IELTS Writing Task 2: Essay

Forty minutes and two thirds of your Writing band — and the most common reason for losing it is answering a slightly different question from the one asked.

1. What Task 2 Is

You respond to a point of view, argument or problem in at least 250 words. It carries twice the weight of Task 1, which makes it the single most valuable forty minutes in the Writing paper.

2. Format and Timing

Feature	Detail
Suggested time	40 minutes
Minimum words	250
Weighting	Two thirds of the Writing band
Register	Formal
Opinion	Usually required — check the wording

3. The Question Types

Opinion (agree or disagree)

State a position and hold it consistently from introduction to conclusion.

Discussion

Discuss both views and give your own. Three obligations, not two.

Problem and solution

Identify causes or problems, then propose realistic solutions.

Advantages and disadvantages

Weigh both, and say which outweighs the other if asked.

Two-part question

Two direct questions. Answer both, each with its own paragraph.

Misreading the type is the most expensive mistake available. Discuss both views and give your own opinion means an essay that only argues one side cannot score above band 6 for Task Response, however well written.

4. Structure That Works

Spend two minutes deciding exactly what the question asks and how many parts it has.
Introduction: paraphrase the question and state your position in one sentence.
Two or three body paragraphs, each with one idea, developed with a reason and an example.
Conclusion: restate the position. Introduce nothing new.
Leave three minutes to check articles, plurals and agreement.

Two well-developed ideas beat four undeveloped ones every time. Development, not quantity, is what separates band 6 from band 7 in Task Response.

6. Worked Example

An opinion essay prompt

Prompt: In cities and towns all over the world the high volume of traffic is a problem. What are the causes of this and what actions can be taken to solve this problem?

Before writing anything, decide how many things the question asks for. If it says discuss both views and give your own opinion, that is three obligations, and answering two of them caps Task Response at band 6.

7. Common Mistakes

Answering only part of the question.
Changing position between the introduction and the conclusion.
Memorised sentences that do not fit the prompt — examiners spot them and discount them.
One long paragraph with several ideas in it.
Running out of time because Task 1 overran.

8. Questions People Ask

Should I write Task 2 first?

If timing is a weakness, yes. It carries twice the marks, so an unfinished Task 2 is far more costly.

Can I use "I"?

Yes. Task 2 usually asks for your opinion, and stating it directly is appropriate.

Do I need real facts and statistics?

No. Invented but plausible examples are fine — examiners assess the language, not the facts.

Practise this task with real material on the IELTS Writing samples page, or review how it is marked on the Writing scoring page.

Written by Kirill O'Nayd

IELTS expert and educator at TestSucceed, with over a decade of experience preparing candidates for the Academic and General Training modules. Author of the Complete IELTS Preparation Course on Udemy ★★★★★★4.7