IELTS Writing Task 2: Tips to Master Essay Writing and Score High

You are sitting in the IELTS exam room, hearing the clock ticking, as you turn the page to the final hurdle of the writing section - the IELTS Writing Task 2. The essay in this section will help decide a significant part of your overall IELTS score. But there’s no need to panic because we share a few helpful tips and expert strategies to attempt the IELTS Writing Task 2, to score a 7 or higher band score. Read on to know how.

What is IELTS Writing Task 2?

As stated above, the IELTS Writing Task 2 is a critical section of the global English proficiency exam. It helps assess the candidate’s expertise in expressing different ideas, building strong arguments, and demonstrating their knowledge of English grammar and vocabulary. Listed below are the key components of this section of the IELTS Writing Test:

• As the name suggests, IELTS Writing Task 2 is the second part of the IELTS writing section.
• Applicants are expected to showcase their writing skills through a 250-word essay within a stipulated time of 40 minutes.
• Since IELTS Writing Task 2 comprises two-thirds of the total score of the IELTS writing section, scoring well on this task can significantly help improve your overall score. 

With double the weight of the IELTS Writing Task 1, the Writing Task 2 paves the way for studying or pursuing a rewarding career abroad.

Want to write like a pro and boost your IELTS Writing Task 2 score? While this might seem difficult at first, given the cut-throat competition for the IELTS exam, you can surely ace the task with the right approach!

Let’s dive right in and help make your essay stand out from the intense competition!

Key Strategies to Score High in IELTS Writing Task 2

The primary prerequisite for acing the IELTS Writing Task 2 is to submit a well-structured essay within a dedicated time to the problem, issue, or question presented in the task. Some of the key strategies to ensure this is to focus on the following:

1. Understand the task thoroughly.

You would need to write a formal essay within 250 words on a topic presented in the form of a problem, question, statement, opinion, or argument. Your essay will be a response to this in the following ways:

• Discussion Essay: Where you analyze both sides of an argument and present your opinion

Example: Online education is valuable, but traditional classroom learning is irreplaceable.

• Solution Essay: Where you are required to recommend solutions to specific problems presented in the question

Example: Ways to reduce traffic congestion in major cities around the world

• Opinion Essay: Where you need to take and showcase a clear stand on the issue presented and support your stance with valid reasons or arguments

Example: Does social media tend to have a negative impact on communication in real life? Agree or disagree?

• Advantage/Disadvantage Essay: Where you need to assess the pros and cons of the topic

Example: Advantages and disadvantages of working from home for both employees and employers 

• Direct Question Essay: Where you need to give specific answers to the question asked 

Example: How can we attract more people to the teaching profession globally?

2. Plan well before you start writing.

Spend time on critical analysis and logical organization of ideas to maintain coherence in both thought and writing. 

• Planning your thoughts before you pen them down helps prevent rambling or unnecessary diversion.
• Planning also helps you identify and highlight the key points in your argument more clearly, strengthening your stance and making the essay sound more persuasive. 
• Effective planning and brainstorming of ideas helps save time and allows you to write with focus, completing the task well in time.

3. Create a well-defined structure.

Follow a clear structure to get a good score in IELTS Writing Task 2. Also, use varied sentence structures throughout the essay to create a positive first impression on the examiner. Present valid reasons and viewpoints for the arguments that you put forth in response to the given question. Your essay should be divided into:

Introduction

• Paraphrase the question asked to highlight both viewpoints of the argument.
• Put forth your opinion in a structured and concise manner.

Example: Online learning is fast gaining momentum, with several schools of thought opining that it may eventually replace traditional classroom instruction. While the flexibility and convenience of online learning platforms do seem attractive, classroom learning has certain irreplaceable advantages. This essay discusses both scenarios while establishing my viewpoint of following a balanced approach wherein both mediums can be well integrated.

Body

• The body paragraph of the essay should focus on one single idea at a time in each paragraph. 
• Support your arguments with valid examples and logical reasons.
• Focus on writing short and crisp paragraphs that flow naturally.

Example - Paragraph 1 - Digital learning presents greater convenience than conventional classroom setups. Students have the option of learning in their own time and pace. This is unlike traditional classroom learning which follows a fixed schedule. 

Paragraph 2 - However, despite the benefits of convenience and flexibility, traditional education scores in the areas of face-to-face interaction and a disciplined learning environment. It helps foster communication skills and teamwork in students, which are difficult to achieve in digital learning settings.

Conclusion

• Summarize the key points in your argument.
• Reiterate your stance.
• Highlight a balanced solution or forward approach.

Example: To conclude, while online learning does offer the attractive benefits of studying anytime, anywhere, it cannot completely replace traditional classroom settings. The latter continues to offer structured, interactive, and disciplined learning environments. Hence, a blended learning model that makes use of digital learning resources coupled with face-to-face interactions would be ideal for learners. 

4. Review the essay well after completion.

This helps ensure that it is written in a formal tone and is accurate in content, grammar, and vocabulary.

• Keep sufficient time at the end of the task for correcting any mistakes and improving readability.
• Check for spelling and grammatical mistakes (if any).
• Ensure that all ideas presented flow logically and are well connected.
• Check the total word count of the essay, ensuring that it is within 250 words.
• Make sure that all parts of the question have been appropriately addressed. 

Following the above strategies while attempting IELTS Writing Task 2 helps determine whether the applicant is suited to study and work in English-speaking countries. 

These expert tips are detailed in the next section to help you write like a pro in the IELTS Writing Task 2.

Sign up for the IELTS Free Course to ace the IELTS test and achieve a high band score.

Tips to Earn a 7+ Score in IELTS Writing Task 2

To write a well-structured and compelling essay in IELTS Writing Task 2, follow the expert tips outlined below:

Craft a Strong Introduction

The introduction helps set the tone for your essay. It also helps the examiner understand your approach to the topic given. Make sure to keep it strong and impressive by:

• Paraphrasing the question asked - Rephrase the topic in your own words to highlight the range of your vocabulary. Make sure to retain the original meaning of the topic presented.
• Make sure your answer is relevant to the asked question. Be as specific as possible and avoid generalizing. 
• Clearly expressing your stance - Take a clear stand on whether you agree or disagree and to what extent on the question asked.   
• Highlighting the key points - Briefly but clearly state the key arguments you intend to discuss in the main body of the essay.

Create a Cohesive Body

A cohesive body of the essay is the road to a high score in the IELTS Writing Task 2. Make sure to stick to the following to ensure clarity and coherence:

• Keep the opening sentence direct and concise. 
• Develop the idea gradually and put forth logical evidence or examples to support it.
• Explain only one idea or argument in each paragraph. This helps avoid confusion and maintains clarity.
• Connect sentences and paragraphs with relevant linking or transition words, such as additionally, furthermore, or however.
• Structure all the paragraphs of your essay such that the ideas smoothly and naturally flow from one to the next.
• Make sure to keep a balanced approach, presenting both sides of the opinion. 
• Also, ensure that you answer all parts of the question. There may be two or more parts to the question asked - carefully check that you have answered each part sufficiently. 

Here’s an example of one-part and multiple-part questions for your general understanding:

Keep the Conclusion Impactful

A strong conclusion is as important as an impressive introduction in your essay. Here’s how you can achieve the same:

• Effectively summarize all the key points highlighted in the body of the essay. Make sure not to repeat sentences, though.
• Reinstate your stance confidently, defining a clear final opinion on the topic.
• Avoid giving any new information in the concluding text.
• Write an impactful closing statement (just like in the introduction), ending with a thought-provoking suggestion or remark relevant to the essay topic. 

Common Mistakes to Avoid in IELTS Writing Task 2

The table below lists some of the dos and don’ts to keep in mind when attempting the IELTS Writing Task 2 essay:

Grammatical Errors to Watch Out For in Your Essay

To help you understand better the errors that most students tend to make commonly when attempting the IELTS Writing Task 2, we share the following table of possible grammatical mistakes. Make sure to avoid them in your essay writing.

Sample Essay for IELTS Writing Task 2

Acing IELTS Writing Task 2 is all about writing an effective essay that leaves a strong impression on the examiner. Shared below is a sample essay to help you better understand what to expect.

Question: One school of thought suggests that students should be given homework every day, while another deems it unnecessary. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Introduction

Homework has been an inherent part of school life for a long time. There have been varying perspectives on the importance of this time-honored practice, though. While some argue that everyday homework is critical to improving student learning, others strongly believe that it causes unnecessary stress in students. This essay discusses both viewpoints while establishing the ideal approach to follow.

Body - Paragraph 1 - Why Daily Homework is Important

Those who are in favor of daily homework practice in schools believe that the practice helps students better remember all that they learned in class during the day. Regular practice further helps develop crucial skills at a young age, such as problem-solving and critical thinking, which can be particularly helpful in subjects like Science and Math. Additionally, homework helps equip students with important life skills like time management and responsibility. 

Body - Paragraph 2 - Why Too Much Homework is Not Good

While homework does have its advantages, an excess of it can have negative effects on overall student development, such as undue stress and dullness. Children aren’t left with enough time for other activities crucial to their complete personality development - extracurricular hobbies, exercise, and playtime with family and friends. 

Conclusion

While homework is a useful learning tool that facilitates the overall academic development of the child, too much of it can mean more harm than good. A balanced approach in this regard is ideal - giving students just the right amount of homework, sufficient to support their academic learning, and which does not cause unnecessary stress. 

Why this Essay Meets a Band 7+ IELTS Score

The sample above is a clear example of how to write an effective essay in IELTS Writing Task 2 to meet the desired high score. Here’s how it meets the required IELTS 7+ band score criteria:

• A well-defined structure with coherence and connectors like ‘Moreover’, ‘Additionally’, etc.
• The essay ensures spelling and grammatical accuracy and uses a mix of simple and richer vocabulary.
• It presents a single idea in each paragraph, with no repetition of ideas and a clear stance.
• The essay shares relevant examples, wherever necessary, to prove a point.
• It completes the assigned task by presenting both sides of the viewpoint and highlighting your stand or opinion as well.   
• The essay meets the defined 250-word range for IELTS Writing Task 2.

Disclaimer: The essay shared above is for reference only. Please avoid copying and reusing the same content to avoid plagiarism and possible rejection in the IELTS Writing Task 2. 

Conclusion

Mastering Writing Task 2 for IELTS requires consistent practice to hone your writing skills and achieve a high band score in the globally competitive exam. A high score further helps establish your authority in the English language, making you appear as an attractive prospect to study or work in English-speaking countries.

To support your preparation journey to ace this task, digital learning platforms such as upGrad can help. We help provide aspirants with sample exam questions and mock tests for practice, in addition to structured courses and study material for achieving excellence in IELTS.