay questions)
• Business & Money   (17 essay questions)
• Communication & Personality   (20 essay questions)
• Crime & Punishment   (12 essay questions)
• Education   (17 essay questions)
• Environment   (12 essay questions)
• Family & Children   (8 essay questions)
• Food & Diet (13 essay questions)
• Government (6 essay questions)
• Health   (9 essay questions)
• Housing, Buildings & Urban Planning (8 essay questions)
• Language (6 essay questions)
• Leisure (1 essay question)
• Media & Advertising   (12 essay questions)
• Reading  (5 essay questions)
• Society   (10 essay questions)
• Space Exploration (3 questions)
• Sport & Exercise   (6 essay questions)
• Technology  (6 essay questions)
• Tourism and Travel   (11 essay questions)
• Transport  (7 essay questions)
• Work (17 essay questions)

2) IELTS Essay Questions by Essay Type 

There are 5 main types of essay questions in IELTS writing task 2 (opinion essays, discussion essay, advantage/disadvantage essays, solution essay and direct question essays). Click on the links below to see some sample essay questions for you to practice with at home.

• Opinion Essay Model Answer with Useful Tips
• Discussion Essay Model Answer with Useful Tips
• Solution Essay Model Answer with Useful Tips
• Direct Questions Model Essay 
• Adv/Disadv Model Essay with Useful Tips

3) Recent Essay Topics

You can also track recent essay topics on this page: IELTS ESSAY TOPICS 2024

Note: you must also prepare all other topics on the page above because questions are recycled each year.

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Opinion [Argument] Essay

This is one of the  three types of essays in the IELTS writing exam . You should learn how to structure each type of essay, as each of the three questions requires a different structure.

Sample IELTS essay question Computers are being used more and more in education and some people believe there will soon be no role for the teacher in education. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Steps in Planning your IELTS Essay 1.Underline key vocabulary in the question and write words with the same or related meaning. 2.Decide what kind of response is needed. 3.Brainstorm key points for the answer. 4.Decide on the structure of the essay  

Steps in writing your Essay INTRODUCTION: 1.Paraphrase the question 2. State your position [totally/strongly/somewhat+  agree/disagree]

BODY: 3. Write topic sentences for each body paragraph Sequencing word  +  topic + point The main reason why I believe teachers are necessary is because they are essential for disciplining and motivating students

CONCLUSION: 4. Summarise main points 5. Give your final opinion or recommendation/ restate your position

Sample IELTS opinion essay Computing technology is being used increasingly in the classroom and some people believe that educators will become redundant. I somewhat disagree that teachers will be replaced by machines.

The main reason  why I think that teachers are essential is because they encourage and discipline students. Many people find it difficult to be interested in learning new things. Therefore educators are needed to make classes more interesting and stimulate students’ desires for learning. Also, in the case of young people, teachers often need to force students to learn through the use of punishments.

Another reason why teachers are needed is because they can teach young people important skills and values. This is because educators serve as role models to their students and teach them how to appropriately interact with their peers. Therefore,  if  people only learn using machines they will lose the opportunity to learn important social skills and values.

However , studying over the Internet certainly offers a lot of convenience. First, we are able to study in the comfort of our own homes, without the need to commute to school. Second, we can choose to study at any time we like even in the middle of the night.

In conclusion , I somewhat disagree that machines can replace teachers. This is because teachers can encourage students to learn and teach them how to interact with other people. However, computers do offer the ability for people to learn anywhere at any time.

Template for opinion essay The template below has been used to write the essay below it.

Introduction Some people believe [rephrase topic] I totally agree/disagree with this opinion because [reason 1 + reason 2]

Paragraph 2 The main reason why I believe/don’t believe XYZ is because… [reason 1]

Paragraph 3 Another reason why I support/don’t support the notion that XYZ is due to the fact that… [reason 2]

Conclusion In conclusion, I completely agree/disagree that XYZ because [rephrase reason 1] and [rephrase reason 2]. Given this situation, it seems that [give a final recommendation or opinion]

The main reason why I believe a minimum standard of health care is needed is because it’s a human right to have some level of access to health services. In some situations, such as when a person doesn’t have a job, basic healthcare should be available. For instance, if somebody has a life-threatening car accident emergency services should be available free of charge. This is because it is not humane to let a person die just because they don’t have sufficient funds to pay for treatment in this sort of situation.

  Another reason why I support the notion that free health you should pre-provided is due to the fact that it is sometimes necessary to protect the health of all citizens. Certain medical situations, such as an outbreak of a virus, require quick and widespread medical attention. This can best be achieved by having a free medical system, in order to circumvent financial issues that might prevent certain individuals from having access to treatment. For example, the current coronavirus is spreading more rapidly in countries without free healthcare because people are often reluctant or unable to seek attention if they have to pay for it.

  In conclusion, I completely agree that every country should have basic minimum level of health because it is a basic human right and it’s necessary to prevent widespread medical crises such as the Corona virus.

https://www.ieltsanswers.com/ielts-writing-task-1-2.html

42 thoughts on “Opinion [Argument] Essay”

Most people have forgotten the meaning behind traditional or religious festivals, during festival periods, people nowadays only want to enjoy themselves. To what extent do you agree or disagree? In recent years, there is a common belief that the meanings of festivals have faded away due to many reasons. I totally agree with this view and in this essay, I will discuss two main reasons. Initially, with the fast pace of modern life, traditional and religious festivals no longer be focused as these were. Nowadays, festivals have become the time for businessmen to advertise and emphasize the sales of products that are related to festivals, instead of concerning about what festivals mean in terms of religion and culture. In other words, these occasions are the platforms for companies to earn profits from them. This may lead to the situation that the authentic meaning and spiritual significance have been eroded gradually and will vanish forever. Another factor that contributes to the bad scenario is cultural exchanges. Youngsters prefer foreign celebrations to their own cultural festivals, they tend to ignore these festivals’ values. Enjoying foreign occasions is not bad, however, people, especially the young generation engage in these festivals without a comprehensive understanding of their meanings. Younger people are prone to enjoy festivals just because the festival is currently famous and they follow it as a trend. In conclusion, it can’t be denied that the true values of traditional festivals have been forgotten, I believe that it’s necessary for each individual to preserve these cultural festivals together.

1. you could write more on “only want to enjoy themselves” …especially in the introduction and conclusion. 2. it CAN be denied! That is the whole point of an OPINION essay “it can’t be denied that the true values” 3. The conclusion should summarise the reasons for your opinion|

For a full correction see here: https://www.ieltsanswers.com/writing-correction-ielts.html

Hello, thank you so much for such constructive advice and guidance. But I’m a bit baffled how should I develop a final recommendation or opinion in the conclusion? I am concerned that my final recommendation may be off-topic.

Take the prompt “Many people live in a number of places in their childhood years. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this?” as an example. In the body paragraphs I stated that the merits of this are Expanded worldview and Enhanced social skills and the demerits are Educational disruptions and Emotional impact. Then I concluded as I think the merits are more significant,… then recommended that parental support and supervision is needed to ameliorate the demerits. Did I go too far from the topic?

That all seems fine to me….as long as your conclusion summarises the advantages and disadvantages and then mentions “parental support and supervision is needed to ameliorate the demerits”

Thank you sincerely for answering!

Hello, I wanted to send an essay for correction. If I write an essay which question “Is it a positive or negative development ?” or “Do you think this is a positive or a negative development ?”, should I write it like an opinion essay: discuss only sides that I agree with?

Yes I think that is the correct approach.

Thank you for answering!

Nowaday, computers are the basis of the mordern world. Some people believe that government should used computers into classrooms and direct teaching purpose. In my opinion, this view have a plenty of benefits, but on other aspect it also have some drawbacks for teenagers. The following will analyse this statement in detail. On the on hand, computers can support teacher, tutor and professional for trainning their youngs talent generations who contribute their ability for the development of nation. it also help students easier to understand and imagine lesson by the amazing method. To illustrate, understanding theoretical knowledge is really hard for students, but with the address of computer it is more simple by 3D printer. Making an interest of each subject to ever teenagers at education.Furthermore, computer can save amount of knowledge and information and also thought the internet tutor and teenagers can search a big data of knowledge. With that diversity about information children can improve their acquainted. For instance, there are a lot of free course in the internet which can help teenagers have more knowledge in the fields they were worried. In addition, computer can be an equipment for youngs generation communiti with other children in all around the world. they can share their cutura, style and knowledge together. On the other hand, too overdepency on morden technology will lead student lose their concentrate because of having a plenty of interesting things on the internet such as game, film and entertainment website. When teenagers can not concentrate in their learning, their score, mark and achivement will be worde thought per time. For example, if student addicted to game, they will not have enough time for learnning and preparing at home, so they can not have the good achivement. Moreover, these will be lose the interaction between teacher and students. Many knowledge on the internet are fake information which were not confirm by the professional. it is very dangerous for the youngs generation and make terrible influence to them more exaggeration is to the country’s development. To conclude, introducing computer into edcation have advantages and drawbacks appropriate with each person and each situation, so governments need to have bright choice to support their yongs generation improve themselves better than before for contributing to the nation.

Your opinion is not clear you should look at my model answer. Especially, I want to know in the introduction and conclusion the extent you agree or disagree.

Hi Mike I have been watching your videos and they are really helpful. Can you tell me what band score this essay will get? It is important for people to take risks, both in their professional lives and their personal lives. Do you think the advantages of taking risks outweigh the disadvantages?

Living has a range of multiple-choice, sometimes this is a good or dangerous way but people have to choose a flexible way for themself. They might take risks in their career life as well as personal lives. Personally speaking, in some situations the merit is better than the drawback. In this essay, this phenomenon will be discussed.

Firstly, risk-taking is one of the ways to make individual experience to be successful. For example, Mark Zuckerberg dropped out of Harvard to focus on building Facebook, it could be replaced by another platform and now Facebook is the biggest social media. In my country, Ho Chi Minh’s president as known Uncle Ho, he was traveled around the world and do everything job to have enough money to study and support the journey to save the country and national liberation. If he did not leave Viet Nam without money, we could not be independence. What is more, risky situations teach people to make fast and exact.

In contrast, making a risky move may hurt a person short time. Teenagers are psychologically controlled by their parents because they still receive financial support from them. When they want to follow their dream and beyond their life so they do not have money from their parent. Maybe they feel a short-term downside of losing in the way they choose. However, all mistakes they have taught help them go out of their comfort zone. For instance, Thomas Alva Edison was the person who invented the Light Bulb, trying more and more after many failures to finally be successful with the invention. In Viet Nam, we have the idiom Do not give up yet, Failures teach success, which makes people have a strong mind to face difficult challenges in their life.

In conclusion, taking risks is a task for people to complete, then life teaches them the right way to follow. Although making a risk may harm an individual for a short- time, this downside incredibly creates a life-changing and strong mind for them. So one should prepare oneself with some skills to make them more confident to face challenges.

A rough estimate is 6.0 1. the introduction could state your opinion about which side is stronger 2. 1. the conclusion MUST state your opinion about which side is stronger 3. don’t start sentences with conjunctions like “so”; So one should prepare oneself with some skills to make them more confident to face challenges.

I have an editing service here: https://www.ieltsanswers.com/writing-correction-ielts.html

Hi Mike, Thanks for your struglles. I just want to start ielts academic task 2. Kindly tell me where should I start it from ?

https://www.ieltsanswers.com/writing-ielts.html

In the first paragraph of your sample essay you have written about the other side of the argument; saying,

“…. . Therefore, if people only learn using machines they will lose the opportunity to learn important social skills and values.”

How is this idea matches to the topic here. how does it affects the cohesion? is it only appropriate here because of your unfavorable opinion (i.e. somewhat agree) ?

If you have completely agreed with the “teachers are a must” idea, would writing this sentence in the body paragraph would reduce the cohesion?

for example:

When it comes to planning and constructing new buildings in large towns, it usually carried out in two ways. Mainly, either by the government of a given city proposes a plan for the structure according to the city’s plan or an investor chooses the design for their buildings. This essay discusses both views and supports the idea that authorities should carry out the planning.

The design of a building includes its structural as well as cosmetic values. When investors employ designers to design a building, they usually hire the best in their field who have lots of experience and unique ideas. These designers can create strong structures while it gives iconic value to the city. For instance, Tokyo Skytree not only a popular tourist attraction but also a strategically placed communication tower. If authorities override this flaw and use their designers, every building may seem similar, creating a boring town.

If you take the last sentence of above paragraph, it is somewhat related to the approach you took in this essay. is this ok?

It’s incredibly difficult to try and establish what it is you’re trying to ask me but I will attempt to answer your questions below.

1. “…. . Therefore, if people only learn using machines they will lose the opportunity to learn important social skills and values. This sentence is providing contrast. It’s supporting the need for teachers by explaining what happens if teachers aren’t used. This has nothing to do with whether my opinion is somewhat agree or totally agree. This paragraph is about why I agree teachers are necessary and this point is supporting the reason why I agree. It’s the third body paragraph that deals with why I disagree…. In order to support my stated overall opinion in the introduction that I somewhat agree 2. “If you have completely agreed with the “teachers are a must” idea, would writing this sentence in the body paragraph would reduce the cohesion?” No. I really think you have misunderstood something. 3. “If you take the last sentence of above paragraph, it is somewhat related to the approach you took in this essay. is this ok?” Oh gosh it is just too difficult try and understand what you trying to ask me here… I really don’t know what approach you referring to in this sentence and whether or not your last sentence fits with this or not.

your introduction says,

Introduction

Some people believe [rephrase topic]

I totally agree/disagree with this opinion because [reason 1 + reason 2]

But I don’t see any of your introductions for opinion essays have reasons in the introduction.

For example,

“Technology is being used increasingly in the classroom and some people believe that educators will become redundant. I somewhat disagree that teachers will be replaced by machines.”

1) Rephrase the question 2) Just the opinion

What is the correct form here?

Both ways are correct. It’s better to include the reasons… If you look at some of my more recent essays these are all written this way… You can see an example on this page: https://www.ieltsanswers.com/cambridge-ielts-14-writing-test-essay-task-2/

in your model answer I noticed that you wrote a new idea in your conclusion, that you did not mention any thing about it in body paragraph (However, computers do offer the ability for people to learn anywhere at any time.)

I feel it is not perfect to mention something for the first time in conclusion. Thanks

I am paraphrasing what I wrote in paragraph 4. Any time is mentioned, any place is kind of inferred, but arguably not enough.

Hi Mike i have been watching your videos and they are really helpful. Can you tell me what band score this essay will get. Much thanks!

some people say that in order for a hobby to be enjoyable, it must be hard in some way. do you agree or disagree?

Whether or not a hobby should be tougher is a debatable topic.It is often argued by some people that for a pastime to be amusing, it must be hard in one way or the other. I entirely disagree with this notion, as a hard hobby is likely to be given up and it may put added stress on the person. The main reason why I believe this is that people might be fed up with their hobby if it is tough. It is because people may not be able to go any further at some stage of its pursuit and hence, they may give it up altogether. Consider someone who tends to like solving puzzles in his free time. If he is not able to solve a difficult one, he will get annoyed at being stuck. After failing several times, he may lose interest in it and consequently may not try it again.

Another reason is that complicated hobbies may be additional stress on an individual. Hobbies are meant to be fun and stress-relievers. However, if they are demanding, they may superimpose on the pressure a person already has. For instance, consider someone whose work requires physical work and chooses gardening as a source of pleasure. Although it may please him, he might not be able to pursue it for an adequate time as it will tire him up.

It can be concluded: some people argue that only sophisticated hobbies can be fun. However, I believe that a rather simple one is better as compared to complex one as they may end up being boring and putting more stress on the pursuer.

Whether or not a hobby should be [tougher] TOUGH

This is probably going to be 6.5 overall due to a low score for task response. The problem with the task response is that you have focused on the opposite of what you’re supposed to be doing. You have explained why difficult hobbies won’t be enjoyable… But you’re supposed to be arguing why hobbies have to be easy to be enjoyable. Sorry but it’s not the same thing! All you need to do to get this essay to band seven or above is reshaped the way you’ve presented your ideas. 1. hobbies should be easy so that people will want to keep doing them [instead discussing quitting difficult hobbies] 2. hobbies should be easy so that they are stress relieving [instead of difficult hobbies are stressful]

Greetings Sir! i have just started watching your videos and they are really helpful. I ll highly appreciate if you can give a and score of this essay. Thanks in anticipation.

Some people think that women should not be allowed to work in police force.Do you agree or disagree?

It is often argued by some that females should not be employed by the department of police. I entirely disagree with this notion as not only hiring women as police officers will lead to gender equality, but it will also be suitable in some situations.

The main reason why i believe this is, if ladies work in the department of security, it will be a significant step towards ending gender discrimination. People tend to claim that the counterpart of men is weak and easily overpowered and hence should not be employed for such demanding jobs. However, by working in an organization that demands agility and physicality, ladies will have a chance to prove them wrong. These officers can serve as role models, and it may influence other departments to change their policy of hiring males only.

Another reason why women may be employed in the police force is their suitability for specific tasks and circumstances. Some aspects of police’s work might require dealing with compassion and politely. Women can serve this purpose well as opposed to their more stringent counterparts. For instance, police officers at the airport security-checks need to behave well with the passengers. As females are relatively more friendly, people like them to be performing these sort of jobs rather than males. Based on their suitability for the work, women should be given priority in such cases.

It can be concluded that some people tend to argue that only males should be working in the police department. However, I would suggest that females should be hired as well because this would promote their fundamental right to equality, and they fit specific areas of the job better.

band 8 1. start your final paragraph with “in conclusion” 2.leave out what other people might believe in your conclusion

Due to the increase in usage of computing technology in the teaching domain, there may not be any need of teachers for schooling in the future. I somewhat disagree with this notion as teachers can influence the students and are always needed in some cases; however, computers are cheap and convenient.

The main reason why teachers are essential is that they can serve as role models for their pupils. Students are often impressionable and can be impressed by the good qualities of their teachers. For example, if a teacher maintains cleanliness, students will do that too. Thus, teachers can offer more than just formal education by influencing children to do good. Another reason is that some situations demand educators instead of computers. Consider teaching students with disabilities who need to be handled with care and are unable to use machines. As machines may only use specified ways to teach, they can not adapt to the requirements of the learner. Therefore, teachers are better able to cater to the needs of disabled pupils in particular.

On the contrary, computers can be helpful in education as they are economical. It can save people from extra dues like commuting to schools and school fees. Additionally, they make the process of learning easy. Not only we can study at the comfort of our homes, but also we can study at any time of the day.

It can be concluded that computers are easy to use and budget-friendly, whereas teachers can serve as ideals and fulfill the demands of their students. That is why tutors would still be needed even in the presence of the technology.

You say you somewhat disagree but then you do not really provide any reasons to not disagree. You give advantages of computers, which seems like a reason to not agree but these advantages are not reasons to not have teachers. So really you have totally disagreed. For somewhat disagree you need to say a situation where we do not need teachers. For instance, “Adults don’t need teachers because they don’t need teachers to serve as role models or to monitor their behaviour”

Safer and easier to just totally agree/disagree!

What would be the overall band score for this ? Thank you so much for valuable information.

For the essay, I wrote on this page? Band 9. Why would I bother to write something less!

Why you not use in introductions this sentence (in this essay iwill discuss my opinion and will give examples) during give your opinion

That is OK, but I think it is better to say what your opinion is and why: EXAMPLE “I totally disagree because it is cheaper and more convenient”

Hi, Mike. thanks for the video. i have a question. in this type of opinion essay – “‘to what extent do you agree or disagree”, i thought is 50-50 essay where you give like 2 points to agree and 2 points to disagree with the question. Also, do you need to totally agree in this type of opinion essay or you somewhat or partly agree?

The word extent is a key here. Extent means how much. You have been asked how much you agree or disagree. It could be totally agree, strongly agree, somewhat agree…. And the same for disagreeing. it’s important that your opinion matches what you write in the body of the essay. If you totally agree then you are only going to be writing about agreeing. if you somewhat agree then you going to be giving reasons for agreeing and disagreeing.

Hi, Mike. What is the grade for the essay answer you’ve provided on this page?

I provided you with a model answer… the shouldn’t be any problems with it and therefore it should be getting 9.

Hi Mike. Is there an template which we can follow like the one given in both sided essay ? and Thank you for such helpful videos and tips

Template for what? for other types of essays? please see these links on how to write the other kinds of essays: https://www.ieltsanswers.com/ielts-opinion-essay.html https://www.ieltsanswers.com/two-question-essay.html

Hi mike, i bought your book task 2. Something it`s still not clear for me. It is how can I play the next question. I`m struggling with what its the right structure for. Some museums and art galleries charge admission fees, while others have free entry. What are the reasons? Do you think the advantages of free admission outweigh the disadvantages?

it is a two question essay so you should use the following structure: introduction question one: reasons question two: whether you think the advantages of free admission outweigh the disadvantages conclusion

I have a query , in essay planning it was mentioned that we need to give examples but in the above essay I am unable to figure out the example in the body paragraphs.

Hi, You do not have to give examples in your essays. You are allowed to, and when you do it they should clearly illustrate the point you are making. In fact, previously IELTS writing tasks in the real test had the words “give examples from your own experience” and this is now removed. The reason for this removal is to avoid suggesting that examples must be given.

Hi, thank you for posting task2 essay. I have a question on the essay above. In the last sentence of the last paragraph, you used ‘Although’. I was wondering,should it be ‘however’?

Yes, I agree with you. Well spotted. I am changing this right now.

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About Mike I’m Mike Wattie from Australia. I have been teaching IELTS for over 20 years in Asia and Australia.

I have written IELTS books and this enables me to be an effective tutor. This is because I understand the main problems that students have taking the test and also the ways to overcome them.

Maybe you would like me to teach you the necessary skills and strategies to pass your test.

IELTS is a registered trademark of University of Cambridge ESOL, the British Council, and IDP Education Australia and they jointly manage the IELTS test. This website is for test preparation only and has nothing to do with the administration of IELTS tests This website is not affiliated, approved or endorsed by the University of Cambridge ESOL, the British Council, and IDP Education Australia.

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Simple ways to write support sentences in ielts writing task 2.

The structure of the IELTS Writing Task 2 essay consists of three main parts: the introduction, the body paragraphs, and the conclusion. To excel in the body paragraphs of the Writing Task 2 essay, it is essential to rely on the support of supporting sentences. What are support sentences in IELTS Writing Task 2? Are there any effective and accurate ways to write support sentences to help you score high in the IELTS Writing Task 2? To help preppies effectively prepare for the IELTS exam at home, in this article, PREP will share seven ways to write support sentences. Enhance your vocabulary and master accurate sentence structures to achieve a high band score!

1. The structure of the essay in IELTS Writing Task 2

2. what are support sentences in ielts writing task 2, 1. aa helps/causes bb to do something (cause-effect relationship), 2. aa provides/brings something to bb (cause-effect relationship), 3. aa participates in something, 4. aa plays an important role in something, 5. aa is related to something (cause-effect relationship), 6. aa stimulates/helps bb to develop (cause-effect relationship), 7. aa benefits/assists bb, i. support sentences in ielts writing task 2.

Introduction:

• General Statement
• Thesis statement
• Topic Sentence
• Support Sentence

Support Sentences act as supplementary explanations or elaborations for the Topic Sentence. Their purpose is to reinforce the central idea introduced in the topic while providing additional context or evidence. Essentially, they function as supportive pillars, fortifying the main argument with relevant details, examples, or logical reasoning. By offering these additional layers of information, Support Sentences contribute to the coherence and persuasiveness of the overall argument. They play a vital role in elucidating complex topics and ensuring a comprehensive understanding for both the writer and the reader.

II. 7 Ways to Write Support Sentences in IELTS Writing Task 2

Here are seven advanced ways to write Support Sentences in IELTS Writing Task 2 that you should refer to and apply in the IELTS exam. Once you understand these sentence patterns, you will definitely save a lot of time in completing the test successfully. Check out the following seven sentence patterns:

Writing Support Sentences in this pattern is extremely important because it serves as the foundation for all IELTS Writing topics, demonstrating why AA is necessary and beneficial. Providing clear examples to illustrate this relationship strengthens the argument and enhances the overall coherence of your essay.

This structure is extremely important because it is the foundation for all Writing assignments when writing to demonstrate why AA is necessary and beneficial.

This structure often employs the following structures:

• Enable somebody to do something
• Help somebody do something
• Allow somebody to do something
• Allow doing something
• Encourage somebody to do something
• Incentivize somebody to do something
• Be entitled to something/do something (be allowed to do)
• Entitle somebody to do something

This pattern of writing Support Sentences applies to all types of ideas, aiming to demonstrate the positive effects and benefits of something. It's essential to delve deeper into the specifics of how AA contributes to BB, providing concrete evidence to support your claims and reinforce the validity of your argument.

This structure applies to any idea you want to demonstrate the goodness and effectiveness of something.

• Provide somebody with something
• Provide something to somebody
• The provision of
• Supply something to somebody
• Supply somebody with something
• The supply of
• Equip somebody with something
• Offer somebody something

We should apply this sentence pattern to topics related to extracurricular activities, laws, or any specific activity. By highlighting the active involvement of AA in a particular endeavor, you can emphasize its significance and underscore its impact on the broader context.

This structure applies to topics about extracurricular participation, laws, or any kind of activities.

• Be/get involved/engaged in something
• Engage in something
• Engagement in something
• Participate in something
• Participation in something

This pattern of writing Support Sentences is primarily applied when you explain why those things are crucial. Expanding upon the multifaceted roles that AA plays within a given context helps to elucidate its importance and justify its inclusion in the discussion.

This structure applies when writing to explain why something is necessary.

• AA plays a pivotal/important/major role in something
• AA is instrumental in doing something
• AA is vital to/for something
• AA is given (more) importance
• AA is crucial for/to something

This sentence pattern is used when the candidate wants to express that AA is associated with or linked to positive things. Providing clear examples and elaborating on the nature of this relationship strengthens the argument and enhances the persuasiveness of the essay.

This structure applies when you want to express how AA is relevant and accompanied by good things.

• AA is associated with BB
• There is a strong link/connection, correlation between AA and BB
• AA is linked to BB
• (passsive) AA is correlated with BB
• (active) AA correlates with BB

This sixth pattern of writing Support Sentences is suitable if the candidate wants to express some highly positive impacts of a certain issue. Providing concrete examples and illustrating the transformative effects of AA on BB reinforces the argument and bolsters the overall coherence of the essay.

This structure applies when you want to express the positive impact of an issue.

• Incentivize

This sentence pattern is used when you want to express highly positive effects on a particular issue. Offering detailed explanations and providing empirical evidence to support these claims enhances the credibility of the argument and strengthens the overall persuasiveness of the essay.

• AA is beneficial to BB
• AA benefits BB = BB benefits from AA
• AA brings benefits to BB
• AA deprives benefits from BB
• AA has a positive impact on BB
• AA has beneficial influence on BB
• AA is of benefit to BB

By incorporating these extended explanations and providing detailed examples, you can further enhance the depth and sophistication of your essays, ensuring a comprehensive analysis of various topics in the IELTS Writing Task 2.

After reading the above article, have you acquired the essential skills for crafting Support Sentences in IELTS Writing Task 2? PREP aims to assist you in attaining a high score in the IELTS Writing Task 2 through this valuable insight, which you can utilize during self-study sessions at home.

See more articles:

• How to Write a Topic Sentence in IELTS Writing Task 2!
• Formula for compacting the Introduction IELTS Writing Task 2

Moreover, if you're curious about your current IELTS Writing band score or if you've written numerous essays but are unsure of your strengths and weaknesses, consider enrolling in PREP's IELTS course. Here, you'll benefit from AI-assisted essay grading coupled with feedback from seasoned instructors at PREP.

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