Understanding Task 2
IELTS Writing Task 2 asks you to write a formal essay of at least 250 words in 40 minutes, responding to a given prompt. It carries more weight than Task 1 in your overall writing band score.
The Four Essay Types
- Agree/Disagree (Opinion) — give and justify your opinion
- Discuss Both Views — present arguments for both sides and your own view
- Problem/Solution — describe a problem and suggest solutions
- Advantages/Disadvantages — weigh up pros and cons
A Reliable Essay Structure
Introduction: paraphrase the prompt, state your position or introduce the discussion (2–3 sentences)
Body Paragraph 1: topic sentence ? explanation ? specific example ? link to argument
Body Paragraph 2: same structure, second main point
Conclusion: summarise main ideas, restate position, no new information
How Examiners Score Task 2
Your essay is scored on four criteria, each worth 25% of your Task 2 score:
- Task Achievement — did you answer the question fully?
- Coherence and Cohesion — is the essay logically organised with clear linking?
- Lexical Resource — variety and accuracy of vocabulary
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy — variety of structures, minimal errors
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