IELTS WRITING TASK 2
Criteria Evaluation
1. Task Response: Your ability to answer the question, support and
develop your ideas and present a clear position.
2. Coherence and Cohesion: Your ability to logically organize your essay
and the ideas within the essay, and to use appropriate cohesive devices
to do this.
3. Lexical Resource: Your ability to use a range of vocabulary and your
ability to use it accurately.
4. Grammatical Range & Accuracy: Your ability to use a range and variety
of sentence structures and the accuracy you have with your grammar.
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
Common Topics
STEPS IN WRITING IELTS TASK 2
1. Understand the question.
2. Plan your answer.
3. Write an introduction.
4. Write the main body paragraphs.
5. Write a conclusion.
TASK 2 COMMON STRUCTURE
Understanding IELTS Essay Questions
1. Analysing the Question
Underline Key Words in the Question
Identify the topic
Focus on the detail in the question (and any restrictions)
Identify the task
Rephrase the question
Identifying the task
• These are common tasks to see:
1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of …(topic)...?
2. Do the benefits of this trend outweigh the drawbacks?
3. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
4. Discuss both opinions and give your opinion?
5. What are the causes of …(topic)… and what measures can governments and
individuals take to respond to this problem?
6. What are some of these problems? What can be done to reduce …(topic)…?
7. How important is it for individual countries to think about the future rather than
focusing on the present? (in this example, the task is the whole question)
Thesis Statement
“A thesis is an idea put forward for consideration, especially one to be
discussed or analysed.”
Question: There is a good deal of evidence that increasing car use is
contributing to global warming and having other undesirable effects on
people’s health and well-being.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Thesis statement : This essay agrees that increasing use of motor vehicles is
contributing to rising global temperatures and certain health issues.
IELTS Conclusion Quick Tips
1. Never write any new ideas in your conclusion.
2. Make sure you answer the question in the conclusion.
3. Vary your language.
4. Do not try to include everything.
5. Always write one.
