IELTS Writing Task 2: Complete Guide to Structure, Question Types & Band 7+ Strategies

The 5 Question Types in IELTS Writing Task 2

Type 1 — Opinion / Agree-Disagree: "To what extent do you agree or disagree?" or "Do you agree or disagree?" You must take a clear position (agree, disagree, or partially agree) and defend it throughout. The most common mistake is being wishy-washy — examiners reward a clear, sustained position over hedging. Structure: introduction with thesis, body 1 = first reason for your position, body 2 = second reason, conclusion restating position.

Type 2 — Discussion (Both Views): "Discuss both views and give your own opinion." You must present BOTH sides fairly before stating your own opinion. The most common mistake is presenting one view weakly to favour the other — examiners reward balanced presentation. Structure: introduction with both views and your position, body 1 = first view with examples, body 2 = second view with examples, conclusion stating your opinion with reasoning.

Type 3 — Problem-Solution (or Causes-Solutions): "What problems does X cause and what solutions can be implemented?" You must identify specific problems AND propose specific solutions. The most common mistake is generic problems and vague solutions — examiners reward concrete, realistic suggestions. Structure: introduction stating the problem area, body 1 = 1–2 specific problems with examples, body 2 = 1–2 specific solutions linked to the problems, conclusion summarising the cause-effect chain.

Type 4 — Advantage-Disadvantage: "What are the advantages and disadvantages of X?" or "Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?" The "outweigh" version requires you to take a position. Structure: introduction defining the topic and your position (if asked), body 1 = main advantages with examples, body 2 = main disadvantages with examples, conclusion weighing the two and stating your position.

Type 5 — Double Question (Direct Question): "Why is this happening? What can be done to address it?" Two questions must both be answered fully. The most common mistake is answering only one question — examiners count this as serious task incompleteness. Structure: introduction acknowledging both questions, body 1 = answer to question 1 with examples, body 2 = answer to question 2 with examples, conclusion summarising both answers.

The 4-Paragraph Structure That Works for Every Question Type

Paragraph 1 — Introduction (40–55 words). Two sentences typically suffice. Sentence 1: paraphrase the question topic and context (do not copy the question word-for-word — examiners deduct marks for unparaphrased introductions). Sentence 2: state your thesis or position (for Opinion essays) or outline your essay structure (for Discussion essays). Avoid generic openers like "Nowadays..." or "In recent years..." — these are overused and add no information.

Paragraph 2 — Body 1 (90–110 words). Topic sentence stating your first main idea. 2–3 sentences developing the idea with explanation. 1–2 sentences providing a specific example (real-world or hypothetical) that illustrates the point concretely. The example is critical for Task Achievement — vague generalisations score lower than concrete examples even if your language is the same.

Paragraph 3 — Body 2 (90–110 words). Same structure as Body 1 but with your second main idea. Use a transition phrase to link to Body 1: "Furthermore," "On the other hand," "Despite these benefits," "Equally important is..." The transition signals to the examiner that your essay has clear cohesion.

Paragraph 4 — Conclusion (40–55 words). Two sentences typically suffice. Sentence 1: summarise your main argument or position (rephrase, do not repeat). Sentence 2: end with a forward-looking statement — implications, recommendations, or a final reflection. Do NOT introduce new ideas in the conclusion (this is a Coherence and Cohesion violation).

Total target: 270–320 words. Writing under 250 caps your Task Achievement at band 5; writing over 350 risks running out of editing time. The optimal length for band 7+ is 280–320 words.

The 4 Scoring Criteria — What Examiners Actually Look For

Task Response (25%): Did you address EVERY part of the question? Did you take a clear position (where required)? Did you support your ideas with relevant examples? Common Task Response failures: answering a different question from the one asked, missing one part of a Double Question, presenting only one side in a Discussion essay, writing under 250 words.

Coherence and Cohesion (25%): Is your essay organised logically? Are paragraphs well-developed with clear topic sentences? Do you use cohesive devices (linking words, pronouns, synonyms) appropriately without overusing them? Common failures: missing topic sentences, no clear paragraph progression, overusing the same linking word ("Firstly... Secondly... Thirdly..."), having only one body paragraph.

Lexical Resource (25%): Do you use a wide range of vocabulary accurately? Do you use less common words appropriately? Do you use collocations naturally? Common failures: repeating the same words multiple times (e.g., using "people" 8 times in one essay), using inappropriate register (informal contractions in academic essays), forcing big words that do not fit the context, spelling errors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy (25%): Do you use a variety of sentence structures (simple, compound, complex, conditional, passive)? Are most of your sentences error-free? Common failures: writing only short simple sentences (caps you at band 6), making frequent grammatical errors that obscure meaning, using complex structures inaccurately (caps you at band 6 even with attempts at complexity).

Each criterion contributes 25% to your Writing Task 2 band. The four criteria are averaged to produce your Task 2 score. Task 2 then carries twice the weight of Task 1 in your overall Writing band.

Vocabulary and Phrases for Band 7+ Writing

For introductions (paraphrase the question): "Recent decades have seen..." / "It is widely acknowledged that..." / "There is ongoing debate over whether..." / "The question of whether [X] has become increasingly relevant..."

For stating your position: "I firmly believe that..." / "In my view..." / "While I recognise [counterpoint], I am of the opinion that..." / "There are compelling reasons to support [position]."

For introducing arguments: "The primary reason for this is..." / "A significant factor contributing to..." / "One of the most compelling arguments in favour of..." / "Equally important is..." / "Furthermore..."

For giving examples: "For instance..." / "A clear illustration of this can be seen in..." / "Consider the case of..." / "This is exemplified by..."

For counterarguments / contrast: "However..." / "Conversely..." / "On the other hand..." / "Despite this..." / "Although there are merits to [opposing view]..."

For conclusions: "In conclusion..." / "To summarise..." / "Taking everything into consideration..." / "Weighing the arguments above..." / "Looking ahead..."

Avoid memorising entire essay templates word-for-word — examiners are trained to spot memorised content and will mark you down severely. Learn structures and useful phrases, but generate the actual content during the test based on the specific question.

Common Task 2 Topics in 2026 (Prepare Vocabulary for Each)

Education: online learning vs classroom learning, university funding, vocational vs academic education, technology in classrooms, lifelong learning. Vocabulary: pedagogy, curriculum, vocational, accreditation, distance learning, autonomous learners.

Technology: social media impact, artificial intelligence, screen time, automation and unemployment, digital privacy, e-commerce. Vocabulary: digital divide, algorithm, bias, cybersecurity, e-commerce, sustainability tech.

Environment: climate change, plastic pollution, renewable energy, sustainable cities, deforestation, individual vs government responsibility. Vocabulary: carbon footprint, biodiversity, mitigation, ecosystems, sustainable, fossil fuels, renewables.

Health: public health funding, diet and obesity, mental health awareness, alternative medicine, ageing populations. Vocabulary: longevity, preventive care, sedentary lifestyle, well-being, holistic health, chronic disease.

Society: urbanisation, crime prevention, gender equality, multiculturalism, work-life balance, ageing populations. Vocabulary: demographic shifts, social cohesion, integration, gender disparities, urban planning.

Work: remote work, automation, job satisfaction, retirement age, gig economy. Vocabulary: workforce, productivity, autonomy, work-life balance, professional development, telecommuting.

Practice writing at least one essay per topic category before your test date. Use English AIdol's AI feedback to evaluate each essay against the four criteria so you can identify and fix weaknesses before exam day.