Writing Task 2

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:
1. Opinion (Agree or Disagree)
2. Advantages and Disadvantages
3. Problem and Solution
4. Discussion (Discuss both views)
5. Two-part Question
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
programs (for example working for a charity, improving the neighborhood or teaching sports to
younger children).
Do you agree or disagree?’

Essay Structure
Introduction
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
Conclusion
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.

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.
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
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
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