how to write essay to what extent do you agree

• September 29, 2021

IELTS Writing Task 2: To what extent do you agree or disagree?

In this type of question, you are presented with an opinion and then asked to agree or disagree. Also, the phrase “to what extent” makes this type of question flexible, meaning that you can also have a balanced opinion.

In this article, I’m going to go through an example and write a high-scoring sample. I will walk you through all the steps so that you can develop a well-written essay too. The question is from IELTS past papers.

Here’s the essay question we’re going to work on:

Prevention is better than cure. Researching and treating diseases is too costly, so it would be better to invest in preventive measures. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

You can develop your essay in three ways. Depending on the question, choose the one that you’re most comfortable with. Keep in mind that your argument should be reasonable and examples specific.

Option 1: You completely agree with the opinion.

Medical research and treatment can be very expensive. Therefore, I completely agree that governments and medical organizations should focus on preventive healthcare instead.

Body Paragraph 1:

Explain why you think investing in research and treatment is not a good idea. 

Body paragraph 2: 

Explain why focusing on preventive measures is better. What are the benefits?

Conclusion:

Summarize your points in one complex sentence or two sentences.

Option 2: You completely disagree with the opinion.

It is argued that medical research and treatment are too expensive; therefore, preventive measures should be the focus of governments and medical organizations instead. I completely disagree with this idea and believe that allocating enough funds to the former is vital to save lives.

Explain why you disagree with the idea. What adverse effects might that bring about?

Body paragraph 2:

Explain why you believe enough funds should be allocated to research and treatment. What are the benefits?

Option 3: You take a balanced approach.

It is argued that preventive healthcare should be the main focus of the healthcare system instead of medical research and treatment due to the latter being too expensive. While I agree that preventive measures are necessary to stop diseases from spreading and lower healthcare expenditure, I also believe that allocating financial resources to research and treatment should continue despite their high costs. 

For this question, I’ve chosen option 3 because it makes the most sense to me. However, you can go with the other options. No problem!

Step 1: As always, you should start with spending 2 minutes reading and understanding the question . Once you have fully understood what the question asks of you, you can move on to the next step.

Step 2: Now, it’s time for you to plan your whole essay. If you do this part properly, you will save time and produce a better and cohesive essay. This step should take about 8 minutes .

Here’s my plan:

Note: You may not understand some parts of my plan until you’ve read my full essay. That’s because my planning is my thinking process written fast using signs. It’s just to remind me what to write in my essay. I have included it just to show you how you can plan. You can also make yours even shorter by using more signs of your own.

Introduction: Paraphrase the question + your thesis statement

Paraphrase: It is argued that……main focus…. due to…. too expensive

Thesis statement: While I agree that….necessary, I also believe that ….. continue despite…

Body paragraph 1: Why I believe preventive measures are necessary.

Main idea: Taking precautions reduces the spending on healthcare by keeping people’s wellness under control and preventing diseases before they occur.

Support 1: 

Example: vaccines create antibodies in healthy people→ no severe cases→hospital admissions decrease→costs go down

Support 2: 

Other measures: exercising and keeping weight in check→ lower the chance of chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, which… lifetime + expensive medications

… is definitely effective in lowering costs…

Body paragraph 2: Why I believe the funding for research and treatment should continue despite the high costs.

Main idea: Effective preventive measures wouldn’t exist without proper research. + treatment addresses a specific disease or problem that prevention can’t completely eliminate.

Support 1 : Highly effective vaccines are developed after intense research on the virus or the bacteria.

Example: Pfizer, a private biopharmaceutical company, spend millions of dollars and several months on developing the most effective Covid-19 vaccines→no research funds, no vaccines.

Support 2 : Preventive measures cannot address hereditary diseases like type 1 diabetes. No amount of exercise can keep people ….. The only way … right medicines, which can be expensive. → Treatment … expensive but vital.

Conclusion : Prevention is an effective way to keep people healthy and the costs down; however, research and treatment not only… necessary… but also irreplaceable.

Step 3: Write your full essay. This step should take about 25 minutes .

Here’s my full essay:

On the one hand, taking precautions will reduce the spending on healthcare by keeping people’s wellness under control and preventing diseases before they occur. For instance, vaccines, one of the most used such measures, trigger the production of disease-fighting antibodies by the immune system and result in lower severe cases of illnesses and hospitalization, thus reducing the spending on healthcare. Other preventive methods also effectively lower the chance of chronic diseases such as type-2 diabetes, which are usually caused by a sedentary lifestyle and obesity. Simply put, if people exercise regularly and keep their weight in check, they will have much fewer health issues and consequently lower the expenditure on healthcare. Therefore, I believe that prevention brings nothing but benefits to people and the healthcare system.

On the other hand, some effective preventive measures wouldn’t exist without proper research. In addition, treatment sometimes addresses specific diseases or problems that prevention can’t eliminate. For example, a highly effective vaccine such as that of Pfizer, which was developed for Covid-19, takes a lot of research and millions of dollars worth of production equipment to be developed and finally available for public use. Furthermore, preventive healthcare cannot address hereditary diseases like type-1 diabetes. Such illnesses can only be treated with expensive medications. Therefore, I firmly believe that it is worth funding research and treatment projects.

In conclusion, prevention is an effective way of keeping people healthy and the costs down; however, research and treatment are not only needed to develop effective preventive measures but also vital for some people.

(314 words)

Step 4: Spend about 5 minutes to read your work and correct your mistakes.

Here’s the summary:

• Spend 2 minutes to understand the task completely.
• Spend 8 minutes planning your essay.
• Spend 25 minutes writing your essay.
• Spend 5 minutes to read your work and correct your mistakes.

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How to write an agree/disagree essay for IELTS Writing Task 2

Date Published

01 February 2023

• This article was first published on WeLoveIELTS.org (this website is now closed)

Knowing how to write an agree or disagree essay is very important because if you get this type of task question in the test and you don't know how to approach it, you might not get a very high score. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

An agree/disagree question is very similar to the one above. Let’s look at two typical agree/disagree essay questions:

• Some people believe that nowadays we have too many choices. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
• Living in a country where you have to speak a foreign language can cause serious social problems as well as practical problems. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Can you see how these are similar to my question at the beginning? Both include a statement (= a sentence expressing an opinion) and ask you to what extent (= how much) you agree or disagree with it.

OK, so what are you going to do first? Start writing? Absolutely not .

After you’ve carefully read the task question and understood the topic, the first thing to do is to ask yourself to what extent you agree or disagree with the statement. There are three possible cases:

• You agree completely
• You disagree completely
• You partially agree (which means you also partially disagree)

Next, ask yourself: ‘ Why do I think that?’ This is a very useful question because by answering it you will start generating ideas that you will then include in your essay.

How many ideas should you come up with? In all three cases the secret is that less is more, so I recommend having no more than four in total.

Let’s have a look at an example from Cambridge IELTS 11:

• Governments should spend money on railways rather than roads. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

I’ve read the question and now I’m going to make some notes before I start writing. Here are my notes:

Partially agree - Both needs funding Why?

• Safety reasons
• Taxpayers expect government investment in both

Two main ideas. Now we have some direction and know where we are going with our essay. Should you now start writing? Not yet. You’ll need to develop these ideas, and the best way to do this is to give explanations, details, reasons and examples. Let’s add these to the notes.

• Safety reasons - Both roads and trains are widely used / all ages / need to be kept in good condition / if not, risk of crashes / example: Ponte Morandi collapse 2018 – Italy / lots of casualties / could have been avoided with more funding - maintenance / Trains are crowded at rush hour -> a railroad accident might be a terrible tragedy
• Taxpayers expect government investment in both - governments need to provide good services / citizens pay tax for this / example: train commuters pay to have efficient trains / if not – disruptions - late for work / same is true for road users / example: opening a new highway -> less traffic

Notice that I didn’t write full sentences but notes. Keep your full sentences for the essay! If you don’t do this brainstorming exercise before you start writing, the risk is that you’ll write whatever comes to your mind, and your essay will probably be confusing to read.

Top Tip: Think of how you’re going to structure your text. Keep life simple and always aim at four paragraphs: introduction, two body paragraphs and conclusion.

Introduction

Two sentences are enough here. In the first sentence you should paraphrase the task question. In the second sentence say if you (partially) agree/disagree so you immediately let the reader know what you think.

Two main paragraphs

Why these paragraphs? A paragraph contains ideas about a single subject and using them will make your essay organised, structured and easy to read. When writing an agree/disagree essay there are, again, three possible options:

• You completely agree - First paragraph: reasons why you agree. 2nd paragraph: other reasons why you agree.
• You completely disagree - First paragraph: reasons why you disagree. 2nd paragraph: other reasons why you disagree.
• You partially agree - First paragraph: reasons why you agree. 2nd paragraph: reasons why you disagree.

Remember: it’s much better to have few well-developed ideas than a lot of poorly developed ones , so when you write the paragraphs make sure to give reasons, examples and details. All these must be relevant to the reason you agree/disagree.

Again, keep life simple and write one or two sentences only. You should briefly repeat and summarise your answer to the question. Don’t introduce information that you didn’t mention in your paragraphs before. We need a conclusion to conclude right? So, don’t introduce other reasons or topics at the end of your text.

• Read the topic of the question and make sure you understand it
• Ask yourself if you agree or not with the statement in the question
• Brainstorm ideas before you start righting
• State your opinion in the introduction
• Use four paragraphs
• Logically organise the main paragraphs (for example, one for reasons why you agree and the other for reasons why you disagree)
• Extend and develop your ideas with reasons, examples and explanations
• Write a short conclusion.
• Start writing immediately
• Include too many different ideas. Less is more!
• Introduce more information in the conclusion.

Hope this helps you with your writing. Good luck!

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• Task 2 (essay)

IELTS agree or disagree essay - band 9 guide

This is a band 9 guide to writing agree/disagree essays in IELTS Writing. Agree or disagree essay questions are very common for IELTS Writing task 2 . This type of questions asks you to say whether you agree or disagree with a given statement and justify your opinion .

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

• how to choose an opinion for agree/disagree question
• how to generate ideas
• how to give a band 9 answer for agree/disagree question

IELTS agree/disagree question sample

Let’s look at an example of IELTS writing task 2:

Big salary is much more important than job satisfaction.

Do you agree or disagree?

Provide relevant examples if necessary.

This is a classic example of agree or disagree question that you may get on IELTS Writing task 2.

You can watch our video tutorial on how to tackle agree/disagree questions in IELTS Writing:

Choose your opinion & generate ideas

Agree or disagree question asks you to clearly determine whether you agree or disagree with the statement. Unlike questions that ask you to what extent do you agree or disagree , this question asks you to have a super-clear opinion. After you’ve decided your opinion, generate 2-3 supporting points for it .

For the task above you have two possible options:

• You fully agree that big salary is more important than job satisfaction
• You completely disagree that big salary is more important than job satisfaction

 Now let’s generate supporting points for each of the opinions:

• Big salary is more important
• Having a job with a high salary makes people feel satisfied no matter what kind of job they do
• Money is essential for survival and good living
• Job satisfaction is more important
• Job satisfaction gives you a sense of fulfillment
• Doing what you like keeps you motivated and therefore leads to a career growth
• Money can’t buy happiness and it’s more pleasant to pursue what you’re interested in

For our essay, we’ll choose the second opinion.

Band 9 answer structure

After you’ve decided whether you agree or disagree and generated your supporting points, it’s time to start writing your essay.

There are a lot of ways to structure your essay, but we’ll use a structure that has been approved by many IELTS examiners to be high-scoring and coherent.

Band-9 essay structure :

Introduction

Body paragraph 1 - the 1st reason you agree/disagree

Body paragraph 2 - the 2nd reason you agree/disagree

Let’s take a look at each of these sections in detail.

Write your introduction in two sentences:

It is often argued that it is more advantageous to choose a job with high wage, even if it doesn't appeal to you at all.

I completely disagree with this opinion and think that job satisfaction is much more important than salary.

• Sentence 1 - state the first reason you agree/disagree .

First of all, I believe that job satisfaction gives people a sense of fulfillment that no money can guarantee.

To explain the reason effectively, you can imagine that your examiner has no knowledge of this subject at all and you have to explain every detail:

Even if someone is earning a high salary, but feels tensed and compromises with his conscience, this person won’t enjoy his life. While pursuing one’s interests will always bring pleasure and feeling of satisfaction.

For example, a lot of famous researchers made their career choices not because of appealing wages, but because they were passionate about science.

That’s why it’s more important to choose the kind of work that makes you happy than to look only at a high salary.

Secondly, doing what you like keeps you motivated and therefore leads to a career growth.

In other words, there is a strong relation between job satisfaction and productivity. People who love their jobs can easily excel in their fields of work and achieve better results than those, who put salary on the first place.

• Sentence 4 - support your idea with an example :

For instance, Henry Miller decided to leave his everyday job despite a good wage and ventured to become a writer. And after enduring years of ups and downs he became one of the most famous and well-paid authors of the twentieth century.

Thus, advantages of jobs that keep you satisfied outweigh the drawback of a low salary in a long-term perspective.

You can write the conclusion in one sentence that summarizes your opinion + 2 reasons for it :

To conclude, I strongly believe that job satisfaction is more beneficial than high salary because it makes people happy and motivated.

DO NOT write new ideas in the conclusion!

IELTS agree/disagree model answer

This is a full band-9 answer for IELTS agree or disagree question above:

It is often argued that it is more advantageous to choose a job with high wage, even if it doesn't appeal to you at all. I completely disagree with this opinion and think that job satisfaction is much more important than salary.

First of all, I believe that job satisfaction gives people a sense of fulfillment that no money can guarantee. Even if someone is earning a high salary, but feels tensed and compromises with his conscience, this person won’t enjoy his life. While pursuing one’s interests will always bring pleasure and feeling of satisfaction. For example, a lot of famous researchers made their career choices not because of appealing wages, but because they were passionate about science. That’s why it’s more important to choose the kind of work that makes you happy than to look only at a high salary.

Secondly, doing what you like keeps you motivated and therefore leads to a career growth. In other words, there is a strong relation between job satisfaction and productivity. People who love their jobs can easily excel in their fields of work and achieve better results than those, who put salary on the first place. For instance, Henry Miller decided to leave his everyday job despite a good wage and ventured to become a writer. And after enduring years of ups and downs he became one of the most famous and well-paid authors of the twentieth century. Thus, advantages of jobs that keep you satisfied outweigh the drawback of a low salary in a long-term perspective.

(277 words)

How to write an IELTS thesis statement.

Ielts essay introductions and thesis statements..

updated: July 27th 2022. When writing the introduction of an IELTS essay there are two steps that need to be taken. Paraphrase the task question and write a Thesis Statement . If the question asks for an opinion then it must be in the thesis statement. It depends on the type of essay you are writing as they are not all the same. It is advisable to write a thesis in the introduction for every type of essay. A good thesis statement can help you get a good band score in task response in the writing section.

The thesis statement tells the examiner what the essay is going to be about and the conclusion of the essay paraphrases the thesis statement. Some teachers have other views and say that a thesis statement is not needed. There are different approaches to writing an IELTS essay. If you have 10 IELTS teachers in a room there will most likely be 10 different opinions on the matter.

In my opinion, a thesis statement is logical and shows the reader what to expect in the rest of the essay. However, do not confuse Thesis statements with memorised outline sentences. See this link here about that.

What exactly is a thesis statement?

‘A thesis statement tells the reader what your essay is going to be about in one or two sentences. It usually includes your opinion or states your position’

• Don’t use rhetorical questions in the thesis. The thesis statement is not a question.
• Make it clear what you are going to write about briefly (1 or 2 sentences)
• If it’s an opinion essay, give 2 reasons for your opinion in the thesis statement.
• The thesis statement comes after paraphrasing the question.
• Do not write an outline sentence, these look like a cliche and memorised. Examiners are trained to spot memorised phrases, for instance: ‘ This essay would like to explore reasons for this in more detail’
• Don’t confuse thesis statements with the above outline sentence. Outline sentences are for very long academic essays. See this lesson here on phrases to avoid.

For each essay type this is what should be in the Thesis statement:

1. Opinion essays: write 2 reasons for your opinion. 2. Advantage disadvantage essays:  state the advantage and the disadvantage, 3. Problem solution essays:   briefly state 1 or 2 problems and possible solutions. 4 . Discussion essays: after paraphrasing both sides of the argument, give your opinion with a reason why you hold that view. 5. Two part question essays: answer the 1st question then answer the 2nd question briefly.

First you have to identify what kind of essay it is.

The first step before you begin to write is to make sure you understand the question, then identify what kind of essay this will be. There are 5 variations on an IELTS discursive essay click here to see a lesson on this .

Before you write the thesis statement you will need to paraphrase the question , click here for a lesson on this. Click here to see how to write a good introduction to a Problem Solution essay.

1. Discussion essay.

This is the Paraphrased introduction with a Thesis statement.

A number of people believe serious crimes need to have a set punishment, whereas others argue that the situation of the crime must be considered. I agree that the circumstances of the crime itself should be taken into account because every case is different.

Thesis Statement: ‘ I agree that the circumstances of the crime itself should be taken into account because every case is different’

It is important to give a brief reason for your view, the body paragraphs should expand on this. The examiner can clearly see your position in the introduction. In this essay, my position is that every case is different and a prison sentence would not be appropriate.

Note: For a more academic feel, rather than using a personal pronoun to state your opinion, you could state your position like this below:

This essay agrees that the circumstances of the crime itself should be taken into account because every case is different.

2. Opinon essay.

Again you need to paraphrase the question and then clearly agree or disagree , remember to choose just one side.. the words: ‘To what extent do you agree or disagree’ means how much do you agree/disagree, or how far do you agree/disagree. You should mention the other side of the argument but stick to your own opinion. Balanced essays do not necessarily get a higher band score.

Give 2 reasons for your view in the thesis statement here. This is the Paraphrased introduction with a Thesis statement:

It is argued that society would be better off if every type of advertising was prohibited. I disagree that all advertising should be disallowed as this policy would not benefit society and would negatively impact the economy.

Thesis statement: ‘ I disagree that all advertising should be disallowed as this policy would not benefit societ y and would negatively impact the economy.’

In this thesis statement I have clearly stated why I hold the opinion that advertising should not be banned with 2 reasons (no benefit to society and bad for the economy)  Remember to keep the introduction to under 55 words or it will be too long.

As mentioned before, you can use a more academic way to state your view, such as:

This essay disagrees that all advertising should be disallowed because this policy would not benefit society and would have a negative impact on the economy.

3. Advantages disadvantages essay.

This is the Paraphrased introduction with a Thesis statement:

In recent times, people can reside wherever they want in the world because of the progress that has made in technology and transport. The main advantage is the career opportunities that a person can get outside their own country, while a possible downside would be the stress of adjusting to living in a different culture.

Thesis statement: ‘ The main advantage is the career opportunities that a person can get outside their own country, while a possible downside would be the stress of adjusting to living in a different culture.’

Try keeping the whole introduction under 55 words as you don’t want it to look like a body paragraph. You can write about 2 advantages and 2 disadvantages, but you need to keep the introduction concise.

Another method is to just refer to the advantage and state the disadvantage, such as:

In recent times, people can reside wherever they want in the world because of the progress that has made in technology and transport. Although there are advantages, the downside would be the stress of adjusting to living in a different culture.’

This allows you to keep the thesis statement concise especially if you want to cover two advantages (or disadvantages)

4. Advantages disadvantages outweigh essay (this needs your opinion).

This type of advantage disadvantage essay is special because it asks ‘ Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?’. This means you have to write about what side you think is stronger and reflect that in the essay and also in the thesis statement. You need to state an opinion here.

Some experts argue that children should study a new language at primary school as opposed to secondary school. This essay agrees that the advantages are stronger than the disadvantages because youngsters pick up and master new languages much easier than at a high school age.

Thesis statement: ‘This essay agrees that the advantages are stronger than the disadvantages because youngsters pick up and master new languages much easier than at a high school age .’

I have underlined the reason for my opinion here. Giving a reason for your opinion is important in a thesis statement. The introduction is 44 words long so that will be fine. Remember to also address the other side of the issue in the main body paragraphs, the side you think is weaker.

Another method here is to use this style which is very concise at 32 words but it does not contain a reason for my view.

Some experts argue that youngsters should study a new language at primary school as opposed to secondary school. In my view, the advantages of younger children learning new languages outweigh the disadvantages.

5. Problem solution / causes solution essay.

People living in large cities have to deal with many issues in their day to day lives. The main problems people face are high rental costs and overcrowding. Some possible solutions would be to build more affordable housing and more green spaces.

Thesis statement: ‘ The main problems people face are high rental costs and overcrowding. Some possible solutions would be to build more affordable housing and more green spaces.’

I have listed 2 problems high rents, overcrowding and 2 solutions affordable housing, green spaces . You can choose just one problem and one solution and that would be fine.

6. Two part question (direct question essay).

The world wide web is a huge source of knowledge which has created opportunities for people worldwide to study. However, not all information on the internet can be trusted, so the government needs to put measures in place to protect people from false information.

Thesis statement: ‘ However, not all information on the internet can be trusted, so the government needs to put measures in place to protect people from false information.’

Two part question essays are sometimes called ‘Direct question’ essays. They consist of 2 direct questions in the task question. Sometimes they will ask for your opinion such as: Do you think….?  or   What do you think…?

If the question asks for the opinion then you must state it. You should briefly answer the 2 questions in the thesis statement then give more detail in the body paragraphs.

Check out the blog posts about how to identify the 5 essay types and also how to paraphrase the question . These are key stages before writing your thesis statement. Make sure your whole introduction is under 55 words or it will be too long.

Take a look here at how to write a good introduction in writing task 2. Now you can try.

Here is a Discussion essay question where you have to give your opinion. Can you write a Thesis statement for it?

Some people believe that the best way to deal with heavy traffic in city centres is for privately owned vehicles to be banned, others however think this is not a realistic solution.  Discuss both sides and give your own opinion.

Task question again:

Some people believe that the best way to deal with heavy traffic in city centres is for privately owned vehicles to be banned, others however think this is not a realistic solution. Discuss both sides and give your own opinion.

Paraphrased introduction: Some people argue that prohibiting private cars from city centres is the best way to tackle traffic congestion, whereas others say that this is unrealistic.

Thesis statement: I agree that private vehicles should be banned from city centres and more investment needs to be put into public transportation to alleviate traffic jams.

Full introduction with thesis statement:

Some people argue that prohibiting private cars from city centres is the best way to tackle traffic congestion, whereas others say that this is unrealistic. I agree that private vehicles should be banned from city centres and more investment needs to be put into public transportation to alleviate traffic jams.

Leave a comment below if you have any questions..

2 thoughts on “how to write an ielts thesis statement.”.

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I do the writing corrections

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• IELTS Academic Writing Task 2: Agree or Disagree Essay – Structure and template

One of the FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS of an IELTS essay. “To what extent do you agree or disagree? You can FULLY agree, agree BY HALF, or disagree.

To what extent do you agree or disagree? OR Do you agree or disagree?

For instance: After leaving school or university, young people should choose a job or career that they love, rather than one that pays the best salary. To what extent do you agree with this statement?

Below is an excellent Agreement / Disagree Essay structure.

There are 5 options – choose the one which  suits your ideas:

1) IF YOU AGREE (STRONG POSITION)

1§ Introduction: Paraphrase the Task + My Opinion: I agree that … (2 SENTENCES!)

2§ The first reason why I agree + Explanation + Example

3§ The second reason why I agree+ Explanation + Example OR result

4§ Conclusion: sum up the reasons + My Opinion: I agree ... (PARAPHRASE THE INTRO) (2 SENTENCES!)

2) IF YOU AGREE (BALANCED POSITION)

3§ The second reason why I agree + Explanation + Example OR result

4§ On the other hand, + why people disagree? + Explanation + Example

5§ Conclusion: sum up the reasons + My Opinion: I agree … (PARAPHRASE THE INTRO) (2 SENTENCES!)

3) IF YOU DISAGREE (STRONG POSITION)

1§ Introduction: Paraphrase the Task + My Opinion: I disagree that … (2 SENTENCES!!)

2§ The first reason why I disagree + Explanation + Example

3§ The second reason why I disagree + Explanation + Example OR result

5§ Conclusion: sum up the reasons + My Opinion: I disagree (PARAPHRASE THE INTRO) (2 SENTENCES!)

4) IF YOU DISAGREE (BALANCED POSITION)

1§ Introduction: Paraphrase the Task + My Opinion: I disagree that …(2 SENTENCES!!)

4§ On the other hand, + why people agree? + Explanation + Example

5) IF YOU AGREE AND DISAGREE AT THE SAME TIME

1§ Introduction: Paraphrase the Task + My Balanced Opinion: I accept that … , but I disagree that…(2 SENTENCES!)

2§: What I agree with +The reason(s) why I agree + Explanation + Example

3§ What I disagree with +The reason(s) why I disagree + Explanation + Example OR result

4§ Conclusion: Sum up + My Opinion: why I agree and disagree (2 -3 SENTENCES!)

Some IELTS examiners may prefer, when after your point of view, you also give the opposite - option 2) and 4). Here you will definitely write 250 words and will satisfy the examiner by stating different positions. Your point in the first and last paragraph should be as clear as a daylight. Choose a structure to suit your ideas and topic + what is easier to write personally for you. All 5 options are good. The best are 2 and 4.

How to master IELTS Writing: Task 1 & Task 2

• How to write an answer to ANY type of Essay task
• How to write an answer to ANY type of Graph task
• How to structure your answer
• What to write in each paragraph
• What grammar to use
• How to link your ideas
• What vocabulary to use
• What you should write to get a high score

Bonus: IELTS Punctuation PDF Guide Everything you want to know to have correct punctuation in your IELTS Writing for 7.0-9.0 Score (31 pages, .PDF)

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IELTS Task 2 Question Types: Opinion Essays (Agree or Disagree)

by Dave | Understanding Task 2 Writing | 13 Comments

Here I have collected actual IELTS opinion essays (agree or disagree question) from the last several years – enjoy learning about this task type!

Enjoy and consider signing up for my Patreon Ebooks here .

More and more people are becoming seriously overweight. Some people think a solution can be to increase the price of fattening foods.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

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It is important for everyone, including young people, to save money for their future.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Read my essay here.

The working week should be shorter and workers should have a longer weekend.

Do you agree or disagree?

Sports play a significant role in promoting physical and mental well-being.

Read the full EBook on Patreon.

Some people feel that the private lives of celebrities should not be openly shared by the media.

Individual greed and selfishness have been the basis of modern society. Some people think that we must return to older more traditional values such as respect for the and the local community in order to create a better world to live in.

Everybody should donate a fixed amount of their income to support charity.

In today’s digital age, anyone with a smartphone can capture and share photographs. this accessibility to photography diminishes the value of professional photographers.

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The demand for coaching services has grown significantly in the digital age, with online coaching platforms becoming prevalent. Some now feel online coaching is a superior option to in-person coach.

Read my EBook essay here.

Financial education should be included as a mandatory subject in schools to prepare students for managing money effectively.

Read my essay here on Patreon.

Some people think that certain old buildings are more worth preserving than other ones.

Some argue that music mainly serves as a way for individuals to reduce their stress and anxiety.

Schools should focus on academic success and passing examinations. Skills such as cookery, dressmaking and woodworking should not be taught at school as it is better to learn these from family.

To that extent do you agree or disagree?

Virtual reality be used as a tool for therapeutic interventions and mental health treatments.

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Schools should use films, computers and games instead of books.

Some people think eating meat is bad for health. 

Friendships that take place online are not as meaningful as those where people meet each other face to face. 

The best way to reduce poverty in developing countries is by giving up to six years of free education, so that they can at least read, write and use numbers.

Some feel that governments should prioritize healthcare instead of other important areas.

To what extent do you agree or disagree

The most important aim of science ought to be to improve people’s lives.

Always telling the truth is the most important consideration in any relationship between people.

Read my essay on Patreon.

Many today feel that attention spans are becoming shorter due to the prevalence of social media.

Some feel that students should not have to take standardized tests in school.

My EBook is on Patreon.

Some feel that movies and tv shows are a good way to study history despite their lack of historical accuracy at times.

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Some believe that new science related to criminal forensics should be used to look at old cases.

Some people think that social networking sites have a huge negative impact on both individuals and society.

Some people say that to prevent illness and disease, governments should focus more on reducing environmental pollution and housing problems.

Doing an enjoyable activity with a child can is better for their overall skills development and creativity than reading.

To what extent do you agree?

Learning at university would be more ffective if men and women were educated separetely.

Some people today have argued that countries should interfere less in the affairs of other nations.

Nowadays, distance-learning programs have gained in popularity, but some people argue that online courses can never be taken as good as those taken at a college or university in person.

People living in the 21st century have a better life quality than people who lived in previous times.

Young people committing crimes should be treated the same as adults by the authorities. 

Although it is generally illegal, physical punishment continues in many countries. Some argue that parents should have the right to punish their children in this way.

Shops should not be allowed to sell any food or drinks that have been scientifically proven to be bad for people’s health.

The best way to make the road transport of goods safer is to ask drivers to take a driving test each year.

Prison is the common way most countries try to solve the problem of crime. However, a more effective solution is to provide the public a better education.

Some people claim that not enough waste from homes is recycled and that the only way to increase recycling is for governments to make it a legal requirement.

In marriages today, some argue that it is the responsibility of both spouses to earn a living for the family.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?  

Read my sample essay here.

Companies should provide sports facilities for local communities.

The best curriculum is not one based on a static body of knowledge but one which teaches student to cope with change.

Some people claim that too much focus and resources have been spent to protect wild animals and birds.

Educating young people is naturally important. However, some think governments ught to invest more education for adults in need.

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Some people believe that engaging in an active pastime does more to develop childrens’ life skills than time spent reading.

Some experts say for road safety cyclists should pass a test before being allowed on public roads.

Some people believe that violent media directly results in violent behavior.

My essay for this topic is only available as an Ebook on Patreon here.

Today, many young people spend too much of their free time at shopping malls. This can considered negative for young people and society generally.

Some people think the main purpose of school is to turn children into good citizens and workers, rather than to benefit them as individuals.

In many countries, children are becoming overweight and unhealthy. Some people think that the government has the responsibility to solve this problem.

Many young people today spend too much time following the latest fashion trends in areas such as clothing and technology.

Some believe that nuclear weapons benefit the world at large.

Read my essay on Patreon only.

Some people believe that students should acquire working experience during their gap year instead of traveling.

Do you agree or disagree with this statement?

The governments should give each citizen a basic income so that they have enough money to live on, even if they are unemployed.

Some people think that enjoying the present is more important than planning for the future for both countries and individuals.

Scientific research should be carried out and controlled by the governments rather than private companies.

Read my sample answer here.

The best way to solve the world’s environmental problems is to increase the cost of fuel for cars and other private vehicles.

The tendency of human beings to copy one another is shown in the popularity of areas such as fashion and consumer goods.

Some people believe that it is a good idea that older people continue to work if it is possible for them to do.

Many claim that the fast food industry had a negative effect on the environment, eating habits, and families.

Some people say that it is possible to tell a lot about a person’s culture and character from their choice of clothes.

Read my sample answer essay here.

There are different customs in different countries related to how people eat, dress, and so on. Some think that people visiting a country should behave according to customs of the country they visit.

Because many children are not able to learn foreign languages, schools should not force them to learn foreign languages.

Governments should make people responsible for looking after their own local environment.

Some people say that at all levels of education, from primary school to university, too much time is spent on learning facts and not enough on learning practical skills.

Some claim that men are naturally more competitive than women.

Shopping habits depend more on your age group than anything else.

Smoking is a major cause of serious illness and death throughout the world today. In the interest of the public health, governments should ban cigarettes and other tobacco products.

Everyone should become vegetarian because they do not need to eat meat to have a healthy diet.

Some people think employers should not care about the way their employees dress, but the quality at work.

To what extent you agree or disagree?

In many situations, people who break the law should be warned instead of punished.

Crime rates will fall as advances in technology make it easier to detect and prevent crimes.

Some countries are considering imposing curfews in which teenagers will not be allowed outdoors at night unless they are accompanied by an adult.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this policy?

Some think that fathers should have time off from work after the birth of a child.

Some people think that because children find subjects such as mathematics and philosophy difficult, they ought to be optional instead of compulsory.

Globalization is positive for economies but its negative sides should not be ignored.

Although more and more people read news on the Internet, newspapers will remain the most important source of news for the majority of people.

Fast food has become more common in recent years. Some people think that it has a negative effect on lifestyles and diets.

Some people think that there should be a complete ban on all forms of advertising.

Some feel governments, rather than private companies, should be in charge of medical services.

Large companies use sports events to promote their products. Some people think this has a negative impact on sports.

Some feel that good entertainers are as important to society as scientists.

It is a natural process for animal species to become extinct (e.g. dinosaurs, dodos, etc.). There is no reason why people should try to prevent this from happening.

People are annoyed or entertained by advertising but they are not affected by advertisements when making shopping decisions.

Convenience foods will become increasingly prevalent and eventually replace traditional foods and methods of preparation.

Some people believe that wild animals should not be kept in zoos or other man-made environments as there is no longer a need for them in the 21st century.

Many manufactured food and drink products contain high levels of sugar, which causes many health problems. Sugary products should be made more expensive to encourage people to consume less sugar.

Some people think that children under 18 years old should receive full-time education.

Many believe that reading books is a waste of time and children would be better served doing something more useful.

Traditional ideas from older people about the way to live and behave are not helpful to young people and their futures.

Large companies should pay higher salaries to CEOs and executives compared to other workers.

Many believe that living in a city offers greater benefits compared to life in the countryside.

Some claim that studying abroad has great benefits for a student’s home country.

If a product is good and meets customer needs, then people will buy it and advertising is unnecessary.

It is impossible to help all people around the world in need so governments should focus on people from their own country.

Some people think that the best way to increase road safety is to increase the minimum legal age for driving cars and riding motorbikes.

Instead of requiring primary school students to do experiments themselves, schools should only alllow them to watch experiments demonstrated by teachers.

All fathers should be entitled to time-off from work when their children are born.

The growth of multinational companies and the resulting rise of globalization creates positive effects for all.

Some people say it is more important to plant trees in the open spaces in towns and cities than to build more housing.

To what extant do you agree or disagree?

Some believe it is important for cities and towns to invest heavily in building large outdoor public spaces.

Nowadays many people travel to foreign countries for pleasure. Some believe this travel has a negative impact on the countries travelled to.

Some people say that all popular TV entertainment programmes should aim to educate viewers about important social issues.

To succeed in a business, one needs to know maths.

Computer games are very popular for all ages and nationalities. Parents think this has little educational value and it will be harmful for children.

The first man to walk on the moon claimed it was a step forward for mankind. However, it has made little difference in most people’s lives.

One of the most important issues facing the world today is a shortage of food and some think genetically modified foods are a possible solution.

Society is based on rules and laws. It could not function if individuals were free to do whatever they wanted to do.

Some people think that the most important function of music is to help people relax.

Computers today can quickly and accurately translate languages, therefore, it is a waste of time to learn a foreign language.

Some think that it is more important for children to engage in outdoor activities instead of playing videogames.

To what extent to you agree or disagree?

Whether or not a person achieves their aims in life is mostly related to luck.

Some people believe that family is more important than friends.

To what extent do you agree and disagree?

Some people think that it is a waste of time for high school students to study literature, such as novels and poems.

Parents should take courses in parenting in order to improve the lives of their children.

To what extent do you agree ?

Nowadays nurses should not just be required to do basic training but they must have other qualities as well to do their jobs well.

Studies show that crime rates are lower among those with educational degrees. Therefore, the best way to reduce the crime rate is to educate criminals while they are still in prison.

The internet means people do not need to travel to foreign countries to understand how others live.

Cooking at home is a waste of time because there are so many convenient fast food options that make life less stressful.

Some think the current generation should take steps to protect the environment for the next generation.

In many countries, traditional foods are being replaced by fast food. This has a negative impact on families, individuals and society.

Some educators believe that every child should be taught how to play a musical instrument.

Some people believe that the government should spend more money putting in more works of art like paintings and statues in cities to make them better places to live in.

When a person spends most of his or her time working a job with little job satisfaction, their life loses meaning.

Historical objects should be brought back to their country of origin.

Many people think technological devices such as smart phones, tablets and mobile phones bring more disadvantages than advantages.

It is better for children if the whole family including aunts, uncles and so on are involved in a child’s upbringing, rather than just their parents.

The government should lower the budget on the arts in order to allocate more money to education.

Read my answer here.

Many today feel that most urgent problems can only be solved by international cooperation.

Although families have influence on a children’s development, factors outside the home play a bigger part in their lives nowadays.

It is better to learn the way people lived in the past through films and video records than written documents.

Many people think that mobile phones should be banned in public places such as libraries, shops and public transport.

Some think that students must travel to another country in order to learn its language and customs.

Full-time university students spend a lot of time studying. Some say they should do other activities too.

In the future, nobody will buy printed newspapers or books because they will be able to read everything they want online without paying.

Some feel that countries should produce most of the food that is eaten in their country and import as little as possible.

In the future, people may have to live on other planets. Some think that it is therefore important to spend money researching other planets such as Mars.

Governments should spend more money on medical research and less on researching the environment.

After graduation many students take a year to travel. Some think that it would be more useful to work for a year.

Some feel that it is a waste of time to plan for the future and it is more important to focus on the present.

Some today argue that schools are no longer necessary because children can learn so much from the internet and be educated at home.

In many schools and universities today, women have a tendency to study the humanities (such as the arts and languages) while men more often major in science related subjects. Some believe this tendency should be changed.

Some believe that people will purchase a product based on their needs and advertising is not needed.

Many people believe that film is a less important art than other forms such as literature and painting.

There are severe social consequences to housing shortages in cities and only the government can solve these problems.

Watching a live performance such as a play, concert, or sporting event is more enjoyable than watching the same event on television.

Some people believe that smartphones are destroying social interaction today.

Throughout history, male leaders have led us into violence and conflict. If a society is governed by female leaders it will be more peaceful.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

Many feel that students today should learn practical skills at school such as car maintenance and managing a bank account.

Many people think that it is better to get advice from old rather than young people.

Some believe technology has made our lives too complex and the solution is to lead a simpler life without technology.

One good way to promote world peace is through international sporting events.

In the future it will become more difficult to live on Earth so more money should be spent researching how to live on other planets such as Mars.

Some think that governments should tax unhealthy foods to encourage people to eat healthier.

As well as making money, businesses also have a responsibility towards society.

Developing the economy will always damage the environment.

Too much money is wasted on repairing old buildings that should be used to knock them down and build new ones.

Many believe that the best way to ensure a happier society is to reduce the difference in income earnings between the rich and poor.

Extreme sports such as sky diving and skiing are very dangerous and should be banned.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this view?

The crime rate nowadays is decreasing compared to the past due to advances in technology.

Many believe that individuals can do little to improve the environment. Only governments and large companies can make a real difference.

Many people believe that social networking sites (such as Facebook) have a huge negative impact on both individuals and society.

Some people think that it is better to build more public parks and sports facilities in new towns rather than shopping malls.

Students should be primarily taught academic subjects so that they can pass exams, and practical skills such as cooking should not be taught.

Some people think that the news media has become much more influential in people’s lives today and it is a negative development. Do you agree or disagree?

Many psychologists recommend that the best way to relieve stress is to do nothing at all for a period of time during the day.

People today often use the internet to learn about the culture of other countries. This means that it is not that important to travel to those countries.

The most common solution for criminal behaviour is prison but many believe education is a better method.

The job market today is very competitive and it is best to choose a career or field of study early in order to get a good job later in life.

Some believe that because everyone needs a place to live, governments should provide houses for those who are too poor to afford their own.

Some countries are struggling with increases in crime rates. Some believe that having more police on the streets is best way to reduce and combat crime.

Some people say that music is a good way of bringing people of different cultures and ages together.

Some people believe that the best way to increase the road safety is to increase the minimum legal age for driving cars..

Some people believe that nowadays we have too many choices.

Living in a country where you have to speak a foreign language can cause serious social problems, as well as practical problems.

Traffic and housing problems in major cities could be solved by moving companies, factories and their employees to the countryside.

Museums and art galleries should focus on works that show the history and culture of their own country rather than works of other parts of the world.

Some people say that school children should be mainly taught about the literature (e.g fiction and poetry) of their own country because it is more  important than that of other countries., when designing a building, the most important factor is the intended use of the building rather than its outward appearance., plastic shopping bags are used widely and cause many environmental problems. some people say they should be banned., climate change is a phenomenon that affects countries all over the world. many people strongly believe that it is the responsibility of individuals, rather than corporations and governments, to deal with this problem., recommended for you.

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13 Comments

Thank for your samples

You’re very welcome!

are these questions from Cambridge books?

Some are but most are reported on real IELTS exams.

Hello, can u please tell me the ideas of the following essay? ( From the agree side please)                                             For the married couples nowadays, some people say that it is the responsibilities for both spouses to earn a living for the family. To extent do u agree or disagree?     

hello dave, can u please reply me?

Can u please tell me the ideas of the following essay? ( From the agree side please)                                             For the married couples nowadays, some people say that it is the responsibilities for both spouses to earn a living for the family. To extent do u agree or disagree?   

I think I’ve written about that or a similar topic – if I get a chance, I’ll write a sample answer for that specific one, Eric!

Thank u dave

Can u just give me the ideas of the essay? Just in short notes. Not the whole essay. Thank U.

Hello Mr. Dave. I find that your writing style is amazing but it is quite difficult to imitate, especially the body part of the essay. I see I could have learned from you how to write an introduction and conclusion, but it seems too difficult to learn how to write the body. but I must emphasize that I still learn a lot of good vocabulary and phrases from you. It would be great if you have a detailed tutorial on how to write the body so that it is easiest to follow. dear

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IELTS Agree or Disagree Essay

• Opinion Essays
• Discussion Essays
• Problem Solution Essays
• Advantages & Disadvantages Essays
• Double Question Essays

Example of IETS Opinion essay

• You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
• Write at least 250 words.
• Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your knowledge or experience.

Structure of IELTS Opinion Essay

• Paragraph 1: Introduction
• Paraphrase the Essay Topic
• Thesis Statement
• Paragraph 2: Supporting Paragraph #1
• Topic Sentence
• Support (Example or Experience)
• Explanation
• Paragraph 3: Supporting Paragraph #2
• Paragraph 4: Conclusion
• Restate Thesis/Summarize your ideas

To what extent..

Example vocabulary and phrases: stating your opinion.

• In my opinion I believe that education should be free because it helps move society forward.
• As far as paying for education is concerned, I believe that you should have to pay because it creates competition which helps to develop stronger institutions.
• My impression is that education should require a cost whether it be through tax payer money or private institutions.
• Most institutions require tuition to attend. However. I believe that education should be free because it helps move society forward.

Example Vocabulary and Phrases: Arguing Your Point

• This proves that free education can provide many opportunities for those who cannot afford it.
• According to this, it can be argued that financial aid is a way to support students who cannot afford to pay for education.

Example Vocabulary and Phrases: Adding Adverb

Beginning of the sentence, middle of the sentence.

• Clearly, this is an example of numerous afford a proper education.
• This is definitely true because there are many students who are unable to attend school because they cannot afford it.
• Deciding whether education should be free is absolutely a major challenge to consider.
• The right to receive an education is substantially more important than earning money.

Example Vocabulary and Phrases: Verbs

• I disagree that education should cost students.
• I believe that education should be free.
• I have no doubt that society will benefit with free education.
• I think that education should be free.
• It cannot be denied that education costs money because teachers, faculty, and staff all need to be paid.
• As I see it, education has costs, so someone needs to pay for it.

Before You Start

• Think about how you will plan to write your essay.
• Brainstorm and generate ideas.

Outline structure for IELTS Essay

• ________________________________

Outline structure for IELTS Opinion Essay

• Paragraph I: Introduction
• Paraphrase the Essay Topic - I believe that everyone should have access to free education without limitations.
• Thesis Statement - Education is a valuable resource and it advances society.
• Education is tool that helps us succeed
• Germany - Free education
• Same philosophy - society advances
• Paying for education helps drive competition between institutions, but I believe this restricts social mobility.
• Student cannot afford education
• If every person of society is allowed to move forward, then all of society will benefit.
• In conclusion education is essential to any society
• By restricting access to it because of tuition limits societal advancements, it is important that we eliminate sort of barriers to education, Including costs.

Example Essay

• Thesis Statement - Education is a valuable resource and it advances society. If there are certain barriers to receiving education like costs, many students would lose the opportunity to pursue an education because of this.
• Education is a tool and it advances society and with free universal access to education, there are no limits to what a country and what a society can obtain.
• A perfect example of this Is Germany, where universities are now tuition-free.
• If all countries developed the same philosophy towards education as German. I have no doubt that society will benefit.
• Some may argue that paying for education helps drive competition between institutions and helps to develop stronger schools. However. 1 completely disagree because I believe this restricts social mobility.
• In other words, if a student who would like to pursue a degree In higher education, but cannot afford the high tuition rates then he or she will be unable to further their education.
• On the other hand, If every person of society is allowed to move forward, then all of society will benefit.
• In conclusion education is essential to any society.

Example Essay in color

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How to answer a “to what degree/extent” essay question

One of the most popular question types to appear on History assessment tasks is one that starts with the phrase, “To what extent/degree...”.

Despite the fact that it appears so frequently, particularly on exam papers , some teachers and students are not sure how to correctly write a response to it.

Thankfully, "to what degree/extent" questions are relatively easy to understand and to write a sophisticated response to, as long as you know what they are specifically asking you to do.

In this blog post, I will explain what such questions are asking you to do and give you some practical tips on how to write an essay response to a “To what extent/degree” question so that you feel confident in your assessment pieces.

Watch a video explanation:

Watch on YouTube

Understanding the question

First of all, it is crucial to understand the purpose of the word “degree” or “extent” in this kind of question. Regardless of which of the two words are used, they mean exactly the same thing: they are asking you to assign a degree of importance to how influential or important a particular factor is regarding the topic at hand.

A useful way of conceptualising the degree of importance , is to think of a simple scale that you could measure it against:

Most of the time, a "to what degree/extent” question is ultimately asking you to decide a single factor’s importance in comparison to another, potentially equally important factor. In other words, you need to argue which of two things is the most important.

Therefore, you will say that one of the two factors was “ to a greater degree ” important, while the other is “ to a lesser extent ” important.

It is rare that this kind of question will require you to say that only one factor was the only important element in regards to a topic. Any event in history is a complex combination of multiple factors, and it is too simplistic to assign only one factor to any topic.

That is why this kind of question is so popular with essays about historical causation , consequences or significance in History exams. These topics acknowledge that there are multiple factors which contributed to a historical event or idea. 

Example essay questions

Sometimes, the question itself will provide you with the two elements that it wants you to compare. For example:

“To what degree was political ideology more important in Hitler’s rise to power than the economic conditions in Germany in the early 1930s?” 

As you can see in this “to what degree” question, it is asking you to decide whether “political ideology” was “more important” than “the economic conditions in Germany in the early 1930s”. Therefore, in your answer to this question, you need to clearly state which you think was “more important”.

Here is another example: 

“To what extent did the Black Death in 14th century Europe decrease the papacy’s cultural influence in comparison to the political scandals within the curia?” 

Once more, it is easy to identify what you are being asked to decide between: whether “the Black Death in 14th century Europe” or “the political scandals within the curia” was more important in causing the decline of “the papacy’s cultural influence”.

However, sometimes an essay question will only give you one factor, in which case you will need to choose the second factor to compare it against.

For example 

“To what degree was Julius Caesar’s assassination the result of his own hubris?” 

In this example, the question only gives you “his own hubris” as one important element. Therefore, you will need to decide, based upon your own historical knowledge and the sources supplied, something else to compare it against.

It is still important, though, that you still come to a conclusion about which of the two elements was the most important.

How to structure your answer to the question (the hypothesis)

Once you have identified the two elements you are going to compare in your answer, you need to decide which of the two you are going to assign most importance to.

When you write your answer to the essay question (which will become your hypothesis ), you have to ensure that you clearly state which of the two options you have decided is the most important. You can use the following cues to identify the greater and lesser factors:

“[Factor 1] was, to a greater degree , more important in [the Topic] than [Factor 2] because...” 

“[Factor 1] was the main cause of [the Topic] despite the role of [Factor 2] because...” 

“While [Factor 2] did play a role in [the Topic], [Factor 1] was by far the most significant element because...”

As you can see in these example structures, you need to:

• clearly state the two topics you’re comparing
• mention the topic to which they relate
• have a clear decision about which of the two factors are most important to the topic

Also, don't forget to provide clear reasons for your decision after the “because” in your hypothesis.

How to structure your essay

 Once you have decided which of the two factors was the most important and which was the least important, then you can start planning your essay paragraphs .

Since essays typically require you to follow the standard five-paragraph structure ( introduction paragraph , three body paragraphs , and a conclusion paragraph ), you know that you will have three body paragraphs available for arguing your decision.

• In two out of your three body paragraphs, provide two separate reasons for why one factor was the most important  
• In the third of your body paragraphs, talk about the lesser contributing factor  

This helps us to use a simple structure to respond to a “to what degree/extent” essay question:

Here is a visual representation of the structure to help you:

By dividing your three body paragraphs in this way, you devote two-thirds of your essay to the most important of the two factors, and then one-third to the lesser of the two factors.

At the start of each body paragraph, then, you need a clear topic sentence that provides a reason why this factor was important. Ensure that you have two separate reasons to support the factor you’ve chosen as the most important, and one for the lesser of the two factors.

For example: 

Topic sentence for body paragraph 1: 

“[Factor 1] was the most important element in [the Topic] because...” 

Topic sentence for body paragraph 2: 

“Another reason that [Factor 1] was the most important element in [the Topic] is because...” 

Topic sentence for body paragraph 3:  

“To a lesser degree, [Factor 2] was important to [the Topic] because...”

Some rare exceptions

The advice provided above will serve you well in replying to almost all “to what degree/extent” essay questions. However, here are some rare exceptions which you might need to watch out for, along with some quick advice for how to deal with them.

Some questions may ask you to compare three separate factors. On these occasions, the question is probably guiding you to argue that all three factors were of equal importance. Typically, you can assign each factor to a body paragraph and provide one reason why each element was a contributing factor.

Some questions may ask you to only assign a degree of importance to only one factor, without expecting you to provide a second alternative. In short, if this happens, it is probably a poorly written question.

Essay questions that require the analysis and explanation of only one factor should probably be a “how” or “why” question, rather than a “to what degree/extent” question. Firstly, check with your teacher about if they really do only want one factor considered and ask how they intend for you to answer the question.

Additional resources

For additional resources on how to write all the elements in a History essay, please check out the following scaffolding guide , which has examples of full paragraphs to help you out. 

For advice on other kinds of exam questions, read over the exam question advice section .

Write a comment

Kim Brett ( Tuesday, 01 September 2020 23:32 )

As always, you've got your finger on the pulse, Michael. My students at Our Lady's College Annerley really appreciate your posts. Best wishes

History Skills ( Wednesday, 02 September 2020 02:13 )

My absolute pleasure, Kim. So good to hear that your students are finding the information helpful. Please say 'hello' to them for me and tell them I wish them all the best for their upcoming assessment.

Jeffery ( Friday, 18 December 2020 16:41 )

Hello, I am unsure how to formulate a thesis to this question, can you help me. "To what extent were the American colonists justified in revolting against England?"

Mutsawashe (Tuesday 15 June) ( Tuesday, 15 June 2021 15:29 )

please help me answer this question,"how far did the Germans benefit from the social policy ".My answer should start with ,the Germans benefited from the social policy to a lesser extent. So what comes next.

sharon odawa ( Thursday, 02 September 2021 01:12 )

my question is."to what extent does common and equity law a source of kenya"please help

maddison ( Sunday, 07 November 2021 03:06 )

this has literally saved me so much time on my assessments.

Karina Doherty ( Wednesday, 10 November 2021 17:26 )

It is possible to ask a well written 'to what extent' question that does not require a comparison, but only asks students to provide a judgement about a degree of success. There will naturally be a discussion about factors that limited the success or impact of a particular event or policy, but this is not really a comparison. The question could still be a perfectly valid and well-written.

Christina ( Monday, 13 June 2022 02:19 )

Great advice! Would be great if you correct the reference to a hypothesis. The correct word hers is "thesis".

Queenest ( Wednesday, 12 October 2022 17:41 )

Thank God I came across this article. It has been a blessing to me. Thank you so much

Ishmael ogechi ( Wednesday, 28 June 2023 10:59 )

Can an extent be used in questionnaire construction to elicit responds from respondents? Please may I know the firs scholar that used this term or introduced it in research work and when? Thank you.

Joy ( Wednesday, 18 October 2023 08:32 )

Can a ''to what extent'' question be used for the prevalence of the disease in two different parts of the world?

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How to Start an Agreement Essay

Posted by David S. Wills | Aug 7, 2023 | IELTS Tips , Writing | 0

In IELTS writing task 2, you could be asked to write an agree or disagree essay, also known as an “agreement essay.” Today, however, I want to show you how to start an agreement essay . This will focus on the first few lines.

You can read my full guide to agree/disagree essays here if you want to learn about the overall structure.

What are the requirements of an agreement essay?

First of all, let’s look at what an agreement essay actually is and what you need to do. Here’s an example:

All cars that burn fossil fuels should be banned and electric cars should replace them. Do you agree or disagree?

An IELTS agreement essay will typically give you a statement and then a line that says something like:

Do you agree or disagree?

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

• To what extent do you agree or disagree with the statement?

Your objective is to state whether (or to what extent) you agree or disagree with the idea expressed in the first line of the question. For the above example, you would either:

• Completely agree
• Partly agree
• Neither agree nor disagree
• Partly disagree
• Completely disagree

Your essay should explain your position and your view should be clear throughout the entire piece of writing.

Now let’s look at the first lines.

How to start an agreement essay

Considering the above, what should you write in the opening lines of your essay?

Generally, an IELTS task 2 introduction should feature 2-4 sentences that clearly tell the reader what the essay is about and what your opinion is. You should write 1-3 sentences that explain the overall idea (basically introducing the topic) and then you should write an outline sentence .

Important: Your opinion must be stated in the introduction . Regardless of whether you agree, disagree, or have no strong opinion either way, you must make this clear to the reader. If you fail to do this, you will not score band 7 or above.

Thus, here is how you should start an agreement essay:

You often hear people say that you should paraphrase the question. This is certainly a possible approach, but it presents many problems and often results in terrible first sentences. In fact, it can ruin your whole introduction. You can learn about paraphrasing here .

Examples of agreement essay introductions

To further explain how you can start an agreement essay, let’s look at some examples.

All cars that burn fossil fuels should be banned and electric cars should replace them.

Intro to sample band 9 answer:

During the twentieth century, people around the world began using vehicles powered by fossil fuels, and in this new millennium that trend has continued, with a vast uptick in the number of privately owned cars. However, it has become apparent that this phenomenon is causing major environmental damage and needs to be stopped. This essay will argue that humans ought to switch to electric cars.

Instead of paraphrasing the question, I have taken the approach of explaining the wider situation. This is much better! I have used the next sentence to give a more focused introduction, raising the idea of banning traditional cars. Then, I gave my opinion. It is nice and clear and the reader would understand the topic fully before reading the body paragraphs.

A person’s worth nowadays seems to be judged according to social status and material possessions. Old-fashioned values, such as honour, kindness and trust, no longer seem important.

There are numerous ways in which a person can be valued, and these vary widely from culture to culture. They also vary over time, and some people suggest that in the modern era it is more common for people to be judged according to their wealth, rather than personality attributes. This essay will argue that it is probably not true.

Again, you can see that I have avoided blindly paraphrasing the question. Instead, I started with a nice, broad overview of the main idea, then focused it specifically in the next sentence. My opinion is made very clear in the final sentence.

Note: This is a notoriously difficult question and many people struggle with it. I’ve made this video to explain why it is so hard and how people can answer it intelligently.

Using a computer every day can have more negative than positive effects on young children.

Nowadays, it is quite common for children to have access to some kind of computer, and some people argue that this is damaging for their health. This essay will look at both sides of the argument, but ultimately conclude that it is not entirely negative.

This introduction is a little more “standard” in that I have sort of paraphrased the question. Still, it is hard to see that it is paraphrased because it is totally my words and ideas. I have then given my opinion clearly. Note that this may seem like an introduction to a “ discuss both views ” question but really I just wanted to talk about both sides because I feel that there is no clear-cut answer here. In other words, I’m providing balance because I neither wholly agree nor disagree.  

Question #4

Some people think that women should not be allowed to work in the police force.

Traditionally, there were some jobs that could only be done by men. These days, however, it is common to see women doing jobs that they were once forbidden from doing. Some people still hold onto the traditional view in regards the police force, but this essay will argue that women shouldn’t be unfairly restricted.

This goes back to my favoured approach, which is starting with a general statement, then refining it to a more specific point. As always, I have made my opinion very clear in the essay outline sentence. Note that I have avoided personal pronouns by saying “this essay will…” This is a good way to increase the level of formality without making it convoluted.

When you start your agreement essay, you should introduce the main topic and then provide your opinion. That is the key to writing a great introduction. Keep it relatively simple and make sure that your primary aim is to let the reader know exactly what your position is. Don’t try to show off with any fancy language or complicated ideas. Just make it straightforward and your essay will be off to a great start!

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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July 29, 2018

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Agree or disagree essay for IELTS writing task 2

Home  »  IELTS academic task 2 » Agree or disagree essay for IELTS writing task 2

What is an “agree or disagree” essay?

• An “agree or disagree” essay offers a statement and invites you either to agree or disagree with it.
• For this type of task 2 essay, you are expected (1) to state your opinion clearly (2) to address all parts of the statement with which you are agreeing or disagreeing (3) fully to support your opinion with reference to further knowledge or experience

Sample “agree or disagree” questions

Here are some examples of agree or disagree essay questions.

1. “Modern life is increasingly chaotic.” Do you agree or disagree?

2. “The death penalty is barbaric and should not be legal anywhere.” Do you agree or disagree?

3. “Libraries are irrelevant in the age of the internet and should not be publicly funded.” Do you agree or disagree?

As an illustration, I’m going to discuss the third of these examples.

I’m going to argue that libraries are not irrelevant in the age of the internet, partly because (as a scholar and teacher of English) that’s what I believe.

It is possible to argue a case opposite to your own real opinion, but you are more likely to argue convincingly if you argue for a case in which you yourself believe.

Always read the question carefully!

• Remember our cardinal rule: always read the question carefully. This is a vital point and expanded on in the online IELTS course .

“Libraries are irrelevant in the age of the internet and should not be publicly funded.” Do you agree or disagree?

Here, it’s essential to note that the view with which you’re being asked to agree or disagree actually consists of two views:

“Libraries are irrelevant in the age of the internet”;

“Libraries should not be publicly funded.”

The two questions are linked, but not identical.

Stating your opinion clearly and decisively

Let’s consider an unclear statement of opinion.

“I suppose libraries are in some ways irrelevant, you can find most things you need on the internet, but after all it is good to have a place to go and study, and many libraries also offer other facilities like cafes etc.”

What is the problem with this way of stating an opinion?

First, the statement of opinion is indecisive, because it is prefaced with “I suppose”.

It is usually a bad idea to preface your statement of opinion with “I suppose”, or “it is my opinion that”, or even “I think that”.

The reader already knows that it is your opinion, because you are stating it!

Every time you are tempted to write “I think that” or “It’s my opinion that”, try simply deleting those words.

The sentence will usually be greatly improved without them.

The other problem with this way of opening your argument is that it is unclear which side you are on.

After the reader has finished reading the opening sentence, it is not fully clear whether the writer agrees or disagrees with the statement offered.

This is not to say that there is no room for subtlety or qualifications to an argument in your essay.

But the main line of your argument needs to be clear because you don’t have much space. Let’s try to find a better opening for the essay.

“Libraries are very far from irrelevant. The experience of reading a printed book is very different from that of reading a text on a screen, and much more is lost than is sometimes supposed when reading electronically.”

This is clear and decisive statement of opinion. A single line of argument is given, followed by a single main supporting reason for it.

Addressing all parts of the question

Let’s move on to the second main criterion, addressing all parts of the question.

Remember that you’re being asked not only whether libraries are irrelevant, but also whether they should receive public funding (vocabulary like this is great for your essay) .

Obviously, these two questions are linked: if libraries were irrelevant, there really would be no point in funding them.

Yet it does not follow that, if relevant, they must be funded. It’s good to demonstrate your awareness that the question has more than one aspect to it.

Here is an example of how you might do this.

“We have seen that libraries are very far from irrelevant. Clearly, this fact does not, by itself, show that they deserve public funding. Nevertheless, a good case can, in fact, be made for public financial support for libraries.”

With this transition between the first and second aspects of the question, you have done a number of things.

You have shown that you have read the question attentively, and have understood that it consists of two distinct parts.

You have also shown that you understand the need to provide support for your opinion on each part of the statement asked about.

Supporting your argument

Finally, let’s move on to the third criterion, the need fully to support your opinion.

Evidently, you are not expected to be an expert on any topic about which you might be asked to give your opinion.

You are not expected, for example, to have precise facts and figures about library use at your fingertips!

But you are being asked to show that you understand the general principle of the need to support opinions with reasons , with evidence of some kind.

Let’s consider what might count as supporting the argument that libraries are not irrelevant in the internet age. You would need to be able to show what it is that libraries provide that a computer screen can’t.

Here, “supporting” your argument might simply mean describing some of the valuable features of reading a book which can’t be reproduced by a computer.

Let’s consider an example of how this might be done.

“Not all the merits of books are replicable on a computer screen. Not only are books one of the simplest technologies ever invented, and therefore extremely easy to use, but they are also physical sites of memory. Many readers remember what they have read in a book by remembering the look, feel and even smell of a book as they have read it.”    

Watch this tutorial on how to give examples, then click here to subscribe to the Youtube Channel.  

This series of supporting arguments has a number of virtues. It points to a number of different specific ways in which books do things which can’t be done by computers; each of these features of books constitutes an implicit reason for valuing libraries.

It draws on the experiences of readers to support a more abstract general point about libraries.

In this tutorial, we have considered some of the main criteria for success in an “agree or disagree” essay.

We have understood the importance of:

• addressing all aspects of the question;
• stating one’s opinion clearly and decisively
• offering full support for all aspects of one’s opinion.

More resources

Take a look at some more IELTS task 2 essay questions to help you practice for your IELTS exam .

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How to write agree disagree essay in ielts.

Rephrase the question in the introduction, say whether you agree or disagree and will explain why in the following paragraphs. Then you need 2 body paragraphs with a main reason for your view and supporting arguments in each, and a conclusion which summarizes these main reasons.

Is an opinion essay the same as an Agree Disagree essay?

Yes, generally it is although the question might be phrased differently. You need to say clearly whether you agree or disagree with the statement and give at least two reasons why (that’s the opinion part).

Audio tutorial

You can download or listen to the audio version here:

MP3 Direct Download | Stitcher | iTunes | Spotify | Soundcloud |Subscribe: Android | RSS

Tutorials and Tips to Prepare for Task 2

• How to Get Ideas for Task 2
• Extremely Useful Sentences for Task 2
• Five Powerful Sentence Structures to use in your IELTS Writing test
• How to use comparisons in Task 2
• Concession Paragraphs for “do I agree/disagree essays”
• How to write an IELTS Essay Conclusion
• IELTS Cohesion and Coherence
• 3 ways to paraphrase for your Task 2 introduction
• Marking Criteria for IELTS Writing
• Topics Sentences for Your Essays
• 7 Ways to Improve your Sentences in Your IELTS Essays
• Grammar for IELTS Writing
• Academic Collocations for Task 2

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To what extent do you agree? (essay structure options)

By Fiona on June 2, 2024

In this lesson you'll learn 3 different ways of responding to 'To what extent do you agree or disagree?' questions and you'll review a lot of vocabulary related to the topic of privacy.

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IELTS To What Extent Essay Introductions

Hey! When students prepare for IELTS writing, they often learn “chunks” of language – these are groups of words or certain sentence structures that can be used in any essay. I encourage this. For example, I tell my students to always use an “although” sentence in the conclusion of an Advantages / Disadvantages essay as this is the best way to summarise both sides. In the same way, it can be great to use a cleft sentence when you are writing topic sentences for an IELTS To What Extent Essay, or to use a “while” sentence in the introduction of a Discuss Both Sides essay. Using these “chunks” will help you to write more quickly and be sure that the structure of your essay is correct.

However, whenever you learn a “chunk” of language, you have to be careful to use it in the correct way. What works in a problem / solution essay might not be good in a positive / negative development essay. The key is not just knowing what to write, but WHY you are writing it.

One area where I see many students have a problem is in the introductions to IELTS To What Extent essays. So, in today’s blog, I want to show you the TWO DIFFERENT TYPES of To What Extent questions (yes, that’s a surprise!) and how you can customise your introduction so that it 100% targets the question.

The Problem with IELTS Agree/Disagree Introductions

Let’s start by showing you the problem. I want you to read the following question and the student’s introduction and see if you can identify what they have done wrong (the question is from my 100 IELTS Essay Questions blog ).

International sporting events promote peace between countries. To what extent do you agree or disagree?   There are many sporting events each year in which teams from different countries participate. However, while some people think that these events harm the relationship between countries, I agree that they help to promote peace for two reasons.

Can you spot the problem here?

Has the student introduced the general topic of the essay in the first sentence? Yes – they have done a good job here. Have they given an opinion? Yes – they have said that they agree with the statement for two reasons. Again, this is good. So, what is the problem? Well, let’s look at this part of the final sentence:

However, while some people think that these events harm the relationship between countries , I agree that they help to promote peace for two reasons.

First of all, look at the question again – where does it mention “some people”? IT DOES NOT! We have NOT been given an OPINION to agree or disagree with, we have been given a STATEMENT. What does this mean?

Well, firstly, you must not add “some people” into an introduction if they do not exist in the task (clearly this student is trying to recycle their introduction to a Discuss Both Sides essay but it does not work here).

Secondly, look at what the student has said –   “some people think that these events can harm the relationship between countries “.  Really? Can international sports events really “harm” international relationships? Of course they can’t!!! You can argue that they do not promote peace, but you can’t say that they “harm” it – that’s ludicrous. I see this problem all the time. A student is so desperate to use a “while” sentence that they invent an “opposite side” that makes no sense.

The lesson? If you are not given any “people” in an IELTS To What Extent Essay question, do not add them to your introduction (and definitely don’t invent an opposite position for them that makes no sense!)

How to write good  IELTS Agree/Disagree Introductions

So, how should we write good introductions for this type of essay? Well, it will depend on the question. Let’s start by looking at questions like the one above i.e. that give us a STATEMENT to agree or disagree with.

Questions where we are given a STATEMENT / FACT  

50% of IELTS To What Extent questions just give you a sentence or a statement to agree or disagree with. Don’t worry too much about what “statement” means, all you need to know is that these questions do not include the words “some believe”.  Take this question for example:

Employers should give longer holidays to employees to help them do their job more efficiently . To what extent do you agree or disagree? =   STATEMENT 

The underlined part does not start with “Some believe” so we should not invent people who have the opposite view. All we have to do is tell the examiner what WE believe. If you have a question like this in your exam, I recommend you use one of these introductions, depending on your opinion:

Agree: Most people take some time off work each year to travel abroad or spend time with their friends and family.   In fact, I agree  that staff should be given longer holidays as it will motivate them and help them to improve their performance at work.

We cannot use a “while” sentence here as there is no contrast. Instead, we simply say “I agree” and paraphrase the statement . Note that I used “In fact” to join the sentences. I think that these are the only words that you need to transition in this sentence. Here, I have given the two specific reasons why I agree, but you don’t have to do this. If you want to keep things super simple, you can just say:

Most people take some time off work each year to travel abroad or spend time with their friends and family. In fact, I agree  that  giving  staff longer holidays makes them more efficient in the workplace   for two reasons.

OK, so that’s what you should write if you agree, but what happened if you disagree? Well, we simply switch “in fact” for “however”, and “agree” for “disagree” – simple!

Disagree: Most people take some time off work each year to travel abroad or spend time with their friends and family. However, I disagree  that staff should be given longer holidays as it will cost businesses too much money and could actually demotivate the employees.

Again, if you want to, you can save the specific arguments for the body of the essay and just replace it with “for two reasons”. Please NEVER use “due to two reasons” or “because of two reasons” as “due to” and “because of” have the same meaning as “reason”. It sounds strange having both in one sentence!

OK, so now we know how to write introductions for questions that give a statement (and I am assuming that you are going to strongly agree or disagree for reasons that I outline in  this blog post ), but what do we do when there ARE “some people” in a question?

Question where we are given an OPINION to agree or disagree with

I have to admit that this is a relatively new type of question (well, for somebody who has been teaching IELTS for almost 20 years, it feels new!). In the past, nearly all IELTS To What Extent questions gave just a statement, but more and more now give an OPINION. It’s easy to recognise when we are being given an opinion because the task will include the words “Some people believe” or “Some people think”:

Some people think that children should be taught how to manage money at school.  To what extent do you agree or disagree?  = OPINION

Again, we now have two options – to agree or to disagree. Last time, the choice didn’t make a great deal of difference to the language in our introduction, but here it does. Let’s imagine that you agree:

Agree: Being able to handle money effectively is an important life skill.   In fact, I agree with those who believe that financial literacy should be taught in school for two reasons.

Can you see what I did here? I didn’t just say “I agree”, or use the silly phrase “Some people think that financial literacy should be taught in schools and I agree ” (adding “and I agree” to the end of a sentence is the weakest way to present an opinion) ! No, I used the phrase “I agree with those”. If you choose to disagree here, well, you can FINALLY use your friend the “while” sentence as you DO disagree with “some people”!

Disagree: Being able to handle money effectively is an important life skill.   However,  while  some  believe that  financial literacy should be taught in school, I feel that it is better  learned when people are older and already in the workplace.

This is the ONLY variant of the four introductions where we can use ‘while’ as it is the only time that we disagree with a group of people!

IELTS To What Extent Essay Introductions Summary

Ok, there is a lot of information here, but if you think about it carefully, the logic is simple, so let’s re-cap.

• If you are given a statement,  never say “some people” but simply state if you agree or disagree (NO “while” sentences!).
• If you are given an opinion , use the phrase “I agree with those who feel” if you agree, or a “while” sentence if you disagree.

Trust me – if you can remember these simple rules, you are going to make a GREAT first impression. Using the right introduction shows the examiner that you are a student who can use language flexibly (and not one who uses the same introduction for EVERY essay!).

If you found this lesson useful, you are going to LOVE my video writing lessons , which contain clear and simple instructions like this for EVERY aspect of IELTS writing. So don’t delay, come and join us in My IELTS Classroom today and start getting the help you need to achieve IELTS success.

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IELTS Essay Instructions Agree Disagree To what extent

Below are the answers to your concerns about IELTS essay instructions.

In writing task 2, it is essential that you understand the instructions given to you. It will affect your score for Task Response, which is 25% of your marks.

Are the following instructions different?

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

Are they the same or are they different?

Click below to reveal the answers.

All instructions above are the same.  There is no difference between them. You will write the same essay.

IELTS like to paraphrase instructions. All the above instructions are asking for your opinion. For all the above instructions, you can choose a one sided approach or a partial agreement (known as a balanced view or specific view).

Hey mam , i hope you are fine . I want to ask how to write your opinion in ” to what extent you agree or disagree” essay Rply me asap i have test on 2nd Dec . Thanks 🙂

See this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/ and think of getting my advanced writing task 2 lessons : https://elizabethferguson.podia.com/

Hi Liz, thanks for doing what you do. Pls, I’ll like to ask, is there penalisation for writing too much words for word count. Like writing over 200 words for letter writing task 1 and over 300 words for task 2 Thanks

There is no upper word limit. But writing more will not help your score. In fact, it allows for more mistakes and a less focused piece of writing – that will lower your score.

Hmm, I see. Many thanks to you Liz. I deeply appreciate your help 👍.

Hello mam, thanks for ur help all the way.pls, I v a concern.how do u address and sign off a letter to a neighbour in ielts general task one? Thanks for ur prompt response.

See this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-letter-writing-essential-tips/

I’m an IELTS trainer in Vladivostok, Russia, and your brilliant site is a great help to me as well as to my students. Many thanks and very best wishes!

Thanks, Richard. I’m glad you and your students can benefit from my site. I’m hoping at some stage to have a teacher’s page of resource materials but I just haven’t had the time so far. Hopefully next year 🙂

Hiii Liz, Not only your knowledge but also your pronounciaton is wonderfull. While speaking , stressing on the words is just like that you sing a song. So l like to attend your video lessons… Thank you so much

That’s a very kind comment – thank you 🙂

Liz I am giving my exam this weekend….any final tips…please

See this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-exam-tips-on-the-day/ . Good luck!

Got it. Thank you Liz.

Dear Liz, In this kind of questions I have to write in the introduction and the conclusion my opinion if I agree or not with the statement. Also in the body I should write opinion of people who agree with the statement, and in the another paragraph I should write the view of people which disagreement with the statement. Right? I need to explain to me that, please.

It sounds like you have a lot of questions that need answering. I suggest you get my advanced lessons as they will answer all your questions and provide in depth details on techniques: https://elizabethferguson.podia.com/

Thank you Ma’m .

Thank u Liz I have already parachased your advance lesson…. Its amazing thank u so much ….. Tc

I’m really pleased 🙂

I tried to buy but it said your card is not allowed. What to do mam?

This is a problem with Paypal. Check how Paypal works in your country. Or ask a friend to buy the lessons for you.

At first, I faced the similar issue as you while trying to pay directly with credit card. After the third failure, I registered a Paypal account, added my credit card to it. And voila, I could purchase all 3 lessons without any hassles.

@Liz: Thank you so much, you are a great teacher!

I’m so glad you enjoyed the lessons 🙂

Thanks Liz.😃

Do you agree or disagree? For this question can we give partial agreement? I thought this was asking specifically for either agree or disagree.

As I explained above, they are all the same essay. All of the above instructions are the same – yes you can have a partial agreement on an agree/disagree essay.

Yesssss! Got it!

Hi Liz, thanks.

You’re welcome, Tien 🙂

Thank you so much for clearing this

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How to organize agree/disagree essays on your IELTS exam

We're going to show you a simple structure for an IELTS agree/disagree essay that will enable examiners to make their way through your writing with ease.

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When you get to the essay writing component of the IELTS exam, the clock is ticking, and the pressure is on. You have about 40 minutes to determine the key question to address, think of your response, come up with relevant examples and then write the essay.

Wouldn’t it be nice if you knew how you were going to organize your ideas before you went into the exam? In this blog, I’m going to show you a formula that can be modified to fit most IELTS tasks and will save you valuable time. Most importantly, it will ensure that the message in your essay is easy to follow (one of the key criteria for higher-level scores).

There really isn’t any mystery about it. Here, I’m going to show you a simple structure for an IELTS agree/disagree essay that will enable examiners to make their way through your writing with ease – as if they have a roadmap to follow.

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

Today it is a popular belief that students attending high school should volunteer in the community as part of their schooling. I strongly agree with this notion. Volunteer work can provide young people with the experiences they need for paying jobs, and it can also help them see themselves as valuable contributors to society.

When completing compulsory work activities with charitable organizations or community organizations, students gain skills that they can add to their resumes and use in future jobs. Working out in the real world quickly teaches young people the importance of time management, clear communication and teamwork. Employers like McDonald’s restaurants, which provide many young people with their first paying jobs, look for volunteer work on resumes as evidence of having developed some relevant work skills. So, although students are not paid for their time, they are building valuable abilities for future employment.

Perhaps even more importantly, when students volunteer, they are more likely to realize that their actions have a positive impact on the world around them. Often the problems of our world can seem overwhelming, but if students are given the opportunity to help others, even in a small way, they will see that they can make a difference. In schools that have been running these programs, there has been an incredible boost in student morale, and the community has benefitted from the talent and time that young people have contributed to the many programs that need support. It’s true that studying for academics is time-consuming, and students already have a lot to do in a day, but if we teach them how to step up and help others, we create a better future for us all.

In conclusion, it is a great idea to have unpaid community service as part of a high school program because it will help the next generation prepare for employment, and it will build a caring community that is willing and able to make our world a better place. It’s my hope to see this in every school.

Paragraph One - Introduction

Now, let’s look at the underlying structure sentence by sentence.

AGREE/DISAGREE ESSAY - 4-PARAGRAPH FORMULA Paragraph One - Introduction

Sentence 1 :  States the premise that the essay will address (you can simply rephrase the words in the task).

Today it is a popular belief that students attending high school should volunteer in the community as part of their schooling.

Sentence 2 :  States your opinion on the matter.

I strongly agree with this notion.

Sentence 3 :  Briefly outlines what you are going to write in the next two paragraphs to support your opinion.

Volunteer work can provide young people with the experiences they need for paying jobs, and it can also help them see themselves as valuable contributors to society.

Paragraph Two - Body

Sentence 1  (topic sentence):  Tells the reader what this paragraph is about by introducing your first point .

When completing compulsory work activities with charitable organizations or community organizations, students gain skills that they can add to their resumes and use in future jobs.

Sentence 2 :  Assumes that the reader doesn’t know anything about this topic, and explains your point clearly.

Working out in the real world quickly teaches young people the importance of time management, clear communication and teamwork.

Sentence 3 :  Gives a real-life or made-up example that illustrates and supports this point.

Employers like McDonald’s restaurants, which provide many young people with their first paying jobs, look for volunteer work on resumes as evidence of having developed some relevant work skills.

Sentence 4 :  Concedes to a relevant opposing position but redirects to yours.

So, although students are not paid for their time, they are building valuable abilities for future employment.

Paragraph Three - Body – Repeat the above

Sentence 1  (topic sentence):  Tells the reader what this paragraph is about by introducing the second point .

Perhaps even more importantly, when students volunteer, they are more likely to realize that their actions have a positive impact on the world around them.

Often the problems of our world can seem overwhelming, but if students are given the opportunity to help others, even in a small way, they will see that they can make a difference.

Sentence 3 :  Gives a real-life or made-up example that illustrates and supports this point .

In schools that have been running these programs, there has been an incredible boost in student morale, and the community has benefitted from the talent and time that young people have contributed to the many programs that need support.

It’s true that studying for academics is time-consuming, and students already have a lot to do in a day, but if we teach them how to step up and help others, we create a better future for us all.

Paragraph Four – Conclusion

Sentence 1 :  Rephrase your opinion and sum up your two supporting points.

In conclusion, it is a great idea to have unpaid community service as part of a high school program because it will help the next generation prepare for employment, and it will build a caring community that is willing and able to make our world a better place.

Sentence 2 :  Make a prediction or a recommendation based on what you have said.

It’s my hope to see this in every school.

What I hope you see from this example is that when you pay attention to how you organize your essay, it’s easier to read. I also want you to realize that it isn’t difficult to accomplish this clarity when you have a reliable structure in mind.

Check back for future blogs that will show you how to modify this formula for other kinds of IELTS essay tasks.

Blank template for you

In the meantime, here is a blank template for you to use when you write your next agree/disagree essay.

AGREE/DISAGREE 4-PARAGRAPH FORMULA

Paragraph One -Introduction

Sentence 1:

___________________________________________________________________________

State the premise that the essay will address (you can simply rephrase the words in the task).

Sentence 2:

State your opinion on the matter.

Sentence 3:

Briefly outline what you are going to write in the next two paragraphs to support your opinion.

Paragraphs Two and Three – the Body of Support

Sentence 1 (topic sentence):

Tell the reader what this paragraph is about by introducing your first point .

Assume that the reader doesn’t know anything about this topic and explain your point clearly.

Give a real-life or made-up example that illustrates and supports this point.

Sentence 4:

Concede to a relevant opposing position but redirect to yours.

Paragraph Three – Repeat the above

Sentence 1 (topic sentence)

Tell the reader what this paragraph is about by introducing second point .

Give a real-life or made-up example that illustrates and supports this point .

Rephrase your opinion and sum up your two supporting points.

Make a prediction or a recommendation based on what you have said.

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