SOURCE: IELTS Liz

What is IELTS writing task 2

IELTS Writing Task 2 or commonly known as the essay writing  is the second task of your IELTS Writing test. For your essay writing exam you will be presented with an essay topic and you will be scored based on your essay and your ability to answer them accordingly.

You need to write an essay for at least 250 words and justify your stance with arguments that are not entirely subjective,examples,defining the problem and proposing logical solutions to overcome or improve the state of the given situation  

You will have about 40mins to finish your Essay. IELTS W’IELTS is accepted by more than 10,000 organisations worldwide. These include universities, immigration departments, government agencies, professional bodies and multinational companies.’

‘Who owns IELTS and who writes the test?’

‘IELTS is jointly owned by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge Assessment English. International teams of writers contribute to IELTS test materials. Ongoing research ensures that IELTS remains fair and unbiased. Test writers from different English-speaking countries develop IELTS content so it reflects real-life situations.’

‘Why are there two versions of the test?’

‘There are two types of the IELTS test: IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training. The IELTS Academic test is for people applying for higher education or professional registration in an English-speaking environment. It reflects some of the features of academic language and assesses whether you are ready to begin studying or training.The IELTS General Training test is for those who are going to English speaking countries for secondary education, work experience or training programs. It is also a requirement for migration to Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UK.The test focuses on basic survival skills in broad social and workplace contexts. Listening and Speaking are the same for both tests, but the subject matter of the Reading and Writing sections differs depending on which test you take.’

‘Which test should I do’

‘Please go to https://takeielts.britishcouncil.org/take-ielts/what-ielts and read the description of the Academic and General Training tests. Individual organisations have different requirements. Make sure you check which IELTS test the organisation you are applying to recognises. Note that you must know which version to take when you complete the online application form.

”What is the test format and how long will it take’

IELTS test has four sections Listening (30 minutes), Reading (60 minutes), Writing (60 minutes) and Speaking (11-14 minutes). The total test time is 2 hours and 45 minutes. you’ ll take the first three parts of the test on the same day, in the following order: Listening, Reading and Writing (there are no breaks between these tests). Your Speaking test will be held either on the same day or seven days before or two days after , depending on local arrangements.

‘‘What help is available for test takers with visual, hearing, speaking or learning difficulties?’

‘Our official IELTS test centers can help if you have visual, hearing, speaking or learning difficulties. If you need a modified version of IELTS, please give the test center three months’ notice. If special arrangements (for example, extra time) need to be made then please give the test centre six weeks’ notice. Your English language ability will be assessed objectively, regardless of any disability or special needs that you may have.’

‘When can I take IELTS?’

‘IELTS is available on 48 fixed dates a year up to four times a month, depending on local demand.’

‘How much does IELTS cost?’

‘IELTS has a set fee for its test. The Academic and General Training tests are the same cost. When you apply online, you will be told the fee.”

‘What if I need to postpone or cancel my application?’

‘If you postpone or cancel your application more than 5 weeks before the test date, you will receive a refund minus an administration charge. If you postpone or cancel within 5 weeks of the test date, you will be charged the full fee unless you have a medical reason. If you provide a medical certificate within 5 days of the test date, you will receive a refund minus the local administrative cost.’

‘What if I am absent or sick on the test day’

‘If you are absent on the test day with no prior notice, you will lose your full fee. However, if you provide a medical certificate within 5 days of the test date, you will receive a refund minus the local administrative cost.’riting Task 2 carries more weightage that the first task,that is 66% of your total writing marks.you will be marked according to your task response,vocabulary,coherence and cohesion,and grammar.

IELTS WRITING TASK 2 TOPICS

We cannot guess the exact genre or topic of the essay that will be asked but we have listen out 20+ frequently asked topics,go through them and focus on them,take each topic and analyse every corner of the topic and subjects related to it 

• Animals
• Art
• Communication
• Crime
• Culture/Society
•  Education
•  Entertainment
•  Environment 
•  Family
•  Food & farming
•  Global Issues
•  Health
•  Media
•  Money
•  Science/Technology
•  Space
•  Sport
•  Transport
•  Travel
•  Work

IELTS writing task 2 Questions

We have listen down 10+ questions from previous years,go through them and try to understand and analyse,what and how you will approach them and self-evaluate and make sure you don’t exceed 40 minutes for the writing of each essay.

• Censorship of art
• Some people believe that handwriting is no longer useful in the modern world and should not be taught in schools. To what extent do you agree?or if you disagree why?
• These days the internet is easily accessible to children. Is this a positive development ? or  a negative development?
• All students ought to study art and music in school. To what extent do you agree ? disagree why?
• Children are influenced by their friend’s opinions. In what ways are children affected by their friends? How can parents make sure this influence is positive?
• All people should be vegetarian. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Junk food advertising has a harmful effect on society and should be banned. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Some people claim that using tobacco has brought several social problems and The tendency of news media to focus on problems and emergencies rather than good news has a negative effect on individuals and society. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• The Internet has transformed lives and economies but it is turning the world into a global village. Soon everybody will think and behave in the same way. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?
• smoking should be banned. To what extent do you agree or disagree?  
• It is predicted that in the future cars will be driven by computers. What are the reasons behind this? Would it be a positive or negative development?
• The Internet has transformed lives and economies but it is turning the world into a global village. Soon everybody will think and behave in the same way. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?
• In many countries, tourism is a major part of the economy, but it also causes environmental damage and ruins the places it exploits. It is argued that tourists should pay an additional tax to compensate for this damage. Do you agree?
• Some sports are considered extremely dangerous, but many people still like them. Why do people take part in dangerous sports?  Give some suggestions on how to deal with these dangers.

IELTS Writing Task 2 – Sample Question with Answers

We have listen down few questions from previous years with their model answers ,go through them and try to understand and analyse,what and how you will approach them and self-evaluate your essay with the model essay and make sure you don’t exceed 40 minutes for the writing of each essay.

• People generally know that the environment is important. However, most individuals still don’t take responsibilities to protect the environment. Why is this?What should be done to encourage people to protect the environment?

Ever since we realised our powers to harness nature, we have started utilising it to make our life comfortable and more convenient. However, we then began to over utilise this authority and damage nature to an extent that is catastrophic for the entire human race. Global warming and environmental pollutions are threatening our very existence on this planet and yet we are neglecting our obligations to protect the environment primarily because we fail to realise the real consequences of it and believe that it can be dealt with in the future.

The first reason for this is our incompetent to understand the dire consequences of climate change. Despite frequent headlines on TV and newspapers all over the world, we are still oblivious of the fate of the world. When we are working hard to save some money to build a house or have a car in the future, we cannot fathom how many parts of the world would become unlivable due to the sea level rise and pollutions. If we only knew, we would have taken preserving nature as seriously as we take our own profession or future. Moreover, many people feel that environmental problems are too complex to control through individual actions, which I believe is a misguided idea.

Another reason we are indifferent towards environmental degradation is our false confidence that it could be dealt with in the future. As a result, we are concerned about solving more immediate problems such as housing shortage or traffic congestion than to prevent the disaster that is only predicted to happen in the future. For instance, many individuals still believe that the rate of environmental degradation and global warming is not as severe as they are reported in the media, and technology that we will develop in the future would control it easily.

These beliefs and attitudes are obviously mistaken and we need to act now to control the damage. The youngsters must be taught their obligations to preserve nature in schools and encouraged to plant trees whenever possible. Besides, the government should adopt strict laws that would prohibit citizens from using disposable goods that are harmful to the environment. Finally, the government can encourage people to make the environment greener by offering tax incentives and other benefits.

To conclude, if we do not want to make our mother planet an unhabitable and barren place, we need to concede the real danger of climate change and act prudently to save it for us and our future generations

• One of the consequences of improved medical care is that the people are living longer and life expectancy is increasing,Do you think the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?

Modern medical facilities and technological advancements in the healthcare sector have brought marvels to the world. We have cures for deadly diseases and medical researchers are working with our genes to prevent diseases even before we are born- marvellous indeed. As a result, people these days have an increased lifespan and to many this as an alarming trend. I, on the contrary, welcome this advancement and believe that increasing life expectancy has more merits than disadvantages.

To begin with, with an increasing life expectancy, people these days remain more active. They have better diet habits, exercise schedule and tailored routines that enable them to contribute to the society even in their old age. Moreover, the government, in most of the countries, has raised the retirement age and people in their old age are no longer a burden, rather an active workforce.  To cite an example, professors, researchers, lawmakers, writers and such many professionals have a vast experience and could contribute even more than the youngsters in their respective fields. Thus, when a physicist discovers a groundbreaking theory in his 70s, we should thank the enhanced medical research and treatment.

Many opine that increasing life expectancy escalate the older population and they are a weight for the society. This, in my opinion, is a hypocrite thought and should be wiped out from our mind. As the number of working parents is enhancing, grandparents are the last hope for the children. Older people are doing us a favour by taking most of our family burdens.

Finally, people who we consider no longer useful to the society due to their age, have gifted us the world we live in today with their hard work, tax money and love. If we discard them today, the future will discard us as a revenge.

To conclude, older population in no way a load for us. They are actively contributing to our society. Thanks to the enhanced medical facilities that let us live longer and be part of the progress.

• Some people think that studying history is a waste of time while others think it is essential to learn history.discuss your opinion

                  People have different views about the outcomes of learning history. Although some people argue that studying history has nothing to offer and is a waste of time, others opine that studying history has a great prospect for discovering our past and using the wisdom to shape our future. This essay investigates both views but I am personally inclined to the latter opinion.

On the one hand, according to a group of people, learning history is insignificant and a waste of time and energy. In addition, they consider learning technology and science brings immense benefits to the humankind and the knowledge could be correlated to the future development. History, on the contrary, is difficult to apply in daily life. For instance, science students can experiment and actually build helpful tools, devices and this can lead to a magnificent future invention. Pupils with history major are imposed to memorize dates and events from the past, and perhaps have little to do with our daily life.

But this is not the whole picture. Learning history not only tells us about past events, it actually prepares us for the future. How can we avoid a largescale catastrophe if we do not know why it happened in the first place and what went wrong to curb it?

In the 19th century, for example, Ireland suffered the blight of potatoes, known as the Irish Potato Famine, and it happened because Irish was totally dependent on potatoes. Had they plant another crop, this could have been avoided. However, this unpleasant history has taught the human being a great lesson – to cultivate a wide diversity of crops. Another reason urges people to learn history is that the knowledge instils good characteristics and foster patriotism among the youth.

In conclusion, people learn both from their success and failure and to build a prosperous nation, we must learn from our history. Without the knowledge of history, scientific discoveries cannot bring a wide range of advantages.

It is important that we maintain and protect the beautiful building of the past, even if it is expensive for countries to do so.Do you agree with this statement?Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience

.

Historical buildings are valuable treasures for a country and should be preserved even if the government needs to spend hefty amounts for it. I completely agree with this viewpoint and my position is outlined in this essay.

First of all, old and traditional buildings are of great architectural importance. Their sublime design attracts tourists and locals alike and is quite rare in modern structures. These historical edifices also give us an opportunity to learn about the glorious past. For example, the Roman Colosseum in Rome not only shows how awe-inspiring the ancient architectures were but also points out a massive arena used as a stadium for gladiators’ fighting and has space to house around 50,000 spectators in tiered seating. This structure is a predominant representative of Roman culture and civilisation that modern historians cherish profoundly.

In addition to this, historical monuments also serve as the tourist magnetism in many countries. In today’s world, many people plan their vacations on places of historical importance as they are curious to know more about the culture and traditions of the past. Many nations are benefited by these tourists as a result, they possess booming tourism industry. For instance, millions of tourists including international tourists visit Taj Mahal in India every year. This provides the government with a huge profit and also employs many locals, thus assisting government financially.

To conclude, I believe, it is worth spending money on ancient buildings as they not only possess historical importance but also a financial kernel for many governments.

• Youth drug abuse is a serious problem. What are the possible causes of this behaviour? Do you have any suggestion to control that?Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience

Youth drug abuse is perhaps the most notorious and concerning issue that the poor and rich nations suffer from equally. Many young talents are wasted and families are destroyed due to drug abuse, especially by teenagers. Not only the illegal drugs are being abused, but also the youth’s experiment with the alcohol and illegal substances are on the rise. Suggesting accurate remedies for youth drug abuse is quite tough as it requires a clear understanding of the underlying reasons.

To note down the possible reasons for youth drug abuse, we need to consider the availability of these drugs and corrupted police department first. According to several recent news reports and investigations, the police department has the list of all drug dealers and possible spots where illegal drugs are sold. If this is the case, why they are yet to wipe out the illegal drug business from the city? Possibly money and corruption play a role here. Some people say that family bonding in modern life is not as close as they used to be. Due to family issues and pressure, many young people start abusing drugs. Initially, they find it a relief but soon they get trapped. Thirdly, the lack of proper counselling and teenagers curiosity drive many teenagers to try new drugs. This is a serious trend and family and teachers must consult with students to find out whether they have some bad companies who are on drugs. The concrete reason for young to abuse drugs are still unclear and many psychologists and sociologists blame the examples set by the elders. Public advertisements, magazines and movies that depict smoking and drinking can attract young minds to try them and this is just the beginning that ends is abusing serious substances like cocaine or heroin.

Personally, I would like to suggest that the authority should try to wipe out the illegal drug businesses from the country. If the illegal drug business is closed, teenagers would not be curious to try them. Another way to tackle this issue by having a better family bonding and parents spending quality time with the children. Finally, all sorts of public advertisement of tobacco or alcohol should be banned.

Hopefully, the day is close when we will have no young drug abuser in our society and this can be achieved by us – as a father, as a teacher, as a friend and finally as a law-enforcing officer. If we play our roles properly, we will have a better society

• One of the major problems facing the world today is the growing number of refugees. The developed nations in the world should tackle this problem by taking more refugees. To what extent do you agree with this opinion?

The recent political unrest, war and the rise of a few terrorist groups have made many people become refugees and this is a global problem. As an immediate solution, many express their view that rich countries should allow more evacuees to enter their border to reduce the severity of this crisis. However, accepting a higher number of migrants by the developed countries is not a viable solution to this refugee crisis, in my opinion.

Worldwide refugees and their constant sufferings are often reported on TV. At a first look, it might seem that industrialised countries can easily solve this emergency and sufferings by allowing more refugee immigrants to enter their countries. In reality, this is certainly not an easy solution. If we only look at the few recent catastrophic events that the migrant refugees have caused, it would become clear why the governments in developed countries are unwavering to accept more people to their countries. Besides, historically, it is evident that only granting more refugees in other countries does not solve the problem, in some cases, it actually deteriorates it.

Due to the humanitarian reasons, developed countries should help destitute and needy people. It is no longer possible, unlike the past, to ignore what happens on the other side of the world. This is partly a moral issue and partly because it is in the self-economic interest of the industrialised countries. Considering this, a practical way of reducing the severity of this crisis would be to accept more refugees, particularly when it is caused by a natural disaster and civil war.

From a more practical point of view, mass immigrations would bring more negative effects. Solving the root cause of the outbreaks of refugees is a far better way than allowing them freely migrate to developed countries. On a practical level, homeless refugees are sometimes better off receiving aid in their homeland than suffering racism and begging on the streets in a country where they cannot speak the language.

To conclude, affluent countries should take refugees but only in extreme cases and should focus on solving the primary reason behind the refugee issue. Sometimes funds and aids for refugees in their local area are far more beneficial than accepting them as migrants and finally forcing them to beg on the street

IELTS WRITING TASK 2 TIPS 

IELTS is not at all difficult if you are well prepared and confident,we have listed out tips that will help you write the essay and also help you with preparing for the essay.read these tips and remember them when you are preparing and taking the exam

• Have a proper structure for your essay
• Have a well structured introduction and conclude it a positive note
• Try to write more than 250 words
• Make sure you practice to write within 40 minutes beforehand 
• Don’t give too much of importance to your handwriting or the neatness 
• Try to stay within the given topic,unnecessary deviation should be avoided
• When you are taking the IELTS exam,NEVER use words that you are not sure about,don’t guess the meaning and just write it down,make sure you know the words Meaning , Collocations,Synonyms,Antonyms and Grammar
• While you are preparing,cover all familiar and national problems.
• Give examples and case studies to prove your point/opinion.

IELTS writing task 2 Tricks and Tips

• Use big and impressive words
• If you are not familiar with a particular topic,try relating it to the other topics that are almost the same
• Take a minute to map your essay,then start writing 
• Employ your personal topic but try not to sound way too subjective
• Simplify the question in your own words,then try to analyse it
• Give the other side argument as well, as in “it can also be argued. that..” and state an answer for that too
• Have a sharp and meaningful introduction and a conclusion 
• Summarize in your conclusion 

IELTS WRITING ESSAY TASK 2 GENERAL

General Task 2 of the Writing module is always a discursive essay question that requires you to write about contemporary social issue. You are given a point of view, an argument or a problem, and are asked for your opinion in a subjective way and marked accordingly 

The only preparation you have to do apart from knowing how to answer the question all the basic stuffs are 

• How to write a formal letter 
• How to write an informal letter

You can follow some rules and use some tips during preparation,we have pointed out some tips and sample,go through them and self-evaluate.

• Read the questions,don’t read the sample answers. Even taking a brief look at the question will influence your answer.
• Attempt the answer under exam conditions that is try to answer within 40mins
• Compare what you have with the sample answer,even if its different,don’t worry,just make sure you have all the objectives that are needed.
• Think about the ideas, the structure, the organisation, vocabulary, and grammar,it boosts your entire essay 
• Don’t worry if your answer is very different. There are many different ways to answer a Task 2 question
• Self evaluate so that you can  improve your original answer with some of the elements of the Writing Task 2 sample answer

• Inventors are not as important to society as doctors.To what extent do you agree with this statement?

IELTS WRITING TASK 2 SAMPLE

Inventors are creative people who develop new ideas and products, whereas doctors are specialists who make us feel better when we are ill. I believe that both types of people are important to society, but in different ways.

Inventors have had an enormous impact on our lives. In the past, they developed things like electricity, television and aeroplanes. These transformed people’s home lives and working conditions and enabled them to travel more quickly to other countries. More recently, inventors have created computers, the World Wide Web and many other technological products that we now rely on completely. For these reasons, most people would agree that inventors are important people.

Doctors, on the other hand, save lives. They train for many years and they develop knowledge and skills that ordinary people do not have. If we get ill, we need someone who knows what is wrong and can tell us what medicine to take. If we go to hospital, we expect doctors to look after us. Everyone depends on doctors in this way all through their life.

Although we cannot live without doctors, it is also true that we cannot live without inventors. In fact, they also depend on each other. Doctors use inventions to help them in their work, and inventors get ill and need doctors to cure them.

To conclude, I think doctors and inventors are equally important. Like many people in society, they play an important part in human progress. So it is impossible to say who is more important.

IELTS WRITING TASK 2 ACADEMIC 

IELTS Writing Task 2 Academic Tips

In Academic Task 2 of the Writing module, you are given brief details of an opinion, an argument or a problem, and have to write an extended piece of subjective writing in response.

The preparation difference for academic and general are not different,follow the same tips and tricks that you developed and used for general,for academic too 

IELTS WRITING TASK 2 BAND 9

Getting a band 9  in writing task is not very difficult,only if you have an average of band 8 and more,you will get an overall band9

How to get band 9:

• Improve your writing skills
• Strategies 
• Consistent practice 
• Self-evaluation when practicing
• Time management 
• Knowledge on relevance topics 
• Good grammar 
• Vocabulary 
• Meaningful context

IELTS writing task 2 band 8 and band 7

• Address all the corners of the topic 
• Well developed structure 
• Answer with logical examples and case study 
• Develop a solution were the conclusion is clear and sane 
• Main ideas should be relevant 
• Start it with an introduction that drives the reader’s attention 

Sample:

• As computers are being used more and more in education, there will be soon no role for teachers in the classroom.

There is no doubt that education and the learning process has changed since the introduction of computers: The search for information has become easier and amusing, and connectivity has expedited the data availability. Though experts systems have made computers more intelligent, they have not yet become a substitute of the human interaction in the learning process. In my opinion what can be expected is a change of the teachers’ role, but not their disappearance from the classroom.

Nobody can argue with the fact that the acquisition of knowledge is more fun and easier with computers. The mere activity of touching and exploring this device constitutes an enjoyable task for a child. This, accompanied by the relaxing attitude and software interactivity, usually contributes to a better grasping of new knowledge. At a higher educational level the availability of digital books, simulators and other academic materials provide the student with an ever accessible source of information, that otherwise would not be at hand.

IELTS WRITING TASK 2 VOCABULARY 

Vocabulary consists of 25% of your overall score in writing task 2,so give importance to it and use the tips we have listen down and practice them everyday 

• Use big, new, impressive words during your preparation
• Learn a new word every day and try to use them during conversations and wen you are writing your essays
• Check your word’s spellings and use them properly 
• Use meaningful idioms and nouns 
• Get some structure before your exam and use them eg:From my point of view/perspective..
• Organize your paragraphs and have at least one idiom or a saying in each para

IELTS Writing Task 2 Vocabulary List

We have mentioned few words (A, B and C) that can be used, for more words check synonyms list down

• achieve
• acquisition
• administration
• affect
• appropriate
• aspects
• assistance
• categories
• chapter
• commission
• abstract
• accurate
• acknowledge
• aggregate
• allocate
• assign
• attach
• author
• bond
• brief

IELTS WRITING TASK 2 INTRODUCTION PHRASES 

As we discussed before,ielts writing task 2 becomes easy if you prepare well with smart strategies and tricks,using introduction phrases that you have already practiced,saves you a lot of time because more than 40% of students have starting problem.

Some introduction phrases :

• Research on __ has a long tradition
• This is a technique common in __
• There is a further problem with __
• This turns out to be even more problematic because __
• To our knowledge, no study has yielded __
• To overcome this problem, in the next section we demonstrate __
• Recently, a more general solution has been proposed for this problem.
• To illuminate this uncharted area, we examined __
• We examine some previous work and propose a new method for __
• The contributions of this work are presented as follows: __
• The additional advantage of using this method is that it results in _

IELTS WRITING TASK 2- SYNONYMS 

Before you start learning them,try to  understand that recognizing the words and actually using them are two very different skills,start using them on a regular basis so that your language improves effective and immediate.

Amazing	Incredible, Fantastic, Fabulous, Astonishing, Extraordinary
Awful	Terrible, Abominable, Dreadful
Begin	Initiate, Commence, Inaugurate
Big	Huge, Enormous, Gigantic, Humongous, Substantial, Mammoth
Dangerous	Hazardous, Risky, Precarious
Decide	Determine, Settle
Definite	Certain, Positive, Obvious
Describe	Portray, Characterise
Difference	Disagreement, Inequity, Dissimilarity
End	Terminate, Conclude, Cessation
Explain	Elaborate, Interpret
Famous	Well-known, Renowned, Eminent, Illustrious
Fast	Quick, Rapid, Hasty, Snappy
Funny	Amusing, Humorous, Droll
Get	Acquire, Obtain, Secure, Procure, Gather
Good	Excellent, Fine, Wonderful, Superior, Gracious, Superb, Splendid, Genuine, Sterling, Top-notch,
Great	Worthy, Distinguished, Grand, Considerable, Mighty
Happy	Pleased, Delighted, Elated, Joyful, Ecstatic, Jubilant, Jaunty
Hate	Despise, Loathe, Abhor, Abominate
Have	Possess, Own, Acquire,
Help	Aid, Assist, Support, Encourage, Relieve
Hide	Conceal, Cover, Mask, Veil
Idea	Thought, Concept, Notion
Important	Necessary, Vital, Critical, Indispensable, Valuable, Essential, Famous, Notable
Make	Create, Originate, Invent, Construct, Manufacture, Produce, Compose
Old	Feeble, Ancient, Aged, Veteran, Mature, Primitive, Stale
Place	Draw, Map, Diagram, Procedure, Method, Blueprint
Show	Display, Exhibit, Indicate, Reveal, Demonstrate
Tell	Disclose, Reveal, Expose, Narrate, Inform, Divulge
Wrong	Incorrect, Inaccurate, Mistaken, Erroneous, Improper, Unsuitable

IELTS WRITING TASK 2 ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES 

When you have this type of advantage disadvantage essay it is important to distinguish between this and that they have asked you to discuss advantages and disadvantages but does not ask your opinion,the answer should be as objective as possible.

Some sample questions:

• People now have the freedom to work and live anywhere in the world due to the development of communication technology and transportation.What are the advantages and disadvantages of this trend?
• A lot of places in the world rely on tourism as a main source of income. Unfortunately, tourism can also be a source of problems if it is not managed correctly. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of tourism in the modern world. Do you think that benefits of tourism out weight its drawbacks?
• 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?
• Computers are becoming an essential part of school lessons.Discuss the advantages and disadvantages and give your own opinion.

IELTS WRITING TASK 2 INTRODUCTION AND CONCLUSION

Introductions and conclusions play a vital role in the essay writing , and they frequently demand much of your attention as a writer.

INTRODUCTION:

• Have a hook that draws the reader’s attention 
• Find a startling statistic/case study that illustrates the seriousness of topic .
• Quote an expert/well known celebrity
• Mention a common misperception that your thesis will argue and give a conclusion for that as well 
• Give some background information necessary for understanding the essay and this also increases your word limit 
• Use nice phrases and idioms 

CONCLUSION:

• your essay deals with a contemporary problem,by now you should have let the readers familiar with your topic now  warn readers of the possible consequences of not attending to the problem.
• Recommend a specific course of action and make your stance clear
• Use an apt quotation or expert opinion to lend authority to the conclusion you have reached and make it sound 100% your own effort and sweat
• Give a startling statistic, fact, or visual image to drive home the ultimate point of your paper that proves it logically and mentally.
• If your discipline encourages personal reflection, illustrate your concluding point with a relevant narrative drawn from your own life experiences that way you make it look like its more than just an essay for you 

IELTS WRITING TASK 2- IDIOMS 

Using more and more phrases and idioms will make you look good in front of the reader’s eyes ,can help to increase your score in the test.

Some idiom examples :

• bend over backwards
• break a leg
• drive someone up the wall
• flogging a dead horse
• hold your horses
• playing devil’s advocate
• water under the bridge
• working against the clock
• you are what you eat
• you can’t judge a book by its cover

IELTS WRITING TASK 2 TYPES 

The essay questions vary between 5 different main types of essay questions and you should be prepared to answer whichever you will come across on your IELTS test.

IELTS WRITING TASK 2 TYPES 

• Discussion and Opinion Based Essay

you are required to discuss two opinions given in the question statement and  you have to give your personal opinion and a solution if needed 

• Agree/Disagree Essay 

you are given a statement and then you need to explain whether you agree or disagree on it. You can also partially agree and partially disagree on that statement

• Advantage/Disadvantage essays

These types of essay questions give you a topic and you have to discuss both positive and negative sides of it.

• Problem Solution essays

 the one where you are required to list out problems associated with the question and then you need to suggest logical solutions to those problems.

• Two Parts Essay

you get question in two parts. There are two different parts of the question which you must answer. 

IELTS WRITING TASK 2 COMMON TOPICS

• Education
• Arts
• Crime
• Politics 
• Society 
• Tourism 
• Media 
• Language 
• Transport 
• Travel 
• Culture 

IELTS WRITING TASK 2 LINKING WORDS 

Linking words saves a lot of time and also makes you look smart and fetch marks in your IELTS test.

sample:

• However
• Nevertheless
• Nonetheless
• Still
• Although / even though
• Though
• But
• Yet
• Despite / in spite of
• In contrast (to) / in comparison
• While
• Whereas
• On the other hand
• On the contrary
• Undoubtedly
• Indeed
• Obviously
• Generally
• Admittedly
• In fact
• Particularly / in particular
• Especially
• Clearly
• Importantly

IELTS WRITING TASK 2-QUOTES 

we’ve compiled a list of  quotes that should help you write the perfect essay that will get you a good score.

• The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance – Socrates
•  A people that value its privileges above its principles soon loses both – Dwight D. Eisenhower 
• In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. But in practice, there is – Yogi Berra
•  A little inaccuracy can sometimes save a ton of explanation – H.H Munro
•  Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex and more violent. It takes a touch of genius – and a lot of courage – to move in the opposite direction – E. F. Schumacher 
• A consensus means that everyone agrees to say collectively what no one believes individually – Abba Eban 
• Non-cooperation with evil is as much a duty as is cooperation with good – Mohandas Gandhi
•  Whatever government is not a government of laws, is a despotism, let it be called what it may – Daniel Webster
•  Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws – Plato
•  Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing – Theodore Roosevelt

IELTS WRITING TASK 2 STRATEGIES 

Strategies are a way to do smart work and we have listed down few strategies while preparing and also when you are writing your exam,go through them and try to use it.

• Organize ideas into separate paragraphs
• Write in complete sentences
• Thoughtful and Neutral Tone
• Plan Before You Write
• Topic Presentation
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy
• Use complex sentence structures

IELTS WRITING TASK 2 CRITERIA 

The examiner will score your essay according to 4 criteria ,while you are preparing,self-evaluate your answers and make sure you follow all 4 criteria 

• Task response (25%)
• Coherence and cohesion (25%)
• Vocabulary (25%)
• Grammar (25%)

IELTS WRITING TASK WORD LIMIT 

In the exam, the minimum word limit for Task 1 is 150 words and you need to spend around 20 minutes on this part . Task 2 must be at least 250 words or more, on which you need to spend around 40 minutes.

IELTS WRITING TASK 2 KEY POINTS 

Read this before you start preparing and once before you take your exam,we have mentioned the gist of how to score marks 

While preparing:

• Learn idioms 
• Phrases
• Solid introduction 
• Solid conclusion 
• Learn new words and use them 
• self -evaluate 

While taking the exam:

• Analyse the question first 
• Use proper grammar 
• Try to exceed 250 words 
• Remember the structure
• Finish 5 minutes before to have a final check

IELTS WRITING TASK 2 PARAGRAPH STRUCTURE 

Typical essay writing structure 

• Introduction 
• Body part-1
• Body part-2
• Conclusions 

FAQs

1. What is IELTS?

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is the world’s most popular English language proficiency test for higher education and global migration, with 3.5 million tests taken in the past year.

2. ‘Which organisations accept IELTS?’

‘IELTS is accepted by more than 10,000 organisations worldwide. These include universities, immigration departments, government agencies, professional bodies and multinational companies.’

3. ‘Who owns IELTS and who writes the test?’

‘IELTS is jointly owned by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge Assessment English. International teams of writers contribute to IELTS test materials. Ongoing research ensures that IELTS remains fair and unbiased. Test writers from different English-speaking countries develop IELTS content so it reflects real-life situations.’

4. ‘Why are there two versions of the test?’

‘There are two types of the IELTS test: IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training. The IELTS Academic test is for people applying for higher education or professional registration in an English-speaking environment. It reflects some of the features of academic language and assesses whether you are ready to begin studying or training.The IELTS General Training test is for those who are going to English speaking countries for secondary education, work experience or training programs. It is also a requirement for migration to Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UK.The test focuses on basic survival skills in broad social and workplace contexts. Listening and Speaking are the same for both tests, but the subject matter of the Reading and Writing sections differs depending on which test you take.’

5. ‘Which test should I do’?

‘Please go to https://takeielts.britishcouncil.org/take-ielts/what-ielts and read the description of the Academic and General Training tests. Individual organisations have different requirements. Make sure you check which IELTS test the organisation you are applying to recognises. Note that you must know which version to take when you complete the online application form.’

6. ‘What is the test format and how long will it take’?

‘The IELTS test has four sections Listening (30 minutes), Reading (60 minutes), Writing (60 minutes) and Speaking (11-14 minutes). The total test time is 2 hours and 45 minutes. you’ ll take the first three parts of the test on the same day, in the following order: Listening, Reading and Writing (there are no breaks between these tests). Your Speaking test will be held either on the same day or seven days before or two days after , depending on local arrangements.’

7. ‘What help is available for test takers with visual, hearing, speaking or learning difficulties?’

‘Our official IELTS test centres can help if you have visual, hearing, speaking or learning difficulties. If you need a modified version of IELTS, please give the test centre three months notice. If special arrangements (for example, extra time) need to be made then please give the test centre six weeks’ notice. Your English language ability will be assessed objectively, regardless of any disability or special needs that you may have.’

8. ‘When can I take IELTS?’

‘IELTS is available on 48 fixed dates a year up to four times a month, depending on local demand.’

9. ‘How much does IELTS cost?’

‘IELTS has a set fee for its test. The Academic and General Training tests are the same cost. When you apply online, you will be told the fee.”

10. ‘What if I need to postpone or cancel my application?’

‘If you postpone or cancel your application more than 5 weeks before the test date, you will receive a refund minus an administration charge. If you postpone or cancel within 5 weeks of the test date, you will be charged the full fee unless you have a medical reason. If you provide a medical certificate within 5 days of the test date, you will receive a refund minus the local administrative cost.

Check Out:

• IELTS- All you need to know
• IELTS Syllabus
• IELTS Registration
• IELTS Results and Scores
• IELTS Dates
• IELTS Test Centres
• IELTS Practice Papers
• IELTS Preparation Tips