discuss both views questions (discussion essay)

IELTS Task 2 Question Types: Discussion Essay (Discuss both Sides/Views)

by Dave | Understanding Task 2 Writing | 0 Comment

Here I have collected actual IELTS discussion essays (discuss both sides/views) from the last several years – enjoy learning about this common task type!

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IELTS Task 2 Question Types: Discussion Essay (Discuss both Sides)

Some people think that competition at work, at school and in daily life is a good thing. Others believe that we should try to cooperate more, rather than competing against each other.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Read my essay here.

Reported on IELTS Cambridge 19

Innovation is often driven by the pursuit of profit and economic growth. However, some argue that it should prioritize addressing social and environmental issues.

Discuss both sides and give your own opinion.

Read my essay here on Patreon.

Some people believe that in a city, the best way to travel is by car, while other people argue that bicycles are a better way of travelling in a city.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Read my sample here.

Some people think the manufacturers and shopping malls should sell fewer packaged products while others argue that people have the responsibility to buy products with less packaging.

Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Some people believe that professional athletes serve as positive role models for young people, while others argue that their behavior both on and off the field can have a negative influence.

Discuss both sides and give your opinion.

Some people believe that reading is always a good habit. Others feel it depends on which books a person is reading.

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The increasing availability of low-cost airlines now lets people travel around the world. Some feel this is a positive development while others think it is negative overall.

In some countries, companies allow people to work from home. In others, people are still expected to work in an office.

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In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number of oil drilling operations in remote locations around the world. This has brought economic benefits to some countries, though it has also raised concerns about the environmental impact of these operations.

Many university students want to learn about different subjects in addition to their main subjects. Others feel it is more important to give all their time and attention to studying for their qualification.

Many think that religion should be taught in schools while others think it should be avoided.

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Some believe that students should begin learning a language very early in school while others think these subjects should be taught later.

Some feel that individuals should have the right to strike in all jobs while others feel there are exceptions.

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Some people prefer to spend their lives doing the same things and avoiding change. Others, however, think that change is always a good thing.

Many believe that the goal of one’s career should be to pursue a passion while others feel it is merely a way to earn a livelihood.

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Some people feel that cities should allow for spaces for graffiti while others feel it should be banned.

Some think newspapers are the best method for reading the news while others think other media is better .

Discuss both sides and give your own opinion .

As the number of cars increases, more money has to be spent on road systems. Some people think the government should pay for this. Others, however, think that drivers should cover the costs.

Some people believe that children of all ages should have extra responsibilities (for example, helping at home or at work). Others believe that, outside of school, children should be free to enjoy their lives. 

Some people believe more actions can be taken to prevent crime, while others think that little can be done.

Some argue that patriotism is the primary cause of wars globally. Others feel that it serves to prevent less ethical politicians from running a country and starting wars.

Some feel that punishment should focus more on rehabilitation instead of long prison terms. Others feel prison terms are important for social stability.

Read my essay on Patreon.

Some feel that individuals should try to assimilate completely to the country where they live while others feel it is more important to preserve their native culture.

Read my essay on Patreon as an EBook.

Some believe that traffic problems in cities can best be resolved by investing in urban infrastructure while others feel there are superior solutions.

Some people believe that car-free days are effective ways to reduce air pollution. However, others argue that there are other ways that are more effective.

Many governments think that economic progress is their most important goal. Some people, however, think that other types of progress are equally important for a country.

Some people believe that increasing tax on various industries will reduce pollution whereas others believe that there are better alternative ways.

Discuss both the view and give your opinion.

Some believe that money for education should mainly be spent on better computers while others believe it would be better spent on teachers.

In an era of globalization, some people think that studying abroad is the best way to attain a well-paid job while others believe other options are better.

Some people believe that professionals, such as doctors and engineers, should be required to work in the country where they did their training. Others believe they should be free to work in another country if they wish.

Discuss views and give your own opinion.

Some people feel that equality between the genders has already been achieved while others feel there is considerable progress to be made.

Some people believe that the experiences children have before they go to school will have the greatest effect on their future life. Others argue that experiences gained when they are teenagers have a bigger influence.

Discuss both views and give your own opinions.

Some feel that cities shold be designed to be beautiful while others feel their functionality is more important.

Read my essay here as an Ebook on Patreon.

In some places, old age is valued, while in other cultures youth is considered more important.

Some people think that the government should strictly control the supply of fresh water, as it is a limited resource, while others it should not be regulated.

Read my essay.

Some people think it is better to have many short holidays during the year. Others believe it would be beneficial to have fewer, longer vacations.

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In some countries, there has been an increase in the number of advertisements which try to persuade children to buy snacks, toys, and other goods. Parents often claim that these ads are unfair.

Some people say that individuals should change jobs during their working life often while others believe that doing the same job has advantages to individuals, companies, and society.

Some think that politicians should always be honest while others feel that there are times when they must lie. Discuss both sides and give your own opinion.

Many people argue that in order to improve educational quality, high school students should encouraged to question and offer criticisms on their teachers. Others think this will lead to a loss of respect and discipline in the classroom.

Some people prefer to spend their lives doing the same things and avoiding change. Others, however, think that change is always good .

Computers are becoming increasingly pervasive in modern life. Some view this is as a positive while others feel it is negative overall.

Read my sample answer here.

Some people think that children should begin their formal education at a very early age. Others think they should begin after 7 years of age.

Some people are happy to stay in the same area for their whole life, while others prefer living in many different places.

Many believe that it is important to protect all wild animals, while others think that it is important to protect some, not all of them.

Some people think that schools should not test and grade students. Others think that grades are important.

Some people think that newspapers are the best way to learn about current events. However, others believe that they can learn news better through other media.

Some people think that governments should give financial support to creative artists such as painters and musicians. Others believe that artists should be funded by alternative sources.

There is little difference in the shops now operating in various nations. Some people think this is positive development,while other believe it is negative.

Some people focus on news in their own country, while others think it is more important to be aware of international news.

Some say that children should be taught at school to recycling and avoid waste. Others say they should learn this at home.

Discuss both views and give your opinion .

Some people say that individuals who make a lot of money are the most successful. Others think that those who contribute to society like scientists and teachers are more successful.

Employers sometimes ask people applying for jobs for personal information, such as their hobbies and interests, and whether they are married or single. Some people say that this information may be relevant and useful. Others disagree.

Movies and computer games containing violence are popular. Some people say they have a negative effect on society and should be censored. Others say they are just harmless relaxation.

Some people think personal happiness is directly related to economic success, while others believe this depends on other factors.

Many people believe that it is easier to have a healthy lifestyle in the countryside. Other believe that there are health benefits to living in cities.

Some people think that students in high or secondary school can choose courses freely, others think that courses such as mathematics must be compulsory.

Some people think children should have the freedom to make mistakes, while other people believe that adults should prevent children from making mistakes.

Some people believe that children should do sports so that they will grow up as healthy adults, but others feel sports are just about enjoying yourself.

Discuss these both views and give your own opinion.

Some people think that individuals today are more dependent on each other. Others believe people have become more independent.

Some people think that children can learn about history by visiting museums, while others feel that there are better ways to learn about history.

Some feel that schools should be mixed with both girls and boys attending while others feel the genders ought to be separated.

Some believe that people should make efforts to fight climate change while others think it is better to learn to live with it.

In many countries, crimes rates amongst younger people has been rising.

Discuss the causes and solutions for this problem.

Some people think that sports play an important role in society. Others think they are nothing more than a leisure activity.

Read my answer here.

Some people think the newly built houses should be the same as the old housing styles in local areas. Others argue that local authorities should allow people to build houses in their own style.

Some feel governments should invest in preserving minority languages, while others feel this is not a good use of resources.

Museums and art galleries should show local history and culture instead of work from different countries.

Discuss both views and give opinion.

Some people think young people should follow the traditions of their society. Others think that they should be free to behave as individuals.

Some people think that famous people can help international aid organizations to draw attention to important problems. Others believe that the celebrities can make the problems seem less important.

Some believe that the Olympic games help bring people from different nations together, while others claim that holding the Olympics wastes money which could be used for important issues.

Some people believe the purpose of education should be helping the individual to become useful for society, while others believe it should help individuals to achieve their ambitions.

Some people think students should study the science of food and how to prepare it. Others think students should spend time on important subjects.

Discuss both views and give your own opinion .

Some people think parents are responsible for transporting their children to school. Others think it is the government’s responsibility.

Some feel that the effects of advertising are positive for individuals and businesses, while others think they are negative.

Some think that climate change reforms will negatively affect business. Others feel they are an opportunity for businesses.

Some people say young people should be completely free to choose their future job but others think young people must be more realistic in their choice.

Some people say that the bicycles are a good, modern means of transportation. Other say riding a bicycle has clear disadvantages.

Discuss both view points and give your own opinion.

Some think scientists should be allowed to send messages into space to communicate with other life forms while others believe this is too dangerous.

Some feel executives in large companies should receive high salaries while others think they are paid too much compared to ordinary workers.

Some believe that advances in technology are increasing the gap between rich and poor while others think the opposite is hapenning.

Some people think that cities are the best places to live. Others prefer to live in rural areas.

Some people say that supermarkets and manufacturers have a responsibility to reduce the amount of packaging on products they sell. Others believe that it is the consumer’s responsibility to avoid buying products which have a lot of packaging.

Discuss both views and give your opinions.

Many companies sponsor sports as a way of advertising themselves. Some people think this is good for the world of sport, while others think it is a negative.

Some people believe that there should be a fixed punishment for each type of crime. Others, however, argue that the circumstances of an individual crime, and the motivation for committing it, should always be taken into account when deciding on the punishment.

Discuss both views and give your own opinion. 

Some people believe that children that commit crimes should be punished. Others think the parents should be punished instead.

Some believe that it is beneficial to show foreign films while others feel this can have a negative impact on local culture.

Some scientists believe that in the future computers will be more intelligent than human beings. While some see this as a positive development others worry about the negative consequences.

Some people say that advertising is extremely successful at persuading us to buy things. Other people think that advertising is so common that we no longer pay attention to it.

Some people think that resources should be spent on protecting wild animals, while others think those would be better used for the human population.

Giving children and adolescents pocket money is common throughout the world.

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this practice and give your own opinion.

Some think schools should rewards students who have the best academic results, while others think it’s more important to reward students who achieve other types of success (such as sports, music, and good behaviour).

Some educational systems make students study specialised subjects from the age of fifteen while others require students to study a wide range.

Some people argue children should stay in school until the age of 18 while others think that 14 years is long enough.

Many people think that zoos are cruel. Others think they are helpful in protecting rare animals.

Some people like to spend their leisure time after work with co-workers while others prefer to keep their private life separate from their work life.

Some people believe that one-on-one lessons are better for learning while others think that group lessons are superior.

Some think that quality art can be made by anyone while others think that it requires special talent and ability.

In many countries, teenagers are encouraged to find part-time jobs. Some think this is a good development while others disagree.

Some believe that history has little to teach us about today while others think that the study of the past helps us to understand the present.

Many people believe that music is just a form of entertainment, whilst others believe that music has a much larger impact on society today.

Some believe that the best way to stay fit is to join a gym or health club while others think doing everyday activities such as walking and climbing stairs is enough.

Some people argue that job satisfaction is more important than job security, while others believe that they cannot always expect job satisfaction and a permanent job is more important.

Some think that governments should support retired people financially while others believe they should take care of themselves.

Some believe that people are naturally born as leaders while others feel that leadership skills can develop.

Many people feel that students should learn from online materials while others feel that it is better to use printed materials.

Some people think that children should begin their formal education at a very early age. Some think they should begin at least 7 years old.

Discuss both views give opinions.

Many think that in today’s world it is very difficult for people to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Others, however, feel that it is easy for people to be healthy and fit if they want to be.

Some people think that paying taxes is their only responsibility towards society while others feel that everyone should do more.

Most agree that we should be training children to recycle waste to preserve the Earth’s natural resources. However, some believe that it is parents who should teach their children to recycle waste while others feels schools are more responsible.

Some people believe that education is the key to tackling hunger worldwide while others feel that the answer is in food aid.

Some people say that it is acceptable to test medicine intended for people on animals. Others, however, believe that it is not right to use animals in this research.

Many feel that going to the gym is the best way to stay fit. Others think there are more effective methods.

Some people believe that allowing children to make their own choices on everyday matters (such as food, clothes and entertainment) is likely to result in a society of individuals who only think about their own wishes. Other people believe that it is important for children to make decisions about matters that affect them.

Many parents encourage young people to leave home when they become older, while others think they should stay at home with the family.

Many people believe that every individual is responsible for his/her own healthy lifestyle. Others believe that governments should take care of it.

In a number of countries, some people think it is necessary to spend large sums of money on constructing new railway lines for very fast trains between cities. Others believe the money should be spent on improving existing public transport.

Some people say that the main environmental problem of our time is the loss of particular species of plants and animals. Others say that there are more important environmental problems.

Some people believe that it is best to accept a bad situation, such as an unsatisfactory job or shortage of money. others argue that it is better to try and improve such situations., some people believe that it is good to share as much information as possible in scientific research, business, and the academic world. others believe that some information is too important or too valuable to be shared freely..

Some people think that governments should invest mainly in making public transportation faster while other think there are more important priorities (cost, the environment).

Some people think that newspapers are the best way to learn news. However, others believe that they can learn news better through other media.

Some people say history is one the most important school subjects. Other people think that, in today’s world, subjects like science and technology are more important than history.

Some people think that it is a waste of money for countries to host big sporting events like the world cup, and that the money would be better spent on other things. However, others think that hosting large sporting events has a clear, positive impact on a country.

Discuss both these views and give your opinion., some are of the opinion that people are naturally born as good leaders while others feel that leadership skills can be learned., recommended for you.

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

IELTS Writing Task 2: discuss both views + give your opinion

In this guide, you'll learn how to answer IELTS writing task 2 questions that ask you to discuss both points of view before giving your opinion . This type of question is often confused with an agree/disagree question or a give your opinion question. In the latter types of questions, you can choose an opinion and generate your arguments. However, for a discuss both views + give opinion question, you have to discuss both points of view impartially before giving your own view.

In this lesson you will see IELTS writing task 2 sample question + model answer and learn:

• how to impartially discuss the points of view
• how to present your own point of view
• how to give a band 9 answer

IELTS question - discuss both views + give opinion

Let's look at an example of IELTS writing task 2 question that asks you to discuss both views and give your opinion:

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

It is commonly believed that nowadays main factors that affect a child's development are media, pop culture and friends. A different point of view is that family plays the most significant role.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Write at least 250 words.

Generate arguments for each point of view:

First of all, you have to identify the two opinions . These are:

• External factors have more considerable influence on a child's development.
• The family has a greater influence on a child's development.

Next, let's brainstorm for arguments that support each side:

• External factors have a more considerable influence on a child's development.
• Children tend to copy the behaviour of their favourite fictional characters.
• Children spend a lot of time with their peers.
• Technology has an all-pervasive impact on children.
• Parents are always present in the life of a child.
• The younger the children are, the more malleable their character is.
• Parents can set boundaries and have more control over their children.

Choose your point of view:

For our essay, we will agree that although external factors influence the development of a child, parents and family still have the upper hand.

Our reason: A child's choice of friends, books or music depends on the values instilled in them by their parents.

Band 9 answer structure for discuss both views + give opinion essay

Though there are many ways to structure your IELTS essay, we’ll use this time-tested band 9 essay structure:

• Introduction
• Body paragraph 1 – discuss the first opinion
• Body paragraph 2 – discuss the second opinion
• Body paragraph 3 – give your own opinion

It is often held that teachers, peers and the media have a significant influence on the life of children. While some people argue that these factors are predominant in shaping a child's future, others believe that parents impact their offspring in more critical ways. This essay will discuss both these points of view and argue in favour of the latter.

On the one hand, the books children read and the music they listen to form their belief system. In other words, children tend to copy the behaviour of their favourite personality or fictional character. Moreover, when little ones work and play in groups, they are influenced by their peers. Finally, other factors, like the media, prompt children to want things regarded as fashionable. For instance, children demand toys that they see on television.

On the other hand, a child's personality is malleable at a very young age, and parents are always present in their life at this stage. Also, very young children love to imitate. For example, children who come from a dysfunctional family often exhibit behavioural problems at school. An emotionally secure environment at home is critical for the child's confidence. Moreover, parents also teach children about setting boundaries.

In my opinion, children's choice of friends, books or music depends on the values instilled in them by their parents. Therefore, parents hold more substantial sway over their offspring than media, pop culture and friends circle.

In conclusion, the outside world influences the intellectual and social development of children. However, I believe that it is parents who set the stage for these developments by laying a strong foundation from a very young age.

Band 9 answer sample

(273 words)

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IELTS Writing Task 2 – Topic: DISCUSS BOTH VIEWS

ielts writing topics 2019

1.  In many countries, a small number of people earn extremely high salaries. Some people believe that this is good for the country, but others think that governments should not allow salaries above a certain level. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.   

Sample Answer

People have different views about whether governments should introduce a maximum wage. While in some ways it may seem reasonable to allow people to earn as much as companies are willing to pay, I personally believe that employee remuneration should be capped at a certain level.

There are various reasons why it might be considered beneficial to allow people to be paid extremely high salaries. If companies offer excellent pay packages, they can attract the most talented people in their fields to work for them. For example, technology companies like Google are able to employ the best programmers because of the huge sums that they are willing to pay. Furthermore, these well-paid employees are likely to be highly motivated to work hard and therefore drive their businesses successfully. In theory, this should result in a thriving economy and increased tax revenues, which means that paying high salaries benefits everyone.

However, I agree with those who argue that there should be a maximum wage. By introducing a limit on earnings, the pay-gap between bosses and employees can be reduced. Currently, the difference between normal and top salaries is huge, and this can demotivate workers who feel that the situation is unfair. With lower executive salaries, it might become feasible to introduce higher minimum wages, and everybody would be better off. One possible consequence of greater equality could be that poverty and crime rates fall because the general population will experience an improved standard of living.

In conclusion, it seems to me that it would be better, on balance, for governments to set a limit on the wages of the highest earners in society.

 (274 words, band 9)

2.  Many governments think that economic progress is their most important goal. Some people, however, think that other types of progress are equally important for a country. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

People have different views about how governments should measure their countries’ progress. While economic progress is of course essential, I agree with those who believe that other measures of progress are just as important.

There are three key reasons why economic growth is seen as a fundamental goal for countries. Firstly, a healthy economy results in job creation, a high level of employment, and better salaries for all citizens. Secondly, economic progress ensures that more money is available for governments to spend on infrastructure and public services. For example, a government with higher revenues can invest in the country’s transport network, its education system and its hospitals. Finally, a strong economy can help a country’s standing on the global stage, in terms of its political influence and trading power.

However, I would argue that various other forms of progress are just as significant as the economic factors mentioned above. In particular, we should consider the area of social justice, human rights, equality and democracy itself. For example, the treatment of minority groups is often seen as a reflection of the moral standards and level of development of a society. Perhaps another key consideration when judging the progress of a modern country should be how well that country protects the natural environment, and whether it is moving towards environmental sustainability. Alternatively, the success of a nation could be measured by looking at the health, well-being and happiness of its residents.

In conclusion, the economy is obviously a key marker of a country’s success, but social, environmental and health criteria are equally significant.

 (262 words, band 9)

3.  Some people think that all university students should study whatever they like. Others believe that they should only be allowed to study subjects that will be useful in the future, such as those related to science and technology. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

People have different views about how much choice students should have with regard to what they can study at university. While some argue that it would be better for students to be forced into certain key subject areas, I believe that everyone should be able to study the course of their choice.

There are various reasons why people believe that universities should only offer subjects that will be useful in the future. They may assert that university courses like medicine, engineering and information technology are more likely to be beneficial than certain art degrees. From a personal perspective, it can be argued that these courses provide more job opportunities, career progression, better salaries, and therefore an improved quality of life for students who take them. On the societal level, by forcing people to choose particular university subjects, governments can ensure that any knowledge and skill gaps in the economy are covered. Finally, a focus on technology in higher education could lead to new inventions, economic growth, and greater future prosperity.

In spite of these arguments, I believe that university students should be free to choose their preferred areas of study. In my opinion, society will benefit more if our students are passionate about what they are learning. Besides, nobody can really predict which areas of knowledge will be most useful to society in the future, and it may be that employers begin to value creative thinking skills above practical or technical skills. If this were the case, perhaps we would need more students of art, history and philosophy than of science or technology.

In conclusion, although it might seem sensible for universities to focus only on the most useful subjects, I personally prefer the current system in which people have the right to study whatever they like.

 (297 words, band 9)

4.  Some people think that a sense of competition in children should be encouraged. Others believe that children who are taught to co-operate rather than compete become more useful adults. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

People have different views about whether children should be taught to be competitive or co-operative. While a spirit of competition can sometimes be useful in life, I believe that the ability to co-operate is more important.

On the one hand, competition can be a great source of motivation for children. When teachers use games or prizes to introduce an element of competitiveness into lessons, it can encourage children to work harder to outdo the other pupils in the class. This kind of healthy rivalry may help to build children’s self confidence, while pushing them to work independently and progress more quickly. When these children leave school, their confidence and determination will help them in competitive situations such as job interviews. It can therefore be argued that competition should be encouraged in order to prepare children for adult life.

On the other hand, it is perhaps even more important to prepare children for the many aspects of adult life that require co-operation. In the workplace, adults are expected to work in teams, follow instructions given by their superiors, or supervise and support the more junior members of staff. Team collaboration skills are much more useful than a competitive determination to win. This is the attitude that I believe schools should foster in young people. Instead of promoting the idea that people are either winners or losers, teachers could show children that they gain more from working together.

In conclusion, I can understand why people might want to encourage competitiveness in children, but it seems to me that a co-operative attitude is much more desirable in adult life.

 (270 words, band 9)

5.  Some people think that museums should be enjoyable places to entertain people, while others believe that the purpose of museums is to educate. Discuss both views and give you own opinion.

People have different views about the role and function of museums. In my opinion, museums can and should be both entertaining and educational.

On the one hand, it can be argued that the main role of a museum is to entertain. Museums are tourist attractions, and their aim is to exhibit a collection of interesting objects that many people will want to see. The average visitor may become bored if he or she has to read or listen to too much educational content, so museums often put more of an emphasis on enjoyment rather than learning. This type of museum is designed to be visually spectacular, and may have interactive activities or even games as part of its exhibitions.

On the other hand, some people argue that museums should focus on education. The aim of any exhibition should be to teach visitors something that they did not previously know. Usually this means that the history behind the museum’s exhibits needs to be explained, and this can be done in various ways. Some museums employ professional guides to talk to their visitors, while other museums offer headsets so that visitors can listen to detailed commentary about the exhibition. In this way, museums can play an important role in teaching people about history, culture, science and many other aspects of life.

In conclusion, it seems to me that a good museum should be able to offer an interesting, enjoyable and educational experience so that people can have fun and learn something at the same time.

 (253 words, band 9)

6.  Some people believe that studying at university or college is the best route to a successful career, while others believe that it is better to get a job straight after school. Discuss both views and give your opinion.  

When they finish school, teenagers face the dilemma of whether to get a job or continue their education. While there are some benefits to getting a job straight after school, I would argue that it is better to go to college or university.

The option to start work straight after school is attractive for several reasons. Many young people want to start earning money as soon as possible. In this way, they can become independent, and they will be able to afford their own house or start a family. In terms of their career, young people who decide to find work, rather than continue their studies, may progress more quickly. They will have the chance to gain real experience and learn practical skills related to their chosen profession. This may lead to promotions and a successful career.

On the other hand, I believe that it is more beneficial for students to continue their studies. Firstly, academic qualifications are required in many professions. For example, it is impossible to become a doctor, teacher or lawyer without having the relevant degree. As a result, university graduates have access to more and better job opportunities, and they tend to earn higher salaries than those with fewer qualifications. Secondly, the job market is becoming increasingly competitive, and sometimes there are hundreds of applicants for one position in a company. Young people who do not have qualifications from a university or college will not be able to compete.

For the reasons mentioned above, it seems to me that students are more likely to be successful in their careers if they continue their studies beyond school level.

 (271 words, band 9)

7.  Several languages are in danger of extinction because they are spoken by very small numbers of people. Some people say that governments should spend public money on saving these languages, while others believe that would be a waste of money. Discuss both these views and give your opinion.

It is true that some minority languages may disappear in the near future. Although it can be argued that governments could save money by allowing this to happen, I believe that these languages should be protected and preserved.

There are several reasons why saving minority languages could be seen as a waste of money. Firstly, if a language is only spoken by a small number of people, expensive education programmes will be needed to make sure that more people learn it, and the state will have to pay for facilities, teachers and marketing. This money might be better spent on other public services. Secondly, it would be much cheaper and more efficient for countries to have just one language. Governments could cut all kinds of costs related to communicating with each minority group.

Despite the above arguments, I believe that governments should try to preserve languages that are less widely spoken. A language is much more than simply a means of communication; it has a vital connection with the cultural identity of the people who speak it. If a language disappears, a whole way of life will disappear with it, and we will lose the rich cultural diversity that makes societies more interesting. By spending money to protect minority languages, governments can also preserve traditions, customs and behaviours that are part of a country’s history.

In conclusion, it may save money in the short term if we allow minority languages to disappear, but in the long term this would have an extremely negative impact on our cultural heritage.

 (258 words, band 9)

8.  Some people think that governments should give financial support to creative artists such as painters and musicians. Others believe that creative artists should be funded by alternative sources. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

People have different views about the funding of creative artists. While some people disagree with the idea of government support for artists, I believe that money for art projects should come from both governments and other sources.

Some art projects definitely require help from the state. In the UK, there are many works of art in public spaces, such as streets or squares in city centres. In Liverpool, for example, there are several new statues and sculptures in the docks area of the city, which has been redeveloped recently. These artworks represent culture, heritage and history. They serve to educate people about the city, and act as landmarks or talking points for visitors and tourists. Governments and local councils should pay creative artists to produce this kind of art, because without their funding our cities would be much less interesting and attractive.

On the other hand, I can understand the arguments against government funding for art. The main reason for this view is that governments have more important concerns. For example, state budgets need to be spent on education, healthcare, infrastructure and security, among other areas. These public services are vital for a country to function properly, whereas the work of creative artists, even in public places, is a luxury. Another reason for this opinion is that artists do a job like any other professional, and they should therefore earn their own money by selling their work.

In conclusion, there are good reasons why artists should rely on alternative sources of financial support, but in my opinion government help is sometimes necessary.

9.  Nowadays animal experiments are widely used to develop new medicines and to test the safety of other products. Some people argue that these experiments should be banned because it is morally wrong to cause animals to suffer, while others are in favour of them because of their benefits to humanity. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

It is true that medicines and other products are routinely tested on animals before they are cleared for human use. While I tend towards the viewpoint that animal testing is morally wrong, I would have to support a limited amount of animal experimentation for the development of medicines.

On the one hand, there are clear ethical arguments against animal experimentation. To use a common example of this practice, laboratory mice may be given an illness so that the effectiveness of a new drug can be measured. Opponents of such research argue that humans have no right to subject animals to this kind of trauma, and that the lives of all creatures should be respected. They believe that the benefits to humans do not justify the suffering caused, and that scientists should use alternative methods of research.

On the other hand, reliable alternatives to animal experimentation may not always be available. Supporters of the use of animals in medical research believe that a certain amount of suffering on the part of mice or rats can be justified if human lives are saved. They argue that opponents of such research might feel differently if a member of their own families needed a medical treatment that had been developed through the use of animal experimentation. Personally, I agree with the banning of animal testing for non-medical products, but I feel that it may be a necessary evil where new drugs and medical procedures are concerned.

In conclusion, it seems to me that it would be wrong to ban testing on animals for vital medical research until equally effective alternatives have been developed.

10.  Some people think that strict punishments for driving offences are the key to reducing traffic accidents. Others, however, believe that other measures would be more effective in improving road safety. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

People have differing views with regard to the question of how to make our roads safer. In my view, both punishments and a range of other measures can be used together to promote better driving habits.

On the one hand, strict punishments can certainly help to encourage people to drive more safely. Penalties for dangerous drivers can act as a deterrent, meaning that people avoid repeating the same offence. There are various types of driving penalty, such as small fines, licence suspension, driver awareness courses, and even prison sentences. The aim of these punishments is to show dangerous drivers that their actions have negative consequences. As a result, we would hope that drivers become more disciplined and alert, and that they follow the rules more carefully.

On the other hand, I believe that safe driving can be promoted in several different ways that do not punish drivers. Firstly, it is vitally important to educate people properly before they start to drive, and this could be done in schools or even as part of an extended or more difficult driving test. Secondly, more attention could be paid to safe road design. For example, signs can be used to warn people, speed bumps and road bends can be added to calm traffic, and speed cameras can help to deter people from driving too quickly. Finally, governments or local councils could reduce road accidents by investing in better public transport, which would mean that fewer people would need to travel by car.

In conclusion, while punishments can help to prevent bad driving, I believe that other road safety measures should also be introduced.

 (269 words, band 9)

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Writing Task 2 Discuss Both Views Lesson

How to write a Task 2 discussion essay: 

• Introduction: paraphrase the question, state both points of view, make a thesis statement and outline your sentence. 
• Main body paragraph 1: state the first viewpoint, discuss it, state whether you agree or disagree and give an example to support your view.
• Main body paragraph 2: state the second viewpoint, discuss it, state whether you agree or disagree and give an example to support your view.
• Conclusion: summarise and state which viewpoint is better or more important.
• Remember that each Task 2 essay requires a different structure. It is important to learn each structure and practise your writing at home.

Introduction

This lesson will help you answer IELTS Writing Task 2 discussion (or discuss both views and give your opinion) questions.

These particular questions require a different approach to opinion essays because you have to discuss both sides rather than argue in favour of one side.

This post will look at:

• Identifying the question

Example Questions

• Sample Answer

Task Achievement

Coherence and Cohesion

Lexical Resource

Many students fail to do well in these questions because they do not do what the question asks them to do and do not use an appropriate structure . This post will help you overcome these problems and give you a sample answer.

We will also look at ‘lexical resource’ and ‘coherence and cohesion’; two of the IELTS examiners’ marking criteria when marking your essays. Understanding the marking scheme will help you get inside an IELTS examiner’s head and give them exactly what they want.

Identifying the Question

Look at the three questions below and choose the one you think is a discussion question.

• Computers are being used more and more in education and so there will soon be no role for the teacher in education.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

• Computers are being used more and more in education.

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages and give your own opinion.

• Computers are being used more and more in education. Some people say that this is a positive trend, while others argue that it is leading to negative consequences.

Discuss both sides of this argument and then give your own opinion.

The first question is an opinion question, and we can tell this from the instructions ‘To what extent do you agree or disagree?’.

The second question is obviously an advantages and disadvantages question.

The third question is the discussion question. We can tell this from the typical instructions in the question, ‘Discuss both sides of the argument and then give your opinion’.

You may also be asked to ‘Discuss both views and give your opinion’ or ‘Discuss both sides of the argument and give your opinion’.

Each of these questions is asking us to do different things, and we, therefore, need a different structure for each question .

Here are a few other typical discussion questions:

• A growing number of people feel that animals should not be exploited by people and that they should have the same rights as humans, while others argue that humans must employ animals to satisfy their various needs, including uses for food and research.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

• Bloodsports have become a hot topic for debate in recent years. As society develops it is increasingly seen as an uncivilized activity and cruel to the helpless animals that are killed. All blood sports should be banned.

Discuss the main arguments for this statement and give your own opinion.

• Some people think that the best way to reduce crime is to give longer prison sentences. Others, however, believe there are better alternative ways of reducing crime.

As you can see, they typically state two opinions and then ask you to discuss both and give your opinion. Make sure you do these things in the essay. If you only discuss both views and fail to give your opinion you will lose marks.

For discussion questions, I suggest you use the following four-paragraph structure.

Introduction 

1- Paraphrase Question

2- State Both Points of View

2- Thesis Statement

3- Outline Sentence

Main Body Paragraph 1

1- State first viewpoint

2- Discuss first viewpoint

3- Reason why you agree or disagree with viewpoint

4- Example to support your view

Main Body Paragraph 2

1- State second viewpoint

2- Discuss second viewpoint

Conclusion  

Sentence 1- Summary

Sentence 2- State which one is better or more important

Practice  

Here is a sample answer, but I have mixed up the sentences. Can you match the sentences below to the structure above?

This exercise will help you understand the structure.

• In conclusion, while the benefits of technology, particularly the internet, allow students to tap into limitless sources of information, some still feel that people should be wary of this new phenomenon and not allow it to curb face-to-face interaction.
• There is an ever-increasing use of technology, such as tablets and laptops, in the classroom.
• The internet has provided students with access to more information than ever before.
• Moreover, learners can research and learn about any subject at the touch of a button. It is therefore agreed that technology is a very worthwhile tool for education.
• However, many disagree and feel that technology deprives people of real human interaction.
• Human interaction teaches people valuable skills such as discourse, debate and empathy.
• Despite this, human interaction is still possible through the internet, and this essay disagrees that technology should be dismissed for this reason.
• This essay agrees that an increase in technology is beneficial to students and teachers. This essay will discuss both points of view.
• For instance, Skype and Facebook allow people to interact in ways that were never before possible.
• Wikipedia is a prime example, where students can type in any keyword and gain access to in-depth knowledge quickly and easily.
• However, as long as we carefully consider the importance of human interaction in education, the educational benefits are clearly positive.
• It is often argued that this is a positive development, whilst others disagree and think it will lead to adverse ramifications.

Example Answer

Computers are being used more and more in education. Some people say this is a positive trend, while others argue that it leads to negative consequences.

There is an ever-increasing use of technology, such as tablets and laptops, in the classroom. It is often argued that this is a positive development, whilst others disagree and think it will lead to adverse ramifications. This essay agrees that an increase in technology is beneficial to students and teachers.

The internet has provided students with access to more information than ever before. Moreover, learners can research and learn about any subject at the touch of a button. It is therefore agreed that technology is a very worthwhile tool for education. Wikipedia is a prime example, where students can type in any keyword and gain access to in-depth knowledge quickly and easily.

However, many disagree and feel that technology deprives people of real human interaction. Human interaction teaches people valuable skills such as discourse, debate and empathy. Despite this, human interaction is still possible through the internet, and this essay disagrees that technology should be dismissed for this reason. For instance, Skype and Facebook allow people to interact in ways that were never before possible.

In conclusion, while the benefits of technology, particularly the internet, allow students to tap into limitless sources of information, some still feel that people should be wary of this new phenomenon and not allow it to curb face-to-face interaction. However, as long as we carefully consider the importance of human interaction in education, the educational benefits are clearly positive.

This is one of the four areas you will be assessed on in the IELTS writing test.

Task achievement refers to your ability to address all parts of the question and present a fully developed answer. By following the structure above, we have fully discussed both sides of the argument and given our opinion. This is exactly what the question asked us to do, no more, no less.

Discourse markers (words like ‘however’, ‘despite this’ and ‘In conclusion’) are also referred to as ‘linking words’ and ‘linking phrases’, or ‘sentence connectors’. They are quite formal and are used more in academic writing than informal speech.

You gain marks for using these under the ‘coherence and cohesion’ section of the marking scheme. These words ‘stick’ the other words together and lend continuity to sentences and paragraphs.

If you do not include discourse markers in your IELTS writing, your answer will appear illogical and more difficult to understand.

However, this does not mean that you should try to insert as many of these words into your writing as possible. This is a common mistake in IELTS writing.  Using too many of them, or using them inappropriately, can make your writing sound too heavy and unnatural. They are important but must only be used at the appropriate time.

Try to identify any discourse markers in the essay above . Don’t look at the essay below yet. How many can you find?

Student Sample Answer with Discourse Markers

Here is the sample answer again with the discourse markers in bold .

There is an ever-increasing use of technology, such as tablets and laptops, in the classroom. It is often argued that this is a positive development, whilst others disagree and think it will lead to adverse ramifications. This essay agrees that an increase in technology is beneficial to students and teachers.

The internet has provided students with access to more information than ever before. Moreover , learners can research and learn about any subject at the touch of a button. It is therefore agreed that technology is a very worthwhile tool for education. Wikipedia is a prime example , where students can type in any keyword and gain access to in-depth knowledge quickly and easily.

However , many disagree and feel that technology deprives people of real human interaction. Human interaction teaches people valuable skills such as discourse, debate and empathy.  Despite this , human interaction is still possible through the internet, and this essay disagrees that technology should be dismissed for this reason. For instance , Skype and Facebook allow people to interact in ways that were never before possible.

In conclusion , while the benefits of technology, particularly the internet, allow students to tap into limitless sources of information, some still feel that people should be wary of this new phenomenon and not allow it to curb face-to-face interaction. However , as long as we carefully consider the importance of human interaction in education, the educational benefits are clearly positive.

This is also one of the four criteria you will be marked on, and it refers to your ability to use a wide range of accurate vocabulary.

A common mistake is to repeat the same words over and over again. You will lose marks if you do this. A solution to this problem is to use synonyms. You can either think of synonyms as you are writing or leave time, in the end, to add them in.

Can you identify any synonyms in the essay above?

Here are some examples:

Computers- technology

Computers- the internet

Education- in the classroom

Education- students and teachers

Positive trend- positive development

Negative Consequences- adverse ramifications

By varying your vocabulary this way, you are demonstrating that you have a wide vocabulary, which will boost your band score. However, like discourse markers, be careful not to use inappropriate/inaccurate words. Only use words you are confident about. Mistakes will lead to fewer marks.

Do you need me to correct your essays and give you feedback on them? Check out our essay correction service .

I hope this post helps you with discussion questions, and if you have any questions, please comment below.

About Christopher Pell

My name is Christopher Pell and I'm the Managing Director of IELTS Advantage.

I started IELTS Advantage as a simple blog to help 16 students in my class. Several years later, I am very humbled that my VIP Course has been able to help thousands of people around the world to score a Band 7+ in their IELTS tests.

If you need my help with your IELTS preparation, you can send me an email using the contact us page.

IELTS Discuss Both Views Essay Structure + Sample Answers

The next big thing after learning about IELTS discuss both views essays is –  How do you structure them?

Please be aware though, the perfect structure alone will not make you a band 7+ achiever. Your vocabulary and English proficiency still plays a key role in IELTS writing task – 2.

But the good news is… Here we’ve outlined an easily comprehensible  step-by-step format  to logically present a discussion essay and give your opinion effectively.

This post will clear your doubts over:

• Essay Structure
• Sample Question(s)
• Task Explanation

Sample Answer

Discuss both views – essay structure.

There are hundreds of ways to structure a Discuss both views essay in the writing part . However, we’ll use this 4-paragraph foolproof band 7+ structure:

INTRODUCTION

• Paraphrase the question statement or use a general statement relevant to the topic.
• State both viewpoints
• Write your opinion statement (only if specified in the statement).
• Write an outline sentence

BODY PARAGRAPH 1

• State first viewpoint
• Explain the viewpoint
• Provide a logical example

BODY PARAGRAPH 2

• State second viewpoint
• Write concluding remarks and your opinion
• State which viewpoint is more significant

RELATED: IELTS Writing Task-1 Formal Letters With Sample Answers

Sample Questions

Now that you’ve understood the discussion essay structure, let’s look at some recently asked topics to give you an idea of how the ‘discuss both views and give your opinion’ essay looks like.

Some people believe that children should spend all of their leisure time with their families. Others believe that this is not required and a negative development. Discuss both viewpoints and give your opinion. Support your answer with the help of relevant examples.

Explanation of the Task

This is Opinion>Discussion type essay. Hence, You should introduce the topic, provide relevant ideas explaining arguments on both sides of the discussion, and then write your opinion in the conclusion. Always remember that these Opinion>Discussion tasks might be expressed differently; look for keyword ‘discuss’ and its synonyms like ‘debate’, ‘consider’ and ‘review’.

Topic Vocabulary

• foster parents – people who officially take a child into their family for a period of time, without becoming the child’s legal parents. The child is referred to as their foster child.
• guardians – people who are legally appointed to protect child’s interests in the absence of parents.
• role models – people that children look up to as examples
• ground rules – basic rules governing the peoples’ behaviour
• conventions – traditions or social norms that most people follow
• codes of conduct – voluntary rules acceptable to people
• bullying – when children attack and intimidate other children
• truancy – when a pupil leaves school without permission
• delinquency – minor crime
• dual-income – a situation when both mother and father working
• child-minding – informal care for children (outside of schools)
• peers – people in the same age group or level
• behavioural patterns – ways of acting and doing things
• well brought-up – to grow, educate and behave in a socially acceptable manner.

We hope that understanding this ‘Discuss both views essay structure’ will help you organize your writing task – 2 better and ultimately fetch you a high band score. And, don’t forget to download the IDP IELTS Writing answer sheets !

2 thoughts on “IELTS Discuss Both Views Essay Structure + Sample Answers”

Very good guidance. Could include one more sample answer.

Thanks! Yeah…sure. More stuff lined up 🙂

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How To Plan & Write IELTS Discussion Essays

Students can find it difficult to identify IELTS discussion essays and often confuse them with either opinion essays or advantage and disadvantage essays.

This is one of the issues I’ll be covering in this lesson. I’m also going to show you how to plan and write discussion essays step-by-step.

Here’s what we’ll be covering:

• Identifying IELTS discussion essays 
• 3 Common mistakes
• Essay structure
• How to plan
• How to write an introduction
• How to write main body paragraphs
• How to write a conclusion

Want to watch and listen to this lesson?

Click on this video.

Click the links to see lessons on each of these Task 2 essay writing topics. 

Once you understand the process, practice on past questions. Take your time at first and gradually speed up until you can plan and write an essay of at least 250 words in the 40 minutes allowed in the exam.

The Question

The first part of the question for an IELTS discussion essay will be a statement containing two opposing views.

You will then be asked to discuss both sides of the argument and give your own opinion. Here is some typical wording that might be used:

• Discuss both views and give your opinion. 
• Discuss both these views and then give your own opinion. 
• Discuss both sides of this argument and give your own opinion.

Here's a question from a past test paper.

Some people think that zoos are cruel and should be closed down. Others, however, believe that zoos can be useful in protecting wild animals.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

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

Write at least 250 words.

I’ll be using this question to guide you through the process of planning and writing an IELTS discussion essay.

The key to identifying this type of question is the fact that you are required to discuss BOTH views. This is different to opinion questions where you must decide between two opposing views and make an argument to support your own opinion.

Opinion essays , also known as ‘agree or disagree’ essays, a generally worded in one of these ways:

What is your opinion? / Do you agree or disagree? / To what extent do you agree or disagree?

The other essay type that students mistake for discussion essays is advantages and disadvantages essays . With these, the statement will contain just one view and the question will typically be written as shown in this sample question.

School children are using computers in school more than ever.

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this and give your own opinion.

The consequence of incorrectly identifying the question type is that you will use the wrong structure for your essay. This is a major reason why people make the mistakes we’ll now look at.

3 Common Mistakes

These three errors are common in IELTS discussion essays.

• Not stating your opinion.
• Not giving arguments for both views.
• Not developing both sides of the argument equally.

The most common mistake that students make is not giving their opinion. The question will clearly state that you must choose one side of the argument to agree with. If you fail to do this, you will get a low score for task achievement.

It doesn’t matter which side of the argument you take or even, that you actually agree with it.

However, you must give equal attention to both sides. A common error is to provide a stronger argument for the view you favour. This leads to an unbalanced essay and a low score for task achievement. 

Essay Structure

Now let’s look at a simple structure you can use to write IELTS discussion essays. It’s not the only possible structure but it’s the one I recommend because it’s easy to learn and will enable you to quickly plan and write a high-level essay.

1)  Introduction

• Paraphrase the question
• State two supporting reasons
• Give your opinion

  2)  Main body paragraph 1

• Topic sentence – outline the view you don’t agree with
• Explanation – explain why this view is held by some people
• Example – give an example

 3 )  Main body paragraph 2

• Topic sentence – outline the view you do agree with

  4)  Conclusion

• Summarise the key points and state your opinion

This structure will give us a well-balanced essay with 4 paragraphs.

We now need some ideas to add into the structure and we’ll have everything we need for our essay.

How To Plan IELTS Discussion Essays

# 1  analyse the question.

This is an essential step in the planning process and will ensure that you answer the question fully. It’s quick and easy to do. You just need to identify 3 different types of words:

1. Topic words

2.  Other keywords

3.  Instruction words

We’ve already considered the instruction words (the actual question) so we’ll focus on the first two.

Topics words are the ones that identify the general subject of the question.

Some people think that zoos  are cruel and should be closed down. Others, however, believe that  zoos  can be useful in protecting wild animals.

So, this question is about ‘ zoos ’.

Many people do this first step of the process and then write about the topic in general. This is a serious mistake and leads to low marks for task achievement.

What we need to do now that we know the general topic, is to understand exactly what aspect of zoos we're being asked to write about.

The other keywords in the question tell you the specific topic you must write about. They define the opinions stated in the statement.

Some people think tha t zoos are cruel and should be closed down . Others, however, believe that zoos c an be useful in protecting wild animals .

By highlighting these words, it’s easy to see that you are being asked to write about the opposing views that zoos are cruel and should be closed down and that zoos can be useful in protecting wild animals. Your essay must only include ideas relevant to these ideas.

# 2  Decide on your opinion

As already mentioned, it doesn’t matter if you genuinely agree with the view you take in your essay or not. IELTS discussion essays are about your ability to write a well-structured essay in the English language and you will not be assessed on any opinion you might hold.

So, choose one view and make sure that your opinion is clear throughout the essay.

For this model essay, I’m going to agree with the statement that zoos are cruel and should be closed down.

# 3  Generate ideas

The next task is to generate some ideas to write about.

There are several different ways to think up ideas. I cover them fully on the  IELTS Essay Planning  page.

We’re going to use the ‘friends technique’. This is my preferred method as it allows you to take a step back from the stress of the exam situation and think more calmly.

Here’s how it works. Imagine you are chatting with a friend and they ask you the question in a casual conversation. What answers would you give them off the top of your head? Plan your essay around these ideas.

Doing this will help you to come up with simple answers in everyday language rather than straining your brain to think of amazing ideas using high level-language, which isn’t necessary.

You might want to try this yourself before reading on for my ideas.

Here are my ideas:

Cruel  – closed down:

• Cramped cages – animals distressed
• Unnatural environments
• Most animals not endangered
• Animals become a public spectacle for entertainment

Useful – protect wild animals:

• Research work to learn more about wild animals
• Breeding programmes for endangered species
• Some species saved from extinction
• Seeing wild animals close up inspires people to want to help protect them

I’ve got more ideas here than I need so I’m going to pick two to develop in the essay – one for each of the main body paragraphs.

Idea 1  –  Cramped cages & unnatural environments, animals distressed.

Idea 2  –  Breeding programmes for endangered species, some species saved from extinction.

We’re almost ready to start writing our IELTS discussion essay but first, we have one other small task to do.

# 4  Vocabulary

In an IELTS essay, it’s important to be able to say the same things in different ways, either by paraphrasing and/or using synonyms. During the planning stage, quickly jot down a few synonyms of key words you could use to save you having to stop and think of the right language while you’re writing.

For example:

zoos  – animals in captivity, collections of wild animals, menagerie, wildlife park

cruel  – to cause suffering, inhumane

protect  – safeguard, preserve

animals  – creatures, species

With that done, we can focus on the first paragraph of the essay – the introduction.

How To Write an Introduction

Good introductions to IELTS discussion essays have a simple 3 part structure:

1)  Paraphrase the question

2)  State two supporting reasons (outline statement)

3)  Give your opinion (thesis statement)

• Have 2-3 sentences
• Be 40-60 words long
• Take 5 minutes to write

Start your introduction by paraphrasing the question.

Question:   Some people think that zoos are cruel and should be closed down. Others, however, believe that zoos can be useful in protecting wild animals.

There are various phrases you can use to do this. Here are three examples. They all say the same thing using different language.

• Some people argue that… while others say that…
• It is considered by some…. while there are others who think….
• It is often argued that... whilst others disagree and think...

Choose one and add the details in the question statement in a paraphrased form. I recommend putting the view you don’t agree with first.

Paraphrased question:  

Some people argue that zoos help to preserve wild creatures, while others say that they are inhumane and should be abolished.

Note my use of synonyms. You don’t have to replace every key word but do so where possible whilst ensuring that your language sounds natural. There aren’t any suitable synonyms of ‘zoo’ that I can think of, so I've repeated this word from the statement.

2)  Thesis and outline statements

Now we need to add an  outline statement  where you outline the two main points that you’ll cover in the rest of the essay (ideas 1 and 2 above) and a  thesis statement  where you state your opinion.

Outline & thesis statements:

While the development of breeding programmes contributes to the preservation of endangered species, I believe that the poor conditions that many animals held in captivity are kept in make the existence of zoos unacceptable. 

So, let’s bring the three elements of our introduction together.

     Introduction

This introduction achieves three important functions:

• It shows the examiner that you understand the question.
• It acts as a guide to the examiner as to what your essay is about.
• It also helps to keep you focused and on track as you write.

The two ideas in your introduction will become your two main body paragraphs.

Main body paragraph 1  – Breeding programmes for endangered species, some species saved from extinction.

Main body paragraph 2  – Cramped cages & unnatural environments, animals distressed.

How To Write Main Body Paragraphs

Main body paragraphs in IELTS discussion essays should contain 3 things:

It is easier to begin by discussing the opinion you don’t agree with and then present the reasons for the opposing view that you support. So, we’ll start with idea 1.

Main Body Paragraph 1

The  topic sentence  summarises the main idea of the paragraph. That’s all it needs to do so it doesn’t have to be complicated.

It plays an important role in ensuring that your ideas flow logically from one to another. It does this by acting as a signpost for what is to come next, that is, what the paragraph will be about.

If you maintain a clear development of ideas throughout your essay, you will get high marks for task achievement and cohesion and coherence.

We’ll now take the idea for our first main body paragraph and create our topic sentence.

Topic sentence:  

On the one hand, there are many projects in existence in zoological parks around the world where species facing extinction have been successfully bred in captivity and their numbers increased substantially.

Next, we must write an  explanation sentence that expands on the idea. This explains to the examiner what we mean or why this is the case.

Explanation sentence: 

This is important for ensuring the survival of animals under threat from poaching and the destruction of their natural environments.

Finally, we add an  example  to support our main point. If you can’t think of a real example, it’s fine to make one up, as long as it’s believable. The examiner isn’t going to check your facts.

Example sentence:

A good example of this is the golden lion tamarin from Brazil which nearly died out because of logging and mining activities which are destroying its habitat. Today, a third of wild golden lion tamarins were raised in captivity.

That’s the 3 parts of our first main body paragraph complete. Here’s the finished paragraph.

We now follow the same process for our second main body paragraph.

Main Body Paragraph 2

Main idea 2  – Cramped cages & unnatural environments, animals distressed.

First, we write the  topic sentence  to summarise the main idea. I started main body paragraph 1 with the phrase ‘On the one hand...’, so main body paragraph 2 will naturally begin, ‘On the other hand... .

These are great cohesive devices to use when making a direct contrast between two opposing views and they link the ideas together well. They can be used in most IELTS discussion essays and will help to earn you a good score for cohesion and coherence.

Topic sentence:

On the other hand, a significant percentage of zoos house their animals in cramped cages with very little space to move around or behave naturally.

Now for the  explanation sentence  where we expand on this idea.

Explanation sentence:

This can lead to them becoming distressed and depressed as well as suffering physically through lack of exercise.

Finally, an  example  to support this point.

A friend of mine recently visited a wildlife park while on holiday abroad and was very upset to see the lions pacing up and down in a narrow, bare pen and eagles in enclosures so small that they were unable to fly.

That’s the 3 parts of our second main body paragraph complete. Here’s the finished paragraph.

Now we need a conclusion and our IELTS discussion essay is done.

How To Write a Conclusion

Conclusions to IELTS discussion essays should do two things:

• Summarise the main points
• State your opinion

This can generally be done in a single sentence.

If you're below the minimum 250 words after you’ve written your conclusion, you can add a prediction or recommendation statement.

Our essay currently has 231 words so we’re on target and don’t need this extra sentence but you can learn more about how to write a prediction or recommendation statement for IELTS discussion essays on the Task 2 Conclusions page.

The conclusion is the easiest sentence in the essay to write but one of the most important.

A good conclusion will:

• Neatly end the essay
• Link all your ideas together
• Sum up your argument or opinion
• Answer the question

If you achieve this, you’ll improve your score for both task achievement and cohesion and coherence which together make up 50% of the overall marks. Without a conclusion, you’ll score below band 6 for task achievement.

You can start almost any final paragraph of an IELTS discussion essay with the words:

• In conclusion

        or

• To conclude

Now all you need to do is briefly summarise the main ideas into one sentence.

Here’s a top tip . Go back and read the introduction to the essay because this is also a summary of the essay. It outlines what you are going to write about.

To create a great conclusion, you simply have to paraphrase the introduction. Let’s give it a go.

Introduction:

Here is the same information formed into a conclusion:

That’s it. We’ve completed our essay. Here it is with the 4 paragraphs put together.

Finished IELTS discussion essay.

Go through this lesson as many times as you need to in order to fully understand it and put in lots of practice writing IELTS discussion essays from past exam questions. Practice is the only way to improve your skills.

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More help with ielts discussion essays & other task 2 essays.

IELTS Writing Task 2  – T he format, the 5 question types, the 5 step essay writing strategy & sample questions. All the key information you need to know.

The 5 Types of Task 2 Essay   – How to recognise the 5 different types of Task 2 essays. 15 sample questions to study and a simple planning structure for each essay type.

Understanding Task 2 Questions  – How to quickly and easily analyse and understand IELTS Writing Task 2 questions.

How To Plan a Task 2 Essay  – Discover why essay planning is essential & learn a simple 4 step strategy, the 4 part essay structure & 4 methods of generating ideas.

How To Write a Task 2 Introduction  – Find out why a good introduction is essential. Learn how to write one using a simple 3 part strategy & discover 4 common mistakes to avoid.

How To Write Task 2 Main Body Paragraphs  – Learn the simple 3 part structure for writing great main body paragraphs and also, 3 common mistakes to avoid. 

How To Write Task 2 Conclusions  – Learn the easy way to write the perfect conclusion for a Task 2 essay. Also discover 4 common mistakes to avoid.

Task 2 Marking Criteria  – Find out how to meet the marking criteria in Task 2. See examples of good and poor answers & learn some common mistakes to avoid.

The 5 Task 2 Essay Types:

Step-by-step instructions on how to plan & write high-level essays. Model answers & common mistakes to avoid.

   Opinion Essays

   Discussion Essays

  Problem Solution Essays

  Advantages & Disadvantages Essays

  Double Question Essays

Other Related Pages

IELTS Writing Test  – Understand the format & marking criteria, know what skills are assessed & learn the difference between the Academic & General writing tests.

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Discussion Essay Questions in IELTS Writing Task 2

Learn how to answer Discussion essay questions in IELTS writing Task 2 with an overview, recommended approach and practice question. by Tim Martyn

Example question

Recommended approach, practice question.

Discussion essay questions are a common question type in IELTS writing Task 2. You’ll be presented with two opposing views on a topic and be asked to discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Here are some key points about Discussion essay questions:

• You should spend no more than 40 minutes on the task.
• You should write at least 250 words – you’ll be penalised if your answer is too short.
• Task 2 is worth two thirds of your total writing mark; Task 1 is worth one third.
• You must write in full sentences, not bullet points or note form.

Here’s an example Discussion essay question.

Write about the following topic: Some people believe that mobile phones are distracting and should be banned in school classrooms. Others, however, think that they are valuable learning tools that should be allowed. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion. Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Here’s my recommended approach for answering Discussion essay questions. We’ll use the example question to go through the steps you need to take.

IMPORTANT: The overall approach is the same for all  Task 2  question types (i.e. discussion, opinion, advantages–disadvantages and two-part essay questions). This is important because, on test day, you could get a question that doesn’t fall neatly into any of these categories. However, if you learn and practise applying the overall approach, you should be able to respond flexibly to any question you’re presented with. Also, while I generally recommend writing 4-paragraph essays, there are other structures you can use to write an effective essay.

Step 1  >  Analyse the question

The first step is to analyse the question. This is crucial – if you don’t take the time to analyse the question properly, you may misunderstand what it’s asking you or fail to respond to key parts of the question. Here’s our question prompt again.

You can see that we’ve been given two opposing views:

• mobile phones are distracting and should be banned in school classrooms;
• they are valuable learning tools that should be allowed.

Notice that each view is quite specific. The first view isn’t simply that mobile phones are bad and should be banned – it’s saying that they’re distracting and should be banned. Likewise, the second view isn’t simply that mobile phones are good and should be allowed in classrooms – it’s that they’re valuable learning tools and should be allowed. You need to make sure you pay attention to these details in the question. Otherwise, it’s likely that you won’t fully answer the question. The second part of the question prompt tells us exactly what we have to do. Here, it’s asking us to:

• discuss both views;
• give our own opinion.

If you don’t cover all of these elements – e.g. you forget to give your own opinion, or you only discuss one side of the issue – you’ll have failed to fully respond to the question and you won’t be able to score higher than Band 5 for Task Response.

Step 2  >  Think of ideas

Once you fully understand the question and what you’re required to do, the next step is to spend a few minutes thinking of ideas for your essay. Don’t try to brainstorm as many ideas as you can – all you need is a few good ideas. If you’re having trouble coming up with ideas, try asking yourself these questions:

• What are the most obvious ideas?
• If you asked 100 people for their ideas, what do you think most of them would say?

For Discussion essay questions, you’re given two opposing views in the question, so all you really need to think of is some reasons why people may hold those views and decide which view you agree with.

Step 3  >  Make a plan

Once you’ve thought of some ideas, it’s time to make a plan. I’d recommend that you spend about 5 minutes on your plan. It doesn’t need to be very detailed, but it’s important to think about what examples you’ll use and how you’ll explain your points. If you think of these things in advance, you’ll be able to connect your ideas more effectively when you’re writing your essay. Don’t try to write in full sentences – you can use symbols and abbreviations. The important thing is just to get your ideas down on paper. The plan for this essay might look something like this.

Step 4  >  Write the introduction

Now that you’ve thought of ideas for your essay and made a plan, it’s time to write the introduction. IELTS doesn’t specify what you need to include in your introduction, but for Discussion essay questions, I recommend that you include:

• a broad statement about the topic;
• a paraphrase of the opposing views presented in the question that includes your own opinion.

Let’s look at each of these parts one by one.

1. A broad statement about the topic

An easy and effective way to start your introduction is to write a broad statement about the topic. What’s the topic? In our example, the topic is mobile phones in schools and the idea that their use is contentious, but not that they’re distracting or valuable learning tools – we’ll introduce that idea in the second part of the introduction. For Discussion essay questions, the easiest way to write a broad statement is to introduce the idea that there’s debate / a difference of opinion. In our example, we could write something like this: There are differing opinions as to whether schools should allow mobile phones to be used in class.

2. A paraphrase of the opposing views presented in the question that includes your own opinion

In the second part of the introduction, you should paraphrase the two views expressed in the question and make sure your own opinion is clear. Keep in mind that you mustn’t copy the exact wording used in the question. Instead, you need to use synonyms and other forms of paraphrasing. You won’t be able find synonyms for everything. In fact, some words shouldn’t be replaced because doing so would change the meaning.

Here are the key words from the question prompt with some possible synonyms.

Notice that I haven’t attempted to find a synonym for mobile phones . You might be tempted to use the US term (i.e. cell phone s), but that’s not necessary. You’ll also notice that, instead of trying to find synonyms for distracting and learning tools , I’ve made other changes to show the examiner that I can express the opposing views in my own words. The easiest way to include your own opinion is to use a phrase such as I tend to agree with those who . This makes your position clear to the reader. Our paraphrase could be something like this: While some argue that mobile phones should be prohibited because they are a distraction, I tend to agree with those who see them as useful learning tools that should be embraced.

If we put the two parts of the introduction together, this is what we have.

There are differing opinions as to whether schools should allow mobile phones to be used in class. While some argue that mobile phones should be prohibited because they are a distraction, I tend to agree with those who see them as useful learning tools that should be embraced.

Step 5  >  Write the body paragraphs

The next step is to write the body paragraphs. Your first body paragraph should be about the view you don’t agree with. To make it clear that it’s the view of others, you can use phrases such as Some people , They say that and According to those who . Your second paragraph should be about the view you do agree with. A word such as While or However can help you introduce the contrasting view. Make sure it’s clear that you share this view. Don’t be afraid to use phrases such as I believe that and I am of the view that . Here are some possible body paragraphs for our example.

Some people hold the view that mobile phones have no place in school classrooms because they distract students from the lesson. They point to the many apps available on students’ phones, including games and social media apps. They argue that the temptation to use such apps during class time is difficult for the majority of students to resist. For example, if students are working on a group project, the less engaged members of the group may take out their phones to quickly check social media, watch a video on YouTube or do something else on their phones that is not related to what they are supposed to be doing. According to those who are opposed to the use of mobile phones in class, such distraction has a negative impact on learning outcomes. While I accept that there is a risk of distraction, like others, I believe that mobile phones should be permitted in class because of the many educational benefits they offer. Firstly, there is a wide variety of apps that teachers can use to make their lessons more engaging. One example of such an app is Kahoot, which allows teachers to create highly engaging, interactive quizzes that students can complete in teams. Such apps are beneficial because learning is more effective when students are engaged. Secondly, access to mobile phones in class can encourage students to become independent learners. Without their phones, students have to rely on information provided by the teacher, but if they are given access to their phones, they can do their own research and find answers for themselves.

Step 6  >  Write the conclusion

The next step is to write the conclusion. All you need to do here is summarise the two opposing views and, again, make it clear what your own opinion is. Don’t just copy the words you used in other parts of the essay – use synonyms and paraphrasing as much as you can. Start your conclusion with In conclusion or To conclude . Here’s a possible conclusion for our example.

In conclusion, while students do need guidelines on how to use their mobile phones responsibly in class, I am of the view that they should be permitted because of the positive impact they can have on students’ learning.

Step 7  >  Check your work

The final step is to check your work. At this stage, you won’t have time to make any major changes, but it’s still an important step. Things to check for:

• whether you’ve used an adequate range of grammar and vocabulary;
• your word count.

Now it’s your turn to practise. Try the Discussion essay question below using the approach outlined above.

Write about the following topic: Some people believe that homework is an important part of children’s education. Others say that children should not be given homework. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion. Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

↕  scrollable window

Click below for a sample answer.

Despite homework being a common component of children’s education, not everyone agrees on its value. While some people believe that children should not be required to do homework, I generally side with those who see it as a crucial aspect of learning.

Some people argue that homework is unnecessary and should not be given to children. Children already spend a significant portion of their day in school, they say, and adding more academic work after school hours can prevent them from engaging in extracurricular activities, pursuing hobbies and enjoying essential downtime. They also argue that the effectiveness of many common homework tasks is questionable as they can often involve rote memorisation and completion for the sake of completion. Finally, a common argument against homework is the fact that it can put an unnecessary burden on parents because they have to ensure that their children are actually completing it.

However, I agree with those who see homework as an important part of children’s education. First of all, homework plays a vital role in reinforcing classroom learning. It provides students with an opportunity to practise and apply what they have learnt in the classroom, solidifying their understanding of concepts. For example, if students have learnt about a scientific concept in class, their homework could be to conduct a simple scientific experiment based on that concept at home. Homework also allows parents to be more engaged in their child’s education as they can review assignments and support their child’s learning journey. Finally, homework teaches children discipline, which can prepare them for the demands of higher education and the workforce.

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IELTS Writing Task 2: Discussion Sample Essay

Today we’re going to look at a discussion essay IELTS sample that’s considered Band 9. This Band 9 scored essay matched the pattern for the “discussion” type of Writing Task 2 question. Discussion essays are sometimes also called “discuss both sides” essays. In this kind of essay, you will be presented with two statements of opinion that oppose each other. You will then be asked to “discuss both sides” of the debate, and to give your own opinion. For more information on this and other question types, including tips, tricks, and general advice for the discussion essay question type, see Magoosh’s full guide to IELTS Writing Task 2 question types .

Discussion Essay IELTS Sample: Band 9

The essay below is a band 9 model IELTS essay, patterned after Magoosh’s IELTS Writing Task 2 Template .

IELTS Writing Discussion Essay Practice Question

Some people seek a lot of advice from family and friends when choosing their career. Others feel it is better to choose a career more independently. Discuss both views and give your opinion. Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

Discussion Essay IELTS Sample Band 9 Response

Choosing a career can be a challenging process. It can be difficult to say whether this decision should be made alone, or made with input from loved ones. In my opinion, it is best to find one’s career independently, with no more than a small amount of advice from family or friends. Below, I will explain why I feel that we must ultimately face career decisions on our own.

Getting career guidance input from loved ones can be confusing rather than useful. Family and friends likely have different careers, and thus give different, conflicting advice. Suppose, for instance, that your father is a teacher, your mother is an accountant, and your best friend is a nurse. They have all made very different career decisions, and only have knowledge on their respective careers. Different people will likely only steer you to their careers, without giving good advice on your own best path.

In contrast, focusing on one’s own preferences and skills provides a clearer path to the right career. After all, individuals have the best knowledge of their own abilities and interests. As an example, if someone has gone to university to study biology, they will know more about biology careers than a family member or friend who does not have that same kind of training. Ultimately, your career must be built on your own training and experience, not the training and experience of others.

For the reasons I’ve outlined above, I really do believe that career decisions are a matter of personal knowledge. Other people, even trusted family and friends, simply cannot understand your career the way you can. To select your field of work wisely, you must face this important decision alone.

Scorer Commentary (Discussion IELTS Essay Sample, Band 9)

The score report below is based on the official IELTS Writing Task 2 rubric . This report also looks very similar to the Magoosh IELTS essay scoring service .

Overall Band Score: 9

What was done well in the essay:

• At 283 words, this essay exceeded the 250 word minimum. (This is very important for getting full points!)
• Each part of the task was fully addressed. Both sides of the issue were discussed in the first and second body paragraphs. Moreover, reasons and relevant examples were included.
• Each paragraph had its own clear topic sentence and supporting details, with explanations of the details, and summarization of the most important ideas.
• Transitional language was used to clearly tie in all paragraphs to clear main ideas from the introduction and conclusion.
• Vocabulary and grammar were used clearly and fluently. There were no serious errors in grammar or word use; word choice and sentence structure varied and avoided significant repetition.

More Model Essays for IELTS Writing Task 2

Would you like the see model essays for the other common IELTS Writing Task 2 question types as well? Magoosh has you covered! Just click the links below.

• Advantage/Disadvantage Essay
• Two-Part Question Essay
• Causes/Solutions Essay
• Agree/Disagree Essay

David is a Test Prep Expert for Magoosh TOEFL and IELTS. Additionally, he’s helped students with TOEIC, PET, FCE, BULATS, Eiken, SAT, ACT, GRE, and GMAT. David has a BS from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and an MA from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. His work at Magoosh has been cited in many scholarly articles , his Master’s Thesis is featured on the Reading with Pictures website, and he’s presented at the WITESOL (link to PDF) and NAFSA conferences. David has taught K-12 ESL in South Korea as well as undergraduate English and MBA-level business English at American universities. He has also trained English teachers in America, Italy, and Peru. Come join David and the Magoosh team on Youtube , Facebook , and Instagram , or connect with him via LinkedIn !

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5 responses to “IELTS Writing Task 2: Discussion Sample Essay”

Contractions must be avoided because they are a sign of informal writing style. Whereas essay’s should be written in formal way.

You are correct that contractions shouldn’t be used in the formal Task 2 essay. However, note that they can be used at times, such as in IELTS Speaking or in Task 1 if you are asked to write an informal letter.

Happy studying!

Greetings, and thank you for this model essay. I wanted to ask a question relating to the discussion essay’s addressing of the task. Since the two views are 1) Some people think it is beneficial to ask for advice from friends/loved ones, and 2) others think that it is better to do so alone, why isn’t the 2nd paragraph addressing the benefits but instead talks about how it can be confusing? Isn’t a discussion essay’s structure supposed to be something like this:

2nd paragraph: Reasons people believe asking for help to decide for a career is good 3rd paragraph: Reasons people believe doing it on your own is good Conclusion: Giving your own opinion

Thank you for your time!

Good question! The short answer is that both approaches work! The directions are simply to “discuss both views,” but you don’t have to provide support for both sides. You can also discuss the problems or issues with one side, as this essay has done. Does that make sense? I’d suggest reviewing more sample essays to get a better sense of this.

Hope this helps, and best of luck to you!

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• Essay Task 2

IELTS Writing Task 2: Discussion Essays- Benchmark IELTS

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

Discussion essays are a common type of IELTS writing task 2 essay question where you are given two sides of an argument to discuss and give your opinion. This guide is full of writing tips, useful language and a sample essay to help you produce a high-level IELTS writing task 2 discussion essay. Read on to learn more!

Table of Contents

1.1 understanding the question, 1.2 example discussion essay questions, 2.1 essay structure 1.

• 2.2 Essay structure 2
• 3.1 Identify key words and phrases

3.2 Organise your ideas

3.3 identify vocabulary, 4.1 introduction, 4.2 main body paragraphs, 4.3 conclusion.

• 5.1 Complete the sample Discussion essay

5.2 Discussion Sample Essay

1. discussion essay overview.

As with all IELTS writing task 2 essay  questions, you will have  40 minutes to produce a formal essay ( at least 250 words in length).

With a discussion essay, you will be presented with two sides of an argument and then asked to give your opinion .

Remember, there are five main types of writing task 2 questions:

• Advantage/disadvantage
• Double question
• Problem/solution

A discussion question should be easy to identify: You will first be given an IELTS statement and then a question that will usually be worded something like:

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

With this type of essay question, you can choose to either take a thesis-led approach where you give your opinion in the i ntroduction and conclusion , or an evidence-led approach where you give your opinion in the conclusion .

We will show you both structures later in this guide and a sample essay that takes an evidence-led approach.

Here are some example discussion essay questions. Pay attention to the question words so you quickly identify a discussion essay question:

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

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

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

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

Discuss both sides.

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

Also, read the following IELTS Essay Writing Guides

• Double Question IELTS Essay Topics
• Opinion-based Task 2 IELTS Guide
• IELTS Advantage Disadvantage Essay Type
• Problem Solution IELTS Writing Task Statement

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

Discuss both views.

2. Essay Structure for Opinion Essays

2.1 Essay structure 2

Evidence-led

Note that we have suggested giving two topic sentences per body paragraph . However, it is perfectly fine to spend more time writing one topic sentence and developing that idea fully .

The best way to see what structure works best is to complete an essay under timed conditions.

3. Planning your Discussion Essay

Planning your essay should only take 5 minutes but could make a real difference to your overall score.

We’ve put together some useful tips to plan a discussion essay.

3.1 Identify keywords and phrases

You should always make sure you understand exactly what topic you have been asked to write about by locating the topic words in the IELTS statement.

Take a look at the statement for our model answer. We’ve underlined the topic words for you:

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

The topic of this essay is environmental problems . We have also put some other keywords in bold that give more information about the topic, in this case, the question is not just about environmental problems but about dealing with these problems on a global scale or nationally .

If you want to score well in Coherence and Cohesion, then you need to create a logical and well organised essay. You could organise your ideas using notes, bullet points, columns, or whatever method you like. For a discussion essay, you could consider arranging your ideas by argument and supporting examples:

Argument 1:

• Environmental issues should be addressed at global level/ richer nations = financial ability
• International cooperation is necessary worldwide
• World leaders can make laws to promote the use of renewable energy and reduce the use of finite resources
• Resources to develop and invest in green technology / drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Different nations need to reduce carbon emissions

Argument 2:

• National laws that impose rules
• Regional and community action is more effective than global efforts
• Recycling quotas and waste reduction
• Communities can coordinate direct action
• Litter picking campaigns

Although it is not essential, it is a great idea to note down any unusual or useful vocabulary during the planning process to increase your score in Lexical resource .

Here are some ideas we came up with for our sample essay linked to the topic of environmental problems :

• Finite resources
• Greenhouse emissions
• Enact meaningful change
• Recycling quotas
• Green technology

4. Writing your Discussion Essay

The first thing you need to do is rewrite the given IELTS statement in your own words. This is called paraphrasing and it is a key skill needed for the writing section of the IELTS exam.

Look at the example of our paraphrase statement, can you see what’s changed?

Notice that we have taken an evidence-led approach where we do not give our opinion in the introduction and instead put this in the conclusion.

We suggest also adding an outline sentence to briefly explain what our easy will do:

This essay will examine both points of view .

For both of your main body paragraphs, you will need language to introduce the two discussion points given in the statement.

Each body paragraph should focus on one side of the argument .

Here’s a reminder of our recommended essay structure for the body paragraphs (remember, you do not have to write about two points in each paragraph, you can stick to one ):

Impersonal Passive: The impersonal passive is useful for this type of essay when introducing ideas. Here are some example sentence starters:

• People often say that…
• A common argument is that…
• People often claim that…
• Some people say that…
• People generally think that…
• People often put forward the argument that…

Here is another example taken from our sample essay:

It is often argued that these environmental issues should be tackled globally.

Relative clauses: Relative clauses are an efficient way of providing more information about the main idea of your sentence as well as a way of increasing your Grammatical range and accuracy .

Here is a reminder of the relative pronouns needed to form a relative clause:

And here are some example relative clauses linked to the topic of our sample essay:

• On the other hand, there are many people who believe that environmental change is only possible at a more local level and that only individual nations can make the biggest difference.
• It is believed that there should be national laws that impose rules such as recycling quotas and waste reduction.

Your conclusion is an essential part of your writing tasks 2 essay and you will find it difficult to score over a band score 6.0 in Task achievement if you do not include one .

There are two main things you need to do for a successful conclusion:

• Restate both sides of the argument (using different words than you did in your introduction)
• Give your opinion/ restate your opinion on which side of the argument you think is the most important (this will depend on whether you have taken a thesis-led or evidence-led approach)

Take a look at our conclusion for the sample answer and identify the opinion:

In conclusion, although it is clear that environmental issues need to be addressed at a global level, it is my view that national efforts can make the biggest difference.  Communities can work together to implement policies quickly and effectively and enact meaningful environmental change.

5. Example Discussion Essay and Exercise

Here is the discussion essay that we have been using in this guide.

We have removed some keywords so you can test your knowledge on discussion essays by selecting the correct missing word.

5.1 Complete the Sample Discussion Essay

There is no doubt that the modern world is facing many serious environmental problems, such as climate change, an increase in natural disasters and air pollution. It is often argued that these environmental issues should be tackled globally. However, there are also those that argue that these problems can only be dealt with at a regional level. This essay will examine both points of view.

One reason that people believe environmental issues should be addressed at a global level is that richer, more developed nations have the financial ability and power to do so. World leaders can make laws to promote the use of renewable energy and reduce the use of finite resources. Furthermore, they also have the resources to develop and invest in green technology that could drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Another argument that can be put forward is that, to make major environmental changes, international cooperation is necessary worldwide. For instance, different nations need to work in unison to agree on their reduction in carbon emissions.

On the other hand, there are many people who believe that environmental change is only possible at a more local level and that only individual nations can make the biggest difference. It is believed that there should be national laws that impose rules such as recycling quotas and waste reduction. Additionally, it is argued that regional and community action is more effective than global efforts. For example, communities can coordinate direct action such as litter picking campaigns.

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Sample Answers For Discuss Both Views and Give Your Opinion Questions

Task 2 questions we will answer:

IELTS Discuss Both Views Essay: tips, common mistakes, questions & essays

In this lesson we are going to look at how to answer an IELTS Discuss Both Views essay, also known as a 2 sided discussion essay.

You will learn about this IELTS Writing Task 2 essay, using authentic IELTS essay questions, plus the most common mistakes. And I will finish with an IELTS model essay written by me in response to a sample IELTS essay question. So let’s get started!

What Is Your Task?

In this IELTS question type, you are presented with 2 contrasting opinions on a particular topic. Your task is to discuss these two views AND give your own opinion on the topic.

Some people say History is one of the most important school subjects. Other people think that, in today’s world, subjects like Science and Technology are more important than History.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Cambridge IELTS 13 Academic Test 3

In this task, you are presented with two contrasting views on the topic of education, specifically, what are the most important school subjects.

• View 1: History is one of the most important school subjects
• View 2: “Subjects like” Science and Technology are more important than History

You need to do two things in this task:

• Present the reasons for each view
• Present your own view. (This can include saying what you think about each of the two views)

Let’s look at this task in more detail.

Firstly, you need to present the REASONS for each view.

• WHY do some people think that History is one of the most important school subjects?
• WHY do some people think that subjects like Science and Technology are more important than History?

To get a Band 7 or higher, you should try to present the reasons for each view in an objective way. i.e. you need to think about the argument from the viewpoint of the people who think this. What are the reasons for their view that History is one of the most important school subjects?

Here are a few reasons why these people may think this:

• You need to understand your country’s past if you can really understand your country today
• Understanding History gives you a shared cultural understanding with other people
• Because the study of History may require a lot of reading and writing, it helps you to develop literacy skills

I don’t necessarily agree with these reasons. I just think these may be the reasons why some people think History is so important.

And why do some people think that subjects like Science and Technology are more important that History? Here are a couple of possible reasons:

• the study of science and technology helps you to develop skills that are important in getting a job in today’s world
• it’s useful to have a good understanding of science to help you navigate the modern world (e.g. advanced in health and electronics)

It’s important to understand that the 2 views given in an IELTS test question are going to be sensible, reasonable views. They won’t be crazy ones, such as “some people think that playing computer games is one of the most important school subjects”! So there WILL be good reasons for these views. You just need to think about and explain what they are.

Secondly, you need to present your OWN view. Your opinion. You need to say what YOU think.

For a high band score, it’s a good idea to base your view on your discussion of the 2 views . You could point out the weaknesses or limitations of the view you disagree with, and suggest which view is stronger.

“Studying History can certainly boost literacy skills, but then so can any other subject requiring lots of reading and writing.”

“S cientific and technological subjects should be given priority in the curriculum because they help young people get well-paid jobs in modern companies.”

You can write sentences like these either at the end of each body paragraph, or in your final paragraph, where you present your own opinion.

How To Plan An IELTS Discuss Both Views Essay

If you are aiming for a high band score (band 7 and above) it is absolutely vital that you plan your essay. A good plan will help you to see if you have answered the question, developed your ideas and organised them BEFORE you start writing.

We’re going to plan an essay using my 4 Step Planning Process.

Step 1: Understand The Task

First, you need to make sure you understand exactly what you need to write about. So you need to read the question carefully, not quickly!

These three questions will help you to get a really clear understanding of your task:

What is the topic about?

What is the topic NOT about?

How should you respond to the topic?

Let’s go back to this essay question, and answer those 3 questions:

In a discuss both views essay, you have 2 contrasting ideas…but what OVERALL issue are both groups thinking about? In this task, it’s the most important school subjects . Some people think History is one of those important school subjects, but other people think that Science and Technology are the most important school subjects.

It’s also a good idea to quickly think about what the topic is NOT about, so you don’t start writing about those things. The task is NOT about university, it’s about school (so students aged between 5 and 18).

The instruction, “discuss both these views and give your own opinion” tells you how to respond to the topic. Make sure you do that! Don’t write an essay that only argues why History is important – that would be an opinion essay and this will limit your band score for Task Response to Band 5 at best.

Step 2: Decide Your Position

Next, you need to decide your position. In other words, you need to decide what you think.

In a discuss both views essay, your position is your discussion of the two views, plus your own view , so it’s a little more complicated than for other tasks.

When you discuss the two views, you need to present the reasons for the views. Why do these people take this view? But it’s also a good idea to point out any strengths or weaknesses in the 2 views, so that your own view comes through.

Step 3: Extend Your Ideas

When you decided your position, you may have started thinking about the reasons for your position, the reasons for your answer. In other words, WHY are you taking this view?

Giving reasons for your view is essential in an IELTS essay. In fact, all IELTS questions tell you to “give reasons for your answer”. So in Step 3, you need to think about your reasons a little more.

However, just presenting your reasons is not enough. You need to develop them.

The two best ways of developing your ideas is by:

• giving explanations of what you mean
• giving specific examples which illustrate what you mean

Together, these add more detail to your answer.

You MUST do this to get Band 7. If you fail to develop your ideas in detail, your band score for Task Response may be limited to Band 6.

Step 4: Structure Your Essay

The final step in the planning process is to structure your essay. This simply means deciding which main ideas to put in which paragraphs.

In a discuss both views essay, here’s the structure I would recommend:

• Paragraph 1: introduce essay
• Paragraph 2: present the reasons for the 1st view
• Paragraph 3: present the reasons for the 2nd view
• Paragraph 4: present your opinion

How To Write Your IELTS Discuss Both Views Essay

Let’s go through how to write the different parts of the essay.

How To Write The Introduction

In the introduction to an IELTS Discuss Both Views essay, you can do two things: introduce the main topic and the two views. (You can also present your opinion in a third sentence, but it is not essential.)

Introduce The Topic

You can begin with a background sentence which introduces your reader to the topic of the essay. This is not absolutely essential, but it helps to show the examiner that you understand the task.

In our example question above, the task presented us with 2 views:

“Some people say History is one of the most important school subjects. Other people think that, in today’s world, subjects like Science and Technology are more important than History.”

But what is the wider topic? What big topic are the 2 groups of people discussing?

It’s the most important school subjects.

So you could introduce the first sentence like this:

“There is often a lot of debate on the topic of the most important school subjects.”

or you could even write a question:

“What are the most important school subjects?”

If you find identifying the wider topic difficult, then don’t write this sentence. Just present the two views instead.

Introduce The 2 Views

Next, you need to introduce the two views.

The best way to do this is to paraphrase the two views in one sentence.

How To Paraphrase

Think about the meaning of the two views, and briefly rewrite them using your own words. Try not to use the same grammatical structures as in the essay question, and try to move language around. In other words, be flexible. This is important if you are aiming for a Band 7 or higher.

In the example essay question above, the two views are:

Here is one way of paraphrasing these views:

“Some people argue that one of the most essential subjects is History, while others disagree and want to see Science and Technology prioritised.”

or you could write about the “argument” rather than the “people”:

“One argument is that one of the most essential subjects is History, while another takes the view that Science and Technology should be prioritised instead.”

How NOT To Paraphrase

When you paraphrase, do NOT just change individual words with synonyms, or you will get some very strange sentences, e.g.

“Many citizens say the study of the past is among the most crucial educational topics. Other individuals ponder that, in nowadays earth, areas like scientific knowledge and technological skills are more essential than the past.”

DON’T DO THIS! It sounds unnatural and can be confusing.

Present Your Opinion

You could also add your own opinion as a third sentence, but I don’t think this is necessary. It’s better to get straight to the body.

Just start writing the body.

How To Write The Body Paragraphs

In an IELTS Discuss Both Views essay, you need to present the arguments for the two different views, plus your own opinion.

Write the arguments for each view in a separate paragraph.

When discussing the arguments for each view, the body paragraph should contain:

• A reason for the view (your main idea)
• A more detailed explanation of this reason
• An example which illustrates this reason

You can include a second reason for each view in the same paragraph.

How To Write The Conclusion (Opinion Paragraph)

In the conclusion to an IELTS Discuss Both Views essay, you need to do one thing:

• state your own opinion

The best way to do this is by pointing out the weaknesses in the view you disagree with, and the strengths of the view you agree with.

You do not need an additional paragraph which summarises your points again.

Common Mistakes in an IELTS Discuss Both Views Essay

These are the most common mistakes made by Test Takers when writing an IELTS Discuss Both Views essay:

• presenting too many reasons for each view: you MUST develop ALL of your ideas to get a high band score, so it’s best to present 1-2 reasons for each view and explain them all
• not giving your own opinion
• not writing your opinion in much detail. You should try to give some reasons for your view
• Writing an overly general statement about the topic in the introduction (e.g. “Healthcare is a topic of hot debate.”)
• Your main ideas are not explained and illustrated enough. You need to develop all of your ideas to get a band 7 and higher.
• Including ideas and information that does not directly answer the essay question
• Not fully understanding the essay question(s). This is often caused by reading the question quickly, not carefully.
• Using memorised phrases (e.g. “a hot topic”, “in a nutshell”, “my considered opinion”)
• Using “research studies” as examples: examples should illustrate your ideas, not prove them. 
• Trying to use rare or “novel” language: examiners are looking for groups of words used naturally, not rare words.

Sample IELTS Discuss Both Views Essay Questions

Some people think that parents should teach children how to be good members of society. Others, however, believe that school is the place to learn this.

Cambridge IELTS 8 Academic Test 1

Some people think that the teenage years are the happiest times of most people’s lives. Others think that adult life brings more happiness, in spite of greater responsibilities.

Cambridge IELTS 9 GT Test B

Some people believe that it is best to accept a bad situation, such as an unsatisfactory job or shortage of money. Others argue that it is better to try and improve such situations.

Cambridge IELTS 14 Test 1

Some people like to try new things, for example, places to visit and types of food. Other people prefer to keep doing things they are familiar with.

Discuss both these attitudes and give your own opinion.

Cambridge IELTS 16 General Training Test 2

Some people say that advertising is extremely successful at persuading us to buy things. Other people think that advertising is so common that we no longer pay attention to it,

Cambridge IELTS 15 Academic Test 3

Model IELTS Discuss Both Views Essays

Here is an IELTS Discuss Both Views Essay that I wrote in response to this task:

Some people say that now we can see films on our phones or tablets there is no need to go to the cinema. Others say that to be fully enjoyed, films need to be seen in a cinema.

Cambridge IELTS Book 13 General Training Test 3

Now that mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets have become more powerful and affordable, there is some debate as to whether there is a need any longer to go to the cinema to watch movies.

It’s certainly true that going to the cinema is not essential. The versatility and portability of these devices mean you can easily watch films while lying on your bed at home, sitting in a cafe or commuting to work or college. Moreover, online services such as Netflix provide low-cost and rapid access to a vast catalogue of movies, whereas cinemas only screen a handful of films at any one time.

However, there are strong arguments in favour of going to the cinema, foremost of which is that modern cinemas, such as IMAX, offer surround sound systems and huge screens, meaning that moviegoers are immersed in a movie, an experience that cannot be replicated by mobile devices. In addition, new movie releases tend to be exclusive to cinema chains, so if you want to watch the latest Bond or Batman movie on your tablet, you may have a long wait.

Personally, I think that while there are clear arguments for both views, someone’s preferences are likely to be influenced by the kind of movie they want to watch. Sci-fi and action movies, for example, are far more enjoyable in a cinema because of the special effects they include, whereas gentle romantic comedies or biopics can easily be enjoyed on a tablet or phone. It also depends on whether you want to watch movies with friends: it’s simply much easier to watch them together in a cinema rather than huddled over a small screen with a tiny speaker.

(282 words)

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IELTS writing discuss both views essay (Band 9 model)

By ieltsetc on April 9, 2017

One of the most common discussion essays in IELTS is the 'discuss both views and give your opinion'. Here's how to structure your essay.

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How to Write an IELTS Discussion Essay?

Updated On Apr 23, 2024

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Just as the names suggest, discuss both views or discussion essays in IELTS Writing task 2 expects you to discuss both sides of an argument, and then to give your own opinion on the matter.

You get 40 minutes to complete this discussion essay IELTS Writing task and you have to write at least 250 words on the topic given. So gear up, let us learn how to write a perfect band 8+ task 2 discuss both views and essays in no time in this blog!

How to Plan an IELTS Discussion Essay?

There are a few key things to keep in mind when writing a discussion essay:

• Identify the two opposing views. 

First, read the statement carefully and find the two opposing views. Then, think about how to support each one.

• Gather evidence to support both sides. 

Once you know what the two opposing views are, you need to gather evidence to support each one.

This evidence can come from your own knowledge, experience, or research.

• Write a clear and organized essay. 

Your essay should have a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion.

• Start with an Introduction

Begin your essay with a clear introduction that tells the reader what the topic is and what your main points will be. Keep it simple and to the point.

• Use Paragraphs

Break your essay into two paragraphs, with each one focusing on a different point. Start each paragraph with a topic sentence that tells the reader what the paragraph is about.

• Give Examples

Use examples to support your points. This could be something you’ve read about, something you’ve seen, or something from your own experience.

Get your hands on 2024’s latest IELTS Writing Task 2 test papers!

Structure of an IELTS Writing Task 2 Discuss Both Views and Give Your Opinion Essay

3 Common Mistakes in IELTS Discuss Both Views and Give Your Opinion Essays

Let us look at the three errors that are usually common in IELTS discussion essays.

• Imbalanced Discussion

Focusing too much on one viewpoint and neglecting the other, or failing to discuss both views equally.

• Weak Supporting Evidence

Using irrelevant examples, statistics, or facts to support your points in the body paragraphs.

• Overgeneralization

Making broad statements without providing specific examples or evidence to back them up.

Never repeat these errors in your next IELTS discussion essay!

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Tips to Write an IELTS Discussion Essay

Since we’ve had a look at the three most common errors that might occur while you write an IELTS discussion essay, now let’s learn a few expert tips you can use to practice while writing them!

• Use neutral language

When discussing two opposing views, use neutral language that expresses your opinion presenting both sides of the argument fairly and without bias.

• Plan your essay properly

Take a few minutes to think about what points you want to make and how you’ll organize them. Try to jot down some notes before you start writing.

• Use connectors and transition words

Transition words and phrases can help to make your essay flow smoothly and signal to the reader when you are moving from one point to another.

We’ve collected a list of connectors to present in your IELTS discussion essays. Have a look at them in the following table:

• Use evidence to support your claims

When writing supporting points in your body paragraphs, be sure to provide evidence as an example to support it. This can come from your knowledge, experience, or research.

• Proofread your essay carefully

Before you finish, take a few minutes to read over your essay and make sure there are no mistakes in spelling, grammar, or punctuation.

IELTS Discussion Essay Sample Questions with Sample Answers

Here are a few sample questions and their answers for IELTS Writing Task 2 discussion essays with a proper breakdown of them.

IELTS Discussion Essay Model Answer 1

Some people believe that it is essential to learn a foreign language in school, while others believe that it is not necessary. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Introduction: The introduction sets the stage for the essay by presenting the topic and highlighting the opposing viewpoints.

Body Paragraph 1: This paragraph discusses the advantages of learning a foreign language, including cognitive, cultural, and practical benefits.

Body Paragraph 2: The second paragraph presents the counterargument that learning a foreign language is unnecessary due to technology and the prominence of English.

Conclusion: The conclusion provides a clear personal opinion that acknowledges the counterarguments but asserts that the benefits of foreign language learning are more significant.

Final Compilation

Learning a foreign language has been a topic of debate in educational circles, with proponents arguing its importance and opponents asserting its insignificance. Those who advocate for learning a foreign language in school argue that it has numerous cognitive, cultural, and practical benefits. Firstly, mastering another language enhances cognitive abilities, as it requires learners to think critically and adapt to different linguistic structures. Moreover, it promotes cultural understanding by allowing individuals to communicate with people from diverse backgrounds, fostering tolerance and open-mindedness. From a practical standpoint, in today’s globalized world, proficiency in a foreign language can boost job prospects and facilitate international interactions.

On the other hand, there are those who contend that learning a foreign language is unnecessary in the modern age due to the prevalence of translation tools and the predominance of English as a global lingua franca. They argue that the time spent on language acquisition could be better utilized for other subjects that are more directly applicable to students’ future careers. Additionally, some assert that the difficulty of becoming truly proficient in a foreign language often discourages students and leads to frustration.

To conclude, while the concerns raised against learning a foreign language hold some validity, the advantages far outweigh the drawbacks. The cognitive and cultural benefits of language learning are substantial and contribute not only to personal growth but also to building a more interconnected and harmonious society. Moreover, even though technology can aid in translation, it cannot replace the nuanced understanding and genuine human connections that result from speaking someone’s native language. Therefore, incorporating foreign language learning into the curriculum remains a valuable investment in students’ holistic development.

IELTS Discussion Essay Model Answer 2

Some people believe that it is better to live in a city, while others believe that it is better to live in the countryside. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Introduction: Introduces the topic and mentions the opposing views regarding city and countryside living.

Body Paragraph 1: Discusses the advantages of living in a city, including access to amenities, job opportunities, and cultural activities.

Body Paragraph 2: Presents the benefits of living in the countryside, such as tranquillity, connection to nature, and strong communities.

Conclusion: Offers a personal perspective that acknowledges the strengths of both options and suggests that the choice should be based on individual preferences.

Living preferences between urban and rural areas have long been a subject of debate. Supporters of city living argue that it offers greater access to amenities, career opportunities, and cultural activities. Cities are often hubs of economic activity, providing a wide range of job options and higher earning potential. Additionally, urban dwellers can enjoy a plethora of entertainment choices, from theatres and museums to restaurants and shopping centres.

On the other hand, proponents of rural living emphasize the tranquillity and connection to nature that the countryside provides. They contend that life in the countryside is less stressful, offering cleaner air, less noise pollution, and a slower pace of life. Moreover, the close-knit communities in rural areas foster a sense of belonging and interpersonal relationships that can be harder to find in bustling cities.

To conclude, in my opinion, both living environments have their merits, and the choice depends on individual preferences and priorities. While cities offer convenience and a vibrant social scene, they can also be overwhelming and stressful. On the contrary, the countryside provides a peaceful and close-to-nature existence, but it might lack the opportunities and amenities that cities offer. Therefore, the ideal choice should be based on a person’s lifestyle, values, and career aspirations.

IELTS Discussion Essay Model Answer 3

Some people believe that social media has a negative impact on society, while others believe that it has a positive effect. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Introduction: Introduces the topic and states that social media’s impact on society is debated.

Body Paragraph 1: Discusses the negative effects of social media, including impacts on mental health, privacy, and interpersonal relationships.

Body Paragraph 2: Presents the positive aspects of social media, focusing on connectivity, activism, information sharing, and education.

Conclusion: Offers a personal perspective that acknowledges both sides of the argument but emphasizes the potential positive impact of responsible social media use.

The influence of social media on society is a topic of ongoing debate. Detractors argue that social media has detrimental effects on mental health, privacy, and interpersonal relationships. They claim that the constant comparison to curated online personas can lead to feelings of inadequacy and anxiety. Furthermore, the erosion of privacy due to the widespread sharing of personal information and the rise of cyberbullying are serious concerns. Critics also point out that excessive screen time detracts from face-to-face interactions, potentially weakening real-life connections.

On the other hand, proponents of social media contend that it fosters global connectivity, information sharing, and activism. Platforms like Twitter and Instagram enable individuals to voice their opinions, raise awareness about important issues, and create positive change. Social media has played a pivotal role in various social movements and humanitarian efforts, mobilizing people on a scale previously unattainable. Additionally, it allows easy access to a wide range of educational content and facilitates networking opportunities.

In conclusion, while social media has its drawbacks, its potential positive impact is significant. The power of social media to amplify voices, disseminate information, and drive social change cannot be overlooked. However, its usage should be balanced and responsible, with individuals and society collectively addressing its negative aspects, such as online toxicity and privacy concerns.

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Here are the 10 examples for the IELTS Discussion Essay:

Take your time to understand this lesson well and keep practising IELTS discussion essays using past and latest exam questions as much as you need. Constant practice is the best way to get better at it. Way to go!

Excel at IELTS Writing with IELTSMaterial.com

If you are preparing for the IELTS Writing exam, we would recommend you practice tasks like the above-given questions regularly. The more you practice, the better you will become at cracking the writing tasks for IELTS within the dedicated timeframe.

You can also enroll in our IELTS preparation online classes to get your hands on the latest IELTS writing questions or participate in our FREE online webinars to learn how to write them directly from our band 9 IELTS experts!

Also, check:

• IELTS Writing tips
• IELTS Writing recent actual test
• Band 9 essays
• Advantage and Disadvantage Essays
• IELTS Writing Answer sheet
• IELTS map vocabulary
• IELTS Writing Task 1 Connectors

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I give my opinion in an IELTS discussion essay?

Are Opinion essays and Discussion essays the same?

How do you discuss both views and give your opinion?

What are the major mistakes test takers do in the IELTS Discussion essays?

How to write the IELTS Discussion Essay?

Practice IELTS Writing Task 2 based on Essay types

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Nehasri Ravishenbagam

Nehasri Ravishenbagam, a Senior Content Marketing Specialist and a Certified IELTS Trainer of 3 years, crafts her writings in an engaging way with proper SEO practices. She specializes in creating a variety of content for IELTS, CELPIP, TOEFL, and certain immigration-related topics. As a student of literature, she enjoys freelancing for websites and magazines to balance her profession in marketing and her passion for creativity!

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Blessing Nzekwe

Posted on May 20, 2022

Prison is the common way in most countries to solve the problem of crime. However, a more effective solution is to provide people with a better education. Do you agree of disagree.

Correctional centre is the most popular facility used by majority of the countries to tackle criminal activities. While I believe that the most probable action of ultmost benefit is to make accessible standard education for the masses, as this will make them to be well informed and be more responsible citizens, in this regard I agree with the latter statement.

To begin with, paving way for education of top notch quality will create an avenue to gain knowledge and understanding of information about rules and regulations governing a certain sect as well as how to uphold good moral values and living righteously. For instance, research shows that in Finland, there are negligible number of penitentiary institutions due to the high quality education system being operated in the country. Thus having a consequential high valued institution of learning plays a significant role in cubbing criminal activities.

Furthermore, an impeccable academic world will inculcate the act of being accountable citizens, this will make them to take responsibility of any action they perform and thereafter face whatever consequence that may arise from such weather it is pleasant or unpleasant. For example, in Nigeria, civic studies was incorporated into the school curriculum in a bid to boost the educational standard for the masses at large. Therefore, having a feasible academic environment will help create individuals of high moral standard who will stare clear of any form of unholy act.

To conclude, I want to reaffirm the fact that having quality educational facility that will teach high moral life values to gain the act of responsibility, out weighs the adoption of correctional centres to mitigate criminal activities. I recommend that the governing body should devote their strength to enhancing good learning facilities rather than prison services.

Posted on May 21, 2022

Band Score – 5.5

Concentrate on the correct usage of articles, verb forms, prepositions, subject-verb agreement and punctuation.

Since it is an opinion essay, you are required to write about one line of contrast in a separate body after presenting two body paragraphs supporting your views.

Pay attention to spellings and word order in a sentence.

Use C2 level of words.

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IELTS Writing Task 2: Discuss Both Views Essay with Sample Answer

• Post author By IELTSAcademic
• Post date September 19, 2015
• 3 Comments on IELTS Writing Task 2: Discuss Both Views Essay with Sample Answer

IELTS Writing Task 2: Question

Try this IELTS Writing question which requires you to discuss both views of an issue. It’s basically the same as an argument essay that we studied previously. The wording of the question is different, that’s all.

The free movement of goods across national borders has long been a controversial issue. Some people argue that it is necessary for economic growth, while others claim that it damages local industries. Discuss both views and give your own opinion. You should write at least 250 words.

IELTS Writing Task 2: Model Answer

One of the most debatable issues of the last century has been the extent to which international trade benefits or harms national economies. Many arguments have been made for and against free trade between nations. In this essay, I will discuss both views and state my own position.

Those who support the expansion of global free trade claim that economies grow faster when they can specialise in just a few industries in which they have a strong advantage. As a result, each region or country produces something of value to the world economy. For example, East Asia manufactures electronic goods, the Middle East exports energy, and the EU produces luxury items. Free trade proponents claim that dependence on global trade helps to strengthen international cooperation and prevent wars.

Meanwhile, opponents of free trade—sometimes called ‘protectionists’—claim that the unrestricted movement of goods and services causes damage to local communities. This is because jobs are lost when it becomes cheaper to import a product than to produce it domestically. They also argue that the vast distances travelled by food, oil, and consumer goods is harming the environment and making our lives unsustainable. Protectionists are in favour of tighter controls on the movement of goods and services in order to protect jobs and livelihoods.

In conclusion, while there are convincing arguments on both sides of the debate, a return to protectionist policies would surely be a mistake. I believe that global trade is inevitable and should not be restricted. It is no longer realistic for nations to source all of their energy, food, and manufactured goods within their own borders.

(267 words; IELTS 9.0)

Why does this Task 2 answer get a Band 9 score?

Task response: The model answer discusses both sides of the argument in equal measure and ends with a clear opinion. The writer includes background information and examples. The essay meets the word requirement.

Coherence and cohesion: The model answer is clearly structured, with each body paragraph discussing a different side of the argument. The relationship between paragraphs is clearly signalled by words like Meanwhile and In conclusion . Ideas are developed further with logical links such as For example , because and also .

Lexical resource: The writer uses higher-level vocabulary relevant to the topic such as opponents, domestically,   unsustainable, and interdependence . The core concept of ‘free movement of goods across national borders’ is repeatedly paraphrased.   Spelling is correct throughout the model answer.

Grammatical range and accuracy: The writer uses a wide variety of grammatical features including concessive clauses ( while… ), relative clauses ( in which… ), and other complex forms ( It is no longer realistic for nations to… ). There are no grammatical errors in the model essay.

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Discuss Both views [Sample Answer]

Posted by David S. Wills | Feb 7, 2020 | Model Essays | 0

A few days ago, I was given an essay to correct by one of my writing students . The question was quite interesting and I had never seen it before. When I wrote her a sample answer, I decided that I would use it on this website to illustrate how to write a good answer for this sort of question.

As such, I am going to show you some ideas about writing a good answer for “discuss both views…” questions and then give you my band 9 sample answer.

The Question

Here is the question that she gave me. It is, of course, an IELTS writing task 2 question:

In order to be successful in sport, some people think you have to be physically strong. Others say that mental strength is more important. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

I think that it is pretty straightforward. In other words, there is nothing very complicated about it. There are essentially two issues:

• physical strength is the most important factor in sports
• mental strength is the most important factor in sports

What do you need to do here? You need to discuss both views and then state what your opinion is . That means you should choose either #1 or #2 or say that both are equally important.

Brainstorming Ideas

Once you understand the question, you need to think of ideas. In a question like this, there isn’t much brainstorming to do because you already have the two main ideas. However, you need to think of:

• reasons why physical strength is important
• reasons why mental strength is important
• examples to prove both of those points

For me, this was quite easy. I decided that I wanted to give a balanced answer because, in my opinion, you cannot succeed at sports without a mixture of these qualities. So I made some notes that looked like this:

It is important to note that not all of these ideas are equal and that you should not say too much. This second point is important. For IELTS, it is better to take one or two ideas and expand upon them logically rather than just list many ideas. This will help you score highly for Task Achievement and Coherence and Cohesion.

Considering those last points, it is important that you take your ideas and develop them appropriately. I decided to include just one idea in each paragraph, but to expand upon it logically. This is a risk for some IELTS students, but as a native speaker and professional writer , I was not worried. I am confident in my skills.

I decided to say that both a strong body and strong mind are necessary. I would put that as my topic sentence for each paragraph and then develop the idea with explanation and examples. Here is how I would organize my thoughts:

In terms of paragraphing , I would structure my essay like this:

• Introduction – introduce the topic and state my thesis
• Body para #1 – talk about physical strength and give examples
• Body para#2 – say that mental strength is equal and explain
• Conclusion – summarize the issues

It is possible to write more than 4 paragraphs. Some people would choose to write 5 paragraphs in this sort of essay, but I personally think that writing 4 paragraphs is better. You can read more about that discussion here .

Anyway, let’s move on to my sample answer so that you can see how I would personally approach this topic.

Sample Answer

Traditionally, people believed that sports were in the domain of those who were bigger, faster, or stronger than their peers; however, nowadays people value mental strength and believe that this is the most important factor in attaining sporting prowess . This essay will look at both sides of the argument before concluding that a successful sportsperson needs both.

To begin with, it is nearly impossible to become a talented sportsperson without some degree of physical superiority over your fellow athletes . This could be either a genetic predisposition or the result of intensive training , but it is undoubtedly of massive importance. A runner with short legs could not win a race against his long-legged competitors regardless of his tenacity and a Tour de France cyclist with a weak heart and poorly developed leg muscles would stand no chance of winning the yellow jersey even if he was extremely determined.

Despite that, mental strength is also tremendously important and thus cannot be overlooked in measuring the prerequisites for sporting achievements . In the aforementioned examples of running and cycling, physical strength and attributes are incredibly important, but without the motivation to win and the perseverance to push through pain and adversity , there would be little chance that those people could succeed. In addition, mental strength is required to endure the brutal training regimes necessary for modern athletes, and these are responsible for at least part of the physical capabilities that they develop.

In conclusion, it is impossible to say whether physical or mental strength is more important for sportspeople because they are both utterly indispensable .

In terms of language, you may notice that I have used some advanced vocabulary. You don’t need to use lots of difficult words. The most important thing is avoiding mistakes. This video will explain why that is the case:

Anyway, I have put some of that language in bold for you to review. These words and phrases are suitable for this topic and added some value that would help me get band 9 for Lexical Resource.

Perhaps more importantly, I have varied my language. Notice that there is little repetition! Look how I added an example in paragraph 2:

A runner with short legs could not win a race against his long-legged competitors regardless of his tenacity and a Tour de France cyclist with a weak heart and poorly developed leg muscles would stand no chance of winning the yellow jersey even if he was extremely determined.

I have not repeated “win” as I used the phrase “winning the yellow jersey.” This made it specific to the sport and avoided a boring piece of language. Instead of repeating “strong” and “strength,” I talked about specific features: legs and hearts. Also, notice that I used the negative forms: short legs could not win… and weak hearts would not get the yellow jersey.

In terms of Coherence and Cohesion, I have linked my paragraphs very well. I started the second one with “Despite that” and then later said “In the aforementioned examples …” This clearly tells the examiner that I am capable of connecting my ideas across a whole answer.

Overall, with no mistakes and some quite advanced techniques for language and linking, I have produced an excellent essay that would surely score a band 9.

Books About IELTS Writing

If you liked this sample answer, you may find my books on IELTS writing to be useful. Check them out here .

About The Author

David S. Wills

David S. Wills is the author of Scientologist! William S. Burroughs and the 'Weird Cult' and the founder/editor of Beatdom literary journal. He lives and works in rural Cambodia and loves to travel. He has worked as an IELTS tutor since 2010, has completed both TEFL and CELTA courses, and has a certificate from Cambridge for Teaching Writing. David has worked in many different countries, and for several years designed a writing course for the University of Worcester. In 2018, he wrote the popular IELTS handbook, Grammar for IELTS Writing and he has since written two other books about IELTS. His other IELTS website is called IELTS Teaching.

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IELTS Discussion Essay Video Lesson: Useful Language

Learn expressions to use in your discussion essay for IELTS writing task 2 with this video lesson. It is important to use a variety of language to express both sides in your essay. Being able to have flexible language for giving other people’s opinions is a good way to increase your vocabulary band score.

Hello in this lesson I’m going to look at some expressions that you can use for a discussion essay for IELTS writing task 2. Now when you have a discussion essay you have to support two different sides and this is not about your opinion this is about what other people think, other people’s opinion and you have to support what they think. so here are some very useful expressions to help you show other people’s thoughts and opinions.

Now there’s quite a lot of expressions you can use. I will run through each one but I will tell you now there are two expressions here that you shouldn’t use. can you see which ones? well I’ll tell you at the end of the lesson let’s have a look the first one. “Many people believe that ” this is a very common expression to use for IELTS It is not high band score but its clear and its academic so don’t worry, please use it. The next one “it is commonly believed that” this is a very nice expression because you can see here “is believed” that is the passive and it’s very good to give the examiner some passive tense in your essay. It will improve your band score and you can see this word here “commonly” that means many people so it has the same meaning as this sentence and this word we can change, we could say “it is frequently believed that” or we could say “it is often believed that”. So we could put a different adverb of frequency here. The next one “some people think that”  again it’s very simple but it is academic and its clear. “It is often thought that” here we’ve got another passive, so very nice to use. But “on the side of” or “the other side of the coin is” this is the other opinion, the other side. “It is considered by many that” this is a very nice expression is very academic. It’s very good to use for IELTS and again you have a passive here and you can change this word if you want and you could say “it is considered by some that”. The next one here “many argue that” is very nice very clear. You don’t need to say “many people”, you could say “many argue that “. Another one, “it is argued by some that”, again here we’ve got the passive and you can change this word, “it is argued by many that”. “On the one hand” and”On the other hand”, so that’s the one side of the argument, on the other hand that’s the other side of the argument. The last one “some people support the opinion that” again this is very nice, very academic.

Discussion Essay Model Answer

I am exceedingly grateful for your copious and advantageous free resources.

I will be back with my testimonial about how your resources assisted me with acing my IELTS test once.

Well done and God bless you.

Ebizi Eradiri Njoku

Wishing you the best of luck in your test!

Thank you , my best online teacher

hi Liz I have subscribed your channel for many years now .I do receive some emails .However I need support in writing the introduction for a discussion please could you guide me

Think about getting my advanced lessons. I’ll be offering a discount at the start of July: https://elizabethferguson.podia.com/ . The reason I made advanced lessons is so that I could explain fully how to write essays step by step. Each lesson is around 1 hour in length.

I am a new student learning the IELTS and today I started following you with the lesson writing task – 2. It is observed that there are -04- types of essays. I started the discussion type but little confused and not able to analyse the discussion type. Please advise, how may I understand whether the topic is discussion or opinion-based or discussion with opinion.

Go to this page for all your answers: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/

Dear liz, I have read your E-Book and that helped me a lot because I didn’t know about how to develop Ideas, but after reading that book I have learned what we can write in our essay according to the topic. Thank you for making that E-book. But here I have different doubt about structuring an Introduction for discussion type essay. (Specially, one sided opinion essay) While writing discussion type essay, you taught to give balanced approach or one sided approach. My confusion here is after paraphrasing both view points in the introduction we can directly state our opinion even if it is one sided, do we have to mention that why we do not agree with the other view point? What I mean to say is, if I think cooperation is more important to learn then do i have to mention why i do not think competition is important? My another doubt is do we have to give the hint what body paragraphs will discuss about within the introduction? Like, after paraphrasing the two different view points do we have to write again that many people think competition because it develops a sense of self-esteem in a child, while others believe cooperation is important as it helps in developing social skills + giving my opinion stating, I believe cooperation is important + reason why I believe so + why don’t I believe competition is important?

I am confused what should I exclude to make a short yet clear Introduction with one sided clear opinion? because giving reason why we do not think other view point is more important is making introduction too lengthy. Similarly giving hint within the introduction why people have different view points making it too lengthy.

Your background statement will include the two views held by others. The details for those views will be explained in the body paragraphs. The thesis statement will contain your view and the body paragraph will explain it. It is your choice how you develop the body paragraph. You might want to explain why you agree with one side and why you disagree with the other – if they are two completely different choices to make. It really depends on how much you have to say. IELTS essay are as much about strategy as they are about ideas. Think about word count and length. IELTS essays are short – they were never designed to be long. You should be aiming between 270 and 290 words. So, plan each sentence before you start writing and you’ll soon see how much you can and can’t fit into each paragraph. Also remember that if you agree with one side fully, your opinion will be given along side (in the same paragraph) as the same view that others have. If you are unsure or confused, get my Advanced lessons because I’ve explained it really carefully in those lessons: https://elizabethferguson.podia.com/ . Glad you liked the Ideas E-book 🙂

Hello Ma’am, Sorry for over bugging You Hope You’re kicking fine. Meanwhile, Where can I get full length videos of Your Academic Test teachings on Tips for Task 1 writing- Graphs, Charts, pictures etc- My elder Brother is attempting it for the first time and needs help with it as His Academic test is slated for 12 September. I introduced Him to Your blog but all He could set His eyes on were snippets of Your teachings on YouTube.

Best Regards.

Sorry, I don’t have full length videos for writing task 1. I only have Advanced Writing Task 2 Lessons which can be purchased on this page: https://elizabethferguson.podia.com/

Hello Liz, i visited your website and discovered numerous information and tips that will be useful for my ielts academic test. please i would like to be notified for any new video and information. thanks

You can access over 300 pages of free lessons and tips through the RED MENU Bar at the top of the website. All new lessons can be found listed in the side bar column if you are using desktop or at the bottom of all posts if you are using a smart phone.

Hi Liz, I am a little confused when it’s about the introduction of the “discuss both views and give your opinion” essay. As I understood, introduction is made of 2 parts: 1. Paraphrasing the question (very clear) 2. Thesis to introduce the topics of the body paragraphs In this type of questions, if we start the thesis just right after paraphrasing with “in my opinion”, doesn’t show the examiner that my essay will be only about my opinion?

You’re website and advanced videos are very helpful Thank you

The examiner has the instructions. The examiner has the full essay question. It’s fine.

Hello liz i find your videos very helpful, i wanted to ask can you give the complete structure of an ielts essay

You can find model essays on the main writing task 2 page – click on the RED BAR at the top of the website.

Thank you very much for all your insights on various topics on IELTS. I genuinely appreciate it.

I have a doubt regarding the essay writing; are we allowed to use colon, semi-colon and double-dash in our GT essays and letters just as how I’ve used in this comment?

Your input here will be a good help. Thanks again.

There is no need to use them. Using just full stops and commas is enough. However, there are a no fixed rules.

Hi Liz, Thanks your youtube videos are outstanding and very helpful. Please i will need some clarifications on the following: 1. Can I treat an opinion essay as a discussion essay where i write about both views or do i just stick with my opinion throughout my essay. 2. Is this thesis statement correct- This essay will discuss both views before reaching a logical conclusion. Will appreciate your response

You can’t alter the instructions and write a discussion essay if you are given an opinion essay. However, it is possible to have a partial agreement but you need training for that. See my Advanced Writing Task 2 lessons: https://elizabethferguson.podia.com/ 2. That is not a thesis statement for IELTS. If you are asked for your view, you must give it directly – I, my. The words “this essay” does not represent your own personal opinion. Also NEVER use learned phrases in an English language test. Each sentence must be created uniquely by you. The examiner will put a line through any learned sentences.

Ma’am thanks so much for all the content that you have provided! I had a question regarding a discussion cum opinion essay. Do I make 1 body paragraphs for each side and a third body para for the details of my opinion (totally 3 paras) or do i combine both sides in body paragraph 1 and explain my perspective in the 2nd body paragraph?

I’d very much appreciate your input.

Do not combine opposite sides in one paragraph. If your opinion agrees with one side, add it to that paragraph. Otherwise, create a third body paragraph.

Hello, Your website is a lifesaver, thank you so much for your work! I have a question regarding the use of singular ‘they’ in an essay: is it allowed or is it better to be avoided? I find myself using it quite often but I am not sure how the examiner would react. Thank you in advance

Yes, it’s allowed.

Hi Liz, Your videos are very informative.

In an opinion essay, could the term ‘I feel’ be used? Or is it better to use I think or I believe?

Thanks Anne

“I feel” is informal.

It’s very helpful thank you. You’re doing a great job.

This was very helpful. Thanks.

Can we say “On the flip side …”?

That is informal and an IELTS essay is formal.

Hi Liz, Thank you for your support 🙂 I wanted to ask you about Writting Task 2; in an opinion essay should I writte the two paragraphs to support my opinion or should I writte the first paragraph for supporting and admitting the suggested opinion in the topic and the second to introduce mine. So do I get more points for a balanced answer or should I present my 2 topics in both paragraphs?

You do not get more points for a balanced view or a one sided view. You choose your opinion, state it in the introduction and then explain it in the body.

What if we agree with both of the views. Can we still use those sentences you provided in the video? Thank you 🙂

A balanced approach does not mean agreeeing with both sides. It means presenting an opinion which is neither one side nor the other but your own specific opinion.

I was wondering if we are not suppose this language in Agree/disagee(Opinion) essay.

Basically whenever I start any opinion essay using one of the expressions mentioned above. And also some times for each paragraph I use “on the other hand” for the second paragraph opening sentences for opinion essay.

Kindly confirm the same. If I not supposed to use, can you provide us with some Agree/Disagree(opinion) essay language too.

Thanks, Shree

You use expressions such as “it is thought …” or “some people believe that …” when you express other people’s opinions. For your background statement in almost all essays, you might use these expressions. When you have an opinion essay, you use these expressions in the background and then present your own opinion directly in the thesis “In my opinion”.

When you use “On the other hand” it is to present an opposing view. It shows an opposite. This is unlikely to be used in an opinion essay but not impossible. It depends on the ideas and the paragraph content.

I hope that helps. See my model writing task 2 essays on this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/

Hi Liz, Cam you please clarify between discussion type and agree disagree type questions. How does the structure vary.

All IELTS essays have either two or three body paragraphs. The structures are decided depending on your opinion and ideas.

Hello Liz, Is there a link for all the essay sample questions you shared?

Regards Sweety

You can find sample essay questions here: https://ieltsliz.com/100-ielts-essay-questions/ . All links can be found on the main writing task 2 page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/ . All main pages can be found on the red bar at the top of the website.

Hello Liz, Is there are a link for all essay answers?

See the main writing task 2 page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/

Is it necessary to write your opinion in introduction in a discussion essay (discuss both views and give your opinion)? And also please tell that is it the write structure for this type of question Introduction body para 1 (discussing one view) body para 2 (discussing other side of the argument and giving your opinion) conclusion

You should also introduce your opinion in the introduction.

Helpful commentary, I love the info – Does anyone know where I could acquire a sample form I could use?

can we say the other side of the MEDALLION is

Obviously not. You shouldn’t be using idioms.

Hi Liz, can i write 3 paragraphs if i agree with both sides of the arguments and third one is going to be about my opinion that it is better both

You shouldn’t agree with both sides. Giving an opinion, doesn’t mean sitting on the fence. Please see my advanced lessons.

Hi Liz, Thank you very much for this helpful Blog. Just trying to be helpful here, you said in the first line: wring task1. So, I know it’s not serious error, but just want to get your attention on it, so maybe better to correct it.

Best regards, Salah

Thanks. It really helps me when people tell me about typos because I don’t have much time for proof reading. Well spotted!! Liz 🙂

Hello mam..im ALi From PAKISTAN and i am prepairing my IELTS exam test for 23 Jan ….could you give me few tips and techniques for task 2 and speaking for General Question

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

Hi Im Aysa Im 12 years old and Im studing Ielts I have 2 older sister.My schools name is Hafez and the place that I study Ielts in it is Melal English school and there are some knowledgeable teachers there. Actually Im a cheerful person and I love Art. and then I love so much eating and watching animations especially Sponge bob.

Please inform your parents that you have posted a comment on my blog. It is essential that all underage comments are done with parental permission. Thanks Liz

Hi liz, Thank you for your videos and everything. In writing task 2 if the topic says “discuss both these views and give your own opinion” when should we state our opinion? Can we mention it in inroduction part or in conclusion? While discussing both views are we allowed to be personal or we should discuss them objectively?

The given site is not found?

Mam, I was going through the subscription video of your Discussion essay.After viewing it i was trying to write a Background statement for the question ” Some say all offenders should be sent to prison,others argue that there are better alternatives such as community work for those who commit minor crimes.Discuss both views and give your opinion “.

I tried writing this line same as you were explaining on that video ” Although it is sometimes argued that all criminal ought to sent to jail,other people believe that the focus should be on other alternative methods “. Is this back ground statement correct.Please help me in this

This is the correct technique to use. All the best Liz

Hi mam My question is regarding writing task 2, Mam what counts more in IELTS,more number of ideas but not explained much or one-two ideas bit well explained. For example,to reduce environmental pollution ,we can write about a number of ideas like Using green energy resources to curb air pollution,lesser use of pesticides to control land pollution and so on..so should we write about all the ideas that i have in my mind or should i pick one or two of them and elaborate upon then well.? Thnx

See this page to learn how your writing is marked: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2-band-scores-5-to-8/ . To learn more about writing an opinion essay and how to develop ideas, see my advanced lessons: http://subscriptions.viddler.com/IELTSLizStore All the best Liz

Hi Liz ..conclusion is compulsory in each essay?

All writing task 2 essays have a conclusion. Please see the lesson about paragraphs. Liz

After 7 days I have an IELTS exam. And I have still problem with speaking and reading, so can you please help me how can I get improvisation in both?

Please see the reading section and the lesson: how to improve your reading. The look at the speaking section and how to develop your speaking at home. All the best Liz

CAN YOU LIE WHEN WRITING YOUR ESSAY?

You can write anything you want. No one will check whether the information is true or not. However, as you have not presented me with an example of “a lie”, I can’t fully say yes. All the best Liz

plzz telk me which is best BC or IDP test

IELTS is owned by Cambridge ESOL, IDP and the British Council – they are all the same company. The test at IDP and BC is the same, the examiners are trained in the same way – there’s no difference. All the best Liz

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