ielts essay 250 words

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How to Write an IELTS Essay

In this introductory lesson you will find some guidance on how you should write an  IELTS essay .

There are then more lessons on the following pages for different types of essay and different questions, with lots of tips and strategies for achieving a high score. 

You can also watch a video of this lesson:

Essay Types

It is important to learn about IELTS essays because there are different essay types, and these will require different ways to answer them.

However, as you will see from the guidance on this page, they can all follow the same basic structure.

These are some of the types of IELTS essays you can get in the test: 

• Agree / disagree
• Discuss two opinions
• Advantages & disadvantages
• Causes (reasons) & solutions
• Causes (reasons) & effects
• Problems & solutions

Not every essay will fit one of these patterns, but many do.

You may get some of these tasks mixed up. For example, you could be asked to give your opinion on an issue, and then discuss the advantages or disadvantages of it.

The golden rule is to  ALWAYS read the question very carefully  to see exactly what you are being asked to do.

The second lesson explains more about analysing essay questions. 

How do I Write an IELTS Essay?

In order to answer this, lets first look at a sample question:

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

In the last 20 years there have been significant developments in the field of information technology (IT), for example the World Wide Web and communication by email. However, these developments in IT are likely to have more negative effects than positive in the future.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own experience or knowledge.

Write at least 250 words.

An IELTS essay is structured like any other essay; you just need to make it shorter. There are three key elements:

• Introduction
• Body Paragraphs

We will look at each of these in turn, using the essay question above as an example.

1) Introduction

You should keep your introduction for the IELTS essay short. Remember you only have 40 minutes to write the essay, and some of this time needs to be spent planning. Therefore, you need to be able to write your introduction fairly quickly so you can start writing your body paragraphs.

You should do just two things:

• State the topic of the essay, using some basic facts (that you may be able to take from the question)
• Say what you are going to write about

Here is an example introduction for the above essay question about IT:

The last two decades have seen enormous changes in the way people's lives are affected by IT, with many advances in this field. However, while these technological advances have brought many benefits to the world, I strongly believe that these developments in IT will result in more negative impacts than positive.

As you can see, the first sentence makes sure it refers to the topic (IT) and uses facts about IT taken from the question. Note that these are paraphrased - you must not copy from the rubric!

The second part then clearly sets out the what the essay will be about and confirms the writers opinion (some questions may not ask for your opinion, but this one does). The writer clearly agrees as he/she thinks there will be more negative impacts.

View this lesson for more advice on writing IELTS essay introductions.

2) Body Paragraphs

For an IELTS essay, you should have 2 or 3 body paragraphs - no more, and no less.

For your body paragraph, each paragraph should contain one controlling idea, and have sentences to support this.

Lets look at the first paragraph for the essay about IT. The essay is about the benefits and drawbacks of IT, so these will need to be discussed in separate paragraphs.

Here is the first body paragraph:

On the positive side, email has made communication, especially abroad, much simpler and faster. This has resulted in numerous benefits for commerce and business as there is no need to wait weeks for letters or take time sending faxes, which was the case in the past. Furthermore, the World Wide Web means that information on every conceivable subject is now available to us. For example, people can access news, medical advice, online education courses and much more via the internet.  These developments have made life far easier and more convenient for many.

The controlling idea in this first paragraph is the 'benefits of IT', and there are two supporting ideas, which are underlined. No drawbacks are discussed as the paragraph would then lose coherence.

Most of the essay will focus on the negative aspects of IT, as the writer says there are more negative effects in the introduction. So the next two paragraphs are about these.

The topic sentence in the next paragraph therefore tells us we are changing the focus to the negative points:

Nevertheless, the effects of this new technology have not all been beneficial. For example, many people feel that the widespread use of email is destroying traditional forms of communication such as letter writing, telephone and face-to-face conversation. This could result in a decline in people's basic ability to socialize and interact with each other on a day-to-day basis.

The final body paragraph gives the last negative effect:

In addition, the large size of the Web has meant that it is nearly impossible to regulate and control. This has led to many concerns regarding children accessing unsuitable websites and the spread of computer viruses. Unfortunately, this kind of problem might even get worse in the future at least until more regulated systems are set up.

3) Conclusion

The conclusion only needs to be one or two sentences, and you can do the following:

• Re-state what the essay is about (re-write the last sentence of your introduction in different words)
• Give some thoughts about the future

Here is an example:

In conclusion, developments in IT have brought many benefits, yet I believe that these are outweighed by the drawbacks. In the future these will need to be addressed if we are to avoid damaging impacts on individuals and society.

The Full IELTS Essay

The last two decades have seen enormous changes in the way people's lives are affected by IT, with many advances in this field. However, while these technological advances have brought many benefits to the world, I strongly believe that these developments in IT will result in more negative impacts than positive.

Nevertheless, the effects of this new technology have not all been beneficial. For example, many people feel that the widespread use of email is destroying traditional forms of communication such as letter writing, telephone and face-to-face conversation. This could result in a decline in people's basic ability to socialize and interact with each other on a day-to-day basis.

(290 Words)

The IELTS essay introduction talks in general about the increasing use of IT, thus introducing the topic well. The thesis then clearly sets out the writers opinion.

The following paragraph mentions the present benefits of these developments, but the opening sentence in the third paragraph is a qualifying statement (Nevertheless, not all the effects... ), so the writer can now focus on the negative elements.

The fourth paragraph provides two other negative examples (lack of regulation, viruses). Both paragraphs suggest that these problems will continue in the future.

The essay concludes with a clear opinion that agrees with the statement.

Overall, it is a well-balanced text that mentions the present situation ( ...this has made life.. .) but importantly, also refers to the future of IT (. ..likely to increase..., might get worse. ..).

Now you know the basics of writing an IELTS Essay, you can go on and look at further sample essays or if you prefer, check out the next lessons for Writing Task 2.

More Task 2 IELTS Lessons:

Using Pronouns to Improve IELTS Essay Coherency

Find out how to use pronouns to improve your coherency for IELTS task 2 essays.

Improving Writing Coherence for IELTS essays

25% of the writing grade is on how you organise your essay so this lesson shows you how to improve your writing coherence.

IELTS Task Response - 25% of your essay grade

The IELTS Task Response criteria in the scoring makes up 25% of your band score for your essay.

Tips on How to Score IELTS Band 8 in Writing and Speaking

To score IELTS Band 8 you need to understand exactly what is in the IELTS Band Descriptors for an 8 for writing and speaking first.

The 3 Types of IELTS Opinion Essays in IELTS

IELTS opinion essays in IELTS can be placed into three types. This lesson explains the different types and how to analyse these essay questions.

IELTS Problem Solution Essay Strategies and Tips

In IELTS problem solution essays you have to discuss a particular issue and present ideas to solve that problem.

Using Substitution in IELTS to Improve Writing Coherency

You can use substitution in your IELTS essays in order to improve coherency and coherence.

Requirements for IELTS Band 7 in Writing

Getting to an IELTS Band 7 is a struggle for many candidates. This lesson explains exactly what you have to do to reach this band score.

Thesis Statement Tips for IELTS Essays

Your thesis statement in an IELTS essay should be written quickly and concisely. Use these tips to do that.

IELTS Advantage Disadvantage Essay Tips and Strategies

An advantage disadvantage essay is one type of essay that you may get in the test. This lesson shows how to write a pros cons essay.

Generating ideas for IELTS essays for writing task 2

Generating ideas for IELTS essays for writing task 2 can be difficult but complex ideas are not expected.

IELTS Music Essay: Understanding a Complex Question

An IELTS essay about music is used to show you how to answer a more complex IELTS essay question that does not have a clear 'task' given to you.

Can you use Personal Pronouns in Essays for IELTS?

Learn how to use personal pronouns in essays for IELTS correctly. Can you use "I", "we" and "you"?

How to use brainstorming and planning to generate essay ideas.

Brainstorming and planning is a key step in developing your IELTS essay. This lesson has tips on how to coming up with ideas and organising them.

Writing an IELTS Essay Introduction

Tips on how to write an introduction for an IELTS essay introduction in a quick and easy way.

How to Identify the Task in an IELTS Essay

Learn how to identify the task in an IELTS task 2 essay question. This is one of the most important steps in responding to an essay question.

Writing an IELTS Essay Conclusion

The IELTS essay conclusion is the final part of your IELTS essay. This lesson guides you on how to write a conclusion quickly but effectively.

Transitional Phrases for Essays

Learn transitional phrases for essays to get a band 7 or higher in your IELTS writing for coherence and cohesion.

How to Identify the Topic of an IELTS Essay Question

In IELTS you must identify the topic of your essay as this is a key to making sure your essay is on topic.

Paragraph Writing for IELTS: Building strong arguments

This paragraph writing lesson provides tips on constructing the best paragraphs for your IELTS essay.

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IELTS Writing Task 2: ✍️ Everything You Need to Know

When helping students prepare for the IELTS test, one of the biggest fears is how to do well in IELTS Writing Task 2. 

IELTS Writing Task 2 is the second part of the writing test, where you are presented with a point of view, argument or problem and asked to write an essay in response. Your essay should be in a formal style, at least 250 words in length and you should aim to complete it in under 40 minutes. 

IELTS Writing Task 2: Everything You Need to Know

In this video, I’ll outline exactly what you must do to create an IELTS Writing Task 2 essay that could score a Band 7, 8 or 9.

It doesn’t matter if you’re new to IELTS or if you’ve failed the exam before – I’ve broken everything down into a simple 3-step process that anyone can use to improve their scores! Watch the video above to find out what they are.

5 Steps to a Band 7 in IELTS Writing Task 2

1. Understand the question.

You must understand the question before you attempt to answer it. This way, you’ll know exactly what the examiner is looking for. One of the biggest mistakes students make is not answering the question fully, which stops them from getting a score higher than a Band 5.

To analyse the question , you must first identify the question type, then identify the keywords in the question and finally identify the instructions words. This will help you understand exactly what the examiner wants you to do with the question.

2. Plan your answer.

The students who get the highest marks in Writing Task 2 always plan their answers for up to 10 minutes. Planning helps you organise your ideas and structure your essay before you write it, saving you time and helping you produce a clear and coherent essay.

3. Write an introduction.

The introduction should answer the question directly. This tells the examiner that you know what you are doing straight away and helps you write your main body paragraphs.

4. Write the main body paragraphs.

This is where you give the examiner more detail . You do this by stating your main points and supporting these with explanations and relevant examples.

5. Write a conclusion.

In your conclusion , you should provide a summary of what you already said in the rest of your essay.

4 Ways to Improve your Score in IELTS Writing Task 2

Many people know they need to improve their writing skills but don’t know how to do it. Here are 4 ways you can boost your score in Writing Task 2:

1. Understand the exam.

You must first understand what IELTS Writing Task 2 is, what you are expected to do and how to give the examiners what they want. This is the first stage and one that is often overlooked.

There are many online resources, often with conflicting and poor-quality information, so finding a reliable source of information is key.

2. Identify your weak areas.

If your car breaks down, you would try and identify which part caused the problem. If you get sick, your doctor will run tests to determine the exact cause of your symptoms.

IELTS Writing Task 2 is the same. We must first identify WHY you are not getting the score you need before we can help you improve.

However, be very careful! You wouldn’t ask the average man on the street for medical advice, so make sure you find someone who knows what they are doing and has the expertise to help you with this.

3. Fix the problems.

Now that we know what the problems are, we must fix them.

If your grammar needs work, fix those issues. If your vocabulary is lacking, work on fixing this issue.

Just as a good doctor can help you fix a medical problem, a good IELTS teacher can help you fix your specific issues.

4. Practice and get feedback.

Practice alone will not help you. It is an essential part of your preparation, but you must also get feedback on your work if you are really going to improve.

You wouldn’t try to teach yourself how to drive without an instructor, would you?

Find someone who will give you accurate and helpful feedback on your work. Otherwise, you will not be able to move to the last stage.

Now that you have understood what you need to do, identified the exact areas you need to work on, improved those areas, and received feedback on your work, you are now ready to get the IELTS Writing Task 2 score you deserve.

Writing Task 2 Structures 

I want to warn you about structures because they are not a magic wand that will help you automatically get a higher score. They WILL help you, but please realise that they are just a small part of your overall score.

These structures provide a sentence-by-sentence template for all the main Task 2 question types, making your job much easier on exam day.

• Task 2 Essay Structures

Essential Writing Task 2 Skills 

No matter how good your English is, you must still learn IELTS writing skills before taking the Writing Task 2 test. These helpful guides will take you through each of these skills step-by-step:

• How to Plan an Essay

Making a good plan actually saves you time when you write your essay. This guide will show you how to plan and write a clear essay every time.

• How to Think of Relevant Ideas

This guide provides 5 different methods to help you quickly think of relevant ideas that are directly linked to the question.

• How to Write a Complex Sentence

Complex sentences help you boost your score for grammar. They are actually very simple to write and are not complex at all.

• How to Paraphrase

Paraphrasing is one of the essential IELTS skills for all parts of the IELTS test. You should paraphrase the question in the very first sentence of your essay to help boost your vocabulary score in Writing Task 2.

• How to Write a Supporting Paragraph

Supporting paragraphs are the main body paragraphs and are the meat in the sandwich. This is where you provide the detail the examiner is looking for in the form of explanations and examples.

• How to Write a Thesis Statement

A thesis statement tells the examiner your opinion. Many IELTS Writing Task 2 questions specifically ask for your opinion, and if you don’t write it clearly, you have not answered the question properly. This article shows you how, where and when to give your opinion.

How many words should I write?

Around 250 words? Exactly 250 words or over 250 words? How many words over? How do I know how many words I have? Will I lose marks if I write too many words? This article answers all those questions.

• How to Understand and Analyse Any Question

A critical part of answering any question. This article shows you how to break down any Task 2 question and identify the keywords, micro-keywords and instruction words to help you answer the question effectively.

• How to Write a Great Introduction

The introduction is the first thing the examiner reads; therefore, we must give them a good first impression. I share a very specific sentence-by-sentence structure in this article to help you write introductions quickly and effectively.

• Task 2 Marking Criteria 

Do you know how Task 2 is marked? What is the difference between a Band 5 and a Band 8 answer? This article breaks down the marking criteria and explains it in simple language so you can give the IELTS examiners exactly what they want.

• How to Write a Conclusion

A good conclusion should be a summary of your main points. The conclusion is the last thing the examiner reads, and if you can write a good one, you will leave them with a very good impression.

• Using Examples

Each of your supporting paragraphs should have a specific example that supports and illustrates your main point. This is an essential skill to learn if you want to get one of the higher band scores.

• Cohesive Devices

Cohesive devices (sometimes called linking words) are one of the most misunderstood and misused elements of writing. Therefore, you must learn how to use them and when to use them.

• The Danger of Synonyms

While synonyms are very important, they can also really reduce your mark if used incorrectly.

• Paragraphing and Editing

This article will show you how to make your writing as clear and as easy to read as possible. It will also advise you on whether to use a pen or pencil.

• IELTS Writing Task 2: 8 Steps to Success

Read this blog now to access our 61-page Task 2 strategy.

• IELTS Writing Tips

I have compiled these tips after years of teaching IELTS, and all of them have been approved by IELTS examiners.

• Coherence and Cohesion

This is a video lesson that shows you in practical terms how to improve your coherence and cohesion score.

Writing Task 2 Common Topics 

Knowing the common topics can help you prepare for the test more efficiently. Here are the 10 most common topics over the last few years. Studying hard is great, but don’t forget to study smart.

The article below will show you the top 10 most common IELTS topics.

• Most Common Task 2 Topics 

Full IELTS Writing Task 2 Practice Lessons 

Here are some lessons that I have used when teaching students about IELTS Writing Task 2. I have changed them so that you can easily learn from home. They are very long but contain all the necessary information combined with the skills above.

• Agree or Disagree (Opinion) Lesson

In this lesson, we look at how to tackle an ‘agree or disagree’ question. Many people worry about whether to take one side of the other or discuss both sides. Additionally, people also worry about how to deal with ‘To what extent’ question types. We allay all of these fears in this lesson.

• Discussion Essay Lesson

‘Discuss both views’ questions often confuse people because you are asked to do many things in one essay. As such, it is very important to remember that the question asks you to discuss BOTH views AND give YOUR opinion.

• Problem and Solution Essay Lesson

These questions are much easier than you think. You probably discuss problems and solutions in your day-to-day life all the time. Keep it simple.

• Advantages and Disadvantages Lesson 

There are a couple of different types of advantages and disadvantages questions. This lesson will show you how to answer them.

• Writing Task 2 Exercise with Video

Writing is a skill, and just like any other skill, it is important to practice to improve.

• From Band 6.5 to 8 Demo Lesson

This is my most comprehensive free lesson on IELTS Writing Task 2. We show you how we took one VIP student from Band 6.5 to an amazing 8.

Sample Answers

You must have some good examples to compare your writing and see if you are on the right track. Click the link below for lots of sample answers and over 100 questions.

Task 2 Sample Answers

• Agree or Disagree Sample Essays
• Task 2 Band 9 Sample Essay
• Latest Real Task 2 Questions
• Official Sample Test Questions
• Cambridge Sample Questions
• Free Practice Test
• How To Use Task 2 Samples
• Recent Confusing Questions
• IELTS Writing Practice Guide

IELTS Writing Task 2 Essential Information

• You must write an essay in response to a question.
• You must write 250 words or more.
• Task 2 is worth 2/3 of your total mark on the Writing test.
• You should spend around 40 minutes on this part of the test.
• General Training and Academic are essentially the same for Task 2. However, they are different for Task 1.
• There are certain types of questions that you will be asked, for example, opinion, discussion etc. See below for more detail on these.
• Task Achievement (25%)
• Coherence and Cohesion (25%)
• Lexical Resource (25%)
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy (25%)

Grammar and Vocabulary

Grammar is one of the four things you will be marked on in the Writing Task 2 test. Finding out what your common grammar mistakes are and then fixing them is a very powerful way to boost your score in this area. Here are some common grammar mistakes I have found after making hundreds of tests.

• Top 10 Grammar Mistakes

For most IELTS students, the problem is not grammar in general. In fact, it is usually just 1-2 problem areas. Therefore, when you fix these main weaknesses, you’ll be able to improve your grammar and your writing score dramatically.

• Using Personal Pronouns

Hint- They aren’t as big of a deal as you think.

See the interactive tool below for the answers to the most commonly asked questions we receive about IELTS Writing Task 2: 

IELTS Writing Task 2 FAQs

How can i improve my writing.

You will find all the resources you need on our Writing Task 2 page. Click the link below:

Writing Task 2

We also have two Task 2 courses for those that need to improve their Task 2 skills and strategy. They are both based online and completely free of charge. Learn more about them below:

Task 2 5 Day Challenge

Task 2 Essay Builder

If you need serious help or personalised feedback, you should check out our VIP Course. There is a waiting list, but you can add your name here:

How can I get a Band 7, 8 or 9?

The answer to this question is different for every individual IELTS student, as it depends on a number of factors, including your work ethic, English skills and exam strategy. You'll find a guide to answering this question in this article

If you need serious help with improving your IELTS scores, you should check out our online writing course. There is a waiting list, but you can add your name by clicking the link below:

Can you correct my writing?

Please click the link below and it will give you all the information you need about our writing correction service:

Writing Correction Service

Do you have any sample answers?

Yes, you will find them at the link below:

Will using 'high level' or 'academic' words help me improve my score?

Probably not.

Read my recent article about IELTS vocabulary here:

5 Things You Need to Know about IELTS Vocabulary

Can I use idioms?

No, you should not write idioms for Task 2.

Can I use personal pronouns?

You should avoid using personal pronouns, but it is fine to use them when giving your personal opinion.

Do you write a conclusion for Task 2?

Yes, it is very difficult to get a good score in Task 2 if you haven't finished your essay with a conclusion. You will find an in-depth lesson on conclusions here:

How to Write an Effective Task 2 Conclusion

How many paragraphs should I write?

Most IELTS task 2 essays follow the same basic four paragraph structure:

• Introduction
• Supporting Paragraph 1
• Supporting Paragraph 2

However, you can find more comprehensive help with structuring your Task 2 essays here:

5 Day Challenge

Do I need to plan my essay?

I would highly recommend planning your essay. A good plan acts like a map that guides you through the essay, ensuring that you give the examiner exactly what they need to award you the score you need. You can find help with planning your essays here: How to Plan an IELTS Essay

You must write at least 250 words in Writing Task 2.

I would suggest that you aim to write around 270-280 words in total. Aiming for 20-30 words more than the required amount makes you more likely to reach the word limit without setting an unrealistic goal.

Will I lose marks if I don't write enough words?

Yes, if you don't write the required number of words, you will lose marks in 'Task Achievement' for not answering the question fully. Read more here .

Can I use contractions?

No, should not use contractions when you are writing an academic essay.

• Preparing for IELTS
• Practice tests
• Free online IELTS Writing practice tests
• Free online IELTS Academic Writing practice tests - paper

IELTS practice Academic Writing test - Task 2

How to approach academic writing task 2.

In the actual IELTS Academic Writing test, you will have one hour to complete the two questions or tasks: 20 minutes for the first task and 40 minutes for the second. So, you should expect to spend a little longer on practice Task 2 than you did on practice Task 1.

While you shouldn’t put yourself under too much pressure when practicing, it’s a good idea to set a timer or alert, so you can keep a track of your progress and how close you are to the time limit.

An easy reminder…

Q: How long should I spend on IELTS Writing Task 2?

A: We suggest 40 minutes.

Q: How many words for IELTS Writing Task 2?

A: 250 words is about the right length, but don’t be afraid to go a little over.

Q: Should I be formal or conversational in style?

A: You should write in a formal style, suited to an academic environment.

Task 2 - Write about the following topic:

You should give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own experience or knowledge to support your response.

What should I do next?

Once you’ve finished, you can download the model answer for Writing Task 2 and see how your work compares.

Remember, you don’t have to agree with the opinion expressed in the model answer; this Task 2 sample is a guide to illustrate the style, content, level of detail, structure, length and so on. A good way to improve is to spend some time reflecting on how your answer compares to the model answer - and keep practicing, of course.

If you want to see an example of an actual answer sheet for the IELTS Academic Writing test (‘on paper’ version), you can download a sample copy below.

• IELTS practice Academic Writing test - Task 1

Free IELTS lessons signup

• Academic practice
• General practice
• Task 1 Academic
• Task 1 General
• Task 2 (essay)

IELTS Writing

On this page you can find all the information about IELTS Writing , see IELTS Writing topics , try useful IELTS Writing lessons and tips and see IELTS Writing samples .

Information about IELTS Writing

IELTS Writing test is made to assess your writing skills and techniques. There are two IELTS Writing modules: Academic and General. If you plan to study abroad, then you should take IELTS Academic module. And if you wish to work abroad, then you should take IELTS General module.

IELTS Writing test lasts 1 hour and consists of 2 parts : task 1 and task 2. Writing task 1 is different for Academic and General IELTS, but Writing task 2 is the same for both modules.

In Academic Writing task 1 you're asked to describe a graph, chart or diagram. And in General Writing task 1 you have to write a letter to someone. In Writing task 2 you have to write an essay on a given topic.

IELTS Academic Writing

IELTS Academic Writing module lasts 60 minutes and has 2 tasks, which must both be completed. Although it is recommended to spend approximately 20 minutes on task 1 and about 40 minutes on task 2, you can divide your time between two sections the way you prefer.

See which skills are tested in IELTS Writing Academic.

Academic IELTS Writing Task 1

In this task you need to describe or summarize visualised data, such as graph, chart, table, diagram, process or scheme. You should write at least 150 words in this task.

IELTS Writing Task 1 sample (Academic) :

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The graph below shows tourism statistics among Venezuelian students from 2011 to 2014. Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

• IELTS Writing task 1 samples
• IELTS Writing exercises
• IELTS task 1 vocabulary

IELTS Writing Task 2

This task is the same for Academic and General modules.

This is more challenging task. You should write an essay on a given topic, presenting your point of view and supporting it with relevant arguments. You should write at least 250 words in this task.

IELTS Writing Task 2 sample :

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Does Internet need to be controlled by the government?

Justify your answer.

Write at least 250 words.

• IELTS Writing task 2 topics
• IELTS Writing task 2 samples
• IELTS task 2 vocabulary

See IELTS Writing Marking Scheme

IELTS General Writing

IELTS General Writing module lasts 60 minutes and has 2 tasks, which must both be completed. Although it is recommended to spend approximately 20 minutes on task 1 and about 40 minutes on task 2, you can divide your time between two sections the way you prefer.

See which skills are tested in IELTS Writing General.

IELTS General Writing Task 1

In this task you are asked to write a letter concerning everyday situation that you are likely to encounter while living in an English-speaking environment. For example, a letter to an accommodation officer, your employer or a friend. The letter may be personal, semi-formal or formal.

• write personal correspondence
• provide general factual information
• express your opinions: views, needs, wants, likes and dislikes etc.

IELTS General Writing Task 1 sample :

Your friend is celebrating her Birthday soon and has invited you to a party. But you are unable to come because you are going to attend an important meeting that day.

• thank her for the invitation;
• explain why you cannot come;
• propose to meet on other day;

You do NOT need to write your own address. Begin your letter as follows:

• IELTS General Writing task 1 samples
• IELTS General task 1 vocabulary

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IELTS Writing Task 2 Recent Questions

In this article, we outline over 250 recent IELTS Writing Task 2 topics and sample questions.

The IELTS Writing Task 2 is an essay writing task that assesses your ability to express and develop an argument in response to a given prompt. As an essential part of the IELTS exam, a high score in writing task 2 can help you achieve your desired overall score.

To score well in the IELTS Writing Task 2, you need to be familiar with all the possible topics that may come up.

Table of Contents

What is the basic structure for ielts writing task 2 in the ielts exam, ielts writing task 2 topics on education, ielts task 2 questions on globalisation, ielts task 2 questions on equality, ielts task 2 questions about the environment, ielts task 2 questions on technology, task 2 questions on travel and transport, task 2 questions on health, task 2 questions on law and order.

• Task 2 questions on Language and Culture
• Task 2 Questions on Government and Society

Task 2 Questions on Sports and Pastimes

Recent writing task 2 questions: january 2024, recent writing task 2 questions: october 2023, recent writing task 2 questions: july 2023, recent writing task 2 questions: april 2023, recent writing task 2 questions: january 2023, recent writing task 2 questions: october 2022, recent task 2 questions: july 2022.

• January to March 2022 recent task 2 questions
• October to December 2021 sample task 2 questions

Sample Task 2 Questions: September 2021

Sample task 2 questions: february / march 2021.

• Sample Task 2 Questions: January 2021
• Task 2 Sample Questions: October/November 2020

IELTS Writing Task 2 Topics: August 2020 

Task 2 questions: march 2020, task 2 essay questions: january 2020, recent exam task 2 questions: october 2019, task 2 sample questions: september 2019, task 2 questions: august 2019.

• Task 2 questions: June 2019

Task 2 questions: January 2019

Writing task 2 questions: december 2018, task 2 questions: november 2018.

• Writing task 2 questions: October 2018
• Writing task 2 questions: September 2018

Writing task 2 questions: August 2018

Latest writing task 2 questions: july 2018 (education), latest writing task 2 questions: july 2018.

• March – April 2019 task 2 questions

VIDEO: Recent 2022 questions and sample answers for IELTS Writing Task 2 

• Frequently Asked Questions

The IELTS writing exam is split into two parts and task 2 is worth 66% of your score.

The IELTS writing task 2 is an essay writing task that assesses your ability to express and develop an argument in response to a given topic.

You are allocated 40 minutes to write it.

On the official British Council site there are documents that state your essay must contain at least 250 words, however, in the official criteria, there is no mention of 250 words.

The basic structure for IELTS writing task 2 in the IELTS exam is as follows:

• Introduction : Be sure to state the question in your own words in your introduction so that you introduce the topic of your task 2. Task 2 statements are often a paraphrasing of the initial question.
• Support your opinion : Once you have made your opinion clear, you have to provide facts to justify your choice
• State the opposing point of you . You do not have to persuade the examiner about the opposing opinion, but it is important to state what it is. 
• Summarise your opinion.

Below you will find a variety of task 2 essay topics that have been seen by students on their IELTS exams. By practising with these writing task 2 topics, you prepare yourself to write an essay about a wide range of topics.

Get your IELTS essay evaluated online for free using our new essay checker service. 

For a FREE ebook PDF of our top 10 sample essays, click here!

Common Essay Topics for IELTS Writing Task 2

Preparing for the IELTS Writing Task 2 requires familiarizing yourself with common essay topics that may appear on the IELTS exam.

Having knowledge of these topics can help you prepare well and increase your chances of scoring high.

Below are some of the most common essay topics for the IELTS Writing Task 2 exam.

• Globalisation
• Environment
• Travel and transport
• Law and order
• Language and culture
• Government and society
• Sports and pastimes

In IELTS writing task 2, test takers may be presented with essay topics related to education.

Some writing task 2 education topics may focus on the benefits and drawbacks of traditional education or the role of technology in modern learning.

Here’s a sample task 2 question about education:

Some people think that a person improves intellectual skills better when doing group activities.  To what extent do you agree? Use specific details and examples to explain your view. 

Read more IELTS Writing Task 2 Topics on Education here

Writing task 2 often features essay topics related to globalisation, requiring test takers to express their views and opinions on the subject.

The essay question themes may include the far-reaching impacts of globalisation on economies, societies, and cultures around the world.

Here’s a sample task 2 question about globalisation:

Many people say that globalisation and the growing number of multinational companies have a negative effect on the environment. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Use specific reasons and examples to support your position.

Read more IELTS Task 2 questions on Globalisation here

In IELTS writing task 2, test takers are often presented with essay topics related to equality, asking them to explore issues such as gender equality, racial equality, and economic inequality.

Here’s a sample task 2 question about equality:

Nowadays both men and women spend a lot of money on beauty care. This was not so in the past. What may be the root cause of this behaviour? Discuss the reasons and possible results.

Read more IELTS task 2 questions on Equality here

Writing task 2 often features environment-related essay topics, requiring test takers to discuss issues such as pollution, conservation, and sustainable development.

Here’s a sample task 2 question about the environment:

Environmental issues such as climate change have always been an international problem because governments are not imposing harsh punishments against offenders. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Support your answer with specific reasons and examples.

Read more IELTS task 2 questions on the Environment here

In IELTS writing task 2, test takers are often given essay topics related to technology, requiring them to explore topics such as the benefits and drawbacks of technology, the role of technology in society, and the potential impact of emerging technologies.

Here’s a sample task 2 question about technology:

What technologies did you use to help you in your studies? Describe how it has helped you. Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.

Read more IELTS Task 2 questions on Technology here

In the IELTS writing exam, test takers may be required to discuss and write about travel and transport essay topics.

Here’s a sample task 2 question about travel and transport:

In many countries, people tend to move overseas or move to a different part of their country after their retirement. Discuss why they do so and what the outcome of this situation is. Provide specific reasons and examples to support your opinion

Read more Task 2 questions on Travel and Transport here.

Some people think that keeping pets is good for children while others think it is dangerous and unhealthy. Which opinion do you agree with? Discuss both options and give examples.

Read more Task 2 questions on Health here

Some people believe that once a person becomes a criminal, he will always be a criminal. Do you agree with this statement? Provide specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

Read more  Task 2 questions on Law and Order here.

Task 2 Questions on Language and Culture

Compared to the past, more people are now trying to learn a foreign language to increase their chances of landing a better job in their native country or having better opportunities to work abroad. To what extent do you agree with this point of view? Give specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

Read more Task 2 questions on language and culture here.

Task 2 Questions on Government and society

Should the government support artists, such as musicians, writers, and painters? Is it economically beneficial or is it just a waste of money? Why or why not?

Read more Task 2 questions on Government and society here.

International sporting events are costly and bring problems to the hosting country. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Give specific reasons and examples to support your position.

Read more Task 2 questions on Sports and Pastimes here

Sample IELTS Writing Task 2 Topics and Answers 

• Band 6.5 essay about marriage (includes ex-ielts examiner commentary)
• Band 9 essay about education (includes ex-ielts examiner commentary)

Join our Facebook group where students share their recent IELTS writing task 2 questions

Instructions to get your essay evaluated for free

• Write an IELTS essay answering one of the questions below
• Copy and paste the question into the new online IELTS essay checker .
• Get your estimated band score (free)

Recent IELTS Writing Task 2 Questions from July 2018 till date

Below are past essay questions from previous years as seen by students in their exams.

These sample questions will help you prepare and better know what to expect in your task 2 exam.

Feel free to send us your task 2 questions if you have recently taken the IELTS exam.

• In many countries, it is mandatory for school children to wear uniforms. Do the advantages of this policy outweigh the disadvantages? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
• Many museums charge for admission while others are free. Do you think the advantages of charging people for admission outweigh the disadvantages?
• Ambition is a positive quality for people to have in society today. How important is it for people who want to succeed in life? Is it a positive or negative characteristic?
• Research has shown that the transportation of products and people are the main source of pollution. Some people believe the government should be in charge of this, while others believe it is the fault of individuals. Discuss both views and give your opinion. Give reasons for your answer and include relevant examples from your knowledge or experience. 
• Extreme sports such as skydiving and rock climbing are very dangerous and should be banned. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this view?
• These days more people put their personal information, such as names, addresses and telephone numbers, online for everyday activities such as socialising on social networks or banking purposes. Do you think it is a positive or negative development?
• The leaders or directors of organizations are often older people. But some people say that young people can also be a leader. Do you agree or disagree?
• Some people believe that people living in the twenty-first century have a better standard of living as compared to previous centuries. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give reasons for your answer and include relevant examples from your knowledge or experience.
• A portion of the human population believes that criminal behaviour has its roots in genes. Others think that circumstances lead people to commit crimes. Discuss your take on both views and put forward your opinions. 
• Some people think the government should provide free housing, while others believe it is not the government’s responsibility. Discuss both views and give your opinion
• Some people believe the purpose of education is to prepare individuals to be beneficial to society. Others say the purpose of education is to achieve personal ambitions. Discuss both views and give your own opinion
• With the growing population of cities, more and more people live in homes that have little or no outdoor area. Is this a positive or negative development? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your knowledge or experience.
• It has been suggested that all young adults should be required to undertake a period of unpaid work helping people in the community. Would the drawbacks of such a requirement be greater than the benefits to the community and the individual young adults?
• Some think dangerous extreme sports such as skydiving and rock climbing should be banned. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Nowadays, most countries improve their living standards through economic development. However, some social values are lost as a result. Do you think the advantages of the phenomenon outweigh the disadvantages?
• Although countries with long average working hours are economically successful, this often has some negative social consequences. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• In many countries, the number of animals and plants is declining. Why do you think this is happening? How can this issue be solved? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your knowledge or experience.
• Some people think that activities during free time should be planned while others disagree. Discuss both sides and include examples and relevant data from your own experience.
• The tendency of news reports in the media to focus more on problems and emergencies than on positive developments is harmful to individuals and society as a whole. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your knowledge or experience.
• Some people think the government should support artists like painters, musicians, and poets, while others believe this wastes money. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
• Earlier technology developments brought more benefits and changed the lives of ordinary people more than recent developments ever will. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• These days more and more people are going to other countries for a significant period either to find a job or study. There are clearly many benefits to doing this, but people who live abroad can also face some difficulties.Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of living and working in a foreign country. Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
• Nowadays online shopping is extremely popular. Discuss the impact of it on the environment and on people who lost their jobs because of it.
• In some countries the government promotes public transport as the primary means of transportation, and discourages private vehicle ownership. Do you think the advantages of this policy outweigh the disadvantages?
• Nowadays, most children prefer to spend several hours playing with electronic devices over doing more traditional leisure activities.What problem does this cause? What do you think are possible solutions?
• It is believed that secondary school children should study international news as one of their school subjects. Others think that this is a waste of valuable school time. Discuss both views and give your opinions.
• Some people think it’s better to choose friends who always have the same opinions as them. Other people believe it’s good to have friends who sometimes disagree with them. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
• Fast food is a part of life in many places. Some people think this has bad effects on lifestyle and diets. Do you agree or disagree?
• Some people encourage watching sports as a way of learning about teamwork and strategy, while others believe that one can learn these skills only through playing sports. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
• New technologies have changed the way children spend their free time. Do you think the advantages of this trend outweigh the disadvantages?
• Some people prefer to spend their lives doing the same things and avoiding change. Others, however, think that change is always a good thing. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
• Although parents are responsible for raising a child, outside influence plays a key role in their development. To what extent do you agree or disagree
• Movies and tv shows are a good way to study history despite their lack of historical accuracy at times. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Nowadays, instead of locally sourced produce, many supermarkets sell a variety of foods imported from countries all across the world. Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?
• Rising university fees and scarce employment prospects for graduates have led some people to say that universities should not teach arts subjects, like philosophy and history, and only offer practical degree courses that maximise chances of employment. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Give a reason for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
• In some parts of the world, traditional festivals and celebrations have disappeared or are disappearing. Why is this happening? What measures could be taken to ensure they do not disappear?
• Some people believe that using taxpayer funds to look for life on other planets is important. Others, however, think that it is a waste of public money because there are many more important issues requiring funding on our own planet. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
• In recent years, there has been growing interest in the relationship between equality and personal achievement. Some people believe that individuals can achieve more in egalitarian societies. Others believe that high levels of personal achievement are possible only if individuals are free to succeed or fail according to their individual merits. Discuss both sides and give your own opinion.
• Our personalities are predetermined as a result of our genes before we are born and there is nothing that can be done to change our character traits. To what extent do you agree?
• Some people believe that teaching children at home is best for a child’s development while others think it is important for children to go to school. Discuss both the advantages of each method and give your own opinion
• As the number of cars increases, more money has to be spent on road systems. Some people think the government should pay for this. Others, however, think that drivers should cover the costs. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
• Some people suggest that a country should try to produce all the food for its population and import as little food as possible. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Museums and art galleries should concentrate on local works rather than showing the cultures or artworks from other countries. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Online currencies have become more common in recent years. Why is this? Is this a positive or negative development?
• Many customs and traditional ways of behaviour are no longer relevant to the modern life and not worth keeping. Do you agree or disagree?
• Some think secondary and high school students should be allowed to choose academic courses leading to university or practical courses leading to careers such as carpenters. To what extent do you agree or disagree？
• Some people say that to prevent illness and disease, governments should focus more on reducing environmental pollution and housing problems. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Nowadays, distance-learning programs have gained popularity, but some people argue that online courses can never be as good as those taken at a college or university in person. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• The increase in the production of consumer goods results in damage to the natural environment. What are the causes of this? What can be done to solve this problem?
• Some people think international events such as the Olympic Games are important and can bring nations together. Others, however, think that they are a waste of money as the money could be spent elsewhere on more important issues. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
• Some people think that dangerous sports should be banned. Others, however, believe that people should be free to choose sports activities. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
• In today’s world, people spend a lot of money on appearance because they want to look younger. Why does this happen? Do you think this is a positive or negative development?
• In many countries, people now wear western clothes such as suits and jeans rather than traditional clothing. Why is this the case? Is this a positive or negative development?
• Many governments think that economic progress is their most important goal. Some people, however, think that other types of progress are equally important for a country. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
• Some people think visual images, such as photographs and videos, can most accurately inform people about a news story. Others believe they are not reliable sources of information. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
• These days, older people who have retired often choose to spend money on themselves (for example on holidays) rather than save money for their children. Is this a positive or negative development?
• Advanced technology has brought many beneficial changes to the world. However, some old people today struggle with the use of technologies such as mobile phones and the Internet. How can the elderly benefit from using advanced technologies? How can the elderly be encouraged to use consumer electronics more often?
• Recent advances in medicine have resulted in an increase in life expectancy over the past four years. Do you think that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
• The best way to make the road transport of goods safer is to ask drivers to take a driving test each year. To what extent do you agree or disagree ?
• Although, it is generally illegal corporal punishment continues in many countries. Others argue that parents should have the right to punish their children in this way. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Listen to the sample answer to this question here .
• The increasing demand for oil and gas has made it necessary to look for these energy sources in remote and untouched natural places. Do you think the advantages of locating oil and gas in these areas outweigh the disadvantages of damaging these places? Listen to the sample answer to this question here .
• Some people think the primary purpose of schools is to turn children into good citizens and workers, rather than to benefit them as individuals. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?
• Some people think it is a better way to leave their home country to improve their work and living opportunities, while others think staying in their own country is a better choice. Discuss both views and give your own opinion . Listen to the sample answer to this question here .
• In many cities, planners tend to arrange shops, schools, offices, and homes in specific areas and separate them from each other. Do you think the advantages of this policy outweigh the disadvantages?
• It’s more important for school children to learn about their local history than world history. To what extent do you agree or disagree？
• Nowadays many people prefer to buy famous brands of clothes, cars and other items. What are the reasons for this? Do you think it is a positive or negative development ?
• In many workplaces, online communication is becoming more commonplace than face-to-face meetings. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? Listen to the sample answer to this question here .

January to March 2022 Recent Task 2 Questions

• Some people believe that violence in the media, such as in television programs and films, directly results in violent behaviour. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• In the future, all cars, buses and trucks will be driverless. The only people travelling inside these vehicles will be passengers. Do you think that the advantages of driverless vehicles outweigh the disadvantages?
• In many countries, children are becoming overweight and unhealthy. Some people think that the government has the responsibility to solve this problem. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• In some countries, there has been an increase in the number of advertisements that try to persuade children to buy snacks, toys, and other goods. Some people claim this is unfair as parents feel under pressure to buy these kinds of things for their children. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Some believe that younger family members should be legally responsible for supporting older family members when they become physically, mentally and financially unable to look after themselves. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• In the 21st century, contact between many different parts of the world has developed rapidly through air travel and telecommunications. Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?
• Weddings are getting bigger and more expensive. What is the reason for this? Is it a positive or negative development?
• Educating young people is naturally important. However, some think governments ought to invest more in education for adults in need. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• In some places, old age is valued, while in other cultures youth is considered more important. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
• A rise in the standard of living in a country often only seems to benefit cities rather than rural areas. What problems can this cause? How might these problems be reduced?
• Some people think that personal happiness is directly related to economic success. Others argue that happiness depends on different factors. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

October to December 2021 Sample Task 2 Questions

• Some people think that the best way to succeed in life is to get a university education, while others disagree and say that it is no longer true nowadays. Discuss both views and give your own opinions.
• In many countries, plastic shopping bags are the main source of rubbish. They cause water and land pollution, and so they should be banned. To what extent do you agree with this statement?
• Information technology is changing many aspects of our lives and now dominates our home, leisure and work activities. To what extent do the benefits of information technology outweigh the disadvantages?
• Some people think that schools are no longer necessary because people can acquire information on the Internet. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Some people believe that university students should pay all the costs of studies because university education only benefits students themselves, not society as a whole. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Some think increasing business and cultural contact between nations is positive. Others think it leads to the disappearance of the national identity. Discuss both views and state your own opinion.
• Some people think that schools should select students according to their academic abilities, while others believe that it is better to have students with different abilities studying together. Discuss both views and state your own opinion.
• Many people like to eat unhealthy food even though they know it’s bad for them. Why? What are the most effective ways to improve people’s eating habits?
• Some people think there are not many things individuals can do to resolve environmental problems, while others believe that in order to tackle environmental problems individuals also need to take action. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
• There is too much noise in many public places in cities. What are the causes of this problem? What can be done to solve the problem?
• Crime rates will fall as advances in technology make it easier to detect and prevent crimes. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• In many situations, people who break the law should be warned instead of punished. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Some people think employers should not care about the way their employees dress, but the quality of work. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Some people think children should have the freedom to make mistakes, while other people believe that adults should prevent children from making mistakes. Discuss both sides and give your opinion
• Although more and more people read news on the Internet, newspapers will remain the most important source of news for the majority of people. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Some students take one year off between finishing high school and going to university, in order to travel or to work. Do you think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
• Today, many people do not know their neighbours in large cities. What problems does this cause? What can be done about this?
• An increasing number of developing countries are expanding their tourist industry. Why do you think it is the case? Do you think it is a positive or negative development?
• Nowadays, more and more people from different cities are spending more time away from their families. What are the possible reasons and the effects on the people themselves and their families?
• Some people say that nowadays children have an easy life, and some people think that the life of children was easier in the past. Discuss both points of view and also provide relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
• Some people say that all popular TV entertainment programmes should aim to educate viewers about important social issues. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
• Some people believe the purpose of education should be to help the individual to become useful to society, while others believe it should help individuals to achieve their ambitions. Discuss both sides and give your opinion.
• Many people believe that a person’s culture is defined by their country of origin, while others believe that it has only minor influence. Discuss both these views and give your opinion.
• More and more people are finding it increasingly important to wear fashionable clothes. Is this attitude to wearing clothes a positive development or negative?
• The movement of people from villages to cities for work can cause serious problems in both places. What are the serious problems associated with this? What measures can be taken to solve these problems?
• In the world of the internet, people write product reviews of products and services. Do you think this is a positive or negative development?
• Some people prefer to buy local products while others prefer international products. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Some believe that more action should be taken to prevent crime, while others feel that crime is being tackled effectively now. Discuss both sides and give your own opinion.
• Some people say it is more important to plant trees in the open spaces in towns and cities than to build more housing. To what extant do you agree or disagree?
• Some scientists think that computers will soon become more intelligent than humans.To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
• Some people think that dangerous extreme sports such as rock climbing and sky-diving should be banned. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this view?
• Young people are often influenced by their peers. Do the advantages of peer pressure outweigh the disadvantages? 
• Some people believe that nowadays too much money is being spent on weddings and birthdays. Why do you think it is happening? What can be done to improve the situation?
• In many countries, the legal driving age is 18 years old. Some people believe it is the right age to learn how to drive a car, whereas others say that the minimum age should be 25. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
• Some people think that instead of preventing climate change , we need to find a way to live with it. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Sample Task 2 Questions: January 2021  

• Some people feel that the effects of advertising are positive for individuals and businesses, while others think they are negative. Discuss both sides and give your own opinion.
• Some people say that TV advertisements are helpful for viewers, while others disagree. What is your opinion?
• Some people think the spread of multinational companies and globalization produce positive outcomes for everyone. Do you agree or disagree with this statement?
• In some countries, there are fewer young people who listen to or play classical music these days. Why is this? Should young people be encouraged to play or perform classical music?
• Directors of large organizations earn much higher salaries than ordinary employees do. Some people think it is necessary, but others are of the opinion that it is unfair. Discuss both views and give your own opinions.
• Prison is the common way in most countries try to solve the problem of crime. However, a more effective solution is to provide people with a better education. Do you agree or disagree?
• Some think that climate change reforms will negatively affect business. Others feel they are an opportunity for businesses. Discuss both sides and give your own opinion.
• Some people argue that holding sporting events is beneficial to a country’s development. However, other people hold the opposite opinion. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
• The first man to walk on the moon claimed it was a step forward for mankind. However, it has made little difference in most people’s lives. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Some people think that good teamwork makes a company successful, others think that good leadership is the reason behind the success of a company. Discuss both sides and give your opinion.

Take a look at some of our IELTS vocabulary to help you write about the above topics.

Task 2 Sample Questions: October/November 2020  

• Nowadays more and more people want to get things done instantly. Why is it? Do you think it is a positive or negative development?
• Some people think that it is a waste of time for high school students to study literature, such as novels and poems. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• In some countries the elderly are highly valued and respected, while in others youth is more highly valued. Discuss both sides and give your own opinion.
• The personal information of many individuals is held by large internet companies and organisations. Do you think the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?
• Some people believe that handwriting is no longer useful in the modern world and should not be taught in schools. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Some believe that advances in technology are increasing the gap between rich and poor while others think the opposite is happening. Discuss both sides and give your own opinion.
• Some people believe that smart phones are destroying social interaction today. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Some people believe that governments should ban dangerous sports. Others claim that they should have freedom to choose their favourite activities. Discuss both views and present your opinion.
• Nowadays employment options are changing and employees cannot rely on having the same job and working conditions throughout their life. What are some possible causes? Suggest some ways to plan for the future under these circumstances.
• Many companies sponsor sports as a way of advertising themselves. Some people think this is good for the world of sport, while others think it is negative. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
• Governments in many countries have recently introduced special taxes on foods and beverages with high levels of sugar. Some think these taxes are a good idea while others disagree. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
• Many people think technological devices such as smartphones, tablets and mobile phones bring more disadvantages than advantages. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• It is better for children if the whole family including aunts, uncles and grandparents are involved in a child’s upbringing, rather than just their parents. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Most people prefer shopping in supermarkets nowadays. How does this affect the local shops? What are the positive and negative impacts of this development?
• In many countries, fast food is becoming cheaper and more widely available. Do the disadvantages of this outweigh the advantages?
• The government should lower the budget on the arts in order to allocate more money to education.To what extent do you agree?
• Many people argue that eating junk food has led to an unhealthy lifestyle. This problem has become more common among young people these days. Do you agree or disagree that junk food is the cause of the issue?
• Some people think that in order to produce a happy society, it is necessary to ensure that there is only a small difference between the earnings of the richest and poorest. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• The manufacturing and use of cars damage the environment but their popularity is increasing. Why is this happening? How could this be controlled?
• Some people think that young people should go to university to further their education while others think they should be encouraged to work as car mechanics or builders etc.to serve society. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
• Some people believe that to give opportunities to the new generation companies should encourage high-level employees who are older than 55 to retire. Do you agree or disagree?
• Nowadays celebrities earn more money than politicians. What are the reasons for this? Is it a positive or negative development?
• Many people believe that countries should produce food for the whole population and import as little food as possible. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Some people think that it is necessary to travel abroad to learn about other countries, but others think that it is not necessary to travel abroad because all the information can be seen on TV and the internet. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
• Why are some people who leave school early more successful compared with those who complete their studies. Provide reasons why they are more successful and what are the requirements for success?
• Countries with long average working hours are economically more successful than those countries which do not work long hours. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
•  Many students around the world don’t choose science subjects at university. Give the reasons for this and describe the impact on the community?
• It is better for young people to get advice from old people than young ones. Do you agree or disagree?
• Some people think that music plays an important role in society. Others think it is simply a form of entertainment. Discuss both sides and give your opinion.
• Some people think that job satisfaction is more important than job security. Others think that people cannot expect to enjoy a job and that having a permanent job is more important. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
• Some people say that technologies such as mobile phones are disrupting social interaction. Do you agree or disagree?
• Some people think history has little or nothing to offer, while others say the study of the past helps us understand the present. Write on both views and give your opinion, citing examples from your experience
• Some people think that zoos are cruel and all the zoos should be closed. However, others think that zoos are useful to protect rare animals. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
• Some people think that the best way to stay fit is to join a gym/health club while others think doing everyday activities such as walking and climbing stairs is sufficient. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
• Nowadays online shopping is extremely popular. Discuss the impact of it on the environment and on people who lost their jobs because of it
• Nowadays celebrities earn more money than politicians. What are the reasons for this? Is it a positive or negative development
• Many people think that every individual is responsible for their happiness, but some people believe there are other external factors that influence us. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
• It is too expensive to look after and repair old buildings. This money should be spent on building modern buildings instead. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?
• Scientific research should be the responsibility of governments rather than commercial organizations. Do you agree or disagree with this statement?
• Some people believe that women should be treated as equal to men when applying for a job with police or the military. Others think women are less suitable for this kind of job. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
• Some people prefer to work in the same type of job throughout their lifetime while others like to change the type of job they do. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
• Some people think that it is fine for professional sportsmen and sportswomen to misbehave on or off the field, as long as they are playing well. Do you agree or disagree with this statement?
• People are becoming too dependent on the Internet and phone. Is it a positive or negative development?
• Some people suggest that it is better for children to be brought up by the whole family including uncles, aunts and grandparents, rather than just the parents. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give your opinion and examples.
• Some people think that the government should increase tax on unhealthy food to encourage people to start eating healthy. Do you agree or disagree?
• Nowadays, people are spending more time away from their homes because they spend longer in their workplace. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages.
• Nowadays a few people take their family with them abroad whenever they go on a business trip. What are the advantages and disadvantages for them and for their family
• Many parents complain about violence promoted to their children through video games, TV programs and other media. Why is it happening? What can be the solution for it?
• Nowadays most people are not as fit and active, as they were in the past. What are the main causes of this situation? Suggest some possible solutions.
• Nowadays, international tourism is the biggest industry in the world. Unfortunately, it creates tension rather than understanding between people from different cultures. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?
• Fossil fuels (e.g. coal, oil and gas) are the main source of energy for most countries. However, alternative sources of energy (e.g. wind and solar) have been encouraged for use by some countries. To what extent is this a positive or negative development?
• Nowadays media should include more good news in their publications. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
• Fossil fuels are the main source of energy around the world. However, people are being encouraged to use alternative energy sources such as wind energy, solar energy and so on. Do you think this is a positive or negative development? Why?
• Some people believe that elderly employees are more useful to a company, while others believe that young employees are better. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
• The number of older people is increasing. Some people think that this will cause problems in their countries, while others believe this group is important to society. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
• Some think that teenagers should follow older people’s rules. Others think that it is natural for them to challenge what older people say. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
• Television Sporting shows such as the Olympics motivate the youth who do not like to exercise much. Do you agree or disagree? Include relevant examples in your answer and provide your own opinion.
• Nowadays many people want to buy famous brands of clothes, cars and other items. What are the reasons for this? Do you think it is a positive or negative development?
• More people live alone today than they did in the past. Do you think this is a positive or negative development? Give your opinion and relevant examples to support your view.
• Some people believe that price is the only consideration when buying something. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give your opinion and include relevant examples.
• Some people believe that educational success depends on good teachers, while others believe that students’ attitudes are important. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
• People in the current generation are not fit and active. This will cause health problems in the future. What could be the reasons for the inactivity and suggest solutions for this issue?
• Parents, usually mothers, stay at home to look after their families. People believe that for this they should receive a salary from the government. Do you agree or disagree and why?
• Some people think that they can go to the gym to remain fit, while others think that there are other better ways to do this. Discuss both views along with your opinion.
• Some people say companies should require all employees to wear uniforms at work. Others think it is unnecessary. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
• Because of modern technology , some people believe that it is no longer necessary for people to learn handwriting skills, but others believe that handwriting is still an important skill. Discuss both views and give your opinion based on your experience.
• Nowadays many people work from home. Some think it is beneficial, while others think it may distract the family routine. What is your opinion?
•  It is necessary for parents to attend a parenting training course to bring their children up. Do you agree or disagree?
• Nowadays people work too hard. What is the reason for this? What should employers do to prevent employees from overworking?
• Nowadays people get married and have children after the age of 30. Is it a positive or negative development?
• Today, some young people say that their mobile phones are the most important thing they own. Do you think that the popularity of mobile phones is a good or bad thing?
• Nowadays, people believe that governments should invest tax-payers money in healthcare, while others believe that money should be used in other areas. Discuss both points of view and give your opinion.
• Adults do less exercise nowadays. Some think that people can be encouraged to live healthy lives through sporting events such as the Olympics or the World Cup. Others think that there are better ways to encourage adults to exercise. Discuss both views and state your opinion.
• Modern cultures around the world have become similar when compared to the past. What are the reasons? Is it a positive or negative development?
• People are using a lot of online language translation apps. Are there more advantages than disadvantages to such services?
• Demand for food is increasing worldwide. What is the cause of this? What measures can the international community take to meet this demand?
• Many companies sponsor sports as a way of advertising themselves. Some people think that this is a good thing, while others think that it has disadvantages. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
• Some people believe that to be successful at a sport you need natural ability and others think that hard work and practice can make you successful. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
• Nowadays, adults do little exercise. Some people believe that the best way to address this issue is by covering great sports events such as the Olympics on television. Others think that it is more beneficial to take other measures. What is your opinion?
• These days some people spend a lot of money on tickets to go to sporting or cultural events. Do you think this is a positive or negative development?
• Some people believe that technology has made man more social and others think that it has made him less social. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
• Experts say older people were happier and healthier in the past because they did more exercise and spent more time with family and friends, whereas many now suffer from loneliness and health problems. What are the causes of this and what are some solutions?
• Some people believe that to be successful at a sport you need a natural ability and others think that hard work and practice can make you successful. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
• Some people believe that there will be a reduction in air travel in the future. Do you think that this trend is a positive or negative development?
• Some people believe that technology has made man more sociable and others think that it has made us less sociable. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
• At the present time, the population of some countries includes a relatively large number of young adults, compared with the number of older people. Do you think that the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?
• Some people believe that it is important to give gifts to friends and family to show that we care about them. Others think that there are better ways to show that we care. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
• Today much of the food people eat gets transported from farms that are thousands of miles away. Some people believe it would be better for the environment and the economy if people only consumed food produced by local farmers. Would the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?
• With internet improvements, people can share views or opinions on certain goods or services that they have purchased. Is this a good or a bad thing? Discuss both views and give your opinion.
• The qualities and skills that a person requires to become successful in today’s world cannot be learned at a university or any other academic institution. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Shopping has become a new favourite pastime for the younger generation. Why is this the case? Should we encourage them to develop other hobbies too?
• Courses and general online study have recently become very popular. However, some people still prefer to attend classes in person. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
• Some people think that prison sentences should not be used to deal with criminals. Education and skills training should be used instead. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• It is often said that it is not necessary to have a tertiary education to become a successful businessman. To what extent to you agree or disagree with this statement? Give your opinion and relevant examples.
• Today it is common practice for many business meetings and business training to take place online. Do the advantages of this new development outweigh the disadvantages?
• Nowadays, the internet and television have given ordinary people a chance to become famous. Is this a positive or negative development?
• Some people from poor and rural backgrounds find it difficult to get a university education. Universities should make it easier for such groups to enrol. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Some people think that it is the responsibility of governments to take care of the environment, while others believe that it is the responsibility of the citizens. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
• Many people believe that family has a greater influence on a child’s life and development than other factors, such as friends, TV, music and so on. Do you agree or disagree with this statement?
• Science can now offer people a life expectancy of close to one hundred years or even more. Some people view it in a positive light, but others believe it creates some problems. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
• These days, many people prefer ready-to-eat food outside of their homes rather than homemade food. Do you think this has more advantages or disadvantages?
• Certain personal qualities cannot be achieved through university studies. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give your opinion and relevant examples.
• In some countries, the quality of life in larger cities is declining. Why do you think this is happening? What measures can be taken to stop it?

Task 2 Questions: June 2019

• Shopping is now one of the most popular forms of leisure activity in many countries for young adults. What do you think is the reason for this? Is this a positive or negative development?
• In many countries, people are living in a “throwaway society” where things are used for a short time and thrown away. What are the causes of this and what problems does it lead to?
• In some countries, people follow the latest fashion and hairstyles. In your opinion, what is influencing this? Do you think this is a positive or negative development?
• In some countries, children under 16 years old are not allowed to leave school by law and get full-time work. Is this a good or bad thing? Discuss your opinion.
• Nowadays, people have adopted an unhealthy lifestyle. Why do think this is? How could this problem be solved?
• Some young people are leaving the countryside to live in cities and towns, leaving only old people in the countryside. Why do think this is? Do you think this is a positive or negative development?
• In many countries, people have more health problems because they choose to live an unhealthy lifestyle. What do you think are the reasons for this and how can it be solved? Give relevant examples from your experience.
• Countries with a long average working time are more economically successful than those countries which do not have a long working time. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Nowadays, people of all ages from certain parts of the world spend the most time at home rather than going outdoors. Discuss the reasons, is this a negative or positive development?
• With the development of technology and science, some people believe that there is no great value of artists such as musicians and painters. What are the things artists can do but scientists cannot? Should art be encouraged more?
• While recruiting a new employee, the employer should pay more attention to their personal qualities, rather than qualifications and experience. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Give your opinion and include relevant examples.
• Money should be spent on creating new public buildings such as museums or town halls rather than renovating the existing ones. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• All the people in a company should be treated equally and provided with the same number of holidays in a year or people doing different jobs enjoy a different amount of holiday time. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Some people say that a person’s success is a result of the way he has been brought up by his parents. Do you agree or disagree?
• Public celebrations (such as national days, festivals etc) are held in most countries. These are often quite expensive and some people say that governments should spend money on more useful things. Do you agree or disagree?
• Some people say that children given pocket money every week will have lesser money problems when they become adults. Do you agree or disagree?
• The global demand for oil and gas is increasing. Some people believe that we should therefore encourage the exploitation of remote areas. Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?
• Today, many big cities in the world are increasing in size. What are the problems associated with it? What are the solutions to these problems?
• Some young people are leaving the countryside to live in cities or towns, it leaves only old people in the countryside. What are the problems with this issue? What can be done to solve this problem?
• Many people believe that learning a foreign language is a very difficult task. What are the most difficult things about learning a foreign language? What is the best way to overcome them? Explain and include your personal experience or knowledge of these problems.
• Some people think high-end technology can prevent and cut down the rate of committing a crime. Do you agree or disagree?
• Some people feel that courses can make anyone a teacher, while others feel an excellent teacher cannot be made by pursuing a course. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
• Some people think that a high salary is important when choosing a company to work for, while others think that a good working atmosphere is more important. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
• Some people encourage young children to leave their parents’ house as soon as they become adults while others say children should stay at their parents’ house as long as possible. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
• Many countries thought that children have to do homework in their free time while other say children should do more outdoor activities. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Some people say that art subjects such as music, drama and creative writing are an essential part of education, and every school should include them in its syllabus. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give your opinion and examples from your own experience.
• Nowadays in many countries, women have full-time jobs. Therefore, it is logical to share household tasks evenly between men and women. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
• Some people think that public health within a country can be improved by the government making laws regarding nutritious food. Others, however, think that health is a matter of personal choice and responsibility. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
• Some people believe that the construction of new public buildings such as museums, town halls and sporting facilities is more important than the renovation of the existing ones, while others disagree. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
• Nowadays the crime rate is increasing, especially among teenagers. What are the reasons behind it? How can we reverse this trend? What punishment methods should be used, in your opinion?
• Nowadays online education has become popular as more institutes and companies are offering courses online. However, many people prefer traditional, classroom training or study. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of both methods.
• Some people believe that the government should take care of old people and provide financial support after they retire. Others say individuals should save during their working years to fund their own retirement. What is your opinion? Give reasons for your answer and include examples from your own experience.
• In some cultures, old people are valued more, while in other cultures youth is considered more valuable. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
• Nowadays people waste a lot of food that was bought from shops and restaurants. Why do you think people waste food? What can be done to reduce the amount of food they throw away?
• In today’s times, the internet is making it easy to study online from home. Some prefer online courses to study and they think it is better. Others prefer classroom education. Discuss both views and share your opinion.
• Successful companies use advertising to make more sales. What can make an advertisement very effective? Do you think this is a bad thing or a good thing for society?
• Science will soon make people live up to 100 or even 200 years. Some believe this is a good thing while others disagree. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
• Some people believe that after hundred years life will be easier for most of people, while others are unsure. What is your opinion?
• Some people think it is important to spend a lot of money on a wedding celebration, while others disagree. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
• Some people think that giving gifts and presents to friends and family is important to show them that we care. Others think that there are more important ways. Discuss both and give your opinion.
• The media is increasing interest in famous people who have ordinary backgrounds. Why do you think people are interested in the lives of famous people? Do you think this is a good thing?
• Some people prefer activities and lifestyles in hot climates while others prefer activities and lifestyles in cold climates. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
• Online education and training is becoming increasingly popular in the business world. Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?
• More and more parents are allowing their children to play on computers and tablets as they think that children should learn technology skills. Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?
• People are living in a ‘throwaway society’, using things for a short time and then throwing them away. What are the causes of this? What problems does it lead to?
• Nowadays children mostly spend time playing computer games rather than sports. What are the reasons for this? Is it a positive or negative development?
• Scientists agree that many people eat too much junk food and it is damaging their health. Some people think that this problem can be solved by educating people, while others believe that education will not work. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
• Many people believe that TV news and media, in general, have a detrimental effect on our life. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give your own opinion, including relevant examples.
• Many famous athletes advertise different products. What are the advantages and disadvantages of it?
• Nowadays people try to balance their work with other things in life, but only some could actually achieve it so far. What are the reasons for that? How can we solve this problem?
• Some people say that online study is the most effective and convenient way to learn. Others believe that online study will never be as effective as learning at school, or in person. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
• Children and teenagers are committing more and more crimes in many countries. Why is this happening? How can we stop or at least reduce youth crime?
• Some people prefer cold weather conditions, while others don’t. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
• Some people think subjects taught in school are a waste of time, while others disagree and believe that this type of education is useful for students. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
• Some people think that the only way to relax is to rest or sleep, while others say people need to do exercise or sports to relax. Discuss both viewpoints and give your own opinion.
• Some parents and teachers think that children’s behaviour should be strictly controlled. While some think that children should be free to behave. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
• In many countries, day by day rubbish (garbage) is increasing. Why is it happening? What can be done?
• Some people see shopping as a leisure activity mostly for young adults, while others disagree. Do you think this has a positive or negative effect on economic development? Give your opinion and include relevant examples.
• Shopping has become a favourite pastime among young people. What do you think it is like that? Do you think they must be encouraged to do other things rather than shopping?
• Some people think that the main factors influencing a child’s development these days are things such as television, friends, and music. Others believe that the family still remains more important. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
• Food travels thousands of miles from producers to consumers. Some people think that it would be better for the environment and economy if people only ate the local food produced by farmers. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Some people argue that the fittest, strongest individuals and teams can achieve the greatest success in sports. But other people think that success is as much related to mental attitude. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
• Some people become famous when they were at a young age. Do you think this is positive or negative?
• Some people believe it is important to give gifts and presents to friends and family to show that we care about them. Others think that there are better ways to show affection to them. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
• Many people believe that spending a lot of money on weddings is fine, while others completely disagree. Discuss both views and give your own opinion and examples .
• Many people believe the government should spend money on faster public transport. Others think that money should be spent on different aspects of public transportation, such as cost reduction and environmental conservation. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
• Some people believe that manufacturers should be responsible for reducing the large amounts of packaging they use. Others say consumers should avoid buying heavily packaged items. Discuss both views and state your opinion. Give reasons for your answer and include examples from your experience.
• Some people think that family has the most important influence on children’s development, while others believe that factors such as TV, friends, music and books have a more significant impact. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Task 2 questions (October 2018)

• Today, most people get married and give birth in their thirties rather than when they are younger. Is this a positive or negative development?
• Shops should give preference in selling local food rather than imported food. Do you agree or disagree?
• A growing population is a big problem in developing countries. Should the government provide new homes in the cities or the countryside?
• Some people think that the media (newspapers) have the right to publish details of people’s private lives, while others think it should be controlled. Discuss both views.
• Some people think that activities during the free time should be planned while others disagree. Discuss both sides and include examples and relevant data from your own experience.
• In some countries, an increasing number of people are suffering from health problems as a result of eating too much fast food. It is therefore necessary for governments to impose a higher tax on this kind of food? To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion? You should use your own ideas, knowledge and experience and support your arguments with examples and relevant evidence.
• Today more people are overweight than ever before. What in your opinion are the primary causes of this? What measures can be taken to overcome this epidemic?
• In most parts of the world, people are living longer. What are the possible causes of this situation? Is this a negative or positive development?
• Today, the internet and TV have created that chance for ordinary people to become famous. Is it a positive or negative development?
• Nowadays food has become easier to prepare. Has this change improved the way people live? Give reasons for your answer using your own ideas and experience.
• Nowadays many people believe that children should be taught history in schools, however, others argue that children should learn subjects that are more helpful for modern everyday life. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
• Some parents believe that a child should not waste time by reading entertainment books instead, they should spend time reading educational books only. What is your opinion about this?
• Some people think that young children need to attend nursery before primary school. While others believe young children can spend all day at home. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
• Some people believe school children should be given multiple short vacations while others believe they should get one long vacation. Give advantages of both and your point of view.
• Some people think that the advantages of advertising sports products through famous sports players outweigh the disadvantages. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• In our society, there is far more attention on men’s sport than women’s sport. What are the reasons for this? Do you think that this is positive or negative development?
• It has been said that reading for pleasure is better in developing imagination and language skills than watching TV. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Advertisements are influencing us in a negative way. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• School teachers are more responsible for the social and intellectual development of students than parents. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Some people spend a lot of money on their wedding ceremonies. However, others feel like it is unnecessary to spend a lot. Discuss both view points and give your own opinion.
• Since travelling abroad became relatively inexpensive, more countries opened their doors for foreign tourists. Is it a positive or negative trend? Give your opinion and include relevant examples.
• Many countries consider eighteen-year-olds to be adults, while other countries don’t. What do you think about it? Give your opinion and some relevant examples based on your own experience.

Writing task 2 questions (September 2018)

• Some people think that the only way to judge someone’s success in business is by the amount of money they make. Is this a true indicator of the success of a business and in what other ways could success in a business be measured?
• The restoration of old buildings in major cities around the world costs enormous amounts of money. This money would be better spent on providing new housing and road development. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?
• Employers should give their workers at least one month’s holiday a year as it makes them to do better at their job. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Some people believe the Olympic Games don’t belong to the 21st century anymore. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Some parents believe that reading books for entertainment is a waste of time for children and they think that their children should only read serious educational books. What is your opinion?
• Some people think that advertising on TV is useless and others disagree. Discuss both sides and give your opinion.
• Some people think money is the best gift to give it to youngsters, while others disagree. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
• For school children, their teachers have more influence on their intelligence and social development than their parents. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• In the modern world, it is possible to shop, work and communicate with people via the internet and live without any face-to-face contact with others. Is it a positive or negative development in your opinion? To what extent do you support this development?
• Many university students live with their families, while others live away from home because their universities are in different places. What are the advantages and disadvantages of both situations?
• In the modern world, it is no longer necessary to use animals for food, clothing or medicine. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Give reasons for your answer and include examples from your own experience.
• Some businesses observe that new employees who just graduated from a college or university seem to lack the interpersonal skills needed for communication with their colleagues. What could be the reason for this? What solutions can help address this problem?
• Some people believe that we should start giving formal education to students at a much earlier age, while others think we should wait until the age of 7. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? Discuss and give reasons for your answer.
• Nowadays in many countries, young people leave rural areas to study or work in cities. What are the reasons for this? Do the benefits of this outweigh the disadvantages?
• Some parents believe that reading entertainment books is a waste of time. In their opinion, children should only read serious, educational books. Do you agree or disagree? Give reasons for your answer and include relevant examples from your own experience.
• Nowadays there is a growing trend of private car ownership. Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages or environmental problems associated with this?
• Some people believe that companies should pay for the damage they cause to the environment, while others say that the government should be responsible for such expenses. Do you agree or disagree? Give reasons for your answer and include examples from your experience.
• Nowadays there are many medical surveys of treatments to reduce health problems. Who should conduct them, governments, individuals or private companies, in your opinion? Give reasons for your answer and include relevant examples from your experience.
• The international community must act immediately to ensure that all countries reduce their consumption of fossil fuels such as gas, oil and coal. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give your own opinion.
• Many people believe that it is a good idea to have a dress code at workplaces. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give your opinion and examples from your own experience.
• Some think that private companies should pay for pollution clean up, while others say it should be a government’s responsibility. Discuss, and state your own opinion.
• Many people think that more having more money will make them happier. How important is money to happiness?
• Many people believe that the use of new technology improves the lives of employees. Others think it is a disadvantage for them. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
• Some people say that sport is very important for a nation’s development, while others believe that sport is no more than a leisure time activity. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
• Some people think that children should start school sooner while others believe they should not start it before the age of seven. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
• Some people argue that competitive sports are good for bringing together different people and cultures. Others argue that these sports can cause problems and increase conflicts between nations. Discuss both points of view and give your own opinion.
• In some countries, it is illegal for employers to reject job applications on the basis of age criteria. Is it a positive or negative development? Give reasons for your answer and include examples from your own experience.
• Many young people regularly change their jobs over the years. What are the reasons for this? Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
• Some people think that new technologies benefit the life of workers whereas some deny the statement. Discuss both sides and give your opinion.
• Scientists agree that many people are eating too much junk food and it is damaging to their health. Some people think that these problems can be solved by educating people to eat less junk food. Other people believe that education will not work. Discuss both opinions and give your own opinion.
• Some people think that companies and private individuals should pay to clean up the pollution that they produce, not the government. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• As more and more students enter universities, academic qualifications are becoming devalued. To get ahead in many professions, more than one degree is now required and in future, it is likely that people will take a number of degree courses before even starting work. This is an undesirable situation. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Many people are involved in sports when they are young but stop once they are adults. Why do many adults stop doing physical exercise? What can be done about this problem?
• Some people think that it is a good idea for all employees to wear a uniform at work. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Some people think that new technology always improves the lives of workers. Other people believe that it results in disadvantages for workers. Discuss both opinions and give your own opinion.
• Some people think that international competitive sports such as football bring conflict between people of different age groups and nationalities. Others think the sport is helping reach understanding between people and nations. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
• Some people think that only staff who worked in the company for a long time should be promoted to higher positions. What is your opinion on this? Give reasons and relevant examples for your answer.
• Some people think it’s a good idea to wear a uniform at work. Do you agree or disagree? Give reasons for your answer with relevant examples from knowledge or experience.
• Some people think it is more important to spend time in developing a successful career while others think it is more important to spend time with friends and family. Discuss both sides and give your opinion.
• There is less social contact between young and old. What are the reasons? What measures can be taken?
• Do you agree with the following statement: home schooling protects students from a number of challenges faced by non-home-schooled children?
• Does distant learning make it easier for students to balance their everyday lives?
• Learning in one’s native tongue yields better school scores than learning in a medium language. Do you agree or disagree? Argue your point of view.
• Should there be a variety of learning methodologies implemented within the school learning curriculum?
• Some believe that modern technology has made people less socially active, while others disagree. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
• The best way to reduce crime among young people is to teach parents good parenting skills. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give your own opinion and examples.
• Some psychologists think that the best way to overcome the stress of everyday life is to spend a portion of the day doing absolutely nothing. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• There is a trend of increasing amounts of consumer goods, which leads to environmental problems. What are the reasons for this trend? Give your own opinion and solutions.
• The difference in age between parents and their children has increased compared to the past. Do you think advantages of this trend outweigh the disadvantages?
•  Scientists have been warning for many years already that in order to protect the environment people should use less energy. However, most people do not change their ways of living. What is causing this behaviour? How can people be encouraged to change?
• Some people think that children should go to kindergarten before attending primary school, while others believe that is better for children to stay all day with their families. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
• Some people believe that trade and cultural relationships between the countries is a positive development, while others disagree. Discuss both the views and include your own opinion.
• Recently there are more gas stations being built as opposed to diesel ones in rural areas. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this trend?
• Many parents (mostly women) decide to stay home and take care of the family members instead of going out for work. Some people suggest that they should be paid by the government for doing that. Do you agree or disagree? Give reasons for your answer and include examples from your own experience.
• Different cultures are mixing today and the world is becoming a global village. Is it a positive or a negative development? Give your own opinion and examples.
• Nowadays people’s life is changing rapidly and, as a result, family relationships are affected. Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages? Give your opinion and examples from your own experience.
• Measures have been put in place to improve road safety by reducing the speed limits. Some people believe there are better alternatives. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
• Some people think that the range of technology available to people is increasing the gap between the rich and the poor. Others think it has the opposite effect. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
• Some of the methods used in advertising are unethical and unacceptable in today’s society. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
• People nowadays are not as fit and active as they were in the past. What are the reasons for this? What measures can be taken for this?

Click here for IELTS task 2 topics and answers.

For above band 7 you will need IELTS vocabulary, this page shares some useful strategies and sources to improve your lexical resource.

To improve your opinion-forming skills, check out the BBC , and get a rough overview of the current affairs in each topic. For example, at the moment, regarding the environment the main topic is climate change -could you write 250 words about global warming? Likewise, for the topic of technology, what do you know about artificial intelligence ? You don’t have to be an expert but you do need to have an opinion, and that can only come from getting informed about the topics.

In summary, it is advisable to be well-versed in current affairs, have a global view of events, and have a bit of knowledge about each topic.

IELTS writing tips The writing part of the IELTS can prove to be a little overwhelming; especially, if you don’t know how to approach it. Below is a list  of writing tips to help you feel less overwhelmed.

IELTS writing samples If you aren’t quite sure how to approach your writing section of the IELTS and want some ideas from those who have succeeded click here.

IELTS essay topics with answers IELTS essays are a great opportunity for you to show off your English abilities in written form. We have put together a great archive of IELTS essay topics with the answers!

Essay writing topics Practice is truly the mother of preparation, so why not make sure you are ready to tackle the IELTS essay by going through our list of essay topics you might encounter during the exam.

Try our new online IELTS Essay Checker for instant essay correction

Preparing for the IELTS exam? We have a helpful tool for you! Check out our online IELTS Essay Checker . This tool uses smart technology to look at your essays. It can tell you where you made mistakes and how to fix them.

This way, you can learn faster. Plus, it’s quick! Instead of waiting for a teacher to check your essay, this tool gives you feedback right away. Another great thing is that it’s cheaper than many other study methods. Many students spend a lot of money on IELTS classes and books.

Our online IELTS Essay Checker is a good way to save some money. So, as you practice with the IELTS Task 2 questions on this page, remember to use the AI Essay Checker. It will help you get better at writing and save you both time and money. 

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How to write ielts writing task 2.

• Read the question and understand what the examiner is asking
• Take a few minutes to think about what you’re going to write
• Write your introduction
• Developing the essay ideas, your approach, and your explanations
• Conclude your essay with a summary that completes the circle
• Read the essay and make sure you didn’t make any mistakes

Read this post for more

How to generate ideas for writing task 2?

• Write a possible answer to the question
• Mind gone blank? Put the topic of the question into Google or Youtube
• Summarise different opinions on the topics
• Attempt more questions and you will find you now have more ideas

Read this post for more tips

For more help with your IELTS tutorials, take a look at our tutorials here:

• IELTS Task 2
• IELTS general task 1
• IELTS academic task 1
• Sample answers for IELTS Globalisation Essays
• Score higher in IELTS Writing Task 1 and Task 2
• Problem Solution Essays in IELTS Writing Task 2
• Sample Answers: discuss the advantages and disadvantages
• Extremely Useful Sentences for Task 2
• IELTS Essay Paragraph Structure

Sample task 2 IELTS essays and 240 task questions ebook

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IELTS Writing Task 2: Essay

In IELTS Writing Task 2, you need to write an essay in response to a point of view, an argument or a problem on a given topic. The essay has to be formal or semi-formal in style and at least 250 words.

Here is an example how the writing task prompt looks like:

WRITING TASK 2

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

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?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

How to write an essay for IELTS Writing Task 2?

You must start by spending some time reading the instructions. It is very important that you fully understand what you are asked to do.

You should spend at least 2 minutes planning your essay:

• Read the instructions thoroughly
• Brainstorm, write down the main keywords and ideas
• Introduction: paraphrase the topic
• Essay body: organise your essay into 2–3 body paragraphs, develop your ideas, add supporting points and provide examples
• Conclusion: sum up what you have written and make sure you do not introduce new ideas and thoughts that you have not covered in your essay

Use cohesive devices to link your ideas.

See also: 5 Tips on How To Write an IELTS Essay

How is IELTS Writing Task 2 scored?

IELTS Writing Task 2 gives you 2 / 3 of your total writing score, whereas Task 1 is worth 1 / 3 of your score. Hence the recommended time for both tasks: for Task 1 it is 20 minutes, for Task 2 it is 40 minutes.

Your essay will be evaluated on the four marking criteria:

• Task achievement
• Coherence and cohesion
• Lexical resource
• Grammatical range and accuracy

Each criterion gives 25% of your total score for the task.

For more detailed information, see How IELTS Writing Task 2 Is Checked .

See also: IELTS Writing Task 2 band descriptors .

IELTS Writing Task 2 – Academic vs General

What is the difference.

There is no significant difference between the IELTS Writing Task 2 Academic or General module in terms of the format.

The tasks are both evaluated on the same four marking criteria and candidates are required to write at least 250 words.

Even though the task format is the same, the IELTS Academic and General test candidates will not be given the same writing task prompt. In other words, if you take the IELTS General test, you will not get the same essay topic in IELTS Writing Task 2 as those who are taking the Academic module.

The main difference between the two test modules is that the IELTS General Training essay topics are often a little bit easier .

Essay topics from Cambridge IELTS 8 book

To illustrate the difference in the level of difficulty, see the following IELTS Writing Task 2 prompts from Cambridge IELTS 8 book:

Writing Task 2 Academic

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?

Writing Task 2 General

Today more people are travelling than ever before.

Why is this the case?

What are the benefits of travelling for the traveller?

As it can be seen from the comparison, the IELTS General Training topic is more general and relatively easier, whereas the Academic one is more specific.

IELTS ESSAY SAMPLES

IELTS Discussion Essay Sample

IELTS Agree / Disagree Essay Sample

IELTS Advantage / Disadvantage Essay Sample

IELTS Problem / Solution Essay Sample

IELTS Two-part Question Essay Sample

Ielts writing task 2: essay sample (corrected).

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 in over /with time. This has made people discuss ing 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 high advanced age.

On the one hand, according to the fact that population is ageing in western countries, it an 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 their of 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 fit be 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 fit fitness . Thus, a A 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)

Band Score Estimate (prior to corrections)

Brief comments:

• thus = and so
• regarding / with regard to / regarding to

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• 5 Types of IELTS Essays with Questions & Samples
• How to Improve IELTS Writing Task 2 Essay? (recommended!)
• Essay vocabulary
• Linking words for IELTS

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• Essay Task 2

IELTS Essay Types with Writing Topics and Samples

• Essay Types
• Double Question
• Advantage Disadvantage
• Problem Solution
• Essay Length

IELTS writing task 2 requires you to write an essay of at least 250 words that responds to a given topic. You will need to summarise details, give your opinion and support your reasons and arguments with relevant examples from your own knowledge and experience.  This guide is an overview of each type of IELTS writing task 2 question and contains example questions, useful tips, essay structures and some common mistakes to avoid.

Table of Contents

1.1 overview of ielts writing task 2.

• 1.2 Common Mistakes

2.1 Top tips

2.2 example questions, 2.3 essay structure.

• 2.4 Sample essay

3.1 Top tips

3.2 example questions, 3.3 essay structure, 3.4 sample essay, 4.1 top tips.

• 4.2 Example questions

4.3 Essay structure

4.4 sample essay, 5.1 top tips, 5.2 example questions, 5.3 essay structure.

• 5.4 Sample Essay

6.1 Top tips

• 6.2 Example question

6.3 Essay structure

6.4 sample essay.

• Writing Task 2 Band Descriptors Explained

1. IELTS Writing Task 2 Explained

Writing task 1 asks you to write a report whereas IELTS writing task 2 asks you to write a formal report about a global topic. This is your opportunity to show that you can fully develop your ideas, given an opinion and support your reasons with examples.

After you have spent 20 minutes on writing task 1, you will have 40 minutes left to focus on writing task 2.  Writing task 2 is worth about 66% of your overall writing score .

Your task is to write a formal essay that is at  least 250 words in response to an IELTS statement. We recommend that you aim for 270-290 words to sufficiently develop your ideas .

There are five main types of IELTS writing task 2 essay types:

Read on for tips, sample essays and common mistakes made for each of these essay types.

2. Opinion Essays

Opinion essay questions may be worded in various ways. Here are some of the most common:

• What is your opinion
• Do you think…

To what extent do you agree?

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

• Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

To address all parts of the task, you need to do the following three things in your opinion essay:

• Choose one side of the argument
• To state your opinion about a given topic
• Support your opinion with clear reasons and examples

A common mistake is to treat an opinion essay in the same way as an advantage/disadvantage essay. To avoid this error, make sure you:

• Pick one side of the argument and develop the best argument for this point using reasons and examples
• Briefly acknowledge the other side of the argument throughout your essay
• Do not give reasons or examples to support the other side of the argument
• Focus on arguments to support your opinion rather than giving advice

Some people think that more money should be spent on protecting endangered species while others think it is a waste of valuable money.

What is your opinion?

Systems of funding university education are different from country to country. While some countries charge students for studying at university, others offer university education for free.

Do you think students should pay for higher education?

Every school system in the world includes regular tests and exams, and many people think that it is important for students to take lots of exams.

Children should not start school until the age of six or seven because they need to have more time to play and develop before they go to school.

Scientists and technology experts seem to be more valued by modern society than musicians and artists.

Here’s our recommended structure for an IELTS opinion essay:

2.4 Sample Essay on IELTS Opinion Topic

Nowadays, the growing trend in education is to have an increasing number of assessments like tests and exams. Some people argue that this is necessary to improve exam results. However, it is my view that testing in schools has become too frequent and has had a detrimental effect on students. This essay will explain my opinion in further detail.

One reason I believe that students are completing too many tests is that the pressure of preparing and carrying out exams often leads to stress and illness among students. In many countries, it is a common practice to test children from a very early age, such as six or seven years old. As a result, an ever increasing amount of children are now suffering from anxiety and depression brought on by exam pressures. If there were fewer tests, students may have a more enjoyable experience at school and their overall learning outcomes may also improve.

Another argument in favour of reducing the number of exams and tests students take is that children should not only focus on exam preparation, but also the development of other life skills. For instance, students should learn the importance of working together and cooperating as a team as these skills are not only important in their daily lives, but will also enhance their future job prospects. If schools reduced the number of tests they gave, teachers would be able to focus on enhancing and practising these skills in the classroom. Having said that, there are those who argue that frequent testing is essential as it raises the profile and the standards of a school. For instance, these people may argue that children who take tests at a young age will produce better results throughout their school years and raise the overall ranking of an educational institution.

In conclusion, having looked at this topic in detail, although it is true to bear in mind the importance of testing, on balance my view is that schools should reduce the frequency of tests and examinations. By doing this, schools can dedicate more time to the development of essential life skills, as well as allowing children to have free-time to relax and play.

3. Discussion Essays

Identify the question by looking at the instruction words. You should see something similar to:

• Discuss both sides and give your opinion
• Discuss both sides

Choose if you want to take a thesis-led or an evidence-led approach to your essay. Remember:

• Thesis-led- State your opinion in the introduction and restate in the conclusion
• Evidence-led- Give your opinion in the conclusion

A common mistake is that candidates do not discuss both sides of the argument or forget to state their opinion. Make sure to:

• Discuss both sides in each part of your essay (introduction, main body paragraphs and conclusion)
• If you are asked to give your opinion, take a thesis-led approach. If you are not asked for your opinion, it is still a good idea to give it in the conclusion (evidence-led)

Here are some example discussion essay questions:

Some people say that governments are responsible for dealing with environmental issues. Other people believe that it is the individual’s responsibility to take action to protect the environment.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Some people think that environmental problems should be solved on a global scale while others believe it is better to deal with them nationally.

There seems to be an increasing number of serious crimes committed each year. While some think the best way is to use the death penalty as a deterrent, many people believe that other measures will be needed.

Discuss both sides.

Some people feel that it is better to live in a city while others believe that life is better in the countryside.

Many people think governments should fund art, while others believe that artists should be responsible for funding their work.

Discuss both views.

Evidence-led

Some people believe that governments should make laws about environmental issues and then strictly enforce those laws. Others say that it is better for governments to encourage and educate the population to make environmental changes.

There is no doubt that the world is facing numerous environmental problems. It is argued by some that the most effective way to address these issues is for the government to implement strict environmental protection laws. However, there are others that argue against government intervention and they should instead focus on promoting green practices by its citizens instead of enforcing legislation.

One reason people believe that environmental laws should be legislated is that it ensures that everyone is aiming for the same standards and following the same set of rules. If these rules are only optional, it is likely that some people and organisations may opt out and choose not to follow them. Therefore, laws need to be put in place to ensure that everyone complies with the same environmental standards. Another argument that can be put forward is that by putting financial tariffs in place for non-environmental practices, positive changes could be seen more quickly. For example, if governments put a levy on plastic bags, people will be less likely to use single-use plastic bags as they will not want to pay.

On the other hand, many people believe that educating the public about environmental changes they can make is more likely to promote change than enforcing laws. These people believe that encouraging people to form more sustainable habits, such as recycling, will be far more effective as people will likely encourage others to do the same as they are not being forced into green-practices by law and they feel a greater sense of autonomy. In addition, it can be argued that governments should value the intelligence of their citizens and treat them like adults that can make up their minds concerning environmental practices, for instance, letting people choose if they want to use a single-use or reusable water bottle.

In conclusion, having looked at both sides of the argument, my view is that the government should both enforce laws in addition to educating the public. They should make sure rules are followed in important areas such as reducing speed limits around cities to reduce levels of pollution. Furthermore, they should also undertake more educational events to persuade the public to choose to act in green ways, rather than do it out of obligation or because they are forced to by law.

4. Problem Solution Essays

Make sure you understand the task requirements for different types of problem/solution essays. There are three question types:

• Write about a problem and possible solutions to that problem
• Write about a cause of a problem and possible solutions
• Only write about the solutions

A common mistake made by test takers is incorrectly identifying the question. You should also be able to recognise typical wording for each problem/solution question type using these examples:

• What problems arise from this and how can they be tackled?
• What do you think the causes are? What are the solutions?
• What solution can you suggest to deal with this problem?

Another useful skill for this essay type is to be able to notice synonyms, for example:

Problem : Situation; resulting in…; issue

Cause : Reason; why

Only solution : address; present; solve; improve; tackle; remedy; deal with

4.2 Example Questions

The internet has transformed the way information is shared and consumed, but it has also created problems that did not exist before.

What are the most serious problems associated with the internet and what solutions can you suggest?

Overpopulation of urban areas has led to numerous problems.

Identify two serious ones and suggest ways that governments and individuals can tackle these problems.

On problem faced by almost every large city is traffic congestion

What do you think the causes are? What solutions can you suggest?

More and more wild animals are on the verge of extinction and others are on the endangered list.

What are the reasons for this? What can be done to solve the problem?

In many developing countries, there is a problem with declining quality of air and water from both industry and construction.

What measures could be taken to prevent this?

Essay structure 1

Essay structure 2

Many people find that modern life is faster, busier and more stressful than the past. More and more people are suffering with stress in their daily life, and the rates of stress-related illness are increasing.

What are the main causes of stress in modern life?

How can these problems be tackled?

In recent times, there has been a sharp increase in the number of people who are suffering illnesses connected to a stressful lifestyle. There are several reasons why stress is increasing in modern society, including employment insecurity, the increased reliance on technology and excessive working hours. This essay will examine these issues in more detail and propose possible solutions.

One factor behind stress in modern life is the lack of job security. Nowadays, it is common for people to be employed on zero-hours contracts asn, as a result, this could lead them to worry about the availability of hours and subsequent pay they will receive each week. To deal with this problem, governments could implement laws that would forbid these types of contracts. If this was enforced, workers would be more secure and have less financial stress in their daily lives.

A further cause of stress is the increased use of technology. Although there are a multitude of benefits brought about by technology, it can also have negative effects on the working patterns of employees. For example, many workers feel pressured to check their emails during their free time which can impact their ability to have a healthy work-life balance. One way forward would be for organisations to enstate company policies that prohibit the answering of emails outside of working hours. A further contributing factor to stress can be the long working hours expected of employees. In many cases, people are working increasingly long hours  and there is often a social pressure to work late to be deemed as a good employee. To counteract this problem, governments could put measures in place to monitor maximum working hours of staff.

In conclusion, it is clear there are a range of causes behind the stresses of modern life, many of which are connected to the workplace and technology. Unless these issues are addressed, I believe that stress-related illnesses will continue to rise  and therefore, both governments and employers need to take responsibility and implement measures to take care of employees’ physical and mental wellbeing.

5. Advantage Disadvantage Essays

Advantage/disadvantages essays are usually worded in the following ways:

• Discuss the advantages and disadvantages and give your opinion.
• Describe the advantages and disadvantages of _____ and give your opinion.
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of _____ ?

It is also useful to be able to identify IELTS synonyms for advantages and disadvantages:

• What are the benefits and drawbacks of…?

A common mistake is that candidates do not express their opinion at any point in the essay. There are two methods you could take depending on the question. Take these examples:

• What are some advantages and disadvantages of living in a foreign country? You are not being asked to give your opinion but you should still give your opinion in the conclusion (evidence-led approach)
•  Do the advantages of living in the country outweigh the disadvantages? You should give your opinion in the introduction and then restate this in the conclusion

In the past, when students did a university degree, they tended to study in their own country. Nowadays, they have more of an opportunity to study abroad.

Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?

Today children spend a lot of their free time watching TV.

Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages of this practice?

The threat of nuclear weapons maintains world peace. Nuclear power provides cheap and clean energy.

The benefits of nuclear technology far outweigh the disadvantages.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

In the past, when students did a university degree, they tended to study in their own country. Nowadays, they have the opportunity to study abroad.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of this development?

More and more people prefer to read news online rather than on paper.

Do you think  the advantages of this trend outweigh the disadvantages?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge and experience.

Thesis-led approach

Evidence-led approach

5.4 Sample Answer

Some people find living in the country enjoyable and relaxing, whereas others would not like to live in the country and prefer living in a big city instead.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of living in the countryside?

In recent years, a significant number of people have decided to move out of large cities in favour of living in more rural areas. Many believe there are significant benefits of doing this, while others think that there are drawbacks connected to living in the countryside. This essay will examine both points of view before I give my opinion.

One advantage of living in the country is that the pace of life is slower. If you live in the countryside, there are less daily pressures and you are not stuck in the rat race as you might be in a busy city. Furthermore, people have more time in their daily lives to dedicate to their physical and mental health. As a result, people living in the countryside have a greater quality of life and sense of wellbeing. Another benefit of living in the countryside is that there is less traffic congestion and more space dedicated to cycle paths and pedestrian areas. In other words, the air quality is better in the country which is also enhanced by the larger amount of green spaces.

On the other hand, there are some disadvantages of living in the country. One drawback, especially for younger people, is that there are less amenities and forms of entertainment than the city. For example, there is often a lack of nightlife which means that life for teenagers and young adults may become boring and monotonous. ANother drawback is that there are less job prospects. Living in the country means that it is generally difficult to acquire high-paying job opportunities, particularly if you want to climb the ladder and progress.

To sum up, it is clear that there are both advantages and disadvantages of living in the countryside. In my opinion, the drawbacks outweigh the benefits, especially from the point of view of young people. Although it is true that busy cities can be more stressful, on balance, I believe that cities provide more opportunities and excitement than living in the country.

6. Double Question Essays

For a double question essay, you must address both questions. A common mistake people make is to only address one question. To avoid this, make sure to:

• Identify that you have been given two questions to answer
• Give yourself enough time to dedicate to each question
• Address both questions in your introduction and conclusion
• Focus on one question in the first body paragraph and the other question in the second body paragraph

6.2 Example questions

The internet is a good source of information and has opened up opportunities for people all over the world.

Is all the information reliable online?

What could be done to control information online?

Many people prefer to watch foreign films rather than locally produced films.

Why could this be?

Should governments give more financial support to local film industries?

Nowadays, many people have easy access to computers and a large number of children play computer games.

What are the negative impacts of playing computer games?

What can be done to minimise these effects?

In spite of the advances in medicine, many people around the world still die from preventable diseases.

Why is this the case?

What can be done about this problem?

In most countries, the major museums are owned by the government, and some governments have decided not to charge people to enter those museums.

What are the pros and cons of making museums free to enter for everyone?

Do you think all governments should make major museums free for everyone?

The majority of governments around the world have decided to abolish entry fees to their most important museums. Some people believe that this puts a financial burden on the taxpayer and that the government should focus their spending on more significant projects. However, it is my view that making museums free is an effective use of government spending that has financial and cultural benefits.

One argument in favour of ensuring all museums are free to the public is that it will increase tourist numbers. Tourists are often attracted to cities with free cultural attractions, therefore, fee-free museums could be one determining factor that causes tourists to visit a country. In addition, local people can also benefit from this scheme as it opens opportunities to access culture and learning for those living in that city, particularly for those from low-income families that may otherwise be unable to access these experiences.

On the other hand, some argue that the government should reevaluate its priorities and spend less money funding museums and more expenditure on important sectors like education and health. These people believe that education and health are more fundamental to people’s lives. In times of austerity, it is often argued that spending on art and culture is not justified. Furthermore, the entrance fees for museums are often low and considered affordable for most people.

In conclusion, although I believe it is true that the allocation of government resources should prioritise important sectors such as health and education, on balance I believe that museums should be made free as it allows people from all socio-economic backgrounds the opportunity to learn and experience a country’s cultural treasures. If governments do decide to charge people to enter museums, this will only benefit those who can afford to pay whilst excluding those on lower incomes.

7. Writing Task 2 Band Descriptors Explained

7.1 task response (25%).

To achieve a high band score in task achievement, you must:

• Produce a formal essay (unlike writing task 1, you are allowed to use the first person ‘I’ to give your opinion in this essay)
• Write at least 250 words (you need to be able to sufficiently develop your ideas)
• Address all the issues given in the essay question (e.g. if the question asks you to discuss both sides of the argument, you should not only write about 1 side)
• Make sure your essay focuses on the specific issues in the statement question, not just the general essay topic
• Support your ideas with relevant examples

7.2 Coherence and Cohesion (25%)

To achieve a high band score in Coherence and Cohesion, you must:

• Organise your essay logically
• Use paragraphs (ideally four-five paragraphs: an introduction, two/three main body paragraphs and a conclusion)
• Only focus on one issue per paragraph and develop your argument
• Use a range of linking devices accurately and appropriately
• Use referencing effectively to avoid repetition (e.g., using ‘this’ or a pronoun to refer to refer back in your text to a noun/noun phrase)

7.3 Lexical Resource (25%)

To achieve a high band score in Lexical Resource, you must:

• Paraphrase carefully using a range of synonyms/antonyms/ collocations
• Use a range of vocabulary appropriate to the topic
• Show understanding of collocations (e.g. verb noun collocations)
• Avoid making spelling mistakes
• Avoid making errors in word choice
• Avoid informal language (e.g. slang and contractions)

7.4 Grammatical Range and Accuracy (25%)

To achieve a high band score in Grammatical Range and Accuracy, you must:

• Use a range of grammar tenses (e.g. past, present, future and perfect tenses; conditionals;)
• Make sure you use appropriate words order
• Use a range of sentences structures (e.g. simple and complex; active and passive voice)
• Use the correct punctuation (capital letters, full stops, commas etc.)
• Avoid grammatical errors, especially those that cause difficulty for the reader (give yourself time to read through your essay at the end of the test and check for errors)

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Word count for IELTS writing tasks

What is the ideal word count for ielts writing.

Updated July 2022.

This is a common question many IELTS candidates have but there seems to be misinformation out on the internet about word count in the IELTS writing section.

Although the word count penalty has been abolished I would advise writing more than 250 words in an essay and over 150 words in writing task 1 to fully develop your answer. Here are some examples of what I have heard about the word count in IELTS essays and writing task 1.

Common myths about word count.

You do not need to write more than 250 words in writing task 2., you must write over 350 words for a band 8 essay., in writing task 1 write more than 200 words for a high score., you should count every single word in the essay., let’s take each myth one by one..

1. IELTS says that you should write at least 250 words in writing task 2 and 150 words in writing task 1. There is no penalty anymore but I advise writing more than 250 words to fully develop your essay.

2. A very long essay will not give you a higher band score. If you write a long essay, for example around 350 words, then two problems will arise.

• You will run out of time and may not finish your essay. If you do not write a conclusion you will lose a band score in task response.
• You will be more prone to making grammar and vocabulary mistakes. Also, the essay could go into irrelevant detail and there is a danger of going off-topic.

3. The same goes for writing task 1. If you write a very long report of more than 200 words you will run out of time and may include information that you just don’t need to report on. The task prompt says in writing task 1 academic: ‘ Summarise the information by selecting and reporting on the main features …’

4. As for counting your words, you cannot count every single word because this is not practical. Estimate generally how many words you have on a line then count the lines. Aim for more than 250 words but under 300 words in task 2 writing. In the computer-based exam, the word count is on the screen so that is very useful.

What’s the ideal word count?

My advice is to aim for between 260 to 295 words in writing task 2 and between 160 to 190 words in writing task 1 . This will ensure a concise essay or task 1 report and will be realistic in terms of time management. You have only 40 minutes to write the essay and you need around 10 minutes of planning time, so you will not be able to write a long essay in 30 minutes.

As mentioned before, you will not get a higher band score for a very long essay. It must be concise, clear, and direct to the point. Irrelevant detail will cause problems with your band score.

Are there any cases where the examiner doesn’t count words?

Yes! if you copy the task question word for word without attempting to paraphrase then the examiner will not count those words .

The same is true for writing the conclusion. If you just repeat the introduction word for word or repeat whole sentences the examiner will not count the words . This is why paraphrasing is a crucial part of your writing. Click the links below for lessons on paraphrasing.

How to paraphrase the introduction writing task 2

Paraphrasing without synonyms

Another thing to bear in mind is that if you memorise chunks of model answers and plug them into the essay the examiner will know it is a memorised answer and you will get a penalty.

Note on repetition:  You can repeat some words throughout the essay. You do not get a penalty for using the same word 3 or 4 times because in some cases it is difficult to find synonyms for certain words. This is where the confusion arises about repetition.

The problem is when you are repeating whole sentences or repeating the introduction in your conclusion.

Important advice

Your goal is to write in a concise clear manner, your ideas should be relevant to the task and easy for the reader to follow. If you try to use convoluted language or add lots of ideas to impress the examiner it could cause problems with coherence and end up with a high word count. Click here to see a lesson on keeping your writing simple and concise.

Any questions? leave a comment below.

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How to write 250 words in four paragraphs in ielts writing.

We’re going to see how to write 250 words in four paragraphs in IELTS writing, essay writing in Task 2 . Writing Task 2 in the IELTS test should be written at least in 250 words. If your number of words is fewer than 241, you will be penalized and lose up to one score in this section. Also, the organization of writing is a matter. This means that you can not put those words in only one paragraph.

In general, you should distribute those words, 250 words at least, in four paragraphs to be able to get the score of the two first columns of marking criteria, Task Achievement and Coherence & Cohesion , defined for the IELTS writing section. Let’s see how to do so:

Suggested structure for writing an IELTS essay

As said, you can’t write the whole article in one paragraph, but you have to be able to express your opinions in a few paragraphs. Writing the whole text in one paragraph will reduce your share of the score. In principle, each essay should have three sections: introduction, main text, and conclusion.

Our suggestion for paragraphing an essay is:

A: Assign a paragraph to the introduction. B: Consider two paragraphs for the main text, namely body paragraphs. C: Finally, write the conclusion of your essay in a paragraph.

To get information how to write these paragraphs and organize your IELTS writing, you can read this article .

How to write 250 words in four paragraphs in IELTS writing: Tips and Tricks

1. The effect of the topic

It may be said that the type of topic in Task 2 of the IELTS writing can change paragraphing and the number of paragraphs. This is true, but if you follow our instructions, you can only neutralize the effect on your essay. The topic should not cause you to delete or add an introduction or conclusion to your essay, but you can only add one body paragraph to the text. Remember that if the topic is broad, it will not be meant to increase the number of paragraphs in a text. This will reduce your score.

2. Use structural sentences

You can use common terms to put your content in IELTS writing in an organized structure. It can also help you fast write the essay with a different grammatical range , the fourth marking criterion.

For example:

This essay will In this essay, I will …

Using these terms in a balanced way, in addition to logically organizing ideas and information in 250 words in four paragraphs, helps you maintain the structure of the content and be able to present a coherent article.

3. Maintain the coherence of the paragraphs

You can use cohesive devices to show the cohesion of your content in IELTS. In addition to completing the number of words, these terms will show the progression of your ideas in the text.

In the second paragraph of the essay, you can say: “As stated in the introduction …”.

Keep in mind to maintain the balance. Overuse of these terms can weaken the content and mark loss.

4. Summary of the main points in the conclusion paragraph

You may come to the conclusion when writing the IELTS article but see that the number of words was exceeded, sometimes far more than the standard as a less-skilled writer. In this case, our suggestion is to restate the main points in the text briefly. Do not copy your or topic words form the paragraphs above; instead you should rephrase what mentioned. To read more, click here . By doing this, you tie your ideas and make them strengthened, and also show your syntactic and lexical skills to examiner.

The abstract of article:

In this article, we talked about the IELTS writing section, as well as tips on how to write an article in four paragraphs.

Related articles:

• Introducing the best IELTS sources for Elementary levels
• Ready to take the IELTS test
• 8 Tips on IELTS Reading
• How to score 9 band in IELTS speaking test?

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IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Essays

Updated On Oct 03, 2023

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The Essay Writing section of the IELTS Writing Module can be a difficult task for many IELTS aspirants. Thus, it is vital that you polish your essay writing skills before attempting the IELTS by practising various model essay topics.

A well-organized essay will help in scoring a desirable band in the writing test. A lot of the candidates who take the writing test will need at least 5-10 minutes to prepare for the essay once they get the topic. If you consider certain points while writing the essay, it’ll get a bit easier to get a high IELTS band score . Few points are listed below:

• Answer the question asked: Before answering, carefully read the question that is asked and try to answer the question to the point, do not divert from the topic. Whatever the topic is, try to explain as much as possible. Do not speak out of the topic, if you do so you may end up losing the marks.
• Plan your work: After you get the topic for writing, plan your work based on the format. Think about what has to be written in the introduction, two paragraphs, and a conclusion. Once you plan the work, you will get an idea automatically on how to write the essay and score high marks accordingly.
• Write, Review and Re-write: Before actually taking the IELTS Writing test, it is important to take a practice test. While taking the practice test, take a particular topic and start writing the essay. Once you are done writing the essay, go through it and review your mistakes. When you take the second practice test, try to improve or overcome the mistakes that happened before.
• Skills you need to have: To score a good band in the IELTS examination, there should be some relevant skills, there are two kinds of skills; exam skills as well as language skills. You need to find out which skills you are good at and should improve the skills in which you are not that good. In order to find this out, you need to take a lot of IELTS practice tests .

IELTS sample essays are given in different types of questions. And each type wants you to give a response in different ways. The IELTS model essay types are given below.

Agree and Disagree Type Questions

In this category, one opinion of the particular thing is given and you’ll be asked to discuss whether you agree or disagree with that particular opinion.

• IELTS Opinion Essay topics

Discuss Type Questions

In this type of question, there will be two opinions given, you are asked to understand both the opinions and give your point of view based on that.

• IELTS Discussion Essay Topics

Cause Type Questions

In this type of question, you need to give the reason or cause why something has happened and you are also asked to discuss the different aspects of it such as the effect, solutions, and positive and negative points. Given below are links to sample IELTS essays:

• IELTS Writing Actual Test In July 2016 & Band 8.0 Sample Cause/Solution Essay
• IELTS Writing Task 2 Cause/Solution Essay Of Band 8.5 – Topic: Tourism
• IELTS Writing Task 2 Cause/Solution Essay Of Band 8.0 – Topic: Health
• IELTS Writing Task 2 Cause/Solution Essay Of Band 8.0 – Juvenile Delinquency
• IELTS Writing Task 2 Cause/Solution Essay Of Band 8.0 – Topic: People & Society
• IELTS Writing Actual Test – Band 8.5 Cause & Effect Essay
• IELTS Writing Actual Test – Band 9.0 Sample Cause/Solution Essay
• IELTS Writing Actual Test – Band 8.0+ Sample Cause/Solution Essay
• IELTS Writing Actual Test – Band 9.0 Cause/Solution Essay
• IELTS Writing Actual Test – Band 8.0 Cause/Solution Essays
• Academic IELTS Writing Task 2 – Cause And Solution

Problem and Solution Type Questions

In this type of question, you have to discuss the problems related to society and plan accordingly to create a solution for these particular issues. Given below are links of sample IELTS essays:

• IELTS Writing Task 2 Problem/Solution Essay Of Band 8.0 – Topic: Energy Resources
• IELTS Writing Task 2 Problem/Solution Essay Of Band 8.5 – Health And Fitness
• IELTS Speaking Part 2 Sample: Describe A Time When You Solved A Problem Via The Internet
• IELTS Writing Actual Test – Band 8.0 Problem/Solution Essay

Advantage and Disadvantage Type Questions

In this type of question, you have to give opinions relating to the positive and negative sides of a particular topic. Given below are links of sample IELTS essays:

• Academic IELTS Writing Task 2 Topic & Band 8.5 Advantage/Disadvantage Essay
• IELTS Writing Task 2 Advantage/Disadvantage Essay Of Band 8.0– Topic: Youth & Community
• Advantage/Disadvantage Essay – Topic: Students
• IELTS Writing Actual Test & Band 8.0 Advantage/Disadvantage Essay – Topic: Travel
• IELTS Writing Actual Test & Band 9.0 Advantage/Disadvantage Essay – Topic: Gap Year
• IELTS Writing Actual Test – Band 8.5 Advantage/Disadvantage Essay
• IELTS Advantage/Disadvantage Essay Of Band 8.5 – Topic: Traffic & Accommodation
• IELTS Writing Actual Test – Band 8.0 Advantage & Disadvantage Samples
• IELTS Writing Actual Test- Band 8.0 Sample Advantage/Disadvantage Essays

Other Type Questions

There are other types of questions that do not fit in any of the categories above. So these kinds of questions are called other types of questions. Given below are links of sample IELTS essays:

• Academic IELTS Writing Task 2 Topic – Band 9.0 Sample Essay
• Academic IELTS Writing Task 2 Topic (In April 2015) & Band 9.0 Sample Essay
• Sample Essay For Academic IELTS Writing Task 1 Topic 08 – Table
• Sample Essay For Academic IELTS Writing Task 1 Topic 07 – Table
• IELTS Writing Task 2 Topic: Traffic & Sample Essay
• IELTS Writing Task 2 Topic: International Car-Free Days & Sample Essay
• Academic IELTS Writing Task 2 Topic: Living In Big Cities & Sample Essay

Academic Writing

The Academic Writing test will take 60 minutes to complete the test. You are asked to write 2 tasks, task 1 of at least 150 words, and task 2 of at least 250 words. In task 1 you’ll be given a table, chart, process diagram, or graph and you’ll have to describe it in around 150 words for which you can take 20 minutes. In task 2, a topic will be given and you should write a 250-word essay.

Given below are links to some of the IELTS writing material for academic:

• Academic IELTS Writing Task 2 Topic (In September 2015) & Band 9.0 Essay
• Academic IELTS Writing Task 2 Topic ( In January 2016) & Band 9 Model Essay.
• Academic IELTS Writing Task 2 Topic (In July 2015) & Band 9.0 Argumentative Essay
• Academic IELTS Writing Task 2 Topic: Architecture & History – Sample Essay
• Academic IELTS Writing Task 2 Topic: Environment & Sample Essay
• Academic IELTS Writing Task 2 Topic: Economic Growth With Model Essay

General Training Writing

In the General Training test , you will have only 60 minutes to complete the test. There are 2 tasks, where you’ll have to write a 150 words essay for Task 1 and 250 words essay for task 2.

In task 1 you’ll have to write a letter, for example, a request letter. In task 2, it’ll be the same as Academic Writing where you’ll have to write a 250-word response according to the question given.

Bonus Essay Topics

• Many people believe that social networking sites have a huge negative impact on both individuals and society. To what extent do you agree?
• In spite of the advances made in agriculture, many people around the world still go hungry. Why is this the case? What can be done about this problem?
• In many places new homes are needed, but the only space available for building them is in the countryside. Some people believe it is more important to protect the countryside and not build new homes there. What is your opinion about this?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is writing task 2 same for Academic and general module of IELTS?

What is the marking criteria for essay writing?

I’m confused about opinion essays. Eg.1: Even in agree/disagree essays they ask for your opinion like “To what extent you agree”. Eg.2: Even in advantage/disadvantage essays they ask for your opinion like “Do you think the advantages outweigh disadvantages”. Eg.3: There are essays which specifically ask for your opinion.

Can I write an essay which is more than 250 words? Will it improve my scores?

I have memorised some standard phrases to begin and end my essay? Will it improve my scores?

Practice IELTS Writing Task 2 based on Essay types

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Janet had been an IELTS Trainer before she dived into the field of Content Writing. During her days of being a Trainer, Janet had written essays and sample answers which got her students an 8+ band in the IELTS Test. Her contributions to our articles have been engaging and simple to help the students understand and grasp the information with ease. Janet, born and brought up in California, had no idea about the IELTS until she moved to study in Canada. Her peers leaned to her for help as her first language was English.

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IELTS Writing Penalty for Being Under Words

“Under the word count” penalty update for IELTS Writing Task 2 

As you see on the page below, previously you would have a fixed penalty of band score 5 for Task Response in IELTS writing task 2 if you wrote under the word count which is 250 words. This rule has now been removed.

Does this mean you can now write under the word count?

The answer to this is yes and no. Let me explain. It is possible to write under the word count and you will get no fixed penalty. But will it impact your score?

Writing a short essay which is under 250 words will definitely impact your score and not in a good way. The requirements of good band score are that you develop your ideas sufficiently. This means you must have enough words to develop your main points. A short essay doesn’t do this. Take a look below at the requirements of Task Response regarding this:

• Band 5 = ideas are limited and not sufficiently developed
• Band 6 = ideas might be inadequately developed
• Band 7 = extends main ideas
• Band 8 = presents well-developed response with extended ideas
• Band 9 = fully extended ideas

As you see, developing and extending your main points is crucial to increase your score. You cannot develop your ideas properly if your body paragraphs are too short. Certainly, a long paragraph is no guarantee of a well-developed idea, but a short paragraph will ensure it is not developed enough. So, you need two things: 1) body paragraphs that are long enough to be considered developed.  2) body paragraphs containing sentences that are focused and relevant. Basically, the right length and focused.

What word limits do you recommend for paragraphs?

• Your introduction is a functional paragraph of just two statements usually about 40-50 words.
• Each body paragraph MUST be sufficiently developed for a high score. If you have two body paragraphs, it’ll be about 95 words per paragraph and about 65 words for three body paragraphs. Having less might put you at risk of not having sufficiently developed main points.
• The conclusion is also a functional paragraph of about 30-40 words.

In total, your essay should be around 270 – 290 words in length . If you write less, your ideas might not be developed enough for a high score. If you write more, your ideas might lack focus and sentences might lack relevancy. See my model essays on this page: IELTS Writing Task 2 Lessons & Tips

Word count Rules Previously Used by IELTS Before

There used to be a fixed penalty in IELTS writing if you wrote under the word count which is 150 words for writing task 1 and 250 words for writing task 2 .  You would automatically get only band 5 in Task Response which counts for 25% of your marks.

Other things affecting your score

• Your handwriting – if the examiner has problems reading your handwriting, your band score can be seriously affected.
• Memorised answer – if your essay answer is memorised, it will not be accepted and could result in a 0 band score.
• Limited answer – if you fail to answer the whole question and only answer half of it, you will not get above band score 5 in task response.

Is there a penalty for writing too much?

No, there is no upper limit. However, writing too many words does not mean you will get a better mark. In fact, it might cause problems.  It might include sentences that are less relevant and less focused. People often like to add “padding” to their essays but this only lowers your score. See this page: How Many Words is Recommended for Writing Task 2

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For more answers to questions about IELTS writing task 2 , follow the link.

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Hi Liz! I took my preparation following your youtube channel. I’ve a question about the writing section. In task-1, there was a line graph and I couldn’t write anything about one of the four lines beacuse I ran out of time. However, I mentioned the key features which include all four lines in the overview section. I’m not sure if I wrote a total of 150 words, but there’s a high chance that I did so. Now I’m very concerned if I can score at least 6.5 in the writing section. Please share your comment on this, I’m actually quite shocked that this happened to me.

This will lower your score for Task Achievement in Task 1, which counts for 25% of your task 1 marks. But the other criteria in task 1 will not be affected at all. Also, your task 2 scores, which count for 66% of your final writing score, will not be affected. Your final score for task 1 will depend on how strong your other marking criteria were and your final score overall will depend on task 2 as well. Therefore, it is not possible to predict your final score. Try not to worry. Good luck with your results!

Hello Liz! Hope you are well. I had my IELTS exam today. I’m quite unsure about the writing section as I didn’t get enough time to revise it. I’m worried about the word count. I wrote 159 words in task 1 and 260 words in task 2. Will that have a bad impact on my score? Another thing is I couldn’t give more than two examples in task 2. Is it possible to get a band 7?

There is no longer a penalty for being under words in IELT writing. In writing task 1, some reports are not very long and some are slightly longer. So, it might be possible for a task 1 to be 159 and still fulfil the criteria of the higher band scores. For task 2, your main points need to be well developed. This isn’t easy with under 270 words. However, it really depends on the quality of your writing overall. There is no rule about giving examples in IELTS writing. It makes no difference if you give one or three or even just some basic illustrative points instead.

Hi Liz, Jus now I have finished my IELTS exam and suddenly I got a doubt regarding my writing task 1 overview. So I just want know if any case my writing task 1 overview incorrect would it be effect for my whole task 1 marks?

Task Achievement is 25% of your marks for task 1. This criterion is about completing the task, as well as presenting and selecting information. So, the content of your overview would affect only this marking criterion, not the other three criteria.

Hi! If I couldn’t just conclude my essay in task 2 does it mean I will fail the whole IELTS exam?

Task Response, which includes writing a conclusion and completing your task, only counts for 25% of your final writing task 2 marks. So, failing to write a conclusion will only impact that score.

hello mam, i want to ask i gave IELTS exam 2nd time. in my first attempt I got 7 overall and 6.5 in reading. so in this test i attempted the IELTS writing module with almost same effort and same word count for both tasks as i did in last one. please tell me would i be able to get 6.5 in writing this time as well? i actually attempted again because i scored 5.5 in reading last time but this time my reading was perfect. just worried about writing module. if i couldn’t score 6.5 in writing i won’t be able to get scholarship. please share your views.

Each essay you write is different. You use different words, present different ideas, having different supporting points etc etc etc. So, there is no guarantee of the same score at all. If your level of English is on the border between 6 and 7, it means that with some essays you might end up with band 6, in others you might get 6.5 and in some band 7. All because your English and because of Task Response as well as Coherence and Cohesion. Here is a link to all my free lessons, tips and model essays for writing task 2 and task 1: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-1-lessons-and-tips/ https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/ Don’t ignore task 1, 33% of your marks can be the difference between band 6 or 6.5 or 7. I also have paid advanced lessons and e-books in my store: https://elizabethferguson.podia.com/

Hello Liz, What is a memorized answer?

It is an answer where you have memorised all the words so that you can repeat those words in the test. Of course, we learn language to use, but that isn’t the same as memorising a whole sentence or a whole paragraph. Each sentence should be uniquely created by yourself in the test.

Hello ma’am, I wrote my exam on the 3rd of June. My question was “The values we learn from our parents and family have greater influence on our future success than knowledge and skills we learn at school. To what extent do you agree or disagree. I agreed on the two ideas but I didn’t use the word ‘I totally agree’ and I didn’t extend my ideas properly. My idea was that knowledge and skills will help us secure good jobs while the values will instill morals in us so we behave in an appropriate manner in the society. The time was flying and I couldn’t even proofread what I have written to correct any mistake. Will I be able to get a band 6.5 ma?

It’s a good thing you didn’t write “I totally agree” because the ideas you’ve presented are not in total agreement with the statement. In fact, you are not in agreement with the statement. You have written what I call a specific view point. You’ve taken the concept of “future success” and divided it into “career success” which does require education, and then our morals, which often come from family values. The key questions are – were your points introduced sufficiently? Did you explain why “morals” are important for success (because this essay is all about future success”? Did you divide ideas into relevant paragraphs? Did you use linking words? Not being able to proofread is a problem because mistakes do lower your score. It isn’t possible to predict scores without seeing a full essay. You will have to wait to see what results you get. As you only need 6.5, hopefully it will be ok. But remember that task 1 is also part of your final score for writing. Anyway, I wish you lots of luck!!

In the 5th paragraph on the website https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-penalty-for-writing-under-word-count/ please correct the typo. The word ‘too’ has been used, instead of ‘two’.

Well spotted. Thanks

Hi mam, Today I wrote my ielts exam.In writing task 2 I performed well, but coming to task 1 I have no time and I wrote introduction, overview and body paragraph of maps with 100 words. Do I have Chace of getting 6 mam?

As there is no longer a penalty for being under words, you will have a chance. But it will depend on the level of your writing in both tasks. Good luck!

Hi, I heard that IELTS abolished the under word count penalty rule and that it’s ok to go under 250 words for an essay etc… could you clarify this?

Many thanks

The reason I’ve left this page is because while IELTS do not have a fixed penalty for being under words, you will lose points because you fail to sufficiently develop your ideas. If your aim is around band 5 or 6, it isn’t such a big problem. But if you are aiming for band 7, you ought to be aiming for 270-290words in task 2. Previously, you would get an instant band 5 for Task Response (25% of your marks for task 2) if you wrote under the word count. But now if you don’t develop your ideas enough by writing enough, you will simply not meet the requirements of a band 7 in this criterion. So, you see, it isn’t about fixed punishment anymore. It’s about whether you fulfill the band score requirements for task response. Basically, word count is still important. Hope you understand.

Hi, First of all I want to thank you for your precious advices. I just took the IELTS and in the writing task 2 I didn’t manage my time well and and ended up writing 248 words only. I would like to know if that will have an impact on my band score. Thanks in advance for your answer.

It’s fine to write only that number of words for task 2. There won’t be any penalty. However, the problem comes if you didn’t expand your main ideas enough. To illustrate: Band 6 for TR = main ideas are not sufficiently developed Band 7 for TR = main ideas are extended But remember, that’s only the score for TR, not for the whole task 2 score. Good luck with your results 🙂

Thanks for the quick response and hopefully I will get the band score I need.

Hi Liz. I have a question, do you have vip courses? Or any paid course?

Yes, you can find some advanced lessons and e-books here: https://elizabethferguson.podia.com/

Hi Liz, thank you very much for all the information. by mistake I started writing task 2 from the back page of answer sheet am really upset from yesterday kindly tell me will I lose band and marks by this mistake?

That’s an interesting question. There are no rules about this. The examiner should notice that you’ve started on the wrong side in which case it won’t affect your score at all. However, you ought to speak to your test centre directly about it. Get in touch with them. Good luck with your results!!

Hello! I had just taken my IELTS exam and the writing section went pretty well for the most part. Almost every marking requirement was met in terms of grammar, structure, and usage of vast vocabulary. I have also met and surpassed the word limit. Unfortunately, as I was wrapping up Task 2, I decided to add one last sentence to tie it all together and time was up just before I could finish the sentence with approximately 3 keywords remaining in the conclusion section. I was wondering how badly this could affect my score? Thank you so much for your time in advance.

The most important thing is that you have a conclusion. Even though you didn’t finish it, there is a conclusion. If you had missed the conclusion completely, you would have scored 5 in Task Response which is 25% of your marks. But this isn’t the case. Sure, not finishing a sentence will affect your score, but not with a serious impact. Your score will depend on many factors and can’t be predicted. Lots of luck with your results !!

Hi Liz, I find difficult not to write less than 150 words in diagram mocks. As these diagrams practically speak for themselves, for instance, showing clearly how electricity is produced or how rain water is collected, I can’t reach the required length for my description. I do not know if I should invent something, like, for example, how many minutes each process involves –considering that it is not given–, or describe processes that are not explained in the diagram –for example, the way in which water is turned into steam–, or if I should try to expand expressions, like using “in order to” instead of “to”, just to gain words. I feel really frustrated, because I think that these people are trying to make things more complicated, forcing me to explain in too many words a process that is clearly detailed in just a few sentences. I like the other task 1 exercises, but if I had to design a test I would eliminate the diagram type of exercises. Not that anyone cares lol.

Never invent anything for the diagram. You can’t add your opinion, your ideas, your predictions, your knowledge – nothing extra. Take each stage at a time, describe it in full and then link it to the next. Step by step through all the diagrams. For the overview, summarise all key stages in one statement. If you do this properly, you’ll reach the word count. Even if you only reach about 140, it’s still ok. Diagrams are tricky that way. But with practice at going slowly through the stages for the body paragraphs, you will get there 🙂

hey liz i’m inspired by your videos. I had a query about writing task. I repeat atleast one word like 6-7 times and always i see it after completing the entire task. Can you tell me how will it affect my score? and how can i improve this? also is it ok not to paraphrase the terms given in the process diagram, like can i copy the exact words from the process diagram?

It is normal to repeat words. Not all words can be paraphrased. If a word can be successfully paraphrased you should show your paraphrasing skills. The terms given in a diagram should be used – the key is using them correctly.

Dear Liz, Do we have to leave a line space after every paragraph? I think i got low marks for writing because of that. Please advise.

The empty line is to help the examiner see the paragraph more easily – it is not a requirement. If your paragraphs are indented and easy to see, it’s fine. That is unlikely to be the cause of your low score. Review your understand of the marking criteria and check your technique.

Hi Liz, will I be penalized if I write more than 200words in task 1

Band 5 Task Achievement – may give too much detail. You need to avoid that. Don’t get lost in detail – your aim is to focus on key features in a concise report.

Hey Eliza, I have a question that… in the words count do the preposition like a, an, the… and the numeric data and values …which are mostly used in any writing counts or not?

All words are counted – the length of the word does not matter.

Hi Liz . Do you think you should write a book for writing task 1 🤐 Your books that have already realised are so crucial for IELTS candidates .

I plan to create Advanced Video Lessons for Writing Task 1 when my health is better. Unfortunately, I’ve been sick for a long time which has limited the work I can do. Keep your fingers crossed for me – the sooner I get better, the sooner I can make the video lessons.

Hi Liza, thank you for useful infomation. I ask a question about the writing test. If I foget the source of cited articles in my essey, can I tell a lie such as writing “according to the United Nations”, not writing honestly “according to a reputable source” in order to make my argument stronger? Thanks,

You should not be stating any source of information or data in an IELTS essay. This is not a university essay. It is a language test. The examiner has no interest at all where your examples or information come from. You do not get a higher score because your argument is more convincing. You get a higher score for relevancy and well explained ideas. Make sure you pay attention to the things that really matter in IELTS and don’t waste your time with thinks that don’t improve your score.

I took my CBT ielts academic today and I think I have done horrible in Reading and writing by

1. Leaving two questions unanswered in reading 2. Writing only around 200 words in task 2

Listening and speaking , I am confident of scoring more than 8

Can you please let me know how point no 1 & 2 will affect my score ?

1. Each answer is worth one point. That means you do not gain two points. See the band score information on this site if you need the point system. 2. In task 2, one of the marking criterion called Task Response is about developing your ideas. You will get a lower score for that. Nothing else is affected.

Thanks a ton for your reply

I will keep that in mind if rewriting ! Will keep you posted about score once I have it to benefit the many test takers who might incur this doubt

Hi! Same situation. What did you score?

I would like to know what did you score in writing as I had a test today and I think I wrote around 200words in task 2

Hi Liz! I just sat for the IELTS exam and had severely mismanaged my time. This resulted in me writing less than I had expected (151 for Task 1 and 258 for Task 2). How badly would this affect my band score, and if it does, what are the odds of me scoring at least a 7.5 with this omission?

Thanks, love your youtube videos, it’s a shame I discovered them too late!

It will have an impact on your score for Task Response which is 25% of your writing task 2 marks. For task 1 is has less impact as not all reports need to be extended. However, for task 2 essays, you are being marked on developing ideas sufficiently and 258 words is not much. It is absolutely not possible to predict your score. There are many other variables to consider. Good luck with your results 🙂

Hi dear Liz I hope you are great. I have a question about copying 80-90% of sentences of a sample letter (in writing task1 of GT) and writing them for a roughly same question in real exam ,but with a slight change in some words or sentences in order to suit the question. How examiner recognize that this is a copy? As maybe I have copied them from a sample which is not seen or read by examiner before.

The examiner will recognise it is a copy because the memorised parts will be band 9 and the parts you put in will be band 6 or 7. Do not memorise sentences. It is a test and you can’t cheat.

Hi, Liz. I am planning to take an academic IELTS test. Regarding the word count, will IELTS count word tokens or word types? Thanks

Each word is counted. All words are counted – there are no exceptions. “A man walked into a house” = 6 words.

Hello there! Dear Liz, Could you please tell me if mistakenly we tend to write off the topic, Are the words included in our Essay that are off the topic are counted or not?

ALL words are counted. There is no exception. If your ideas go off topic, it will only affect your score for Task Achievement/ Task Response.

Mam I, m very frustrated towards IELTS And It’s preparation I , m preparing it from one year (from may 2018 to 2019) I gave exam in Jan 12th but I got 5.5 in writing as well in speaking. I join many schools but they real not know how to teach please help me. Mam if you have a skype or Facebook account can I contact you, I also use cambly if you are on family let me know and other than this what I do to improve my writing and speaking from 5.5 to 6.5 and more please answer this. I, m waiting your answer in a hurry. Thanks regards gurkirat

Sorry, I don’t offer private lessons. There are over 300 pages of free lessons and tips on this site for you to use. However, I suspect you will need to improve your level of English first.

Hello liz.. i think i had misused one word in my essay writing test. How would it affect my score in task 2? One word only 😭😭😭 and i cannot sleep thinking about it. I doubted the word but i still used it 😓, when I checked the meaning at home, it was completely different, it wasn’t the meaning i’d expected. 😭😭😭

Vocabulary is only 25% of your marks and the score is based on more than just one incorrect word. It is about paraphrasing, using of collocations, spelling, range, accuracy etc. Time to stop worrying and relax – it’s all over now. Wait for your results.

Ohhh.. what a relief ☺️ Thanks so much liz.. may God bless you always..

Hi Liz, I finished my IELTS exam today and I’m so worried too. I forgot to separate the paragraphs and it was too late when I realized as I panicked and spent too much time in task 1. So it may seem that I only did one paragraph for task 2 although my ideas were organized in order. How will that affect my score Liz? I cannot get over it. I’m crying awhile ago. 😭😭😭

Try to relax. Were your paragraphs impossible to see? You do not have to leave an empty line – it is a recommendation. If the examiner can see the paragraphs, it’s fine. If the paragraphs are not clear at all and it really looks like one single paragraph, you will be given band 5 in Coherence & Cohesion – but that is only 25% of your writing task 2 marks. So, it see how it impacts your score, you must wait for your results. Try to forget about it for now – get some rest 🙂

Thank you Liz. I just feel like I could have done better. Coherence and cohesion is the organisation of your thoughts and ideas isn’t it? So if it’s organized, although the paragraphs isn’t clear, does the IELTS checker still mark it 5? Thanks for making me feel relieved. To be honest I practiced alot in writing, however, it’s indeed true, in althe actual exam, the time pressure will really make one abit uneasy. Praying for my results. Godbless you Liz.

hi Myreen. I am interested in your result. What is your score?

Hi Liz, I recently took my IELTS exam. I’m worried about my Writing because I have only written 152 words for task 1, because I consumed most of the time writing for task 2 which is around 320 words. Will I get a bad score because of my task 1?

IT is still possible to do well with only 152 words in task 1. However, it will depend on the task given and the information presented.

Hi Liz. I’m gonna have a test in 3 days. Is it possible to just cross out the mistaken words in writing? And not to erase them?

Of course, it’s fine. You can correct your writing as you want. As long as the writing is easy to read and understand, it’s fine. See this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/

Hi Liz, I took my IELTS test a week ago. I didn’t get enough time for the writing test so I couldn’t conclude my task 1 and couldn’t count the number of words, so I’m worried if I’m under word count. But I have described the given table well (except the conclusion) and done a satisfactory job on task 2, grammar, paraphrasing and all. Will my score be too low because of this?

It is a shame that you didn’t learn from my free lessons and videos. There is no conclusion in task 1. There is an overview in task 1 and it is the most important paragraph. Without an overview in task 1 your score for TA (25% of your task 1 marks) will be stuck at band 5. For this reason, I teach people to write their overview after the introduction so that it is the paragraph to focus on.

hi Liz, do you think i can get band 6 if i didn’t finish and didn’t write a conclusion in task 2?

There are four marking criteria for task 2. On one criterion (Task Response) you will automatically get band 5 because you missed the conclusion. This is why I made a free video about the importance of writing the conclusion. However, your score for the other marking criteria will not be affected. It isn’t possible to estimate your score – your score will depend on the other three criteria and on task 1.

Hello Ma’am! My name is Abdur Rehman, and I have just given my IELTS exam. My question from you is that I have written Full word instead of One option (A, B, C) in IELTS listening, so can I get marks for that?

If you are asked to write a letter, then it is wrong to write a word.

Hi Liz, It’s so useful your page . Thank you so much . Could you please advise me for improving my listening . Getting around 20-22 scores only . Getting nervous. I am afraid of this task. Other 3 tasks I don’t have tension .Please help me .

Click on the RED BAR at the top of the website for the IELTS Listening free lessons.

Hey Liz, just came back from my ielts. I have a very important question. I took computer-delivered test and in the writing task 1 section forgot to remove the plan of the essay( I had my draft on top of the text box, so I can follow it) the plan was written in abbreviation and spelling mistakes. Then after the plan I wrote the actual essay, and I didn’t have a chance to correct one mistake, that affected other words and meaning of the last sentence, also i might have written less that 150 words. All of this happened because I didnt organize my time properly. What will be the score in this case. Please advise. Thank you

You should have highlighted this to the invigilator at the end of your test. I can’t advise you about this. If you are still worried, call your test centre and talk to them.

Thanks a lot for your great advanced lessons. I have purchased them and been trying to follow up your rules.

However, I am facing with a big problem that I can not overcome. Despite writing in required time, the word counts of my essay are always more than 350 words. The writing off-topic is not the case here, but the lengths of my sentences which is at least 20-25 words in every single of them.

Take both body paragraphs have 6 sentences in each (2 thesis statements+4 supportive points). Then the essay will be formed with about 15-16 sentences which means 350-400 words overall for my writing.

Would this kind of writing impact my score adversely so I should make my sentences more concise, or it would be enough to get 7 or 7,5 in case I meet the requirements of this band score.

Thanks a lot for your advice in advance.

The body paragraph as I taught has the first sentence which contains the main point. You do NOT have two thesis statement in a body paragraph. After one sentence with the main point, there will be 2 or 3 sentences which explain in more detail. You plan which points to put in. You do not put in all points you think of – you select and choose. This means you control which ideas you use and which ideas you don’t use. Try writing again following guidelines.

Thanks a lot for your valuable answer. While writing two thesis statement in a paragraph I meant two ideas, such as “Firstly….+2 supporting sentences and Secondly…+2 supporting sentences” in the advantages paragraph, for example, and the same structure for the disadvantages paragraph.

Is it acceptable to write very long sentences in IELTS essay (around 20-30 words)? While I try to rewrite it, I can only eliminate one supportive sentence, but not the shortening of the sentences’ length.

Thanks a lot

Lets continue this by email: [email protected] . Send me an email and we’ll talk.

Hi liz..you seemed to be very helpful to me through all my ielts learning…i appreciate you.. i just appeared my ielts exam yesterday…but while writing essay in writing section i found that i had written only 254 while counting each words one by one ..but it can be seen only 242 while counting according to line wise..i need your suggestion on its impact in my score band..it would be a great help for me..

The examiner will count each individual word.

Thank you so much miss liz…😍😍

Hello Liz. Yesterday I Took The IELTS Exam For Academic And I Wrote About 145-147 Words For Task 1 And Around 247 Words For Task 2. Will I be penalized for this?

IELTS usually allow you about 10 words under the limit before the penalty kicks in. You should be fine.

Hope you are doing good. I am disappointed with my first attempt with General Training – Task 1 IELTS exam which ended with 140 – 145 words due to improper time management by myself.

My questions to you, please : 1. Will there be a huge penalty, if there are 145 words for Task 1 (Letter). 2. Is the penalty counted per word. I mean a letter with 145 words will suffer a higher penalty than a letter with 140 words .

Thanks in advance, Priyanka

IELTS allow for about 10 words under the limit before the penalty kicks in. However, being under by 10 words means you haven’t extended your ideas very much which will have an impact.

Dear Liz, I hope you are doing good. How is your health now? I wanted to know does word count for letter writing include salutation (Dear….,) ,signing off ( Your sincerely) and the name or only the body of the letter is counted. I have taken IELTS once with a score of L:8, R:7 ,W:6,S:8. In the feedback for general writing its mentioned that : conclusion(s) of letter are unclear, some details are wrong and irrelevant. I wanted to know how to determine whether the detail which is being given is a relevant one or not. I was wondering whats conclusion(S) in a letter is and what’s the parameter to know its clarity.

I would also like thank you for your wonderful subscription videos ! I wish there something for like that for general writing too.

Yes, the word count includes each and every word you write on the lines of the answer sheet. I have no idea what you mean about your feedback for your writing task 1 and “conclusion(s) in a letter”. There is no such thing as a conclusion in a letter and that is part of no IELTS band descriptors. Who gave you this feedback? My Advanced writing task 2 lessons are for both GT and Academic essays. I hope to put together an e-book for GT letter writing but it won’t be until next year.

Hello Liz, Is it necessary to write the “word count” at the end of essay in writing task 2?

No. The examiner will count.

hi Liz I find your material really helpful, however i am having an issue with describing complex diagrams, any help on that?

Check the model answers on this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-1-lessons-and-tips/

I missed writing the last word of my writing task2…I finished my writing task1 well and almost finished my task2. How much will I be penalized for it?

It won’t have any impact on Task Response which is 25% of your marks. In fact, it will have little impact on your score overall. As long as your conclusion was started and was almost complete, it’s fine.

Hi Liz, I took my IELTS academic test yesterday. I’ve been following your tips and I have also watched almost every video that you’ve posted. For me the writing was the most difficult part because I didn’t have enough time. Despite that, I finished both tasks but I feel like I could’ve done that part so much better. The rest was fine. I hope I get the results I want to get. Wish me luck!

Fingers crossed 🙂

I recently completed my writing test and am very apprehensive about a mistake done. I think I did reach the word count limit for the second essay, but didnt finish the final line in conclusion part. There was about 4 words left to complete that sentence but the time had completed by then. Will this be penalized? Please let me know what you think.

There is only one essay in IELTS writing. So, I presume you are talking about task 2 because task 1 is a report, not an essay. As long as you have a conclusion, it’s fine. Just 4 missing words will only affect your score for task response in a minimal way.

Thank you so very much for the response. Yes I was talking about task 2. Now is the hardest part of this whole endeavor. The wait for results.

In my Writing Test. I wrote extra time 1 second, 2 words after completion of time.The examiner forced me to sign a “Ielts Warning Letter”, which was a folded paper and I was able to see only My Name,Candidate Id, Signature boxes in that page.I don’t know what was inside that letter. Is this effect my score? What will be in that letter?

You should contact your local test center and ask them about this. IELTS is an international test with strict policies and very strict time control. Phone them and ask them about the letter and the consequences for you.

hoping your result will be withheld . please update it you got any response.

I have a problem i forgot to put the introduction and conclussion on an essay, how many points do u lose?

It does not work on a points system. It will serious affect your score. You need to think carefully about why you failed to do the most basic aspect of an essay, which is to prepare paragraphs and plan your organisation.

Hey Liz, I just came back from exam. I am little worried that,

In the task 2 , I’ve been asked essay of to what extent do you agree/disagree?

In the intro, after paraphrasing I ve said that “I agree to a large extent….”and wrote 2 bodies that gives reason for my agreement and wrote conclusion..so is it good?

Bcoz I’ve seen that I’ve to write 3 body ..in which 2 for agree and 1 for disagree…bcoz I answered I agree to a large extent.

So will it be okay or not? And if not then how much it will effect on my score?? Will I be able to get at least 5.5 or 6!!

There are NO rules about how many paragraphs to have. It is fine to have only two. The most important thing is that your opinion is VERY clear and that your body paragraphs FULLY explain your opinion.

Thanks for prompt reply.

Yes, I’ve stated reason with detailed explanation and example.

So will it be okay if I wrote ‘ I agree to a large extent’ instead of ‘i strongly agree’ in intro?? With the 2 paragraph showing reason behind my agreement.

Of course it’s fine. I don’t understand why you doubt this. It is a clear opinion. Your opinion shows that you do not fully agree and that there are reasons for this. Your body paragraphs will explain why you agree, but also why you do not 100% agree (you will explain your reservation).

No, you might misunderstood me. I have said that, i wrote ” I agree to a large extent” it means my opinion is not full agree… But i wrote 2 body paragraph only and both are of the reasons why i agree.. and i have not write any para that states about disagree. That is why i was asking that, will it effect on my score and if yes then how much!!

This is a problem. you have shown that you DO NOT fully agree. “I agree to a large extent” means that you agree about 80%, 90% or 95%, but NOT 100%. This is the meaning of your words. So, in your essay, you need to explain why you mostly agree, and you also need to explain why you do not fully agree. If you fail to explain why you do not fully agree, you will lose marks. It will affect your score for Task Response.

Yes i know. But i was having less amount of time in last and so had wrote conclusion directly. 🙁 What do you think how much band will be reduced because of this overall on writing?

Task Response is based on more than just your main points. You will have to wait for your results to see how it has affected them.

Oh okay thanks. Hope to get atleast more than 6 so it won’t effect my admission. Wish me luck. 🙈

Good luck!!

Hi Ma’am I got my IELTS result today I got overall score of 6.5 ( listening 7.5, reading 6.5, writing 5.5) I wrote task 1 following your instructions but only of 90 words and task 2 of around 230 words, although I used complex sentences with some high vocabulary words and also wrote overview and conclusion ( in task 2) . Is my band low because of word count penalty ? Please advice me , should I go for a recheck ?

Your score will have been lowered due to your lack of words. It is essential that you write OVER the word count.

I’m grateful for your help. You have a gift for teaching. I just want to post my experience from today’s test. With regards to the writing part there is really NOT ENOUGH time. I came across a subject about to what extend should the national governments interfere with ones preference towards a study subject during the university period. I felt I had so much to say in the essay but I ended up not even writing half of what I could. I constantly went back and forth. So disappointing. Good luck to all of you guys!

Once again thank you Liz,

Dear Mrs. Liz, I’m Vinay kartheek, today I gave my listening, reading and listening test. However, in writing task 2 I shared my views regarding the topic but I forgot to give relevant examples which they asked for. I’m worried about the score now. Could you please talk regarding this. Thank you for your time

It is not required to give examples. You give examples if you want to – only when relevant.

Hello Mrs. Liz Firstly thankyou for your response. Secondly, in task 2 they particularly asked to mention some relevant examples or experiences. Awaiting for your response Thanks again

Relevant examples – that means if you find them relevant. If you don’t find them relevant, you don’t give them. There are many ways to illustrate ideas. Don’t worry about it.

Thank you Mr.Liz

Mrs. Liz not Mr. Liz !

Neither actually. I am not a man and I am not married 🙂

Hello, I wonder what would be the penalty if I wrote everything correctly, and follolowed the instructions, but I couldn’t write 250 words for Task 2. Instead I’ve written only 160. I also wrote everything for Task 1(170 words). Thank you!

For writing task 2, you will be given a score for TR/ CC / GR & VOC. Then the score will be reduced due to lack of words.

Ellie may I know what was your score ?

Sorry if a miss this but you didnt answer how underwriting the task would affect the final score. Is it an essencial part of the test? like if you do not complete you always score band 5 or may the penalty reduced your score 10 percent? or how does this work?

You will get a lower score if you write under the word count. That is the meaning of being “penalised”.

hallo liza haw can i count words in order to write like 150 words

Count lines instead.

Is it compulsory to state total words below essay??????

No, you do not write the word count. The examiner always counts for himself.

Hi Liz, I got this question in writing part 2 : Some people support the developement of agriculture like factory farming and scientific creation , While other oppose. Discuss both views;- What I Wrote:- 1 body paragraph:- development of farming for business purpose and greenhouse farming 2nd body :- ehnacement of technology rather than farming is a better development.

I know, i am off topic in second body. How much will it effect?? Can you please analayis

I answered this question for another student called Jay on this page: https://ieltsliz.com/recent-ielts-questions-and-topics/

Hi Liz, I had viewed most of your videos on youtube as my only aid for IELTS preparation. I was able to complete only 50% of writing task 1, I din’t have enough time to explain a few details on one category. I have written introduction, overview and the major difference, my word count is going to be definitely below 150. Could you give a ballpark figure of my score for this task?

Your score is not calculated in that way. You will need to wait for your results.

Thank you so much for replying..

Some people think that there are important things in life and they can’t be bought. This is essay topic but i wrote about natural resources. I think i wrote irrelevant. Can i score low in the writing essay task. Please guide me.

Natural resources count as important things in life.

For my exam, I have used variety of sentence structure… But I have a habit of writing long essays which would be at least 400 words. Is that a big issue?

Yes, it’s a big issue. It means your essay is not focused and highly relevant. No essay should be longer than 300 words. See my advanced lessons for training: https://elizabethferguson.podia.com/

Hello Liz.I just had my Ielts exam today and on the writing test I only managed to write Task 2. I started task 1 but I didnt even finish the first sentence in the introduction and the time was up!The essay question was a bit confusing so I struggled making a decision what type of essay it is . The topic went like this: Some people think that a country can benefit by hosting major international sport events. Other people think there are more disadvantages from hosting that event. Discuss both sides and give your opinion and supporting arguments and examples. So Im honestly confused if it was a Discussion essay or Does advantages outweigh disadvantages. Of course it is made to confuse us .what confused me was the words advantages disadvantages and my opinion.So I made a decision to go with the outweight adv.disadv.essay and in both body paragraphs I gave examples but suported the advantages with a few arguments and explanations for each.Whats the biggest score I can get if only one of the essays is written (if I chose the right typeof essay ) hope you can give me some aproximate answer .

I think the instructions were very clear. Discuss both sides. This means you discuss both sides = a discussion essay. And give your opinion = with an opinion. So, you discuss both sides and give your opinion. It is a basic, standard discussion essay for IELTS. Writing task 1 is worth 33% and writing task 2 is worth 66% (more or less).

Hi Liz, Thank you so much for your valuable suggestions. I have a small doubt. Can I write IELTS GT essay/letter in alternate lines? ( to avoid erasing nearby words for correction when written in pencil )

Don’t do that. It makes paragraphs difficult to see. Write each line and then leave one empty between paragraphs. If you plan your letter or essay enough, you will have less errors to correct.

Thank you, I could perceive the wisdom in your answer!

Hi Liz Ma’am I m really worried about my test could you please clear my mind… I did well in ielts writing task 1 but my task 2 wasn’t so good … Let me tell you what I have did … They asked that nowadays companies are using sports events to promote their product.some people think that it has wrong effect on sports. I wrote mostly about their company advertisements through sports events and I said a little about its wrong effects on sports… Could you please tell me to which extent it can effect my score???

See this page about scoring: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2-band-scores-5-to-8/

You are the best thanks for your help…

I gave my ielts exam yesterday. Listening and reading were fantastic. I think I might score 7.5-8 in these sections. In writing, task 1 was good. I’ve written more words than the word limit but however in the second task I was able to write around 180 words only. What do you think how much score will I get in writing for not completing the word limit?

For task 2, you will get a lower score if you write under 250 words. Your score can’t be predicted because it depends on the other marking criteria scores.

Okay. Thank you so much Liz!

HI how much u got for writing

Hi ,i gave my ielts test on 14th oct. i had write 210 words in task1 and 300 word in task 2 will my score reduce? For over limit

There is no upper limit. But you will be marked down for lack of focus for task 2 and adding too much detail in task 1.

Hi Liz, I gave my Ielts exam today, my task 2 was good. I completed it with more than 250 words. But I didn’t get sufficient time to complete my task 1. I might have written just 100 words. How much score should I expect?

Your score will be reduced for task 1 due to lack of words. However, the total score cannot be predicted.

Hi , Same thing happened with me. I wrote around 100 words in task 1. Awaiting for results. How much did you score in writing then?

Same.. Task 2 was really good but I didnt have enough time to write task 1 so I could write only 85 words.. What was your score?

Did you guys receive your results? How affected it was by the lack of words?

Hi Liz, I have been following your blog and it is very helpful! Thank you. I am fairly new to the IELTS test. I am planning to take IELTS General Training by mid of October 2017. The responses to IELTS questions have to be given on a paper is it? I was under the impression that our responses will be typed on a computer. Thanks for your response.

See this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-help-faq/

Mam i have written 385 word in task 2 but this is only written on only one sheet, can my score get effected due to this over writing

If you have written a long essay, it usually means it is less focused and includes unnecessary information which will lower your score. Your aim in task 2 is between 270 and 290 words.

DEAR LIZ, The question for ielts writing task 2 was “IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF SCHOOL TO TAKE PART IN CHARACTER FORMATION OF CHILDREN APART FROM TEACHING FORMAL SUBJECTS.” TO WHAT EXTEND DO YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE TO THIS.

MADAM my answer were mainly 2 point in 2 different body paras my opininon- agree with this with parental collaboration para 1- topic sentence- school is responsible because a teacher can highly influence her students character para 2- topic sentence- parental collaboration is equally important because children try to copy parents. my doubt is whether para 2 about parental influence is relevant. is it relevant to question

This essay question is not about parents at all. It is only about the role of schools.

Is it 100% necessary that we should use examples in our body paragraphs? I messed up with time and I totally forgotten about writing examples.. can it effect band?

It is not necessary to have examples. As long as you explained your points clearly, that’s enough.

Thanks so much because i was very tensed following the exam. I have explained my points clearly but the question read that give examples from own experience. So then also they won’t penalise me right ?

Hey Lokesh,

Same was the case with me. What band did you managed to get?

Hi In my mock tests I write more than 300 words in task 2 and still manage to save some time. I think my answer is good but I get 5.5/6 only. Is it because of exceeding word count??

There is no upper word limit. But writing 30 0 words isn’t recommended. Your aim should be to produce a focused, highly relevant essay with no unnecessary information and an essay which is accurate in language. Writing 300 words means you will have made more mistakes. You should aim for between 260 and 280 more or less. See my advanced lessons if you need training: https://elizabethferguson.podia.com/

hello , in task 2 wrote 200 word only ! task one was really nice , however task 2 was 70% good but I ended up with 50 words less 🙁 please tell me what do you think about it?

You will get a reduced score for being under words. However, it is not possible to predict your final writing score.

hi Abed, I did the same mistake . I wrote only 200 words . what was your score in ielts?

what is your score on writing?

so how much did u get finally on writing 2? i wrote also less than 250. Waiting for my results

Hi Liz! I’m Felicita, from Paraguay, South America. I have a query related to the format of the writing skill. I took the test last week and while I was reviewing my task 1 I realized that I had made a mistake. Therefore, I corrected it, but I left some extra spaces between words. For example: “The most common vehicle in UK was the railway” The reason why I mistakenly used extra spaces was because I had to erase some words and write others instead, but I had not time to use all the space of the line before the start of next sentence. Would this affect my marks?

When my comment was posted the “extra spaces” of my examples didn’t appear. The error was to write extra spaces between words in one sentence. I am worried that this will affect my marks.

As I said, if the examiner can read it clearly, it’s fine.

It depends if the examiner understands the full sentence. There are no set rules. If the examiner can see the problem, it’ll be fine.

Thank you for your response, Liz! Your website is excellent and extremely useful!

Hello mam, My test was on 6 may. In writing task 1, I mentioned only percentage but did not mention percentage of GDP. I forgot to use word GDP, will it affect my score.

It might affect your score for Task Achievement which is about presenting the right information. But there are still plenty of other things being assessed which you can still do well on in task 1.

I want to get my writing task 1 & 2 marked. What is the procedure?

See this page to find a teacher: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-essay-correction/

Hi Liz, I just gave my ielts test. In task 2 of the writing section I only had three paragraphs. An introduction, body and conclusion. Will I get lower marks for not adding another paragraph to the body?

Yes, your marks for coherence and cohesion will be lower as you didn’t dived your main ideas into body paragraphs. Hopefully you did well in the other marking criteria. Don’t think about it for now.

Hi liz, My husband took his ielts yesterday. He did both his task 1 and 2 really well. However, he dint have enough time and the examiner snached his paper away. So he had just written 1 sentence in his conclusion and his paper was taken away before he could finish the next sentence. How badly will this affect his band score.?

This is for task 2 btw

Luckily, you only need one sentence for a conclusion in writing task 2. Hopefully, it was a good sentence with the key points 🙂

I write out of the topic in ielts academic writing task 2. So how many band around i get? If there are any chances to get very low band around 3 to 4?

See this page to learn how your writing task 2 is marked: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2-band-scores-5-to-8/

Hello liz, Is all helping verbs such as is am are was were are counted as word in Ielts writing.

ALL words are counted – big and small. All words.

hello liz, Today I gave my ielts exam. But I had some spelling mistake in writting task 2 I wrote “vehical” instead of ”vehicle” I used this word 3 times. will my band score decrease due to this?

Spelling mistakes do count as a vocabulary mistake. But band scores are not calculated just by counting errors. You will need to wait for your results.

Hi Liz! Thanks for the resourceful website you have to guide the IELTS examination takers. I wrote my IELTS (academic) module a couple of days ago. Task 2 in writing was about whether criminals released from jail are safe to be in society or not and suitable solution for the problem. Due to lack of time, I managed to squeeze out only one sentence in conclusion. However, I wrote the sentence in a way, it summarized what I wrote in two body paragraphs of the essay and meaning complete. So writing such one sentence summary affect my scores?

A lot of teachers recommend having just one sentence for your conclusion. I personally recommend either one or two sentences. It’s completely up to you and won’t affect your score. As long as you have a conclusion and there are main points or a position summarised. Good luck with your results 🙂

What happened if count the word and write at bottom, it is good or bad ? Please tell me

It is a waste of time. It is better for you to edit grammar mistakes.

will the punctuation and numbers get count as words ?

“,” is not a word. So, no, punctuation isn’t counted as a word. Numbers are counted.

Thanks for this terrific site and it is really helpful for all the IELTS aspirants like me.

Is there anyway, I can validate my writing skills with a band score (ofcourse, for FREE)? In that way, I can learn my mistakes and improve my band.

Your earliest response would be highly appreciated !!

Sorry, but I don’t offer free marking.

No worries .. Cheers !! Plz continue your good work !!

Thanks a lot Liz .In my standpoing You are one of the best teachers throughout the world.I want to ask a question.I got 6 from writing a month ago.Can you give me suggestion to improve my writing skill.Thanks in advance.

See this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/ . Check the band score page which gives requirements for band scores and tips for improving.

Thanks for your very helpful website. My question is: could you be more precise about the penalty for an under word count writing task?

Thanks in advance.

Your words are counted by the examiner. If you are under the word count you will lose a band score. How much you are penalised, depends on how many words you are under the word count. So, if your score was 7 but you were under the word count, your score will drop from that point, depending on how much you failed to achieve the word count. The most important thing to remember is to aim for between 160 and 180 words to be sure of avoiding this.

Thank you for existing 🙂 And, also I do appreciate your work.

Renctly I finish my IELTS exam, and in the Writing skill, I didn’t achive the word number for task 1.

Can you please tell me, in the best situation, If hipotheticaly, I did well for every thing else, what band score may I have?

Thank you in advance,

Your writing score is calculated with both task 1 and task 2. Your score for each is determined by 4 criteria. If you were under the word count in task 1, your score will be lowered slightly but no one can predict the final outcome. Task 1 is worth only around 33% of your total writing marks.

Ok, but what score i best possibly I can get?

No one can predict scores.

Hi liz! thank you for your terrific website, it’s really helpful. I would to ask you one question: in writing task, abbreviations like It’s, there’s, I’m and so on are counted as 1 word or 2? thanks in advance for your response! Wish you the best

There is only one time when you can use contractions and that is GT writing task 1 informal letters to a person you know well. NEVER use contractions in writing task 2 (GT and Academic) and never use contractions in GT Writing task 1 formal letter and NEVER use contractions in all Academic writing task 1. See this page: https://ieltsliz.com/do-you-understand-how-words-are-counted-in-ielts/ and also see : https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-tips-how-words-are-counted/

Hi I had written over 300 words in writing task 2 in ielts in British council. How much penalty for these?

There is no upper word limit. However, if you add unnecessary information you will get a lower mark. Also a longer essay means you might have made more grammar or vocab mistakes which will also lower your score.

The topic for task 1 is the problem I faced when I use local public transport . I forgot the word local . I written all about the bad services I hv received when I travelling a flight from mel to Malaysia . Izit there is going to be a serious problem ? Thx u

It might affect your score for Task Achievement which is 25% of your marks but the other three marking criteria should be fine.

I have repeated a word of household many times in Task 1..how many many marks im gonna lose because of that.

Points are not counted in that way. Your score for vocabulary will also depend on spelling, collocations, range etc.

Please reply

hi, I wrote the answer for task 1 on task 2 answer sheet and answer of task 2 on task one answer sheet. Will it effect my band score?

I can’t tell you for sure but hopefully the examiner will understand what has happened and not penalise you.

hey Liz, i just finished my exam and made a mistake in task 1. i thought the letter was for Manager while it supposed to be for employee. could you plz tell me that i will be marked zero for task 1 or still can get marks for my good use of vocabulary, cohesion and lexical resource. thanks

You will get a lower mark for Task Achievement which is only 25% of your task 1 marks. You can still pick up good marks for the other three criteria as well as task 2.

Your website has been very helpful to me and to other IELTS test takers as well.

Could you advise me on how to improve my writing skills? I believe it is my weakness compared to the other parts of the exam. Are there any books that you can recommend for me?

Thank you very much and keep up the good work!

Firstly, see my free tips and exercises: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/ . Then think about getting my advanced lessons which explain in great depth the techniques needed for a high score: http://subscriptions.viddler.com/IELTSLizStore

Hi, Liz! Is it okay to write more than 200 words in academic task 1 of writing ? My lecturer from an IELTS review center in our country gave me a penalty for it.

There is no penalty given by IELTS for writing over the word count. However, it is not advisable to write over 200 words. You are being marked on your ability to select information, not to give it all. You must also focus on key features – don’t give too many small details. So, aim for between 160 and 180 words and keep your report focused and well selected.

Mind sharing your scores here

I just finished my exam earlier but I failed to finish my writing task 1. I only wrote the introduction (paraphrased) then in the 2nd paragraph is my overview (which i think is strong) then the 3rd paragraph was the problem because i only wrote until the first sentence. Do you think until what band score will it only be in task 1? Thank you!

You will be marked down on task 1 if you wrote under 150 words. However, task 1 is only around 33% of your writing marks, so hopefully you can still do ok.

Hey Liz! Today I’ve given IELTS test. I wrote 65 words less in writing “Task-2”. My hand-writing is understandable, and the answer also matches with what the question has asked. Could you please tell me how much marks could be reduced (minimum)?

I can’t say what your score will be but you will receive a penalty for being under the word count. 65 words are a lot of words to miss out. But you can still do well in task 1.

Would you mind sharing your writing scores? I am really tensed , I think even I wrote an underlength essay. But I did write well. . I spent a lot of time on task 1 and just couldn’t write more than 200 words in task 2

Hello there, can you please update what was your band in writing after writing underlength essay?

Hi liz, today i given writting test. major issue is that i didnt wrote writing -1 because of lack of time and also unable to complete my writing task 2. So can u tell me how much score i will get.. Please tell m very worried about it

Writing task 1 is worth 30% of your marks so you will lose that if you didn’t write task 1 at all. What your final score will be, I can’t predict.

10 words under? Really? In the Cambridge exams you lose marks if you are more than 6 words under, but I was told by an examiner that in IELTS you lose marks if you are even a single word under! So much conflicting information on the Internet 🙁 I wish IELTS would release their REAL marking criteria, instead of the paired down public one, it is really no use at all.

Thank you very much for your lessons. You are a blessing.

I am an English teacher and your lessons helped me and my friend. He achieved his goal of getting at least 6.5. I am also planning to take IELTS by the end of this year.

Well done to your friend. I’m sure you can learn a lot from him 🙂

Dear liz, I was out of time in writing exam and missed writing word count at the end of task 1 and may be a line short in the ending paragraph how mich marks can be deducted

If you are under the word count, you will get a penalty. It will affect your score for task 1. However, how it will affect your overall writing score, I can’t say.

Dear Liz, thank you for your lessons. They are really useful!!! I have two question about the writing test, I need a score of 6.5.

I think to be a good writer, but in my last test I got 5.5 because I didn’t write enough word in task 1. Is it possible that the penalty takes off 0.5/1.0 point?

The second question is: can I write my writing answers in capital letters? My hand writing it is not so clear…

You will definitely get a lower mark for being under the word count. Yes, you can write your essay in all capital letters if you want – but it is often slower to do so.

hy i wrote my little bit personal view in conclusion of task 1 would i be having less bands for thatg nd also i stopped in th last 10 sec of the speaking module but i spoked a bit thb examiner said it its fyn how much should i expect the score mam

There is no conclusion in task 1 and you don’t offer opinions in task 1. Your speaking is score is marked based on your overall performance, so I can’t predict your score. Fingers crossed!

Hlo liz, Yesterday was my exam, i done one mistake I wrote ‘the rendered tabular provides’ instead of ‘the rendered tabular chart provides’ Will it effect my band score? Is it wrong to write only ‘tabular’ ?

A table is a table – it is not “a tabular chart”. This counts as using inappropriate vocabulary.

Hey Liz ! I took my exam today and am concerned with writing module. I am confident that my writing skills are efficient enough to score 8 band. But the question I want to address is, is it possible to score 9 bands even if I have a spelling mistake? There is only 1 spelling mistake in the both the tasks. (to my mind) I wrote : “The tabular chart JUXTAPOSTS the variation………” instead of “The tabular chart JUXTAPOSES the variation………”

The problem is not just spelling but also use of language. I would never recommend using the language you have mentioned. A table is a table – don’t complicate your language. The more you try to impress, the more mistakes are made with word choice. Lets see how your results are.

I will inform you about my result. One more question please. Is it possible to achieve 9 bands with 39/40 in Listening and Reading or do we need a perfect score of 40/40 ? My module is Academic.

https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-band-scores/

Hii liz How many time we can use a same word in writing .

There are no rules. You paraphrase when suitable and repeat when necessary.

Hello Liz!! I want to ask you that, is there a sample or an example of a WT1 and WT2 that you can provide? I want to know how the ideas are centered in each paragraphs, so with that I can get to know how to write a good WT1 and WT2. Thank you!!

See these pages for model answers: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-1-lessons-and-tips/ and https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/

Hi Liz, As you have said that under-length essay gets penalized. Can you please tell me by how much does it affect the band score? For example if I have written an essay deserving band score 8.0. But I have written only 220 words instead of 250, how many band score points would be deducted? Is there a percentage ?

You will receive a lower score for task 2 due to the lack of words. IELTS have not released information regarding how much the score will be reduced by but 30 words is quite a lot to miss. Hopefully your task 1 will help boost your score.

Do you mind sharing your writing score here with us?

What do I have to do if I am not aware of a word in question in writing task?

You must still try your best and hope your essay is on topic.

thank you very much for your contribution to IELTS success. may i ask you to publish in your webpage easy IELTS essay templates. I think it will ease writing

It’s best to see my advanced lessons to get a clear understanding of IELTS writing task 2 techniques: http://subscriptions.viddler.com/IELTSLizStore

hii liz…i wanna ask is yesterday was my exam..nd in task 1 i write it in present tense becoz i overlook the intriduction nd forget to see that the year they gave was 2000..so it would b in past tense bt by mistake i wrote it in present…so how much bands will be cut for this??

It counts as one grammar mistake and grammar is 25% of your marks. I can’t predict your score.

Hey Liz, My IELTS test was held on 18 Feb,2016. I got 6.5 in writing.Here, I’d like to admit that I am not very good at punctuation and also make spelling mistakes sometimes. And at the end of the test, I did not have any time left to revise my writing. I spent over half an hour on W T1 and had only 25 minutes to write on task 2. How can I increase my band score from a 6.5 to a 7 in writing? I hope that you respond to me at your earliest and give me some valuable advise on how I can improve my writing. with regards, Lovepreet Singh

See my band score tips for writing task 1 and how to improve your score: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-1-band-scores/ . For writing task 2, see my advanced lessons to learn high score techniques: http://subscriptions.viddler.com/IELTSLizStore . It is essential that you practice writing under timed conditions many times before your test but learn the right techniques first. All the best Liz

Hey Lizz, hi recently i was appeared for an Ielts test and unfortunately i got overall 5.5 bands. i made some blunders in writing task . I wrote almost 370 words in Part-2 and i was expecting that i might get 7 bands . Regards Bilal

Writing over 300 words mean that your essay might contain irrelevant or unnecessary information and also it provides more chance of mistakes in vocabulary and grammar which can lower your score. You should be aiming for around 270 words in task 2.

Hi Liz, Just recently I did my IELTS Exam,I wrote 267 words in task 1 and in task 2 I ran out of time I wrote about 230 words so what you would think that can I get 6 bands in writing task.

Best Regards, Walid Raza.

https://ieltsliz.com/liz-notice-2015-2016/

Hi Liz, I’ll like to say thank you. These free lessons actually helped me achieved my dream score in IELTS. Of all the online lessons I surfed through, yours was the best. Continue the good work. L-8.5, R-8.5, S-7.0, W-7.0 P.S- I was really worried about the writing score after the exams. So glad, I got a 7

It’s a good score. Well done 🙂

Hello liz, If you don’t mind clarify for me if one doesn’t write a conclusion in task 2,will this effect the score? I’ll appreciate your reply Kind regards Sara

Hi Liz, If you don’t mind clarify for me if one doesn’t write a conclusion,will this lower the score? I’ll appreciat your reply Kind Regards Sara

Hi Liz! Just finished my written exams.I’m so worried aboit my writing because I did not finish the task 1 because I ran out of time,had only 10 mins left for the task. There were two graphs.The intodruction i wrote is i think acceptable because i was really in hurry.I think i described all the main parts in graph 1,however i did not have time for the graph 2 and i just ended my conclusion with a summary of only graph 2.I was really panicking. Whatdo u think will be my score in taskm1?I finished my task two and I think It was okay. I am also concer mn about my speaking test because it just lasted for almost 11 minutes only.Does it mean my english is bad?

— thanks Liz

Sorry I can’t predict scores for writing that I haven’t seen. You will need to wait for your writing results to see the impact. For speaking, the test lasts between 11 and 14 minutes – this is for all students. It is not longer or shorter. The actual length does not reflect the final score. All the best Liz

Dear Liz, There are two questions in the writing part I wanted you to ask you if you please: The first question is: Do you know what the penalty for writing task 1 on a writing 2 sheet is when you properly notify the examiner about it during the test? I wrote my task 1 on a task 2 paper and was able to notify the examiner, so she stapled my task one with a blank task 1 sheet and signed on it. My second question is what the maximum band score for overall writing you can possibly obtain if you completely miss your task 1? I think there is a chance my task 1 sheet was misplaced and therefore has not been graded towards my final writing score. Thank you in advance for you response Evgeny

I just found out about your site and let me tell you – it’s a treasure of great information! I want to ask if there is a penalty for writing more than 150 words in Task 1 (and 250 for t.2 I guess). I don’t ask this in order to brag, it’s a legitimate concern of mine. I start analysing all the points in the bars, charts, tables etc in fear of omitting anything that is considered important. I know that I have to practise pointing out the features that stand out the most and give less details on the other information, but, let’s say that I do emphasize the proper features and that I am on time, but my words exceed the limit, would that have any negative impact on the grade?

can we write more than 200 words in task 1 if we are given a complicated task?

On 20 jan a i done my speaking and 23 jan I done my listening, reading,writing so when a my result will declare on which day in February

Does your first language affects the ielts grading?

Dear Liz, first I really enjoy your blog and appreciate your help to all of us, thank you. I recently participated the January 09th academic test in China and checked my results literally hour ago, I’v been shocked by the results, well, 8/8/5.5/8, as you may guess, 5.5 for the writing. Honestly, writing has always been my short slab, but 5.5 is no way near my anticipation, shamelessly speaking, after the test, I thought writing should archive 7 as minimal. What would be the possible reasons contribute to such a huge gap between my expectation and reality, would you kindly share some of your experiences and insights to this, sincerely thank you.

There is a big difference between your writing and other skills. You clearly have a very good level of English. However, IELTS writing is only based on 50% English and the rest is writing technique. You need to understand more about what the examiner is looking for to get a high score. See my advanced lessons for very detailed lessons: http://subscriptions.viddler.com/IELTSLizStore Good luck! Liz

Hi liz! I did my written tests today and im really anxious about my writing. I finished my task 2 well but i messed up with my task 1. I was out of time and i mislooked some of the informations by writing “the number of Asian people ages 18-25” when it was written “ages 18-25 in the Universities in four countries in Asia”. Do you think i have a chance to get an overall writing score of 7. Thank you.

Hi. I had a similar experience. What did you eventually score in Writing?

hi dear can you count the number of words in below sentence ? A good idea for passing exam would be practicing more .

hi..this is harshdeep. i wrote just 122 words in my task 1 .task 2 was totally fine…. nd task 1 was such that one cannot elaborate it too much..so there is a problem in that task.exam was on december 19 . can i score still 6 .any idea??? Mam/Sir

on 19th dec exam.i wrote roughly 254 words.do i have to face any penalty for dat.plz tell me mam bcoz i m so tensed about that and my essay was about taxation.

If you wrote over 250 words, you will be fine. Liz

Hey, Help me Please! Is It possible to get more than 6 for the writing task 2 as I wrote less than 250 words!?

Hello Liz, thank you very much for all the information, I just wanted to ask you if it’s possible to get more than 5 in the writing test if you write less than 250 words. I’ve taken the test yesterday, I think it went quite well in terms of grammar, structure etc but I’m quite sure I’ve written about 230-240 words, even if I didn’t manage to count them.

You will get a reduced score if you write under 250 words (although they usually start this penalty at about 240 words). Your final score will depend on how you scored in each of the main marking criteria so it is impossible to predict your score. All the best Liz

Hello Liz, I’m applying Master degree and English Academic course in one of the Australian University. They asked me any of English test result. They will process, how many weeks i must study in EAC, based on this result.So i planning to take IELTS on this saturday. And I want to know if i get 4, how much weeks i must study? Just want to know how long i will be in australia. Thank you, Best regards!

Thanks for answering! I’m just a bit disappointed with myself because I skipped writing a simple conclusion.I was so engross into writing a good body, but I hope to get atleast an over all band of 5.5 for writing test.

By the way, I’ve watch your youtube videos and they were very informative.

Same happened to me yesterday

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IELTS Writing Test

• IELTS Writing – Overview

The IELTS Academic and General Writing Modules are similar in some ways and different in others. Whichever test you do, you have one hour to complete two tasks. It is the nature of the tasks that makes them different. You can see this clearly in the chart below:

In both cases, your score is based on three fundamental criteria:

• Content : How well do you r present your arguments, ideas and evidence?
• Quality : How effectively are you able to communicate your ideas and thoughts?
• Technical Aspects: How correct is your grammar? How rich is your vocabulary? How varied are your sentences?

To complete an organized, coherent piece of writing, you need to take 2-5 minutes to plan . During this time, you can consider what position you will adopt, how you’re going to expand on the topic and in what order you will present your ideas. You should skip the planning activity only if you have very little time left. In such a case, you can work directly on the task itself.

Of course, grammar and vocabulary will also be assessed. Make sure you check your writing for verb tense agreement, prepositions, word order, sentence patterns, sentence structure, and range of vocabulary. Avoid using the same verbs, nouns, or adjectives more than once. Do not use slang at all. In the academic section of the IELTS, avoid contractions, which are a clear symbol of informal writing.

I ELTS ACADEMIC WRITING

The IELTS Academic Writing module measures your ability to write in clear, formal English, as is generally demanded in an academic context. You are assessed according to the following criteria:

• Task Response – how accurately to address the task
• Coherence and Cohesion – how organized your writing is
• Lexical Resource – the range of your vocabulary
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy – the correctness of your grammar

You have an hour to complete two writing tasks. You must complete both tasks to get a score. You need to organize your ideas, write accurately, and use rich vocabulary. It is recommended that you divide your time in this way:

• Task 1 – 150 words – 20 minutes
• Task 2 – 250 words – 40 minutes

I ELTS ACADEMIC WRITING – TASK 1 In the first task, you must write a report based on pictorial information. This means you may need to describe a graph, chart, or diagram. It may be a bar chart, pie chart, line graph, or some other graphic representation. You might also be asked to describe the process illustrated by the diagram. This involves describing the data accurately, pointing out trends and relevant information, and using appropriate vocabulary.

To understand how best to answer this type of task, read through the model answers provided in IELTS guidebooks. Examiners will score your answer based on your ability to group relevant information, link ideas in complex sentences, and use appropriate vocabulary to describe trends. This is not as difficult as it sounds. By reading through several sample answers, you can extract the vocabulary you need and also learn a variety of sentence structures, to present your information in a formal, academic manner. For the highest marks, also pay close attention to your spelling and copy given words and phrases correctly.

I ELTS ACADEMIC WRITING – TASK 2 In this task, you need to write an academic style essay on the single topic given. You have no choices here – you must write only about the one topic – so prepare yourself with strategies to write a well-organized essay on a variety of subject areas. You may need to offer a solution to a problem, express an opinion or comment on ideas or arguments presented.

Your essay should be about four or five paragraphs in length, with an introduction, body and conclusion. It should not be a list of bullet points, but a properly organized essay, written in full sentences. You need to state your thesis, provide evidence or reasons to support your argument and write a strong conclusion. Use topic sentences to clearly identify the main theme in each paragraph. You could use the guide below to structure your essay.

I ELTS GENERAL WRITING

The IELTS General Writing section measures your ability to communicate about common, practical issues and expand on topics of personal interest. You may be asked to provide factual information, make suggestions, express likes and dislikes, or present complaints, opinions, or views. This section lasts for 1 hour and includes 2 tasks. Task 2 carries more marks than Task 1. Therefore, you may wish to divide your time as follows:

According to the makers of the IELTS exam, assessment of General Writing tasks is based on the following criteria:

• Task Achievement – how thoroughly you do what is asked
• Coherence and Cohesion – how organized your letter is
• Lexical Resource – the range of vocabulary you use
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy – how correct your grammar is

I ELTS GENERAL WRITING – TASK 1 You are asked to write a letter to a friend, government agency or interest group. The level of formality depends on who you are writing to and how well you know them, so the style may be formal, semi-formal or informal. You are given a brief description of a problem or situation, followed by bulleted instructions on what to include in your letter. Make sure you write about each and every one of the points mentioned. Also use appropriate grammar, capitalization, and punctuation.

It will also help to read through several sample tests in order to both familiarize yourself with the type of situations presented, and to learn how to write these types of letter answers easily, correctly, and quickly. Sample Task 1 tasks include:

• writing to a college administration officer about problems with your dormitory
• writing to a landlord to resolve problems with the heating system
• writing to a friend to invite him/her to a surprise party

I ELTS GENERAL WRITING – TASK 2 You have to write a minimum 250-word essay on a topic of general interest. You might have to solve a problem, present your opinion, or compare differing viewpoints on a given topic.

The usual rules of good essay writing apply. Plan before you write, use varied sentence structure, utilize linking words to connect ideas, use dynamic and rich vocabulary to put your thoughts across, be careful of your spelling, capitalization, and punctuation, and organize your essay into about 4-5 paragraphs. A sample structure is shown below:

Sample Task 2 tasks include:

• whether it is possible to take a vacation from your problems
• whether families today are closer than they used to be.
• whether smoking in public should be banned
• whether old people should go to nursing homes

Write as many practice essays as possible , within the 40-minute time limit, so you can do so with ease and confidence on the day of your exam.

IELTS Writing Test Essay Sample Band 7 Score - Cambridge IELTS Book 14

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IELTS Writing Task 2/ Essay Topics with sample answer.

Ielts essay # 1515 - success in life comes from hard work, dedication and motivation, ielts writing task 2/ ielts essay:, some believe success in life comes from hard work, dedication, and motivation. while many believe success depends on other important factors like money and appearance., discuss both views and give your opinion..

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Women Empowerment Essay 250 words For IELTS

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Updated on 13 April, 2023

Mrinal Mandal

Study abroad expert.

You must have come across the IELTS   women empowerment essay 250 words topic. To write an effective essay, you should try to supplement your opinions with instances or examples that foster better understanding as far as the examiner is concerned. Here’s looking at the sample essays in this regard.

Table of Contents

• Women Empowerment Essay Sample 1:
• Women Empowerment Essay Sample 2:

Important IELTS Exam Resources

Women empowerment essay sample 1: .

What do we mean by women's empowerment? What is empowerment? While I do not intend to keep asking rhetorical questions, I believe we have missed the term's true meaning. To  empower is to offer  freedom of choice, decision, action, and  responsibility . 

Let me provide an instance to illustrate my meaning better. Suppose a woman wishes to educate herself and study further. She wishes to study a particular subject at the college level. Now, there could be one of two scenarios here. In scenario A, she could apply to the chosen subject at institutions of her liking. In scenario B, her parents, while agreeing to her desire to study further, enrol her into a college and subject that they find  suitable . Which is empowerment in this scenario? It goes without saying that the answer is scenario A. This is because the woman could choose every part of the puzzle without anyone's intervention and take full responsibility for the same. In the second case, while believing they were technically empowering their daughter by ‘allowing’ her to pursue higher education, the parents chose everything on her behalf, tantamount to a violation of personal freedom and liberty at multiple levels. 

Hence, as can be seen, empowering a woman does not equate to only giving her access to the same opportunities. I wish to conclude by stating that  empowerment  does not require ambitious public or private programs and other endeavors. It begins and ends with a simple proposition- Giving a woman the freedom to choose. 

Word Count: 250

Tentative Band Score: 7

Read More Essay Samples For IELTS:

Women Empowerment Essay Sample 2: 

I strongly advocate women's empowerment, especially in today’s modern and elevated times, when breaking the glass ceiling has become imperative. The pitiful ratio of women leaders in corporate and government organizations has been highlighted repeatedly and is only the tip of the iceberg. While we need more women leaders and communities of like-minded women for support and motivation, we also need more reforms and parity on the ground.

Several countries still have high female foeticide levels. Many families still pull their daughters out of educational institutions for varied reasons. Numerous women in the country still do not have the freedom to choose their partner/companion in life. To start with, if we define empowerment for women, it means accepting personal opinions, giving women the liberty to make decisions and choices, and ensuring access to equal education, opportunities, and benefits. It equates to equipping women with the necessary skills and platforms to make their voices count. Women’s empowerment is not only about education but also social, political, and economic empowerment. 

Women’s empowerment can only occur when we create a more enabling and responsive environment where all women can speak out and be heard. We need platforms where they can motivate and inspire other women to make their own decisions to move up in life. The institutions of  community, society, family and the governing authority cannot pick and choose what is best for women. That choice is best left to them and is the most significant form of empowerment in my opinion. 

Explore More Resources About IELTS Essay:

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Writing task 2 in IELTS is descriptive essay writing. The applicants are supposed to write an essay in response to the statement or situation given in the essay.

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Before appearing for the test, let’s take a look at the below-mentioned IELTS writing tips and tricks to score well in the writing section.

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Reading is the second part of the IELTS test and takes 60 minutes. It consists of three or sometimes four reading passages to increase difficulty, and there are a total of 40 questions to answer.

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Please note that your performance on the speaking test is assessed based on the following criteria- fluency and coherence, grammatical range and accuracy, lexical resource, and pronunciation.

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There are many phrases for IELTS speaking that a candidate should practice beforehand. If you aim for band 9, you should know these phrases.

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IELTS is one of the most used English Language Proficiency Tests. The exam is scored in bands. Your IELTS band score determines the performance level of your test.

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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1

IELTS Academic writing is meant for students who are applying for top-ranked universities and colleges in English-speaking countries. The writing task one is an academic summary writing based on diagrammatic and graphical representation.

• IELTS Writing Task 2

Writing Task 2 is the second part of the writing section of IELTS, where aspirants are presented with a point of view, argument, or problem and asked to write an essay in response to the question.

Writing Task 1 IELTS

In IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 starts with a diagram, a visual representation of information. It can be a table, map, graph, process, diagram, or picture.

IELTS Essay Samples

The essay for IELTS is part of Writing Task 2. It is the same for the General Training and Academic of the IELTS. You will get a topic and have to write an essay on the same.

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The IELTS speaking cue cards come into play for the second part when the candidate will be choosing cue cards and then speaking on a topic for two minutes at least.

Important Exams

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IELTS Writing Task 2: Format, Sample, Tips

The IELTS Writing Task 2: The second portion of the writing test, known as IELTS Writing Task 2, asks you to produce an essay in response to a point of view, argument, or problem. Your essay should be written in a formal tone, be at least 250 words long, and take no more than 40 minutes to finish.

Table of Content

IELTS Writing Task 2- Format

1. task question, 2. word limit, 4. response structure, 5. evaluation criteria, difference between ielts writing task 2- academic vs general, understanding the evaluation criteria, common ielts writing task 2 topics, band descriptors ielts writing task 2, ielts essay types for writing task 2, ielts writing task 2 preparation tips, ielts writing task 2 sample, ielts writing task 2- faqs, what are indigenous cultures and languages, why is it important to protect indigenous cultures and languages, what are some challenges in protecting indigenous cultures and languages, what role can governments play in protecting indigenous cultures and languages, are there any potential drawbacks to prioritizing the protection of indigenous cultures and languages.

• You will be presented with a topic or statement related to a contemporary issue or problem.
• The task question may ask you to discuss a particular problem, present a solution, evaluate a situation, or provide your opinion on a given topic.
• You are expected to write at least 250 words for the IELTS Writing Task 2.
• It is advisable to write within the range of 250300 words, as responses shorter than 250 words are penalized, and longer responses do not necessarily receive higher scores.
• 3. Time Allotment:
• You have 40 minutes to complete the IELTS Writing Task 2.
• Your response should be structured as an essay with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
• The introduction should provide an overview of the topic and outline the main points you will discuss.
• The body paragraphs should develop your ideas and arguments, with one main idea per paragraph supported by relevant examples or evidence.
• The conclusion should summarize your main points and provide a final perspective on the topic.
• Your response will be evaluated based on four criteria: Task Response, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource (vocabulary), and Grammatical Range and Accuracy.
• You should aim to address all parts of the task question, present a clear and coherent argument, use a wide range of vocabulary accurately, and demonstrate a good command of grammar and sentence structures.

Must Read: IELTS Academic vs General Tests – What’s the Difference?

The IELTS Writing Task 2 covers a wide range of topics related to contemporary issues and problems. Here are some common topics that frequently appear in the IELTS Writing Task 2:

1. Education:

• The role of technology in education
• The importance of extracurricular activities
• The advantages and disadvantages of single gender schools

2. Environment:

• Climate change and its impacts
• Sustainable development and environmental conservation
• The use of renewable energy sources
• The impact of lifestyle choices on health
• The role of government in promoting public health
• The advantages and disadvantages of alternative medicine

4. Society and Culture:

• The effects of globalization on local cultures
• The impact of social media on human interactions
• The role of religion in modern society

5. Technology:

• The advantages and disadvantages of artificial intelligence
• The impact of technology on employment and job markets
• The role of technology in communication and information sharing

6. Urbanization and Transportation:

• The challenges of urban growth and city planning
• The benefits and drawbacks of public transportation
• The impact of transportation on the environment

7. Crime and Justice:

• The causes and prevention of crime
• The effectiveness of different types of punishment
• The role of the criminal justice system in society

8. Economics and Business:

• The impact of globalization on international trade
• The role of advertising in influencing consumer behavior
• The advantages and disadvantages of outsourcing

9. Government and Politics:

• The importance of freedom of speech and press
• The role of government in regulating the economy
• The impact of immigration on societies

10. Arts and Culture:

• The importance of preserving cultural heritage
• The role of art in society
• The impact of censorship on artistic expression

In the IELTS Writing Task 2, candidates are required to write an essay in response to a prompt or question. There are several common types of essays that may appear in Task 2:

1. Argumentative/Opinion Essays: These essays require candidates to express their opinion on a given topic and support it with reasons and examples. They often involve discussing both sides of an issue and presenting a clear argument in favor of one viewpoint.

2. Discussion/Two-sided Essays: Similar to argumentative essays, discussion essays require candidates to discuss both sides of an issue before expressing their opinion or preference. They need to provide balanced arguments and consider opposing viewpoints.

3. Advantages and Disadvantages Essays : In these essays, candidates need to discuss the pros and cons of a particular issue, situation, or trend. They should provide examples to illustrate each point and offer a balanced analysis.

4. Problem-Solution Essays: These essays involve identifying a problem or issue, discussing its causes and effects, and proposing possible solutions or measures to address it. Candidates need to present logical arguments and support their solutions with evidence.

5. Cause and Effect Essays: Cause and effect essays focus on analyzing the reasons behind a specific phenomenon or event and its subsequent effects. Candidates should clearly outline the causal relationships and provide relevant examples.

6. Comparison/Contrast Essays: These essays require candidates to compare and contrast two or more ideas, concepts, or approaches. They should highlight similarities and differences and draw conclusions based on their analysis.

7. Process Essays: Process essays explain a sequence of steps or actions involved in a particular process, such as how to do something or how something works. Candidates need to provide clear explanations and use appropriate transition words to guide the reader through each step.

8. Agree/Disagree Essays: In these essays, candidates are given a statement or opinion, and they need to express whether they agree or disagree with it. They should support their stance with reasons and examples.

IELTS Writing Task 2 preparation tips to help you improve your performance:

1. Understand the Task Question

• Read the task question carefully and identify the key components, such as the topic, the instructions (e.g., discuss, evaluate, give your opinion), and any specific aspects to be addressed.
• Underline or highlight the essential elements to ensure you address all parts of the question.

2. Plan Your Essay

• Spend a few minutes planning your essay before you start writing.
• Brainstorm ideas and organize them into an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
• Develop a clear thesis statement and main points to guide your essay.

3. Manage Your Time

• Allocate your time wisely, allowing enough time for planning, writing, and reviewing.
• Aim to spend around 510 minutes planning, 2530 minutes writing, and 5 minutes reviewing and making corrections.

4. Use Appropriate Structure and Paragraphing

• Follow a standard essay structure with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
• Each body paragraph should focus on one main idea and include supporting details, examples, or evidence.
• Use clear topic sentences and logical transitions between paragraphs.

5. Develop Your Ideas

• Provide relevant and welldeveloped ideas to support your main points.
• Use examples, personal experiences, facts, or hypothetical situations to illustrate your arguments.
• Show critical thinking by analyzing different perspectives and addressing counterarguments.

6. Use Appropriate Language and Vocabulary

• Use a range of appropriate vocabulary related to the topic.
• Vary your sentence structures and avoid repetition.
• Demonstrate your ability to use idiomatic expressions and collocations accurately.

7. Pay Attention to Grammar and Accuracy

• Review and proofread your essay for grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, and punctuation issues.
• Ensure subjectverb agreement, correct tense usage, and appropriate word forms.
• Avoid overly complex sentences that may increase the risk of errors.

8. Practice with Sample Questions

• Familiarize yourself with different types of IELTS Writing Task 2 questions by practicing with sample prompts.
• Set a timer and practice writing complete essays under timed conditions.
• Seek feedback from experienced IELTS teachers or online resources to identify areas for improvement.

9. Learn from Model Answers

• Study highscoring model answers to understand the expected level of writing and the organization of ideas.
• Analyze the structure, language use, and development of arguments in these model answers.
• Incorporate effective strategies and techniques into your own writing practice.

10. Stay UptoDate with Current Affairs

• Stay informed about current events, global issues, and debates related to various topics.
• Read reputable news sources, magazines, or online articles to broaden your knowledge and enhance your ability to discuss contemporary topics.

Here is a practice IELTS Writing Task 2 topic for you: Topic: Some people believe that governments should make more efforts to protect indigenous cultures and languages from disappearing. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Write at least 250 words discussing both viewpoints and giving your opinion.

• Make a plan before you start writing. Outline your introduction, body paragraphs and conclusion.
• The introduction should paraphrase the topic and outline what will be discussed.
• Discuss both sides of the argument in the body paragraphs. One paragraph arguing for protecting indigenous cultures/languages, one paragraph arguing against or giving the opposite view.
• Use examples, data or personal experiences to support your arguments.
• The conclusion should summarize your main points and give a clear opinion.
• Use a range of vocabulary and sentence structures. Avoid repetition.
• Check for grammar, spelling and punctuation errors.

In conclusion, while protecting indigenous cultures and languages is undoubtedly important for preserving human diversity and heritage, it should be balanced with practical considerations and the interests of the wider community. A nuanced approach that promotes understanding and appreciation while accommodating evolving societal needs is ideal.

Also Read: IELTS Full Form: Check Its Significance IELTS Average Score: Across Worldwide and India IELTS Minimum Score for Top Universities in 2024 IELTS Exam Pattern 2024: Section-wise IELTS Exam Paper Pattern, Question Types

Indigenous cultures and languages refer to the traditional practices, belief systems, and modes of expression of ethnic groups native to a particular region or country.

Protecting indigenous cultures and languages helps preserve unique identities, traditional knowledge, and cultural diversity, which are valuable aspects of human heritage and can contribute to our understanding of history, societies, and the environment.

Challenges include globalization, urbanization, lack of resources, and a shift towards more dominant cultures and languages, which can lead to the erosion of indigenous practices and languages over time.

Governments can implement policies to support the use and teaching of indigenous languages, provide funding for cultural preservation efforts, and promote awareness and appreciation of indigenous cultures through education and media.

Potential drawbacks include the allocation of limited resources towards this effort at the expense of other priorities, the potential for cultural stagnation or resistance to cultural evolution, and the risk of creating divisions or conflicts within diverse societies.

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