IELTS Two-Part Question Essay: Structure, Tips & Sample Answers
In a two-part question, IELTS Writing Task 2 describes a situation and then asks two separate questions, for example why something is happening and whether it is a good thing. This type is also called a direct question essay. The rule is simple: answer both questions fully, each in its own paragraph.
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.
Marked by an IELTS examiner See a real student essay with every mistake corrected and explained Band 5.5, and the changes that would take it to band 7. Tap any correction to see why it was made.How to recognise a two-part question
The task ends with two direct questions. They can be combined in many ways, and each one needs its own kind of answer:
| Typical pair of questions | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Why is this happening? Is it a positive or negative development? | Explain the reasons, then give your opinion on the trend. |
| Why do people…? What effects does this have? | Explain the reasons, then the results. No opinion is needed. |
| What are the advantages of…? Do you think…? | Describe the advantages, then answer the second question with your view. |
If the two questions are about causes and solutions, the essay works like a problem and solution essay, which is a common kind of two-part question.
Quick check: which of these are two-part questions?
Decide for each task, then open it to check.
More and more people are living alone. Why is this happening? Is it a positive or negative development?Show answer
Yes. Two questions: the reasons, and your view of the trend.
Some people think that children should start school at the age of four. To what extent do you agree or disagree?Show answer
No. Agree or disagree. There is only one question.
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
Yes. Reasons, then effects. Your opinion is not needed.
Some people say that technology has made life easier, while others think it has made it more stressful. Discuss both views and give your opinion.Show answer
No. Discussion essay. Two views, then your opinion.
Many old buildings in cities are being replaced by modern ones. What are the advantages of keeping old buildings? Do you think they should be protected by law?Show answer
Yes. Advantages, then your opinion on a law. Two different questions.
Structure of a two-part question essay
Four paragraphs and at least 250 words: one body paragraph for each question, in the same order as in the task. The introduction should already give a short answer to both.
| Paragraph | What to write | Words |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction | Paraphrase the situation, then answer both questions briefly in one or two sentences. | 40–50 |
| Body paragraph 1 | The first question: one or two points, each explained, with an example. | 90–100 |
| Body paragraph 2 | The second question: your answer, explained and supported with an example. | 90–100 |
| Conclusion | Sum up both answers in different words. No new ideas. | 30–40 |
Give both questions roughly the same space. A common mistake is to write a long answer to the first question and run out of time for the second.
Brainstorm and make an outline before you write
Spend the first few minutes thinking, not writing. Write each question at the top of its own paragraph in your notes, then add your ideas underneath. This keeps the two answers separate.
- 1
Number the questions
Write Q1 and Q2 next to the two questions in the task. Each one gets its own paragraph.
- 2
Answer each one
Note a short answer to each question first: two reasons, or yes and why.
- 3
Add support
Under each answer, add an explanation and one example.
- 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:
Many people today change jobs several times during their working lives.
Why is this happening? Is this a positive or negative development?
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
- less security, new priorities
positive - Q1: Why?
- short contracts
interesting work - Q2: Good or bad?
- Good: skills, right job
e.g. marketing, sales
But: less stability - Concl.
- positive
Band 7+ model essay
This essay follows the outline above, paragraph by paragraph. The colours show the parts that make it work:
- Answers to both questions, at the start and the end
- Topic sentence one question per paragraph
- Example makes each point convincing
- Linking words guide the reader
In the past, many people stayed with one employer for most of their working lives, but today it is common to change jobs several times. This is largely because companies offer less security and workers expect more from their careers, and I believe it is mostly a positive development.
There are two main reasons for this trend. Firstly, companies no longer offer the job security they once did. Contracts are shorter, firms restructure frequently, and employees know they could lose their jobs at any time, so many are always looking for the next opportunity. Secondly, people’s priorities have changed. Many young workers value interesting work, flexible hours and the chance to learn new skills more than a job for life, and they are willing to move to another company to find them.
In my view, this change is mostly positive. Moving between jobs allows workers to build a wider range of skills and to find a role that truly suits them. A marketing assistant who later works in sales and then in product design, for example, will understand a business far better than someone who has done the same job for twenty years. Admittedly, frequent changes can mean less stability, and some employers are reluctant to train staff who may soon leave. However, these drawbacks are outweighed by the greater satisfaction and adaptability that changing jobs brings.
In conclusion, people change jobs more often today because employers offer less security and workers want more from their careers. Overall, I believe this is a positive trend, as it helps people develop new skills and find work that really suits them.
Why this essay works: both questions are answered in the first paragraph, and each one then gets its own body paragraph, in the same order as in the task. The first paragraph explains causes, and the second gives an opinion, so each question gets the kind of answer it asks for. The writer also admits a disadvantage before rejecting it, which shows a balanced view.
Useful phrases for answering two questions
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 |
|---|---|
| Giving reasons | There are two main reasons for this. / This is largely because… / Firstly,… Secondly,… |
| Moving to the second question | As for whether this is positive,… / Turning to the effects of this,… / In my view, this change is… |
| Judging a development | I believe this is a positive development because… / On the whole, this trend is… / The benefits of this outweigh… |
| Admitting the other side | Admittedly,… / It is true that…; however,… |
| Concluding | In conclusion, …because…, and I believe this is… / To sum up,… |
Try it yourself: practice questions
Now that you have seen how a band 7+ essay of this type 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.
- SocietyMore and more people are living alone. Why is this happening? Is it a positive or negative development?
- MediaMany people now read the news on social media rather than in newspapers. Why is this? What effects does it have on society?
- CitiesMany old buildings in cities are being replaced by modern ones. What are the advantages of keeping old buildings? Do you think they should be protected by law?
- EducationMore adults are going back to education later in life. Why do they do this? Is this a positive trend?
- FamilyIn many countries, people are having fewer children than in the past. Why is this? What effects will it have in the future?
- TechnologyMany people now prefer to shop online. Why is online shopping so popular? Will traditional shops disappear?
- HealthMore people than ever are joining gyms, but many stop going after a few weeks. Why is this? How can people be encouraged to keep exercising?
- LanguageMillions of people around the world are learning English. Why is English so popular? Is it a good thing that one language is so widely used?
More questions with model essays by topic: Education, Technology, Environment, Crime. All 84 questions by topic →
Your checklist for every two-part question 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 marked 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:
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?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
English speaking countries like Australia, the USA and Britain are becoming a more popular destinationdestinations for students to study English. In this essay, I will discuss why English is such an important language and why so many people want to study this languageit.
English is a door-opener to well-paid jobs and the most used language among travellers, that'swhich is why so many students desire to study English as a second language. Many international companies require English skills as a minimum requirement for a job. A lot of people are studying English just to have a better changechance to get a well-paid job. Travelling is another reason why many people study English; to travel without English skills can be very challenging, especially with customs onin airports. English is quite handy in a globalised world where English is the standard.
ButHowever, English is not just important for individuals. itIt is also a very important language for since and worldwideoperating companies. For example, scientific research is done in English, so that the research can be published easiermore easily to a global audience. Without a global audience, only a fraction of scientists would be able to finance themselfthemselves.
To sum up, without English the world would be running less smoothly from applying for an international job to travelling: everything would be much harder. Scientific progress and international companies would be almost not possibleimpossible. I think English is irreplaceable for our societyirreplaceable.
(233 words)
5.5
Examiner’s band scorefor the essay as written, before the corrections
What this essay teaches you
The examiner gave this essay band 5.5. The writer clearly knows why English matters: jobs, travel and science are all good ideas. What pulls the score down is that the essay is too short and the second question gets too little space. These types of language mistake are common in many students’ essays, so they are worth learning:
| Pattern | In this essay | The rule |
|---|---|---|
| Sentence boundaries | not just important for individuals. It is also… | Two complete sentences cannot be joined with a comma. Use a full stop or a semicolon. |
| Word forms | published | Adverbs describe verbs. Check the form before you write it. |
| a / an | an important language, an international job | An before a vowel sound. |
| Hyphens | well-paid jobs, door-opener | Compound adjectives before a noun take a hyphen. |
| Informal language | No contractions in an essay, and avoid starting sentences with But or And. |
Quiz: choose the right word form
Easy or easily, important or importance, economy or economic: using the wrong form of a word you know is one of the most common mistakes in IELTS essays. Choose the right form for each sentence. Every round picks 10 of 30 sentences at random, so play a few rounds.
Common mistakes in two-part question essays
| Mistake | What to do instead |
|---|---|
| Answering only one question well | Both questions carry equal weight. Give each one a full paragraph with an example. |
| Mixing the two answers | Keep one question per paragraph, in the same order as in the task. |
| Giving the wrong kind of answer | “Why?” asks for reasons, “Is it positive or negative?” asks for your opinion. Answer exactly what each question asks. |
| Sitting on the fence | If a question asks whether something is positive or negative, choose. You can admit the other side, but your answer must be clear. |
| Writing under 250 words | Short essays lose marks for Task Response. Aim for 260–300 words. |
Two-part question essay FAQ
Quick answers to the questions students ask most.
Is a two-part question the same as a problem and solution essay?
A problem and solution essay is one kind of two-part question. Two-part questions can also combine reasons and effects, or reasons and your opinion.
Do both questions need the same number of words?
Roughly, yes. Each question needs a full body paragraph with an explanation and an example.
Where should I answer the questions?
Give a short answer to both in the introduction, develop each one in its own body paragraph, and repeat both answers briefly in the conclusion.
What if one of the questions asks for my opinion?
Give it clearly, in the introduction, in that question’s paragraph and in the conclusion. The other question may only need facts or reasons.
What happens if I write fewer than 250 words?
You lose marks for Task Response, because the examiner considers the answer underdeveloped. Aim for 260–300 words.
