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Essay Structure

There are many different types of questions in IELTS Task 2

Each question will require a few small changes to your
essay structure.

IELTS Writing However… all questions will follow certain parts of a

traditional essay structure.
Task 2 Essay Structure
Essay Structure and 1. Introduction
Background Statement 2. Body paragraph 1
3. Body paragraph 2
4. Body paragraph 3 (optional)
5. Conclusion

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Writing Introduction Writing Introduction

Introduction Part 1: Background Statement

The introduction is the first paragraph of your essay.
• Repeat the question in different words- specifically, the
It is usually 2-3 sentences long, or about 50 words.
first part that gives the topic of the essay.
It has two parts:
Question:
• The background statement
International tourism has brought enormous benefit to
• The thesis statement
many places. At the same time, there is concern about its
impact on local inhabitants and the environment. (gives
Background Statement
topic)
• Repeat the question in different words.
Do the disadvantages of international tourism outweigh
Thesis Statement
the advantages? (gives instructions)
• Give your position/opinion and the main points you
will talk about.
Let’s find out how we can rephrase the first part.
• The main points will form your body paragraphs.

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Writing Introduction Writing Introduction

Question: International tourism has brought enormous Here are some alternatives to those words.
benefit to many places. At the same time, there is concern
about its impact on local inhabitants and the International tourism = tourists traveling abroad
environment.
Brought = provided
Challenge: What are some other ways to say these words?
Enormous benefit = a lot of advantages
• International tourism
• Brought Concern = worry
• Enormous benefit
• Concern Impact = influence
• Impact
• Local inhabitants Local inhabitants = The people who live there
• The environment
The environment = The natural world

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Writing Introduction Writing Introduction

Note: We don’t need to change every word.
Changing some words and the order of the sentence is
usually enough.
Question: International tourism has brought enormous
benefit to many places. At the same time, there is concern
about its impact on local inhabitants and the
environment.
Background Statement: While international tourism has
provided a lot of advantages to places around the world,
some people worry about its negative influence on local
inhabitants and the natural world.
Let’s practice with another question.
Question: Children who are brought up in families that do
not have large amounts of money are better prepared to
deal with the problems of adult life than children brought
up by wealthy parents. (Topic)
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this
opinion? (Instructions)
Challenge: Try to rephrase the topic part of the question.

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Writing Introduction

Question: Children who are brought up in families that do

not have large amounts of money are better prepared to
deal with the problems of adult life than children brought
up by wealthy parents. (Topic)

Some people believe that children who are raised in low-

income families can handle the challenges of adult life
more easily than children from wealthy families. Thank You
Remember:
Choose the easier words to change.
Change the order if necessary, but keep the same meaning.

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