How To Write Ielts Writing Task 2

There is a basic structure and format that can help you be successful when preparing for and writing your IELTS Writing Task 2 essay. My goal is for you to have a strong handle on how to approach your essay by the end of this article. The only thing you will have left to do is practice. This post is going to be pretty comprehensive, so buckle up, it ll be a long one, but hopefully extremely helpful by the time we re done. This is also the beginning of the IELTS Writing Task 2 e-book that wrote so you know these tips are good.

IELTS Writing Task 2: The Super Basic StructureBefore we begin, it s important that you understand the very basics of the structure of an IELTS Writing Task 2 essay. The structure of the IELTS Writing Task 2 essay is the same structure that is taught in schools in English speaking countries (at least those in America and the UK). It s important to understand that this structure is what is expected of you. Typically in school when we write essays like this they are 5 paragraphs, but in the IELTS exam for the sake of time it s typical to have 4. Those 4 paragraphs should go like this. We ll get into what exactly you should say in each paragraph later.

Paragraph 1 The introduction

Paragraph 2- This is the first body paragraph and it should have reason 1

Paragraph 3- This is the second body paragraph and it should have reason 2

Paragraph 4- The conclusion

Please note that the entire essay has 2 reasons. There should only be one reason per a paragraph.

IELTS Writing Task 2: Decide How You Want to Answer the QuestionThere are three basic ways you can answer an IELTS Writing Task 2 question.

In the first way you clearly pick a side, and the entire essay is about the side you have chosen. It doesn t matter if you agree or disagree, all body paragraphs will be defending the side you have chosen. Both reason 1 and reason 2 will be from the same viewpoint or perspective.

Reason 1- I agree or disagree

Reason 2- I still agree or disagree

In the second way you pick the side that you think is correct and you state the reason you think it s right in the second paragraph (body paragraph 1). However in the third paragraph (body paragraph 2) you give the contradicting argument. This means for your second reason you say why some people disagree with you, but then you say why they are wrong.

Reason 1- I agree or disagree

Reason 2- This is what other people think, but they re wrong.

In the third way you take both sides. Your reason 1 says that one side is right and your reason 2 says that the other side is right. You essentially (basically) say you think both sides are right. You use this if you think it should be a mixture of what people think.

Reason 1- I agree

Reason 2- I disagree

IELTS Writing Task 2: Types of QuestionsI want to make something very clear. All of the IELTS Writing Task 2 questions are agree or disagree. However, there are a few different ways the question may be phrased. Here are four different types of agree or disagree questions that are commonly seen on the IELTS Writing Task 2 exam.

Type 1: Nowadays full time University students tend to focus on studying. Some people think it is essential for University students to be involved in other activities. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Type 2: Many children are encouraged by their parents to get a part time job in their free time. What are the advantages and disadvantages to children doing so?

Type 3: In some parts of the world there is an increasing number of people wanting to find out their family s history. Why? Is this trend positive or negative?

Type 4: Young people are now encouraged to start their own business once they turn 18 years old, however others think they should continue to study. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

The part in bold is how the agree or disagree part of the questions is phrased. It also gives you a hint to which ways you can answer the question. Certain questions have to be answered in a certain way. In some questions you can answer however you want to.

Let s examine this.

Type 1: Nowadays full time University students tend to focus on studying. Some people think it is essential for University students to be involved in other activities. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

This is the easiest type of question to get because you can answer it however you want to. You can use the first, second, or third way to give your answer. Any way you want to answer it, go for it.

Type 2: Many children are encouraged by their parents to get a part time job in their free time. What are the advantages and disadvantages to children doing so?

Look at the part in bold carefully, it states, What are the advantages and disadvantages to children doing so . They ask you for both the advantages and the disadvantages, which means you have to give both sides of the argument. You can use either the second or third way stated above to answer this question. You cannot use the first way.

Type 3: In some parts of the world there is an increasing number of people wanting to find out their family s history. Why? Is this trend positive or negative?

This question ends in is this trend positive or negative , this is the same as saying do you agree or disagree. You can use any style you want to answer this question, just like in type 1.

Type 4: Young people are now encouraged to start their own business once they turn 18 years old, however others think they should continue to study. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

This question asks you to discuss both views and give your opinion . This means that you have to use the second or third way, because you have to give both sides, but don t forget to make sure you make it clear what you think is best.

IELTS Writing Task 2: Planning Your AnswerNow that you understand how to approach your answer, let s start planning it. I suggest that you take 10 minutes to plan. This is critical to not feeling panicked towards the end of the test and it s also crucial in ensuring that you answer the question correctly. Not answering the question is the most common mistake I see on the IELTS Writing Task 2 essay.

Your planning should have the following structure.

Ideas

Reasons

Examples

IELTS Writing Task 2: IdeasEvery IELTS Writing Task 2 question has two ideas. It s agree or disagree, so there have to be two sides to the argument. Some people think one thing. Other people think another thing. Knowing the two ideas is the key to making sure that you answer the question correctly. It is also a great help when it comes to coming up with reasons.

How do you find the ideas? It s simple. The ideas are in the question. Let me repeat that. The ideas are in the question. They are not something that you make up. They are already in the question. I said it three times, so you know it s important. Coming up with your own ideas is how people answer the wrong question. Don t make that mistake.

Let s practice finding ideas. Notice I said finding, because you find them in the question (fourth time).

Question: Nowadays full time University students tend to focus on studying. Some people think it is essential for University students to be involved in other activities. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Idea 1: Some people think University students should be involved in activities other than studying.

Idea 2: Some people think University students should focus on studying

Question: Many children are encouraged by their parents to get a part time job in their free time. What are the advantages and disadvantages to children doing so?

Idea 1: Some people think children should get a part time job in their free time.

Ideas 2: Some people think children should not get a part time job in their free time.

Question: In some parts of the world there is an increasing number of people wanting to find out their family s history. Why? Is this trend positive or negative?

Idea 1: Some people think people wanting to find out there family history is positive

Idea 2: Some people think people wanting to find out their family history is negative

Question: Young people are now encouraged to start their own business once they turn 18 years old, however others think they should continue to study. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Idea 1: Some people think young people should start their own business at 18

Idea 2: Some people think young people should continue to study.

After reviewing the ideas for these four questions it should now be clear how to perform this important task. The ideas do not go in your essay. I repeat the ideas do not go in your essay. However they are the launching point for how you will plan and write your essay. It is very easy to write the wrong essay if you aren t clear on the ideas. Notice that I put some people think in front of all of the ideas, you don t have to do this, it s just to help you understand that you are stating the two different view points.

Let s do the ideas for one more question This will be the example question we will use throughout the rest of this article.

Question: Many people believe that scientific research should be carried out and controlled by the governments rather than private companies. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

Idea 1: Some people think scientific research should be controlled by governments

Idea 2: Some people think scientific research should be controlled by private companies

IELTS Writing Task 2: ReasonsNow that you have your ideas, it s time to decide which way you want to write your essay. At this point you have to decide, will you discuss both viewpoints or just one. Remember the question may make this decision for you. If it tells you to talk about both sides, then you better talk about both sides. If you have the option then make the choice. Most people tend to answer the question in the same way every time they are given a choice. For example, I like the first way, but that s just my preference, it doesn t have to be yours.

Ok. Reason time!

Here s where we are with our sample question.

Question: Many people believe that scientific research should be carried out and controlled by the governments rather than private companies. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

Idea 1: Scientific research should be controlled by governments

Idea 2: Scientific research should be controlled by private companies

For the purpose of this sample question I m only going to give you one side, otherwise this post would be even longer.

Find your IdeasDecide which way you re going to answer the questionI m going to use the first way. I m going to pick a side and stick with it. That means I am going to choose which idea I agree with, (or at least the idea that I have the best reasons for). I am going to choose Idea 1.

Idea 1: Scientific research should be controlled by governments

Now I m going to ask myself the four IELTS Writing Task 2 critical questions, so that I can find my reasons.

Why? How? What will this look like? What s the benefit?

You do not need to answer all of these questions, you just need to answer one. Which question you answer depends on the idea. One of these questions should make sense for your idea. Let s go through the questions.

Why?- Why should scientific research be controlled by governments?

How?- How should scientific research be controlled by governments?

What will this look like?- What will it look like if scientific research is controlled by governments?

What s the benefit ? What s the benefit of scientific research being controlled by governments?

In this case you can answer all of these questions, but again you only need to answer one.

So . Why should scientific research be controlled by governments? Scientific research should be controlled by the government because governments can afford to invest in general research that doesn t always have an immediate financial benefit.

That s my reason 1 the government can afford to invest in general research that doesn t always have an immediate financial benefit.

This is what my notes would look like right now.

Idea 1: Scientific research should be controlled by governments

Idea 2: Scientific research should be controlled by private companies

Idea 1: Scientific research should be controlled by governments

Reason 1- the government can afford to invest in general research that doesn t always have an immediate financial benefit.

Now that you have your first reason you have to back it up. Remember your entire first body paragraph has to be about one reason, so you have to write more. Also, you can t just say you re right, you have to say why. So give your first reason and they say why it s so great, back it up. Ask yourself those same IELTS Writing Task 2 critical questions.

Why? How? What will this look like? What s the benefit?

Idea 1: Scientific research should be controlled by governments

Reason 1- the government can afford to invest in general research that doesn t always have an immediate financial benefit.

Why? How? What will this look like? What s the benefit?

Why can the government afford to invest in general research that doesn t always have an immediate financial benefit?

How can the government afford to invest in general research that doesn t always have an immediate financial benefit? How is a little weird with this one.

What will it look like if the government can afford to invest in general research that doesn t always have an immediate financial benefit?

What s the benefit of the government being able to afford to invest in general research that doesn t always have an immediate financial benefit.

So, once again you don t have to answer all of these questions, just one. This helps you back up your reason.

What s the benefit of the government being able to afford to invest in general research that doesn t always have an immediate financial benefit? There have been many instances in time where general research has produced something that was meaningless and unable to be monetized at the time, but later became a product common in many household products.

Ok. So we have our idea, our reason and we backed it up. Now we need an example. You only need one example in your IELTS Writing Task 2 essay. It doesn t matter if it comes with your first or second reason. To find your example you want to ask yourself, can you think of a time when this happened? Your example should be specific, not general. If you cite a study or use numbers to help you with your example just make sure it makes sense. No one is going to fact check what you say, but you want to make it reasonable. A general example would be many kids suffer from obesity . A much better specific example would be studies show that almost 20% of children under the age of 18 suffer from childhood obesity.

So let s go back to my sample question.

Idea 1- Scientific research should be controlled by governments

Reason 1- the government can afford to invest in general research that doesn t always have an immediate financial benefit.

Back it up There have been many instances in time where general research has produced something that was meaningless and unable to be monetized at the time, but later became a product common in many household products.

Can you think of a time when that happened? Why yes I can.

For example baby formula and technology for smartphone cameras were the results of NASA experiments.

So that s it , that s how you plan and write the first paragraph. For the planning part of your essay, you don t need to use complete sentences, you can just use bullet points. If you plan out your essay you won t have to worry about what else you re going to say in the last 5 minutes. I promise that planning out your essay will leave you with more time and a better essay.

This is what the planning part of my essay would look like right now. All of this would be on my paper before I even began to write my essay.

Idea 1: Scientific research should be controlled by governments

Idea 2: Scientific research should be controlled by private companies

Idea 1- Scientific research should be controlled by governments

Reason 1- government can invest in general research that doesn t have immediate financial benefit.

many instances where general research produced something that was meaningless and unable to be monetized at the time, later used in many products.example baby formula and technology for smartphone cameras were NASA experimentsYou would do the same thing for reason 2, no matter which way you choose to write your essay.

IELTS Writing Task 2: The StructureThe hard part is over. Now that you ve found your ideas, decided which way you will write your essay, and selected your reasons, backed them up, and picked an example..ugh .it s time to write your essay with the correct structure.

Find your ideasDecide which way you re going to answer the questionPlanning- select your reasonsPlanning- back them upPlanning pick an example

Now let s write your introduction (intro). There are a million different ways you can write your intro paragraph on the IELTS Writing Task 2 exam. You can google them, come up with your own, and I m about to give you one. There are three things that your intro needs to have.

1. You need to rephrase the question.

2. You need to tell me what you are going to write about in the essay

3. Unless you are answering a question that tells you to discuss both sides then give your opinion, you need to tell me your opinion in the intro.

How you want to say all of those things is up to you. Here s my foolproof, fill in the blank template that you can use for any question. I ll go through how to use it for each way to write your essay.

There is a debate__[rephrase the question]___. I strongly [agree or disagree or believe] that ___opinion ____. I hold this opinion due to many (multiple) reasons that I will explore in this essay.

Question: Many people believe that scientific research should be carried out and controlled by the governments rather than private companies. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

The first way

There is a debate about scientific research, some believe that this type of research should be managed by the world s governments, others believe that it should be driven by private companies. I strongly believe that scientific research should be run and controlled by private entities. I hold this opinion due to many reasons, that I will explore in this essay.

The second way

There is a debate about scientific research. I strongly believe that scientific research should be run and controlled by private entities. However others are convinced research should be controlled by the governments of the world. While I understand why some hold this belief, in this essay I will explain my position and discuss some fallacies of the contradicting viewpoint.

The third way

There is a debate about scientific research, some believe that this type of research should be managed by the world s governments, others believe that it should be driven by private companies. It is my belief that both governments and private entities should share this great responsibility. I hold this opinion due to many reasons, that I will explore in this essay.

If you re asked to discuss both sides and then give your opinion, your answer will be similar.

There is a debate about scientific research, some believe that this type of research should be managed by the world s governments, others believe that it should be driven by private companies. Both points of view are are valid, and in this essay I will discuss both opinions and conclude with my own.

IELTS Writing Task 2: How to Start Your Body ParagraphsWe re pretty much done with how to write this essay. We ve made sure we re writing an answer for the right question. We ve come up with reasons, backed them up, given an example, and we wrote our intro. So now, let s talk about how to start your body paragraphs. This is really important and is one of the last elements to putting together a great essay.

First, it is very important that you start your first body paragraph with your first reason. Do not start it with an idea. Ideas don t really go in your essay, they re just a starting point (technically you could say they go in the intro). Second, make sure you start your body paragraphs with a big flag telling the reader what s happening. These are transition words or sequence words first, second, in addition to, on the other hand, next, finally. Both body paragraphs should start with a sequence or transition word. The first body paragraph will start with some form of the word first. Here are some examples.

First, the government should control scientific research because the government can afford to invest in general research that doesn t always have an immediate financial benefit.

First and foremost , the government should control scientific research because the government can afford to invest in general research that doesn t always have an immediate financial benefit.

Most importantly, the government should control scientific research because the government can afford to invest in general research that doesn t always have an immediate financial benefit.

The most important reason that the government should control scientific research is that the government can afford to invest in general research that doesn t always have an immediate financial benefit.

The second body paragraph of your IELTS Writing Task 2 essay should also start with transition or sequence words. If you are writing with the first way the word will be some form of the word second. If you are writing with the second or third way the transition word will announce that you are introducing a different idea.

Here are some examples.

On the other hand, putting scientific research in the care of private companies is beneficial because private companies will be most efficient with money and resources, and less likely to be wasteful.

However, putting scientific research in the care of private companies may be more beneficial because private companies will be most efficient with money and resources, and less likely to be wasteful.

On the other hand, putting scientific research in the care of private companies is beneficial because private companies will be most efficient with money and resources, and less likely to be wasteful.

In an opposing view, putting scientific research in the care of private companies is beneficial because private companies will be most efficient with money and resources, and less likely to be wasteful.

Here s a list of sequence words

First / firstly, second / secondly, third / thirdly etcNext, last, finallyIn addition, moreoverFurther / furthermoreAnotherAlsoIELTS Writing Task 2: Linking WordsWe re almost done, promise. Adding linking words to our essay is almost the last thing that we need to do. These are words like moreover, therefore, even though. Try to use at least two in each of your body paragraphs (including sequence words) and if you can fit one in the intro or conclusion that would be awesome.

I wrote a whole article on these words.

IELTS Writing Task 2: The ConclusionThis is the easiest part and the last part. Yay! So basically the conclusion goes like this In conclusion I think _(opinion)___ because of _(reason 1)__ and _(reason 2)___ and this is why I m right.

To surmise scientific research should be controlled by private companies because they are the only entities that can be trusted to dispense financial and other resources responsibly. Furthermore, unlike governments, private companies excel in creating innovation. Given the two aforementioned reasons private companies are the only organizations equipped to handle the enormous task of running scientific research for the world.

Here are a few other ways to say in conclusion.

In conclusionTo summariseFinallyAt lastIn summaryThat s it, we re done. If you need more help, like some reasons for common topics, deeper explanations, and sample essays that show you the difference between getting a 6,7, or 8 on your essay stay tuned for my IELTS Writing e-book which should be done in the beginning of February. Also, stay tuned for my free webinar series and my podcast which will also launch in February.