IELTS Writing Task 2: Essay Structure, Types and Samples

IELTS Writing Task 2 is a 250-word essay where you respond to a point of view, argument, or problem, and it is worth two-thirds of your total writing marks. You get the full Writing test of 60 minutes, and you should spend about 40 minutes on Task 2 because it carries far more weight than Task 1. For most Indian test-takers, this is the single biggest lever on the writing band, so learning its structure, question types, and marking criteria is where your preparation time pays off most.

What IELTS Writing Task 2 is

IELTS Writing Task 2 asks you to write a formal essay of at least 250 words in response to a prompt, and it counts for two-thirds of your writing score. The prompt gives you a statement or situation and then asks you to agree or disagree, discuss both sides, weigh advantages against disadvantages, suggest solutions, or answer a two-part question. Your job is to build a clear, well-organised argument with reasons and examples.

The task is the same in both the Academic and General Training modules, so the advice on this page applies whichever version you sit. Only the topics tend to differ slightly; the essay skill you are being tested on is identical.

You have 60 minutes for the whole Writing test, and Task 2 should take about 40 of them. That leaves 20 minutes for Task 1, which makes sense because Task 2 is longer and carries double the marks. A common Indian test-taker mistake is to over-invest in Task 1 and then rush the essay, which drags the overall writing band down.

Answer-first matters here too: the examiner wants to see a clear position or direct response early. If your introduction wanders and never states what you think, you have already capped your Task Response score before the body even begins.

The four marking criteria

Your Task 2 essay is scored on four equally weighted criteria, each worth 25% of the task band. Knowing what each one measures tells you exactly where marks are won and lost.

Because the four criteria are equal, a weakness in any one caps your band. Many Indian candidates have strong ideas and good vocabulary but lose marks on grammar accuracy, especially articles (a, an, the) and subject-verb agreement. Fixing recurring grammar slips is often the fastest route from 6 to 7.

The 5 Task 2 question types

There are five common Task 2 question types, and each one demands a specific response and structure. Misreading the type is the most damaging Task Response error, so learn to spot them at a glance. The table below maps each type to what you must do and how to structure it.

Watch the exact wording. “To what extent do you agree or disagree?” is an opinion essay, while “Discuss both views and give your opinion” is a discussion essay, and treating one as the other is a classic way to lose Task Response marks.

A four-paragraph structure that scores

A clean four-paragraph structure, introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion, scores well across all five question types because it gives the examiner clear progression to reward. Each body paragraph should develop one main idea with an explanation and a supporting example.

The reusable template

• Introduction: paraphrase the question, then state your position or what the essay will cover (2 sentences).
• Body 1: topic sentence with your first main idea, then explain it, then give an example.
• Body 2: topic sentence with your second main idea, then explain it, then give an example.
• Conclusion: restate your position and summarise the two main ideas in one or two sentences.

Aim for roughly 40 to 50 words in the introduction, 80 to 100 words in each body paragraph, and 30 to 40 in the conclusion. That naturally lands you comfortably over the 250-word minimum without padding.

Do not memorise a whole essay and force it onto the question. Examiners are trained to spot memorised chunks, and a template of empty phrases with no real content is penalised under Task Response. Use the structure as a frame, not a script.

Paraphrasing the question in your introduction

Paraphrasing means rewriting the question in your own words to open the essay, and it is expected in a band-7 introduction. Copying the prompt word for word does not count toward your 250 words and shows a limited Lexical Resource, so change the vocabulary and, where you can, the sentence structure.

Here is a simple worked example of paraphrasing a prompt:

• Original: “Some people think that children should start school at a very early age, while others believe they should not start until they are older.”
• Paraphrase: “There is a debate about whether young children ought to begin formal education while very young or wait until they are more mature.”

Notice how “start school at a very early age” becomes “begin formal education while very young,” and “think” becomes “There is a debate.” Change words for synonyms and shift the grammar, but never change the meaning. Building a bank of synonyms through regular vocabulary practice makes paraphrasing far quicker in the exam.

Linking and cohesive words by function

Cohesive devices are the linking words that connect your ideas and guide the examiner through your argument, and using them accurately lifts your Coherence & Cohesion score. The trick is to use them naturally and correctly, not to stuff every sentence with connectors. The table groups useful linkers by the job they do.

Vary your linkers rather than starting every paragraph with “Moreover.” Overusing the same device, or misusing one, actually lowers the score, so accuracy beats quantity every time.

How and when to give your opinion

Give your opinion whenever the question asks for it, and make it clear and consistent from start to finish. In an opinion (agree/disagree) essay, state your view in the introduction and hold it right through to the conclusion. In a discussion essay, you usually present both sides first and then give your view.

Use clear opinion language so the examiner is never in doubt about your position:

• “In my opinion, …”
• “I firmly believe that …”
• “From my perspective, …”
• “I would argue that …”

Avoid sitting on the fence. If a prompt asks whether you agree, decide, even a partial position like “I largely agree” is fine, but a vague answer that never commits weakens Task Response. Keep the same stance throughout; contradicting yourself between the introduction and conclusion costs marks.

Common Task 2 topics

Task 2 topics are drawn from familiar areas of public life, so you can prepare ideas and vocabulary in advance. The most common themes are:

• Education: school starting age, online learning, exams versus continuous assessment, university funding
• Health: diet and lifestyle, government spending on healthcare, sport and fitness, mental health
• Technology: the internet and social media, automation and jobs, screen time for children
• Environment: climate change, plastic waste, public transport, individual versus government responsibility
• Government and society: crime and punishment, taxation, funding the arts, ageing populations

You do not need expert knowledge; you need clear reasoning and relevant examples. Indian test-takers can draw on familiar contexts, for example rapid growth in online education, air quality in cities like Delhi, or the shift to digital payments, as long as the example genuinely supports your point. Build topic vocabulary through steady reading and preparation practice.

A short worked model paragraph (band-8 quality)

Here is a single body paragraph answering the prompt “Some people believe that public money should be spent on public transport rather than roads. To what extent do you agree?” It shows the topic sentence, explanation, and example structure at band-8 level.

“Investing in public transport rather than roads brings the greatest benefit to the largest number of people. Well-funded buses and metro networks move far more commuters per rupee than widening roads, which tend to fill with private cars almost as fast as they are built. In Delhi, for instance, the expansion of the metro has given millions an affordable, reliable alternative to driving, easing congestion and cutting pollution at the same time. Spending on roads alone rarely delivers such broad, lasting gains.”

Notice the features that earn the band: a clear topic sentence, one developed idea, a specific example, and a mix of sentence structures. The vocabulary is precise (“commuters,” “congestion,” “expansion”) without being forced, and the linkers (“for instance”) are used naturally.

Common Task 2 mistakes to avoid

Most lost Task 2 marks come from a short list of avoidable mistakes. Fixing these often matters more than learning new vocabulary.

• Going off-topic: answering a similar question you practised instead of the one on the paper.
• Memorised essays: forcing a learned essay or empty template phrases onto the prompt; examiners spot and penalise this.
• Under 250 words: a short essay is penalised for length, so always cross the minimum.
• No clear position: never stating what you think in an opinion essay.
• Repeating ideas: saying the same thing twice to fill space instead of developing new points.

Errors common among Indian test-takers

• Articles: dropping or misusing a, an, the, for example “Government should spend money” instead of “The government should spend money.”
• Subject-verb agreement: “People is” instead of “People are.”
• Overly formal or filmy phrasing: ornate, indirect openings instead of a clear, direct answer.
• Prepositions: “discuss about,” “return back,” or “cope up with,” which are Indian-English habits that read as errors.

The fastest way to remove these errors is to have your essays marked so the same mistakes stop repeating. That is exactly where regular writing practice with one-to-one feedback moves your band.

Frequently Asked Questions