IELTS Essay Types: 5 Types of Task 2 Questions with Examples
Every IELTS Writing Task 2 question, in both the Academic and General Training test, belongs to one of five essay types. The type decides what you have to write, so recognising it is the first thing to do in the exam.
The exam never names the type: you work it out from the last sentence of the question. Whatever the topic, the type decides how you structure your answer.
The 5 types of IELTS Task 2 essays are:
- Agree or disagreeGive your opinion on one statement.
- DiscussionExplain two views, then give yours.
- Advantages and disadvantagesWeigh the good and bad sides of something.
- Problem and solutionExplain the causes or effects, then suggest solutions.
- Two-part questionAnswer two direct questions.
How to recognise each essay type
Look at the last sentence of the task. These key words tell you which type it is and what you must do:
| Essay type | Key words in the task | What you must do |
|---|---|---|
| Agree or disagree | To what extent do you agree or disagree? / Do you agree or disagree? / What is your opinion? | Give a clear opinion on one statement and support it. |
| Discussion | Some people think… Others believe… Discuss both these views and give your own opinion. | Explain both views fairly, then say which you support. |
| Advantages and disadvantages | What are the advantages and disadvantages? / Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages? | Describe both sides and, if asked, say which is stronger. |
| Problem and solution | What are the causes? / What problems does this cause? / What can be done? | Explain the causes or effects, then suggest solutions. |
| Two-part question | Two direct questions, e.g. Why is this happening? Is it a positive or negative development? | Answer each question fully, in its own paragraph. |
Quick check: which essay type is it?
Decide for each task, then open it to check.
Some people think that children should start school at the age of four. To what extent do you agree or disagree?Show answer
Agree or disagree. One statement, and you say how far you agree with it.
Some people prefer to work for a large company, while others would rather work for a small business. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.Show answer
Discussion. Two views held by different people, then your opinion.
More and more people work from home rather than in an office. Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?Show answer
Advantages and disadvantages. The good and bad sides of one trend, and which side is stronger.
Obesity among children is increasing in many countries. What are the causes of this, and what measures could be taken to reduce it?Show answer
Problem and solution. Causes first, then solutions.
Many people now read the news on social media rather than in newspapers. Why is this? What effects does it have on society?Show answer
Two-part question. Two direct questions: the reasons, then the effects.
Building more roads is the best way to reduce traffic in cities. To what extent do you agree or disagree? What other measures do you think might be effective?Show answer
A mixed question. Agree or disagree, plus a second question. Give your opinion, then suggest other measures in a separate paragraph.
The same four-paragraph structure works for every type
Whatever the type, a strong essay of 260–300 words usually has four paragraphs. Only what goes into the body paragraphs changes:
| Paragraph | What to write |
|---|---|
| Introduction | Paraphrase the task and give a short answer: your opinion, which side is stronger, or your main cause and solution. |
| Body paragraph 1 | The first reason, view, side or question, explained with an example. |
| Body paragraph 2 | The second reason, view, side or question, explained with an example. |
| Conclusion | Repeat your answer in different words. No new ideas. |
Each guide below shows this structure for one essay type, with a planned model essay and a real student essay corrected by an IELTS examiner.
Agree or disagree essay
Also called an opinion essay. The task gives one statement and asks how far you agree with it. You can agree, disagree or partly agree, but your view must be clear from the introduction to the conclusion.
Medical procedures for cosmetic purposes should not be allowed.
Do you agree or disagree?
Another example:
Social media does more harm than good to young people.
Do you agree or disagree?
Full agree or disagree essay guide with samples →
Discussion essay
The task describes two opposing views and asks you to discuss both. Most tasks also ask for your own opinion, so explain both views fairly and then say which one you support.
Some people think that wild animals should not be kept in zoos. Others believe that there are good reasons for having zoos.
Discuss both these views and give your opinion.
Another example:
Some people think children should start school as early as possible, while others believe they should not begin formal education until they are older.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Full discussion essay guide with samples →
Advantages and disadvantages essay
The task describes a trend or situation and asks about its good and bad sides. Read the last sentence carefully: sometimes you only describe both sides, sometimes you must say which side outweighs the other.
Today more and more tourists are visiting places where conditions are difficult, such as the Sahara desert or the Antarctic.
What are the benefits and disadvantages for tourists who visit such places?
Another example:
Cheap flights have made international travel possible for many more people.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of this?
Full advantages and disadvantages essay guide with samples →
Problem and solution essay
Also called a causes and solutions essay. The task describes a problem and asks what causes it (or what effects it has) and what can be done. The best essays link each solution to a cause.
Even though doctors all over the world agree that fast food is bad for people’s health, more and more people are eating it.
Why are more people eating fast food? What can be done about this problem?
Another example:
Large amounts of plastic end up in the oceans every year.
What are the causes of this problem, and what solutions can you suggest?
Full problem and solution essay guide with samples →
Two-part question essay
Also called a direct question essay. The task ends with two separate questions, for example the reasons for a trend and whether it is positive. Answer both, each in its own paragraph.
Millions of people every year move to English speaking countries such as Australia, Britain or America, in order to study at school, college or university.
Why do so many people want to study English? Why is English such an important international language?
Another example:
More adults are going back to education later in life.
Why do they do this? Is this a positive trend?
Full two-part question essay guide with samples →
Writing Task 2 questions by topic
Practice questions for every essay type, with model essays and topic vocabulary.
IELTS essay types FAQ
Quick answers to the questions students ask most.
How many types of essays are there in IELTS?
Five: agree or disagree, discussion, advantages and disadvantages, problem and solution, and two-part question. Some tasks combine two types.
Are the essay types the same in Academic and General Training?
Yes. Both modules use the same five types, the same 40 minutes and the same 250-word minimum. Only the topics differ: General Training topics are usually about everyday life.
Can one question combine two essay types?
Yes. For example, a task may ask whether you agree with a statement and then what other measures could help. Answer each part in its own paragraph.
Which essay type is the easiest?
It depends on you. Many students find agree or disagree essays easiest because they only need one clear opinion. Whatever the type, the four-paragraph structure stays the same.
What happens if I write the wrong type of essay?
You lose marks for Task Response, because you have not answered the question. This is why recognising the type before you plan is so important.
See more useful IELTS essay resources: