IELTS Writing Task 2: How to Write an Essay (with Sample)
In IELTS Writing Task 2, you write an essay of at least 250 words in about 40 minutes, in response to an opinion, an argument or a problem. The task is the same in the Academic and General Training test, and it is worth twice as much as Task 1.
Every Task 2 question belongs to one of five essay types. Recognise the type, plan for a few minutes and follow a clear four-paragraph structure, and you have the basis of a good score.
Marked by an IELTS examiner See a real student essay with every mistake corrected and explained Band 7.5, with the exact changes that would take it higher. Tap any correction to see why it was made.What the task looks like
Every Task 2 prompt has the same parts: a statement or situation, the question you must answer, and the same instructions about reasons, examples and length. Here is a typical example:
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 children should be given homework every day, while others think it is unnecessary.
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.
The 5 types of IELTS essays
The last sentence of the task tells you the type, and the type decides what your essay must do. Each guide shows the structure, a planned model essay and a real student essay corrected by an IELTS examiner:
- 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 →
A four-paragraph structure for every essay
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 | Words |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction | Paraphrase the task and give a short answer: your opinion, which side is stronger, or your main cause and solution. | 40–50 |
| Body paragraph 1 | The first reason, view, side or question, explained with an example. | 90–100 |
| Body paragraph 2 | The second reason, view, side or question, explained with an example. | 90–100 |
| Conclusion | Repeat your answer in different words. No new ideas. | 30–40 |
How to write the essay, step by step
- Read the task and find the typeUnderline the key words and check exactly what the question asks.
- Plan for a few minutesNote your answer and two main ideas, each with an example, and put them into the four paragraphs.
- Write the introductionParaphrase the task in your own words and give your answer in one clear sentence.
- Write two body paragraphsOne main idea each, explained and supported with a specific example. Use linking words, but not at the start of every sentence.
- Conclude and checkRepeat your answer in new words, then use the last five minutes to check articles, verb forms and spelling.
5 tips to improve your Task 2 essay →
How is IELTS Writing Task 2 scored?
Both tasks are marked on a 0–9 scale against four criteria of equal weight. The final score is a whole or half band, for example 6.0 or 6.5.
The examiner gives each criterion its own band, and the four bands are averaged into a score for that task. Your Task 1 and Task 2 scores are then combined into one Writing band, with Task 2 counting twice as much. A weak spot in one criterion, such as frequent grammar mistakes, can pull down an otherwise good answer.
Four criteria · 25% eachTask 2 counts double, so don't spend more than 20 minutes on Task 1.
For more detailed information, see How IELTS Writing Task 2 Is Checked and the official IELTS Writing band descriptors.
IELTS Writing Task 2: Academic vs General Training
The essay task has the same format in both modules: the same four marking criteria, at least 250 words and about 40 minutes. What differs is the topic. Academic and General Training candidates get different prompts, and General Training topics are often a little easier.
More specific, abstract topics
Increasing the price of petrol is the best way to solve growing traffic and pollution problems.
- To what extent do you agree or disagree?
- What other measures do you think might be effective?
Everyday, familiar topics
Today more people are travelling than ever before.
- Why is this the case?
- What are the benefits of travelling for the traveller?
As the prompts show, the Academic topic asks you to judge a specific policy, while the General Training topic is about everyday life.
A real student essay, corrected by an IELTS examiner
A student wrote this essay on the task below, 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.
Writing Task 2 Student essay 40 minutes
Write about the following topic:
Some people think that one should retire at the age of 60 or 65. Others say that people should be allowed to work for as long as they want to.
What is your opinion about this?
Demography in western countries indicates that there will be more and more elderly people in the future. Due to better healthcare systems that are available and stricter requirements for working environments, the life expectancy of people has risen inover/with time. This has made people discussing whether people in their retirement age should stop working, or just the opposite, they should be more engaged in society and offered a chance to work as long as they want in spite of their highadvanced age.
On the one hand, according to the fact that population is ageing in western countries, itan ageing population is gradually putting more pressure on younger generations who have to support elderly people. For instance, providing that there is an increasing number of elderly people, the people in theirof working age will have to pay more tax to provide elderly people with access to healthcare services and to enable government to support them financially. Therefore, allowing people at the age of retirement to work as long as they want to would be something that both the government and pensioners could benefit from.
On the other hand, the list of occupations that would fitbe suitable for/be opened to older people should be limited. There are many specific work tasks that may not be very suitable for older people, especially work duties that require a good physical fitfitness. Thus, aA good example would be a policeman who has to have a good physical stamina in order to stop criminals or even a firefighter who may have to climb on the ladders or roofs. However, it would be reasonable to assess a person's suitability for a certain position regarding to his or her age individually and on a case-by-case basis.
To sum up, I personally believe that offering elderly people a choice to be engaged in work and to stay active instead of quitting their job is better both for the whole society and themselves.
(314 words)
7.5
Examiner’s band scorefor the essay as written, before the corrections
What made this a band 7.5 essay
The writer gives a clear opinion, supports it with a well-developed argument about the ageing population, and admits a fair limitation: some jobs need physical fitness. The vocabulary is wide (life expectancy, physical stamina, on a case-by-case basis), and most mistakes are small slips with articles and fixed phrases. To reach band 8, the introduction should state the opinion instead of only describing the debate. The essay type guides above show how to do that.
Writing Task 2 questions by topic
Practice questions for every essay type, with model essays and topic vocabulary.
IELTS Writing Task 2 FAQ
Quick answers to the questions students ask most.
How many words should a Task 2 essay have?
At least 250 words. Most strong essays have 260–300 words. Writing much more takes time you need for checking.
How long should I spend on Task 2?
About 40 minutes: a few minutes planning, about 30 minutes writing and 5 minutes checking.
Is Task 2 the same in Academic and General Training?
Yes. The format, the four marking criteria, the time and the word count are the same. Only the topics differ: General Training topics are usually about everyday life.
Is Task 2 more important than Task 1?
Yes. Task 2 counts for two thirds of your Writing score, and Task 1 for one third.
Should I give my opinion in every essay?
Only when the task asks for it, for example “To what extent do you agree?” or “Give your own opinion”. Some essay types, such as advantages and disadvantages, may only ask you to describe both sides.
See more useful IELTS essay resources:
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