IELTS Writing Task 2

IELTS Writing Task 2—also called the IELTS essay or IELTS Task 2 Writing—is the most heavily weighted part of the writing module, worth two-thirds of the total score. Test-takers have 40 minutes to write at least 250 words in response to a prompt of around 40 words. The scoring criteria are identical for Academic and General Training candidates:

To secure a Band 7 or above, you must master common question types, identify key instruction words quickly, and develop topic-specific arguments. This page breaks down the six major IELTS Writing Task 2 question types, their frequency, typical topics, and study priorities so you can build a rock-solid essay framework.

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IELTS Writing Task 2 Question Types

Opinion Essay

Frequency:

Typical Topics: government funding, environmental protection, traditional culture, R&D ethics, public transport

Study Focus: State your stance clearly—agree, disagree, or partially agree. Aim for a two-reasons structure: one body paragraph per reason plus counter-arguments with concession sentences. Finish with a conclusion that restates your view. Prepare universal examples about "public spending” or "individual vs. governmental responsibility” and upgrade your vocabulary list.

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Discussion Essay

Frequency:

Typical Topics: pros and cons of technology, globalisation, corporate responsibility, work-life balance, equal education

Study Focus: Use a Discuss Both + Opinion blueprint: the first body paragraph explains viewpoint A; the second body paragraph covers viewpoint B and states your opinion, followed by a concise conclusion. Deploy connectors such as while, whereas, on the other hand and insert mini-conclusions for clarity.

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Advantage / Disadvantage Essay

Frequency:

Typical Topics: international tourism, remote working, social media, fast food, artificial intelligence

Study Focus: The prompt asks for advantages, disadvantages, or which side outweighs. A pros-cons-verdict layout is safest. Employ power words like cost-effective, detrimental, outweigh and boon, plus concrete examples, e.g., remote work enhances work-life balance. Make sure your final stance is explicit to avoid losing Task Response marks.

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Cause–Solution Essay

Frequency:

Typical Topics: environmental pollution, traffic congestion, juvenile delinquency, urban slums, doctor-patient conflict

Study Focus: Follow the classic cause paragraph + solution paragraph pattern. Introduce deep causes with phrases like root cause or underlying factor; propose feasible measures with expressions such as government regulation or public awareness campaigns. Showcase grammatical variety through noun clauses and passive voice.

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Direct-Question Essay

Frequency:

Typical Topics: consumerism, celebrity culture, sports influence, online shopping, lifelong learning

Study Focus: Answer every sub-question in its own paragraph. Start by paraphrasing the question, give a topic sentence, explain, illustrate, and wrap up. Missing a sub-question will severely hurt the Task Response score.

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Mixed Essay

Frequency:

Typical Topics: space exploration, international aid, animal testing, cultural diversity, aging population

Study Focus: A Mixed Essay blends Direct-Question with Opinion or Advantage-Disadvantage tasks. The winning tactic is deconstruct → categorise → tackle. List all instruction words, set paragraph order, and if an "outweigh” element is present, state your judgment in the final section. Mind-mapping during practice helps you slot in mini-templates quickly.

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IELTS Writing Task 2 - Overall Study Tips

1. Write two timed IELTS Writing Task 2 essays per week—strict 40-minute limit.

2. Build a personal keyword bank for core themes (education, environment, technology, government) and expand synonyms.

3. Analyse model answers and the official band descriptors to pinpoint weaknesses in Task Response and Coherence & Cohesion.

4. Use correction tools or peer reviews to polish logic flow and grammar accuracy.