What is IELTS Writing Task 2 Essay Writing
IELTS Writing Task 2 is a component of the IELTS assessment structure that expects test takers to write a formal essay concerning a perspective, argument, or issue. This task tests the candidate’s logical thinking skills, appropriate language, and the ability to structure their thoughts coherently. The essay should have a length of 250 words at least and candidates have 40 minutes to complete this task. Writing an impactful essay is important to IELTS test takers as it is the key to achieving a 9-band score. A 9 band IELTS essay demonstrates that you have excellent English language skills and are fully fluent in the language.
IELTS Writing Test Syllabus, Exam Pattern, and Duration
There are two most commonly taken IELTS exams – IELTS Academic and IELTS General. Though both exams have a writing task that contributes to the evaluation of the candidate’s language skills, the topics differ, requiring a thorough understanding of the syllabus.
Writing – Academic
The Academic Writing test is intended for those who want to pursue higher education. This section has two writing tasks.
Task 1: In this task, aspirants get either a table, or a graph, or even a chart or diagram. They are required to describe, summarize, or explain the information presented. This may involve comparing data, identifying trends, or explaining a process. Candidates are expected to write at least 150 words and should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
Task 2: This task requires candidates to write an essay in response to a point of view, argument, or problem. They are evaluated to see whether they can come up with a clear and logical argument, support their ideas with evidence, and use appropriate language. The essay must be at least 250 words long, and candidates are advised to spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Writing – General Training
The General Training Writing test is for those who are going to English-speaking countries for secondary education, work experience, or training programs. It also includes two tasks:
Task 1: In this task, aspirants have to write a letter requesting information or explaining a situation. Depending on the prompt, the letter may be formal, semi-formal, or informal. Candidates must write at least 150 words and should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
Task 2: In this second writing task, candidates must write an essay in response to a point of view, argument, or problem. This task assesses your ability to offer a clear argument, support ideas with evidence, and use appropriate language. The essay must be at least 250 words long, and candidates need about 40 minutes to finish this task.
IELTS Writing Task 2 Essays & Their Categories
In IELTS Writing Task 2, candidates will encounter various types of essays. Understanding how to approach each type is crucial for achieving a high score. Here are the main types of essays and guidance on how to write them, along with ten example topics for each.
Agree or Disagree
Here’s how you should write an Agree or Disagree Essay
- Introduction: State your opinion clearly. Mention the topic and briefly outline your main points.
- Body Paragraph 1: Come up with your first main point supporting your opinion. Provide reasons and examples.
- Body Paragraph 2: Write your second main point supporting your opinion. Provide reasons and examples.
- Body Paragraph 3: Address the opposing view and refute it with evidence.
- Conclusion: Summarize your opinion and restate your main points.
Examples of topics of Agree or Disagree Essay
Several people think that the common system of students and teachers in classrooms will give way to something else in 2050. Do you agree? Provide your opinion accordingly.
Everyone should be able to pursue free education, and it should be the responsibility of the Government to not just sponsor but also manage it. Do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Television and video games are fully detrimental to the health of children and their overall development. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give your opinions likewise.
To be a good sportsperson, one has to learn how to control the mind by using techniques like meditation and deep breathing. How far do you agree/disagree with this premise?
Governments should spend less on elections and more on healthcare and education. Do you agree/disagree? Provide your thoughts and opinions accordingly.
Sample Essay
Topic: Many feel that contemporary technologies like Ebooks will ultimately be replacements for regular magazines and newspapers. Do you agree or disagree with this?
Some people say that Ebooks and modern technology will totally replace traditional newspapers and magazines. I disagree strongly with the statement based on a few compelling reasons.
Firstly, while Ebooks and other technologies have undoubtedly fostered convenience and comfort in terms of being able to access material anytime and anywhere, they cannot replace the evergreen charm and feeling of reading an actual magazine or newspaper. We as human beings are sensory creatures and there is always an inherent attraction that the print format brings to the table, something that cannot be replicated through a screen.
Secondly, no matter how much Ebooks and other technologies spread among the masses, they can always be a complementary proposition and not a replacement. This is because of their higher price points and overall inaccessibility. In contrast, a few rupees is all it takes to purchase a newspaper, and it is readily available everywhere. The same holds true for magazines to a large extent as well.
Thirdly, a large reason behind the investments in cutting-edge photography and visual content is to ensure that people see them in print. This visual engagement is always different and compelling in comparison to screen-based viewing. Think of it this way- if a painting was shown to you on the screen, then would it seem as attractive, as it did when you viewed it on canvas?
These are the core reasons that lie behind my strong disagreement with the proposition. I do see Ebooks and other modern technologies becoming more prevalent throughout the world in recent years. However, newspapers and magazines will always be around, perhaps in more sustainable versions.
Discuss Both Views and Give Your Point of View/Opinion
You can structure your opinion essay in this manner.
- Introduction: Introduce the topic and state that you will discuss both views and provide your opinion.
- Body Paragraph 1: Showcase the first view. Explain why some people hold this opinion and provide examples.
- Body Paragraph 2: Next comes the second view. Explain why some people hold this opinion and provide examples.
- Body Paragraph 3: State your opinion and support it with reasons and examples.
- Conclusion: Summarize both views and restate your opinion.
Examples of topics of Opinion Essay
With a steady increase in the costs of healthcare, citizens should either get private insurance at lower rates or the Government should offer basic health insurance to all at a subsidized rate. What is your opinion on this? Give it after discussing both points of view.
Many people feel that development is impossible if ecology has to be preserved, while many others feel that ecological ecosystems can be retained alongside developmental activities. Give your point of view on both sides before expressing your opinion.
Some people feel that cities are better to live in, while many also advocate for semi-urban smaller towns. Discuss both points of view before expressing your opinion.
Cricketers have more stardom than even movie actors today, with higher endorsements and acting offers than the latter. Is this right or wrong? Talk about both points of view while expressing your opinion.
Religious education should be included in the school curriculum as per the child/parent’s faith, according to some. Some feel that it should be excluded altogether. Discuss both viewpoints before stating your opinion.
Sample Essay
Topic: Does a reward or physical punishment lead to children behaving better?
The topic asks whether children behave better when they are physically punished or rewarded. My opinion in this case is a strong no. Here are some reasons that substantiate the same.
Pavlov’s theory of conditioning can be taken as the bedrock of the philosophy of physically punishing children when they commit a mistake or rewarding them when they do something that is desired. The core intention here is to brand or imprint these ideas of good, bad, right, wrong, etc., through these rewards or punishments.
Yet, while this approach may have its merits, I do not agree with the same since I feel that it robs children of the spontaneity and joy that childhood brings. Children should be allowed to live freely and make their own mistakes. Physical punishment is something that I cannot endorse in any form. Even for the biggest of mistakes, sitting down with the child and talking about it will always work better than punishments. In fact, the latter may lead to children deliberately committing these mistakes again and again as a form of revenge.
Reward systems are also difficult to manage since children will never make an effort any longer unless they are rewarded. Rather, what parents should do is first lead by example and teach children the basics while gently correcting them whenever they go wrong. Good behavior and practices should be a way of life without any stringent punishments or rewards being required to ensure the same. Hence, in my opinion, neither physical punishment nor rewards are suitable to make children behave better. They will only behave better when they see examples of the same in their parents and are lovingly taught about the merits of the same.
Discuss the Advantages and Disadvantages
Here’s how you should approach an advantages and disadvantages essay.
- Introduction: Introduce the topic and state that you will discuss both the advantages and disadvantages.
- Body Paragraph 1: Discuss the advantages. Provide reasons and examples.
- Body Paragraph 2: Discuss the disadvantages. Provide reasons and examples.
- Conclusion: Summarize the advantages and disadvantages. State your opinion if the benefits outweigh the drawbacks or vice versa.
Examples of topics of Advantages and Disadvantages Essay
- Many citizens feel that the Government should be paying the fees of higher education for students studying subjects that the commuity/society requires. Those studying other subjects that are not as relevant should not get funding from the Government according to them. Will the advantages of any such policy measure be more than the disadvantages?
- Many people feel that money is something that ensures a more comfortable and happier life, while others perceive huge wealth as a major source of stress and trouble. Do the advantages of wealth clearly surpass the disadvantages?
- Young people can either travel for a year after finishing high school and before starting college/university. They can also build their skills and take up internships and projects in this period. Do the advantages of the latter surpass the former?
- Many people like staying in apartments, while many prefer independent houses. What are the advantages and disadvantages of apartment living as compared to residing in independent homes?
- Many young professionals keep changing careers and jobs frequently these days, changing companies multiple times throughout their professional journeys. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this practice?
Sample Essay
Topic: Several experts are of the opinion that children should ideally start learning foreign languages from primary school instead of the secondary school level. Do the benefits of this practice outweigh the disadvantages?
The topic states how some experts believe that it is better to learn a foreign language at the primary school level rather than at the secondary school level. It also asks whether the advantages of this practice surpass the disadvantages. I agree with the statement and feel that the benefits of such a system strongly outweigh any possible cons.
We are moving towards a strongly globalized world, with the internet having opened up access and collaborations. Hence, it is more important than ever to learn foreign languages in order to communicate, collaborate, share ideas, and of course, foster academic, research, and professional growth at multiple levels. Introducing foreign languages in primary school will help children steadily absorb their intricacies at an earlier age, instead of in secondary school, when many of their basic learning habits have already been formed.
Primary school children will be able to pick up the language faster and eventually master it by the time they are in secondary school. This will help them get to near-native proficiency in the same and help them immensely when they venture to study in other countries, work in globalized environments, or even explore the world. At the same time, opening up their minds to another language equates to understanding another culture. It opens up whole new worlds of books, movies, theatre, food, and whatnot. This will broaden the minds of children and inculcate much-needed cosmopolitanism in them from an early age.
There are no disadvantages to learning foreign languages in primary school in my opinion. The only argument that can be made out is the increasing curriculum, that may lead to stress among little ones. However, I believe that smart academic planning and engaging learning techniques like gamification can counter these potential issues. Hence, to sum up, I believe that children should learn foreign languages from primary school, since it comes with more advantages than disadvantages.
Two Questions, for Example: Why is This Happening? Do You Think This is a Positive or Negative Development?
Here’s how you can structure your essay of this type.
- Introduction: Introduce the topic and briefly mention the two questions you will answer.
- Body Paragraph 1: Answer the first question. Provide reasons and examples.
- Body Paragraph 2: Answer the second question. Provide reasons and examples.
- Conclusion: Summarize your answers to both questions.
Examples of topics of Discussion Essay
- Medical experts instruct senior citizens to exercise on a regular basis, although many do not often receive the same. What can be the reasons behind such a thing? What else can be done to motivate these people to get more exercise?
- One of the biggest issues in major cities is the population explosion, with unbridled migration from other towns and regions. What is the reason for the same? What can be done to tackle the situation better?
- Construction in the wetlands and other ecologically fragile zones is leading to the loss of natural habitats. What is the possible remedy to this problem? What role can the Government play in this regard?
- Various neighborhood stores are shutting down since they are unable to keep up with new and flashy supermarkets. What can be done to help them stay relevant? Does the local community benefit from the stated situation?
- People are steadily going back to the joint family system after having experimented with nuclear families in the past. What do you feel is the reason behind this trend? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the joint family system?
Sample Essay
Topic: Students at a majority of schools get physical education programs of some type at least. Why is this necessary in the first place? Also, should these classes be made optional, or should they be required for kids?
The topic states how most schools offer physical education programs to their students in some form or the other. I will seek to answer the two questions posed here, namely why it is important, and also whether these classes should be necessary or made optional.
I believe that physical education is important for the growth of every child. Not everyone can go on to be a sportsperson in life. However, physical education at a basic level is essential in order to teach children discipline, the art of mastering their body movement, and of course, promote healthy living and fitness from an early age. A healthy body goes hand in hand with a healthy mind and this is why the importance of physical education cannot be denied.
I also feel that physical education classes should be required for children at least until the secondary level, without being made optional. Children should be encouraged to play their favorite sports, engage in teamwork, build bonds on the playground, and get healthier and fitter. This will eventually contribute towards stemming the higher levels of obesity among teenagers and young adults worldwide. These classes can be made optional from the senior-secondary levels onwards if required.
To conclude, I feel that not only is physical education important, but it is also required at least till a certain academic/educational level, without being made optional. It is the foundation of a healthier tomorrow as far as children are concerned.
Discuss the Problem and Provide Solutions
Problem-solution essays can be structured in this way.
- Opening Paragraph: Introduce the topic and briefly mention the problem and that you will discuss solutions.
- Body Paragraph 1: Discuss the problem and provide reasons and examples.
- Body Paragraph 2: Provide solutions to the problem, explain how these solutions can be implemented, and provide examples.
- Conclusion: Summarize the problem and solutions and emphasize the importance of addressing the issue.
Examples of topics of problem-solutions essay
- Many developing nations have major issues in terms of poor air quality and high pollution levels. What are the steps that can be implemented to prevent this from happening?
- More people are now carrying mobile phones to classes, leading to distractions and sharing of unauthorized pictures online. What is the solution to check and monitor cell phone usage among senior students in school/college?
- Markets are banning plastic usage, but shopkeepers still keep using them despite Government restrictions. What do you think is the solution to this problem?
- Most of us do not spend much time talking to our parents amidst our busy lives. What is the solution to get us to communicate more with our parents and build better bonds with them?
- A large number of children consume junk food and do not eat healthy meals at home. Parents often have to give in to their adamant demands to get them to eat something at least. What do you feel is the right solution to this problem?
Sample Essay
Topic: Younger populations in several global nations are neglecting their right to vote in several cases. What are the issues that this phenomenon is causing and what can be a few possible remedies?
Younger people in some countries are neglecting their right to vote, as the topic states. Hence, this may cause several problems, which may also have a few possible solutions. Here are my inputs on both aspects.
Many countries now have a large chunk of voters who are young, i.e. between 18-25 years of age or slightly older. However, they often neglect their right to vote owing to apathy or complete disillusionment with their respective Governments, migration to other countries for jobs/business/studies (which leaves them unable to come back and vote in many cases), and a sheer lack of interest in the voting process altogether. This leads to major problems since elected representatives do not represent a huge section of the populace while also being unaware of their demands.
In my opinion, the possible solutions could be cross-border agreements/pacts that allow young people in other countries to cast their votes in their home nations. This procedure should be made easier and more transparent, in case it already exists in some nations. At the same time, there should be widespread awareness campaigns by the Government throughout local communities to educate youngsters about the importance of their vote and their rights. This should be done throughout the year and not just before the elections. It will slowly but steadily bring about a sense of pride in young people regarding their voting rights.
To sign off, while it is true that young people are neglecting their voting rights in several countries, it can be negated with proper awareness and counseling. The youth should feel proud about exercising their voting rights. That is what Governments should aim for instead of only looking at avenues for self-promotion, in my opinion.
IELTS 9 Band Essay Structure
Knowing how to structure a 9 band essay in IELTS is an essential skill a student needs to master in order to get a band score that is universally accepted. Listed below is the structure that is commonly followed in the Writing Task 2 essay.
1. Introduction-
- Paraphrase the question
- Outline the opinion along with the main idea
2. Main Body-
- Go in-depth into the points discussed in the introduction
- Explain the topic sentence and use proper vocabulary
- Support your statements with examples
3. Conclusion
- Summarize the key points and give your opinion
IELTS Essay Writing Tips for Band 9
Writing a 9 band essay requires a candidate to plan the stages in which an essay has to be written. There are some tips a candidate has to put to use to complete essay for Writing Task 2 which are as follows:
- Understand how the scoring is done in the Writing Task 2
One of the techniques to write an IELTS 9 band essay is to understand the parameters on which a candidate is assessed. There is an equal weightage to Task achievement, Coherence and cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical range and accuracy. A candidate has to ensure to meet all these assessment criteria to score a higher band score.
Even the best candidates receive a poor band score for not analyzing the question before writing the essay. On the contrary, students who spend some time understanding the question before writing the essay, score comparatively higher.
- Understand the category of the essay
There are five categories of questions in the IELTS Writing Task 2. They are Opinion based- Agree or disagree, Advantages and disadvantages, Discussion of both views, Two-part questions, Solution to a problem statement, and a candidate’s answer depends on the category of the question.
- Make proper use of the 40 minutes given to complete the task
A candidate can dedicate two minutes of time to reading the question, understand its category, and decide whether to agree, disagree, or maintain a neutral standpoint. They should spend at least five minutes planning the flow of the essay and decide the point where to state the main idea and provide examples. Candidates should keep the flow consistent on whatever was thought while sketching the essay. Moreover, a proper revision after completing writing is also necessary.
The IELTS test is not a knowledge test, but rather a language proficiency test. Most students find it difficult to state relevant examples because they search for them in real-life incidents. However, a IELTS band 9 essay can be written by using examples as long as they are relevant.
In case a candidate gets a topic about which they have no idea, they can generate ideas by brainstorming or mind mapping. Moreover, knowing about some common topics like Health, Transportation, Environment, Sports, Music, Globalization, Home, Family, Population, Weather, Education, Society, Technology, and Government would make it easier to generate ideas.
- Build a Strong Vocabulary
Before the exam, a student can develop their vocabulary by reading a book or magazine and jotting down all the new words they come across. Using the words often would lead to imbibing them into one’s vocabulary. Applicants can also use the thesaurus to learn synonyms, and play word games and crosswords. On the exam day, after reading the question, they can write down the special vocabulary related to the discussion and use synonyms, idioms, special expressions, and phrases.
IELTS Sample Essays to Score a Band 9
The key to getting a band 9 in IELTS essay writing is by practicing some IELTS 9 band essay samples.
Here are a few essay samples so that aspirants can prepare well.