to what extent essay meaning

How to answer a “to what degree/extent” essay question

One of the most popular question types to appear on History assessment tasks is one that starts with the phrase, “To what extent/degree...”.

Despite the fact that it appears so frequently, particularly on exam papers , some teachers and students are not sure how to correctly write a response to it.

Thankfully, "to what degree/extent" questions are relatively easy to understand and to write a sophisticated response to, as long as you know what they are specifically asking you to do.

In this blog post, I will explain what such questions are asking you to do and give you some practical tips on how to write an essay response to a “To what extent/degree” question so that you feel confident in your assessment pieces.

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Understanding the question

First of all, it is crucial to understand the purpose of the word “degree” or “extent” in this kind of question. Regardless of which of the two words are used, they mean exactly the same thing: they are asking you to assign a degree of importance to how influential or important a particular factor is regarding the topic at hand.

A useful way of conceptualising the degree of importance , is to think of a simple scale that you could measure it against:

Most of the time, a "to what degree/extent” question is ultimately asking you to decide a single factor’s importance in comparison to another, potentially equally important factor. In other words, you need to argue which of two things is the most important.

Therefore, you will say that one of the two factors was “ to a greater degree ” important, while the other is “ to a lesser extent ” important.

It is rare that this kind of question will require you to say that only one factor was the only important element in regards to a topic. Any event in history is a complex combination of multiple factors, and it is too simplistic to assign only one factor to any topic.

That is why this kind of question is so popular with essays about historical causation , consequences or significance in History exams. These topics acknowledge that there are multiple factors which contributed to a historical event or idea. 

Example essay questions

Sometimes, the question itself will provide you with the two elements that it wants you to compare. For example:

“To what degree was political ideology more important in Hitler’s rise to power than the economic conditions in Germany in the early 1930s?” 

As you can see in this “to what degree” question, it is asking you to decide whether “political ideology” was “more important” than “the economic conditions in Germany in the early 1930s”. Therefore, in your answer to this question, you need to clearly state which you think was “more important”.

Here is another example: 

“To what extent did the Black Death in 14th century Europe decrease the papacy’s cultural influence in comparison to the political scandals within the curia?” 

Once more, it is easy to identify what you are being asked to decide between: whether “the Black Death in 14th century Europe” or “the political scandals within the curia” was more important in causing the decline of “the papacy’s cultural influence”.

However, sometimes an essay question will only give you one factor, in which case you will need to choose the second factor to compare it against.

For example 

“To what degree was Julius Caesar’s assassination the result of his own hubris?” 

In this example, the question only gives you “his own hubris” as one important element. Therefore, you will need to decide, based upon your own historical knowledge and the sources supplied, something else to compare it against.

It is still important, though, that you still come to a conclusion about which of the two elements was the most important.

How to structure your answer to the question (the hypothesis)

Once you have identified the two elements you are going to compare in your answer, you need to decide which of the two you are going to assign most importance to.

When you write your answer to the essay question (which will become your hypothesis ), you have to ensure that you clearly state which of the two options you have decided is the most important. You can use the following cues to identify the greater and lesser factors:

“[Factor 1] was, to a greater degree , more important in [the Topic] than [Factor 2] because...” 

“[Factor 1] was the main cause of [the Topic] despite the role of [Factor 2] because...” 

“While [Factor 2] did play a role in [the Topic], [Factor 1] was by far the most significant element because...”

As you can see in these example structures, you need to:

• clearly state the two topics you’re comparing
• mention the topic to which they relate
• have a clear decision about which of the two factors are most important to the topic

Also, don't forget to provide clear reasons for your decision after the “because” in your hypothesis.

How to structure your essay

 Once you have decided which of the two factors was the most important and which was the least important, then you can start planning your essay paragraphs .

Since essays typically require you to follow the standard five-paragraph structure ( introduction paragraph , three body paragraphs , and a conclusion paragraph ), you know that you will have three body paragraphs available for arguing your decision.

• In two out of your three body paragraphs, provide two separate reasons for why one factor was the most important  
• In the third of your body paragraphs, talk about the lesser contributing factor  

This helps us to use a simple structure to respond to a “to what degree/extent” essay question:

Here is a visual representation of the structure to help you:

By dividing your three body paragraphs in this way, you devote two-thirds of your essay to the most important of the two factors, and then one-third to the lesser of the two factors.

At the start of each body paragraph, then, you need a clear topic sentence that provides a reason why this factor was important. Ensure that you have two separate reasons to support the factor you’ve chosen as the most important, and one for the lesser of the two factors.

For example: 

Topic sentence for body paragraph 1: 

“[Factor 1] was the most important element in [the Topic] because...” 

Topic sentence for body paragraph 2: 

“Another reason that [Factor 1] was the most important element in [the Topic] is because...” 

Topic sentence for body paragraph 3:  

“To a lesser degree, [Factor 2] was important to [the Topic] because...”

Some rare exceptions

The advice provided above will serve you well in replying to almost all “to what degree/extent” essay questions. However, here are some rare exceptions which you might need to watch out for, along with some quick advice for how to deal with them.

Some questions may ask you to compare three separate factors. On these occasions, the question is probably guiding you to argue that all three factors were of equal importance. Typically, you can assign each factor to a body paragraph and provide one reason why each element was a contributing factor.

Some questions may ask you to only assign a degree of importance to only one factor, without expecting you to provide a second alternative. In short, if this happens, it is probably a poorly written question.

Essay questions that require the analysis and explanation of only one factor should probably be a “how” or “why” question, rather than a “to what degree/extent” question. Firstly, check with your teacher about if they really do only want one factor considered and ask how they intend for you to answer the question.

Additional resources

For additional resources on how to write all the elements in a History essay, please check out the following scaffolding guide , which has examples of full paragraphs to help you out. 

For advice on other kinds of exam questions, read over the exam question advice section .

Write a comment

Kim Brett ( Tuesday, 01 September 2020 23:32 )

As always, you've got your finger on the pulse, Michael. My students at Our Lady's College Annerley really appreciate your posts. Best wishes

History Skills ( Wednesday, 02 September 2020 02:13 )

My absolute pleasure, Kim. So good to hear that your students are finding the information helpful. Please say 'hello' to them for me and tell them I wish them all the best for their upcoming assessment.

Jeffery ( Friday, 18 December 2020 16:41 )

Hello, I am unsure how to formulate a thesis to this question, can you help me. "To what extent were the American colonists justified in revolting against England?"

Mutsawashe (Tuesday 15 June) ( Tuesday, 15 June 2021 15:29 )

please help me answer this question,"how far did the Germans benefit from the social policy ".My answer should start with ,the Germans benefited from the social policy to a lesser extent. So what comes next.

sharon odawa ( Thursday, 02 September 2021 01:12 )

my question is."to what extent does common and equity law a source of kenya"please help

maddison ( Sunday, 07 November 2021 03:06 )

this has literally saved me so much time on my assessments.

Karina Doherty ( Wednesday, 10 November 2021 17:26 )

It is possible to ask a well written 'to what extent' question that does not require a comparison, but only asks students to provide a judgement about a degree of success. There will naturally be a discussion about factors that limited the success or impact of a particular event or policy, but this is not really a comparison. The question could still be a perfectly valid and well-written.

Christina ( Monday, 13 June 2022 02:19 )

Great advice! Would be great if you correct the reference to a hypothesis. The correct word hers is "thesis".

Queenest ( Wednesday, 12 October 2022 17:41 )

Thank God I came across this article. It has been a blessing to me. Thank you so much

Ishmael ogechi ( Wednesday, 28 June 2023 10:59 )

Can an extent be used in questionnaire construction to elicit responds from respondents? Please may I know the firs scholar that used this term or introduced it in research work and when? Thank you.

Joy ( Wednesday, 18 October 2023 08:32 )

Can a ''to what extent'' question be used for the prevalence of the disease in two different parts of the world?

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How to Answer To What Extent Questions: A Step-by-Step Guide

Answering “To what extent” questions is an essential skill for any student or professional looking to engage in critical analysis and provide nuanced perspectives on a given topic. These types of questions require the writer to thoroughly evaluate and explore different facets of an issue, rather than simply providing a black and white response. By understanding the underlying principles and following a step-by-step approach, individuals can confidently navigate through these complex questions and deliver well-rounded and informed answers.

In this article, we will provide a comprehensive guide on how to answer “To what extent” questions effectively. We will start by defining what these questions entail and why they are important in various academic and professional settings. Subsequently, we will outline a step-by-step process that will assist readers in structuring their responses and developing a clear and cohesive argument. Additionally, we will discuss common pitfalls to avoid and provide practical examples to illustrate the application of these techniques. Whether you are a student preparing for an exam, a researcher formulating a thesis statement, or a professional seeking to enhance your critical thinking skills, this guide will equip you with the necessary tools to confidently engage with “To what extent” questions.

Table of Contents

Understanding the Question

A. define “to what extent” questions.

To effectively answer “to what extent” questions, it is crucial to first understand what these types of questions entail. “To what extent” questions require an evaluation and analysis of a given topic or statement, exploring the degree to which it is true or valid. These questions aim to assess the depth and breadth of knowledge on a specific subject matter, requiring a thoughtful evaluation rather than a simple yes or no response.

B. Discuss the different variations of such questions

“To what extent” questions can take various forms and may involve different scopes and parameters. Some common variations include asking about the significance, impact, or influence of a particular factor, the level of agreement or disagreement with a statement, or the extent to which a theory or concept applies to a specific case or situation. Understanding the specific variation of the question is essential in formulating a well-rounded response.

C. Provide examples to clarify the concept

To further clarify the concept of “to what extent” questions, let’s consider a few examples. One example could be: “To what extent does technology contribute to the rise in global connectivity?” Here, the question prompts an evaluation of how much technology has facilitated increased interconnectedness across the globe. Another example could be: “To what extent did the Industrial Revolution transform society?” This question requires an analysis of the societal changes brought about by the Industrial Revolution and an assessment of its overall impact.

Overall, understanding the nuances and variations of “to what extent” questions is vital for crafting well-reasoned and comprehensive responses. By defining the nature of these questions, discussing their different variations, and providing examples, individuals can better grasp the requirements of answering “to what extent” questions effectively.

IAnalyzing the Question

A. Break down the question into its key components

When facing a “to what extent” question, it is crucial to first understand what the question is asking. Breaking down the question into its key components will not only help you analyze the question effectively but also guide you in developing a well-structured and focused response.

Start by identifying the main topic or subject of the question. What is the question referring to or asking you to evaluate? Once you have identified the main topic, examine the specific elements or aspects that the question is focusing on. Is it asking you to assess the extent to which a certain factor influenced an event or outcome? Or does it require you to consider multiple factors and their respective impacts?

Furthermore, pay attention to any key terms or keywords used in the question. These terms often provide clues about the scope and direction of your response. For example, if the question includes terms like “most important” or “primary factor,” it suggests that you should prioritize analyzing that particular aspect.

B. Identify the scope and focus of the question

Understanding the scope and focus of the question is essential for providing a comprehensive and well-supported response. Consider the time period, geographical location, or specific context within which the question is framed. This will help you determine the boundaries of your analysis and ensure that you do not exceed or neglect certain areas.

In addition, identify the specific factors, events, or arguments that you need to address in your response. This will enable you to allocate sufficient attention and evidence to each aspect, enhancing the overall quality and coherence of your answer.

C. Discuss common pitfalls to avoid when analyzing such questions

Analyzing “to what extent” questions can be challenging, and it is important to be aware of common pitfalls to avoid in order to provide a well-rounded and balanced response.

One common pitfall is providing an overly one-sided or biased analysis. It is crucial to consider different perspectives and arguments, even if you have a strong position or opinion. Acknowledging and evaluating opposing viewpoints demonstrates a thoughtful and nuanced approach.

Another pitfall is straying from the focus of the question. Ensure that your analysis remains relevant to the question and is directly addressing the extent to which a certain factor or argument is valid. Avoid going off on tangents or introducing unrelated information.

Finally, be cautious of making unsupported claims or assertions. Back up your arguments with reliable evidence and sources. Thoroughly research the topic to gather the necessary evidence, ensuring that your analysis is grounded in sound facts and research.

By breaking down the question, identifying its scope and focus, and avoiding common pitfalls, you will be better equipped to analyze “to what extent” questions effectively and provide a well-structured and evidence-based response.

RecommendedResearching and Gathering Evidence

Importance of conducting thorough research.

In order to effectively answer “to what extent” questions, conducting thorough research is essential. Researching the topic not only helps in gathering relevant information and evidence but also enables the writer to develop a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter. Thorough research allows the writer to explore various perspectives and arguments, which in turn contributes to the development of a well-rounded and balanced response.

Tips for Finding Reliable Sources and Evidence

When conducting research, it is crucial to rely on reliable and credible sources of information. This ensures that the evidence used to support the arguments is valid and trustworthy. Some tips for finding reliable sources include:

1. Utilize academic databases and scholarly journals: These platforms provide access to peer-reviewed articles and studies, which are considered to be credible sources of information.

2. Consult books and reputable publications: Books and publications written by experts in the field are often considered reliable sources as they undergo rigorous fact-checking and review processes.

3. Check the author’s credentials: Assess the author’s expertise and reputation within the field. This helps determine the credibility of the source.

4. Cross-reference information: Verify the information obtained from multiple sources to ensure its accuracy and reliability.

Considering Different Perspectives and Arguments

When answering “to what extent” questions, it is crucial to consider different perspectives and arguments related to the topic. This allows the writer to present a balanced and nuanced response. Exploring different viewpoints not only strengthens the overall argument but also showcases a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter.

By considering different perspectives, the writer can anticipate potential counterarguments and address them effectively within their response. This not only demonstrates critical thinking skills but also adds depth and credibility to the argument presented.

In conclusion, conducting thorough research, finding reliable sources and evidence, and considering different perspectives are crucial steps in effectively answering “to what extent” questions. These steps lay the foundation for developing a well-informed and well-structured response. By combining a comprehensive understanding of the topic with credible evidence and balanced arguments, the writer can provide a strong and convincing answer to these types of questions.

Developing a Thesis Statement

In order to effectively answer “to what extent” questions, it is crucial to develop a strong and concise thesis statement. The thesis statement serves as the main argument or claim of your essay and guides the reader in understanding the extent to which you agree or disagree with the given statement.

Role of a thesis statement

A thesis statement provides a clear and focused direction for your essay. It outlines the specific points and arguments you will be addressing in order to support your position. When answering “to what extent” questions, your thesis statement should indicate the degree to which you agree or disagree, allowing your essay to present a nuanced and balanced argument.

Formulating a strong and concise thesis statement

When formulating your thesis statement, it is important to consider the specific requirements of the question and clearly state your position. Start by critically analyzing the question and identifying its key terms and concepts. This will help you determine the scope and focus of your thesis statement.

Your thesis statement should be concise, direct, and assertive. Avoid vague or generic statements that do not offer a specific perspective. Instead, aim for a clear statement that presents a distinct argument supported by specific evidence. A strong thesis statement will typically include the extent to which you agree or disagree, combined with a brief explanation of the main reasons for your position.

For example, if the “to what extent” question asks, “To what extent has social media impacted political participation?”, a strong thesis statement could be: “Social media has significantly increased political participation among young voters, as evidenced by the rise in online activism, political discussions, and voter registration campaigns.”

Importance of clear and focused arguments

In addition to a strong thesis statement, answering “to what extent” questions requires clear and focused arguments throughout your essay. Each paragraph should contribute to the overall argument and offer specific evidence or examples to support your position. Avoid irrelevant or tangential information that does not directly address the extent to which you agree or disagree with the given statement.

By developing a well-crafted thesis statement and presenting clear and focused arguments, you can effectively answer “to what extent” questions, providing a comprehensive and thoughtful response to the given topic.

Structuring Your Response

In order to effectively answer “to what extent” questions, it is essential to have a well-structured essay response. A well-organized essay not only helps you present your arguments coherently but also allows your readers to follow your thought process easily. This section will discuss the importance of a well-structured essay structure, provide an outline or template for structuring an essay response to “to what extent” questions, and offer tips for effectively transitioning between paragraphs and sections.

A. The Importance of a Well-Organized Essay Structure Having a clear and logical structure is crucial for any essay, including those that address “to what extent” questions. A well-structured essay demonstrates your ability to analyze and present your arguments in a systematic manner, making it easier for readers to understand and assess your response.

B. Outline or Template for Structuring an Essay Response To structure your response effectively, consider following this outline:

1. Introduction The introduction sets the context and introduces the key arguments of your essay. It should include an attention-grabbing hook, background information, and a clear thesis statement that expresses your stance on the “to what extent” question.

2. Background and Contextual Information Provide relevant background information and context to help readers understand the topic and the significance of the “to what extent” question. This section should also highlight any key terms or concepts that will be discussed in the essay.

3. Argument and Evidence Present your main arguments and supporting evidence in separate paragraphs. Each argument should address a specific aspect of the “to what extent” question and be supported by reliable sources and examples. Make sure to analyze and interpret the evidence to demonstrate its relevance to your thesis statement.

4. Counterarguments and Refutations Acknowledge and address counterarguments to your main arguments. Present potential objections or opposing viewpoints and provide solid refutations supported by evidence. This will strengthen your overall argument and demonstrate your ability to consider multiple perspectives.

5. Limitations and Implications Acknowledge the limitations of your argument and discuss their implications. This shows your ability to critically evaluate your own position and consider the broader implications of your arguments. Discuss any potential gaps in your analysis and provide suggestions for further research or exploration.

6. Conclusion Summarize your main arguments, restate your thesis statement, and provide a concise and impactful conclusion. This section should leave a lasting impression on the readers and demonstrate the strength of your overall response.

C. Tips for Effective Transitions To ensure smooth transitions between paragraphs and sections, use transitional words and phrases such as “furthermore,” “in addition,” “on the contrary,” etc. These help connect your ideas and guide your readers through your essay. Additionally, use topic sentences at the beginning of each paragraph to clearly introduce the main point or argument of that specific section.

In conclusion, structuring your response to “to what extent” questions in a well-organized manner is crucial for effectively conveying your arguments and ensuring clarity for your readers. By following the outline provided and implementing strategies for smooth transitions, you can present a compelling and coherent essay that addresses the question at hand.

VWriting the Introduction

When it comes to answering “to what extent” questions, a well-crafted introduction is crucial. The purpose of the introduction is to set the tone for the essay and provide the reader with a clear understanding of the topic at hand. By following a few strategies, you can create an attention-grabbing introduction that effectively addresses the question.

To begin with, it is important to understand the purpose of the introduction. The introduction serves as a roadmap for the entire essay, outlining the main arguments and providing context for the reader. This section should engage the reader’s interest and establish the relevance of the topic.

One effective strategy for writing an attention-grabbing introduction is to start with a compelling anecdote, fact, or statistic related to the extent of the issue being discussed. This can help to immediately captivate the reader and make them curious about the arguments that will follow.

Another strategy is to pose a thought-provoking question that relates directly to the extent of the topic. This can create a sense of intrigue and make the reader eager to explore the various perspectives and arguments put forth in the essay.

Additionally, it is essential to include a clear thesis statement in the introduction. The thesis statement should succinctly outline the main argument or viewpoint that the essay will be addressing. It should also indicate the extent to which the writer believes the statement to be true or valid.

In crafting the thesis statement, it is important to ensure that it is strong and concise. The thesis statement should clearly state the writer’s position on the topic while also leaving room for the development of nuanced arguments and counterarguments.

Lastly, the introduction should be structured in a way that smoothly transitions into the body of the essay. By providing a brief overview of the main arguments that will be discussed, the introduction can help to guide the reader through the essay and establish a logical flow.

In conclusion, the introduction plays a crucial role in answering “to what extent” questions. By employing attention-grabbing strategies, including a clear thesis statement, and ensuring a seamless transition into the body of the essay, you can effectively engage the reader and set the stage for a well-argued and comprehensive response.

## Supporting Your Arguments

### A. The Significance of Providing Evidence When answering “to what extent” questions, it is crucial to support your arguments with evidence. This not only demonstrates your knowledge on the topic but also strengthens the credibility of your response. Without sufficient evidence, your arguments may appear weak and unsubstantiated.

Supporting your arguments with evidence shows that you have conducted thorough research and have a deep understanding of the topic. It adds weight to your claims and provides a solid foundation for your analysis. Additionally, including evidence allows you to back up your statements and make them more convincing to the reader.

### B. Different Types of Evidence and How to Use Them Effectively There are various types of evidence that can be used to support your arguments. These include statistics, expert opinions, case studies, historical examples, and empirical data, among others. Each type of evidence serves a different purpose and can be used strategically to strengthen different aspects of your argument.

Statistics, for example, provide quantitative data that can help quantify the extent of a certain phenomenon or trend. Expert opinions, on the other hand, lend credibility to your argument by referring to the insights of well-respected authorities in the field. Case studies and historical examples can be used to provide specific instances that highlight the extent of a particular situation.

It is important to choose evidence that is relevant, reliable, and compelling. Ensure that the evidence directly supports your thesis statement and is of high quality. Additionally, make sure to properly cite your sources to maintain academic integrity and avoid plagiarism.

### C. Examples of How to Integrate Evidence into the Essay Integrating evidence into your essay requires careful thought and consideration. One effective way to incorporate evidence is by using it to support your topic sentences. Each paragraph should start with a clear topic sentence that presents the main idea or argument of that particular section. Then, follow up with evidence that supports and strengthens that argument.

For example, if your thesis statement claims that advancements in technology have greatly influenced communication, you can provide evidence in the form of statistics on the increased usage of social media platforms and the decline of traditional forms of communication. Additionally, you can include expert opinions from scholars who have researched the impact of technology on communication.

Furthermore, it is important to analyze and explain the significance of the evidence you provide. Simply presenting evidence without connecting it to your argument will not effectively support your claims. Take the time to explain how the evidence strengthens your position and contributes to your overall argument.

In conclusion, providing evidence to support your arguments is essential when answering “to what extent” questions. It adds credibility to your response, demonstrates your understanding of the topic, and makes your arguments more convincing. By selecting relevant and reliable evidence and integrating it effectively into your essay, you can effectively support and strengthen your claims. Remember to analyze the evidence and explain its significance in relation to your argument.

Analyzing Counterarguments

Counterarguments are an essential aspect of any persuasive essay, including those that involve answering “to what extent” questions. In this section, we will discuss the importance of addressing counterarguments in your essay and provide guidance on how to anticipate and respond to potential objections or opposing viewpoints.

A. Discuss the importance of addressing counterarguments in your essay

Addressing counterarguments demonstrates a thorough understanding of the topic and adds credibility to your argument. It shows that you have considered various perspectives and have thought critically about the issue at hand. By acknowledging and responding to counterarguments, you are strengthening your own argument and demonstrating that you have explored all sides of the question.

B. Explain how to anticipate and respond to potential objections or opposing viewpoints

To effectively address counterarguments, you first need to anticipate and understand potential objections or opposing viewpoints. This requires careful consideration and research. Put yourself in the shoes of someone who disagrees with your main argument and think about the reasons they might have for doing so. Look for weaknesses or gaps in your own argument and imagine how someone might exploit them.

Once you have identified potential counterarguments, it is important to respond to them in a persuasive and logical manner. You can do this by presenting evidence and reasoning that refutes the counterargument. Address any fallacies or misconceptions that the opposing viewpoint may hold and provide alternative perspectives that support your main argument.

It is crucial to maintain a respectful and balanced tone when addressing counterarguments. Avoid dismissing opposing viewpoints outright or belittling those who hold them. Instead, demonstrate a willingness to engage in constructive dialogue and show that you have considered alternative perspectives before refuting them.

Incorporating counterarguments into your essay not only strengthens your argument but also demonstrates intellectual honesty and critical thinking skills. It shows that you have carefully considered the complexity of the topic and have taken into account opposing viewpoints.

Effectively analyzing counterarguments adds depth and nuance to your essay, elevating it from a one-sided argument to a well-rounded analysis. By exploring and addressing counterarguments, you will demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the topic and provide a more convincing and balanced response to the “to what extent” question at hand.

X. Exploring the Limitations

A. explain the relevance of acknowledging limitations in your response.

In answering “to what extent” questions, it is important to acknowledge and explore the limitations of your argument. Recognizing the limitations helps to provide a balanced and nuanced response, demonstrating a thoughtful and critical approach to the question at hand. By addressing limitations, you show the examiner that you have considered multiple perspectives and potential weaknesses in your argument.

B. Discuss how to identify and address limitations in an effective manner

To identify limitations, carefully consider the scope and focus of the question. Think about any constraints or constraints that may exist, and reflect on the evidence and sources you have gathered. Ask yourself if there are any gaps in your argument or areas where further research is needed. Identifying limitations requires a critical analysis of your own position and a willingness to challenge your own assumptions.

When addressing limitations, it is important to do so in a measured and logical manner. Avoid dismissing or ignoring limitations, as this can undermine the credibility of your response. Instead, acknowledge the limitations and explain their significance in relation to your argument. Consider alternative viewpoints or counterarguments, and address these in a respectful and thoughtful manner. By doing so, you demonstrate intellectual humility and a willingness to engage with different perspectives.

C. Provide examples of how to address limitations in an effective manner

To effectively address limitations, consider incorporating phrases such as “While it is true that…” or “One potential limitation of this argument is…”. These phrases signal to the reader that you are aware of the limitations and are actively engaging with them.

For example, if you are arguing that technology has had a significant impact on education, you may acknowledge a limitation by stating, “While technology has undoubtedly revolutionized access to information, it is important to recognize that not all students have equal access to technology resources. This digital divide can limit the extent to which technology can truly transform education.”

By acknowledging and addressing limitations, you strengthen your overall argument. This demonstrates critical thinking skills and an ability to consider multiple perspectives, increasing the credibility of your response.

In conclusion, exploring limitations is a crucial aspect of effectively answering “to what extent” questions. By acknowledging and addressing limitations in a thoughtful and logical manner, you demonstrate a nuanced understanding of the topic and strengthen the overall quality of your response. Remember to approach limitations with intellectual humility and a willingness to engage with alternative viewpoints, further showcasing your ability to think critically and analytically.

Summarizing and Evaluating the Evidence

In the process of answering “to what extent” questions, it is crucial to not only gather evidence but also summarize and evaluate it effectively. This section will discuss the importance of summarizing the evidence presented and provide strategies for evaluating the overall strength of your arguments.

11.1 Summarizing the Evidence Presented

Summarizing the evidence you have presented in your essay is essential to ensure clarity and coherence in your response. By summarizing the evidence, you can demonstrate that you have considered multiple perspectives and arguments. It allows you to provide a concise and organized overview of the evidence discussed throughout your essay.

To effectively summarize the evidence:

– Identify the main points or arguments presented. – Highlight the key findings or conclusions drawn from the evidence. – Reiterate the significance of the evidence in supporting your thesis statement.

By summarizing the evidence, you can guide the reader through your essay and reinforce the key points you have made.

11.2 Evaluating the Overall Strength of Arguments

Once you have summarized the evidence, it is important to evaluate the overall strength of your arguments. This evaluation ensures that your response to the “to what extent” question is well-supported and convincing.

To evaluate the strength of your arguments:

– Consider the quality and credibility of the evidence presented. Assess whether the sources are reliable and support the claims made. – Analyze the coherence and logical progression of your arguments. Ensure that each argument is relevant to the question and supports your main thesis statement. – Assess the level of detail and depth in your evidence. Evaluate whether the evidence adequately addresses the question and provides sufficient support for your claims. – Consider potential counterarguments and objections to your arguments. Addressing these counterarguments strengthens your response and demonstrates a well-rounded and comprehensive understanding of the topic.

By evaluating the overall strength of your arguments, you can identify any weaknesses or gaps in your reasoning and take steps to address them.

In conclusion, summarizing and evaluating the evidence presented is a crucial step in effectively answering “to what extent” questions. By summarizing the evidence, you ensure clarity and coherence in your response. Evaluating the strength of your arguments enhances the persuasiveness of your essay. By following these strategies, you can present a well-supported and convincing response to any “to what extent” question.

Writing the Conclusion

A. highlight the purpose of the conclusion.

The conclusion is the final opportunity for you to make a lasting impression on your reader. It serves to bring your essay to a close by summarizing your main points and reinforcing the significance of your argument. The purpose of the conclusion is to leave your reader with a sense of closure and a clear understanding of the extent to which you have addressed the question.

B. Offer tips for writing a strong and impactful conclusion

To write a strong and impactful conclusion for an essay answering “to what extent” questions, consider the following tips:

1. Summarize your main points: Begin by briefly restating the main arguments you have presented throughout your essay. Choose the most important supporting evidence and summarize it concisely.

2. Reemphasize your thesis statement: Remind your reader of your thesis statement and its relevance to the question. Clearly state the extent to which you believe your thesis statement holds true.

3. Summarize key points: Summarize the key points you have made which support your thesis statement. This will reinforce the strength of your argument and remind the reader of the evidence you have presented.

4. Provide a final thought: Offer a final thought or insight that brings your essay to a thoughtful conclusion. This can be a broader perspective or a call to action related to the topic at hand.

C. Discuss the importance of restating the thesis and summarizing key points

Restating your thesis statement and summarizing your key points in the conclusion is essential for several reasons. Firstly, it reaffirms the focus of your essay and reminds the reader of the main argument you have been presenting. Secondly, it helps to create a sense of closure and wrap up your ideas. By summarizing your main points, you bring your argument to a clear and concise resolution. Restating your thesis statement also ensures that your reader understands the extent to which you have answered the question.

In conclusion, the final section of your essay, the conclusion, plays a crucial role in leaving a lasting impact on your reader. By summarizing your main points, restating your thesis statement, and offering a final thought, you can effectively conclude your essay and demonstrate the extent to which you have addressed the “to what extent” question.

Finalizing Your Essay

A. proofreading and editing.

After completing the writing process, it is crucial to allocate sufficient time for proofreading and editing your essay. This ensures that your response to “to what extent” questions is clear, coherent, and error-free. Proofreading involves carefully reading your essay to identify and correct any grammar, punctuation, or spelling mistakes.

To effectively proofread your essay, consider reading it aloud. This helps you identify awkward sentence structures, repetitive phrases, or any inconsistencies in your arguments. Additionally, try reviewing your essay with a fresh perspective, as this can highlight areas that require clarification or further development.

B. Ensuring Clarity, Coherence, and Proper Grammar and Spelling

To achieve clarity in your essay, focus on using clear and concise language. Avoid using jargon or excessively complex terms that may confuse the reader. Ensure that your arguments are logically presented and supported by evidence.

Coherence is key in presenting a persuasive response. Make sure that your ideas flow smoothly from one paragraph to another by using appropriate transition words and phrases. This allows your essay to have a cohesive structure and aids comprehension.

Furthermore, pay close attention to grammar and spelling. Poor grammar and spelling errors can undermine the credibility of your essay. Utilize grammar and spell-check tools, but keep in mind that they may not catch all mistakes. It is advisable to have someone else review your essay as well.

C. Seeking Feedback and Making Necessary Revisions

Seeking feedback from others can provide valuable insights and help you identify areas for improvement. Ask someone you trust, such as a friend or teacher, to read your essay and provide constructive criticism. Consider their feedback objectively and make necessary revisions to strengthen your arguments or clarify your points.

Revising your essay may involve reorganizing paragraphs, providing additional evidence, or refining your thesis statement. Be open to making changes to enhance the overall quality of your response. Remember, revision is an iterative process that helps refine your work and ensures a polished final product.

In conclusion, finalizing your essay involves proofreading and editing for clarity, coherence, grammar, and spelling. Seeking feedback from others and making necessary revisions is crucial to enhancing the overall quality and coherence of your response. By following these final steps, you can ensure that your essay effectively and convincingly addresses “to what extent” questions, leaving a lasting impression on your readers.

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Quick Guide to Writing a Successful To What Extent Essay

So, your teacher gave a simple assignment - to write a ‘to what extent’ essay. You are heartened by the nature of the task and assume that you’ll finish it in less than an hour. After all, just admitting that you agree or disagree with the statement and to what degree is all you asked to do.

You submit the paper and feel shocked when you see the score. How come you got an F for the minimalistic essay? How come the teacher didn’t get the idea of your inventive approach towards doing your homework or writing the exam?

Friend, we feel for you, but this essay type is really tricky. It involves more work than just saying, ‘I completely agree’ or ‘The author is right on the one hand, but on the other hand, I do not take this statement.’

So, in this article, we’ll detail the ‘to what extent’ essay and will show you how to write it in the right way.

What’s the Purpose of a ‘To What Extent’ Essay?

Before you learn how to answer to what extent question, let’s first take a look at the anatomy of this essay type.

This essay is usually inquiring about the importance or impact of one factor in relation to a wider concept or topic. It also makes an inquiry about the level of your consent and discontent on a specific topic.

For example, ‘To what extent do you agree that robots will replace manpower someday?’. Or ‘In your opinion, to what extent did Abraham Lincoln contributed to the death of slavery?’.

In other words, the aim of the ‘to what extent’ essay is to encourage the student to make a claim about the given topic and assess other conditions that affected the given phenomenon.

Things to Look For in Your Compelling ‘to What Extent’ Essay

The greatest challenge of the ‘to what extent’ essay is that you have to provide a perfect blend between the solid facts and your own in-depth evaluation. In other words, always think of the:

• facts and supportive materials on a narrow topic;
• facts and supportive materials on a broader topic;
• your own evaluation of the events, facts, etc.

Let’s consider the prompt about Abraham Lincoln as an example. At first, you should find and provide facts about the accomplishments of this persona (these would be pieces of information on the narrow topic). Then, mind searching for the materials about actions taken in the USA towards fighting slavery (this would be data to support the broader topic). And, finally, you’ve got to weigh how Lincoln’s legacy correlates with the general solution of the slavery problem.

Thus, you’ve got to apply a wide range of skills to write a winning ‘to what extent’ essay. You should show great research and analytical skills. In case you struggle with finding reputable and trusted sources online, you can always go to the school or college library or ask for assistance from a professional writer.

The Structure of the ‘to What Extent’ Essay

The surest way to write a great essay is to follow the commonly accepted structure. You’ve probably mastered the art of using the introduction, body, and conclusion by the time you are given this type of assignment. But the standard five-paragraph essay construction requires more detailed explanations so you could write a well-reasoned ‘to what extent’ essay.

Introduction

It’s not a surprise that all essays start with the introduction. This part of writing actualizes the subject matter and gives a hint on what’s the author’s point of view towards this or that question.

After you set the topic, you should express your attitude towards the idea provided in the statement. You can say that you completely agree or disagree. You can say that there are only several rational aspects that resonate with you, while some things do not awaken any positive response in your mind.

The key point of the introduction is to make a spoiler of what you are going to talk about in your essay, so do not keep it too long. 3-5 sentences are enough to briefly set the mood of your work and prepare the reader for more profound thoughts.

This is the most important part of the essay because it should contain your arguments and supportive facts in relation to your own ideas. In this structural element, you detail your point of view and give evidence of why you think that way.

The structure of the body will vary depending on what ideas you would like to deliver. But let’s assume that you partially agree with the suggested prompt and have some arguments against the initial thesis.

In this case, devote the first paragraph to explain why you agree with the statement. Break your ideas into logical blocks by combining your own ideas and facts from history, theory, or life. 

Use the next paragraph to show disagreement with the idea expressed in the prompt. Imagine that the reader is a complete rookie in the subject matter you are writing about and do your best to provide relevant and strong arguments to show why the thesis is not completely right.

In the final paragraph of the body suggest how the initial statement could be improved and what idea is more appropriate for you.

In the last paragraph, summarize the arguments and drive your own attitude to the problem, personality, or phenomenon.

The biggest mistake students make in this section is introducing completely new viewpoints that haven’t been shared in the essay. Remember once and for all. A conclusion is a part of the essay where you grab all your ideas together and make a generalized statement towards the essay prompt.

The Final Thought

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How to Answer “to what Extent” Question in Research & Examples

Answering 'to what Extent” Question

In the real world, deciding which factor is more important than another may seem impossible. However, when answering a question such as “what is ‘to what extent question, they are ultimately asking you to decide a single factor’s importance in comparison to another.

It is a good idea to be upfront about your approach and how you plan to answer it. Read on.  

How to Answer the ‘to what Extent” Question

First, you must determine what “extent” you want to measure. If it’s the extent of your knowledge about something, then you need to know how much you know about it.

If it’s the extent of your experience with something, then you need to know how much time and energy you’ve invested in it .

Second, you must determine what kind of “to what extent” question you’re asking.

If the question is about what extent this has on me (i.e., how does it affect my life), then use an absolute term such as “a lot,” or “much.” 

If the question is about how much this leads me toward some goal (i.e., how do I benefit from this), then use a comparative term such as “more,” or “less.”

To answer a ‘to what extent question, you need to explain what the situation is like. If you can’t do this in your first response, you should think about how to answer the question again before responding with a second response.

If you are unsure how to answer the question, you haven’t thought about how to answer it enough. In this case, try researching the topic and coming up with some ideas for responses that would be relevant to the test context.

Finally, once you’ve determined what kind of question it is and how much each answer will help give it context, answer based on that context!

Tips to Note when Approaching the ”to what Extent” Question

The “to what extent” question is a great place to start because it allows you to discuss the relationship between the two things.

When approaching these question , ensure you understand how each item functions within your overall goal. These are just some general tips:

1. Make Sure you have a good Understanding of what the Question is Asking

The first step in answering this type of question is understanding what you are being asked. The answer will depend on the context and the nature of your response. 

For example, if you are asked ”to what extent the student understands the concept of Pythagoras,” then it is not enough for you to say that he knows about Pythagoras. 

You will need to elaborate on how much he understands this concept. If you have difficulty explaining how much your student understands about Pythagoras, then he may not understand it well enough for your purposes.

Once you have established what question is being asked, think about how best to answer it based on your knowledge of that topic or area of study. 

In most cases, however, there is no right or wrong way to answer such questions; rather, it depends upon whether or not your answer will help clarify the main point made by your instructor or professor.

2. Ask Someone else to Help Interpret the Question if you Need Help Understanding it

To be able to answer this type of question, you need to be clear in your mind about the meaning of the word ‘to what extent. This means that you need to be able to define clearly what you mean by it. You also need to be able to explain how much is enough and too much.

The best way of doing this is by asking someone else who knows better than yourself about these things. If you have a friend or colleague who can help, this can be done by asking them for their advice on how to answer the question.

They may not always agree with your interpretation of what they say, but they will likely give examples that will help show why they think it’s right or wrong.

3 . Be specific

When describing how one item relates to another, be as specific as possible. Avoid using vague statements such as “it’s important” or “it’s essential.” Instead, give examples from your own experience and knowledge.

Use concrete examples to explain your answers. For example, instead of saying, “I’m good at planning,” say, “I helped my boss plan his trip last year.”

If possible, include documents or visual aids showing how you’ve demonstrated your skills.

4. Don’t be Boring

Don’t just say yes or no; make sure your answer is interesting enough to catch the interviewer’s attention. Saying “yes” has its place in an interview.

However, don’t be afraid to add some color with some personal anecdotes about how you’ve demonstrated those skills in the past that may not directly relate to what they’re looking for.

5. Don’t rush Through an Answer

Take your time! Read through each choice carefully before choosing the most relevant and appropriate for your answer. This will save time and improve your chances of answering correctly (if you make errors from rushing through, there may be little time left on the paper). 

Examples of ‘to what extent” Questions

1. To what extent have you been able to learn Chinese?

2. To what extent do you feel that your English skills have improved?

3. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement: “I don’t enjoy learning languages.”

4. To what extent do Chinese people learn from the Japanese during the war?

5. To what extent is it true that most people do not know how to swim?

6. To what extent should a student be able to speak a foreign language?

7. To what extent should the government try to limit immigration?

9. How much does the price of gasoline affect the average American family’s disposable income?

10. What is your name? -To what extent do you agree/disagree with the statement “I am a good person”?

11. How many times have you been to the cinema? -To what extent do you agree/disagree with the statement “I enjoy going to the cinema”?

12. Which of these books do you like most? -To what extent do you agree/disagree with the statement “I like reading books”?

With over 10 years in academia and academic assistance, Alicia Smart is the epitome of excellence in the writing industry. She is our chief editor and in charge of the writing department at Grade Bees.

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How to answer “To what extent do you agree or disagree?” task 2 questions

Analyze the question – make sure you totally understand what you are supposed to answer.

Spend a couple of minutes reading and underlining the key words.  

Some people believe that professional workers such as doctors and teachers should be paid more than sports and entertainment personalities. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Give your opinion and relevant examples.  (Source:  unknown)

Determine your position

You can 100% agree, 100% disagree or partially agree 

Position:   they should be paid more but this is not feasible in the real world

Brainstorm for ideas – aim for at least two ideas for each paragraph

Paragraph 1

Doctors are vital and deserve a lot of money

Teachers educate our children and also deserve to make a lot

Paragraph 2

There are valid reasons why entertainers and athletes make a lot of money

Not all singers/ athletes in these professions make large amounts of money

Brainstorm ideas to support your initial ideas

Support can be an example, further explanation, a definition, or any statement explaining why or how your main idea is true.

Support:  Doctors save lives and carry enormous responsibility for their patients’ wellbeing

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Planning your essay writing

Introduction

Start by rephrasing the prompt. Make sure you include all the sides of the topic that the prompt addresses. 

State your position. If you partially agree you can use a “while” statement: While it is true that doctors and teachers perform priceless services, on the whole I believe that it is impossible for them to be paid what top entertainers are paid. 

Your introduction should be 3 or 4 sentences. Do not waste time getting into details in the introduction – save these for your body paragraphs.

Example introduction:

There are numerous jobs where it could be argued that people are not paid nearly enough for what they do, as in the case of doctors and teachers. Some, in fact, say they should be paid more than sports or entertainment stars.   While I understand the logic behind this, the world works differently and such a shift is impossible.

Essay structure

Start with a topic sentence that introduces the central idea of the paragraph.

Doubtless doctors and teachers deserve to earn a great deal of money for the services they provide.   

Introduce your first main idea.

Doctors save lives on a daily basis and take on a great responsibility in caring for their patients and their health.  

Follow this with support .

This is a skill that requires great intellect, arduous studying, and should be compensated accordingly.

Add a second main idea for teachers and include support for this as well.

The important role teachers play can also not be overlooked. Not only do they transmit knowledge to the future generation, but they also are directly involved in the shaping of characters, inspiring new ideas and act as surrogate parents in many instances.   

Create a summary statement that is essentially a rephrasing of your topic sentence. Begin this with therefore, thus, or consequently.

Therefore, these roles, the seriousness of which cannot be overstated, establish teachers and doctors as key figures in our society, and they should be reimbursed accordingly.

Task Response

Essays that score well on task response answer the question directly and develop the topic fully. A Band 9 answer leaves no further questions for the reader.

Make sure you don’t over-generalize. Without the words in bold below, the sentence is an overgeneralization.  

While there are clearly professions that perform greater services to society than singers and footballers, these typically/ often/ usually/ frequently do not earn a great deal of money for their employers.   

Example: Doubtless doctors and teachers deserve to earn a great deal of money for the services they provide.  Doctors save lives on a daily basis and take on a great responsibility in caring for their patients and their health.  Furthermore, they have undertaken years of arduous study to pursue their profession and commit to lifelong learning in order to stay up to date on therapies and developments in the field. The important role teachers play can also not be overlooked. Not only do they transmit knowledge to the future generation but they also are directly involved in the shaping of characters, inspiring new ideas and act as surrogate parents in many instances. These roles, the seriousness of which cannot be overstated, establish teachers and doctors as key figures in our society, and they should be reimbursed accordingly.

Do not use too many front-position linkers.  These are words like Firstly, Furthermore, Moreover, For example.  Try to create cohesion with pronouns, synonyms or ellipsis

Example:  These roles, the seriousness of which cannot be overstated, establish teachers and doctors as key figures in our society, and they should be reimbursed accordingly.

If you partially agree, make sure the transition between the two body paragraphs is appropriate.  Use:

Although the above arguments are valid, on the whole it is also true that…

Having said this, (followed by contrasting statement introducing new paragraph)

Example:  Having said this, it must also be said that the above viewpoints regarding salaries are utopian.  

If you arguing one side of the argument only, you can use linkers like Furthermore, Additionally (provided you use these sparingly).

Lexical Resource

Use language that is natural but avoid using elementary English like “big, small, good, bad, or nice.”

While topic vocabulary is appreciated, points are scored for the surrounding language you use, like less common collocations.

Great responsibility

Years of arduous study

Commit to lifelong learning

Pursue their profession

Perform services

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

Make sure your basic grammar is accurate:  tenses, subject-verb agreement, articles, prepositions

Practice using higher level grammar: Not only do they transmit knowledge to the future generation but they also are directly involved in the shaping of characters, inspiring new ideas and act as surrogate parents in many instances.    

Keep it brief – 2 sentences should be enough

Start by restating your position. Leave your reader with a general, thought-provoking statement

While ideologically it seems fair that doctors, teachers and other professions that save and shape lives should make more money than those who sing or kick around a ball, the reality of the situation is more complex. Perhaps we should all simply strive to do the best work we can and not concern ourselves with the incomes of others.  

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IELTS To What Extent Essay Introductions

Hey! When students prepare for IELTS writing, they often learn “chunks” of language – these are groups of words or certain sentence structures that can be used in any essay. I encourage this. For example, I tell my students to always use an “although” sentence in the conclusion of an Advantages / Disadvantages essay as this is the best way to summarise both sides. In the same way, it can be great to use a cleft sentence when you are writing topic sentences for an IELTS To What Extent Essay, or to use a “while” sentence in the introduction of a Discuss Both Sides essay. Using these “chunks” will help you to write more quickly and be sure that the structure of your essay is correct.

However, whenever you learn a “chunk” of language, you have to be careful to use it in the correct way. What works in a problem / solution essay might not be good in a positive / negative development essay. The key is not just knowing what to write, but WHY you are writing it.

One area where I see many students have a problem is in the introductions to IELTS To What Extent essays. So, in today’s blog, I want to show you the TWO DIFFERENT TYPES of To What Extent questions (yes, that’s a surprise!) and how you can customise your introduction so that it 100% targets the question.

The Problem with IELTS Agree/Disagree Introductions

Let’s start by showing you the problem. I want you to read the following question and the student’s introduction and see if you can identify what they have done wrong (the question is from my 100 IELTS Essay Questions blog ).

International sporting events promote peace between countries. To what extent do you agree or disagree?   There are many sporting events each year in which teams from different countries participate. However, while some people think that these events harm the relationship between countries, I agree that they help to promote peace for two reasons.

Can you spot the problem here?

Has the student introduced the general topic of the essay in the first sentence? Yes – they have done a good job here. Have they given an opinion? Yes – they have said that they agree with the statement for two reasons. Again, this is good. So, what is the problem? Well, let’s look at this part of the final sentence:

However, while some people think that these events harm the relationship between countries , I agree that they help to promote peace for two reasons.

First of all, look at the question again – where does it mention “some people”? IT DOES NOT! We have NOT been given an OPINION to agree or disagree with, we have been given a STATEMENT. What does this mean?

Well, firstly, you must not add “some people” into an introduction if they do not exist in the task (clearly this student is trying to recycle their introduction to a Discuss Both Sides essay but it does not work here).

Secondly, look at what the student has said –   “some people think that these events can harm the relationship between countries “.  Really? Can international sports events really “harm” international relationships? Of course they can’t!!! You can argue that they do not promote peace, but you can’t say that they “harm” it – that’s ludicrous. I see this problem all the time. A student is so desperate to use a “while” sentence that they invent an “opposite side” that makes no sense.

The lesson? If you are not given any “people” in an IELTS To What Extent Essay question, do not add them to your introduction (and definitely don’t invent an opposite position for them that makes no sense!)

How to write good  IELTS Agree/Disagree Introductions

So, how should we write good introductions for this type of essay? Well, it will depend on the question. Let’s start by looking at questions like the one above i.e. that give us a STATEMENT to agree or disagree with.

Questions where we are given a STATEMENT / FACT  

50% of IELTS To What Extent questions just give you a sentence or a statement to agree or disagree with. Don’t worry too much about what “statement” means, all you need to know is that these questions do not include the words “some believe”.  Take this question for example:

Employers should give longer holidays to employees to help them do their job more efficiently . To what extent do you agree or disagree? =   STATEMENT 

The underlined part does not start with “Some believe” so we should not invent people who have the opposite view. All we have to do is tell the examiner what WE believe. If you have a question like this in your exam, I recommend you use one of these introductions, depending on your opinion:

Agree: Most people take some time off work each year to travel abroad or spend time with their friends and family.   In fact, I agree  that staff should be given longer holidays as it will motivate them and help them to improve their performance at work.

We cannot use a “while” sentence here as there is no contrast. Instead, we simply say “I agree” and paraphrase the statement . Note that I used “In fact” to join the sentences. I think that these are the only words that you need to transition in this sentence. Here, I have given the two specific reasons why I agree, but you don’t have to do this. If you want to keep things super simple, you can just say:

Most people take some time off work each year to travel abroad or spend time with their friends and family. In fact, I agree  that  giving  staff longer holidays makes them more efficient in the workplace   for two reasons.

OK, so that’s what you should write if you agree, but what happened if you disagree? Well, we simply switch “in fact” for “however”, and “agree” for “disagree” – simple!

Disagree: Most people take some time off work each year to travel abroad or spend time with their friends and family. However, I disagree  that staff should be given longer holidays as it will cost businesses too much money and could actually demotivate the employees.

Again, if you want to, you can save the specific arguments for the body of the essay and just replace it with “for two reasons”. Please NEVER use “due to two reasons” or “because of two reasons” as “due to” and “because of” have the same meaning as “reason”. It sounds strange having both in one sentence!

OK, so now we know how to write introductions for questions that give a statement (and I am assuming that you are going to strongly agree or disagree for reasons that I outline in  this blog post ), but what do we do when there ARE “some people” in a question?

Question where we are given an OPINION to agree or disagree with

I have to admit that this is a relatively new type of question (well, for somebody who has been teaching IELTS for almost 20 years, it feels new!). In the past, nearly all IELTS To What Extent questions gave just a statement, but more and more now give an OPINION. It’s easy to recognise when we are being given an opinion because the task will include the words “Some people believe” or “Some people think”:

Some people think that children should be taught how to manage money at school.  To what extent do you agree or disagree?  = OPINION

Again, we now have two options – to agree or to disagree. Last time, the choice didn’t make a great deal of difference to the language in our introduction, but here it does. Let’s imagine that you agree:

Agree: Being able to handle money effectively is an important life skill.   In fact, I agree with those who believe that financial literacy should be taught in school for two reasons.

Can you see what I did here? I didn’t just say “I agree”, or use the silly phrase “Some people think that financial literacy should be taught in schools and I agree ” (adding “and I agree” to the end of a sentence is the weakest way to present an opinion) ! No, I used the phrase “I agree with those”. If you choose to disagree here, well, you can FINALLY use your friend the “while” sentence as you DO disagree with “some people”!

Disagree: Being able to handle money effectively is an important life skill.   However,  while  some  believe that  financial literacy should be taught in school, I feel that it is better  learned when people are older and already in the workplace.

This is the ONLY variant of the four introductions where we can use ‘while’ as it is the only time that we disagree with a group of people!

IELTS To What Extent Essay Introductions Summary

Ok, there is a lot of information here, but if you think about it carefully, the logic is simple, so let’s re-cap.

• If you are given a statement,  never say “some people” but simply state if you agree or disagree (NO “while” sentences!).
• If you are given an opinion , use the phrase “I agree with those who feel” if you agree, or a “while” sentence if you disagree.

Trust me – if you can remember these simple rules, you are going to make a GREAT first impression. Using the right introduction shows the examiner that you are a student who can use language flexibly (and not one who uses the same introduction for EVERY essay!).

If you found this lesson useful, you are going to LOVE my video writing lessons , which contain clear and simple instructions like this for EVERY aspect of IELTS writing. So don’t delay, come and join us in My IELTS Classroom today and start getting the help you need to achieve IELTS success.

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How to Answer To What Extent Questions

When you have an essay-based examination or a history assessment task that you need to pass with flying colors, knowing how to answer to what extent questions is an important factor in getting good grades and covering the topic. “To what degree” questions puzzle us all, but I recommend starting with the definition. It’s easy to get severe anxiety before the day of the test and just scribble down all that you know on the topic without ever looking back or thinking twice. What I suggest is understanding the nature of to what extent questions and coming up with a to what extent answer that will make your teacher happy.

What does to what extent mean? To what extent is a common question for an important exam that allows you to demonstrate your analytical skills and knowledge of a certain topic. It also encourages you to structure information into paragraphs to make sure you evaluate the extent of a specific event correctly. You should also remember that to what degree questions are often used interchangeably with to what extent questions. When it comes to historical essays, it usually means you need to attribute a higher or lesser level of importance to a particular event. On the scale of importance, there are high, equal, and low levels of importance. In my experience, history essays often provide you with two meaningful historical dates or events, asking you to assign a higher degree of importance to one or the other. You will be required to evaluate the extent to which these historical occasions affect the world and name a few factors contributing to this impact.

To What Extent Questions: Essay Examples

If you know how to answer a to what extent question, you can provide your teacher with a written analysis of ancient or modern history and impress the classroom with your knowledge. I would like you to look at the question that features two comparative elements in one sentence:

To what extent were Nero’s personal ambitions more important than his relationship with the Roman Senate in 54 AD?

Here, the students are required to analyze each element (Nero’s personal life and Nero’s social life) to determine which of the two held more weight during his political career. After you compare these elements, you can write a comprehensive answer and assume which of the aspects was more important.

Below is one of the to what extent examples that features a single element of comparison:

To what extent was the collapse of Ancient Greece the result of the nation’s own actions?

In this example, we only have one factor to base our answer on. Since there are no supporting elements you can use for a detailed comparison, you have to possess enough background knowledge to compare the Greek nation against other aspects that caused the possible decline. You also have to know how to answer to what extent questions using available source materials.

To What Extent Questions: Structuring an Answer

How do you answer a to what extent question once you have determined the two elements you need to compare? I have created a formula that will help you deliver a more informative answer during your exam. Think of your answer as your main hypothesis. What should you do with a hypothesis once you are faced with two factors that need to be compared based on your essay requirements? Your hypothesis should feature a clear answer indicating which of the two elements has more significance. For example, you have a question asking you to evaluate the extent to which the rise of Christianity was attributed to the promise of salvation or the missionary activity among the believers.

The following phrases will help you figure out which of the two elements has greater importance:

• The promise of salvation was, to a greater degree, more significant for the rise of Christianity than the missionary activity.
• We can name the promise of eternal life and salvation as the primary cause for the rise of Christianity despite the role of missionary activity.
• While the activities of separate missionaries did play a part in spreading Christianity, the promise of salvation was the most important aspect of this religion’s flourishing.

You will notice that these examples give you the necessary clues on how to answer to what extent question. They feature two subjects that you are comparing (you can refer to them as Factor 1 and Factor 2), the topic that unites these two factors, and your argument on why you think one of the two factors is more important.What does to what extent mean in an essay? To deliver an in-depth reply, it is essential to provide an explanation that is backed by detailed source evidence and material. This will help you round out your argument and make it more convincing. As a result, your hypothesis will provide significant historical evidence to support your claims that the spiritual aspect of Christianity was more important than the missionary activities. Analyze the strengths and weaknesses that your hypothesis carries and make sure the teacher reading your essay understands which of the two elements is more important.

To What Degree Essay: Introduction and Paragraphs

Now that we finally decided which of the two factors, Factor 1 or Factor 2, is more significant to our hypothesis, it’s time to structure our to what extent essay example and present it to the classroom. Normally, the teachers would assign a five-paragraph structure to help you evaluate to the extent meaning of the question and deliver a more thorough response. Here is how the standard essay goes:

• Introduction Paragraph : Here, you briefly describe two elements and your topic, explaining why you think one of the elements is more important than the other.
• Three Body Paragraphs : You have to dedicate two paragraphs to the element you think is the most important, with two paragraphs providing separate reasons why the chosen element has more impact. The third paragraph should describe a less significant element, where you give a rational explanation of why you think it matters less than your primary factor.
• Concluding Paragraph : Your conclusion should have a short summary of arguments in favor of each side, with the final sentence suggesting your initial assumption is true and that your primary factor is more important than the one with the least contribution.

Start each paragraph with a topic sentence that features an argument. It will convince the readers the element you chose as a primary one is more important than the second element. For example:

• Factor 1 is the most significant element because
• Another reason Factor 1 is more important is because
• Factor 2 has a lesser impact because

If your essay follows the same structure, you will see that two-thirds of your paper is written in favor of a more significant element to strengthen your argument. The reason a long essay question is so important for crafting a compelling text is that it tests your ability to provide convincing historical evidence.

If you ever feel like you need assistance with “to what extent” papers and long essay questions, you can always check best paper writing service reviews and find someone to write a hypothesis for you. A reliable writing service is your key to success in creating a paper that stands out because of its quality and adherence to the rules. To what extent essays can be a serious challenge for someone who aspires to get the best grades, so hiring a credible expert to perform the task is the best decision you can make.

Tips on How to Answer To What Extent Questions

Every time you ask yourself, “What is an essay question?” or “How can I do my “to what extent” assignment?” use the tips below for a more effective argument. It is not uncommon to be given three factors you need to assign importance to, in which case you dedicate a separate paragraph to each factor.

If there is only one factor that you need to consider in your essay, with no alternatives or second elements provided, it probably indicates a poorly written question or the fact that you need to do your own research. Here is what you need to know before you start reading about essay type questions examples and to what extent questions:

Make sure you understand the question . It may sound obvious, but you have no idea how complicated a LEQ example can be. Let’s take one of the most popular to what extent questions concerning ancient philosophy:

To what extent was Pythagoras more a philosopher with unusual beliefs than a mathematician?

It is not enough for a student to know who Pythagoras is or when he was born. These are basic facts someone like me, who is not a historian, can google in less than a minute. You have to analyze two elements laid out in front of you and decide which one holds more significance, given the historical figure of Pythagoras, his achievements, beliefs, and philosophical genius. If you don't have credible source material and don’t understand the question, you won’t be able to assign importance to one of the factors because you will have no idea where to start.

Provide an argument to support your statement . Even if you managed to attribute more significance to one of the elements, the work doesn’t end there. You have to support your claim with factual statements - the more accurate, the better. You know that Pythagoras was interested in mysticism, and his Pythagorean Theorem was not the only accomplishment he could be proud of? Use these facts in favor of one of the elements. Know some tales about his life and deeds that present a less popular opinion? Include that in your “to what extent” answer and see how quickly you can make an impression with your argument.

Acknowledge the less significant factor . We all love to emphasize the points we think are important and be skeptical about other views, which is the best main topic for his response essay or any critical paper assigned to us in college. We identify the arguments made by the other side and provide our own opinion. The same happens when we completely ignore the less significant element in favor of a more important one. It is true you have to decide which one has more impact and provide enough reasoning for this element. Still, you need to acknowledge the less important factor’s existence. It will show that you are a true scholar who views both sides of the argument before making assumptions.

Once you identified the two factors you need to compare in a to what extent question, you have to assign more importance to one of the factors and provide arguments on why your opinion is valid. Your essay structure should reflect your point, with two-thirds of the essay dedicated to a more important element and one-third of the essay providing the details on a less significant element. Sometimes, you will be asked to prove the validity of three equally important points or answer a “to what degree” question with only one factor to consider. In this case, you are expected to use reliable source material for your answer and conduct individual research.

The purpose of a “to what extent” question is to make you look at both sides of the argument and choose the most important factor that contributed to a certain historical event or occasion.

You have to choose one element as a more contributing one to build a convincing argument around it and show your audience you are familiar with the source material.

You always have to support your claims with facts and make sure you understand the topic. Unlike personal essays, “to what extent” papers require you to prove your point with factual evidence.

You can break down the question into several parts. Start with a more important factor and write arguments in its favor. Once you’ve finished explaining its importance, describe a less significant element and its impact.

“To what extent” questions help us view the subject from multiple perspectives and develop our argumentative skills as we evaluate evidence, examine different elements of the question, and organize our ideas.

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to what extent

Definition of to what extent

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Written Nov. 27, 2019

How to Answer, "To What Extent" Questions

1. First, Consider These Points

First, absolutely every word in the Task 2 question wording has IMPORTANCE and cannot be ignored if you want to get a good score for your essay.

Let's look at an example.

Example Question

Every year several languages die out. Some people think that this is not important because life will be easier if there are fewer languages in the world. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion? (Cambridge IELTS Book 9, Test 4, Task 2 AC)

You need to classify the types of sentences. First, " Every year several languages die out " is a statement. "Statements" are considered to be the same as "facts", more or less. A "fact" is assumed to be true. Maybe you don't really know what "die out" means in relation to languages. In relation to living species, it means the same as "become extinct". E.g., "Dinosaurs have died out (= are extinct)". Let's assume that a language is similar to a living species and can become extinct. (= people are no longer using that language).

Notice the use of " several ". It is an inexact word , i.e., not very specific.

" Some people think that this is not important " is a statement about the opinion of "some people".

Whenever, "some people" is used, (in an essay question or in life in general), one's attention should be aroused and the question asked, "What people?", "Who?"

"Not important" is quite different language to the use of the word, "several", as mentioned above. "Not" is an exact word, meaning something like "zero" or "none", which are both mathematically exact concepts.

So, the opinion of these people is that the death of several languages every year has ZERO importance! Very few people would agree that the death of anything has zero importance! Therefore, a logical person cannot agree with this opinion. "Cannot" is an exact word, meaning " no agreement whatsoever with those words as they are expressed ".

An important point to understand is that the words " not important " and " not very important " are very different in meaning. " Not important " means " having zero importance ", 0%. " Not very important " is inexact and means something like, "lower than about 60% or 70% in importance".

Furthermore, whenever the word, " important " is used in a question, you should always consider the question, "Important to whom?" Similarly, you need to consider whose lives might be made easier if there were fewer languages. (Is life really made easier for those people whose ancestral language becomes extinct and who have no choice but to use a language that is not their ancestral language?)

2. Answering the Question, " To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion? "

The words, "To what extent?" mean the same as, "How much?" In other words, you are asked to estimate how much you agree, from " I do not agree at all " (0% agreement) to " I fully agree " (100% agreement).

The question, " To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion? " is a direct question. In the English-speaking cultures, it is both polite and the best form of communication to directly answer a direct question. "Directly answer" means not waiting too long in your essay before answering it, and answering in clear, direct language. This is called an "explicit" answer.

The opposite of that is an "implicit" (= an implied) answer where the reader can quire clearly see by what you wrote how much you agree, but you, the writer, do not actually state your own estimate of how much you agree. If you want to get the best score you can (for the Task Response sub-score), you MUST write an explicit statement of how much you agree. Almost always, this should be stated in the first paragraph, not at the end of the essay.

Obviously, if you think you 75% agree, then you 25% disagree. And if you only 25% agree then you 75% disagree. The question gives you a choice about how to express your degree of agreement but logically you should express it in terms of what you mostly think, agreement or disagreement. So, if you 75% agree, write in terms of how much you agree, but if you 75% disagree, express yourself in terms of how much you disagree.

For this particular example, you are not being asked to state how much you think it is important that languages are dying out, and you are not being asked to state how much you think it is simply ' unimportant " �  You are being asked to state how much you think it is 'unimportant because life will be easier if there are fewer languages in the world.' (Those are the words in this particular question wording.) That is, how much do you agree with both parts of that two-part statement?

If you think it is unimportant but you think it is unimportant for other reasons instead of, "life being easier" then you only "partially agree" with that statement. You should write that in answer to the question, "To what extent . . ?" and explain it in your essay. On the other hand, if you think the fact that languages are dying out is important (the opposite to what the question statement in this particular question says), then you disagree with the statement in the question wording, regardless of why "some people" think it is unimportant (life being easier).

Some example sentences of how to express your extent of agreement or disagreement are shown below.

Free IELTS lessons signup

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

To what extent you agree or disagree essay

This lesson will guide you how to write essays in IELTS Writing that ask you to what extent you agree/disagree . Such questions are very common for IELTS Writing task 2 . In such essays your task is to say whether you:

• completely agree with a given statement 
• completely disagree with a given statement 
• partly agree / disagree

and  justify your opinion .

In this lesson you will see IELTS writing task 2 sample question + model answer . Also, you will learn the following points:

• how to decide on your opinion
• how to generate ideas to justify your opinion
• how to give a band 9 answer for agree/disagree question

To what extent you agree/disagree question sample

Let’s look at an example of IELTS writing task 2:

The government's investment in arts, music and theatre is a waste of money. Governments should invest these funds in public services instead.

To what extent do you agree with this statement?

Choose your opinion & generate ideas

Unlike classic agree/disagree questions, to what extent you agree or disagree questions do NOT ask you to clearly determine whether you agree or disagree with the given statement.

In fact, you have 3 major options for your opinion :

   AA : You completely agree (provide 2 ideas that strengthen the statement)    DD : You completely disagree (provide 2 ideas that weaken the statement)    AD : You agree or disagree partly (provide 1 idea that strengthens the statement and 1 idea that weakens it)

After you’ve decided your opinion,  generate 2-3 supporting points for it .

Now let’s generate supporting points for each of the opinions:

AA: Investment in arts, music and theatre is a waste of money

• Art, music and theatre don’t help to solve urgent problems of the society
• Art and music can develop as hobbies, and saved money can be directed towards urgent needs of the society
• If artists and musicians were employed at more traditional jobs, there would be a great benefit for science and industry

DD: Investment in arts, music and theatre is NOT a waste of money

• The arts and music preserve unique culture and heritage, passing nation’s cultural character and traditions to future generations
• Arts, music and theatre are an integral part of the society’s cultural and intellectual development and amusement
• A strong arts, music and theatre sector is an economic asset that creates new jobs and attracts tourism revenue

For this opinion, just combine ideas from the previous points.

For our essay, we’ll choose the last opinion - partially agree / disagree (AD).

Band 9 answer structure

There are a lot of ways to structure your essay, but we’ll use a structure that has been approved by many IELTS examiners to be high-scoring and coherent. Band-9 essay structure :

• Introduction

Body paragraph 1 - the 1st supporting point

• Body paragraph 2 - the 2nd supporting point

As you already know, you can write the supporting points of your body paragraphs in the following ways: agree + agree, disagree + disagree, agree + disagree. We’ll use the last option as our opinion is partially agree / disagree .

Let’s take a look at each of these sections in detail.

• Sentence 1 - paraphrase the statement  (you can use ‘ it is argued/considered/thought that ’ to start):

It is often argued that the government should finance public services instead of spending its budget on arts, music and theatre. 

• Sentence 2 - give your opinion :

Although I agree that government’s investments in public services play a very important role, I think that proper funding of arts sector is also crucial for the society.

• Sentence 1 - state the first reason you agree/disagree .

This sentence should contain the main idea of the whole 1st paragraph. In our case we’ll use the reason A: why it is important to finance public services. As we’ll be considering opposite opinions, it is a good idea to use a collocation on the one hand to introduce the first reason:

On the one hand, the government should definitely allocate a large part of its budget on public services.

• Sentences 2-3 - explain the reason .

To explain the reason effectively, you can imagine that your examiner didn’t understand what you were talking about and you have to explain every detail:

This economic sector determines the overall quality of life, ensuring that some basic services, like schools, hospitals and roads, are available to all citizens irrespective of their income or social status. Public services satisfy the primary needs of the society and thus need a proper funding, while artists and musicians are not curing diseases or building houses, so their role is secondary.

• Sentence 4 - example .

It’s always good to give examples in your body paragraphs, even if you’re not asked to do it (like in our case):

For example, any country can live without music concerts, but absence of medicine will create significant problems.

• Sentence 5 - a short summary of your ideas in this paragraph :

That’s why the government should adequately finance public services in the first place.

Body paragraph 2 - the 2nd reason you agree/disagree

• Sentence 1 - state the second reason you agree/disagree .

This statement should contain the main idea of the whole 2nd paragraph. This time we’ll use the reason D: why it is important to finance public services. As we are considering opposite opinions, it is a good idea to use a phrase on the other hand to introduce the second reason:

On the other hand, arts, music and theatre are not a waste of money, since they are an integral part of the society’s cultural and intellectual development and amusement.

• Sentences 2-3 - explain the reason  (assume that your examiner doesn’t understand the topic at all):

Firstly, art and music draw people’s attention to diverse phenomena and represent the inward significance of things. Quite often a single drawing, piece or song can exhort myriads of people to reconsider their attitude towards some situation. This way, art serves as a major source of nation’s personal and intellectual development. Moreover, visiting museums, watching movies and listening to music are common ways of relaxation and entertainment.

• Sentence 4 - support your idea with an example :

The question doesn’t ask us to give examples, plus we’ve already written a lot in this paragraph, so we’ll skip this point. 

• Sentence 5 - a short summary of your thoughts in the 2nd paragraph .

Thus, art sector is also important for the society and should not be neglected.

You can write the conclusion in  one sentence that summarizes your opinion + 2 reasons for it :

To conclude, though I agree that the government should allocate a large part of its budget on such urgent needs of the society like public services, I think that arts, music and theatre should also be financed since they play an important role in people’s development and entertainment.

DO NOT write new ideas in the conclusion!

Model answer

This is a full band-9 answer for to what extent you agree or disagree IELTS Writing question above:

It is often argued that the government should finance public services instead of spending its budget on arts, music and theatre. Although I agree that government’s investments in public services play a very important role, I think that proper funding of arts sector is also crucial for the society.

On the one hand, the government should definitely allocate a large part of its budget on public services. This economic sector determines the overall quality of life, ensuring that some basic services, like schools, hospitals and roads, are available to all citizens irrespective of their income or social status. Public services satisfy the primary needs of the society and thus need a proper funding, while artists and musicians are not curing diseases or building houses, so their role is secondary. For example, any country can live without music concerts, but absence of medicine will create significant problems. That’s why the government should adequately finance public services in the first place.

On the other hand, arts, music and theatre are not a waste of money, since they are an integral part of the society’s cultural and intellectual development and amusement. Firstly, art and music draw people’s attention to diverse phenomena and represent the inward significance of things. Quite often a single drawing, piece or song can exhort myriads of people to reconsider their attitude towards some situation. This way, art serves as a major source of nation’s personal and intellectual development. Moreover, visiting museums, watching movies and listening to music are common ways of relaxation and entertainment. Thus, art sector is also important for the society and should not be neglected.

How to Answer “To What Extent Essay” Question

Jan 26, 2022

Jan 26, 2022 | Blog

Introduction

Essay-based examinations are one of the most devastating exams students have to face.

These exams are devastating and intimidating because you have to understand all the facts and information about an essay.

Want to read a First-class “to what extent essay…” paper? Here at EssayFreelanceWriters.Com, our specialty is writing exceptional essays to use as inspiration and learning for your own argumentative essay writing and coursework writing.

Unsure where to start with how to answer to what extent essay? Please send us your essay title , and let our academics guide you to success.

The most common extent questions that we will tackle include;

• “To what extent..”
• “How does the writer….”
• “Compare and contrast….”
• “For and against….”
• Close reference

How to answer “To what extent Essay” Question

Popular question types that appear on exams is one that starts with the phrase, “To what extent/degree.” Although it appears frequently and especially in exam papers, some teachers or students may not know how to write a sophisticated response.

Thankfully these common questions are simple as long as you know specifically what they’re asking for.

Being asked to write an essay response for a “To what extent’ question” can be daunting, but don’t worry! I’m here to help.

This blog post will explain how you should answer this inquiry type and provide tips on writing your assessment pieces to be concise and confident.

Understanding the “To What Extent Questions”

To start, it is important to understand the meaning of ‘degrees’ or ‘extent’ in this type of question.

Regardless if one word is used over another, they both mean the same thing: they ask you to assign a degree on how influential or important a particular factor is regarding that topic at hand.

There are many ways to measure the importance of something, but a simple scale can be helpful.

The most important question you will be asked in the essay test is to what degree/extent. It would help if you argued which of two things was more important and why it should win over its competitor.

So, you will argue that one of the two factors was “to a greater degree” important while the other is “to a lesser extent.”

Many factors can come into play when it comes to who or what is the most important.

There may be a time when only one factor was necessary for someone’s success, but this would not often happen as there are always other contributing elements at hand.

In a nutshell, an essay question that asks, “to what extent…” is generally prompting you to explain how much you agree with the idea being posed.

It is not – as is sometimes thought by students – asking whether you outright agree or disagree with the idea.

With these types of questions, if you choose not to agree with the idea being posed, you might end up with a very short essay, or worse, with a failing grade.

So, if the answer to a “to what extent…” essay question is nearly always “yes, I agree,” you might wonder what the point of the essay is. The key here is in understanding the essay questions.

To What Extent Essay Writing

This is one of the most asked essay questions when it comes to exams.

You will see these questions appearing in different papers many times because the examiner wants them to exhibit their diverse skills in the subject.

The examiner wants to see how well you understand the subject that is being talked about.

How well you can explain your knowledge concerning the subject is also examined in the question.

This kind of question will also help students display their judgments concerning specific information they have captured from the subject matter.

There are many difficulties when it comes to write-ups that ask ‘Agree or Disagree.’ The IELTS writing popularizes this type of writing–the most famous test people take to prove their English language expertise.

With this article, we will guide you on which structure might work best for your essay writing and how you can generate ideas and support them with evidence within a sentence.

Before all that, though, check out some questions one could expect during an International Language Testing System (IELTS).

‘To What Extent Questions Examples

IELTS exams are challenging and can feel impossible. There’s a lot of waiting around, but don’t worry! The writing will help you get through the test with ease. They’ll give you an idea of what to expect in your exam as well so that it won’t be completely foreign when taking them out into real-life situations such as job interviews or meetings at work–or even just regular conversations with friends about current events.

• Young people make the best leaders of today’s tech-driven organizations. How much do you concur or disapprove?
• Public libraries have been a waste of resources since computer technology evolved. Discuss.
• Age group is a key determinant of purchasing decisions. Do you concede or dissent? To what degree?

What to include in your Custom “To What Great Extent ” or “To Very small Extent” Essay.

When it comes to answering the to what extent question, there are two things that you need to include.

1) You need to ensure that you have detailed source evidence and extra material to support your argument.

When you have evidence concerning what you are talking about, you will earn marks because you know what you are talking about concerning the subject.

Having the evidence will also help you to support your argument and judgments.

2) You should be able to link to wider issues, topics, or arguments that support your point of view.

Your ability to produce other factors that affect your point of view will widen the importance of your argument.

These two elements are very important when answering “to what extent questions” in an essay.

It is important to remember that in answering this type of essay question, ensure you stick to the general structure and change only those places that require changes.

Being able to analyze your evidence is also very important.

When it comes to analyzing your evidence, get some questions that can help you out.

For example, get to answer the potential weaknesses that the evidence has.

How to structure your custom to what extent essay

When you consider essay writers, we will help you develop a series of custom essay formats.

The importance of these custom essay formats is to help you to answer essay-based questions correctly briefly. When you consider us, you will excel in your examinations because we offer a step-to-step solution to the questions. You will learn and get more information concerning

When it comes to answering to what extent kind of question, a custom essay should look as follows.

It is important to ensure that your introduction is brief and as clear as possible, and you understand the requirements of the question.

Here you are expected to give a brief answer to the question given.

To what extent question, you need to ensure you agree with the statement of the example essay question to a certain extent.

Consider taking into account other aspects that influence the essay topic .

Body Paragraph 1 and 2

To prove the assumption stated is true in a question, you are expected to provide detailed evidence.

This is what paragraphs one and two are all about.

You are also supposed to explain why the question is true based on the evidence that you have.

You are also expected to answer the question as a whole.

Incorporating detailed evidence will always demonstrate how much you know of the subject matter and will help to support the angle and strength of your argument.

Linking sentence

The linking sentence part is where you run through the main points you explained in paragraphs 1 and 2.

It is also important to know that this kind of question cannot completely be true because you will explain other aspects that play a part in the subject.

Paragraphs 3 and 4

This part of the essay will explain the extent to which the question is not true.

You can do this in two ways.

• You can do this by showing the weaknesses in the question.
• You can also do this by giving alternatives.

To answer to what degree questions essay, you must end your essay through a concluding summary.

Any ‘To what extent’ custom essay must end with a conclusion that answers the question. Recap the points that suggest it was true and the points against, and then conclude whether you agree the statement is true ‘To a certain extent, ‘To a great extent, or ‘To a very small extent.

The concluding summary will answer the overall question. You can do the concluding summary in the following way. Highlight points that claim the question to be true. Highlight the points that claim the question to be untrue.

After you have done this, do a conclusion based on your judgment on whether you agree with the statement to be true and to which extent.

You can either agree with the statement to a great extent, a small extent, or to a certain extent.

It is also important to ensure you conclude with a summary of both sides’ arguments and explain why you choose one side over the other.

Once you are done doing this, it is important to consider going through the formatting guidelines to ensure your work is clean and required.

It is essential to proofread your work so that it can be free from errors and omissions.

Get help with your To what Extent Essay Questions

You can consider getting a proofreader who can help you out because you may miss out on some errors and omissions when you proofread your work.

When you have written your essay correctly, you will be assured of getting the best grades.

With a passion for helping students navigate their educational journey, I strive to create informative and relatable blog content. Whether it’s tackling exam stress, offering career guidance, or sharing effective study techniques

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how to answer a "to what extent" question?

By Md_zS July 27, 2011 in Extended Essay

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What does "to what extent" really mean?

How exactly do you answer a to what extent question?

My research question is : " to what extent do dreams and the conscious mind interact?"

Do I answer in my thesis, as: Dreams and the conscious mind influence each other to a large extent? I'm confused.

BTW. what exactly is the structure of EE?

Is it like a typical 3 argument essay? How many arguments do I exactly need?

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"To what extent" means that you evaluate evidence for and against in order to come to a measured conclusion as to the degree of agreement. For instance, ways in which dreams and the conscious mind DO interact, ways in which they don't interact and then your conclusion that takes into account both and decides overall how much they agree (i.e. the extent to which they do/don't). The idea of a "thesis" and a "thesis statement" is confusing, so scrap both of those as concepts and just answer the question. You're conducting a sort-of evaluative research essay, not setting out to ramble on about your views as is the assumption with a thesis statement. You find out as you go along, rather than declaring anything to begin with.

Secondly, there's no such thing as a typical 3 argument essay(??). All essays contain as many arguments as they need to make your point. For the EE this should be all main points both for and against. You can leave out some more trivial points, but ideally you should get in all of the relevant points. If you find this is too many or too few, either narrow your title down or expand it up because you'll be penalised for having a bad topic otherwise. The structure is usually an introduction then whatever you want in between (usually for / against arguments with evidence) and then a conclusion. Read the EE guide for advice on the abstract etc.

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What is climate change mitigation and why is it urgent?

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• Climate change mitigation involves actions to reduce or prevent greenhouse gas emissions from human activities.
• Mitigation efforts include transitioning to renewable energy sources, enhancing energy efficiency, adopting regenerative agricultural practices and protecting and restoring forests and critical ecosystems.
• Effective mitigation requires a whole-of-society approach and structural transformations to reduce emissions and limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
• International cooperation, for example through the Paris Agreement, is crucial in guiding and achieving global and national mitigation goals.
• Mitigation efforts face challenges such as the world's deep-rooted dependency on fossil fuels, the increased demand for new mineral resources and the difficulties in revamping our food systems.
• These challenges also offer opportunities to improve resilience and contribute to sustainable development.

What is climate change mitigation?

Climate change mitigation refers to any action taken by governments, businesses or people to reduce or prevent greenhouse gases, or to enhance carbon sinks that remove them from the atmosphere. These gases trap heat from the sun in our planet’s atmosphere, keeping it warm. 

Since the industrial era began, human activities have led to the release of dangerous levels of greenhouse gases, causing global warming and climate change. However, despite unequivocal research about the impact of our activities on the planet’s climate and growing awareness of the severe danger climate change poses to our societies, greenhouse gas emissions keep rising. If we can slow down the rise in greenhouse gases, we can slow down the pace of climate change and avoid its worst consequences.

Reducing greenhouse gases can be achieved by:

• Shifting away from fossil fuels : Fossil fuels are the biggest source of greenhouse gases, so transitioning to modern renewable energy sources like solar, wind and geothermal power, and advancing sustainable modes of transportation, is crucial.
• Improving energy efficiency : Using less energy overall – in buildings, industries, public and private spaces, energy generation and transmission, and transportation – helps reduce emissions. This can be achieved by using thermal comfort standards, better insulation and energy efficient appliances, and by improving building design, energy transmission systems and vehicles.
• Changing agricultural practices : Certain farming methods release high amounts of methane and nitrous oxide, which are potent greenhouse gases. Regenerative agricultural practices – including enhancing soil health, reducing livestock-related emissions, direct seeding techniques and using cover crops – support mitigation, improve resilience and decrease the cost burden on farmers.
• The sustainable management and conservation of forests : Forests act as carbon sinks , absorbing carbon dioxide and reducing the overall concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Measures to reduce deforestation and forest degradation are key for climate mitigation and generate multiple additional benefits such as biodiversity conservation and improved water cycles.
• Restoring and conserving critical ecosystems : In addition to forests, ecosystems such as wetlands, peatlands, and grasslands, as well as coastal biomes such as mangrove forests, also contribute significantly to carbon sequestration, while supporting biodiversity and enhancing climate resilience.
• Creating a supportive environment : Investments, policies and regulations that encourage emission reductions, such as incentives, carbon pricing and limits on emissions from key sectors are crucial to driving climate change mitigation.

Photo: Stephane Bellerose/UNDP Mauritius

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What is the 1.5°C goal and why do we need to stick to it?

In 2015, 196 Parties to the UN Climate Convention in Paris adopted the Paris Agreement , a landmark international treaty, aimed at curbing global warming and addressing the effects of climate change. Its core ambition is to cap the rise in global average temperatures to well below 2°C above levels observed prior to the industrial era, while pursuing efforts to limit the increase to 1.5°C.

The 1.5°C goal is extremely important, especially for vulnerable communities already experiencing severe climate change impacts. Limiting warming below 1.5°C will translate into less extreme weather events and sea level rise, less stress on food production and water access, less biodiversity and ecosystem loss, and a lower chance of irreversible climate consequences.

To limit global warming to the critical threshold of 1.5°C, it is imperative for the world to undertake significant mitigation action. This requires a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 45 percent before 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by mid-century.

What are the policy instruments that countries can use to drive mitigation?

Everyone has a role to play in climate change mitigation, from individuals adopting sustainable habits and advocating for change to governments implementing regulations, providing incentives and facilitating investments. The private sector, particularly those businesses and companies responsible for causing high emissions, should take a leading role in innovating, funding and driving climate change mitigation solutions. 

International collaboration and technology transfer is also crucial given the global nature and size of the challenge. As the main platform for international cooperation on climate action, the Paris Agreement has set forth a series of responsibilities and policy tools for its signatories. One of the primary instruments for achieving the goals of the treaty is Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) . These are the national climate pledges that each Party is required to develop and update every five years. NDCs articulate how each country will contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhance climate resilience.   While NDCs include short- to medium-term targets, long-term low emission development strategies (LT-LEDS) are policy tools under the Paris Agreement through which countries must show how they plan to achieve carbon neutrality by mid-century. These strategies define a long-term vision that gives coherence and direction to shorter-term national climate targets.

Photo: Mucyo Serge/UNDP Rwanda

Photo: William Seal/UNDP Sudan

At the same time, the call for climate change mitigation has evolved into a call for reparative action, where high-income countries are urged to rectify past and ongoing contributions to the climate crisis. This approach reflects the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) which advocates for climate justice, recognizing the unequal historical responsibility for the climate crisis, emphasizing that wealthier countries, having profited from high-emission activities, bear a greater obligation to lead in mitigating these impacts. This includes not only reducing their own emissions, but also supporting vulnerable countries in their transition to low-emission development pathways.

Another critical aspect is ensuring a just transition for workers and communities that depend on the fossil fuel industry and its many connected industries. This process must prioritize social equity and create alternative employment opportunities as part of the shift towards renewable energy and more sustainable practices.

For emerging economies, innovation and advancements in technology have now demonstrated that robust economic growth can be achieved with clean, sustainable energy sources. By integrating renewable energy technologies such as solar, wind and geothermal power into their growth strategies, these economies can reduce their emissions, enhance energy security and create new economic opportunities and jobs. This shift not only contributes to global mitigation efforts but also sets a precedent for sustainable development.

What are some of the challenges slowing down climate change mitigation efforts?

Mitigating climate change is fraught with complexities, including the global economy's deep-rooted dependency on fossil fuels and the accompanying challenge of eliminating fossil fuel subsidies. This reliance – and the vested interests that have a stake in maintaining it – presents a significant barrier to transitioning to sustainable energy sources.

The shift towards decarbonization and renewable energy is driving increased demand for critical minerals such as copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt, and rare earth metals. Since new mining projects can take up to 15 years to yield output, mineral supply chains could become a bottleneck for decarbonization efforts. In addition, these minerals are predominantly found in a few, mostly low-income countries, which could heighten supply chain vulnerabilities and geopolitical tensions.

Furthermore, due to the significant demand for these minerals and the urgency of the energy transition, the scaled-up investment in the sector has the potential to exacerbate environmental degradation, economic and governance risks, and social inequalities, affecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples, local communities, and workers. Addressing these concerns necessitates implementing social and environmental safeguards, embracing circular economy principles, and establishing and enforcing responsible policies and regulations .

Agriculture is currently the largest driver of deforestation worldwide. A transformation in our food systems to reverse the impact that agriculture has on forests and biodiversity is undoubtedly a complex challenge. But it is also an important opportunity. The latest IPCC report highlights that adaptation and mitigation options related to land, water and food offer the greatest potential in responding to the climate crisis. Shifting to regenerative agricultural practices will not only ensure a healthy, fair and stable food supply for the world’s population, but also help to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  

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What are some examples of climate change mitigation?

In Mauritius , UNDP, with funding from the Green Climate Fund, has supported the government to install battery energy storage capacity that has enabled 50 MW of intermittent renewable energy to be connected to the grid, helping to avoid 81,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. 

In Indonesia , UNDP has been working with the government for over a decade to support sustainable palm oil production. In 2019, the country adopted a National Action Plan on Sustainable Palm Oil, which was collaboratively developed by government, industry and civil society representatives. The plan increased the adoption of practices to minimize the adverse social and environmental effects of palm oil production and to protect forests. Since 2015, 37 million tonnes of direct greenhouse gas emissions have been avoided and 824,000 hectares of land with high conservation value have been protected.

In Moldova and Paraguay , UNDP has helped set up Green City Labs that are helping build more sustainable cities. This is achieved by implementing urban land use and mobility planning, prioritizing energy efficiency in residential buildings, introducing low-carbon public transport, implementing resource-efficient waste management, and switching to renewable energy sources. 

UNDP has supported the governments of Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Indonesia to implement results-based payments through the REDD+ (Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries) framework. These include payments for environmental services and community forest management programmes that channel international climate finance resources to local actors on the ground, specifically forest communities and Indigenous Peoples. 

UNDP is also supporting small island developing states like the Comoros to invest in renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure. Through the Africa Minigrids Program , solar minigrids will be installed in two priority communities, Grand Comore and Moheli, providing energy access through distributed renewable energy solutions to those hardest to reach.

And in South Africa , a UNDP initative to boost energy efficiency awareness among the general population and improve labelling standards has taken over commercial shopping malls.

What is UNDP’s role in supporting climate change mitigation?

UNDP aims to assist countries with their climate change mitigation efforts, guiding them towards sustainable, low-carbon and climate-resilient development. This support is in line with achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to affordable and clean energy (SDG7), sustainable cities and communities (SDG11), and climate action (SDG13). Specifically, UNDP’s offer of support includes developing and improving legislation and policy, standards and regulations, capacity building, knowledge dissemination, and financial mobilization for countries to pilot and scale-up mitigation solutions such as renewable energy projects, energy efficiency initiatives and sustainable land-use practices. 

With financial support from the Global Environment Facility and the Green Climate Fund, UNDP has an active portfolio of 94 climate change mitigation projects in 69 countries. These initiatives are not only aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but also at contributing to sustainable and resilient development pathways.

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Guest Essay

Don’t Slam the Door on Inexpensive Chinese Electric Vehicles

By Gernot Wagner and Conor Walsh

Dr. Wagner and Dr. Walsh are economists at Columbia Business School.

President Biden came out swinging this week when he announced a series of steep tariffs on Chinese imports, including 25 percent on certain steel and aluminum products, 50 percent on semiconductors and solar panels and 100 percent on electric vehicles.

The administration’s official reason for the policy is simple: Chinese imports are undercutting American manufacturers in swing states like Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. And Mr. Biden wants to protect them from competition, as he pours huge amounts of government money into building up the manufacturing of electric vehicles and solar panels that can eventually compete with China’s inexpensive offerings. But the truth is, these new tariffs on electric vehicles are little more than a handout to legacy car companies like General Motors and Ford. Middle-class Americans should have access to these cars, and because of these tariffs, they will remain a luxury, available mainly to the rich.

With more cash and better credit, wealthy Americans are the only ones who can afford the electric vehicles currently on the market, which cost over $55,000 on average. A recent survey found that 83 percent of E.V. drivers in the United States had a household income above $75,000, which is the median in the country ; 57 percent had incomes above $100,000.

Low-cost Chinese models that lower- and middle-income Americans could afford — like BYD’s Seagull, which runs for less than $10,000 — aren’t currently sold here largely because of tariffs over 25 percent. The new tariffs of 100 percent will make it even harder for these cars to compete in the U.S. market.

The hope is that one day, U.S. automakers can offer Americans the low-cost electric cars they have long promised. But that’s still a long way off, in part because the companies (with the exception of Tesla) have been slow to scale up their E.V. production to the point where the costs could come down. (And Tesla, too, has scrapped plans to sell a car under $35,000.) Every electric vehicle sold still cuts into the profits they make from selling gasoline-powered vehicles, and General Motors and Ford together sold fewer than 150,000 E.V.s in 2023, a tiny fraction of the 15 million new cars sold in the United States last year.

It is clear that American car manufacturers need to catch up to the competition, and fast . The problem with using tariffs to protect them from competition is that the companies then have less incentive to invest in new technologies. Chinese companies will continue making huge strides , selling their cars abroad while cutting off opportunities for American companies to export their own products to foreign markets. What’s more, Chinese cars could still enter the United States through the back door, if companies like BYD set up manufacturing plants in Mexico or Southeast Asia.

We’ve been here before. In the 1980s, the Reagan and Bush administrations worried about the fact that Japan was dumping cheap cars onto our market. The response then was voluntary export quotas, which allowed Japanese entry into the market in a way the new tariffs will not. Japanese competition ultimately forced U.S. car manufacturers to innovate. This time around, Chinese competition could have had a similar effect.

This isn’t to say that the United States shouldn’t consider tariffs at all. There is a different kind of tariff focused on the greenhouse gas emissions created in making imported goods that would protect America’s nascent green economy and give consumers access to the cheaper clean cars and solar panels from China they want. The European Union will apply such carbon tariffs beginning in 2026, with prices now around $75 per ton of carbon dioxide, which will set an equal playing field for domestic manufacturers and importers alike. We could do the same in the United States.

Carbon tariffs create all the right incentives : They encourage foreign manufacturers to decarbonize their products, leading to a virtuous cycle of lower prices and emissions. They also enjoy bipartisan support in the United States, from senators such as Sheldon Whitehouse, Democrat of Rhode Island, and Bill Cassidy, Republican of Louisiana. Both have introduced bills that would collect tariffs based on the carbon intensity of imports.

The Biden administration is right that climate policies must work for the people of Detroit and Pittsburgh as much as they work for well-off Tesla drivers. But to accomplish these goals, it ought to be taxing China for its soaring carbon emissions, not for its electric vehicles and solar panels, which for now, at least, the United States needs badly. Given China’s soaring carbon emissions , carbon tariffs will be tough on the country, but for the right reasons.

Gernot Wagner is a climate economist at Columbia Business School. Conor Walsh is a macroeconomist at the school.

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