IELTS Writing Task 2: essay types, structure and a 40-minute plan
Task 2 is an essay of at least 250 words, written in about 40 minutes, and it carries more weight than Task 1 in your Writing band. The same task appears in Academic and General Training. Get the essay type right and the structure follows.
Updated 2026-10-23
The format
| Writing Task 2 | |
|---|---|
| Time | About 40 minutes |
| Length | At least 250 words |
| Task | Respond to a point of view, argument or problem |
| Modules | The same task type in Academic and General Training |
| Marked on | Task Response, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy |
The five essay types
Every Task 2 question asks you to do one of five things. The type decides what your body paragraphs must contain.
| Type | Typical wording | You must… | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opinion | To what extent do you agree or disagree? | Give a clear position and keep it throughout | Opinion essay |
| Discussion | Discuss both views and give your own opinion. | Explain both views fairly, then give yours | Discussion essay |
| Advantages and disadvantages | Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages? | Weigh both sides and say which is greater | Advantages and disadvantages essay |
| Problem and solution | What problems does this cause? What can be done? | Explain problems, then matching solutions | Problem and solution essay |
| Two-part question | Two direct questions, e.g. Why…? Is this positive? | Answer both questions fully | Two-part question essay |
The most common way to lose Task Response marks is answering a different question from the one asked: discussing both views when only your opinion was asked for, or answering only one part of a two-part question.
The four-paragraph structure
- Introduction (2 sentences). Paraphrase the topic, then state your position or what the essay will do.
- Body paragraph 1. One main idea: a topic sentence, an explanation, and an example or consequence.
- Body paragraph 2. A second main idea, developed the same way.
- Conclusion (1–2 sentences). Restate your position. No new ideas.
A body paragraph that scores well has one main idea, explained in depth. Three ideas mentioned briefly is a list, and lists score lower for Task Response than one idea fully developed.
A 40-minute plan
| Minutes | Do this |
|---|---|
| 0–5 | Identify the essay type. Underline every part of the question. Decide your position. Note one main idea per body paragraph, each with an example. |
| 5–9 | Write the introduction. |
| 9–33 | Write the body paragraphs, about 11 minutes each. |
| 33–36 | Write the conclusion. |
| 36–40 | Check: subject–verb agreement, articles, plurals, tense, spelling of topic words. |
Planning time is never wasted. Most essays that drift off topic were started without a plan.
What separates band 6 from band 8
| Band | Task Response looks like… |
|---|---|
| 6 | All parts of the task are addressed, but some more fully than others. The position is relevant but conclusions may be unclear or repetitive. |
| 7 | All parts are addressed and a clear position is presented throughout. Main ideas are extended and supported, though some may lack focus. |
| 8 | The question is sufficiently addressed, with a well-developed response and relevant, extended, well-supported ideas. |
Moving from 6 to 7 usually means two changes: keeping one clear position from introduction to conclusion, and developing each idea with an explanation and an example instead of adding more ideas.
Questions by topic
Examiners draw on a limited set of themes. Practising across them builds the vocabulary you need on the day:
- Education questions
- Technology questions
- Environment questions
- Health questions
- Work questions
- Crime questions
- Society and family questions
Practise the other skills
Your Writing band is one of four. Take a free IELTS Listening test and an IELTS Reading test, then add your results to the band score calculator to see your likely overall score.
Frequently asked questions
How long should an IELTS Task 2 essay be?
At least 250 words. Most band 7 to 9 essays are between 270 and 320 words. Longer essays are not marked higher and usually contain more errors.
How many paragraphs should a Task 2 essay have?
Four or five. An introduction, two or three body paragraphs and a conclusion is the standard shape, and it works for every essay type.
Can I use 'I' in an IELTS essay?
Yes. When the question asks for your opinion, 'I believe' or 'in my view' is the clearest way to give it. Just do not overuse it or fill the essay with personal stories.
Do I need to use memorised phrases?
No. Examiners are trained to spot memorised language, and phrases that do not fit the topic can lower your score. A clear position and well-developed ideas matter far more.