WRITING

Writing Test Task 2

General & Academic Tests

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1. General Information

Task 2 is an essay writing task. You are given a question which you must answer. There are several variations on the type of question, but in general you are expected to discuss something, and give your opinion. You must write 250 words minimum, but you should aim for 270 - 300 words. You have approximately 40 minutes to plan and write your essay (the writing test including tasks 1 and 2 is 1 hour).

Writing Task 2:

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?

For more Writing Task 2 mock questions go here

IELTS Writing Task 2 model answers

2. Question Types

The IELTS Writing Task 2 requires you to show your ability to organise your thoughts, use appropriate vocabulary and grammar, and develop a coherent and well-supported argument.

There are several ways that the question can be phrased. Below, I will go through the different question types, but essentially, you need to directly answer the question (or questions) and give a clear and consistent opinion.

Opinion Questions:

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

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

What is your opinion?

For this type of question you do not have to discuss both sides of the argument, although advanced answers usually do this anyway. But, you absolutely must present a clear and consistent opinion. Some teachers recommend you support one point of view throughout your essay in order to maintain a clear and consistent opinion. This makes sense if you are a less confident writer.

Discuss both views (and give your opinion):

Discuss both views.
Discuss both view and give your opinion.
Discuss both sides and give your opinion.

Some people think that newspapers are the best way to learn news. However, others believe that it is better to get the news from other media.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

For this type of question, you must discuss both sides. You are not always asked to give your opinion, but if you are, make sure you give a clear and consistent opinion in your answer. I recommend you always give a clear and consistent opinion, even if not directly asked for in the question.

Discussing advantages and disadvantages:

What are the advantages and disadvantages?
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages.
To what extent do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages and give your opinion.

These days, in most countries it is possible to buy products made in other countries.

To what extent do the benefits of this development outweigh the problems?

For this type of question you must discuss both advantages and disadvantages. You can discuss both advantages and disadvantages in each body paragraph, or you can put the advantages in one body paragraph and the disadvantages in another (this is how I usually do it to make things clearer). You are not always directly asked to give your opinion, but I recommend you always present a clear and consistent opinion in all cases anyway.

Two part Questions:

What factors contribute to…..? + How realistic is the expectation of….?
Why do some people.....? Do you think this is a good thing or bad thing?
Why is this? What effects does it have?

Success is often measured by wealth and material possessions.

Do you think wealth is the best measure of success?

What makes a successful person?

For this type of question you must answer both questions. The best approach is to answer one question in the first body paragraph and the other question in the second body paragraph.

Problem & Solution Questions:

What are the causes of…? + What solutions are there to…?
What are the reasons for…? + How can this problem be fixed?
Explain why this has happened + Explain how it can be solved.

People are often less polite these days than they were in the past.

What are the reasons for this?

How can this problem be fixed?

As with two part questions, you must answer both questions. The best approach is to discuss the problem/ cause question in the first body paragraph, and the solution in the second body paragraph.

Direct Questions:

There are many possible variations, such as:

Do you think people should…?
What do you think is the most important factor in…?
In your opinion, is it better to…?

What factors are most important in achieving happiness?

Just make sure you directly answer the question and give a clear and consistent opinion.

Final comments on question types:

Often people spend too much time worrying about the different types of question. You really only need to think about three things. Does the question:

a) ask for your opinion?

b) ask you to discuss both sides/ views

c) have two parts?

If the question asks for your opinion, then include it in your introduction and conclusion. If you are asked to discuss both advantages and disadvantages, or both views/ sides, make sure you do. Discuss one side in one paragraph, and the other side in the next paragraph. Likewise, if the question includes two parts, make sure you address both parts in your answer. For more information on this, go here.

For any question that asks for your opinion or view, if you are not asked to talk about both sides or views, you can write the whole essay in support of one point of view. However, advanced answers (bands 8 and 9) usually look at both sides of the argument anyway. When giving your opinion, it's really important to be clear and consistent about it, as giving an inconsistent opinion will lower your IELTS band.

3. How to Write and IELTS Essay

Your answer should have the following structure no matter what type of question you are asked:

Introduction: Start with an introduction that clearly states your position on the topic and provides an overview of the main points you will cover in your essay.
2/ 3 Body Paragraphs: You should have 2 or 3 body paragraphs that each have a main central idea, and which then develop and extend this idea. Use clear and concise language to develop your argument or opinion, using relevant examples and evidence to support your claims.
Conclusion: Finally, conclude your essay by summarising your main points and restating your position.

Below you will find links to much more detailed information, as well as exercises and activities on how to structure and write you IELTS Writing Task 2 answer. You will also find blog articles which discuss the best ways to write an effective answer.