Planning 1: Different types of questions

Many IELTS teachers focus on the several different types of IELTS Writing Task 2 questions. It’s possible to group the question types in several ways, and different teachers use different ways to do this. All the different question types can be frightening!

For example, it’s common to see these groups:

• Opinion essays

• Discussion essays

• Advantage and disadvantage essays

• Advantage and disadvantage + opinion essays

• Problem and solution essays

• Direct questions

• Two part questions

Fortunately, you don’t need to worry about all the possible types of IELTS questions. You only need to understand the following three things:

1. Do I need to give my opinion? 

2. Do I need to discuss both sides?

3. Are there two parts to the question?

If you understand these three things, you’re ready to answer the question.

1. Do I need to give my opinion?

Most IELTS Writing Task 2 questions ask for your opinion. It is important to pay attention to this because you need to clearly give your opinion if it’s asked for.

Sometimes it's clear that you need to give your opinion, for example:

• In your opinion, is it better to…?

• What is your opinion?

• Do you agree or disagree?

• To what extent do you agree?

• Discuss both views and give your opinion.

• Should...?

• do you think...?

Sometimes it's not so clear, especially in Academic Test questions, for example:

• Is this a positive or negative development?

• To what extent do the benefits outweigh the problems?

• What factors are most important in…?

Essentially, if the question asks you to decide if you agree/ disagree, or asks if one side is better or more important than the other, then you need to give your opinion. Look for keywords like “agree”, “think”, “or”, “outweigh”, and “most”.  Most IELTS questions ask for your opinion in one of these ways.

You should make your opinion clear in your introduction. It will form part of your thesis statement (we will discuss this in Introductions 2: Outlining main ideas).

On the other hand, some IELTS questions simply ask you to present advantages or disadvantages, causes, or reasons for something without asking for your opinion. For example:

• What factors cause…?

• What are the advantages and disadvantages?

• What are the benefits and problems?

In these cases, you do not need to say what your opinion  is.

Exercise 1:

Decide if the following questions ask for your opinion.

1. Some people think that outdoor activities are more beneficial for children’s development than playing computer games. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

2. Some people prefer to eat at restaurants, whereas others prefer to eat home-made food. Which do you prefer?

3. It is generally agreed that family relationships are not as close as they were in the past. Explain why you think this has happened and suggest how family relationships could be made closer.

4. Many people think it’s important to save money for future use. What are the advantages and disadvantages of saving money for the future?

5. Some people believe that governments should invest more in trains, while others argue that it is more important to improve the roads. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

6.  Some people argue that we are born with a fixed personality while others argue that we develop our personality because of our experiences. What do you think is the most important factor?

7. Some people enjoy holidays which include many exciting activities, while others prefer a relaxing holiday by the beach. Discuss both views.

8. Some people work very hard to make their dreams come true, while others are happy with what they already have. Do you think people should chase their dreams?

9. Some countries are making serious efforts to reduce global warming. Do you believe that all countries should do the same?

10. In some countries university education is provided free of charge to students while in others students are required to pay large fees. In your opinion, is it better to charge students for higher education?

11. In the past people had to follow strict rules about the clothes they could wear at work. These days, in many places these rules have become more relaxed. Is this a positive or negative development?

2. Do I need to discuss both sides?

Some IELTS Writing Task 2 questions require that you discuss both sides of the argument. If the question asks you to discuss both sides, you must include one body paragraph about one side, and one body paragraph about the other side.

Tasks that ask for you to discuss both sides will clearly ask for it:

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages.

Discuss both sides and give your opinion.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of...?

These questions will say “both” or “and” in the question, so it’s clear that you need to discuss both sides.  

Exercise 2: Decide if you must discuss both sides

Look at the following IELTS Writing Task 2 questions and decide if you must look at both sides of the question. Answer Yes or No.

1. Some people prefer to eat at restaurants, whereas others prefer to eat home-made food.

Which do you prefer?

2. Mobile phones allow us to quickly and easily communicate with others. However, they can be irritating to other people.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with these statements?

3. Some people believe that you should judge others on their appearance, while others think that appearance is not important.

What is your opinion?

4. What are the advantages and disadvantages of raising children in a small town?

5. Some people believe that governments should invest more in trains, while others argue that it is more important to improve the roads.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

6. Some people enjoy holidays which include many exciting activities, while others prefer a relaxing holiday by the beach.

Which do you think is better?

7. In most countries children go to school at age 7, while in other countries children are forced to go to school earlier.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of starting school early and what is your opinion?

3. Are there 2 parts to the question?

Finally, you need to check if the question includes 2 parts. This is usually easy to see.

The most common example of two part questions ask you to explain a cause and a solution to a problem. For example:

However, other two part questions exist, for example:

It’s not difficult to see that a question has two parts, but don’t forget to answer both parts in your essay! If the question includes two parts, you need to answer one part in one body paragraph, and the other part in the next body paragraph.