argumentative essay for ielts

IELTS Writing Task 2: Argument Essay with Sample Answer

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• Post date July 25, 2012
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IELTS Writing Task 2: Question

Try this argument essay question about access to a university education. It’s very important that you write a balanced argument before giving your opinion.

It is sometimes argued that too many students go to university, while others claim that a university education should be a universal right. Discuss both sides of the argument and give your own opinion.

IELTS Writing Task 2: Model Answer

In some advanced countries, it is not unusual for more than 50% of young adults to attend college or university. Critics, however, claim that many university courses are worthless and young people would be better off gaining skills in the workplace. In this essay, I will examine both sides of this argument and try to reach a conclusion.

There are several reasons why young people today believe they have the right to a university education. First, growing prosperity in many parts of the world has increased the number of families with money to invest in their children’s future. At the same time, falling birthrates mean that one- or two-child families have become common, increasing the level of investment in each child. It is hardly surprising, therefore, that young people are willing to let their families support them until the age of 21 or 22. Furthermore, millions of new jobs have been created in knowledge industries, and these jobs are typically open only to university graduates.

However, it often appears that graduates end up in occupations unrelated to their university studies. It is not uncommon for an English literature major to end up working in sales, or an engineering graduate to retrain as a teacher, for example. Some critics have suggested that young people are just delaying their entry into the workplace, rather than developing professional skills. A more serious problem is that the high cost of a university education will mean that many families are reluctant to have more than one child, exacerbating the falling birthrates in certain countries.

In conclusion, while it can be argued that too much emphasis is placed on a university education, my own opinion is that the university years are a crucial time for personal development. If people enter the workplace aged 18, their future options may be severely restricted. Attending university allows them time to learn more about themselves and make a more appropriate choice of career.

(320 words. IELTS 9.0)

Why does this Task 2 answer get an IELTS Band 9 score?

Task response: The model answer fully answers the question by stating several arguments both for and against the expansion of higher education. The candidate’s position is clearly expressed in the conclusion. The style is appropriate to academic writing and the answer is at least 250 words in length.

Coherence and cohesion: The model answer has an introduction and conclusion. Each body paragraph deals with a different side of the argument and begins with a clear topic sentence. Arguments are developed with logical connectives such as therefore and furthermore .

Lexical resource:  There is a good range of vocabulary suited to an argument essay, including reporting verbs like claim and suggest , and hedging verbs like can and appear . There is native-like collocation throughout, including growing prosperity, enter the workplace and  severely restricted .

Grammatical range and accuracy: The model answer uses a wide range of grammatical devices appropriate to academic writing. These include conditionals ( If… ), participle clauses ( …, increasing the… ), concessive clauses ( while it can… ) and passive constructions ( …it can be argued that… ). There are no grammatical errors.

Teacher’s Notes

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IELTS Writing Task 2 Essay Structures

The four most common IELTS writing Task 2 questions are: Opinion, Advantages and Disadvantages, Problem and Solution Discussion

IELTS Task 2 Essay Structures

Knowing how to structure your IELTS Writing Task 2 essay is an essential skill that can make the difference between getting and not getting the band score you deserve. With that in mind, we have outlined the most common IELTS Writing Task 2 structures below.

Nearly all of my Task 2 essays follow this basic structure: The sentences you put in each paragraph will depend on what type of question you get.

The five most common IELTS Writing Task 2 questions are:

• Opinion (Agree or Disagree)
• Advantages and Disadvantages
• Problem and Solution
• Discussion (Discuss both views)
• Two-part Question

Below I will outline examples and a structure approved by experienced IELTS teachers and examiners for each type of question. This will help you write a clear, coherent answer and hopefully boost your IELTS band score. I also include an example answer for each type of question so you can see the structure in a real essay.

Please note that these are general structures and may vary slightly depending on the question.

Please also note that no ‘one’ Task 2 essay structure will get you a high score. There are many types of structures that can get you a high score. These are just some I think are effective and easy to learn. 

Please visit the lessons below for more detailed guidance on each type of question. I have provided a link at the end of each section.

Opinion Questions (Agree or Disagree) 

Typical Question Words –

What is your opinion?

Do you agree or disagree?

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Direct question.

Example Question –

Some people believe that unpaid community service should be compulsory in high school programmes (for example, working for a charity, improving the neighbourhood or teaching sports to younger children).

Essay Structure 

Introduction 

1- Paraphrase Question

2- Give your opinion and outline the main ideas.

Main Body Paragraph 1 

1- Topic Sentence

2- Explain Topic Sentence

Main Body Paragraph 2

Conclusion 

1- Summary of main points and opinion

Student Sample Answer

It is argued that volunteering should be made part of the school curriculum. This essay agrees with that suggestion completely because it help pupils develop soft skills and helps them gain much-needed work experience.

Education should not be limited to strictly academic pursuits, and those in education should also develop life skills, such as teamwork, empathy and self-discipline, and one of the best ways to hone these aptitudes is through community service. Serving those less fortunate than ourselves teaches us many lessons, including how to work with people from other backgrounds and the value of hard work, thus enabling us to hone these skills before becoming an adult. For example, many young people from wealthier countries take a gap year and help those less fortunate than themselves to increase their gratitude for what they have and improve their work ethic.

Many colleges and companies are also increasingly looking for this type of experience. Most school leavers have the same grades, and charitable work can help set you apart from other students when making college applications. For example, Cambridge and Oxford receive thousands of applications from straight-A students yearly and can only accept a small percentage of applicants. What you have done outside the classroom often differentiates you from everyone else and gets you that coveted spot.

In conclusion, teenagers should be made to partake in unpaid work as part of their schooling because it will help them learn things they wouldn’t ordinarily learn from their teachers, and it will also boost their chances of getting into third-level education.

For more detail on how to answer agree or disagree questions, please visit our opinion essay lesson . 

Need help writing essays like this? Check out our ESSAY CORRECTION SERVICE .

Advantages and Disadvantages Questions

Typical Question Words 

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages.

What are the advantages and disadvantages?

Example Question

Technology is being used more and more in education.

Essay Structure

2- Outline Main Points

Main Body Paragraph 1

1- State Two Advantages

2- Expand/Explain First Advantage

3- Expand/Explain Second Advantage

1- State Two Disadvantages

2- Expand/Explain First Disadvantage

3- Expand/Explain Second Disadvantage

1- Summary of Main Points

Student Sample Answer 

It is argued that technology plays an ever-increasing role in schools and universities. Increased access to information and student freedom are the main advantages, whereas dependency on technology and decreasing levels of face-to-face contact are the main disadvantages.

Access to more information and student autonomy are the principal advantages of increasing the use of electronic devices in education. With the internet, students can access all the information available about any topic, regardless of what books and other resources are available in the school. Furthermore, students can focus on whatever topic or subject they want and study it in depth. A prime example of this is the number of online university courses available to students, covering a myriad of subjects that, up until recently, were unavailable to most learners. This has resulted in more people studying third-level degrees than ever before at a pace and schedule that suits them.

The main disadvantages associated with the increasing use of technology in education are the dependency on this technology and the decrease in face-to-face interaction between students. With many students now using the internet as their primary source of information, they often struggle to use other academic resources to find what they’re looking for. As well as this, students spend more time looking at computer screens by themselves than interacting with each other, which is thought to lead to lower levels of emotional intelligence. For instance, the recent explosion in smartphone use has been at the expense of genuine human interaction. This results in soft skills, such as verbal communication and empathy, being affected.

In conclusion, the benefits technology brings to education, such as unrestricted access to information and student autonomy, must be weighed against the drawbacks, such as dependency on this technology and the negative effects on human interaction.

For more detail on how to answer advantage and disadvantage questions, please visit our  advantage and disadvantage lesson . 

Discuss Both Views Question (Discussion Essay)  

Discuss both points of view and give your opinion.

Example Question 

Technology is being used more and more in education. Some people say that this is a positive trend, while others argue that it is leading to negative consequences.

Discuss both sides of this argument and then give your own opinion.

1- Paraphrase Question and/or state both viewpoints.

2- Thesis Statement

3- Outline Sentence

1- State first viewpoint

2- Discuss first viewpoint

3- Reason why you agree or disagree with viewpoint

4- Example to support your view

1- State second viewpoint

2- Discuss second viewpoint

Sentence 1- Summary

Sentence 2- State which one is better or more important

There is an ever-increasing use of technology, such as tablets and laptops, in the classroom. It is often argued that this is a positive development, whilst others disagree and think it will lead to adverse ramifications. This essay agrees that an increase in technology is beneficial to students and teachers.

The Internet has provided students with access to more information than ever before. This has allowed learners to research and learn about any subject at the touch of a button. It is therefore agreed that technology is a very worthwhile tool for education. Wikipedia is a prime example, where students can type in any keyword and gain access to in-depth knowledge quickly and easily.

However, many disagree and feel that technology deprives people of real human interaction. Human interaction teaches people valuable skills such as discourse, debate and empathy. Without these soft skills, many people find it difficult to become successful in work and their personal lives. Despite this, human interaction is still possible through the internet, and this essay disagrees that technology should be dismissed for this reason. For instance, Skype and Facebook allow people to interact in ways that were never before possible.

While the benefits of technology, particularly the internet, allow students to tap into limitless sources of information, some still feel that people should be wary of this new phenomenon and not allow it to curb face-to-face interaction. However, as long as we carefully consider the importance of human interaction in education, the educational benefits are clearly positive.

For more detail on how to answer discussion questions please visit our  discussion essay lesson . 

Problem and Solution Questions

Problem and solution.

Cause and solution.

Students are becoming more and more reliant on technology.

What are some of the problems associated with reliance on computers, and what are some of the possible solutions?

2- Outline Sentence

1- State Problems

2- Explain First Problem

3- Explain Second Problem

4- Example of Second Problem

1- State Solutions

2- Explain First Solution

3- Explain Second Solution

4- Example of Second Solution

Learners are becoming increasingly dependent on technology, such as the Internet and mobile devices. This essay believes the main problems associated with dependence on computers are the lack of original thought and copying original work from others and suggests critical thinking classes and writing analysis software as the most viable solutions.

The principal problems with over-reliance on technology are people being unable to think for themselves and plagiarism. With access to so much information, students often rely on other people’s opinions instead of forming their own. As well as this, they often use search engines to answer a question and copy the text from a website rather than thinking about the question. This practice is prohibited in schools and universities and stunts students’ intellectual development because they will never truly think for themselves, which is what university is supposed to be for. For example, many teachers complain that students copy web pages straight from Wikipedia word for word rather than giving a reasoned answer to their questions.

Solutions to these worrying problems are special classes to focus on critical thinking and teachers using anti-plagiarism software to detect copying. If teachers create situations where students have to infer meaning and express opinions based on a small amount of information, this will ensure that students have an opportunity to develop these skills. Also, if students know that their assignments are being checked for plagiarism, this will be enough to deter them from doing so. For instance, many universities already use this kind of software to scan coursework for plagiarism, and it could be extended to include all homework by learners in both secondary and tertiary education.

In conclusion, the main problems with the overuse of technology in education are the lack of original thought and plagiarism. These can be solved through special classes that teach students analytical skills and plagiarism detection software.

For more detail on how to answer problem and solution questions please visit our  problem and solution lesson . 

Two-Part Questions

There will normally be a statement, and they will then ask you to answer separate questions.

As most people spend a major part of their adult life at work, job satisfaction is an important element of individual wellbeing.

What factor contributes to job satisfaction?

How realistic is the expectation of job satisfaction for all workers?

2- Outline Sentence (mention both questions)

1- Answer first question directly

2- Explain why

3- Further explain

1- Answer second question directly

As most adults spend most of their time at work, being content with your career is a crucial part of a person’s health and happiness. This essay will first suggest fair pay as a key element leading to job satisfaction, and it will then state that it is not very likely that everyone can be happy with their job.

The most important thing that satisfies someone at work is being compensated fairly. If those more senior than you respect you as a person and the job you are doing, then you feel like you are valued. A fair salary and benefits are important marks of respect, and if you feel you are being underpaid, you will either resent your bosses or look for another job. These two factors came top of a recent job satisfaction survey conducted by Monster.com, which found that 72% of people were pleased with their current role if their superiors regularly told them they were appreciated.

With regard to the question of happiness for all workers, I think this is and always will be highly unlikely. The vast majority of people fail to reach their goals and end up working in a post they don’t really care about in return for a salary. This money is just enough to pay their living expenses which often means they are trapped in a cycle of disenchantment. For example, The Times recently reported that 89% of office workers would leave their jobs if they did not need the money.

In conclusion, being satisfied with your trade or profession is an important part of one’s well-being, and respect from one’s colleagues and fair pay can improve your level of happiness; however, job satisfaction for all workers is an unrealistic prospect.

Can I get a band 8 or 9 following these structures? 

Nobody can give you a Task 2 IELTS structure that guarantees high scores. Your score is dependent on how good your grammar and vocabulary are and how well you answer the question. A good structure will help you answer the question to some extent and boost your score for coherence and cohesion, but you must use relevant ideas and use these ideas well to answer the question.

You can see how my student scored a Band 8.5 in IELTS Writing here:

Next Steps 

We hope you found those IELTS Writing Task 2 structures useful. Looking for some more sample questions? Here are over 100 sample questions from past exam papers.

If you would personalised feedback and guidance until you get the score you need, you can join the Waiting List for my VIP Course here.

About Christopher Pell

My name is Christopher Pell and I'm the Managing Director of IELTS Advantage.

I started IELTS Advantage as a simple blog to help 16 students in my class. Several years later, I am very humbled that my VIP Course has been able to help thousands of people around the world to score a Band 7+ in their IELTS tests.

If you need my help with your IELTS preparation, you can send me an email using the contact us page.

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IELTS Argumentative Essay Structure: Here’s the Step by Step Guide You should Know

When you write a convincing article, you need more than an argument to make your voice felt. Even the best position would not be convincing if it is not well formulated and reinforced by sound logic and proof. Learn what elements each argumentative essay should contain and how to present the essay in a clean and attractive manner in this simple step-by-step tutorial. Read the article below to get a clear view of IELTS argumentative essay structure

What is an Argumentative Essay?

An argumentative essay is a form of essay writing that takes a stand on the matter. In a strong argumentative article, the writer tries to convince readers to consider and accept their point of view on the matter by outlining their reasoning and presenting facts to back it up.

Argumentative essay writing is a common task for high school students as well as IELTS aspirants Normally, argumentative essay subjects are linked to science, technologies, economics and medical care.

Argument Essay IELTS Structure: IELTS Essay Format

Argumentative essays should have a clear structure such that they are convenient for readers to understand. The purpose of the argumentative essay is to explicitly outline the perspective, the logic and the proof. Follow the IELTS argumentative essay structure below, to write a perfect essay for your IELTS writing task

Introductory Paragraph: IELTS Essay Structure Task 2

The first section of your essay should outline the subject, include the context details required to explain your case, outline the facts that you will be presenting, and state your topic.

The Topic Statement: IELTS Essay Structure Task 2

This is part of the first line of your order. This is a succinct, one-sentence description of your key argument and assertion.

Body Paragraphs: IELTS Essay Structure Task 2

A standard argumentative essay consists of three or four paragraphs that clarify why you endorse your topic. Each topic sentence should cover a different theory or bit of proof and contain a theme sentence that simply and concisely demonstrates why the examiner should agree with your argument. Body paragraphs are where you support up your arguments with examples, analysis, statistics, tests, and text quotes. Discuss and disprove contrary points of view or justify that you disagree with them. Presenting facts and considering a subject from both perspectives adds integrity and can help you win the confidence of the examiner

Conclusion: IELTS Essay Structure Task 2

One section that reiterates the topic and outlines all the points set forth in the sections in your body. Instead of adding additional evidence or further claims, a successful conclusion would cater to the feelings of the reader. In certain cases, authors will use a subjective opinion to illustrate how the topic affects them directly.

Also Read: Art is Considered an Essential Part of All Cultures: A Topic of IELTS Essay

IELTS Writing Task Sample Topic

It is often argued that not many students go to university, while others claim that college education should be a fundamental right. Discuss all sides of the debate and express your own view.

In certain developing nations, it is not uncommon for more than 50% of young people to attend university or college. Reviewers, though, contend that certain undergraduate programmes are useless and that young people will be best off learning expertise at the workplace. In this article, I’m going to discuss all sides of this debate and attempt to draw a conclusion.

Break the Paragraph: IELTS Argumentative Essay Structure

There are many reasons why students now feel that they have the right to higher education. Second, increasing growth in many parts of the world has expanded the number of families with resources to build for the future of their children. Around the same time, declining birth rates mean that one or two kids’ families have become normal, raising the amount of spending for each child. It is not shocking, however, that young people are able to let their families sustain them until they are 21 or 22 years of age. In addition, millions of new positions have been generated in the information industries, and these jobs are normally only available to university graduates.

Nevertheless, it also seems that graduates end up in jobs that are not relevant to their university studies. It is not rare for major English literature to end up employed in sales, or for an engineering graduate to retrain as an instructor, for example. Any commentators have indicated that young people are avoiding their entrance into the workplace rather than learning technical skills. The more important concern is that the higher cost of higher education would ensure that many families are hesitant to have more than one child, alleviating the declining birth rate in some countries.

In summary, while it can be claimed that so much focus is placed on higher education, my own view is that university years are a critical period for personal growth. When individuals enter the workplace at the age of 18, their career opportunities can be heavily limited. Attending a university gives them opportunities to think more about themselves and make a more fitting career decision.

Also Read: Is there a Fact Check in Essay Writing in IELTS? Here’s a List of Do’s and Don’ts

IELTS Argumentative Essay Structure Key Points

Make a question and answer it.

Set a major question that was asked of your essay or in the first few words. Then, accumulate your short paragraph to address the question. For illustration, in your title or introduction, you may ask, “What is the best kind of sandwich? ” And then respond with your sentence fragment: “The best type of sandwich is sour cream and jam.” This approach is successful since interesting questions pull readers in and inspire them to keep reading to find answers.

Make an Argument and Clarify It

Implement a concept that conflicts with your view, and clarify explicitly why you disagree with it. “While some people think that peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are too easy, they are flexible. Transform the subject into a question and answer it. Set a major question in the title of your essay or in the first few words. Then, accumulate your short paragraph to address the question. For instance, in your title or introduction, you may ask, “What is the best kind of sandwich? “And then respond with your sentence fragment: ‘The best form of sandwich is sour cream and jam.’ This approach is successful because interesting questions attract readers and inspire them to continue to read to figure out the answer.

Outline the Crucial Points

Introduce the key argument and clarify how you are going to back that up. For instance, “You can turn whipped cream and jam sandwich into a fine meal by using hand-made bread, toasting bread, and creating extra ingredients.” This approach is useful because it gives readers a good picture about what you’re about to cover in your article. It also acts as a route map to help you remain focused and on schedule.

Also Read: IELTS Writing Task 2 Samples: Exam Questions & Answers to Target Minimum Band 8

5 Argument Types: IELTS Argumentative Essay Structure

When you decide what you’re speaking about and know your conclusion point, imagine how you’re going to make your case. There are five forms of statement statements that can be used to guide your essay:

• Idea: whether the argument is valid or not.
• Description: a dictionary definition of what you argue, and your own personal understanding of it.
• Value: The value of what you’re talking for.
• Cause and consequence: what triggers the dilemma in your article and what effect it has on it.
• Strategy: why the examiner should take care of it and what they should do with it after reading it.

We hope we have given you a perfect article regarding the IELTS argumentative essay structure. To write a perfect argumentative essay you must practice daily. Opt for a lot of mock tests to get better.

Want to become perfect in the IELTS argumentative essay? Follow similar blogs from IELTS Ninja

Also Read: IELTS Essay in Writing Task 2: Here’s How to Organize it Well

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How to Plan & Write IELTS Opinion Essays

IELTS opinion essays, also known as ‘agree or disagree’ essays, come up frequently in the writing exam. In this lesson, I’m going to show you how to plan and write them step-by-step.

Here’s what we’ll be covering:

• 3 Common mistakes
• Essay structure
• How to plan
• How to write an introduction
• How to write main body paragraphs
• How to write a conclusion

Click the links to see lessons on each of these Task 2 essay writing topics. 

Once you understand the process, practice on past questions. Take your time at first and gradually speed up until you can plan and write an essay of at least 250 words in the 40 minutes allowed in the exam.

The Question

The first part of the question for an IELTS opinion essay will be a statement. You will then be asked to give your own opinion about the statement. Here is some typical wording that might be used:

• What is your opinion?
• Do you agree or disagree?
• To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Want  to watch and listen to this lesson?

Click on this video.

Here's a question from a past test paper.

A big salary is much more important than job satisfaction.  

Do you agree or disagree?  

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

I’ll be using this question to guide you through the process of planning and writing an IELTS opinion essay.

3 Common Mistakes

These three errors are common in IELTS opinion essays.

• Not stating an opinion.
• Giving arguments for both views.
• Not supporting your opinion with clear reasons.

The most common mistake that students make is not giving an opinion. The question will clearly state that you must choose one side of the argument. If you fail to do this, you will get a low score for task achievement.

It doesn’t matter which side of the argument you take or even, that you agree with it. Choose the one you can develop the best argument for.

Make sure that you don’t change your opinion part way through the essay, and don’t give reasons for the opposing view.

Essay Structure

Now let’s look at a simple structure you can use to write opinion essays. It’s not the only possible structure but it’s the one I recommend because it’s easy to learn and will enable you to quickly plan and write a high-level essay.

1)  Introduction

• Paraphrase the question
• Give your opinion
• State two supporting reasons

2)  Main body paragraph 1

• Topic sentence – outline 1st reason for supporting this view
• Explanation – explain this idea
• Example – give an example  or expand the idea

3)  Main body paragraph 2

• Topic sentence – outline 2nd reason for supporting this view
• Example – give an example or expand the idea

4)  Conclusion

• Summarise opinion and key reasons

This structure will give us a well-balanced essay with 4 paragraphs.

We now need some ideas to add into the structure and we’ll have everything we need for our essay.

How To Plan IELTS Opinion Essays

# 1  decide on your opinion.

The question I've chosen to work on is quite straightforward and easy to understand so we don’t need to spend time analysing it. The first task, then, is to decide on our opinion.

Here’s the question again:

A big salary is much more important than job satisfaction.

Do you agree or disagree?  

For this essay, I’m going to disagree with the statement and argue that job satisfaction is more important than a big salary.

# 2  Generate ideas

The second task is to generate some ideas to write about.

Since I‘m going to argue that job satisfaction is more important than a large salary, I need ideas to support this view.

There are several different ways to think up ideas. I cover them fully on the  IELTS Essay Planning  page.

With this particular question, I immediately thought of a couple of examples of situations where job satisfaction did prove to be more important than a high salary, so I’m going to use the ‘example method’ of generating ideas.

Once you’ve thought of an example or two, ideas to include in your essay should come to you easily.

You might want to try this yourself before reading on for my ideas.

Here are my examples and some ideas they generated.

Both the examples are partly true but I've adapted them to better fit the essay. It's fine to do this as the examiner won't check your facts.

• Uncle Barry – boasted about high salary but hated his job. Nervous breakdown – lost job & can’t work.
• Me – gave up teaching. Now enjoy my work and am much more relaxed and happy even though I earn much less money.
• High-salary jobs are generally more stressful
• Stress leads to ill health, both mental and physical
• 40 hours a week at work – a third of the day
• Money doesn’t bring happiness
• Better quality of life
• Sense of fulfilment
• Less stressed – healthier and happier

I’ve got more ideas here than I need so I’m going to pick two to develop in the essay – one for each of the main body paragraphs.

Idea 1 – High-salary jobs are generally more stressful and can lead to ill health.

Idea 2 – Job satisfaction gives a sense of fulfilment.

We’re almost ready to start writing our IELTS opinion essay but first, we have one other small task to do.

# 3  Vocabulary

In an IELTS essay, it’s important to be able to say the same things in different ways, either by paraphrasing and/or using synonyms. During the planning stage, quickly jot down a few synonyms of key words you could use to save you having to stop and think of the right language while you’re writing.

For example:

satisfaction – fulfilment, achievement, sense of accomplishment, content, sense of well-being

salary – income, wages, pay, earnings

important – significant, valued, has more meaning

job – work, employment, position

With that done, we can focus on the first paragraph of the essay – the introduction.

How To Write an Introduction

A good introduction has a simple 3 part structure:

1)  Paraphrased question

2)  Thesis statement

3)  outline statement.

An introduction should:

• Have 2-3 sentences
• Be 40-60 words long
• Take 5 minutes to write

1)  Paraphrase the question

Start your introduction by paraphrasing the question.

     Question:  A big salary is much more important than job satisfaction.

                       Do you agree or disagree?  

Paraphrased question:  

It is argued that earning lots of money has more significance to people than being content in their work.

Note that I’ve used some of the synonyms I listed, although it’s fine to repeat one or two words if you need to. Above all, your language must sound natural.

In IELTS opinion essays, the thesis statement is where you state your opinion. For example,

    Thesis statement:  

    This essay totally disagrees with that statement.

That’s all you need to say.

If you decided to agree with the statement, you would write:

'This essay completely agrees with that statement.'

Finally in the introduction, you must outline the two main points (ideas 1 and 2 above) that you’ll cover in the rest of the essay. Do it in one sentence, or you can add them onto the end of the thesis statement if appropriate.

Outl ine statement:  

I believe that people are increasingly concerned about the risk of stress-related ill-health frequently experienced by people in highly paid positions and they care more about feeling fulfilled at work.

So, let’s bring the three elements of our introduction together.

     Introduction

This introduction achieves three important functions:

• It shows the examiner that you understand the question.
• It acts as a guide to the examiner as to what your essay is about.
• It also helps to keep you focused and on track as you write.

The two ideas in your introduction will become your two main body paragraphs.

Main body paragraph 1  – concerns about the risk of stress-related ill-health

Main body paragraph 2  – a sense of fulfilment at work

How To Write Main Body Paragraphs

The structure of a good main body paragraph has 3 parts:

• Topic sentence
• Explanation

If you can’t think of an example, you can add further supporting ideas but we already have our two examples so that’s not an issue here.

A common problem when writing main body paragraphs for IELTS opinion essays is having too many ideas. Again, we have already chosen the two ideas we are going to develop, so we are all set to start writing.

You can see how important the planning stage is and how it makes the actual writing of the essay far quicker and easier.

Main Body Paragraph 1

The  topic sentence  summarises the main idea of the paragraph. That’s all it needs to do so it doesn’t have to be complicated.

It plays an important role in ensuring that your ideas flow logically from one to another. It does this by acting as a signpost for what is to come next, that is, what the paragraph will be about.

If you maintain a clear development of ideas throughout your essay, you will get high marks for task achievement and cohesion and coherence.

We’ll now take the idea for our first main body paragraph and create our topic sentence.

Main idea 1  – concerns about the risk of stress-related ill-health

Topic sentence:  

Employees earning a large income are generally under significant mental and emotional pressure to perform well and achieve targets.

Next, we must write an  explanation sentence . This explains to the examiner what we mean. It expands on our first idea.

Explanation sentence: 

This causes many individuals to suffer high levels of stress which can result in both mental and physical health problems.

Finally, we add an  example  to support our main point. I thought of this in the planning stage so I have it ready to use.

If you can’t think of a real example, it’s fine to make one up, as long as it’s believable. The examiner isn’t going to check your facts.

Example sentence:

This happened to my uncle. He used to boast about his huge salary but the boss kept increasing his sales targets and in the end, the stress became too great and he had a nervous breakdown. Now he regrets being driven by the money.

That’s the 3 parts of our first main body paragraph complete. Here’s the finished paragraph.

We now follow the same process for our second main body paragraph.

Main Body Paragraph 2

Main idea 2  – Job satisfaction gives a sense of fulfilment.

First, we write the  topic sentence  to summarise the main idea.

Topic sentence:

Having a job that they enjoy doing, and in which they feel valued, is a major concern for most of the modern workforce.

Now for the  explanation sentence  to explain this idea.

Explanation sentence:

A significant number of people are giving up well-paid positions to do jobs which pay less but that they find more enjoyable and less stressful.

Finally, an  example  to support our main point. As before, I thought of this in the planning stage so just need to form it into a couple of sentences.

I am an example of this myself. A year ago I left the teaching profession because the workload had become too great and I am now a gardener. I feel really fulfilled in this work and I am much more relaxed and happy even though I earn far less money.

That’s the 3 parts of our second main body paragraph complete. Here’s the finished paragraph.

Now we need a conclusion and our IELTS opinion essay is done.

How To Write a Conclusion

Conclusions to IELTS opinion essays should do two things:

• Summarise the main points
• State your opinion

This can generally be done in a single sentence.

If you are below the minimum 250 words after you’ve written your conclusion, you can add an additional prediction or recommendation statement.

Our essay currently has 233 words so we’re on target and don’t need this extra sentence but you can learn more about how to write a prediction or recommendation statement for IELTS opinion essays on the Task 2 Conclusions page.

The conclusion is the easiest sentence in the essay to write but one of the most important.

A good conclusion will:

• Neatly end the essay
• Link all your ideas together
• Sum up your argument or opinion
• Answer the question

If you achieve this, you’ll improve your score for both task achievement and cohesion and coherence which together make up 50% of the overall marks. Without a conclusion, you’ll score below band 6 for task achievement.

You can start almost any final paragraph of an IELTS opinion essay with the words:

• In conclusion

        or

• To conclude

Now all you need to do is briefly summarise the main ideas into one sentence.

Here’s a top tip . Go back and read the introduction to the essay because this is also a summary of the essay. It outlines what you are going to write about.

To create a great conclusion, you simply have to paraphrase the introduction. Let’s give it a go.

Introduction:

Here is the same information formed into a conclusion:

That’s it. We’ve completed our essay. Here it is with the 4 paragraphs put together.

    Question:

   A big salary is much more important than job satisfaction.

   Do you agree or disagree?

Finished IELTS opinion essay.

Go through this lesson as many times as you need to in order to fully understand it and put in lots of practice writing IELTS opinion essays from past exam questions. Practice is the only way to improve your skills.

5 More Model IELTS Opinion Essays

This pack contains another step-by-step lesson and  model essay. P lus 4 additional opinion essay questions with model answers.

Carefully created to help you achieve 7+ in your Writing test.

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More help with ielts opinion essays & other task 2 essays.

IELTS Writing Task 2  – T he format, the 5 question types, the 5 step essay writing strategy & sample questions. All the key information you need to know.

The 5 Types of Task 2 Essay   – How to recognise the 5 different types of Task 2 essays. 15 sample questions to study and a simple planning structure for each essay type.

Understanding Task 2 Questions  – How to quickly and easily analyse and understand IELTS Writing Task 2 questions.

How To Plan a Task 2 Essay  – Discover why essay planning is essential & learn a simple 4 step strategy, the 4 part essay structure & 4 methods of generating ideas.

How To Write a Task 2 Introduction  – Find out why a good introduction is essential. Learn how to write one using a simple 3 part strategy & discover 4 common mistakes to avoid.

How To Write Task 2 Main Body Paragraphs  – Learn the simple 3 part structure for writing great main body paragraphs and also, 3 common mistakes to avoid. 

How To Write Task 2 Conclusions  – Learn the easy way to write the perfect conclusion for a Task 2 essay. Also discover 4 common mistakes to avoid.

Task 2 Marking Criteria  – Find out how to meet the marking criteria in Task 2. See examples of good and poor answers & learn some common mistakes to avoid.

The 5 Task 2 Essay Types:

Step-by-step instructions on how to plan & write high-level essays. Model answers & common mistakes to avoid.

   Opinion Essays

   Discussion Essays

  Problem Solution Essays

  Advantages & Disadvantages Essays

  Double Question Essays

Other Related Pages

IELTS Writing Test  – Understand the format & marking criteria, know what skills are assessed & learn the difference between the Academic & General writing tests.

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35 Sample Band 9 IELTS Essays

Take a look at these 35 sample Band 9 IELTS essays for writing task 2 of the IELTS exam . Task 2 can cover a wide range of essay topics for the IELTS writing task section of the test, so preparation is key. Use the following samples when preparing your IELTS essays to see how close you are to a band 9!

These IELTS band 9 essay samples will help you highlight your mistakes and improve your writing band 9 level.

See the below IELTS essay writing sample questions and answers to practice for your IELTS writing task 2 .

You will find the IELTS essay questions and answers categorised by the following essay types.

• Do you agree/disagree
• Discuss both views and give your opinion
• Discuss the advantages and disadvantages
• Discuss the problems and possible solutions
• Is this a positive or a negative development

For a FREE ebook of our top 10 IELTS Band 9 essay samples in PDF, click here!

1. agree or disagree .

• Some people believe that technology has made man more social. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?
• Some people think that a person improves their intellectual skills more when doing group activities. To what extent do you agree? Use specific details and examples to explain your view.
• In some countries, the number of shootings increase because many people have guns at home. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Give specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
• Some people believe that international sporting events are the ideal opportunity to show the world the qualities of the hosting nation. Others believe that these events are mainly a large unjustifiable expense. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Crime is a big problem in the world; many believe that nothing can be done to prevent it. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Give your own opinion.
• Doing an enjoyable activity with a child can develop better skills and more creativity than reading. To what extent do you agree? Use reasons and specific examples to explain your answer.
• Improvements in health, education and trade are essential for the development of poorer nations. However, the governments of richer nations should take more responsibility for helping the poorer nations in such areas. To what extent do you agree?
• Advances in health and biology and other areas of society in the last 100 years have transformed the way we live as well as postponing the day we die. There is no better time to be alive than now. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?
• The world is consuming natural resources faster than they can be renewed. Therefore, it is important that products are made to last. Governments should discourage people from constantly buying more up-to-date or fashionable products. To what extent do you agree with this statement?
• Some people believe that children’s leisure activities must be educational, otherwise, they are a complete waste of time. Do you agree or disagree? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your experience.
• Many governments in the world spend large amounts of money on art, which helps to improve the quality of people’s lives. However, governments should spend money on other things rather than art. Do you agree or disagree? Give your opinion.

2. Discuss both views and give your point of view?

• NEW SEPTEMBER 2022: Some people believe that professionals such as doctors and engineers should be required to work in the country where they did their training. Others believe they should be free to work in another country if they wish. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
• Nowadays most green energy is becoming evermore prevalent in both developed and developing countries. Some argue they greatly reduce costs and are better for the environment, others believe they are a serious threat to energy security. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
• Some people are of the opinion that children should be rewarded for good behaviour. Others think they should be punished for bad behaviour. Discuss both views and give your personal opinion and reasons.
• Some people think that keeping pets is good for children while others think it is dangerous and unhealthy. Which opinion do you agree with? Discuss both options and give examples .
• Some people think that secondary school children should study international news as one of the school subjects. Other people think that it is a waste of valuable school time. What do you think? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
• Some products can be made quickly by a machine. Other items take a long time to be made by hand. As a buyer, which do you prefer and why? Give specific details and examples in your answer.
• Some people think women should be given equal chances to work and excel in their careers. Others believe that a woman’s role should be limited to taking care of the house and children. Which opinion do you agree with and why? Include specific details and examples to support your choice.
• Most schools are planning to replace sports and exercise classes with more academic sessions. How will this change affect children’s lives in your view?
• 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.
• Some people think that it is acceptable to use animals in medical research for the benefit of human beings, while other people argue that it is wrong.
• Should humans adapt to technology or should technology be adapted to us? Is technology making us intellectually weaker or more intelligent?
• Do copyright laws limit creativity or reward it? Would society function better without such rules and regulations?
• Should education and healthcare be free of charge and funded by the government, or should it be the responsibility of the people to pay for these services? Discuss the above and give your opinion using examples.

3. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages

• Is it good for children to start using computers from an early age and spend long hours on them? Discuss the advantages and disadvantages.
• Some people think high school graduates should travel or work for a period of time instead of going directly to study at university. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of both approaches. Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

4. Two questions, for example: Why is this happening? Is this a positive or negative development?

• These days some people spend a lot of money on tickets to go to sporting or events. Do you think this is a positive or negative development ?
• Some people like to travel outside their country. Others would rather travel to tourist spots in their own country first, before travelling abroad. Which do you prefer to do and why? Include specific details and examples to support your choice.
• Women can do everything that men can and they even do it better. They also can do many things that men cannot. But it is a fact that their work is not appreciated as much as men’s, although they have to sacrifice a lot for their family and career… It is said: “A woman’s place is in the home.” What do you think?

5. Discuss the problems and possible solutions OR discuss the causes and what problems it causes?

• People are using a lot of online language translation apps. Do the benefits of this outweigh the disadvantages?
• Obesity is a serious problem in many countries, especially in rich countries. Discuss ways to solve the problem. Provide specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
• Today, the quality of life in large cities is decreasing.  Discuss the causes and solutions.
• Research shows that global warming is caused by human activity. What are the possible effects of climate change and what can governments and individuals do to reduce these?
• In many countries, recently young single people have been living far from their parents, from the time they began studies or work and until they married. Do you think there are more advantages or disadvantages to this trend?
• Traditional schooling is out of date, boring and stifles a child’s natural talents, various professionals have pushed for an education revolution. Are there alternatives in the education system? Is traditional education doing more harm than good?

Take a look at some of our writing tasks to help you prepare for your IELTS exam , and if you need more help, we have a course that is guaranteed to help you pass IELTS. Practicing IELTS writing task 2 essays is very important for your exam preparation.

Video: IELTS Band 9 Writing Sample – Body Paragraphs

Click here for a FREE ebook of our top 10 IELTS Band 9 samples for writing task 2 in PDF,

For more preparation, take a look at our latest tutorials:.

• Band 9 Model Essay and Vocabulary-Cryptocurrency
• Sample task 2 questions
• Sample Band 9 Essay: Children and Education
• Sample Answers: discuss the advantages and disadvantages
• How to get ideas for task 2
• Full guide to academic collocations
• How to write a agree/disagree essay
• IELTS Writing Task 2: advantages and disadvantages questions

For a FREE ebook of our top 10 sample essays, click here!

Enhance Your Essays with Our Efficient Online IELTS Essay Checker

Practicing for IELTS Writing Task 2? You’re in the right place. But after you practice, how can you know if your essay is good? We have a tool to help! It’s called the online IELTS essay checker .

You can find it here . This tool is very easy to use. You write your essay, and our tool checks it. It tells you what mistakes you made and how to fix them. This means you can learn and get better faster. The best part? You save money.

Many students pay a lot for IELTS classes or teachers to check their essays. But our online IELTS essay checker is cheaper and works fast. You don’t have to wait! So, after you read the sample essays on this page, use our online IELTS essay checker .

It can help you see where you can do better. And it’s a good way to get ready for the IELTS exam without spending a lot of money. So, if you want to write better essays and save money, try our online IELTS essay checker .

We made it for students like you. We hope it helps you get the score you want.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How to score band 9 in ielts writing.

You can score band 9 in IELTS writing by following these steps:

• Make sure you understand the question and answer what is being asked.
• Plan out your essay before you start writing
• Write your essay, review it and then “rewrite” it .
• Get feedback on your essays and find out where you may be losing points.
• Improve your language skills.

Read this post for more tips.

How do you write a 9 band essay?

Practice each essay type and be clear about the criteria for a perfect score. Basically, you need clear formal paragraphing, an essay that ‘flows’ logically and stays focused on the question, which is answered fully with high-level vocabulary and near-perfect grammar.

How can I get 9 in IELTS writing?

Look at model answers and memorize phrases that work for most essays – ‘In the modern world’ is a great way to start. A focus on global issues and international examples rounds out your answer and practice timed essays before the test.

Can you get 10 in IELTS?

No, the top band score is a 9. Be realistic though, some of the best universities in the world require a band 7 or 7.5 for their most challenging courses so a perfect score isn’t necessary in most situations.

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How to write an argument for an IELTS Task 2 essay

By ielts-jonathan.com on 17 June 2022 0

Introduction to IELTS and Academic Writing.

The kind of writing we are going to describe here is ONLY suitable for IELTS Task 2 Writing and not TASK 1 .

Because in Task 1, you are not required to add additional opinion, or comment or speculate on why figures or numbers might be so.

In Task 1, you should only report the figures you can see .

You should not speculate, predict or introduce personal experience in your writing.

Task 2 Writing

For Task 2, often your writing can be improved substantially by providing support to your ideas, your opinions or when answering the prompt given.

Providing Support

Academic writing tends to be impersonal in style in order to be objective .

This may make it appear formal.

Unfortunately, too many IELTS Candidates write in a subjective style .

The result can be:.

If an IELTS Task 2 appears too subjective, this can affect the tone of the writing and lower the Score.

Therefore, it is important to notice how academic writers express themselves and support their opinions.

Support consists of evidence.

Here are four kinds of evidence to make your argument stronger:.

1. Example: from your own experience or from what you heard or read.

2. Common Sense: things that you believe everybody knows.

3. Expert Opinion: the opinions of experts or professionals

(e.g. scientists or doctors) — this comes from research.

4. Statistics: numbers (e.g 75% ) — this also comes from research.

Task: Read the arguments for the following statement:

Here is the statement to consider.

Statement: “Smoking should be banned in all public places”

This is the position I am going to take.

Position: Agree

So, now I am going to agree with this statement by providing an example .

1. Example:

For example / for instance / let me give an example

“ Let me give an example: Whenever I go to a restaurant or bar and there are people smoking near me, I feel that I am breathing in their smoke. This makes me a smoker even though I don’t want to be ”.

or by providing a shared belief.

2. Common Sense:

Everyone knows / it’s common knowledge that / it’s no secret that

“ It’s common knowledge secondhand smoke is very unhealthy for nonsmokers ”.

or by providing figures or percentages .

3. Statistics:

“ Secondhand smoke causes about 250,000 respiratory infections in infants and children every year, resulting in about 15,000 hospitalizations each year ”.

or by providing the voice of another .

4 . Expert Opinion:

According to…/ to quote…/ the book _____ says…

“ According to the Environmental Protection Agency, secondhand smoke causes approximately 3,000 lung cancer deaths in nonsmokers each year ”.

For the IELTS test, there is not enough time or number of words to allow completely for this academic style, so although IELTS writing is not informal, it is much more semi-academic in style .

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The Best Approach to Task 2 Writing

Paragraphing in Task 2 Writing

Strong Arguments for Task 2

Writing the Introduction

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Cohesion for Task 2 Writing

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[Advanced IELTS Writing] How to Craft a Convincing Argument

Posted by David S. Wills | Feb 9, 2021 | IELTS Tips , Writing | 4

Today, I would like to show you how to write a strong essay for IELTS writing task 2. In this case, the question will be “ agree or disagree ” and I am going to strongly disagree. If you want to know about providing a balanced answer, you can read this article .

In order to provide a convincing argument, I am going to do several things that are important:

• Show my position clearly and consistently
• Avoid clichés, memorised phrases, and falsehoods
• Acknowledge and refute the opposing ideas
• Present details explanation and examples

This is not easy to do and thus I would call this an “Advanced IELTS technique.” However, you don’t need to be at a very high level to begin employing these ideas in your work. You can start now and – as you improve your vocabulary and grammar skills – you will see your IELTS essays dramatically improve.

Analysing the Question

First of all, let’s pick a sample IELTS question to analyse today. This will be the question that we look at throughout the article and I will give my own band 9 sample answer at the bottom.

Some people say that all popular TV entertainment programmes should aim to educate viewers about important social issues. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

In order to write a good IELTS essay, you must first understand the question . I cannot overstate the importance of this. Thankfully, this question is quite easy to understand. You should make sure that you don’t just understand the main ideas, but think about all parts of the question. Here, you should make note of the words “all” and “important.” It is not just some TV shows and not all social issues.

Picking Ideas to Write About

Once you have done that, you should look at crafting your answer. This begins with brainstorming ideas. I have written about how to generate ideas for IELTS essays and basically there are different approaches but you should focus on picking a few of the very best ideas. Don’t try to incorporate too much or one of the following will happen:

• You may have too many ideas with not enough development.
• You might write too much and run out of time.

Both of these are serious problems to be avoided. Thankfully, by writing many essays you can practise the brainstorming process and avoid these problems.

For the above question, you could either agree or disagree. I am going to disagree, and my initial ideas could be listed as such:

• Educational shows are boring.
• It is hard to say what should be included.
• This will result in propaganda.
• TV is meant to be exciting.
• Who could force directors to do this?

Are all of these ideas strong? Not really. Numbers 1 and 4 are a bit weak, but they contain some truth. I could perhaps roll these into one bigger idea, which is that people enjoy TV shows as an escape from dull reality. That is much more convincing, but it would still need to presented in an intelligent way to avoid it being a shallow and unconvincing argument.

Ideas 2, 3, and 5 are clearly related. It would be better to roll them into one single idea as well, which is that the concept of “important social issues” is amorphous and hard to implement for a range of reasons. I will make this my second idea, using examples and careful explanation to make it clear to the reader.

You can see that the five ideas listed above have now been adapted into two ideas, which is much easier to incorporate into an IELTS essay:

• People need TV as an entertaining escape from reality and forcing educational material into them might ruin this.
• It is hard to say what an important social value is and even harder to force directors into including these.

Structuring an Intelligent and Convincing Essay

Now that we have our two ideas, we can look at creating a structure. Although I strongly recommend avoiding formulae and memorisation for IELTS, one exception to this is the use of a basic essay template, which looks like this:

• Introduction
• Main body paragraph 1
• Main body paragraph 2

Of course, this needs to be adapted to fit the type of essay and its content, but overall you can almost always rely upon this four-paragraph structure. ( Five paragraphs are sometimes preferable, but not often.)

It is worth planning your essay in advance so that you can stay on-topic and present convincing ideas. My essay plan would look like this:

You may wonder why I have included two examples. I would not normally do this, but I feel that here there are two major issues that need to be addressed in regards so-called “important social issues”:

• In places like China, governments spread propaganda about social harmony that is merely an attempt to stymy criticism.
• In more liberal countries, major social divides exist that raise the question of who decided what is important.

Although this makes the essay more complex, it shows an ability to look at a serious issue in a nuanced way. In other words, it checks all the boxes required for a high score in Task Achievement .

In addition, I typically do not recommend rhetorical questions because they can be pointless or annoying, seeming only to add unnecessary words. However, when used carefully they can add great value. In this case, my aim is to show uncertainty regarding the supposed wisdom of the idea I am rejecting. As such, a rhetorical question can call this into question effectively. (You can see this in the sample answer at the bottom of the page.)

Avoiding Common Problems in IELTS Essays

I often write about common problems in IELTS and most of these come from bad teachers and bad websites . Whilst some problems are hard to avoid (e.g. grammatical errors), others are easier to avoid. Here are a few:

1. Don’t Paraphrase the Question

It is sometimes said that IELTS candidates should paraphrase the question. Indeed, I have taught this myself to a number of students, but really I suggest it for task 1 and for lower-level students. If you want to score band 7 in task 2, you really should not try to paraphrase the question.

Let’s look at it in this way. The above question contained the statement:

Some people say that all popular TV entertainment programmes should aim to educate viewers about important social issues.

One of my students recently responded with this opening line:

It is often argued that the subject related with prominent social issues should be included into famous broadcast entertainment shows for the educational purpose to viewers.

There are many problems here, but fundamentally they all stem from the fact that she had tried to paraphrase the question. It is very easy for an IELTS tutor or examiner to notice this. In this case, her determination to repeat the question but in different words has resulted in a number of mistakes with vocabulary and grammar. I have corrected them thusly:

Instead of doing this, I strongly recommend that you read the question, analyse it, and then write your own version of the issue as a first sentence. For example, I will begin my essay like this:

• A small number of people argue that TV shows should all be required to present their viewers with educational material or material that otherwise discusses social issues.

2. Not Everything is a Controversy…

Another reason not to paraphrase is the fact that it results in clichéd and inaccurate claims like “It is often argued that…” Notice that in my first line, I said “A small number of people argue…” This is an important distinction. Do people really argue about whether educational material should be inserted into all TV shows? I had never heard this outrageous suggestion until today! It is certainly not controversial.

Unfortunately, most IELTS candidates go to rubbish websites and teachers for advice, leading them to memorise phrases and regurgitate them in their essays. I recently read a collection of several thousand essays and a staggering number began in almost the same way:

• It cannot be denied that…
• There is a hot controversy…
• ____ is a controversial issue…
• As we all know…

If you hear a teacher telling you to use these phrases, you need to leave their class and find someone else. If you find these recommended on a website, you need to stop using it. This is terrible advice.

IELTS is a test of your English skills and your thinking skills. If you just blindly repeat inaccurate phrases like these, you will surely get a bad score. It tells the examiner two main things:

• You are not using your own language to convey ideas.
• You are not capable of logical thinking.

Instead, read the question carefully and respond to it directly. This is not easy, but even if you make some mistakes you will do better than the people who use act like parrots.

3. Be Consistent in your Ideas

It is ok to agree with this position or disagree but be consistent . You will notice that I often show the opposing view in my essays, usually with the purpose of refuting it. This is a great way of showing the ability to engage with both sides of the debate and not only present your own opinion but reject the opposing one.

However, do not fall into the trap of either changing your opinion halfway through or else seeming to change your opinion. The former is a major mistake that few people make but the latter is pretty common.

An example is that people often say “I totally agree…” but then try to show the other side of the argument in order to present balance. This is fine, but you must show that you do not really believe what you are saying; otherwise, it is appears that you have switched positions. You can do this by saying “Whilst [opposing idea] seems reasonable, in fact is not realistic.” Or: “Some people believe that [opposing idea]; however, it is wrong because…”

Doing this again shows the ability to think logical, consider multiple viewpoints, and use language carefully. If you can do this, you will improve your chances of a good score for Task Achievement and Coherence and Cohesion .

Sample Band 9 Answer

Below you will see my sample answer. You can read an annotated version here that explains the purpose of each sentence. This answer adheres to the structure listed above.

A small number of people argue that TV shows should all be required to present their viewers with educational material or material that otherwise discusses social issues. This essay will strongly disagree with that notion. Although it may seem reasonable to suggest that TV shows be required to provide some redeeming social value through deliberately educational content, it is a naïve proposal. Humans have always enjoyed entertainment of different sorts, and whilst much of this imparts implicit messages, its primary function has been for the enjoyment of the viewer, listener, or reader. Life can be difficult or exhausting and people need entertainment as a form of release. To suggest that this is taken away from them through the deliberate insertion of educational material is misguided. Additionally, one might well ask who or what is to decide the definition of “important social issue” and what sort of message should be taught. In authoritarian states like China, this would surely be values related to keeping the peace at all costs and obeying the government, which is of course problematic under brutal regimes like theirs. In Western nations, there is presently a “culture war” on-going that bitterly divides the population, with hysterical attitudes displayed on both the right and left of the political spectrum. Which side would have their views forcefully inserted into TV programmes, and who would force writers, producers, and directors to incorporate views that may be anathema to their personal perspectives into their artistic works? These are difficult questions and ones with no good answers, suggesting that it would be nearly impossible to achieve this in some countries. In conclusion, it is a terrible idea to force educational material about social issues into TV shows for several reasons, including the difficulty of choosing what to include and the fact that people would more than likely cease enjoying the programmes they used to watch.

Feel free to post your ideas and essays in the comments below. I will give feedback if I see your comment.

About The Author

David S. Wills

David S. Wills is the author of Scientologist! William S. Burroughs and the 'Weird Cult' and the founder/editor of Beatdom literary journal. He lives and works in rural Cambodia and loves to travel. He has worked as an IELTS tutor since 2010, has completed both TEFL and CELTA courses, and has a certificate from Cambridge for Teaching Writing. David has worked in many different countries, and for several years designed a writing course for the University of Worcester. In 2018, he wrote the popular IELTS handbook, Grammar for IELTS Writing and he has since written two other books about IELTS. His other IELTS website is called IELTS Teaching.

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With the advent of booming television industry, there has been a suggestion to incorporate important social issues in all famous TV entertainment shows. I strongly disagree with this notion due to a few reasons which are stated below.

First of all, as the name suggests, TV entertainment programmes are meant to entertain and amuse people. As such, these shows are created as platforms for audience to release their stress and escape from dull reality. If they are really keen to learn about social issues, there are such channels available such as National Geographic or History channel. Popular entertainment shows certainly do not have the social obligation to do so. Furthermore, TV viewers might lose interest and stop subscribing to some channels if they continue to feature educational elements which might not appeal to them. Consequently, the TV industry may fail to achieve their goals and thus, crumble.

Beyond that, fundamental social issues is a debatable topic as it might differ from one country to another. For instance, in China, obeying the leaders blindly is a norm for them but the same might not be true in western countries. On the whole, there is a gray area as to what social issues really matter in our society nowadays. In addition, it is not feasible to force all the show directors or producers to include social issues into their shows. Essentially, they have their own freedom to decide what to portray in their shows.

To conclude, it is a terrible idea to force educational materials into these popular TV shows because it might defeat the true purpose of entertainment and also due to the ambiguity of the definition of pertinent social issues.

Hi David, thank you for sharing your thoughts and giving great advice on writing an argumentative IELTS essay. Regarding the above sample essay, the second paragraph with the sentence “….through deliberately educational content”, was the word “deliberately” grammatically correct?

Yes, it is. It is an adverb modifying an adjective (“educational”). In other words, it says HOW it is educational.

Ohh got it! Thank you so much!

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IELTS Sample Essays

Here you will find IELTS Sample Essays for a variety of common topics that appear in the writing exam.

The model answers all have tips and strategies for how you may approach the question and comments on the sample answer.

You can also view sample essays with band scores on this page. 

Looking at IELTS essay topics with answers is a great way to help you to prepare for the test. 

These IELTS sample essays have been categorised in a way that makes it easy for you to see how certain essay question types require you to provide certain responses to ensure the question is fully answered. 

Specifically these are:

• Agree / Disagree
• Discuss Two Opinions
• Problems and Solutions
• Advantages and Disadvantages
• Other Types

Agree / Disagree Type Questions

In these types of question you are given one opinion and you then have to state the extent to which you agree or disagree with that opinion:

• Advertising
• Alternative Medicine
• Spending on the Arts
• Human Cloning
• Social Interaction & the Internet
• Airline Tax
• Free University Education
• Scientific Research
• Banning Smoking
• Employing Older People
• Vegetarianism
• Paying Taxes  
• Examinations or Formal Assessment 
• Multinational Organisations and Culture
• Internet vs Newspapers
• Technology Development  
• Dying of Languages
• Animal Extinction
• Truth in Relationships
• Role of Schools
• Return of Historical Artefacts

Discuss Two Opinions Type Questions

In this essay question type you are given two opinions, and you have to discuss both of these and then give your own view:

• University Education
• Reducing Crime
• Animal Rights
• Child Development
• Diet & Health
• Donating Money to Charity
• Closing Zoos   
• Becoming Independent  
• Formal and Informal Education  
• Influence of Scientists and Politicians
• Sources for Stories
• Searching for Extraterrestrial Life

Cause Type Questions

There are a variety of 'cause type' essay questions. In these you first have to give the reasons why something has happened, in other words the causes, but then discuss a different aspect of it, such as the effects, solutions or the extent to whether it is a positive or negative development:

Causes & Effects:

• Child Obesity
• Skin Whitening Creams
• Family Size
• Having Children Later in Life
• Time Away from Family

Causes and Solutions:

• Youth Crime
• Global Warming
• Paying Attention in Class
• International Travel & Prejudice 
• Museums & Historical Places
• Disappearance of Traditions
• Communication Between Generations

Causes, Pros & Cons:

• Family Closeness
• Living Alone
• Rural to Urban Migration

Problems & Solutions Type Questions

In these type of questions, instead of discussing the causes of a problem, you need to discuss the problems related to a particular issue in society, and then suggest what can be to solve these problems:

• Overpopulation
• Competing for Jobs  
• Professionals Immigrating

Advantage & Disadvantages Type Questions

In these type of questions you are asked to discuss the positive and negative sides of a particular topic. You will usually be asked this in the context of giving an opinion ( e.g. Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages? Is it a positive or negative development? ): 

• Traffic Problems
• Food Additives
• Computer Games
• Age Discrimination at Work  
• Children using Tablets and Computers  
• Cell Phones, Internet, & Communication  
• Working from Home 
• Eating Locally grown  Produce  
• Oil and Gas Essay  
• Peer Pressure on Young People
• Online Fraud
• Decreasing House Sizes

'Hybrid' Types of Essay Question

There are sometimes questions that don't fit easily into a particular category as above. I've called these 'hybrid', as they are of mixed character, are composed of different elements from other types of essay, or are perhaps just worded differently. 

• Protecting Old Buildings
• Animal Testing
• Fear of Crime
• Communication Technology
• Influence of Children's Friends  

Sample Essays with Band Scores

You can also view some sample essays that have been written by candidates practising for the test and have band scores and comments by an experienced ex-IELTS Examiner based on the IELTS marking criteria. 

• IELTS Band 8 Essay Samples
• IELTS Band 7 Essay Samples
• IELTS Band 6 Essay Samples
• IELTS Band 5 Essay Samples
• IELTS Band 4 Essay Samples

Student Sample Essays

For more IELTS essay topics with answers you can also view essays that have been written by students. Some have feedback from other students or IELTS teachers:

• Student Model Essays  (with comments by other students)
• Student Model Essays (with comments by IELTS buddy)

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Balancing your opinion in an IELTS essay.

Showing the other side of the argument in an opinion essay..

Updated:  March 2023

In an opinion essay you should give 2 reasons for your opinion in the thesis statement then back them up with with an explanation in the main body paragraphs. I usually advise my students to choose one side, either agree or disagree, and stick with that.

You do not actually get a higher band score for a balanced approach, so it is safer to choose one side and stick with that view throughout the essay . Remember that your opinion must be in the introduction, main body paragraphs and the conclusion.

However, something that will showcase your language ability is to show the other side of the argument or give a concession to help balance the essay. This gives the essay good coherence cohesion and a wider range of grammar. This should be done carefully though, because you still have to maintain your own opinion and not contradict yourself.

When giving an opinion you can use these phrases:

I think that… This essay argues that… I hold the view that… In my opinion… In my view… I believe that… I firmly agree/disagree… I completely agree/disagree…

Phrases that can be used to balance an opinion

Example sentences

These are sentences I have taken from various IELTS essays.

1. I believe that obesity is caused by the over-consumption of fast food, although the issue of hereditary factors should also be taken into account. 2. In my opinion , serious crimes ought to be punished with long prison sentences. H ow ever , considering the other side of the argument, this might not be effective in bringing down the crime rate so other measures need to be taken. 3. I think that children need homework to test their abilities so they can attain high grades. On the other hand , there needs to be a balance of free time so that they can play and explore with friends. 4. In my view , working from home is better than working in an office. However, others might say it is easy to lose motivation when working from home. This is because it is easy to become distracted by watching TV or using Facebook.

Conjunctions such as ‘ Although’ and ‘ However’ are useful when you want to show contrast.

Key points :

• When you present the other side of the argument it is important to make your own opinion very clear in the body paragraphs and conclusion.
• If the question asks for your opinion you must give it directly. A discussion essay has a different structure but discussion essays ask for an opinion. Read the instruction words carefully first.
• Practice using these phrases in your writing and adapt them to your own style. Do not just memorise them and plant them in the essay because the examiner will see that and you can lose marks.

Example task question

‘Some people think that violent sports such as martial arts or boxing should be banned from international competitions. To what extent do you agree or disagree?.’

Let’s look at the 2 types of introduction that can be used here. One is a straightforward opinion, the other balances the opinion with the other side of the argument.

1. Some people would argue that violent sports such as boxing or combat sports ought to be prohibited from global sporting competitions. I disagree with this view because these sports can teach competitors discipline and strength of character. 2. Some would argue that violent sports such as boxing or combat sports ought to be prohibited from global sporting competitions. I disagree with this view because these sports can teach competitors discipline and strength of character; h owever, we must take into account the psychological effects on children if they watch these sports on TV.

• The blue sentence is my thesis statement that contains my opinion and a reason . The purple sentence is t he other side of the argument
• In example number 2 I added the contrast device ‘however.’ and then I wrote ‘…we must take into account… ‘, in this case, I am showing the other view, but I will still have to reinforce my opinion again in the body and conclusion.
• It is important to keep the introduction concise. In example 2 above the introduction is 52 words which is long enough.
• You can also use this technique in the body paragraphs instead of the introduction if you feel that the introduction becomes too long. Remember though that you must restate your opinion and be careful not to contradict yourself.

This is how I would reinforce my opinion in the conclusion.

To conclude, a lthough it is partly true that aggressive sports have a negative psychological impact on youngsters watching them on TV, I firmly believe that these sports should not be banned from international sporting events, because boxers and fighters learn strict discipline and inner strength.

I used the conjunction ‘ although’ and then the phrase  ‘ it is partly true …’  then in the blue sentence I state my opinion using  ‘ I firmly believe that..’  This method shows balance and I am clearly asserting my opinion again with some detail.

Note: The conclusion is 44 words here, make sure your conclusion is shorter than the introduction. There is no need for too much detail in this stage.

Lets Practice.

Below are some sentences taken from IELTS essays. Fill in the gaps with the best phrase from the box below.

1.  I think that the government should not control what we see on the internet. Although __________, such as dangerous websites with harmful content, there ought to be regulations put in place.

2. In my opinion, there are many benefits to running your own business, __________ , there are risks involved and working in a company tends to be more stable employment.

3. I believe that capital punishment is not an effective way to deal with serious high profile crimes and other more humane punishment must be used, whereas ________________ capital punishment does indeed act as a major deterrent. For instance, in countries which have the death penalty, there is evidence of a much lower crime rate for very serious offences.

4. I think that the government needs to invest more in public transport, but _______________ , some feel that investing in healthcare is more important as our health is a much greater priority.

5. In some cases , criminal activity should be dealt with by longer prison terms. However , ___________ , this is not the best solution and other alternatives need to be explored, such as community service for petty crimes.

6. I agree that getting a University degree can help secure a good job; however , practical real-life work experience should also be ______________.

Click on the orange button below to see my answers, note that some answers may vary. If you have questions put a comment in the comments section at the end of this post.

You have to develop your own style so that these phrases can be used naturally, just do not memorise them and put them in your essay randomly.

1.  I think that the government should not control what we see on the internet. Although in some cases, such as dangerous websites with harmful content, there ought to be regulations put in place.

2. In my opinion, there are many benefits to running your own business, on the other hand , there are risks involved and working in a company tends to be more stable employment.

3. I believe that capital punishment is not an effective way to deal with serious high profile crimes and other more humane punishment must be used, whereas others might say that capital punishment does indeed act as a major deterrent. For instance, in countries which have the death penalty, there is evidence of a much lower crime rate for very serious offences.

4. I think that the government needs to invest more in public transport, but considering the other side , some feel that investing in healthcare is more important as our health is a much greater priority.

5. In some cases , criminal activity should be dealt with by longer prison terms. However , in my view , this is not the best solution and other alternatives need to be explored, such as community service for petty crimes.

6. I agree that getting a University degree can help secure a good job; however , practical real-life work experience should also be taken into account.

Leave a comment below if you have any questions..

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IELTS Preparation with Liz: Free IELTS Tips and Lessons, 2024

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100 IELTS Essay Questions

Below are practice IELTS essay questions and topics for writing task 2. The 100 essay questions have been used many times over the years. The questions are organised under common topics and essay types. IELTS often use the similar topics for their essays but change the wording of the essay question.

In order to prepare well for writing task 2, you should prepare ideas for common topics and then practise applying them to the tasks given (to the essay questions). Also see model essays and tips  for writing task 2.

Below you will find:

• Essay Questions By Topic
• Essay Questions by Essay Type (for example Opinion, Discussion etc)

Please also note that my new Grammar E-book is now available in my store along with my Ideas for Essay Topics E-book and Advanced Writing Lessons. To visit store, click here: IELTS LIZ STORE

1) Common IELTS Essay Questions

IELTS practice essay questions divided by topic. These topics have been reported by IELTS students in their tests. Essay questions have been recreated as accurately as possible.

• Art   (5 essay questions)
• Business & Money   (17 essay questions)
• Communication & Personality   (20 essay questions)
• Crime & Punishment   (12 essay questions)
• Education   (17 essay questions)
• Environment   (12 essay questions)
• Family & Children   (8 essay questions)
• Food & Diet (13 essay questions)
• Government (6 essay questions)
• Health   (9 essay questions)
• Housing, Buildings & Urban Planning (8 essay questions)
• Language (6 essay questions)
• Leisure (1 essay question)
• Media & Advertising   (12 essay questions)
• Reading  (5 essay questions)
• Society   (10 essay questions)
• Space Exploration (3 questions)
• Sport & Exercise   (6 essay questions)
• Technology  (6 essay questions)
• Tourism and Travel   (11 essay questions)
• Transport  (7 essay questions)
• Work (17 essay questions)

2) IELTS Essay Questions by Essay Type 

There are 5 main types of essay questions in IELTS writing task 2 (opinion essays, discussion essay, advantage/disadvantage essays, solution essay and direct question essays). Click on the links below to see some sample essay questions for you to practice with at home.

• Opinion Essay Model Answer with Useful Tips
• Discussion Essay Model Answer with Useful Tips
• Solution Essay Model Answer with Useful Tips
• Direct Questions Model Essay 
• Adv/Disadv Model Essay with Useful Tips

3) Recent Essay Topics

You can also track recent essay topics on this page: IELTS ESSAY TOPICS 2024

Note: you must also prepare all other topics on the page above because questions are recycled each year.

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Opinion [Argument] Essay

This is one of the  three types of essays in the IELTS writing exam . You should learn how to structure each type of essay, as each of the three questions requires a different structure.

Sample IELTS essay question Computers are being used more and more in education and some people believe there will soon be no role for the teacher in education. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Steps in Planning your IELTS Essay 1.Underline key vocabulary in the question and write words with the same or related meaning. 2.Decide what kind of response is needed. 3.Brainstorm key points for the answer. 4.Decide on the structure of the essay  

Steps in writing your Essay INTRODUCTION: 1.Paraphrase the question 2. State your position [totally/strongly/somewhat+  agree/disagree]

BODY: 3. Write topic sentences for each body paragraph Sequencing word  +  topic + point The main reason why I believe teachers are necessary is because they are essential for disciplining and motivating students

CONCLUSION: 4. Summarise main points 5. Give your final opinion or recommendation/ restate your position

Sample IELTS opinion essay Computing technology is being used increasingly in the classroom and some people believe that educators will become redundant. I somewhat disagree that teachers will be replaced by machines.

The main reason  why I think that teachers are essential is because they encourage and discipline students. Many people find it difficult to be interested in learning new things. Therefore educators are needed to make classes more interesting and stimulate students’ desires for learning. Also, in the case of young people, teachers often need to force students to learn through the use of punishments.

Another reason why teachers are needed is because they can teach young people important skills and values. This is because educators serve as role models to their students and teach them how to appropriately interact with their peers. Therefore,  if  people only learn using machines they will lose the opportunity to learn important social skills and values.

However , studying over the Internet certainly offers a lot of convenience. First, we are able to study in the comfort of our own homes, without the need to commute to school. Second, we can choose to study at any time we like even in the middle of the night.

In conclusion , I somewhat disagree that machines can replace teachers. This is because teachers can encourage students to learn and teach them how to interact with other people. However, computers do offer the ability for people to learn anywhere at any time.

Template for opinion essay The template below has been used to write the essay below it.

Introduction Some people believe [rephrase topic] I totally agree/disagree with this opinion because [reason 1 + reason 2]

Paragraph 2 The main reason why I believe/don’t believe XYZ is because… [reason 1]

Paragraph 3 Another reason why I support/don’t support the notion that XYZ is due to the fact that… [reason 2]

Conclusion In conclusion, I completely agree/disagree that XYZ because [rephrase reason 1] and [rephrase reason 2]. Given this situation, it seems that [give a final recommendation or opinion]

The main reason why I believe a minimum standard of health care is needed is because it’s a human right to have some level of access to health services. In some situations, such as when a person doesn’t have a job, basic healthcare should be available. For instance, if somebody has a life-threatening car accident emergency services should be available free of charge. This is because it is not humane to let a person die just because they don’t have sufficient funds to pay for treatment in this sort of situation.

  Another reason why I support the notion that free health you should pre-provided is due to the fact that it is sometimes necessary to protect the health of all citizens. Certain medical situations, such as an outbreak of a virus, require quick and widespread medical attention. This can best be achieved by having a free medical system, in order to circumvent financial issues that might prevent certain individuals from having access to treatment. For example, the current coronavirus is spreading more rapidly in countries without free healthcare because people are often reluctant or unable to seek attention if they have to pay for it.

  In conclusion, I completely agree that every country should have basic minimum level of health because it is a basic human right and it’s necessary to prevent widespread medical crises such as the Corona virus.

https://www.ieltsanswers.com/ielts-writing-task-1-2.html

42 thoughts on “Opinion [Argument] Essay”

Most people have forgotten the meaning behind traditional or religious festivals, during festival periods, people nowadays only want to enjoy themselves. To what extent do you agree or disagree? In recent years, there is a common belief that the meanings of festivals have faded away due to many reasons. I totally agree with this view and in this essay, I will discuss two main reasons. Initially, with the fast pace of modern life, traditional and religious festivals no longer be focused as these were. Nowadays, festivals have become the time for businessmen to advertise and emphasize the sales of products that are related to festivals, instead of concerning about what festivals mean in terms of religion and culture. In other words, these occasions are the platforms for companies to earn profits from them. This may lead to the situation that the authentic meaning and spiritual significance have been eroded gradually and will vanish forever. Another factor that contributes to the bad scenario is cultural exchanges. Youngsters prefer foreign celebrations to their own cultural festivals, they tend to ignore these festivals’ values. Enjoying foreign occasions is not bad, however, people, especially the young generation engage in these festivals without a comprehensive understanding of their meanings. Younger people are prone to enjoy festivals just because the festival is currently famous and they follow it as a trend. In conclusion, it can’t be denied that the true values of traditional festivals have been forgotten, I believe that it’s necessary for each individual to preserve these cultural festivals together.

1. you could write more on “only want to enjoy themselves” …especially in the introduction and conclusion. 2. it CAN be denied! That is the whole point of an OPINION essay “it can’t be denied that the true values” 3. The conclusion should summarise the reasons for your opinion|

For a full correction see here: https://www.ieltsanswers.com/writing-correction-ielts.html

Hello, thank you so much for such constructive advice and guidance. But I’m a bit baffled how should I develop a final recommendation or opinion in the conclusion? I am concerned that my final recommendation may be off-topic.

Take the prompt “Many people live in a number of places in their childhood years. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this?” as an example. In the body paragraphs I stated that the merits of this are Expanded worldview and Enhanced social skills and the demerits are Educational disruptions and Emotional impact. Then I concluded as I think the merits are more significant,… then recommended that parental support and supervision is needed to ameliorate the demerits. Did I go too far from the topic?

That all seems fine to me….as long as your conclusion summarises the advantages and disadvantages and then mentions “parental support and supervision is needed to ameliorate the demerits”

Thank you sincerely for answering!

Hello, I wanted to send an essay for correction. If I write an essay which question “Is it a positive or negative development ?” or “Do you think this is a positive or a negative development ?”, should I write it like an opinion essay: discuss only sides that I agree with?

Yes I think that is the correct approach.

Thank you for answering!

Nowaday, computers are the basis of the mordern world. Some people believe that government should used computers into classrooms and direct teaching purpose. In my opinion, this view have a plenty of benefits, but on other aspect it also have some drawbacks for teenagers. The following will analyse this statement in detail. On the on hand, computers can support teacher, tutor and professional for trainning their youngs talent generations who contribute their ability for the development of nation. it also help students easier to understand and imagine lesson by the amazing method. To illustrate, understanding theoretical knowledge is really hard for students, but with the address of computer it is more simple by 3D printer. Making an interest of each subject to ever teenagers at education.Furthermore, computer can save amount of knowledge and information and also thought the internet tutor and teenagers can search a big data of knowledge. With that diversity about information children can improve their acquainted. For instance, there are a lot of free course in the internet which can help teenagers have more knowledge in the fields they were worried. In addition, computer can be an equipment for youngs generation communiti with other children in all around the world. they can share their cutura, style and knowledge together. On the other hand, too overdepency on morden technology will lead student lose their concentrate because of having a plenty of interesting things on the internet such as game, film and entertainment website. When teenagers can not concentrate in their learning, their score, mark and achivement will be worde thought per time. For example, if student addicted to game, they will not have enough time for learnning and preparing at home, so they can not have the good achivement. Moreover, these will be lose the interaction between teacher and students. Many knowledge on the internet are fake information which were not confirm by the professional. it is very dangerous for the youngs generation and make terrible influence to them more exaggeration is to the country’s development. To conclude, introducing computer into edcation have advantages and drawbacks appropriate with each person and each situation, so governments need to have bright choice to support their yongs generation improve themselves better than before for contributing to the nation.

Your opinion is not clear you should look at my model answer. Especially, I want to know in the introduction and conclusion the extent you agree or disagree.

Hi Mike I have been watching your videos and they are really helpful. Can you tell me what band score this essay will get? It is important for people to take risks, both in their professional lives and their personal lives. Do you think the advantages of taking risks outweigh the disadvantages?

Living has a range of multiple-choice, sometimes this is a good or dangerous way but people have to choose a flexible way for themself. They might take risks in their career life as well as personal lives. Personally speaking, in some situations the merit is better than the drawback. In this essay, this phenomenon will be discussed.

Firstly, risk-taking is one of the ways to make individual experience to be successful. For example, Mark Zuckerberg dropped out of Harvard to focus on building Facebook, it could be replaced by another platform and now Facebook is the biggest social media. In my country, Ho Chi Minh’s president as known Uncle Ho, he was traveled around the world and do everything job to have enough money to study and support the journey to save the country and national liberation. If he did not leave Viet Nam without money, we could not be independence. What is more, risky situations teach people to make fast and exact.

In contrast, making a risky move may hurt a person short time. Teenagers are psychologically controlled by their parents because they still receive financial support from them. When they want to follow their dream and beyond their life so they do not have money from their parent. Maybe they feel a short-term downside of losing in the way they choose. However, all mistakes they have taught help them go out of their comfort zone. For instance, Thomas Alva Edison was the person who invented the Light Bulb, trying more and more after many failures to finally be successful with the invention. In Viet Nam, we have the idiom Do not give up yet, Failures teach success, which makes people have a strong mind to face difficult challenges in their life.

In conclusion, taking risks is a task for people to complete, then life teaches them the right way to follow. Although making a risk may harm an individual for a short- time, this downside incredibly creates a life-changing and strong mind for them. So one should prepare oneself with some skills to make them more confident to face challenges.

A rough estimate is 6.0 1. the introduction could state your opinion about which side is stronger 2. 1. the conclusion MUST state your opinion about which side is stronger 3. don’t start sentences with conjunctions like “so”; So one should prepare oneself with some skills to make them more confident to face challenges.

I have an editing service here: https://www.ieltsanswers.com/writing-correction-ielts.html

Hi Mike, Thanks for your struglles. I just want to start ielts academic task 2. Kindly tell me where should I start it from ?

https://www.ieltsanswers.com/writing-ielts.html

In the first paragraph of your sample essay you have written about the other side of the argument; saying,

“…. . Therefore, if people only learn using machines they will lose the opportunity to learn important social skills and values.”

How is this idea matches to the topic here. how does it affects the cohesion? is it only appropriate here because of your unfavorable opinion (i.e. somewhat agree) ?

If you have completely agreed with the “teachers are a must” idea, would writing this sentence in the body paragraph would reduce the cohesion?

for example:

When it comes to planning and constructing new buildings in large towns, it usually carried out in two ways. Mainly, either by the government of a given city proposes a plan for the structure according to the city’s plan or an investor chooses the design for their buildings. This essay discusses both views and supports the idea that authorities should carry out the planning.

The design of a building includes its structural as well as cosmetic values. When investors employ designers to design a building, they usually hire the best in their field who have lots of experience and unique ideas. These designers can create strong structures while it gives iconic value to the city. For instance, Tokyo Skytree not only a popular tourist attraction but also a strategically placed communication tower. If authorities override this flaw and use their designers, every building may seem similar, creating a boring town.

If you take the last sentence of above paragraph, it is somewhat related to the approach you took in this essay. is this ok?

It’s incredibly difficult to try and establish what it is you’re trying to ask me but I will attempt to answer your questions below.

1. “…. . Therefore, if people only learn using machines they will lose the opportunity to learn important social skills and values. This sentence is providing contrast. It’s supporting the need for teachers by explaining what happens if teachers aren’t used. This has nothing to do with whether my opinion is somewhat agree or totally agree. This paragraph is about why I agree teachers are necessary and this point is supporting the reason why I agree. It’s the third body paragraph that deals with why I disagree…. In order to support my stated overall opinion in the introduction that I somewhat agree 2. “If you have completely agreed with the “teachers are a must” idea, would writing this sentence in the body paragraph would reduce the cohesion?” No. I really think you have misunderstood something. 3. “If you take the last sentence of above paragraph, it is somewhat related to the approach you took in this essay. is this ok?” Oh gosh it is just too difficult try and understand what you trying to ask me here… I really don’t know what approach you referring to in this sentence and whether or not your last sentence fits with this or not.

your introduction says,

Introduction

Some people believe [rephrase topic]

I totally agree/disagree with this opinion because [reason 1 + reason 2]

But I don’t see any of your introductions for opinion essays have reasons in the introduction.

For example,

“Technology is being used increasingly in the classroom and some people believe that educators will become redundant. I somewhat disagree that teachers will be replaced by machines.”

1) Rephrase the question 2) Just the opinion

What is the correct form here?

Both ways are correct. It’s better to include the reasons… If you look at some of my more recent essays these are all written this way… You can see an example on this page: https://www.ieltsanswers.com/cambridge-ielts-14-writing-test-essay-task-2/

in your model answer I noticed that you wrote a new idea in your conclusion, that you did not mention any thing about it in body paragraph (However, computers do offer the ability for people to learn anywhere at any time.)

I feel it is not perfect to mention something for the first time in conclusion. Thanks

I am paraphrasing what I wrote in paragraph 4. Any time is mentioned, any place is kind of inferred, but arguably not enough.

Hi Mike i have been watching your videos and they are really helpful. Can you tell me what band score this essay will get. Much thanks!

some people say that in order for a hobby to be enjoyable, it must be hard in some way. do you agree or disagree?

Whether or not a hobby should be tougher is a debatable topic.It is often argued by some people that for a pastime to be amusing, it must be hard in one way or the other. I entirely disagree with this notion, as a hard hobby is likely to be given up and it may put added stress on the person. The main reason why I believe this is that people might be fed up with their hobby if it is tough. It is because people may not be able to go any further at some stage of its pursuit and hence, they may give it up altogether. Consider someone who tends to like solving puzzles in his free time. If he is not able to solve a difficult one, he will get annoyed at being stuck. After failing several times, he may lose interest in it and consequently may not try it again.

Another reason is that complicated hobbies may be additional stress on an individual. Hobbies are meant to be fun and stress-relievers. However, if they are demanding, they may superimpose on the pressure a person already has. For instance, consider someone whose work requires physical work and chooses gardening as a source of pleasure. Although it may please him, he might not be able to pursue it for an adequate time as it will tire him up.

It can be concluded: some people argue that only sophisticated hobbies can be fun. However, I believe that a rather simple one is better as compared to complex one as they may end up being boring and putting more stress on the pursuer.

Whether or not a hobby should be [tougher] TOUGH

This is probably going to be 6.5 overall due to a low score for task response. The problem with the task response is that you have focused on the opposite of what you’re supposed to be doing. You have explained why difficult hobbies won’t be enjoyable… But you’re supposed to be arguing why hobbies have to be easy to be enjoyable. Sorry but it’s not the same thing! All you need to do to get this essay to band seven or above is reshaped the way you’ve presented your ideas. 1. hobbies should be easy so that people will want to keep doing them [instead discussing quitting difficult hobbies] 2. hobbies should be easy so that they are stress relieving [instead of difficult hobbies are stressful]

Greetings Sir! i have just started watching your videos and they are really helpful. I ll highly appreciate if you can give a and score of this essay. Thanks in anticipation.

Some people think that women should not be allowed to work in police force.Do you agree or disagree?

It is often argued by some that females should not be employed by the department of police. I entirely disagree with this notion as not only hiring women as police officers will lead to gender equality, but it will also be suitable in some situations.

The main reason why i believe this is, if ladies work in the department of security, it will be a significant step towards ending gender discrimination. People tend to claim that the counterpart of men is weak and easily overpowered and hence should not be employed for such demanding jobs. However, by working in an organization that demands agility and physicality, ladies will have a chance to prove them wrong. These officers can serve as role models, and it may influence other departments to change their policy of hiring males only.

Another reason why women may be employed in the police force is their suitability for specific tasks and circumstances. Some aspects of police’s work might require dealing with compassion and politely. Women can serve this purpose well as opposed to their more stringent counterparts. For instance, police officers at the airport security-checks need to behave well with the passengers. As females are relatively more friendly, people like them to be performing these sort of jobs rather than males. Based on their suitability for the work, women should be given priority in such cases.

It can be concluded that some people tend to argue that only males should be working in the police department. However, I would suggest that females should be hired as well because this would promote their fundamental right to equality, and they fit specific areas of the job better.

band 8 1. start your final paragraph with “in conclusion” 2.leave out what other people might believe in your conclusion

Due to the increase in usage of computing technology in the teaching domain, there may not be any need of teachers for schooling in the future. I somewhat disagree with this notion as teachers can influence the students and are always needed in some cases; however, computers are cheap and convenient.

The main reason why teachers are essential is that they can serve as role models for their pupils. Students are often impressionable and can be impressed by the good qualities of their teachers. For example, if a teacher maintains cleanliness, students will do that too. Thus, teachers can offer more than just formal education by influencing children to do good. Another reason is that some situations demand educators instead of computers. Consider teaching students with disabilities who need to be handled with care and are unable to use machines. As machines may only use specified ways to teach, they can not adapt to the requirements of the learner. Therefore, teachers are better able to cater to the needs of disabled pupils in particular.

On the contrary, computers can be helpful in education as they are economical. It can save people from extra dues like commuting to schools and school fees. Additionally, they make the process of learning easy. Not only we can study at the comfort of our homes, but also we can study at any time of the day.

It can be concluded that computers are easy to use and budget-friendly, whereas teachers can serve as ideals and fulfill the demands of their students. That is why tutors would still be needed even in the presence of the technology.

You say you somewhat disagree but then you do not really provide any reasons to not disagree. You give advantages of computers, which seems like a reason to not agree but these advantages are not reasons to not have teachers. So really you have totally disagreed. For somewhat disagree you need to say a situation where we do not need teachers. For instance, “Adults don’t need teachers because they don’t need teachers to serve as role models or to monitor their behaviour”

Safer and easier to just totally agree/disagree!

What would be the overall band score for this ? Thank you so much for valuable information.

For the essay, I wrote on this page? Band 9. Why would I bother to write something less!

Why you not use in introductions this sentence (in this essay iwill discuss my opinion and will give examples) during give your opinion

That is OK, but I think it is better to say what your opinion is and why: EXAMPLE “I totally disagree because it is cheaper and more convenient”

Hi, Mike. thanks for the video. i have a question. in this type of opinion essay – “‘to what extent do you agree or disagree”, i thought is 50-50 essay where you give like 2 points to agree and 2 points to disagree with the question. Also, do you need to totally agree in this type of opinion essay or you somewhat or partly agree?

The word extent is a key here. Extent means how much. You have been asked how much you agree or disagree. It could be totally agree, strongly agree, somewhat agree…. And the same for disagreeing. it’s important that your opinion matches what you write in the body of the essay. If you totally agree then you are only going to be writing about agreeing. if you somewhat agree then you going to be giving reasons for agreeing and disagreeing.

Hi, Mike. What is the grade for the essay answer you’ve provided on this page?

I provided you with a model answer… the shouldn’t be any problems with it and therefore it should be getting 9.

Hi Mike. Is there an template which we can follow like the one given in both sided essay ? and Thank you for such helpful videos and tips

Template for what? for other types of essays? please see these links on how to write the other kinds of essays: https://www.ieltsanswers.com/ielts-opinion-essay.html https://www.ieltsanswers.com/two-question-essay.html

Hi mike, i bought your book task 2. Something it`s still not clear for me. It is how can I play the next question. I`m struggling with what its the right structure for. Some museums and art galleries charge admission fees, while others have free entry. What are the reasons? Do you think the advantages of free admission outweigh the disadvantages?

it is a two question essay so you should use the following structure: introduction question one: reasons question two: whether you think the advantages of free admission outweigh the disadvantages conclusion

I have a query , in essay planning it was mentioned that we need to give examples but in the above essay I am unable to figure out the example in the body paragraphs.

Hi, You do not have to give examples in your essays. You are allowed to, and when you do it they should clearly illustrate the point you are making. In fact, previously IELTS writing tasks in the real test had the words “give examples from your own experience” and this is now removed. The reason for this removal is to avoid suggesting that examples must be given.

Hi, thank you for posting task2 essay. I have a question on the essay above. In the last sentence of the last paragraph, you used ‘Although’. I was wondering,should it be ‘however’?

Yes, I agree with you. Well spotted. I am changing this right now.

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About Mike I’m Mike Wattie from Australia. I have been teaching IELTS for over 20 years in Asia and Australia.

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IELTS Writing Task 2 Argumentative Essay Topic: Whether or not someone achieve their aims is mostly related to luck

Updated On Jan 05, 2024

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IELTS Writing Prediction Questions for 2024

Whether or not someone achieve their aims is mostly related to luck. To what extent do you agree or disagree? OR

Success in life is more a matter of luck than of ability. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

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Do you have an essay on this topic? Please post it in the comments section. One of our IELTS trainers will evaluate your essay from an examiner’s point of view and reply to the comment. This service is completely FREE of cost.

The debate whether luck is the primary determinant of success in achieving targets has been heated constantly. My position is that hard work and determination are far more important than luck, while we must not consider luck as the main precursor of the attainment of one’s goals.

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I advocate the notion that the role of being diligent and determined is more significant than luck. Thomas Edison, one of the greatest inventors in the 20th century, is an excellent example of such a notion. He conducted numerous experiments with the filament until the finest light bulb was produced; and his hard work, rather than luck, was acknowledged by all the human race. Another clear evidence of this notion is the case of Nguyen Ngoc Ky. This disabled man could not write by hand, but he was determined enough to teach himself to write with his foot. The fact that he would then became one of the greatest teachers in the history of education in Vietnam provides a concrete foundation that even with bad luck, determination could result in goal achievement.

By contrast, I believe the saying that fortune has a major part to play is just a fallacy. One clear reason is that although there may have been a number of people reaching their goals with good luck, such good luck in most cases only comes to people who have worked hard. Take Mendeleev as an example. As a research chemist, he worked tirelessly for a few decades, until one day in his dream, the complete arrangement of the elements appeared. we could ascribe the appearance of this arrangement to luck, but no one could deny the extreme effort that Mendeleev had exerted. Another clear reason for my belief is that luck could only lead people to short-term achievements, and there is nothing to ascertain that it would continue to exist in the long run. The over-reliance on good fortune, as a result, would prevent people from achieving their long-term or life-long aims.

In brief, I think the importance of luck in determining goal attainment is overstated, while there are much more significant factors to consider, namely hard work and determination.

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Useful Words/Phrases :

• Determine (v) to make something happen in a particular way or be of a particular type. ==>Age and experience will be determining factors in our choice of candidate.
• Conduct (v): to organize and/or do a particular activity. ==>to conduct an experiment/an inquiry/a survey
• Ascribe (v): If you ascribe an event or condition to a particular cause, you say or consider that it was caused by that thing. ==>He ascribed his failure to bad luck.

People have different views about what elements contribute the most to a person’s success. While I accept that luck does have an important role in helping people reach their targets, I would argue that hard work and determination are much more crucial factors leading to the achievement of an individual.

On the one hand, I agree that luck can be an important factor. Some people are fortunate enough to be born in a wealthy family, which allows them to have better education or to easily start their own business without having to borrow money from someone else. As a result, these people tend to have better opportunities to succeed than those coming from poor families. Furthermore, some individuals are lucky to be given great talents which others do not have. For example, Mozart was able to play music when he was very young, or Lionel Messi already had great football skills when he was born.

However, I would argue that although luck can be necessary, it is not the most crucial factor leading to success. Firstly, people need to work really hard and put much effort into their jobs if they want to be successful. For instance, before becoming one of the best football players in the world, Cristiano Ronaldo had to go through intense training hours every day for many years. Secondly, a person is less likely to reach his targets if he does not have determination. On the way leading to success, there might be many difficulties, and people need to keep moving forward to overcome those challenges.

In conclusion, while I agree that luck is important in helping people become successful, I believe that hard work and determination are the most important elements.

• determination: the quality that makes you continue trying to do sth even when this is difficult ==>He fought the illness with courage and determination.
• wealthy: having a lot of money, possessions, etc. ==>a wealthy nation
• crucial: extremely important ==>a crucial factor/issue/decision

More Writing Task 2 Essay Topics

• Some Universities Offer Online Courses As An Alternative To Classes Delivered On Campus
• Some People Think That In Order To Prevent Illness And Disease
• People Have Different Views About What Kinds Of Obligations A Company Should Have
• Some People Say Part-Time Jobs Are Useful For Full-Time Students
• Scientists Say That In The Future Humanity Will Speak The Same Language

Also check :

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Practice IELTS Writing Task 2 based on Essay types

Effective IELTS Essay Connectors for Writing Task 2 & Task 1

Janet had been an IELTS Trainer before she dived into the field of Content Writing. During her days of being a Trainer, Janet had written essays and sample answers which got her students an 8+ band in the IELTS Test. Her contributions to our articles have been engaging and simple to help the students understand and grasp the information with ease. Janet, born and brought up in California, had no idea about the IELTS until she moved to study in Canada. Her peers leaned to her for help as her first language was English.

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How to Develop Ideas for IELTS Writing Task 2: A Comprehensive Guide

• Improved essay structure
• Enhanced coherence and cohesion
• Stronger arguments and examples
• Better time management during the exam
• Higher band scores in Task Achievement and Coherence and Cohesion

Effective Techniques for Generating Ideas

1. mind mapping.

Mind mapping is a powerful visual technique that can help you generate and organize ideas quickly. Start by writing the main topic in the center of a blank page, then branch out with related subtopics and supporting ideas. This method allows you to see connections between different concepts and helps in creating a logical structure for your essay.

2. The 5W1H Method

Utilize the 5W1H method (Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How) to explore different aspects of the topic. This approach ensures that you consider various perspectives and gather comprehensive information for your essay.

Example: Topic: The impact of technology on education

• Who: Students, teachers, parents, educational institutions
• What: Online learning platforms, digital textbooks, interactive software
• When: Present day and future implications
• Where: Classrooms, homes, global learning environments
• Why: To improve access to education, enhance learning experiences
• How: Implementation of technology in curriculum, teacher training, infrastructure development

3. Pros and Cons Analysis

For opinion-based essays, creating a list of pros and cons can help you develop a balanced argument. This technique allows you to consider multiple viewpoints and choose the strongest points to support your position.

4. Personal Experiences and Observations

Drawing from personal experiences and observations can provide unique and authentic examples to support your ideas. However, ensure that these examples are relevant to the topic and can be generalized to a broader context.

Organizing and Structuring Your Ideas

Once you have generated a pool of ideas, the next step is to organize and structure them effectively for your essay.

1. Identify Main Points

Review your ideas and select 2-3 main points that directly address the essay prompt. These will form the basis of your body paragraphs.

2. Develop Supporting Details

For each main point, identify specific examples, statistics, or explanations that provide evidence and elaboration. This will help you create well-developed paragraphs with strong supporting details.

3. Create a Logical Flow

Arrange your ideas in a logical sequence that allows for a smooth transition between paragraphs. Consider using transitional phrases to connect your ideas and enhance the overall coherence of your essay.

Elaborating on Your Ideas

To achieve a high band score in IELTS Writing Task 2, it’s essential to fully develop your ideas with relevant details and examples.

1. Use the PEEL Paragraph Structure

Implement the PEEL (Point, Explanation, Example, Link) structure in your body paragraphs to ensure thorough idea development:

• Point: State your main idea
• Explanation: Clarify and elaborate on the point
• Example: Provide a specific, relevant example
• Link: Connect back to the main argument or transition to the next point

2. Incorporate Relevant Evidence

Support your ideas with factual information, statistics, or expert opinions when appropriate. This adds credibility to your arguments and demonstrates your knowledge of the topic.

3. Consider Counter-Arguments

Acknowledging and addressing potential counter-arguments shows critical thinking and adds depth to your essay. This approach also helps in creating a more balanced and persuasive argument.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

When developing ideas for IELTS Writing Task 2, be aware of these common mistakes:

• Straying off-topic: Ensure all your ideas are directly relevant to the essay prompt.
• Lack of specificity: Avoid vague statements and provide concrete examples to support your points.
• Repetition: While it’s important to reinforce your main ideas, avoid repeating the same points without adding new information.
• Imbalanced arguments: In opinion essays, consider both sides of the argument, even if you strongly agree with one perspective.
• Insufficient explanation: Don’t assume the reader understands your point; always provide clear explanations and examples.

Practice and Refinement

Developing ideas for IELTS Writing Task 2 is a skill that improves with practice. Here are some strategies to enhance your ability:

• Regularly practice brainstorming ideas on various IELTS topics.
• Time yourself during idea generation to simulate exam conditions.
• Seek feedback from teachers or study partners on the relevance and depth of your ideas.
• Analyze sample high-scoring essays to understand effective idea development techniques.
• Keep up with current events and global issues to expand your knowledge base.

By consistently applying these techniques and avoiding common pitfalls, you can significantly improve your ability to develop strong, relevant ideas for IELTS Writing Task 2. Remember, the key to success lies in practice, reflection, and continuous improvement of your idea generation and essay writing skills.

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January 17, 2018

Ielts writing task 2: argument or discussion.

Many people ask me about the difference between an 'argument' (opinion) essay and a 'discussion' essay. Here's an easy way to think about the difference:

• When you argue, you are trying to persuade the other person to agree with your point of view. You might even get angry!
• When you discuss, you consider different points of view, and nobody gets angry.

The question should make it very clear what it wants you to do. If it asks you to "discuss", you should write about both sides or two views.

If the question asks whether you "agree or disagree", it's asking for your view. For this type of question, give your opinion in the introduction and support it in the rest of the essay. Develop an argument that persuades the reader to agree with you. Note: you can have a strong view or a balanced view - it's your choice.

I only read several topics related to writing task 1( different charts) and writing task 2. I'm giving mock test thrice a week but I do not practise at home.

Is it really helpful???

Posted by: Raju | January 17, 2018 at 10:52

@Raju These days it is easy to read and listen to English on the internet at home. One can also copy stuff onto an iPod and listen in the car, on the bus, train, and so on. The more time you spend training your mind to work in English, the easier it will be for you to think in English in the exam. It is like learning to play the sitar: make it part of your life and daily routine.

Posted by: Lolita | January 17, 2018 at 19:51

@Raju On your IELTS test day your mind will think in English for nearly three whole hours. It is no good if, come exam day, you are unprepared for this and exhausted. So your daily English fitness routine should ...

Posted by: Lolita | January 18, 2018 at 02:35

Thanks @Lolita for your kind advices.

I'm trying my best to get the best of IELTS. In our country Bangladesh it's hard to improve performance related to English. Even, I can't find any company to practice it. After all, my expectation is high.

God Bless you @Lolita

Posted by: Raju | January 18, 2018 at 05:34

Hello Simon,

I’d like to ask you some advice.

First of all, thank you very much for being so helpful to many in preparing to their IELTS exam. Your teaching style is amazing; it makes much easier to understand and apply learnt techniques into a practice. I personally learned a lot from your video course, ebook and website altogether. So, thank you very much again.

At the same time I’d like to ask your advice re Wr 2. I usually end up with less words in my essay and get panic by the end of the test. I don’t have new ideas to develop my body paragraph and, basically, don’t know how to expand my essay. I’m afraid of losing marks for not writing 250 words.

My question is, if I don’t have time and feel like I didn’t write enough words shall I add a sentence to my introduction which I know will not give me an extra mark but at least will help me not to loose one?

I also was wondering if it is a good idea to start with writing Wr2 and then coming back to Wr1 since Wr2 is much more important and gives more scores?

Thank you in advance.

Regards, Dilara

Posted by: Dilara | January 18, 2018 at 07:50

Hi I want to ask " is there any alternative word for "respectively" ? "

Posted by: ENES | January 18, 2018 at 10:51

Does it mean in the 'discuss both views" essay I shouldn't give our opinion in the introduction?

If I give our opinion in the introduction, will it lower my score?

Thanks, Nhan

Posted by: Nhan | January 18, 2018 at 12:18

The phrase "in that order" is very occasionally used instead of "respectively":

https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=per+cent+in+that+order%2Cper+cent+respectively%2C+%25+in+that+order&year_start=1960&year_end=2008&corpus=15&smoothing=3&share=&direct_url=t1%3B%2Cper%20cent%20in%20that%20order%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cper%20cent%20respectively%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2C%25%20in%20that%20order%3B%2Cc0

The normal word is "respectively" and this should be your first choice.

Posted by: Fruzi | January 18, 2018 at 18:15

http://ielts-simon.com/ielts-help-and-english-pr/2015/03/ielts-advice-which-writing-task-should-you-do-first.html

Perhaps you need to develop your response: Band 8 = "presents a well-developed response to the question with relevant, extended and supported ideas". It is important NOT to "over-generalize". Also, make sure the supporting examples are tied into the point being made. For instance: "This shows/demonstrates that..".

http://ielts-simon.com/files/one-idea-paragraph.pdf

http://ielts-simon.com/ielts-help-and-english-pr/2013/07/ielts-writing-task-2-main-paragraph-methods.html

Also, it is often worthwhile rewriting an essay or paragraph for practice: see the comments here for an example: http://ielts-simon.com/ielts-help-and-english-pr/2018/01/ielts-writing-task-1-easy-paraphrasing.html#comments

Posted by: Fruzi | January 18, 2018 at 19:03

"A 'discussion' question requires you to write about both sides of the argument, and you should write a similar amount for each view. If the question also asks for your opinion, you don't need an extra paragraph. Just make it clear in the introduction and conclusion which of the two views you agree with."

http://ielts-simon.com/ielts-help-and-english-pr/2012/04/ielts-writing-task-2-question-types.html

Positive/negative essay example (note writer's own viewpoint/opinion in introduction/conclusion):

http://ielts-simon.com/ielts-help-and-english-pr/2017/03/ielts-writing-task-2-positive-or-negative-essay.html

Sample discussion essay:

http://ielts-simon.com/ielts-help-and-english-pr/2011/04/ielts-writing-task-2-sample-discussion-essay.html

Extra comment by Examiner Mr sjm: "You don't 'lose marks' for looking at both sides of an issue in an essay. All IELTS looks at is a clear opinion supported by evidence. If you 'partly agree' then it is logical to look at both sides of an issue and the essay will naturally become more of a discussion. If you agree more strongly with one side of an issue then the essay structure will reflect that. With 'discuss both sides' questions I advise people to give an opinion more towards the middle (not strongly on one side) because the essay structure is more balanced. A simple approach is to look at the merits of both sides and then favour one in your conclusion."

Band 7: "presents a clear position throughout the response ".

Posted by: Fruzi | January 18, 2018 at 23:59

Hello everybody!

I'm new here. And I've just found this sentence somewhere from this site: "Unemployment rates could rise if there are two many immigrants".

As far as I know, it should be: 1. "Unemployment rates will rise if there are two many immigrants". or 2. "Unemploymnet rates could rise if there were too many immigrants".

I'm a little confused right now. Can anyone explain this to me?

Thank you for your help!

Posted by: Duy | January 19, 2018 at 03:24

Fruzi thank you very much)

Posted by: ENES | January 19, 2018 at 09:58

Thank you very much! Your advices and links are very helpful.

Posted by: Dilara | January 19, 2018 at 23:15

Hello Simon, Thank you for all of your guidance.

I took the test last month, and I got S-7, R-7.5, L-8. But I got only '6' in writing. I had not come across the website before taking the test though. I wish I had.

Would you please help me with some of my doubts as I am taking the test again on 10th Feb, 2018 and aiming to get 7 in writing also.

1. I make spelling mistakes, 1-3 in every essay. Would this reduce 0.5 - 1 band score? 2. Now, I am following 13 lines structure and it is perfect. But I am not able to use resources like though/although, in spite of/despite and so on. Would it affect my score?

Thanks a lot for creating this website! Regards.

Posted by: Pankaj | January 21, 2018 at 03:24

Hello Mr. Simon , I had my exam two days ago and in writing task 2 there was this question : Some people believe that its goverment responsibility to transport children to shool while others believe its parents responsibility. Discuss both views and give your opinion. I had ideas and followed the steps you mentioned in your video course however I couldn’t find many paraphrasings for parents , children , transport and school . I felt like am repeating many words ! Also I had ideas that when parents drive their children it could be more safe and time spent with their children in the morning but I believe that government should be responsible because of the heavy traffics , parents timetable and pupils could aocialize more in the buses ! But the problem I didn’t know how to start my pragraphhs as well that i had to erase a lot while writing in pen does it reduce my marks ? I would be glad if you can write for us a sample of essay about this topic . Thanks a lot

Posted by: Nora | January 22, 2018 at 10:12

@Nora http://www.thesaurus.com/browse/school?s=t http://www.thesaurus.com/browse/parents?s=t http://www.thesaurus.com/browse/children?s=t

None of those synonyms are really suitable. Perhaps "caregiver" instead of parents, or "offspring" instead of children, "drive" for transport, but school is just school.

What this points up is that it is not necessary to paraphrase ever single word in the question. Just do not copy a phrase of more than three words.

Sometimes repeating a key word can give better cohesion, but it is worth practicing referencing, and making use of gerunds, and simple connectors such as 'and' to avoid repetition.

Referencing means using words like "they", "this", "those", "it" to refer back. For example: Most scientists now agree that global warming is caused by increased greenhouse gas emissions, but they do not always agree on the solutions to this problem.

More examples in Hue's task 1 submission in the comments here: http://ielts-simon.com/ielts-help-and-english-pr/2018/01/ielts-writing-task-1-introduction-paraphrasing.html#comments

One good way to start a task 2 body paragraph is with a short sentence introducing the focus topic of the paragraph. "There are several options." "Armaments are the big bugbear."

Posted by: Gabi | January 28, 2018 at 22:51

One way to format your paragraph is to keep the same grammatical subject for each sentence whenever possible.

see Mojo's and Mr sjm's comments here:

http://ielts-simon.com/ielts-help-and-english-pr/2018/01/ielts-writing-task-2-instead-of-firstly-secondly-finally.html

Looking at the question you mention, there could be two contrasting paragraphs beginning:

Para 2: One view is that responsibility for transport to and from school lies with the government. They made education compulsory. They provide the school and teachers .... They should also ... They should pay.

Para 3: The opposite view is that parents are responsible. They .... They also .... They should pay.

Simple, repetitive, but clear and cohesive. Of course some variety should be added in.

Posted by: Gabi | January 29, 2018 at 04:17

Sir, One question. If they are asking for your opinion in argument task then is it necessary to give conclusion below that ?

Because where i took the lessons they said insert conclusion below your opinion

Posted by: Gurpreet Kaur | February 22, 2018 at 05:59

Hello, simon! I'm so confused and really need you help! Thanks so much. some former examiners said that a 50% agree and 50% disagree structure never scores high coz it can make your point unclear and weak, is it true? Thank you again!

Posted by: Mickey | March 04, 2018 at 08:15

If your answer is "unclear and weak", you will get a lower score - that's true!

However, it is certainly possible to give a 'balanced' answer that is strong and clear. I've shared several balanced (or 'partly agree') answers in the lessons on this site, and my view is always extremely clear.

In other words, it all depends on how well you express your views. Make them clear and you'll be fine!

Posted by: Simon | March 06, 2018 at 16:03

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