WRITING

Task 2 (Opinion-led and

argument discussion)
 OUTLINE OF THIS MEETING

01 About Writing Task 2 Sample answer 04

How to describe process Discussing model answer

02 Opinion-led Step-by-step practice 05

Understanding opinion-led Interactive discussion via
task and its structure live chat

03 Argument discussion Submission 06

Understanding discussion
Submit your essay via email
task and its structure
 TASK 2

You have to write at least 250 words.

You should spend about 40 minutes.
In this task, you must write an essay in
response to a topic.
Task types:
• Opinion-led
• Argument discussion
• Issue discussion
• Mixed (two-parts) question
 Task Criteria How responses are assessed

1 Task Did you answer the question fully

achievement and write 150 words?

2 Task • Did you address all the points

response in the question?
• Did you provide a balanced
argument and support your
ideas with evidence and
examples?
• Were all of your ideas relevant
to the question?
• Did you write 250 words?
Both Coherence • Is your writing easy to
CRITERIA task and cohesion
•
understand?
Are your ideas well organised
and clearly linked?
You can download the IELTS writing band
descriptors by scanning these QR code below. Lexical Did you use a wide range of
resource vocabulary accurately and
Task 1 Task 2 effectively?
Grammatical Did you use a wide range of
range and grammatical structures accurately
accuracy and effectively?
 LOOK AT THESE QUESTIONS

01
Plastic shopping bags are used widely
and cause many environmental
problems. Some people say they
should be banned.
To what extent do you agree or
disagree?
02
Some are of the opinion that people
are naturally born as good leaders
while others feel that leadership skills
can be learned.
Discuss both views and give your own
opinion.
OPINION-LED
 OPINION-LED
Plastic shopping bags are used widely and
cause many environmental problems. Some
people say they should be banned.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
In some countries, an increasing number of
people are suffering from health problems as a
result of eating too much fast food. It is,
therefore, necessary for governments to impose
a higher tax on this kind of food.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?

1. Strongly agree. You discuss only this side.

2. Strongly disagree.. You discuss only this side.
3. Discuss both sides. You discuss both sides BUT
you have a clear opinion which side is stronger

However, I would NOT recommend you to partly agree and disagree

because it often leads to an essay with NO clear focus and a
CONFUSING structure.
 STRUCTURE
Strongly
agree/
Paraphrase the question and state Paraphrasing statement disagree
01 your overall opinion (agree imposing Thesis statement
higher tax for fast-food companies) Outline sentence

Explain and support your reason why Reason 1

02 fast-food companies should pay
higher tax.
Explanation
Example

Explain and support your reason why

03 fast-food companies should pay
higher tax.
Reason 2
Explanation
Example

Summary
04 Re-state your overall opinion and
summarise your main reasons.
Opinion/Position
 In some countries, an increasing
number of people are suffering from
INTRODUCTION It is argued that governments should levy a tariff on junk food because the health problems as a result of eating
Paraphrase the question number of health risks associated with consuming this kind of food is on the too much fast food. It is, therefore,
Thesis statement rise. This essay agrees that a higher rate of tax should be paid by fast-food necessary for governments to impose
Outline sentence companies. Firstly, alcohol and tobacco companies already pay higher taxes a higher tax on this kind of food.
and secondly, higher taxes could raise prices and lower consumption.
To what extent do you agree or
MAIN BODY Higher excise on liqueur and cigarettes has proven to be successful at curbing
the harm caused by these substances. This revenue has been used to treat disagree?
PARAGRAPH 1
Topic sentence health problems associated with these products and has proven useful in
Explanation advertising campaigns warning people about the dangers of alcohol and
tobacco abuse. Tax from fast food could be used in the same way. The United
Example
Kingdom is a prime example, where money from smokers is used to treat lung
cancer and heart disease.
Increasing taxes would raise prices and lower consumption. Fast food
MAIN BODY companies would pass on these taxes to consumers in the form of higher
PARAGRAPH 2 prices and this would lead to people not being able to afford junk food
Topic sentence because it is too expensive. Junk food would soon become a luxury item and it
Explanation would only be consumed occasionally, which would be less harmful to the
general public’s health. For instance, the cost of organic food has proven
Example
prohibitively expensive for most people and that is why only a small
percentage of the population buy it regularly.

CONCLUSION In conclusion, junk food should be taxed at a higher rate because of the good
Summary precedent set by alcohol and tobacco and the fact that the increased cost
should reduce the amount of fast-food people buy..
Opinion
 STRUCTURE

Paraphrase the question and state Paraphrasing statement

Both views
but disagree
01
your overall opinion (you feel plastic Thesis statement
bags should not be banned) Outline sentence

Side/View 1
02 Explain and support your reason why Explanation
plastic bags should be banned. Example

Explain and support your reason why Side/View 2

03 plastic bags should not be banned. Explanation
Example
Re-state your overall opinion (plastic Summary

04 bags should not be banned) and

summarise your main reasons.
Opinion/Position
 Plastic shopping bags are used
INTRODUCTION No one would deny that the plastic bags used in supermarkets and shops widely and cause many
Paraphrase the question have a negative effect on the environment because they do not degrade and environmental problems. Some
Thesis statement end up as litter in our cities or oceans. However, the replacements for plastic people say they should be banned.
Outline sentence bags also carry significant environmental risks. That is why I think plastic bags To what extent do you agree or
should not be banned. disagree?
MAIN BODY The main environmental side effect related to plastic bags is that they pollute
PARAGRAPH 1 both the land and water. An insignificant percentage of people may reuse or
Topic sentence recycle plastic bags, but most ultimately litter or throw them in the trash. If
Explanation they are thrown in the trash, plastic bags will wind up in the ever-increasing
number of landfills and contribute to soil pollution. The ones that are simply
Example
tossed in the street clog drains in cities and eventually find their way to the
sea and entangle marine life. This is why many feel that plastic bags should
be banned.
MAIN BODY Despite the advantages of banning plastic bags, the solutions for plastic bags
PARAGRAPH 2 are worse than the original problem. Most people who advocate banning
Topic sentence plastic bags suggest paper bags (which are biodegradable) or reusable bags
Explanation that are typically made from cotton or plastic. Both of these replacements are
flawed. Paper bags require us to continue clearing forests and also carry a
Example
large carbon footprint. Reusable bags are plagued by similar problems.
Independent studies have shown that the production of cotton and reusable
plastic causes more harm to the environment than disposable plastic bags.
Coupled with the fact that reusable bags are more difficult to recycle, their
overall effect on the environment is worse.
CONCLUSION I do not think overly simplistic restrictions on plastic bags would have the
Summary desired positive effect. Rather than thoughtlessly banning them, policy makers
Opinion should come up with a policy that balances the materials we use for bags in
order to produce an overall positive impact on the environment.
 OPINION-LED
In some countries, young people are encouraged to work or travel for a
year between finishing high school and starting university studies.
What are the advantages and disadvantages for young people who
decided to do this? (direct question)

Some experts believe that it is better for children to begin learning a

foreign language at primary schools rather than secondary school.
Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?
(opinion-led)

Computers are becoming an essential part of school

lessons.
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages and give
your own opinion. (discussion)
 OPINION-LED

Some experts believe that it is better for children

to begin learning a foreign language at primary
schools rather than secondary school.
Do the advantages of this outweigh the
disadvantages?
 STRUCTURE
Advantages vs
Paraphrasing statement disadvantages
Paraphrase the question and state
01 your overall opinion (advantages
outweigh disadvantages)
Thesis statement
Outline sentence

Stronger Side
02 Explain and support your reason why Explanation
advantages on a stronger side. Example

Explain and support your reason why Weaker Side

03 disadvantages on a weaker side. Explanation
Example

04
Re-state your overall opinion Summary
(advantages outweigh disadvantages) Opinion/Position
and summarise your main reasons.
 Some experts believe that it is
Some authorities think that it is more favorable for pupils to begin studying languages at better for children to begin
INTRODUCTION primary school instead of secondary school. This essay will argue that the advantages of learning a foreign language at
Paraphrase the question this outweigh the drawbacks. The essay will first demonstrate that the earlier someone primary schools rather than
Thesis statement learns an additional language the more likely they are to master it and that it brings secondary school.
Outline sentence added cognitive benefits, followed by an analysis of how the primary disadvantage, Do the advantages of this
namely confusion with their native tongue, is not valid. outweigh the disadvantages?
MAIN BODY The main reason to start kids off with foreign languages early is that this increases
PARAGRAPH 1 the likelihood they will achieve fluency in adulthood. That is to say that they will have
Topic sentence far more years to perfect their skills and it will seem perfectly normal to speak
Explanation bilingually. For example, in countries such as Holland and Norway where English is
Example taught from a very young age, more than 95% of adults speak it at an advanced
level. Learning a second language also helps to improve overall cognitive abilities. In
other words, it benefits the overall development of a child’s brain. A recent survey by
Cambridge University found that children who studied a new language before the
age of 5 were significantly more likely to score higher in Mathematics and Science.
MAIN BODY Those opposed to this say that it causes the child to become confused between their
PARAGRAPH 2 mother tongue and the other language. However, there is actually no evidence to
Topic sentence support this view and children from bilingual families do just as well in both
Explanation languages. My own son was brought up speaking both Vietnamese and English and
Example outperforms most of his classmates in both.

CONCLUSION On balance, the fact that early foreign language learning leads to higher fluency and
Summary improved brain function clearly outweighs the flawed argument that it impairs uptake
Opinion of native languages.
DISCUSSION
 DISCUSSION

Some are of the opinion that people are naturally

born as good leaders while others feel that
leadership skills can be learned.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
 STRUCTURE

Discuss both views

Paraphrasing statement
01
Paraphrase the question and state
your overall opinion Thesis statement
Outline sentence

First Viewpoint
02 Explain and support your reason why Explanation
one side is important. Reason why you agree/disagree
Example

Explain and support your reason why Second Viewpoint

03 the other side is important. Explanation
Reason why you agree/disagree
Example

04 Re-state your overall opinion and Summary

summarise your main reasons. Opinion/Position (which one
Is better or more important)
 Some are of the opinion that people
are naturally born as good leaders
INTRODUCTION It is often said that important people are born with certain characteristics that while others feel that leadership skills
Paraphrase the question enable them to become great leaders. The alternative view is that leadership can be learned.
Thesis statement is a learnable quality. Personally, I agree with the latter viewpoint because
Discuss both views and give your own
Outline sentence training and experience are more important than innate ability in this
opinion.
situation.
MAIN BODY It is somewhat true that many individuals are born with distinctive personal
PARAGRAPH 1 traits that allow them the opportunity to become talented leaders. Leaders
Topic sentence tend to be those who are charming and persuasive. In contrast, those who lack
Explanation of these characteristics may have a difficulty inspiring the belief and loyalty
that all leaders require and end up as followers rather than leaders. For
Example
instance, a salesman who often fails to convince his clients to sign a deal may
be dissuaded from becoming the sales team leader since he does not believe
that he has what it takes to be one. The more convincing salesmen are more
likely to rise to that role.

MAIN BODY However, there are also people who assert that leadership skills can actually
PARAGRAPH 2 be achieved through proper training and effort. That is why there is a larger
number of institutes offering leadership training programmes helping those
Topic sentence
who want to learn the skills required to be a leader. Public speaking is one of
Explanation many skills these schools can teach. Individuals who are shy and lack
Example confidence can find their feet in the leadership battle by learning the essence
of good body language, pronunciation, and other elements of good public
speaking. This will in turn make them better leaders.
CONCLUSION In conclusion, although some traits related to leadership are likely inherited
Summary there is tremendous room for people to grow into positions of responsibility if
Opinion they apply themselves fully to learning the skills and personal characteristics
of great leaders.
STEP BY STEP
PRACTICE
Interactive discussion via live chat
 WHAT YOU SHOULD DO

Think Write Check

Spend 5–10 minutes to: Spend about 25 Spend 5 minutes to
- Analyse the question minutes to write down check if your ideas are
- Generate ideas your essay (250 words). clearly delivered and if
- Plan a structure there are any errors.
 TASK 2

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:
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.
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.
Write at least 250 words.
 THINK

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.
Discuss both these views and give your own
opinion.

What is the topic? Should governments spend

money on new railways vs existing public transport.
How many questions? 1 – new railways vs existing
public transport?
How many sides? 2 (You must discuss BOTH new
railways and existing public transport)
 In a number of countries, some people think it
is necessary to spend large sums of money on

PLAN YOUR WRITING constructing new railway lines for very fast
trains between cities. Others believe the money
should be spent on improving existing public
transport.
.

INTRODUCTION
Paraphrase the question
Thesis statement
New railways < existing public transport
Outline sentence
MAIN BODY PARAGRAPH 1 NEW RAILWAYS
Topic sentence T: efficient and fast
Explanation R: help more tourist and citizens to travel
Example within a shorter time
Opinion E: bullet train in Japan
MAIN BODY PARAGRAPH 2 EXISTING PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Topic sentence T:
Explanation R:
Example E:
Opinion 5 MINUTES
CONCLUSION ANALYSIS
Summary
Opinion
 In a number of countries, some people think it
is necessary to spend large sums of money on

PLAN YOUR WRITING constructing new railway lines for very fast
trains between cities. Others believe the money
should be spent on improving existing public
transport.
.

INTRODUCTION
Paraphrase the question
Thesis statement New railways < existing public transport
Outline sentence
MAIN BODY PARAGRAPH 1 NEW RAILWAYS
Topic sentence it is easier to travel
Explanation help businessmen, help tourists
Example Japan’s bullet trains
Opinion
MAIN BODY PARAGRAPH 2 EXISTING PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Topic sentence current transport is more important
Explanation transport that people in cities use
Example improving subways, new bus routes, lowering fares
Opinion 5 MINUTES
CONCLUSION INTRODUCTION
Summary
Opinion
 Governments must always balance demands for newer modes of transport,
INTRODUCTION
including newer railway lines to connect cities, with maintaining current
Paraphrase the question transportation infrastructure. In my opinion, the maintenance of current
Thesis statement transport has a greater overall impact although the importance of fast trains
Outline sentence will make life more convenient for commuters in the short-term.
MAIN BODY
PARAGRAPH 1
Topic sentence
Explanation
Example
Opinion

MAIN BODY
PARAGRAPH 2
Topic sentence
Explanation
Example
Opinion

CONCLUSION
Summary
Opinion 10 MINUTES
MAIN BODY 1
 Governments must always balance demands for newer modes of transport,
INTRODUCTION
including newer railway lines to connect cities, with maintaining current
Paraphrase the question transportation infrastructure. In my opinion, the maintenance of current
Thesis statement transport has a greater overall impact although the importance of fast trains
Outline sentence will make life more convenient for commuters in the short-term.
MAIN BODY The rationale for investing in newer, faster railway lines is that they will make
PARAGRAPH 1 it easier for people to travel between cities. Recent examples of this can be
Topic sentence seen in Japan, which is famous for its ‘bullet trains’ that allow residents to
traverse the country in a matter of hours. This provides an economic boon by
Explanation
allowing businessmen to travel easily from city to city. Moreover, tourists can
Example also use these trains for convenient transnational travel, thereby making the
Opinion country more tourist-friendly and helping to expand the industry.

MAIN BODY
PARAGRAPH 2
Topic sentence
Explanation
Example
Opinion

CONCLUSION
Summary
Opinion 10 MINUTES
MAIN BODY 2
 Governments must always balance demands for newer modes of transport,
INTRODUCTION
including newer railway lines to connect cities, with maintaining current
Paraphrase the question transportation infrastructure. In my opinion, the maintenance of current
Thesis statement transport has a greater overall impact although the importance of fast trains
Outline sentence will make life more convenient for commuters in the short-term.
MAIN BODY The rationale for investing in newer, faster railway lines is that they will make
PARAGRAPH 1 it easier for people to travel between cities. Recent examples of this can be
Topic sentence seen in Japan, which is famous for its ‘bullet trains’ that allow residents to
traverse the country in a matter of hours. This provides an economic boon by
Explanation
allowing businessmen to travel easily from city to city. Moreover, tourists can
Example also use these trains for convenient transnational travel, thereby making the
Opinion country more tourist-friendly and helping to expand the industry.

MAIN BODY Although I concede the above advantages, the majority of people are served
by already existing forms of public transportation. Tourists and businessmen
PARAGRAPH 2
travelling between cities are the exception compared with those travelling
Topic sentence inside cities. These travellers rely on buses, subways and city streets to get
Explanation around. Simple improvements or additions to a subway line impacts millions of
Example people. A new bus route can help workers get to and from work more easily.
Opinion Even the lowering of fares is a reform that would benefit less affluent
travellers.

CONCLUSION
Summary
Opinion 5 MINUTES
CONCLUSION
 Governments must always balance demands for newer modes of transport,
INTRODUCTION
including newer railway lines to connect cities, with maintaining current
Paraphrase the question transportation infrastructure. In my opinion, the maintenance of current
Thesis statement transport has a greater overall impact although the importance of fast trains
Outline sentence will make life more convenient for commuters in the short-term.
MAIN BODY The rationale for investing in newer, faster railway lines is that they will make
PARAGRAPH 1 it easier for people to travel between cities. Recent examples of this can be
Topic sentence seen in Japan, which is famous for its ‘bullet trains’ that allow residents to
traverse the country in a matter of hours. This provides an economic boon by
Explanation
allowing businessmen to travel easily from city to city. Moreover, tourists can
Example also use these trains for convenient transnational travel, thereby making the
Opinion country more tourist-friendly and helping to expand the industry.

MAIN BODY Although I concede the above advantages, the majority of people are served
by already existing forms of public transportation. Tourists and businessmen
PARAGRAPH 2
travelling between cities are the exception compared with those travelling
Topic sentence inside cities. These travellers rely on buses, subways and city streets to get
Explanation around. Simple improvements or additions to a subway line impacts millions of
Example people. A new bus route can help workers get to and from work more easily.
Opinion Even the lowering of fares is a reform that would benefit less affluent
travellers.
In conclusion, cities that are more concerned with actual improvements, rather
CONCLUSION
than publicity grabbing headlines, should focus on the most-used forms of
Summary
public transport. In the future high speed rails may even become redundant as
Opinion people commute less and transition to jobs based primarily online.
 SUBMISSION

Submit your complete writing to:

irsa.ieltspresso@gmail.com

Feedback will be sent via email.

 FULL EXERCISE

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Some people claim that not enough of the waste from homes is recycled. They say that the only
way to increase recycling is for governments to make it a legal requirement.

To what extent do you think laws are needed to make people recycle more of their waste?

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

Write at least 250 words

THANKS
Do you have any questions?

Irsa Wafiatul Qisthi

+62 896 1941 8519

irsa.ieltspresso@gmail.com

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