Underline the instruction
Is it asking you to agree or disagree, discuss both views, evaluate advantages and disadvantages, or solve a problem?
FREE WRITING TASK 2 CLASS
Plan better essays.
Write with purpose.
Learn how to answer the exact question, establish your position and build logical paragraphs.
FROM TASK TO ARGUMENT
The five-minute planning routine
IELTS Writing Task 2 requires at least 250 words. A clear plan helps you avoid repetition and off-topic ideas.
Choose a position
Make your answer identifiable in the introduction and maintain it through the conclusion.
Find two strong ideas
Select ideas you can explain with causes, consequences and an illustrative example.
Outline paragraphs
Write a topic sentence and two supporting notes for each main body paragraph.
ORIGINAL TASK 2 QUESTION
Some people believe that schools should teach more practical life skills, while others think academic subjects should remain the main priority.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
View A: life skills
Reason: Students need to manage everyday decisions.
Explanation: Budgeting and basic financial literacy can reduce avoidable mistakes after graduation.
Example: A short weekly class could teach students to compare costs and plan a monthly budget.
View B: academic subjects
Reason: Mathematics, science and language form a broad knowledge foundation.
Explanation: These subjects support advanced study and adaptable thinking.
Example: Strong numeracy is useful across healthcare, technology and business.
Model position: Both areas are important, but I believe schools should preserve a strong academic core while integrating practical skills into the curriculum.
SELF-CHECK
Mini planning quiz
Your writing challenge
Write a 5-minute plan: thesis, Body 1 topic sentence, Body 2 topic sentence and one explained example for each. Then write a full response of at least 250 words and check paragraph development.
NEW · FREE FULL LESSON
Study outweigh essays free ↗Outweigh Essay Masterclass preview
Learn TIMES, weigh the seriousness of benefits and costs, read a complete worked essay, and practise a new 250-word question with instant self-checks.
TASK 2 AT A GLANCE
What Task 2 asks you to do
You write a formal essay that answers a question about a general social, educational or global issue. It is the same task in Academic and General Training.
| Time | About 40 minutes |
|---|---|
| Length | At least 250 words; 270–300 is a comfortable target |
| Structure | Introduction with a clear position, two developed body paragraphs, a short conclusion |
| Weighting | Carries more weight than Task 1 |
| Marked on | Task Response, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy |
THE EIGHT ESSAY TYPES
Recognise the question. Then plan the right essay.
The instruction at the end of the question tells you which essay to write. Each IELTS4US Task 2 Masterclass covers one of these types.
POSITION
Opinion
"To what extent do you agree or disagree?" Give one clear position and keep it the same from introduction to conclusion.
Opinion Masterclass →BOTH VIEWS
Discussion
"Discuss both views and give your opinion." Give each view a fair paragraph, then state your own view clearly.
Discussion Masterclass →BALANCE
Advantages and disadvantages
"What are the advantages and disadvantages?" Cover both sides; give an opinion only if the question asks for one.
Advantages Masterclass →CAUSE + FIX
Problem and solution
"What problems… and what solutions?" Make every solution match a problem you have explained.
Problem–Solution Masterclass →JUDGE
Positive or negative
"Is this a positive or negative development?" Decide which, and show why it is mainly one or the other.
Positive–Negative Masterclass →FREE LESSON
Outweigh
"Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?" Weigh the impact of each side rather than counting points.
Free outweigh lesson →TWO QUESTIONS
Two-part questions
Two direct questions in one prompt. Answer each one fully, usually in its own body paragraph.
Two-Part Masterclass →COMBINED
Mixed questions
Combines two essay types, such as a cause plus an opinion. Map each part of the question to a paragraph before you write.
Mixed Questions Masterclass →AVOID THESE
Six common Task 2 mistakes
01
Missing part of the question
If a prompt asks two things, answering one limits your Task Response score.
02
An unclear position
When a question asks for your view, state it early and keep it consistent.
03
Ideas without development
Explain why and give an example. One developed idea is better than three listed ones.
04
Memorised templates
Pre-learned phrases that do not fit the topic make writing sound unnatural.
05
Forced idioms and rare words
Precise, natural vocabulary scores better than difficult words used inaccurately.
06
Writing under 250 words
Short essays are usually underdeveloped. Plan for about 270–300 words.
QUESTIONS STUDENTS ASK
Task 2 FAQs
Should I write "I" in my essay?
Yes, when the question asks for your opinion, phrases such as "I believe" are perfectly acceptable. Keep the rest of the essay formal.
How many body paragraphs should I write?
Two well-developed body paragraphs suit most questions. A third is fine if the question has three parts, but more paragraphs do not mean a higher score.
How long should I spend planning?
About five minutes. Use the free five-minute routine at the top of this page.
Can I use contractions like "don't"?
Avoid them. Task 2 is a formal essay, so write "do not" and "it is".
Do my examples have to be real?
No. Examples should be relevant and believable. Invented statistics can weaken your argument, so general examples are usually safer.
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