IELTS Writing Task 2: The Essay Structure That Works for Every Question
The five types of IELTS Task 2 questions and a flexible four-paragraph structure, with planning steps and a 40-minute timeline.
Writing Task 2 is worth twice as much as Task 1, so it deserves most of your preparation time. You have about 40 minutes to write at least 250 words in response to a question about a social, educational, environmental or technological issue.
Step 1: recognise the question type
| Type | Typical wording | What you must do |
|---|---|---|
| Opinion | To what extent do you agree or disagree? | Give a clear position and keep it throughout |
| Discussion | Discuss both views and give your own opinion. | Explain both sides, then state your view |
| Advantages/disadvantages | Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages? | Compare both and say which is greater |
| Problem/solution | What are the causes? What can be done? | Explain causes or problems, then propose solutions |
| Two-part (direct questions) | Why is this happening? Is it positive or negative? | Answer both questions directly |
Misreading the question type is the fastest way to limit your Task Response score.
Step 2: the four-paragraph structure
- Introduction (2–3 sentences)
- Paraphrase the topic.
- State your position or outline what the essay will do (the thesis).
- Body paragraph 1 (5–7 sentences)
- Topic sentence (main idea).
- Explanation.
- Specific example.
- Link back to the question.
- Body paragraph 2: same pattern, second main idea or the other side.
- Conclusion (2–3 sentences): restate your position in new words. No new ideas.
This structure fits every question type: you just change what goes into each body paragraph.
Step 3: plan for five minutes
Many candidates skip planning to save time, then write unclear, repetitive essays. A five-minute plan saves time overall:
- Underline the key words and decide the question type.
- Decide your position.
- Write two main ideas, each with one example.
- Check: Does every idea answer the exact question?
The 40-minute timeline
| Minutes | Task |
|---|---|
| 0–5 | Analyse and plan |
| 5–10 | Introduction |
| 10–30 | Two body paragraphs |
| 30–35 | Conclusion |
| 35–40 | Check grammar, spelling and word count |
Example: from question to plan
Some people think that university education should be free for everyone. Others believe students should pay for their own studies. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Type: discussion plus opinion. Position: free university for students from low-income families, but not for everyone.
| Paragraph | Content |
|---|---|
| Introduction | Paraphrase plus thesis: partly free, based on income |
| Body 1 | Free education view: equal opportunity; example: talented students from poor families |
| Body 2 | Paying view: graduates earn more, taxpayers' money; example: loan systems |
| Conclusion | Restate the balanced opinion |
A possible introduction:
Whether higher education should be funded by the state or by students themselves is a much-debated question. While there are strong arguments on both sides, I believe that university should be free for students from lower-income families, but that others should contribute to the cost.
Two sentences: a paraphrase of the topic and a clear position. That is all an introduction needs.
What examiners look for
- Task Response: a clear, consistent position; ideas that are extended and supported, not just listed.
- Coherence and Cohesion: logical paragraphs with one central idea each; linking words used naturally (see cohesive devices).
- Lexical Resource: precise, topic-specific vocabulary and natural word combinations (tackle a problem, a significant proportion).
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy: a mix of simple and complex sentences, mostly error-free (see grammar for band 7).
Five habits that cost marks
- Memorised introductions such as "In this modern era of technology…". Examiners recognise them, and they say nothing.
- Too many ideas, none developed. Two well-explained ideas beat five listed ones.
- Vague examples ("some people say…"). Use specific, realistic examples.
- Changing your opinion halfway through the essay.
- Under 250 words. Short essays are penalised under Task Response.
FAQ
How many paragraphs should an IELTS Task 2 essay have?
Four or five: an introduction, two or three body paragraphs and a conclusion. Each body paragraph should develop one main idea.
How many words should I write in Task 2?
At least 250. Around 260 to 300 words is a good target: longer essays earn no extra marks and usually contain more errors.
See this structure in action in our band 8 opinion essay.