IELTS Discussion Essay: Structure, Tips & Sample Answers
“Discuss both these views and give your own opinion” is one of the most frequent instructions in IELTS Writing Task 2. The task describes two opposing views, and you have to explain both of them fairly before saying what you think.
On this page you will learn how to recognise the question, how to structure your essay, and how to plan it in a few minutes. You will also find a colour-coded band 7+ model essay, a real student essay corrected by an IELTS examiner, and practice questions to try yourself.
Corrected by an IELTS examiner See a real student essay with every correction explained Band 7.5, with the four changes that would take it to band 8. Tap any correction to see why it was made.How to recognise a discussion question
A discussion task always presents two different views and asks you to discuss both. Most tasks also ask for your opinion, and that part is easy to forget:
| Wording in the task | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Some people think… Others believe… | These are the two views. Each one needs its own body paragraph. |
| Discuss both these views | Explain why people hold each view, with reasons and examples, even the one you disagree with. |
| …and give your own opinion | Say which view you support, or how far you agree with each. Without this, you do not answer the whole task. |
If there is only one statement and the task asks how far you agree, it is an agree or disagree essay instead.
Quick check: which of these are discussion questions?
Decide for each task, then open it to check.
Some people think that sport should be compulsory at school. Others feel it should be a free choice. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.Show answer
Yes. Two views, and the task asks you to discuss both and give your opinion.
Young people should save money for the future rather than spend it. To what extent do you agree or disagree?Show answer
No. Agree or disagree. There is one statement, and you decide how far you agree with it.
Some say the best way to learn a language is to live abroad, while others think classroom study is more effective. Discuss both views and give your opinion.Show answer
Yes. Two opposing views about learning a language, then your own view.
More and more people are living alone. Why is this happening? Is it a positive or negative development?Show answer
No. Two-part question. You answer two separate questions: the causes, then your view.
Some people believe children learn best by playing, while others think they need formal lessons from an early age. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.Show answer
Yes. Two views on how children learn. Explain both, then give your opinion.
Structure of a discussion essay
Four paragraphs and at least 250 words: one paragraph for each view, with an introduction and a conclusion around them. Your opinion should be clear to the reader. The safest way is to give it in the introduction and confirm it in the conclusion.
| Paragraph | What to write | Words |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction | Paraphrase the two views in your own words, then say briefly which one you support. | 40–50 |
| Body paragraph 1 | The view you agree with less: why people hold it, with a reason and an example. | 90–100 |
| Body paragraph 2 | The view you support: reasons, an example, and why you find it more convincing. | 90–100 |
| Conclusion | Sum up both views in one sentence and repeat your opinion in different words. No new ideas. | 30–40 |
Putting the view you support second is a useful trick: the essay then moves naturally from the other side towards your opinion and your conclusion.
Brainstorm and make an outline before you write
Spend the first few minutes thinking, not writing. Note ideas for both views, decide which side you are on, and turn your notes into a short outline. A plan stops you from spending all your time on one view and running out of time for the other.
- 1
Find the two views
Underline both views in the task. Check exactly what each side claims, so you discuss the right thing.
- 2
Brainstorm both sides
Note two or three quick ideas for each view, even the one you do not agree with.
- 3
Decide and outline
Choose your opinion, then put the best ideas into intro, paragraph 2, paragraph 3 and conclusion, with one example each.
- 4
Leave time to check
Write for about 30 minutes, then use the last 5 to check articles, verb forms and spelling.
Write your ideas straight into the four paragraphs, as key words. Here is an example for this task:
Writing Task 2 Academic & General Training 40 minutes
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
Some people believe that university students should be free to study any subject they like. Others think they should only study subjects that will be useful in the future, such as those related to science and technology.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
A few minutes of planning could give an outline like this:
- Intro
- free choice + job information
- Para 2
- Useful subjects: economy, jobs
e.g. nurses, IT - Para 3
- Free choice: motivation
teachers, artists - Concl.
- free choice, job information
Band 7+ model essay
This essay follows the outline above, paragraph by paragraph. The colours show the parts that make it work:
- Opinion given in the introduction and the conclusion
- Topic sentence one view per paragraph
- Example makes each view convincing
- Linking words move between the views
Choosing a university course is one of the biggest decisions a young person makes. Some argue that students should follow their own interests, while others believe they should focus on subjects with clear future value, such as science and technology. In my view, students should be free to choose, as long as they have good information about job prospects before they decide.
On the one hand, there are practical reasons for steering students towards science and technology. These fields drive economic growth, and graduates in areas such as engineering or computing usually find work quickly and earn good salaries. For example, many countries are short of nurses and software developers, while graduates in some other subjects struggle to find jobs related to their degree. From this point of view, guiding young people towards useful subjects benefits both them and society.
On the other hand, forcing students into subjects they have no interest in is likely to backfire. People tend to work harder and achieve more when they enjoy what they study, whereas a reluctant engineering student may drop out or change careers later. Moreover, society needs more than scientists: teachers, lawyers, writers and artists all make essential contributions. A history graduate may not have a predictable career path, but skills such as research, clear writing and critical thinking are valued in many jobs.
In conclusion, although science and technology are undoubtedly important, I believe students should be free to choose their own subject. The best approach is to give them honest information about future careers and then let them make an informed decision.
Why this essay works: each view gets its own paragraph with a reason and a concrete example, so the discussion is fair and balanced. The writer’s opinion is in the first paragraph and repeated in the conclusion, and putting the supported view second leads naturally to it. Contrast words such as while and whereas link the two sides inside sentences, not only between paragraphs.
Useful phrases for discussing two views
These are the phrases the model essay uses, plus a few alternatives. Learn two or three for each purpose, so you do not repeat the same one.
| Purpose | Phrases |
|---|---|
| Introducing the first view | Some people argue that… / It is often said that… / Supporters of this idea believe that… |
| Introducing the second view | Others, however, believe that… / On the other hand,… / Those who disagree point out that… |
| Contrasting inside a sentence | …, while… / …, whereas… / Although…, … |
| Giving your opinion | In my view,… / I side with those who… / I find the second argument more convincing because… |
| Concluding | In conclusion, while both views have some merit,… / To sum up,… / On balance, I believe that… |
Try it yourself: practice questions
Now that you have seen how a band 7+ discussion essay is planned and written, try one yourself. Choose a question, set a timer for 40 minutes and follow the same steps: a few minutes of planning, about 30 minutes of writing and 5 minutes of checking.
- EducationSome 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.
- TechnologySome people believe technology has made our lives more complicated, while others think it has made life easier. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
- WorkSome 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.
- EnvironmentSome people say individuals can do little to protect the environment, while others think everyone must take responsibility. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
- HealthSome people think the government should pay for everyone’s health care, while others believe individuals should pay for their own. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
- SocietySome people think children should be taught to compete, while others believe they should be taught to cooperate. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
- TravelSome people believe tourism brings benefits to local communities, while others think it does more harm than good. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
- MediaSome people think news should be free for everyone, while others believe people should pay for good journalism. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
More questions with model essays by topic: Education, Technology, Environment, Crime. All 84 questions by topic →
Your checklist for every discussion essay
Use it in the last five minutes of the exam, or each time you practise. Any point you cannot tick is your next thing to improve.
Then read the real student essay below: you will probably recognise some of its mistakes in your own writing.
A real student essay, corrected by an IELTS examiner
A student wrote this essay, and an IELTS examiner corrected it. Mistakes are in red and crossed out, and the examiner’s corrections are in green right after them. Hover over a correction, or tap it on your phone, to see why it was changed. Read it first, then see the feedback below.
Writing Task 2 Student essay 40 minutes
Write about the following topic:
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.
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
There appear to be differing views on whether (the) zoos are appropriate and acceptable places for wild animals. On the one hand, people argue that keeping animals in zoos is inhumaninhumane, while on the other hand, a group of people finds many advantages ofin having zoos.
It is a given factself-evident that a zoo is not a suitable place for all wild animals. It depends very much on the sizes of the animals whether they couldshould be kept in cages. Additionally, other conditions such as temperature or surroundings are also important. For example, a polar bear prefers low temperatures while a zebra rather enjoysprefers hot weather. Moreover, some animals like lions need a very large area to move around in. Therefore, there is a need for differentvery varied conditions whilealthough it is very hard to offer that. And last but not least, being exposed to a large number of people is not good for the mental health and well-being of animals.
It cannot be denied that zoos have a lot of advantages as well. To begin with, a zoo is a perfect place for children to learn about wildlife and nature. Therefore, zoos are important for educational purposes. In addition to that, universities and researchers are usually in close cooperation with zoos in order to save endangered species. Furthermore, keeping wild animals in zoos is also an option to save animals that are threatened by illegal hunters or, for instance, by deforestation.
Personally, I think that there is truthsubstance in both views. However, all the things considered, I believe that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. Although I agree that there are some negative aspects such as inhumaninhumane conditions, more positive aspects can be found. Therefore, things like saving animals from illegal hunters and educating our children are the main argumentsreasons why we all should be in favour of having zoos.
(307 words)
7.5
Band score estimatebased on the IELTS band descriptors, before the corrections
What this essay does well
This is a strong band 7.5 essay. Both views have their own paragraph, the examples are specific (polar bears and zebras need different temperatures, lions need space) and the vocabulary is wide: endangered species, deforestation, well-being. The mistakes are small and do not get in the way of the meaning. These types of mistake are common in many students’ essays, so they are worth learning:
| Pattern | In this essay | The rule |
|---|---|---|
| Articles | whether | No the when you mean things in general. A singular countable noun needs a or the. |
| Commas | And last but not least, being… | Put a comma after an introductory phrase, and before while when it shows contrast. |
| Prepositions | advantages | Learn nouns and verbs with their prepositions, and keep the preposition at the end when the place comes first. |
| Fixed phrases | all | Fixed phrases cannot be changed. If you are not sure of one, use a simpler expression. |
Quiz: words for discussing two views
Contrast words and opinion phrases are where many discussion essays go wrong: although or despite, agree with or agree to, in favour of or in favour for. Choose the right word for each sentence. Every round picks 10 of 30 sentences at random, so play a few rounds.
Common mistakes in discussion essays
| Mistake | What to do instead |
|---|---|
| Forgetting your own opinion | If the task says “give your own opinion”, an essay that only describes the two views does not answer the whole task. Say what you think in the introduction and the conclusion. |
| Developing only one view | Both views need a full paragraph with a reason and an example, including the one you disagree with. |
| Arguing against the first view in its own paragraph | Explain fairly why people hold the first view. Save your counter-arguments for the second paragraph and the conclusion. |
| Writing it like an agree or disagree essay | Here your opinion comes after a fair discussion of both sides, not instead of it. |
| Copying the task in the introduction | Paraphrase both views in your own words. Copied phrases from the task are not counted towards your word count. |
Discussion essay FAQ
Quick answers to the questions students ask most.
Where should I give my opinion in a discussion essay?
In the introduction and again in the conclusion. You can also show it in the paragraph about the view you support. What matters is that the reader is never unsure what you think.
Can I agree with both views?
Yes. You can say that both views are partly right, as long as you explain how. For example, you might support one view in some situations and the other view in others.
Should both views get the same number of words?
Roughly, yes. Each view needs a full paragraph with a reason and an example. The paragraph for the view you support can be a little longer.
What is the difference between a discussion essay and an agree or disagree essay?
A discussion essay gives you two views and asks you to explain both before giving your opinion. An agree or disagree essay gives you one statement and asks how far you agree with it.
How many words should a discussion essay have?
At least 250 words. Most strong essays have 260–300 words. Writing much more takes time you need for checking.
