IELTS Writing Task 2

Task 2 is the essay task in both IELTS Academic and General Training. You respond to a point of view, argument or problem, using connected paragraphs to develop your answer. The task tests how well you address the question, organise your ideas and use written English.

Write at least 250 words. A longer essay does not automatically earn a higher score: relevance, development and language control still matter. Aim for a complete answer you can finish and check within the available time. Avoid adding another paragraph simply to make the essay longer.

The Writing test gives you 60 minutes for both tasks, with about 40 minutes recommended for Task 2. Include planning and checking in that time. During practice, notice whether you lose time choosing ideas, drafting sentences or correcting errors, then work on that part of your process.

Both versions require an essay of at least 250 words, and both use the same four assessment criteria. Topics and style expectations can differ. Academic responses use an academic or semi-formal/neutral style; General Training responses use a semi-formal/neutral style. Follow the particular question you receive.

An introduction, developed body paragraphs and a conclusion make a useful starting structure. Choose the number of body paragraphs according to the ideas and parts of the question you need to cover. A familiar paragraph plan can help you organise your thoughts, but it should not dictate an incomplete answer.

Introduce the issue in your own words and make the direction of your answer clear. If the question asks for your opinion, communicate your position rather than postponing it until the conclusion. Keep the opening focused so you have room to explain and support your main ideas in the body.

Read the instruction carefully. A discussion question asks you to explain both views, whereas an opinion question asks you to establish and support your position. An advantages-and-disadvantages question may also ask you to decide which side outweighs the other. Cover the actual requirements instead of applying the same response to every prompt.

Bring your main reasoning together and confirm the answer you have developed. Keep the conclusion consistent with the rest of the essay. A useful practice check is to compare your introduction and conclusion: the reader should be able to follow the same position from the opening to the final paragraph.

Yes, relevant examples can come from your knowledge or experience. Explain how the example supports your point, rather than adding a story that distracts from the question. You do not need specialist knowledge of the topic. An everyday situation can be useful when its connection to your argument is clear.

You do not need to invent research findings to make your argument convincing. Develop your reasoning and use relevant examples you can explain accurately. If you cannot support a specific numerical claim, consider whether a clear account of the cause, consequence or real-life situation would communicate your point better.

Vocabulary range matters alongside accuracy and appropriacy. Choose words that express the meaning you intend, and pay attention to word forms, spelling and natural combinations of words. Replacing every common word with an unfamiliar synonym can make an otherwise clear argument harder to understand.

Practising an adaptable structure can help with planning. Memorised essays and fixed passages can cause problems when they do not answer the precise question. Build the content around this task, and use linking expressions because they express a real connection between ideas, not just because a template includes them.

The four criteria are Task Response, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range and Accuracy. They cover your answer, organisation, vocabulary and grammar. Task 2 carries twice the weight of Task 1 in the Writing score. Explore the Writing band descriptors to understand the expectations.

Combine focused practice with complete timed essays. For one session, work only on identifying every part of the question and making a plan. In another, develop a body paragraph with a clear explanation and example. After a full essay, choose one recurring weakness and rewrite the relevant passage before moving to a new question.

Read the question first and make your own plan before looking at an answer. Compare the writer’s position, paragraph purpose and use of supporting examples with your plan. Where comments are available, connect them to specific passages. The official writing samples collection provides another way to study how responses are assessed.

Type or paste a question, write your response, and practise with the word counter and timer. Use full-screen mode when you want more space to focus. In the live product, submitting for an estimated score and detailed feedback requires an account and paid plan; the estimate is not an official IELTS result. See plans and pricing for details.