In your IELTS Writing exam, you will need to write an essay on a given topic. You will get a statement on a common topic, and be asked to respond to that statement (also known as the essay topic). This IELTS writing task 2 response is required both for the academic and general training IELTS candidates.
Your essay should contain at least 250 words, and you should finish your essay in 40 minutes.
Now, the first thing you should probably know is the types of questions (or essay types) that you are likely to encounter in your exam (IELTS Writing Task 2 exam – to be more specific). This is because both the structure of the essay and how you develop your response depend on the type of essay that you will write.
IELTS essays have 5 main different types. An IELTS essay in your exam could be one of these 5 different types, and to get a higher band score, you should be ready to respond to any type of them as you do not know what type of essay you will be asked to write during the test. The approach and structure of writing an IELTS essay also may vary to a certain extent based on the essay type. That is to say that the “introduction” of your essay, the “main body paragraphs” and the “conclusion” of your essay could be different based on the essay type you respond to. You might also need to include your opinion in your essay depending on the essay type. So, it is really, really important that you know the five distinct IELTS essay types and the main differences among them. It will help you develop a high-quality essay that will earn you a higher band score.
The 5 types of IELTS writing task 2 (IELTS Essay) questions include the below:
Let us discuss the 5 main types of IELTS writing task 2 questions (Essay Question types) in detail:
A common question type on the Writing Task 2 is the “opinion” essay (also known as “Agree/Disagree essay or argumentative essay). An opinion essay basically asks you to give your own opinion on a given argument. The first part of the question is a statement and you are then asked to state your opinion on the issue. You should also include a range of other viewpoints to demonstrate that you genuinely understand both sides of an argument. The instructions on an opinion essay, however, can be written in several ways. Examples include the below:
Here is an example of each:
1. In the future, more people will go on holiday in their own country and not travel abroad on holiday? Do you agree or disagree? [Read the Model Essay]
2. The main purpose of public libraries is to provide books, and they shouldn’t waste their limited resources and space on providing expensive hi-tech media such as computer software, videos and DVDs. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? [Read the Model Essay]
3. Some people believe that salary is more important than job satisfaction for employees. How far do you agree with this statement?
4. Some people believe that teenagers are facing more problems in their life than they did in the past and this is because parents are spending more time at work than at home. Do you agree? [Read the Model Essay]
5. More and more qualified people are moving from poor to rich countries to fill vacancies in specialist areas like engineering, computing and medicine. Some people believe that by encouraging the movement of such people, rich countries are stealing from poor countries. Others feel that this is only part of the natural movement of workers around the world. Which viewpoint do you agree with? [Read the Model Essay]
6. Some people think that success is the best measure of intelligence, while others think that intelligence can be measured in other ways. What is your opinion?
Key strategies for an “opinion” IELTS Essay:
Tips to write an “opinion” type IELTS Essay:
You should briefly mention your own opinion about the statement or argument at the end of the “introduction” of your essay so that the examiner does not have to wonder about your viewpoint while he or she reads your essay.
The phrases you should use when giving your opinion about something –
✔ “In my view”/ “in my opinion” is used when expressing your opinion about something:
• The government, in my opinion, should be in charge of important research.
• In my view, the government should take measures to curb traffic congestion.
✔ “… take the view that”/ “… be of the opinion” that is used to express a particular opinion in a formal way:
• Most people take the view that tax on fuel price is the key to preventing air pollution.
• Scientists are of the opinion that the government should allocate a substantial budget on space research.
✔ Even if you state what others think about something, make sure to include your opinion as well. For example:
• Most people take the view that tax on fuel price is the key to preventing air pollution and I somewhat agree with them.
• Scientists are of the opinion that the government should allocate a substantial budget to space research and I concur with this opinion to some extent.
✔ “Entirely agree”/ “wholeheartedly agree” is used to agree completely with someone or something:
• The writer entirely agrees with the view that more tourists will choose to go on holiday in their own country due to the pandemic.
• I agree wholeheartedly with the statement that states that we should spend more quality time with our children to keep them away from developing bad habits.
✔ “Agree up to a point” is used to partly agree with someone or something:
• Although I agree with the statement up to a point, I find it hard to believe that the increase in price can reduce fuel consumption.
✔ “Concur” is used to agree with someone or something in a formal way:
• The writer concurs with this view.
✔ “Totally”/ “strongly”/ “fundamentally” is used to agree or disagree with someone or something:
• I strongly disagree with the views on migration.
• I totally believe that the amount spent on space research is justified.
Tips: Agreeing and contrasting opinions:
Use the main body paragraphs of your essay to expound your opinion and agree or disagree with the views of other people. Use linking words such as “also”, “similarly”, “likewise”, and “in addition” when discussing ideas connected to one point of view, and use “yet”, “on the other hand”, “although” and “however” to introduce contrasting point.
Useful vocabulary to express your opinion:
Simply stating an opinion:
My opinion is that…
In my opinion…
I think…
I feel that…
I believe…
Personally speaking…
In my view…
From my perspective…
From my point of view…
It seems to me that…
To my mind…
My view on the matter is that…
Strongly agreeing with an opinion/statement:
I firmly believe that/ I strongly believe that/ I wholeheartedly believe that…
I strongly agree with the idea that…
I totally agree with the statement that says that…
Strongly disagreeing with an opinion/statement:
I firmly disagree with the opinion that…
I strongly deny that…
I wholeheartedly oppose that…
I completely disagree because…
I strongly disagree with the notion…
Partially agreeing with an opinion:
I suppose…
I somewhat agree that…
I agree with this statement to some extent
I agree to a certain extent but I also think that…
IELTS Opinion Essay Structure:
Another common essay question type is the Advantage and Disadvantage type Essay. This type of essay asks you to evaluate an argument and point out the main advantages and disadvantages of something. Put simply, you will need to write the benefits and drawbacks of something in a balanced way to prove that you understand both sides. Try to put equal emphasis on both advantages and disadvantages while writing such as essay.
Typical question instructions can be written in various ways. Examples include the below:
Below are the examples of each:
1. More and more businesses, as well as individuals, are choosing to communicate either professionally or socially using technology rather than being face to face. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using the technology for communicating.
2. People now have the freedom to work and live anywhere in the world due to the development of communication technology and transportation. Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?
3. In some cultures, children are often told that they can achieve anything if they try hard enough. What are the advantages and disadvantages of giving children this message?
4. Computers are becoming an essential part of education. Discuss the Advantages and disadvantages of using computer technology in education and give your opinion.
Key strategies for an “Advantage and Disadvantage” IELTS Essay:
Tips on writing an “advantage and disadvantage” IELTS essay:
“Advantage” is a countable noun meaning a good feature that something has, which makes it more useful or better than other things. Some synonyms of “advantage” are –
benefit, merit, profit, good-quality, superiority, primacy, supremacy, lead, edge, convenience, worth, blessing, strong point, virtue etc.
“Disadvantage” is a countable noun denoting a bad feature that something has, which make it less useful or worse than other things: Some synonyms of “disadvantage” are –
drawbacks, downside, pitfall, fault, defect, loss, demerit, bad quality, handicap etc.
Knowing these synonyms would help you paraphrase the topic and show your skills in using a wide range of vocabulary.
Now regarding the structure of the essay, the safe way of organizing an advantage and disadvantage essay is to write one paragraph giving the benefits of an argument (or something) and another paragraph giving the drawbacks.
The phrases you should use when describing the “advantages” of something –
✔ “The most decisive/distinct/definite/obvious advantage of…” is used when describing an obvious advantage:
• The most decisive advantage of telecommuting is that employees are allowed to work from home.
• The most definite benefit of using technology in education is the connectivity it allows among teachers, students and guardians.
✔ “One of the great/big/major/huge/significant advantages of…” is used when writing a great advantage:
• One of the significant advantages of telecommuting is that it helps to have a better work-life balance.
• One of the major advantages of such an arrangement is that it reduces long-term costs and manual labour hours.
✔ “A good/ great thing about …” is used when mentioning a good feature of something:
• A great thing about telecommuting is that employees can skip commuting and dive right into work-related tasks.
• A good thing about helping those poor nations is that it helps maintain global peace.
✔ Similarly, “A positive aspect of…” is also used when mentioning a good feature of something:
• A positive aspect of telecommuting is that it increases the productivity of employees.
• A positive aspect of giving some pocket money to young children each week is that it teaches them the useful skills of money management.
✔ “A good/ great thing about …” is used when mentioning a good feature of something:
• A great thing about telecommuting is that employees can skip commuting and dive right into work-related tasks.
• A good thing about helping those poor nations is that it helps maintain global peace.
✔ “Likewise/ Moreover” could be used to point out/introduce another good feature of something:
• Likewise, it can be a source of foreign remittance that can boost the economy of the country.
• Moreover, a business owner enjoys more freedom and more choices in life than most 9:00 to 5:00 employees.
The useful phrases you can use when describing the “disadvantages” of something:
✔ “The main/principal/primary/key disadvantage of…” is used when mentioning a primary disadvantage:
• The main disadvantage of telecommuting is the lack of face-to-face communication.
• The primary disadvantage of young people taking a break from studies to travel is that many of them do not use the time to learn and thus waste valuable time.
✔ “The big/serious/huge/distinct/obvious/major/severe/considerable disadvantage” of is used when writing an important disadvantage:
• One of the serious disadvantages of telecommuting is the lack of collaboration between work teams.
• One of the distinct disadvantages of allowing children to study on a digital device is that they get easily distracted and start doing something else other than studying.
✔ “Drawback” could be used when you think that something is not good, though it has minor other positive aspects:
• A drawback of telecommuting is that employees often are not present in the office and work from home.
• The next drawback of travelling solo is that the traveller does not have anybody to look after or comfort him in the event of sickness or emotional distress.
✔ “Downside” is used to denote the disadvantage of a situation:
• The lack of camaraderie is often one of the major downsides to telecommuting.
• The downside of mass migration to cities is the primary reason for traffic congestion in such cities.
Tips: Order your ideas in an organised way.
You have to present your ideas in a logical way to end up writing a great essay. To do that, you can use linking words such as “in addition”, “on the other hand”, “another”, “moreover”, “furthermore” and so on. Linking words are useful to show how your ideas are connected. Here is an example of the use of linking words:
Convenience foods have several bad points. The major drawback of this food is that it uses unhealthy ingredients. Moreover, most of these convenience foods lack proper nutrients. Furthermore, the regular intake of these foods promotes ageing. Thus, the advantages it reaps outweigh its disadvantages.
IELTS “Advantage and Disadvantage“ Essay Structure:
Some IELTS Writing Task 2 questions may ask you to analyse, discuss or scrutinise a topic, or compare or contrast two different ideas. Typically, you will be offered two statements of opinion that oppose one another and then you will be asked to expound on both sides of the debate and state your opinion.
A discussion essay should aim to reach a conclusion after analysing the debates on a topic. So, a discussion essay objectively discusses the perspectives of the opinion that are not necessarily your opinion. That is why your opinion shouldn’t be shared in such a discussion essay until the statement of the position in the concluding paragraph.
Typical question instructions can be written in several ways. Examples include the below:
Here are a few examples of IELTS discussion questions:
1. Some people think that the range of technology currently available is increasing the gap between rich people and poor people. Others think that it is causing the opposite effect. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
2. In some countries, a few people earn extremely high salaries. Some people think that this is good for a country, while others believe that the government should control salaries and limit the amount people can earn. Discuss both these views and then give your own opinion.
3. Some people think that the government is responsible for the rise in obesity in children, while others think it is the fault of the parents. Discuss both sides of this argument and give your own opinion.
Key strategies for a “Discussion (Discuss both views)” IELTS Essay:
Tips: Language to use while writing a discussion essay:
It is important to learn some useful expressions for the IELTS discussion type essays. That is to say that a variety of language should be used to discuss both views in your essay. When you write a discussion essay that asks you to discuss both views of a statement or contrasting view, you have to support two different views that are not your opinions. You need to write what other people think, other people’s views and you also need to support what they think. So, your ability to use different expressions and vocabulary for giving other people’s opinions is required to get a higher band score.
The phrases you can use when discussing both sides in your essay:
✔ “Many people believe/think/feel/claim/argue that…” could be used to start discussing a view in your essay. It is a very common expression, but still, it is an academic expression, and you can use it sometimes.
• Many people believe that modern technology has increased our daily productivity in workplaces.
• Many people argue that the government should take responsibility for those elder people as they were taxpayers their entire life.
✔ “It is argued by some/many people that…” is a very nice expression because it is a passive form. This is particularly useful to give the examiner some passive sentences in your essay. But do not overuse the passive sentences in your essay.
• It is argued by some people that the government should give money to creative people, such as artists and musicians.
• It is argued by many that children should leave their parent’s home as soon as they turn 16 years old.
✔ “A commonly held belief is that…” is a very useful phrase because it’s very academic. It will help you show your skill in using various expressions and vocabulary while writing an essay.
• A commonly held belief is that a government has a responsibility to its citizen to ensure their safety.
• A commonly held belief is that decentralisation could solve the problem to a great extent.
✔ “They maintain that…” is very simple but it’s academic and clear as well.
• They maintain that the sports should receive subsidies or sponsorship from big companies.
• They maintain that elder people need support from their immediate family members and should be surrounded by their children and grandchildren.
✔ “Yet others argue that…” is used to present a counterargument.
• Many believe that arts projects like exhibitions of paintings should be helped financially by big companies, yet others argue that big companies ought to sponsor scientific research.
• Some people claim that they should be given full freedom to choose a design and structure while building their houses, yet others argue that it makes more sense when the authority decide the design and structure of citizens’ house.
✔ “Other people are of the opinion that…” is used to express the other side of the argument.
• Other people are of the opinion that the government should allocate more money to education.
• Other people are of the opinion that public health should get the highest priority while deciding the national budget.
✔ “Yet other people put forward the view that…” is also used to express the opposite opinion of a statement/topic.
• Yet other people put forward the view that the government should increase spending on social benefits.
• Yet other people put forward the view that schools should choose subjects for high-school learners only after discussing it with the parents and the students.
IELTS “Discussion (Discuss both views)“ Essay Structure:
In this type of IELTS essay question, you are asked to outline the problems (or reasons behind the problem) associated with the given topic and then you require to find one or more solutions to the problem. Alternatively, sometimes you need to list out the causes and effects of a particular subject/issue.
If you are asked to give the reason and solution of an issue, you should focus on explaining why this issue is created and what could be a possible solution to that. Please note the question carefully. If it asks you to give reasons (plural of reason), you should outline more than one reason. If it asks you to give solutions (note the plural form of “solution” here), you must include more than one solution.
Similarly, this kind of essay topic may demand you to write about the causes and effects of something. If the question is what are the causes (note the plural form here) and effects (it is also plural), mentioning just one cause and effect is not enough.
Typical question instructions can come in various ways. Examples include the below:
Here are a few examples of IELTS Problem/Cause and Solution type questions:
1. Many students find it difficult to pay attention at school. What are the reasons for this? What could be done to solve this problem? [Read the Model Essay]
2. Nowadays many people complain that they have difficulty getting enough sleep. What problems can lack of sleep cause? What can be done about lack of sleep? [Read the Model Essay]
3. An increasing number of professionals, such as doctors, engineers and teachers, are leaving their own poorer countries to work in developed countries. What problems does this cause? What solutions can you suggest to deal with this situation? [Read the Model Essay]
4. People today suffer from more stress-related problems than in the past. What is the cause of this? What are the possible effects of this development?
Key strategies for a “Problem/Cause and Solution/Effect” IELTS Essay:
Tips: Language to use while writing a Problem/Cause and Solution/Effect essay:
You should use some useful and related phrases and vocabulary while writing this type of IELTS writing task 2 answer. If you get such an essay question in your IELTS Writing Task 2 exam, you need to discuss the problems or causes of a problem and suggest solutions or effects based on what the question demands and some vocabulary and phrases would definitely help you write a great essay.
The phrases you can use when writing about Problem/Cause and Solution/Effect in your essay:
✔ “Problem” is a noun denoting a situation that has to be dealt with because it causes inconvenience or harm. Some synonyms of “problems” are –
issue, difficulty, trouble, obstacle, complication, predicament etc.
Some examples to present a problem:
• Many developing nations are facing enormous economic and social problems after the pandemic.
• Working mothers in today’s society are plagued with many social problems.
• Drug abuse is a severe problem in many countries.
• The government needs to do more to help curb the problem (=deal with the problem) of traffic congestion.
• Problems can arise (problem can happen) when highly skilled workers end up seeking a better life in rich countries.
• The government should address the problem (find ways of solving the problem) of air pollution.
✔ “Cause” is a noun denoting a person or thing that gives rise to an action, phenomenon, or condition. Some synonyms of “cause” are –
origin, source, root, basis, foundation etc.
Note: “Cause” can also be a verb denoting the creation or generation of something.
Some examples to present a cause/reason with some useful phrases and words:
• The root cause of poverty lies (=the origin of a problem is) in the unequal distribution of resources.
• The issues caused by sleep deprivation go beyond just tiredness and often lower the body’s resistance to different common diseases.
• Financial stress is perhaps the most common cause of this phenomenon.
✔ “Issue” is a noun referring to a subject that is important and needs to be explained; or a problem that requires to be dealt with. It is used particularly about problems that affect a lot of people in society. Some synonyms of “Issue” are –
matter, affair, thing, topic, concern etc.
Some examples to present an issue:
• Global warming is the biggest issue (=the most important issue) facing the world today.
• The issue can only be resolved (=be successfully dealt with) through dialogue.
• Many poorer nations fail to address (=try to deal with) social issues like unemployment and violence against women.
• Unemployment is an important issue when dealing with poverty.
• Single-sex education is a highly controversial issue in many countries.
✔ “Solution” is a noun that denotes finding the remedy or cure of a problem. Some synonyms of “Solution” are –
Remedy, answer, cure, resolution etc.
Some examples to present a solution:
• The government is trying to find a solution to the traffic congestion in major cities.
• When a society faces challenges relating to poverty, the ideal solution is education.
• There is no easy solution to global warming (=there is no easy way of dealing with global warming).
• In this essay, the writer will discuss the root causes of global warming, and try to put forward (=suggest) some effective long-term solutions.
• Single-sex education is a highly controversial issue in many countries.
✔ “Answer” is a countable noun that means a successful way of dealing with a problem. Some synonyms of “Answer” are –
Solution, remedy, cure, resolution, rebuttal etc.
Some examples to propose/suggest an answer to an issue or a problem:
• Many people think that the only answer to the problem of global warming is to use green energy.
• Many countries have been struggling with brain drain for a long time, but no one has yet come up with an easy answer (=thought of an answer or find a solution).
IELTS “Problem/Cause and Solution/Effect“ Essay Structure:
This type of IELTS Essay topic is also called two questions, direct questions, mixed questions IELTS essays. Typically, it comes with a statement or topic and then it asks you two different questions. It could ask for your opinion, then a solution, a critical analysis, a discussion and so on, and that is why it is also called the mixed IELTS Essay.
Below are a few examples of such essay topics:
1. Many stores sell organic fruits and vegetables (produced without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides) even though they often cost more than conventional fruits and vegetables. Why do some people prefer to eat organic food? Do you think organic food is worth the extra cost? [Read the Model Essay]
2. Many people prefer to watch foreign films rather than locally produced films. Why could this be? Should governments give more financial support to local film industries?
3. News editors decide what to broadcast on television and what to print in newspapers. What factors do you think influence these decisions? Do we become used to bad news? Would it be better if more good news was reported? [Read the Model Essay]
4. Happiness is considered very important in life. Why is it difficult to define? What factors are important in achieving happiness? [Read the Model Essay]
Key strategies for a “Double Question or Mixed” IELTS Essay:
Tips: Language to use while writing a Double Question or Mixed Essay:
While writing this type of essay, you often need to give reasons why something happens and also give your opinion or propose a solution.
Below are some useful expressions to give reasons:
✔ “Reason” could be a countable and uncountable noun that denotes a cause, explanation, or justification for an action or event. Some synonyms of “reason” are –
cause, grounds, motive, rationale, basis etc.
✔ “The reason (for this) is that…” is used to state the reason for something, particularly when the explanation is long.
• The reason for preferring organic food is that it is beneficial to health.
• The reason for taking a gap year after completing high school is that it gives young students an excellent opportunity to travel and gather first-hand experience.
✔ “In order to…” is used to mention why someone does something or why something happens.
• People prefer organic food in order to keep their bodies healthy.
• The world leaders gather in such events in order to come with effective solutions to pressing global problems.
✔ “Why” is a conjunction used to write about the reason that brings about something.
• There are many reasons why people prefer organic food.
• The primary reason why such research works are often misleading is that they do not consider anomalies or exceptions.
IELTS “Double Question or Mixed Essays“ Structure:
This post was last modified on 3rd December 2021 1:30 pm