IELTS writing task 2

1. Opinion question
a. Agree or disagree
b. Positive or negative
c. Advantage outweigh disadvantage
d. What is your opinion

2. Non opinion question

a. Advantage and disadvantage
b. Positive and negative
c. Discuss both sides
d. Cause and effect
e. Cause and solution
f. Problem and solution

3. Hybrid question (opinion and non-opinion mixed)

a. Discuss both sides with opinion
b. Advantage and disadvantage with opinion
c. Positive and negative with opinion

4. Direct questions
Opinion question.
1. Positive or negative
More and more people are finding it increasingly
important to wear fashionable clothes. Is this attitude to
wearing clothes a positive or negative development?
Introduction
Sentence 1- paraphrase
Sentence 2 – thesis statement or opinion
Sentence 3 – outline (mention briefly the upcoming main
points)
Many people consider that it is essential to wear stylish
clothing in their everyday life. This essay believes that
this is a negative trend for people should consider
wearing attire that is comfortable rather than trendy.
Firstly, this essay will discuss the importance of wearing
clothes that give comfort and secondly, the negative
effects of following fashion trends.
Sentence 4 – first main reason to support your argument
Sentence 5- explain
Sentence 6 - example
On the one hand, there are many types of garments that
are available in the market, as demand grows from season
to season but people should choose clothing that gives
comfort rather than following trends, as these are much
cheaper and not complicated to wear. Comfortable clothes
can also relieve stress as they are made from light-weight
fabrics and are very affordable for they don’t have
intricate designs that can add to the cost of the clothing.
For instance, an article in Harpers Bazaar Magazine
reported that elaborate designs in designer clothes could
make the price of the clothing increase considerably
higher from its normal price.
Sentence 7- second main reason to support your argument
Sentence 8- explain
Sentence 9 – example
On the other hand, being fashionable can be a burden as
there are a lot of instances where people have purchased
stylish clothing on a whim without considering if they can
really afford it. They believe that by wearing something
chic they can be popular and ‘on trend’ when in reality
trends change fast, so buying fast fashion can also cripple
your finances, even though people may see them as being
investment pieces. For example, according to a study by
the Civil bank Nepal a large number of credit card
delinquents are compulsive shoppers that purchased items
of clothing and accessories from high-end brands.
Sentence 10 conclusion (summary with restate the
opinion)
In conclusion, I believe that although looking good is
important one should also take into account comfort over
style. Besides following the latest fashion trends can lead
people into debt, which may bring an adverse
ramification.

2.Advantage outweigh disadvantage

Some experts believe that it is better for children to
begin learning a foreign language at primary schools
rather than secondary school. Do the advantages of this
outweigh the disadvantages?
Introduction
Sentence 1- paraphrase question
Sentence 2 thesis statement/opinion (state which one
outweighs the other)
Sentence 3- outline sentence
Some authorities think that it is more favorable for
pupils to begin studying languages at primary school
instead of secondary school. This essay will argue that
the advantages of this outweigh the drawbacks. The
essay will first demonstrate that the earlier someone
learns an additional language the more likely they are
to master it and it brings added cognitive benefits,
followed by the primary disadvantage called confusion
with their native tongue, is not valid.
Main body paragraph 1(stronger side)
Sentence 4 – Topic sentence
Sentence 5 – explain why it is strong
Sentence 6 – example
Sentence 7 – topic sentence
Sentence 8- explain why it is strong
Sentence 9- example.
The main reason to start kids off with foreign
languages early is that this increases the likelihood
they will achieve fluency in adulthood. They will have
far more years to perfect their skills and it will seem
perfectly normal to speak bilingually. For example, in
countries such as Nepal and India where English is
taught from a very young age and a significant
number of adults speak it at an advanced level.
Learning a second language also helps to improve overall
cognitive abilities. In other words, it benefits the
overall development of a child's brain. For instance, a
recent survey by Nepal University found that children
who studied a new language before the age of five were
more likely to score higher in Mathematics and
science.
Main body paragraph 2 (weaker side)
Sentence 10- topic sentence

Sentence 11- Explain why it is not strong/ refute

Sentence 12- example to support why it is not strong

Those opposed to this say that it causes the child to

become confused between their mother tongue and
other language. However, there is actually no evidence
to support this view and children from bilingual families
do just as well in both languages. To illustrate this, in our
country Nepal, bilingualism is practised in each and every
home and a large number of children accustomed to this
are found sharp and social rather than confused in their
schools.
In conclusion, early foreign language learning leads to
higher fluency and improved brain function clearly
outweighs the flawed argument that it impairs uptake of
native languages.

Non opinion question.

Advantage and Disadvantage.
In some countries young people are encouraged to
work or travel for a year between finishing high
school and starting university studies.
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages for young
people who decided to do this.

Introduction:
Sentence 1- paraphrase question
Sentence 2 – outline sentence

Before embarking on college many youngsters are

advised that a year working or travelling may be a
good option. This essay will suggest that saving
money is the biggest advantage of this and a
reduced motivation to study is the primary
disadvantage.

Body 1
(advantages)
Sentence 3 – Topic sentence (Advantage)
Sentence 4 -Explain
Sentence 5 – Example

Third level education is very expensive and lots of

students decide to work for 12 months and save up
money before they begin their studies. This allows
them to pay for their living costs, tuition fees and
accommodation and focus on their studies, rather
than struggle financially or have to get a part time job
on top of their academic work. For example,
The Times recently reported that the average
student at a UK university requires large amount of
money per annum just to survive and many drop out
because they cannot afford to stay.

Body 2
(disadvantages)
Sentence 6 – Topic sentence /disadvantage
Sentence 7 – Explain
Sentence 8 - Example
Despite these advantages, many students often get
used to working or travelling and do not want to
return to a life of study after a year off. This short-
term view can cause some to bypass university and
go straight into a job that is beneath their capabilities
or may not offer the same prospects their future
career might have done. For instance, a recent
survey by the Nepal government found that a large
number of students who take a gap-year never enter
tertiary education.

Conclusion:
Sentence 9 – summary of main points

In conclusion, taking a break from studies can be

advantageous if it allows people to accumulate
savings, however, in this endeavor, discouragement
in further education is also a probable disadvantage.

Positive and Negative question

Companies spend millions each year on advertising
online, in magazines and on billboards. These
adverts can encourage people to buy goods that
they do not really need. What are the positive and
negative effects of consumerism?

Businesses devote millions every year to online

commercials, print ads and posters. These
advertisements can influence the public to purchase
products that they do not need in their lives. Firstly,
this essay will discuss opportunity of employment as
the main positive aspect of shopping spree due to
advertisement and secondly, bankruptcy as the
primary negative effect of impulsive purchases.

On the one hand, the higher the demand means the

greater the supply and on top of that it can provide
employment to a lot of people. Furthermore, this
helps in the improvement of the economy of a country
because of its massive tax revenues. For instance, an
article from Business Mirror Nepal revealed that a
large number of Nepalese job seekers had landed jobs
provided by shoes companies while it increased their
gross domestic product.

On the other hand, persuasive commercials can

initiate impulsive buying which may generally end up
with insolvency. This is the tendency for a customer to
buy goods and services without planning in advance,
in the spur of the moment, triggered by emotions and
feelings and more usually end up having a lot of debts.
This is because they would use their credit cards or
submit themselves to loan sharks just to buy the
products that they thought they needed. For example,
a study by Nepal bank discovered that maximum
number of credit card loaners who were not able to pay
their monthly dues came from online shoppers.

In conclusion, consumerism may have obvious

positive aspects like employment for some people,
however having a large number of debts because of
impulsive buying is a bigger problem.

Cause and Effect

Today more people are overweight than ever before.

What are the primary causes of this? What are the main
effects of this epidemic?

Sentence 1- paraphrase
Sentence 2 – outline

Nowadays the number of overweight people is

constantly increasing. This essay will discuss the
sedentary lifestyle and poor nourishment as the main
reasons of this epidemic and then describe critical
health issues and downfall of productivity as the
possible effects of the problem.

Sentence 3 – 2 main causes (topic sentence)

Sentence 4 – explain first cause
Sentence 5 – example of the first cause
Sentence 6 – explain second cause
Sentence 7 – example of the second cause

The foremost causes of obesity are inactive lifestyle

and unhealthy eating habits. Today more and more
people rely on cars instead of walking, have fewer
physical demands at work and prefer inactive leisure
activities, which results in burning less calories and
gaining weight. For instance, most men and women
who fail to do exercise on daily basis end up being
obese. Moreover, the problem is accentuated by the
growing number of people, who eat irregularly and
consume large portions of high-calorie food. For
example, about half of the adult population in Europe
with so-called disordered eating suffer from obesity.

Sentence 8 – 2 main effects (topic sentence)

Sentence 9 – explain first effect
Sentence 10 – example of first effect
Sentence 11- explain second effect
Sentence 12 – example of second effect.

The possible effects of this problem include

physical health problems and loss of productivity.
First of all, obesity results in incorrect functioning of
the human body and contributes to the risk of
developing some chronic illnesses. To illustrate, as
body fat percentage increases, the person’s
metabolism worsens, which in turn may result in
diabetes or heart diseases. Secondly, overweight
people are very unhealthy and often suffer from
stress and tiredness which lessens their work capacity
and results in lower productivity. To cite an
example, it has been proven that an obese person
needs to put more effort to complete some tasks than
a person with normal weight.

Sentence 13 -conclusion (summary of the topic

sentences)

In conclusion, obesity is a big problem that affects a

lot of people nowadays. It has been mainly caused by
inactive lifestyle and eating disorders and results in
severe health problems and loss of productivity.
Cause and Solution
In some countries the average weight of people is
increasing and their levels of health and fitness are
decreasing.
What do you think are the causes of these problems
and what measures could be taken to solve them?

Sentence 1- paraphrase
Sentence 2 – outline

In some nations people are getting heavier and

standards of health and well – being are falling. This
essay will suggest that the principal cause of these
issues is the type of nourishment they are eating and
submit a government education programme as a
viable solution, followed by a reasoned conclusion.

Sentence 3- one cause

Sentence 4- first explanation
Sentence 5 – second explanation
Sentence 6 -example.
The main cause of the health crisis currently
affecting so many individuals is over consumption of
poor-quality sustenance. Convenience food and junk
food, such as microwave dinner, chocolate bars and
pizza have become a ubiquitous part of modern life.
Eating too much of these high fat meals causes many
to gain weight and this has knock-on effects on
someone’s general wellness. For example, the movie
‘Super-Size Me’ demonstrated that a person who eats
this kind of food all the time will not only get fat, but
also suffer from such things as raised blood pressure
and fatty liver disease.

Sentence 7- one solution

Sentence 8 – explain
Sentence 9 – example

The most practical solution to this problem is a

government sponsored awareness campaign. An
effective advertising campaign could warn of the
dangers of a poor diet and hopefully raise awareness
amongst the public. For example, the U.K. recently
lobbied their citizens to eat 5 pieces of fruit and
vegetables a day and this resulted in a dramatic
decrease in obesity related illnesses such as stroke
and heart disease.

Sentence 10 -conclusion (summary of the main idea)

In conclusion, the current health crisis has been
caused by an over reliance on unhealthy food and
states should curtail this by educating men and
women on how to make healthier choices.

Problem solution
Global warming is one of the biggest threats humans
face in the 21st century and sea levels are continuing
to rise at alarming rates.
What problems are associated with this and what are
some possible solutions?
Sentence 1- paraphrase
Sentence 2 – outline

Climate change is among the principal dangers

people are facing in this century and ocean levels are
increasing dramatically. This essay will first suggest
that the biggest problem caused by this
phenomenon is the flooding of homes and then
organize building flood protections as the most
viable solution.

Sentence 3 – state problem

Sentence 4 – explain what problem is
Sentence 5 – what is the result of this problem
Sentence 6 – example
The foremost problem caused by climbing sea
levels is the flooding of peoples’ residences. Millions
of people all over the world live in coastal areas and
if the sea rises by even a few feet, they will be
inundated with water and lose their property. Shelter
is one of the most basic of human needs and
widespread flooding would cause millions of people
to become homeless, not to mention losing all of their
possessions. For example, the devastation brought
about by this was clear for all to see during Tsunami
in Japan, in which millions of people were displaced.

Sentence 7 – state solution

Sentence 8 – explain how solution will solve
problem.
Sentence 9 – example

A possible solution to this problem would be to

build flood barriers. Flood defenses, such as dikes,
dams and floodgates, could be built along coasts and
waterways, thereby stopping the water reaching
populated areas. For instance, the Netherlands is one
of the most populated areas in the world and also one
of the most vulnerable to flooding and they have
 successfully employed various flood defense
systems.

Sentence 10 – summary of main points in paragraph

2 and 3
Sentence 11 – prediction or recommendation

To conclude, stemming the rising tides caused by

increasing global temperatures is one of the foremost
challenges we face and it will ultimately lead to many
of the worlds’ cities being left underwater, but a
possible solution could be to utilize the flood
prevention techniques already used by countries like
Holland. It is predicted that more and more
countries will be forced to take such measures to
avoid a watery catastrophe.

HYBRID QUESTION
Advantage and disadvantage question with opinion.
Computers are becoming an essential part of school
lessons.
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages and give
your own opinion.
Answer-
Introduction
Sentence 1- Paraphrase question
Sentence 2 Thesis statement (your opinion)
Sentence 3 outline sentence
Information technology is becoming ubiquitous part of
learning. This essay will show that this is a welcome
development and can enhance educational practice. It
will first suggest that the instant availability of huge
amounts of information is the primary advantage,
followed by a disadvantage of how it can sometimes
lead to plagiarism.
Main body 1
(advantages)
Sentence 4 – Topic sentence
Sentence 5- Explain
Sentence 6 – Example
The main benefit computers bring to learners is easy
access to vast amounts resources. Learners were once
limited to the books they had and the knowledge of
their teacher, now they can learn about anything they
choose at the touch of a button. Google is a prime
example, because it allows people to easily search for
whatever they are looking for quickly and accurately.
Main body 2
(disadvantages)
Sentence 7- Topic sentence
Sentence 8- Explain
Sentence 9- Example
One possible drawback is that using the internet to
complete academic work can sometimes lead to pupils
copying articles from the internet. As a result, students
do not have to think about their tasks and learn very
little. For instance, The Sunday Times recently
reported that a significant number of college
graduates in the UK admitted to copying and pasting
Wikipedia articles at least once.

Main body 3
(opinion)
Sentence 10- Explain opinion
Sentence 11 – Explain or give example
Overall, it is a very positive development because most
students will take advantage of the power of the
information superhighway to enhance their studies,
rather than using it to cheat. For example, Nepal
university found that students who regularly used a
computer were more likely to get a first – class degree
than those who did not.
Conclusion
Sentence 12 - Summary of main points and restate
position.
In conclusion, the web has provided a gateway to
knowledge unlike anything seen before and although it
can sometimes lead to a few taking the easy route and
plagiarizing, it is a very positive step in the evolution
of education.
Computers are 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.

Introduction
Sentence 1- paraphrase question
Sentence 1- state both points of view (paraphrase)
Sentence 2- thesis statement (opinion)
Sentence 3- outline sentence.
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. It is agreed that an increase
in technology is beneficial to students and teachers.
This essay will discuss instant availability of
information to support first point of view and a
plummet in real human talk to support second point
of view before coming to a reasoned conclusion.

Body 1

Sentence 1- state first viewpoint

Sentence 2 – explain first viewpoint
Sentence 3 – opinion (reason why you agree or
disagree with viewpoint)
Sentence 4 – Example to support your opinion.

It is clear that, the internet has provided students

with access to more information than ever before.
Moreover, learners have 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.

Body 2
Sentence 1- state second viewpoint
Sentence 2 – explain second viewpoint
Sentence 3 – opinion (reason why you agree or
disagree with viewpoint)
Sentence 4- example to support your opinion.

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. Despite this, human
interaction is still possible through the internet and
this essay disagrees technology should be dismissed
for this reason. For instance, Viber and Facebook
make it possible for people to interact in ways that
were never before possible.

Conclusion
Sentence 1 – summary.
 Sentence 2 – state which one is better or more
important.

In conclusion, while the benefits of technology,

particularly the internet, allow students to tap in to
limitless sources of information, some still feel that
people should be wary of this new phenomenon that
discourages people to have 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.
Direct questions
Some car manufacturing companies have stated that there
is a possibility that we will see flying cars in the future.
Why is this going to happen? Will it be a positive or
negative development?
Automobile industries have declared the likelihood of
having winged vehicles in the next few years.
(paraphrase)The fascinations of men to fly as well as the
availability of modern technologies could be the two main
reasons for this possibility. (outline) This essay believes
that this will be a negative development. (outline)
On the one hand, flying cars have always fascinated
people and attempts to build fully airborne vehicles, dates
back to 100 years ago when the Wright brothers built their
first airplane, but because of the lack of requisite
technologies and technical expertise, this made flying cars
an unreachable mirage. (Main idea) However, the
presence of cutting-edge technologies today more than
ever before makes some forms of flying cars a distinct
possibility in the near future. (explanation) For instance,
according to an article published in the Car Magazine,
Honda Motors Japan had already completed at least one
test flight of their flying car prototype.

On the other hand, having a vehicle that can travel in the

air could be very dangerous.(main idea) Pilots who fly
any aircraft are specially trained for many years before
they are allowed to become airborne but for the general
population to suddenly be allowed to take flight in a
vehicle could cause tremendous chaos, as well as cause
accidents.(explanation) Without a proper flight plan and
coordinated training, it would be difficult for ordinary
citizens to navigate the skies and to control their course of
direction.(explanation) For example, the Department of
Defense in the Philippines published a report stating that
they would only support the development of flying cars if
the training for each pilot was intensive .
In conclusion, the advancement of modern technologies
will give birth to a flying automobile sooner than people
may think however, this could be risky for common
public in frequent use without proper tutorial.
a) What kind of example should it be?
➢ Personal examples should be avoided. You can
quote a newspaper report, a survey, a poll, a
magazine article, a research project but be
careful as this can sometimes make the
examples look like a cliché. So, make
examples that look realistic and should not
have percentages or data.
b)Useful language when referring to research
➢ A study carried out showed that….
➢ Research conducted recently indicated that…
➢ There is evidence to suggest that….
➢ According to a recent poll…
➢ According to a recent research project, it emerged
that…
➢ An extensive survey conducted by the government
proved that…

For instance, there is evidence to suggest that eating

fast foods and a high sugar intake causes obesity.
 For example, according to a recent poll by the
government, an increasing number of people are
working from home now.

To illustrate this, research conducted recently stated

that more and more companies are looking at
reducing the workforce in favour of Ai and robots.

c) What should be in the example?

In the example, you can use a business name, a
university name, a newspaper name, a place (country,
city) and a phrase that shows a trend.

For instance, a recent report in business weekly magazine

indicated that the number of shoppers making purchases
online has risen considerably due to low costs and free
delivery.