IELTS Task 2 Essay Structures
Knowing how to structure your IELTS Writing Task 2 essay is an essential skill that can make the difference between the getting and not getting the band score you deserve. With that in mind, we have outlined the most common IELTS Writing Task 2 structures below.
Nearly all of my Task 2 essays follow this basic structure: 
The sentences you put in each paragraph will depend on what type of question you get.
The five most common IELTS Writing Task 2 questions are:
- Opinion (Agree or Disagree)
- Advantages and Disadvantages
- Problem and Solution
- Discussion (Discuss both views)
- Two-part Question
Below I will outline examples and a structure approved by experienced IELTS teachers and examiners for each type of question. This will help you write a clear, coherent answer and hopefully boost your IELTS band score. I also include an example answer for each type of question so you can see what the structure looks like in a real essay.
Please note that these are general structures and they may vary slightly depending on the particular question.
Please also note that there is no ‘one’ Task 2 essay structure that will get you a high score. There are many types of structures that can get you a high score. These are just some I think are effective and easy to learn.
For more detailed guidance on each type of question please visit the lessons below. I have provided a link at the end of each section.
Opinion Questions (Agree or Disagree)
Typical Question Words–
What is your opinion?
Do you agree or disagree?
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Direct question.
Example Question–
Some people believe that unpaid community service should be a compulsory part of high school programmes (for example working for a charity, improving the neighborhood or teaching sports to younger children).
Do you agree or disagree?
Essay Structure
1- Paraphrase Question
2- Give your opinion and outline main ideas.
Main Body Paragraph 1
1- Topic Sentence
2- Explain Topic Sentence
3- Example
Main Body Paragraph 2
1- Topic Sentence
2- Explain Topic Sentence
3- Example
1- Summary of main points and opinion
Student Sample Answer
It is argued that volunteering should be made part of the school curriculum. This essay agrees with that suggestion completely because it help pupils develop soft skills and helps them gain much needed work experience.
Education should not be limited to strictly academic pursuits and those in education should also develop life skills, such as teamwork, empathy and self-discipline, and one of the best ways to hone these aptitudes is through community service. Serving those less fortunate than ourselves teaches us many lessons including how to work with people from other backgrounds and the value of hard work, thus enabling us to hone these skills before becoming an adult. For example, many young people from wealthier countries take a gap year and help those less fortunate than themselves to increase their gratitude for what they have and improve their work ethic.
Many colleges and companies are also increasingly looking for this type of experience. Most school leavers have the same grades and charitable works can help set you apart from other students when making college applications. For example, Cambridge and Oxford receive thousands of applications from straight-A students every year and can only accept a small percentage of applicants. What you have done outside the classroom is often the thing that differentiates you from everyone else and gets you that coveted spot.
In conclusion, teenagers should be made to partake in unpaid work as part of their schooling because it will help them learn things they wouldn’t ordinarily learn from their teachers and it will also boost their chances of getting into third level education.
For more detail on how to answer agree or disagree questions please visit our opinion essay lesson.
Need help writing essays like this? Check out our ESSAY CORRECTION SERVICE.
Advantages and Disadvantages Questions
Typical Question Words
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages.
What are the advantages and disadvantages?
Example Question
Technology is being used more and more in education.
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages.
Essay Structure
Introduction
1- Paraphrase Question
2- Outline Main Points
Main Body Paragraph 1
1- State Two Advantages
2- Expand/Explain First Advantage
3- Expand/Explain Second Advantage
3- Example
Main Body Paragraph 2
1- State Two Disadvantages
2- Expand/Explain First Disadvantage
3- Expand/Explain Second Disadvantage
3- Example
Conclusion
1- Summary of Main Points
Student Sample Answer
It is argued that technology is playing an ever-increasing role in schools and universities. Increased access to information and student freedom are the main advantages, whereas dependency on technology and decreasing levels of face-to-face contact are the main disadvantages.
Having access to more information and student autonomy are the principal advantages of an increase in the use of electronic devices in education. With the internet, students can access all the information available about any topic, regardless of what books and other resources are available in the school. Furthermore, students have the freedom to focus on whatever topic or subject they want and study it in depth. A prime example of this is the number of online university courses available to students, covering a myriad of subjects, that up until recently were unavailable to most learners. This has resulted in more people studying third-level degrees than ever before, at a pace and schedule that suits them.
The main disadvantages associated with the increasing use of technology in education is the dependency on this technology and the decrease in face-to-face interaction between students. With many students now using the internet as their primary source of information, they often struggle to use other academic resources to find what they’re looking for. As well as this, students spend more time looking at computer screens by themselves than interacting with each other, and this is thought to lead to lower levels of emotional intelligence. For instance, the recent explosion in smartphone use has been at the expense of genuine human interaction. This results in soft skills, such as verbal communication and empathy, being affected.
In conclusion, the benefits technology brings to education, such as unrestricted access to information and student autonomy, must be weighed against the drawbacks, such as dependency on this technology and the negative effects on human interaction.
For more detail on how to answer advantage and disadvantage questions please visit our advantage and disadvantage lesson.
Discuss Both Views Question (Discussion Essay)
Typical Question Words
Discuss both points of view and give your opinion.
Example Question
Technology is being used more and more in education. Some people say that this is a positive trend, while others argue that it is leading to negative consequences.
Discuss both sides of this argument and then give your own opinion.
Essay Structure
Introduction
1- Paraphrase Question and/or state both viewpoints.
2- Thesis Statement
3- Outline Sentence
Main Body Paragraph 1
1- State first viewpoint
2- Discuss first viewpoint
3- Reason why you agree or disagree with viewpoint
4- Example to support your view
Main Body Paragraph 2
1- State second viewpoint
2- Discuss second viewpoint
3- Reason why you agree or disagree with viewpoint
4- Example to support your view
Conclusion
Sentence 1- Summary
Sentence 2- State which one is better or more important
Student Sample Answer
There is an ever-increasing use of technology, such as tablets and laptops, in the classroom. It is often argued that this is a positive development, whilst others disagree and think it will lead to adverse ramifications. This essay agrees that an increase in technology is beneficial to students and teachers.
It is clear that the Internet has provided students with access to more information than ever before. This has given learners the ability to research and learn about any subject at the touch of a button. It is therefore agreed that technology is a very worthwhile tool for education. Wikipedia is a prime example, where students can simply type in any keyword and gain access to in-depth knowledge quickly and easily.
However, many disagree and feel that technology deprives people of real human interaction. Human interaction teaches people valuable skills such as discourse, debate and empathy. Without these soft skills, many people find it difficult to become successful in work and their personal lives. Despite this, human interaction is still possible through the internet and this essay disagrees technology should be dismissed for this reason. For instance, Skype and Facebook make it possible for people to interact in ways that were never before possible.
While the benefits of technology, particularly the internet, allow students to tap into limitless sources of information, some still feel that people should be wary of this new phenomena and not allow it to curb face to face interaction. However, as long as we are careful to keep in mind the importance of human interaction in education, the educational benefits are clearly positive.
For more detail on how to answer discussion questions please visit our discussion essay lesson.
Problem and Solution Questions
Typical Question Words
Problem and solution.
Cause and solution.
Example Question
Students are becoming more and more reliant on technology.
What are some of the problems associated with reliance on computers, and what are some of the possible solutions?
Essay Structure
Introduction
1- Paraphrase Question
2- Outline Sentence
Main Body Paragraph 1
1- State Problems
2- Explain First Problem
3- Explain Second Problem
4- Example of Second Problem
Main Body Paragraph 2
1- State Solutions
2- Explain First Solution
3- Explain Second Solution
4- Example of Second Solution
Conclusion
1- Summary
Student Sample Answer
Learners are becoming ever more dependent on technology, such as the Internet and mobile devices. This essay believes the main problems associated with dependence on computers is the lack of original thought and copying original work from others and suggests critical thinking classes and writing analysis software as the most viable solutions.
The principal problems with over-reliance on technology are people not being able to think for themselves and plagiarism. With access to so much information, students often rely on other people’s opinions instead of forming their own. As well as this, they often use search engines to answer a question and simply copy the text from a website, rather than thinking about the question. This practice is not only prohibited in schools and universities but also stunts a student’s intellectual development because they will never truly think for themselves, which is what university is supposed to really be for. For example, many teachers complain that students copy web pages straight from Wikipedia word for word rather than giving a reasoned answer to their questions.
Solutions to these worrying problems are special classes to focus on critical thinking and teachers using anti-plagiarism software to detect copying. If teachers create situations where students have to infer meaning and express opinions based on a small amount of information, this will ensure that students have an opportunity to develop these skills. Also, if students know that their assignments are being checked for plagiarism, this will be enough to deter them from doing so. For instance, many universities already use this kind of software to scan course work for plagiarism and it could be extended to include all homework, by learners in both secondary and tertiary education.
In conclusion, the main problems with overuse of technology in education are the lack of original thought and plagiarism and these can be solved through special classes that teach students analytical skills and the use of plagiarism detection software.
For more detail on how to answer problem and solution questions please visit our problem and solution lesson.
Two-Part Questions
Typical Question Words
There will normally be a statement and they will then ask you to answer to separate questions.
Example Question
As most people spend a major part of their adult life at work, job satisfaction is an important element of individual wellbeing.
What factor contributes to job satisfaction?
How realistic is the expectation of job satisfaction for all workers?
Essay Structure
Introduction
1- Paraphrase Question
2- Outline Sentence (mention both questions)
Main Body Paragraph 1
1- Answer first question directly
2- Explain why
3- Further explain
4- Example
Main Body Paragraph 2
1- Answer second question directly
2- Explain why
3- Further explain
4- Example
Conclusion
1- Summary
Student Sample Answer
As the majority of adults spend most of their time at work, being content with your career is a crucial part of a person’s health and happiness. This essay will first suggest fair pay as a key element leading to job satisfaction and it will then state that it is not very likely that everyone can be happy with their job.
The most important thing that leads to someone being satisfied at work is being compensated fairly. If those more senior than you respect you as a person and the job you are doing then you feel like you are valued. A fair salary and benefits are important marks of respect and if you feel you are being underpaid you will either resent your bosses or look for another job. These two factors came top of a recent job satisfaction survey conducted by Monster.com, that found that 72% of people were pleased with their current role if their superiors regularly told them they were appreciated.
With regards to the question of happiness for all workers, I think this is and always will be highly unlikely. The vast majority of people fail to reach their goals and end up working in a post they don’t really care about in return for a salary. This money is just enough to pay their living expenses which often means they are trapped in a cycle of disenchantment. For example, The Times recently reported that 89% of office workers would leave their jobs if they did not need the money.
In conclusion, being satisfied with your trade or profession is an important part of one’s well-being and respect from one’s colleagues and fair pay can improve your level of happiness, however, job satisfaction of all workers is an unrealistic prospect.
Can I get a band 8 or 9 following these structures?
Nobody can give you a Task 2 IELTS structure that guarantees you a high score. You score is dependent on how good your grammar and vocabulary is and how well you answer the question. A good structure will help you answer the question to some extent and boost your score for coherence and cohesion, but you must use relevant ideas and use these ideas well to answer the question.
You can see how my student scored a Band 8.5 in IELTS Writing here:
Next Steps
We hope you found those IELTS Writing Task 2 structures useful. Looking for some more sample questions? Here are over 100 sample questions from past exam papers.
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