IELTS Task 2 Essays

Understand the 5 Different Types

There are 5 main types of IELTS Task 2 essays:

1) Opinion Essays

2) Discussion Essays

3) Problem Solution Essays

4) Advantages & Disadvantages Essays

5) Double Question Essays

Most questions fit one of these categories. However, questions can be written in many
different ways, which can make it difficult to determine which type they are.

First, here’s the basic 4 part structure that you use for Task 2 essays:

1) Introduction

2) Main Body Paragraph 1

3) Main Body Paragraph 2

4) Conclusion

The sort of information you include in each of the 4 sections will vary depending on the
question type and that’s what I’m now going to outline for you.

These easy to learn structures will enable you to quickly plan and write any IELTS Task
2 essay.

The structures below are not the only ones you could use but they are the ones I
recommend because they’re simple and give proven results.
 1) Opinion Essays

These are sometimes called ‘agree or disagree’ or ‘argumentative’ essays and are one
of the most common types of IELTS Task 2 question.

The first part of the question will be a statement. You will then be asked to give your
own opinion about the statement. Here is some typical wording that might be used:

 What is your opinion?

 Do you agree or disagree?

 To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Here is an example of each:

Key tips:

 Choose one side of the argument.

 State your opinion clearly in the introduction.

 Keep the same opinion throughout the essay.

  Give reasons why you hold this view.

It doesn’t matter which side of the argument you take or even that you agree with it.
Choose the one you can develop the best argument for.

Don’t change your opinion part way through the essay and don’t give reasons for the
opposing idea.

Essay Structure

1) Introduction

 Paraphrase the question

 Give your opinion
 State two supporting reasons

2) Main body paragraph 1

 Topic sentence – outline 1st reason for supporting this view

 Explanation – explain this idea
 Example – give an example

3) Main body paragraph 2

 Topic sentence – outline 2nd reason for supporting this view

 Explanation – explain this idea
 Example – give an example

4) Conclusion

 Summarise opinion and key reasons

Example Question–

Some people believe that unpaid community service should be a compulsory part of
high school programmes (for example working for a charity, improving the neighborhood
or teaching sports to younger children).

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Student Sample Answer

It is argued that volunteering should be made part of the school curriculum. This essay
agrees with that suggestion completely because it help pupils develop soft skills and
helps them gain much needed work experience.

Education should not be limited to strictly academic pursuits and those in education
should also develop life skills, such as teamwork, empathy and self-discipline, and one
of the best ways to hone these aptitudes is through community service. Serving those
less fortunate than ourselves teaches us many lessons including how to work with
people from other backgrounds and the value of hard work, thus enabling us to hone
these skills before becoming an adult. For example, many young people from wealthier
countries take a gap year and help those less fortunate than themselves to increase
their gratitude for what they have and improve their work ethic.

Many colleges and companies are also increasingly looking for this type of experience.
Most school leavers have the same grades and charitable works can help set you apart
from other students when making college applications. For example, Cambridge and
Oxford receive thousands of applications from straight-A students every year and can
only accept a small percentage of applicants. What you have done outside the
classroom is often the thing that differentiates you from everyone else and gets you that
coveted spot.

In conclusion, teenagers should be made to partake in unpaid work as part of their

schooling because it will help them learn things they wouldn’t ordinarily learn from their
teachers and it will also boost their chances of getting into third level education.
 2) Discussion Essays

In discussion essays, you have to discuss both sides of an argument. Usually, you will
be asked for your own opinion as well.

The easiest way to approach this type of IELTS Task 2 question is to choose one point
of view to agree with and one side to disagree with.

Here are 3 examples of discussion essay questions:

Key tips:

 Develop both sides of the argument.

 Talk about the view you don’t agree with first.

A big mistake many students make is to fully develop only one point of view. This leads
to an unbalanced essay and a low score for task achievement.

It is easier to begin by discussing the opinion you don’t agree with and then present the
reasons for your opposing view.
Essay Structure

1) Introduction

 Paraphrase the question

 Give your opinion
 State two supporting reasons

2) Main body paragraph 1 – Negative Viewpoint

 Topic sentence – outline the view you don’t agree with

 Explanation – explain why this view is held by some people
 Example – give an example
 Your opinion – state whether you agree or disagree

3) Main body paragraph 2 – Positive Viewpoint

 Topic sentence – outline the view you do agree with

 Explanation – explain why this view is held by some people
 Example – give an example
 Your opinion – state whether you agree or disagree

4) Conclusion

 Summarise the key points and state your opinion

Example Question

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.

Student Sample Answer

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.

It is clear that the Internet has provided students with access to more information than
ever before. This has given learners the ability to 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 simply 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. Without these soft skills, many people find it difficult to become
successful in work and their personal lives. Despite this, human interaction is still
possible through the internet and this essay disagrees technology should be dismissed
for this reason. For instance, Skype and Facebook make it possible for people to
interact in ways that were never before possible.

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
phenomena and not allow it to curb face to face interaction. However, as long as we are
careful to keep in mind the importance of human interaction in education, the
educational benefits are clearly positive.
 3) Problem Essays

These are sometimes called ‘causes and solutions’ or ‘problems and solutions’ essays.
This type of IELTS Task 2 question starts with a statement, then asks you to discuss the
problems or causes and the solutions.

Key tips:

 Don’t list lots of causes and solutions.

 Choose just one or two and develop them fully.

 Be sure to link each problem/cause and its solution.

A common mistake is for candidates to list all the problems/causes and solutions they
can think of, not necessarily linking them together. They also fail to explain any of them
in detail and don’t include any examples.

The wording of this type of essay question can vary considerably. Here are 3 examples
of problem essay questions:
Essay Structure

1) Introduction

 Paraphrase the question

 State 1 key problem/cause and related solution

2) Main body paragraph 1 – Problem or Cause

 Topic sentence – state the problem or cause

 Explanation – give detail explaining the problem or cause
 Example – give an example

3) Main body paragraph 2 – Solution

 Topic sentence – state the solution

 Explanation – give detail explaining the solution
 Example – give an example

4) Conclusion

 Summarise the key points and state your opinion

Example Question

Students are becoming more and more reliant on computers.

What are some of the problems associated with reliance on computers, and what are
some of the possible solutions?

Student Sample Answer

Learners are becoming ever more dependent on technology, such as the Internet and
mobile devices. This essay believes one of the main problems associated with
dependence on computers is copying original work from others and suggest writing
analysis software as the most viable solution.

The principal problem with over-reliance on technology, such as tablets and computers,
is plagiarism. Students often use search engines to answer a question and simply copy
the text from a website, rather than thinking about the question. This practice is not only
prohibited in schools and universities but also stunts a student’s intellectual
development because they will never truly think for themselves, which is what university
is supposed to really be for. For example, many teachers complain that students copy
web pages straight from Wikipedia word for word rather than giving a reasoned answer
to their questions.

A solution to this worrying problem is asking students to email their answers to teachers
and teachers using anti-plagiarism software to detect copying. Students would be made
aware of this practice and this would inspire them to answer questions using their own
words, rather than someone else’s. If someone was caught cheating, they could be
asked to leave the university and this would set a good example. For instance, many
universities already use this kind of software to scan course work for plagiarism and it
could be extended to include all homework, by learners in both secondary and tertiary
education.

In conclusion, one of the main problems with over-use of technology in education is

plagiarism and this can be solved through the use of plagiarism detection software.
 4) Advantages & Disadvantages Essays

The first part of the question will be a statement. You will be asked to write about both
the advantages and disadvantages of the idea stated.

Here is some typical wording that might be used:

 What are the advantages and disadvantages of….?

 Do you think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?

 Discuss the advantages and disadvantages and give your opinion.

Here are 3 examples of advantages and disadvantages essay questions:

Essay Structure

1) Introduction

 Paraphrase the question

 Outline the view or views stated the statement

2) Main body paragraph 1 – Advantage

  Topic sentence – state 1 advantage
 Explanation – give detail explaining the advantage
 Example – give an example
 Result – state the result

3) Main body paragraph 2 – Disadvantage

 Topic sentence – state 1 disadvantage

 Explanation – give detail explaining the disadvantage
 Example – give an example
 Result – state the result

4) Conclusion

 Summarise the key points

 State your opinion if required
Example Question

Computers are being used more and more in education.

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages.

Student Sample Answer

It is argued that technology is playing an ever increasing role in schools and

universities. Student freedom is one of the main advantages of this and decreasing
levels of face to face contact is one of the main disadvantages.

One of the principle advantages of an increase in the use of electronic devices in

education is the autonomy it provides students. Students have the freedom to focus on
whatever topic or subject they want and study it in depth through the internet. A prime
example of this is the number of online university courses available to students,
covering a myriad of subjects, that up until recently were unavailable to most learners.
This has resulted in more people studying third level degrees than ever before, at a
pace and schedule that suits them.

The main disadvantage associated with the increasing use of technology in education is
the decrease in face to face interaction between students. Students spend more time
looking at computer screens by themselves than interacting with each other and this is
thought to lead to lower levels of emotional intelligence. For instance, the recent
explosion in smartphone use has been at the expense of genuine human interaction.
This results in soft skills, such as verbal communication and empathy, being affected.

In conclusion, the benefits technology brings to education, such as student autonomy,

must be weighed against the drawbacks, such as negative effects on human interaction.
Overall, the educational benefits outweigh the disadvantages because human beings
will always want human contact and most people will not solely use IT for education.
 5) Double Question Essays

This type of IELTS Task 2 question is sometimes called a ‘direct question’ or ‘two
questions’ essay. It has one statement with two different questions after it. The
questions may or may not be linked.

Key tips:

 You must answer both questions fully.

 Don’t confuse it with an opinion or a discussion essay.

 Be careful that you don’t end up with too many ideas to write about.

Here are 3 examples of double question essay questions:

Essay Structure

1) Introduction

 Paraphrase the question

 Outline sentence – state your answer to both questions
2) Main body paragraph 1 – Answer question 1

 Topic sentence – state your answer

 Explanation – explain why you think this
 Example – give an example

3) Main body paragraph 2 – Answer question 2

 Topic sentence – state your answer

 Explanation – explain why you think this
 Example – give an example

4) Conclusion

 Summarise both questions and answers

Example Question

As most people spend a major part of their adult life at work, job satisfaction is an
important element of individual wellbeing.

What factors contribute to job satisfaction?

How realistic is the expectation of job satisfaction for all workers?

Student Sample Answer

As the majority of adults spend most of their time at work, being content with your
career is a crucial part of a person’s health and happiness. This essay will first suggest
fair pay as a key element leading to job satisfaction and it will then state that it is not
very likely that everyone can be happy with their job.

The most important thing that leads to someone being satisfied at work is being
compensated fairly. If those more senior than you respect you as a person and the job
you are doing then you feel like you are valued. A fair salary and benefits are important
marks of respect and if you feel you are being underpaid you will either resent your
bosses or look for another job. These two factors came top of a recent job satisfaction
survey conducted by Monster.com, that found that 72% of people were pleased with
their current role if their superiors regularly told them they were appreciated.

With regards to the question of happiness for all workers, I think this is and always will
be highly unlikely. The vast majority of people fail to reach their goals and end up
working in a post they don’t really care about in return for a salary. This money is just
enough to pay their living expenses which often means they are trapped in a cycle of
disenchantment. For example, The Times recently reported that 89% of office workers
would leave their jobs if they did not need the money.

In conclusion, being satisfied with your trade or profession is an important part of one’s
well-being and respect from one’s colleagues and fair pay can improve your level of
happiness, however, job satisfaction of all workers is an unrealistic prospect.