Before you start, click this link to open the live worksheet : https://www.liveworksheets.

com/3-ls444922ld
Understanding writing task 2
A high-level IELTS certificate tells the world that you are able to write about any topic in a serious way; writing task 2
aims to find out whether this can be said about your writing. Looking in more detail at the instructions for the task, as
well as the criteria for Task response, and Coherence and cohesion, we can elaborate on this broad idea and state the
following:
• You will be given a topic and a question (these two elements make up ‘the task’).
• Your response must be at least 250 words long, and must be a formal essay. ( in the future writing test, however,
you’ll have to write about 350 words)
• In your essay, you must discuss the topic and present an argument that clearly explains your position on the issues
raised in the question/s.
• Your ideas must be organised into logical paragraphs, and each paragraph should contain one central idea.
• Your ideas must be explained and supported, and you can use your own knowledge and experience to do that.
These details are readily available, yet many people tell me this is not enough information. They would actually like these
broad ideas to be much narrower, making preparation for the test easier. However, any description of task 2 must be
broad in order to force you to study a wide range of language and develop the skills your certificate will say that you have.
In other words, the way that we describe this task has to be broad to ensure that you do the right preparation for the test.
Therefore, while more detailed descriptions might seem convenient, they will not accurately describe the real test. As we
shall see, it is the attempts to describe the task in a much more limited way that cause a great deal of confusion and, I
believe, also keep people stuck below band 7.

Task 1: Read the following band 7 essay ( from Cambridge IELTS 11):
1. Identify the topic, the question in the task (the part in bold)
2. Identify the writer’s position (thesis statement) , the central idea of each paragraph (topic sentence), the supporting and
explaining sentences ( supporting evidence)
When it comes to the form of your essay, the conventions that apply in all English-speaking countries are as follows:

• begin with an introduction that briefly introduces the topic

• write 2 or 3 body paragraphs that present, and explain your main points
• finish with a conclusion that summarises your main points, and makes your position clear.

It is important to point out that the number of paragraphs needed cannot be dictated or predicted; it is dependent on only
one thing: your ideas in response to the question you are given on the day.

From the requirements of the task, we have the basic structure of an essay which is often suggested in most IELTS
preparation materials:
Task 2: Which components of the structure must be kept in all of your essay? Which can be modified?

Strategies for the key components of an essay.

Task 3: Open the pdf file “writing task 2 basic strategies” and complete all the given exercises. What have you learnt
after finishing all the exercises? https://www.liveworksheets.com/3-mz444906tc

Task 4: Look back at your most recent essay, write down the structure that it follows. Did you missed any key
components? What could be improved?

Writing practice

Task 5: Read the following essay task, spend around 10 minutes to brainstorm and plan your essay. Use the above
template ( you can modify it). Then share with your friend.

Some people believe that a relationship hinders a student’s education and thus should be discouraged until he or she
graduates. To what extent do you agree?

Task 6: Write an essay of about 350 words in 50 minutes.

Assignment:
Types of essay?
https://ieltsliz.com/types-of-ielts-essays/
https://www.ieltsjacky.com/ielts-task-2.html

Read the two following web pages and summarize what you have learnt. Get ready to share with your friends in
the next Wed’s meeting.