IELTS Writing Task 2

IELTS WRITING TASK 2
Academic/General
How to Write a Band 9 Essay
Gholamreza Haghighat
IELTS WATCH Series

Table of Contents
IELTS Writing Task 2 Grading Criteria 2
Question Types 7
Important Points about each Question Type 7
Introduction Paragraph 8
How to structure body paragraphs 15
Conclusion Paragraph 25
Band 9 essays 27
Assignment 1 29
Assignment 2 33
Assignments 3 36
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IELTS Writing Task 2 Grading Criteria
First, the examiners gives a separate grade for each of Task 1 and Task 2, using the "Band
Descriptors" that are shown below.
They calculate the score for each Task by getting the average score of the following four items:
1) Task Achievement (for Task 1) or Task Response (for Task 2)

2) Coherence & Cohesion
3) Lexical Resource (= vocabulary) and,
4) Grammatical Range and Accuracy.
If the average score is a ".25" or a ".75" number, the examiner then goes down to the nearest ".0"
or ".5" number.
For example:
Task Task
7 6
Achievement Achievement
Coherence& Coherence&
6 7
Cohesion Cohesion
Vocabulary 6 Vocabulary 7
Grammar 6 Grammar 7
Average = 6.25 => 6.0 Average = 6.75 => 6.5
Then the examiners use a "Score Sheet" that blends the score for the Task 1 with the score for the
Task 2 to give a final Writing Test score. On this score sheet, the Task 2 score is given more
weighting than the Task 1 score.
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IELTS Writing Test Score Sheet
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I will explain what these criteria mean in simple words. So, what do examiners look at?
What do you need to do to get a high band score for Task Achievement?
1) Your ideas should be relevant. This means that if you were asked about one specific thing, for
example, about the way computers influence children's academic success, don't write about the
advantages and disadvantages of using computers in general. Stick to the point!
2) Your arguments should be extended. This means that a reader shouldn't be an expert in this
topic, but your explanation should be as detailed as possible not to leave any questions after
reading your essay. This is what the majority of students have a problem with. If you cannot
extend the argument, don't even mention the idea. Extend your argument or die! If you see
(while making a plan) that some idea is self-explanatory (this means that there is nothing to
explain), don't use the idea. If you strive for a 7, of course.
3) You must state your position, and it should be clear throughout the essay. Sometimes students
make us laugh because in the introduction they completely agree with some idea, but in the
conclusion they don't.
4) Many examiners consider that you shouldn't present a one-sided argument even if you
completely agree with some idea. A one-sided argument occurs when only the reasons
supporting a proposition are given by you, while all reasons opposing it are not presented. Some
examiners don’t attach too much importance to it. However, you never know who will mark your
essay.
What do you need to do to get a high band score for Coherence & Cohesion?
1) Your essay should be well structured. It should include the introduction, 2 or 3 supporting
paragraphs, and the conclusion.
2) Your essay should be easy to read. If there are too many long and complicated sentences
which come one after another, the examiner will have to re-read some parts several times. As a
result, you will be marked down for Coherence & Cohesion.
3) Your reasoning should be presented in a logical way. Don't jump from one idea to another.
4) You should use linking words and phrases such as 'As a result' or linking devices such as 'This
will lead to...' in order to help a reader follow your train of thought.
What do you need to do to get a high band score for Lexical Resource?
1) You should use topical vocabulary. This is vocabulary that is suitable for some particular topic
and cannot be used in any essay. For example, you can use the verb 'to argue' in all essays. This
means that it's not topical. However, the expression 'exhaust fumes' is topical as it can be
naturally used only in essays about the environment or traffic.
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2) The more complicated words, the better. But, again, don't overdo. It is enough to use 2 or 3
uncommon words per paragraph to show how clever you are. If there are too many of them, your
essay will not read well, and the examiner will just think you are trying to impress them.
Uncommon words are the words such as pernicious, noxious, a plethora of something, etc.
What do you need to do to get a high band score for Grammatical Range and Accuracy?
1) The fewer mistakes, the better. But don't think that examiners read your essays with a
magnifying glass and pay attention to every minor mistake. Stop worrying about it. If your essay
is of good quality, but you wrote 'people should to do' once, this is not a disaster.
2) The more diverse and complicated structures you use, the better. We always say to our students
that examiners do not have a clairvoyant ability. So if you don’t show in your essay that you can
use a variety of grammatical structures, how can they know that you are a very knowledgeable
student and deserve a high score? They can assess just what they can see.
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Question Types- IELTS Writing Task 2
Type 1. Opinion
Some people think that the only purpose of working hard is to earn money. To what extent do you
agree or disagree with this opinion?
Type 2. Discussion (+opinion)

Some people believe that punishment is the only purpose of prisons, while others believe that
prisons exist for various reasons. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Type 3. Problems + Solutions; Reasons + Solutions; Causes + Effects

The gap between rich and poor is growing. What problems does this create? What can be done
to tackle them?
Type 4. Two-part questions

Many people around the world are choosing to move to live in cities. What problems do people
experience in big cities? Should governments encourage people to move to smaller towns?
Important Points about each Question Type

Opinion
• Instruction words: agree or disagree? ; Positive or negative? (Please note that any Yes/No
question and any “or” question is also an opinion question).
• An 'opinion' question asks for your view.
• The essay should not be too unbalanced and one-sided.
• Just make your opinion clear in the introduction; Most of the main body is then used to
explain the reasons for your opinion. After this large paragraph, there is then a smaller
paragraph (2/3 sentences) which describes the opposing point of view, and then rejects it.
Discussion (+opinion)
• Instruction words: Discuss both views and give your opinion; Do the advantages
outweigh the disadvantages; benefits and drawbacks; advantages and disadvantages).
• Write about both sides of the argument.
• If the question also asks for your opinion, you don't need an extra paragraph. Just make it
clear in the introduction and conclusion.
Problems and solutions (causes and effects or reasons and solutions)

• Write a paragraph explaining the problem(s) and a paragraph explaining the solution(s).
A two-part question
• Answer the two questions. Write one paragraph about each.
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Introduction Paragraph
Introduction technique
You only need to write two sentences:

1. Introduce the topic (by paraphrasing the question statement).
2. Respond to the question.
Let’s look at this technique in more detail using the following questions:
Opinion Questions:
Below is your template for opinion questions

Agree or disagree
S1: paraphrase the question statement
S2: I personally/tend to agree/disagree with this opinion and in this essay I will state the reasons
for my view.
Positive or negative?
S1: Paraphrase the QS.
S2: I believe that overall, this trend tends to be positive/negative in nature and in this essay, I will
state the positive/negative impacts.
Topics and my introduction paragraphs

After leaving school or university, young people should choose a job or career that they love,
rather than one that pays the best salary. To what extent do you agree with this statement?
Some people feel that young individuals should make their career choices according to what they
enjoy doing instead of placing more importance on earning a high salary. I personally agree
with this opinion and in this essay I will state the reasons for my view.
Wild animals have no place in the 21st century, so protecting them is a waste of resources.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Some people argue that it is pointless to spend money on the protection of wild animals because
we humans have no need for them. I fully disagree with this opinion and in this essay I will state
the reasons for my view.
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Traffic and pollution are growing problems in today’s society. Some argue that increasing
the price of petrol is the best way to solve growing traffic and pollution problems. To what
extent do you agree or disagree?
Today, traffic congestion and air pollution are the main issues that worry the world. I tend to
disagree with the idea that higher petrol prices could solve these problems and in this essay I will
state the reasons for my view.
These days more fathers stay at home and take care of their children, while mothers go out
to work. Do you think it is a positive or a negative development?
It is true that men are increasingly likely to take on the role of househusband, while more women
than ever are the breadwinners in their families. I believe that overall this trend tends to be
negative in nature.
Marriages are bigger and more expensive nowadays than in the past. Is it a positive or
negative development?
It is true that weddings have become more costly and extravagant in recent years. I believe that
overall this trend tends to be negative in nature and in this essay I will state the negative impacts.
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Discussion (+opinion) Questions:
Below is your template for Discussion (+opinion) questions

Discuss both views and give your opinion (with a background).
Successful sports professionals can earn a great deal more money than people in other
important professions. Some people think this is fully justified while others think it is unfair.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
In the topic above, the first sentence is the background. A background is the factual information.
S1: Paraphrase the background

S2: Although some argue that…(describe the view you disagree with)…, it seems advisable that
…(describe the view you agree with)… .
Discuss both views and give your opinion (without a background).
Some people regard video games as harmless fun, or even as a useful educational tool.
Others, however, believe that videos games are having an adverse effect on the people who
play them. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
The topic above has no background. In other words, there are only two arguments or views.
S1: people have different views about …

Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?

S2: While this phenomenon has some advantages, I believe that the drawbacks are more
significant.
What are the advantages and the disadvantages?

S1: Paraphrase the question statement.
S2: While … has a few benefits, there are also some drawbacks, which are worth considering.
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Successful sports professionals can earn a great deal more money than people in other
important professions. Some people think this is fully justified while others think it is unfair.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
It is true that sports stars often earn huge salaries. Although some argue that this is the case, it
seems that it is wrong for these people to be paid more than other professionals.
Some people regard video games as harmless fun, or even as a useful educational tool.
Others, however, believe that videos games are having an adverse effect on the people who
play them. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
People have different opinions about the effects of computer games on the user. Although some
argue that these games can sometimes have a positive effect on the user, it appears that they are
more likely to have a harmful impact.
In many countries nowadays, young single people no longer stay with their parents until they
are married, but leave to study or work somewhere else. Do you think this trend has more
advantages or disadvantages?
It is true that nowadays people from an early age decide to leave their families for study or business
purposes. While this phenomenon has some advantages, I believe that the drawbacks are more
significant.
Many people believe that an effective public transport system is a key component of a
modern city. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of public transport.
Officials in many cities are keen to develop efficient public transport systems. While public
transport has many benefits, there are also some drawbacks which are worth considering.
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Problems and solutions Questions:
Below is your template for problems and solutions questions

Problems and solutions?
S2: Although there will undoubtedly be some negative consequences of this trend, societies can
take steps to mitigate these potential problems.
Reasons and solutions?
S2: There are a number of causes of this alarming trend, but measures could certainly be taken to
tackle/mitigate/alleviate the problem.
Causes and effects?
S2: There are a number of causes of this alarming trend, and a number of negative effects.

In the developed world, average life expectancy is increasing. What problems will this cause
for individuals and society? Suggest some measures that could be taken to reduce the impact
of ageing populations.
It is true that people in industrialized nations can expect to live longer than ever before. Although
there will undoubtedly be some negative consequences of this trend, societies can take steps to
mitigate these potential problems.
Crime rates tend to be higher in cities than in smaller towns. Explain some possible reasons
for this problem, and suggest some solutions.
Cities generally experience higher levels of criminality than towns or villages. There are various
reasons for this, but measures could be taken to tackle the problem.
People in all modern societies use drugs, but today’s youth are experimenting with both legal
and illegal drugs, and at an early age. Some sociologists claim that parents and other
members of society often set a bad example. Discuss the cause and effects of widespread drug
abuse by young people.
Nowadays, youth drug abuse has increased at an alarming rate in many societies, and unaware of
their effects, adolescents are experimenting with both allowed and prohibited drugs in early
childhood age. Sociologists believe that parents and other members of society are responsible for
its increase usage. There are a number of causes of this alarming trend, and a number of negative
effects.
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In many parts of the world today there is a profitable market for products which lighten or
whiten people’s skin. Outline the reasons for using such products and discuss what effects
they have in terms of health and society.
In many countries, particularly places like Asia, skin-whitening products are incredibly popular
and provide huge profits for the companies involved in their sale. There are a number of causes
of this alarming trend, and a number of negative effects.
Two-part Questions:
There are many different types of music in the world today. Why do we need music? Is the
traditional music of a country more important than the international music that is heard
everywhere nowadays?
It is true that a rich variety of musical styles can be found around the world. Music is a vital part
of all human cultures for a range of reasons, and I would argue that traditional music is more
important than modern, international music.
Today, more people are travelling than ever before. Why is this the case? What are the
benefits of travelling for the traveller?
It is undeniable that travelling has become more popular as compared to the past. There are
several reasons why this is happening and this situation offers various benefits.
Nowadays the way many people interact with each other has changed because of technology.
In what ways has technology affected the types of relationships people make? Has this
become a positive or negative development?
These days, the relationship people have with each other has been affected by advancements in
technology. There are several ways in which our relationships have been affected and I believe
that this has been negative.
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Templates you can use for the introduction paragraph
Agree or disagree
S2: I personally/tend to agree/disagree with this opinion and in this essay I will state the reasons
for my view
S1: Paraphrase the question statement.
S2: I believe that overall this trend tends to be positive/negative in nature and in this essay I will
state the positive/negative impacts.
Discuss both views and give your opinion (with a background).

S1: Paraphrase the background
Discuss both views and give your opinion (without a background).
S1: people have different views about …
S2: While this phenomenon has some advantages, I believe that the drawbacks are more
significant.
S1: Paraphrase the question statements.
S2: While …has a few benefits, there are also some drawbacks, which are worth considering.
S2: Although there will undoubtedly be some negative consequences of this trend, societies can
take steps to mitigate these potential problems.
S2: There are a number of causes of this alarming trend, but measures could certainly be taken to
tackle/mitigate/alleviate the problem.
Causes and effects?
S2: There are a number of causes of this alarming trend, and a number of negative effects.
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How to structure body paragraphs
I normally structure main body paragraphs by thinking about how many points I want to mention
in the paragraph:
1. If I have two or three points or ideas, I use ‘listing paragraphs’.

2. If I only have one point or idea to mention in the paragraph, I use the IEE method.
Listing paragraphs
The paragraph below is structured in the following way:
1. Topic sentence,
2. Firstly,
3. For Example,
4. Secondly,
5. Finally,
There are good reasons why some people feel the need to make significant changes to their lives
from time to time. Firstly, any new situation that a person encounters can be an opportunity to
learn and grow as a person. A new job, for instance, might present challenges that push the person
to adapt, acquire new knowledge, or add to his or her skill set. Secondly, a change can represent
a break with the past and an old routine which has become boring and predictable. Finally, as
well as making life more fun and interesting, new experiences can be good for our physical and
mental health.
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More Example Listing Paragraphs
Advantages and disadvantages
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 decide to do this.
On the one hand, there are two main benefits to students travelling or working before their university
education. Firstly, through travelling, they will be able to expand their horizons. When students go
overseas, they will be exposed to different cultures and customs. As a result, they will gain a deeper
understanding of the world. In addition, students who work will learn to appreciate the value of money.
This is because they will realize the hard work involved in earning money. Consequently, they would
think more before purchasing anything they desire and may become less impulsive in their spending.
On the other hand, the drawbacks of taking a gap year are obvious. In the first place, travelling could
cause people to feel homesick. Many students have not been apart from their family and friends before
so when they travel, they may miss these people. In extreme circumstances, students may even become
depressed. Additionally, students who work may not want to return to their studies. The reason for this
is that they may enjoy earning money and becoming financially independent. Therefore, their whole
future could be negatively affected as these days it is very important for everyone to graduate with a
degree in order to be competitive in the job market.
Reasons and solutions
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?
There are several causes of this situation. The main one is that technological advancements have
resulted in a sedentary lifestyle. Because of the prevalent use of computers and vehicles, it is no
longer necessary to move around much. This leads to people becoming overweight, which also
adversely affects their health and fitness. In addition, people are consuming more unhealthy
processed food nowadays. For example, fast food, junk food and processed canned food have
become extremely popular due to people’s chronic busyness. Such food results in a lot of health
problems if it is consumed in large quantities.
Various possible courses of action could be taken in order to tackle the above. In the first place,
the government could launch a nationwide campaign to raise awareness about the importance of
eating healthily and exercising. For instance, advertisements by the ministry of health about the
dangers of eating junk food and not exercising should be regularly shown on television and the
internet. Another way forward could be for schools to prohibit unhealthy food from being sold in
schools. If schools start to ban too much fried food or food that is high in sugar and salt, students
will be forced to eat a more balanced and healthy diet at school. The result is that health would
improve dramatically.
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Discuss both views and give your opinion
Some people think that a sense of competition in children should be encouraged. Others
believe that children who are taught to co-operate rather than compete become more useful
adults. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
There are various reasons why some people feel that encouraging competitiveness in children will
yield better results. The most compelling reason for believing this is that competitiveness prepares
them for life in the real world. When students grow up, they will need to compete with other
students for a place in university. Furthermore, there’s no doubt that in the job market, people will
be competing with many others to get a good job. Another reason is that this encourages them to
excel in everything they do. When there’s competition, everyone is challenged to do their best. For
example, if there’s a prize for the student with the highest marks in a particular subject, every
student will be motivated to do his or her best. This encourages growth and the pursuit of
excellence.
Despite the above arguments, I would tend to side with those who feel that instilling a sense of
cooperation in children will prove more beneficial. Indeed, one reason why I take this position is
that in many instances, winning is not everything. A society focused solely on winning and
competing ignores other important traits like compassion and generosity. Such traits are important
for a proper functioning of society. Furthermore, it is my opinion that achieving one’s goal often
requires the ability to cooperate, rather than compete, with others. In society and work,
cooperation and teamwork is often required. For instance, a company will only achieve its overall
goal if all parts work together and complement each other.
Agree or disagree?
Some people argue that capital punishment is good for a country. To what extent do you
agree or disagree?
The most compelling reason for holding to my view is that the death penalty is an effective
deterrent to serious crime. This is because it instils fear of carrying out serious crimes as people
would not want to lose their life as a result of that. For example, people who are thinking of murder
or committing violent acts will think twice before doing so. As a result of this policy, crime rate
would go down. Another reason for my position is that the government will be able to spend less
money on keeping the criminal in prison. If the criminal is jailed for many years or for life, the
government would need to pay for the enormous expenses involved such as the cost of food for the
prisoners and the salaries for the prison officers. However, with the death sentence, the prisoner
will spend less time in prison and this would reduce the cost of imprisonment substantially. In
addition, with capital punishment, the dangerous criminal would never be able to reoffend. The
reason for this is that executed criminals will no longer be alive and therefore they will never pose
a threat to society ever again. This would make society a safer place.
It might be said that innocent people could be wrongly convicted and executed and such unfair
sentences make other citizens lose faith in law and justice. However, it is sensible to ignore
evidence of innocence unless it is absolutely irrefutable. (1)
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(1) An important Note
In agree or disagree, positive or negative tasks, you should give your opinion in the
introduction. Most of the main body is then used to explain the reasons for your opinion. After
this large paragraph, there is then a smaller paragraph (2 or 3 sentences) which describes the
opposing point of view, and then rejects it. This smaller paragraph is called a concession. It is
important to make a concession in Academic English, because without this the essay would be
too unbalanced. Make the concession by saying:
It is true that … (describe the opposing view) … Despite this (reject the view, giving a
reason for rejecting it.)
Other useful phrases for making concessions and then rejecting the viewpoint are:
Admittedly, … Nevertheless …
It might be said that … However …
I accept that … In spite of this …
A two-part question
Relationships have changed in the following ways. One of the major ways is that nowadays people
have more acquaintances and fewer close friends. For example, many people may have hundreds
and thousands of friends on social media websites like Facebook as it is easy to connect through
these websites. However, most of these people are not really close friends at all. In addition,
technology has led to less face-to-face interaction between people. Because using social media
sites has become an integral part of the lives of many people these days and connecting with others
has become so much easier as a result of such sites, most people spend more time online chatting
with their friends than actually meeting them face-to-face.
I believe that the above changes have been negative for the following reasons. In the first place,
people now feel lonelier as they spend more time with the computer rather than with other human
beings. Studies have shown that people need real face-to-face interaction if they want to remain
emotionally healthy. Therefore, the lack of such communication has made many people become
lonely and even depressed. Furthermore, many people who use technology to communicate with
others are gradually losing important social skills. It is very common for people nowadays to know
how to communicate and express themselves using emoticons or other forms of expression that are
common online. However, an unfortunate consequence of all this is that people do not know how
to express themselves properly using their body language or tone of expression.
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Templates for first and second main body paragraphs
The template will help you know how to start your main body paragraphs.
Agree or disagree?
First Supporting Second Supporting
Paragraph Paragraph
The most compelling reason for holding to my Briefly consider the opposing view (making a
view is that (explain, example). Another reason for concession by saying):
my position is that (explain, example). In addition, It might be said that (describe the opposing
(explain, example) … view). However, it seems that (reject the view,
giving a reason for rejecting it.)
The main benefit/drawback of the trend towards Briefly consider the opposing view (making a
… is that …(explain other benefits/drawbacks)… concession by saying):
It might be said that (describe the opposing
view). However, it seems that (reject the view,
giving a reason for rejecting it.)
Discuss both views and give your opinion.

There are various reasons why some people feel In spite of these arguments, I would tend to side
that …(the view you disagree with)… with those who feel that …(the view you agree
with)…
Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages? (If you think disadvantages outweigh the
advantages, explain the benefits first.)
On the one hand, … has some benefits. On the other hand, I believe that the disadvantages
of … are even more significant.

T: On the one hand, … has some benefits. On the other hand, the drawbacks of … are
obvious.

As ..(state the problem).., several problems can be There are several actions that governments could
anticipated. take to solve the problems described above.
e.g. As the population grows, several problems can
be anticipated.
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There are several causes of this situation. Various possible courses of action could be taken
in order to tackle the above.
Causes and effects?

There are several causes of this situation. The effects of this have been and will continue
to be very serious.
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IEE Method
If I only have one point or idea to mention in the paragraph, I use the IEE method:
Start with an Idea; Explain it in detail; Give an Example
1. Idea
2. Explain
3. Example
Here's an example of how I 'build' a paragraph using the above method:
A sense of competition is necessary for success in life, and should therefore be encouraged.
Competition motivates children to get good grades at school or become better at sports, while
adults compete to climb the career ladder. In a job interview, for example, candidates compete to
show that they are the most qualified, hard-working and competent person for the post.
Another good way to write main body paragraphs if you only have one point or idea to mention
in the paragraph is this:
1. Idea
2. Explain
3. Example
4. Idea (concluding sentence)
Here's an example of how I 'build' a paragraph using the above method:
There are many people who believe that longer prison sentences are necessary for repeat
offenders. The idea is that people are much less likely to re-offend if they know that they will
receive a serious sentence of perhaps 20 years for any further crimes. For example, a petty thief
who might take the risk of a jail term of 6 months would not risk 20 years for the same crime. *This
leads to the conclusion that longer jail terms for repeat offenders are an effective deterrent.
*Thus, it is now understandable why ……….
Here’s another alternative to “idea, explain, example”: Idea, Explain, Alternative, Example
1. Start with an Idea

2. Explain: give a reason or explain your answer in more detail.
3. Alternative: explain an alternative (e.g. the opposite) to your answer.
4. Example: give an example to support your answer.
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Here’s an example of a paragraph using the above method:
(Idea) I suppose it’s because those people want to support the economy of the country they live in.
(Explain) If they buy something that was made in their own country, they know that they are
contributing to the salaries of workers within the same country, (Alternative) whereas if they buy
imported items, a foreign company and its employees will benefit. (Example) For example, if I buy
some meat that originates from a local farm rather than a farm in another country, I’m helping
one of my fellow citizens to carry on in business.
Another variation on “idea, explain, example” is "idea, example, explain".
1. Idea
2. Example
3. Explain
Here's a paragraph written using the above method:
Some art projects definitely require help from the state. In the UK, there are many works of art in
public spaces, such as streets or squares in city centers. In Liverpool, for example, there are
several new statues and sculptures in the docks area of the city, which has been redeveloped
recently. These artworks represent culture, heritage and history. They serve to educate people
about the city, and act as landmarks or talking points for visitors and tourists. Governments and
local councils should pay creative artists to produce this kind of art, because without their funding
our cities would be much less interesting and attractive.
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Example IEE Paragraphs
Advantages and disadvantages?
In some countries young people are encouraged to work or travel for a year between finishing
high school and starting university studies. Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages
for young people who decide to do this?
The disadvantage of going on a gap year is that students may end up not returning to their studies.
The reason for this is that they may enjoy earning money and becoming financially independent.
Therefore, their whole future could be negatively affected as these days it is very important for
everyone to graduate with a degree in order to be competitive in the job market.
On the other hand, one of the major advantages is that students will be able to expand their
horizons if they travel overseas. When students go abroad, they will be exposed to different cultures
and customs. For example, westerners visiting a country like Thailand will be able to experience
traditional Thai dance like Khon and traditional Thai sport like Muay Thai. As a result, they will
gain a deeper understanding of the different places in the world.
In addition to that, students who work will be able to learn to appreciate the value of money. This
is because they will realize the hard work involved in earning an income. Consequently, they would
think more before purchasing anything they desire and may become less impulsive in their
spending.
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Below are the templates for the conclusion paragraph
Agree or disagree?
In conclusion, I believe that (repeat your opinion). This is because of (1st reason), (2nd reason)
and the fact that (3rd reason).
In conclusion, while I recognize the possible disadvantages/advantages of …, I consider it to
be a positive/negative development overall.
In conclusion, despite the advantages of …, it is sensible/logical to conclude that … . This is
because …

In conclusion, it seems to me that the drawbacks of … do outweigh the benefits. Despite the
fact that …, they will …

In conclusion, If …, … . However, … .

In conclusion, … causes a lot of problems, including …, … and ..., but this situation could be
addressed by …, … and … .

In conclusion, various factors have led to problem(s) related to …, but this situation could be
addressed by …, … and … .
Causes and effects?
To sum up, it is evident that there are several causes of …, and a variety of negative impacts.
The society must ensure steps are taken to prevent this problem from deteriorating further.
24
Conclusion Paragraph
Example Conclusion Paragraphs (see the template above for each task)
Agree or disagree?
In conclusion, I believe that sentencing serious criminals to death is beneficial for countries. This is
because of its deterrent effect, its ability to save the government a lot of money and the fact that we
can keep dangerous criminals out of society forever.
In conclusion, while I recognize the possible disadvantages of studying overseas, I consider it to be a

positive development overall.
In conclusion, despite the advantages of competition, it is logical to conclude that cooperation is a

more important value. This is because children need to understand that winning against another is not
the most important thing and that cooperation often enables them to achieve their goals.
In conclusion, it seems to me that the advantages of taking a gap year do outweigh the disadvantages.
Despite the fact that students may not continue on studying at university, they will gain a lot of
experience when they travel or learn to better appreciate money when they work.
The advantages and the disadvantages?
In conclusion, if students take a gap year, they could gain invaluable experience and learn to become
more independent in relation to money. However, they may also become homesick and end up not
continuing their studies.
In conclusion, various factors have led to problems related to health and fitness, but this situation
could be addressed by the launch of a health and fitness campaign and the implementation of effective
regulations to limit the sale of unhealthy food in schools.
Causes and effects?
To sum up, it is evident that there are several causes of obesity amongst children, and a variety of
negative effects. Society must ensure steps are taken to prevent this problem from deteriorating further.
25
A two-part question
In conclusion, because of technology, people have fewer close friends and have less direct contact with
people. This development is negative as it is easier for people to feel lonely because of this and they
are becoming less adept in social situations.
A two-part question
In conclusion, people go overseas nowadays in order to receive a better education or to do business.

Through going overseas, these people can broaden their horizons and widen their social circle.
26
Band 9 essays
Some people argue that it should be necessary for cyclists to attend a cyclist-training course.
Do you agree?
Some people feel that training is an important strand for cyclists. I tend to concur with this opinion
and in this essay, I will state the reasons for my view.
The most compelling reason for holding to my view is that cyclist training has a positive and lasting
effect on cycling skills of the cyclists. Being a successful cyclist and riding with confidence starts
with having a solid foundation of skills and techniques to operate the bicycle or motorcycle.
Starting with the fundamentals of braking, turning and shifting and progressively, you will build
up more advanced riding skills and maneuvers of cornering and collision avoidance techniques.
Being prepared with the proper bike or motorcycle skills will help you ride with confidence.
Another reason for my position is that cyclist training results in a lower accident risk, and those
people who take a course face a lower risk, possibly, because the cyclist-training course immunizes
them against road safety risks. According to a recent study, it was found that trained cyclists might
be three times less likely to become a casualty than those who had not been trained. Lastly, as
riding a bicycle or motorcycle continues to grow in popularity, so does the need to inform riders
about their rights and responsibilities on paths and roads. A bicycle is a legal road vehicle and it
is important to know the riding rules and regulations to make our roads safer.
I accept that such courses to learn cycling may not help a person to practice sufficiently. Since the
time duration is short, the class time may be consumed by only training and not practicing. In spite
of this, it seems that it is generally customized in nature which means that the person can himself
pick the duration, time and days of learning which makes them very flexible and helps the person
learn cycling skills at his/her own convenience.
In conclusion, I totally agree with the opinion that a rider education program is beneficial for
cyclists. This is because of its positive impact on cycling skills, its effects on accident level, and
the fact that gaining a knowledge of riding rules makes the roads safer for us.
(363 words)
27
These days, the relationship people have with each other has been affected by advancements in
technology. There are several ways in which our relationships have been affected and I believe
that this has been negative.
Relationships have changed in the following ways. One of the major ways is that nowadays people
have more acquaintances and fewer close friends. For example, many people may have hundreds
and thousands of friends on social media websites like Facebook as it is easy to connect through
these websites. However, most of these people are not really close friends at all. In addition,
technology has led to less face-to-face interaction between people. Because using social media
sites has become an integral part of the lives of many people these days and connecting with others
has become so much easier as a result of such sites, most people spend more time online chatting
with their friends than actually meeting them face-to-face.
I believe that the above changes have been negative for the following reasons. In the first place,
people now feel lonelier as they spend more time with the computer rather than with other human
beings. Studies have shown that people need real face-to-face interaction if they want to remain
emotionally healthy. Therefore, the lack of such communication has made many people become
lonely and even depressed. Furthermore, many people who use technology to communicate with
others are gradually losing important social skills. It is very common for people nowadays to know
how to communicate and express themselves using emoticons or other forms of expression that are
common online. However, an unfortunate consequence of all this is that people do not know how
to express themselves properly using their body language or tone of expression.
In conclusion, because of technology, people have fewer close friends and have less direct contact with
people. This development is negative as it is easier for people to feel lonely because of this and they
are becoming less adept in social situations.
28
Assignment 1
Please type all your answers in the word format and send the sheet
Identify the question types for the following topics
1. Some companies spend a lot of money on scientific research and use animals for testing.
Many argue that this is for a just cause while others say otherwise. Do the advantages of
using animals in research outweigh its disadvantages? Support your answer with specific
reasons and examples.
2. E-mail is now the easiest way to communicate with families and friends all over the world.
Some people say that it does not have the sincerity of handwritten letters. Do you agree or
disagree? Give specific details and examples to support your opinion.
3. In the future people will not need to have schools, galleries, museums or libraries because
everything from education to culture and entertainment will be available online. Do you
agree or disagree? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
4. Managing global environmental issues should be handled by one organization on a global

scale. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Use specific reasons and examples to
support your opinion.
5. Many efforts have been made by countries to address problems concerning the
environment but, the situation has not improved. What are the possible reasons and results
of this situation? Discuss the situation and give suggestions. Provide reasons and examples
to support your answer.
6. Nowadays, it is possible to move ocean creatures from their natural habitat at sea and have
them relocated in amusement parks for the purpose of people’s recreation. Do you think
the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages? Explain your reasons and
support them with specific examples.
7. The government should close companies that produce toxic waste materials without their
own waste treatment facility in order to protect the environment. To what extent do you
agree or disagree? Use specific reasons and examples to support your position.
8. Do you think it is better for students to work before their university study? Why? Use
reasons and specific examples to support your choice.
9. Students perform better in school when they are rewarded rather than punished. To what
extent do you agree or disagree? Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
29
10. Some people think that schools have to be more entertaining, while others think that their
sole purpose is to educate. Which do you agree with? Use specific reasons and examples
to support your opinion.
11. Nowadays computer education is compulsory for your learners in most schools. Do you
think this is necessary or will children acquire these skills naturally from their daily
interaction with technology everywhere? Provide your opinion and use specific reasons
and examples to support your answer.
12. Some people believe that children should do organised activities in their free time while
others believe that children should be free to do what they want to do in their free
time. Which viewpoint do you agree with? Use specific reasons and examples to support
your answer.
13. Some people think that a person improves intellectual skills better when doing group
activities. To what extent do you agree? Use specific details and examples to explain your
view.
14. Compared to the past, more people are now studying abroad because it is more convenient
and cheaper than before. Do you think this is beneficial to the foreign student’s home
country? Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.
15. Some people think that children should be home schooled when they are very young while
others think it is better for them to attend a kindergarten. Which do you think is better? Use
specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
16. Do you think businesses should hire employees who will spend their entire lives working
for the company? Explain why do you agree or disagree. Use specific reasons and details
to support your answer.
30
Write an introduction paragraph for the topics below. Use the template where
necessary.
1. Various fertilizers are used nowadays for food production. This is a practice that has
more drawbacks than benefits. Do you agree or disagree?
2. The natural resources such as oil, forests and fresh water are being consumed at an
alarming rate. What problems does it cause? How can we solve these problems?
3. More and more students choose to go to another country for higher education. Do
you think the benefits outweigh the problems?
4. As the number of cars increases, more money has to be spent on road systems. Some
people think the government should pay for this. Others, however, think that the user
should pay for the cost. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
5. Many people are busy with work and do not have enough time to spend with families
and friends. Why does this happen? What are the effects of this on family life and
society as a whole?
31
6. Today, food travels thousands of miles from the farm to the consumer. Why is this?
Is it a positive or negative trend?
7. Some people think developing countries should invite large foreign companies to open
offices and factories to help with their economic growth. Other people think
developing countries should keep large companies out and develop local companies
instead. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
8. Some people think that the government should establish free libraries in each town.
Others believe that it is a waste of money since people can access the Internet at home
to obtain information. Discuss both sides and give your own opinion.
9. Some people think it should be compulsory for people to retake their driving test
every 5 years. What are the advantages and disadvantages of doing this?
32
Assignment 2
Write an introduction paragraph and main body paragraphs for the
topics below. There are three topics. Please type all your answers in
the word format and send the sheet
1. Students perform better in school when they are rewarded rather than punished. To
what extent do you agree or disagree?
33
2. Some people think that schools have to be more entertaining, while others think that
their sole purpose is to educate. Which do you agree with? Use specific reasons and
examples to support your opinion.
34
3. The internet has become so efficient and popular that many people rely on it for
learning. Some suggest that it could replace the use of books as the main source of
knowledge for education. Do you support or oppose the opinion? Explain your
position.
35
Assignments 3
Write a full essay on the following topics. There are 3 topics overall.
1. Some people believe the aim of university education is to help graduates get better
jobs. Others believe there are much wider benefits of university education for both
individuals and society. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
36
2. In order to solve traffic problems, governments should tax private car owners heavily
and use the money to improve public transportation. What are the advantages and
disadvantages of such a solution?
37
3. Global warming is one of the most serious issues that the world is facing today. What
are the causes of global warming and what measures can governments and
individuals take to tackle the issue?
38

IELTS Writing Task 2

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IELTS Writing Task 2

Uploaded by

IELTS WRITING TASK 2

IELTS WATCH Series

1) Task Achievement (for Task 1) or Task Response (for Task 2)

Type 2. Discussion (+opinion)

Type 3. Problems + Solutions; Reasons + Solutions; Causes + Effects

Type 4. Two-part questions

Important Points about each Question Type

Problems and solutions (causes and effects or reasons and solutions)

You only need to write two sentences:

Below is your template for opinion questions

Topics and my introduction paragraphs

Below is your template for Discussion (+opinion) questions

S1: Paraphrase the background

Discuss both views and give your opinion (without a background).

S1: people have different views about …

Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?

What are the advantages and the disadvantages?

Below is your template for problems and solutions questions

Topics and my introduction paragraphs

Discuss both views and give your opinion (with a background).

1. If I have two or three points or ideas, I use ‘listing paragraphs’.

Advantages and disadvantages

Reasons and solutions

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

What are the advantages and the disadvantages?

Problems and solutions?

Causes and effects?

Start with an Idea; Explain it in detail; Give an Example

Here's an example of how I 'build' a paragraph using the above method:

Here's an example of how I 'build' a paragraph using the above method:

*Thus, it is now understandable why ……….

1. Start with an Idea

Another variation on “idea, explain, example” is "idea, example, explain".

Here's a paragraph written using the above method:

Advantages and disadvantages?

Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?

What are the advantages and the disadvantages?

Problems and solutions?

Reasons and solutions?

In conclusion, while I recognize the possible disadvantages of studying overseas, I consider it to be a

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

In conclusion, despite the advantages of competition, it is logical to conclude that cooperation is a

Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?

The advantages and the disadvantages?

Reasons and solutions?

Causes and effects?

In conclusion, people go overseas nowadays in order to receive a better education or to do business.

4. Managing global environmental issues should be handled by one organization on a global

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