argumentative essay for ielts

IELTS Writing Task 2: Argument Essay with Sample Answer

• Post author By IELTSAcademic
• Post date July 25, 2012
• 23 Comments on IELTS Writing Task 2: Argument Essay with Sample Answer

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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Helping Busy People Succeed in IELTS.

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

Writing a Line of Argument

Cohesion for Task 2 Writing

Writing – Benefits of a Foreign University Education

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IELTS WRITING TASK 2: How to structure an argument

Test your understanding of this English lesson

52 comments.

Got 08. Thank you Benjamin. It was such a useful lesson.

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7 out of 10 before watching the video. Now, it’s time to learn more.

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Thank you Benjamin.

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Thanks a bunch.

Thank you, for share all of your excellent idea about writing task .

Hey Ben, Thanks for the lesson, it was quite useful. I do practice writing essays for my upcoming IELTS exams; however, I need someone to assess my writing. I can’t really know for sure what level they are ay till that is done. Can you suggest a way?

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Thanks Benjamin, for your not only excellent explanation on the matter but also on the clarification, thanks once again / Alex

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1st try – 60% 2nd try – 90%

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बंद करने के लिए ESC दबाएँ

आईईएलटीएस तर्कपूर्ण निबंध संरचना: यहां चरण दर चरण मार्गदर्शिका दी गई है जो आपको जाननी चाहिए

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.

यह भी पढ़ें: कला को सभी संस्कृतियों का एक अनिवार्य हिस्सा माना जाता है: आईईएलटीएस निबंध का एक विषय

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.

यह भी पढ़ें: क्या आईईएलटीएस में निबंध लेखन में कोई तथ्य जांच होती है? यहां क्या करें और क्या न करें की एक सूची दी गई है

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.

यह भी पढ़ें: आईईएलटीएस लेखन कार्य 2 नमूने: लक्ष्य न्यूनतम बैंड 8 के लिए परीक्षा प्रश्न और उत्तर

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 आईईएलटीएस निंजा

यह भी पढ़ें: आईईएलटीएस निबंध लेखन कार्य 2: यहां बताया गया है कि इसे अच्छी तरह से कैसे व्यवस्थित किया जाए

प्रातिक्रिया दे जवाब रद्द करें

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आप इसे भी पसंद कर सकते हैं

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आईईएलटीएस कैलकुलेटर का उपयोग कैसे करें? अपने समग्र आईईएलटीएस परीक्षा स्कोर की गणना करें

एक अच्छा आईईएलटीएस स्कोर क्या है? क्या 7.5 एक अच्छा आईईएलटीएस स्कोर है? यहां वह सब कुछ है जो आपको जानना आवश्यक है

अन्य कहानियाँ, चेन्नई में सर्वश्रेष्ठ आईईएलटीएस कोचिंग सेंटर: आईईएलटीएस में सफल होने के लिए आपको जो कुछ जानना आवश्यक है, भारत में आईईएलटीएस अप्रैल 2021 तिथियां: परीक्षा तिथियां, परीक्षण केंद्र, तैयारी युक्तियाँ और बहुत कुछ .

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IELTS Writing Task 2

Ielts writing task 2 page.

This page gives information and advice on IELTS writing task 2.

Task 2 is very similar for the general training and academic modules.

You will have to write a 250-word essay on a common topic.

See the list of essay writing topics .

Writing Test PDF Download

IELTS Writing Task 2 – Structure

• Place your ideas into paragraphs.
• The best IELTS writing task 2 essays have four or five paragraphs.
• Good paragraphing shows the examiner that your essay is well-organized.
• This structure also helps you write well-developed sentences.
• In this way, your essay will meet the 250-word requirement.

IELTS Writing Task 2 – Paragraphs

Students sometimes worry because they don’t know when to begin a new paragraph when they are writing an essay.

In general, you can organize your work as shown in the next section of this page.

This method of organization will demonstrate that you have thought about your response and planned your essay well.

IELTS Writing Task 2 – Paragraph 1 (The Introduction)

• The first paragraph provides is the introduction to the essay.
• This paragraph should include a clear thesis statement .
• The thesis statement is a sentence which indicates your main idea.
• The first paragraph can also give the reader an overview.
• The overview says what your supporting points are going to be.

IELTS Writing Task 2 – Paragraph 2

• In the second paragraph, you should expand on your first supporting point.
• Your essay might appear more persuasive if you state your strongest point in this paragraph.

IELTS Writing Task 2 – Paragraphs 3 and 4

• You should elaborate on your main idea in the third paragraph.
• Here you should give the second supporting point of your argument.
• Then mention the third supporting point in paragraph four.
• This can be the supporting point that you feel to be the weakest.
• You can combine these two points into one paragraph instead.

IELTS Writing Task 2 – Paragraph 5 (The Conclusion)

• In the final paragraph of the task 2 essay, you should come to a conclusion.
• The conclusion should sum up your argument.

IELTS Writing – More Help

If you need help with your report-writing skills for the academic module or letter writing skills for the general training module, please click on the first link below.

Go to Writing Task 1

Writing Task Tips

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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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Discursive essay IELTS task 2

Home  »  IELTS academic task 2 » Discursive essay IELTS task 2

Writing a discursive essay can be a part of your  task 2 exam , therefore you want to make sure you know how to do it to the best of your abilities. To help you get there we have created a step-by-step plan explaining how to structure your discursive essay in order to reach your target band score.

A discursive essay will look at both sides, whereas an argumentative essay takes a stance, a position, and will argue for this position.

An argumentative essay can be used for a lot of IELTS essay answers, however if you see the ‘discuss both views, and give your opinion’ then you should be writing a discursive essay.

Definition of discursive essay?

A discursive essay explores different opinions on a specific topic or idea.

The writer gives reasons and facts to support each argument he talks about. He then may provide his own opinion based on his exploration of these different perspectives.

How to structure a discursive essay?

When writing a discursive essay for your exam, for a band 7 or above the general consensus is around 350 -400 words, within a time frame of 40 minutes.

We recommend splitting your discursive essay into four paragraphs. This way you’ll get around ten minutes to prepare and write each paragraph.

Paragraph one: introduction

You should always begin your discursive essay with an introduction.

Structure your introduction like this: 1. A background statement. 2. A more detailed background statement. 3. A summary of the opinions (for and against) this topic.

Electric cars will fully replace petrol and diesel-fuelled cars in the future. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

1. A background statement about the topic:

Electric cars are currently being developed by many well-known automotive companies.

2. A more detailed background statement about the topic:

Many people still question whether electric cars are a feasible replacement for petrol and diesel-fueled vehicles.

3. A summary of the opinions (for and against) this topic:

In this essay I will explore the opinions for and against the use of electric cars and their replacement of petrol and diesel-fuelled cars.

Paragraph two: argument/opinion 1 (for the topic)

In paragraph two you can discuss the first argument/opinion (the argument for the topic).

Structure paragraph two like this: 1. Opinion / argument 1 (for the topic) 2. One example to support this opinion/argument 3. A concluding sentence summing up the opinion/argument 1

Try to use connectors like:

• On one hand
• Some people believe
• It is true that

1. Opinion/argument 1: On one hand, electric cars are environmentally friend. They require no non-renewable energy and are clean to run and maintain on the road. 2. One example to support this opinion/argument: To support this opinion, recent studies show that the use of electric cars helps to minimize pollution in urban and rural areas. 3. A concluding sentence summing up the opinion/argument 1: Clearly, electric cars are one way to tackle ecological concerns and support a ‘greener’ environment.

TIP: A lot of students get confused about giving personal examples. The question prompt is misleading! Give examples that you know of, not examples from your personal experience.

These examples help you develop your argument and act as supporting evidence for your position.

It is fine to mention external sources such as a ‘a recent scientific report’, ‘an academic paper from Russia’, etc. Here is a full tutorial all about giving examples .

Paragraph three: argument/opinion 2 (against the topic)

In paragraph three write about the opinion/argument 2 (usually going against the topic).

Structure your paragraph three like this: 1. Opinion / argument 2 (against the topic) 2. One example to support this opinion/argument 3. A concluding sentence summing up the opinion/argument 2

Use phrases like:

• On the other hand
• Other people believe that

1. Opinion/argument 2 ( against the topic): On the other hand, electric cars are inconvenient to maintain and to dispose of. 2. One example to support this opinion/argument: The driver of an electric vehicle must recharge his car approximately every 100 kilometres. In addition, the plutonium battery of an electric car is toxic to the environment and must be safely disposed of through expensive means. 3. A concluding sentence summing up the opinion/argument 2: In brief, scientists are still exploring ways to produce these types of vehicles so that they are easier to manufacture, maintain and use safely.

Paragraph four: concluding paragraph

The last paragraph of your discursive essay should contain a summary of both previous opinions, and be ended with the writer’s opinion.

The last paragraph should be structured like this:

1. Summary of both previous opinions. Use key phrases like:

• To summarize
• To provide a recap of the two perspectives

2. The writer’s opinion. Use language like:

• In my opinion
• I feel strongly that

3. Suggestion and Conclusion

1. Summary of both previous opinions: To sum up, it’s evident that there are both pros and cons in the development of electric vehicles. 2. The writer’s opinion: Despite the expense of development and the inconvenience of recharging electric cars, I still believe strongly that it is well worth the investment to continue research and production of these vehicles. 3. Suggestion and Conclusion: To conclude, we should remain open, supportive to the use of electric cars and to their development in the future.

TIP: Avoid informal language such as contractions and casual language patterns.

YES: It is said diesel fuelled cars are far superior for rural areas.

NO: It’s said diesel fuelled cars just totally crush it in rural areas.

The full example of a discursive essay written following our structure

Electric cars are currently being developed by many well-known automotive companies. Many people still question whether electric cars are a feasible replacement for petrol and diesel-fuelled vehicles. In this essay, I will explore the opinions for and against the use of electric cars and their replacement of petrol and diesel-fuelled cars. On one hand, electric cars are environmentally friend. They require no non-renewable energy and are clean to run and maintain on the road. To support this opinion, recent studies show that the use of electric cars helps to minimize pollution in urban and rural areas. Clearly, electric cars are one way to tackle ecological concerns and support a ‘greener’ environment. On the other hand, electric cars are inconvenient to maintain and to dispose of. The driver of an electric vehicle must recharge his car approximately every 100 kilometres. In addition, the plutonium battery of an electric car is toxic to the environment and must be safely disposed of through expensive means. In brief, scientists are still exploring ways to produce these types of vehicles so that they are easier to manufacture, maintain and use safely. To sum up, it’s evident that there are both pros and cons in the development of electric vehicles. Despite the expense of development and the inconvenience of recharging electric cars, I still believe strongly that it is well worth the investment to continue research and production of these vehicles. To conclude, we should remain open, supportive to the use of electric cars and to their development in the future.

For an introduction on how to start IELTS writing task 2 click here :

For more practice, take a look at our task 2 sample essays , a band 9 IELTS essay or our essay correction service to help you improve your band score!

Useful Tips

• To get ideas and opinions for the essays you write you need to fill your head with news about current events, alternatively you can read my answers and ideas in the section below.
• Good grammar is by far more important than the exam skills. It is impossible to get points for Task Response if the examiner cannot understand what has been written. Getting feedback on your writing is the fastest way to improve.
• Reviewing recent task two questions can help build your ‘essay idea muscle’. Academic papers are also useful but can be difficult to absorb quickly (unless you just read the summary or conclusion!).

Discursive Essay Topics and Answers 

The topics will be the same as all the other IELTS writing task 2 topics you will face. These include:

IELTS essay topics and answers: education

IELTS essay topics and answer: globalisation

IELTS essay topics and answer: travel and transport

IELTS essay topics and answer: employment

IELTS essay topics and answer: employment (skills)

IELTS topic and answer: education

IELTS essay topics and answer: gender issues

IELTS topic: gender issues (career)

IELTS essay topics and answer: technology

IELTS essay topic and answer: health

IELTS essay topics and answer: society

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Tutorials and Tips to Prepare for Task 2

• How to Get Ideas for Task 2
• Band 9 Sample Essay
• Extremely Useful Sentences for Task 2
• Five Powerful Sentence Structures to use in your IELTS Writing test
• How to use comparisons in Task 2
• Concession Paragraphs for “do I agree/disagree essays”
• How to write an IELTS Essay Conclusion
• IELTS Cohesion and Coherence
• 3 ways to paraphrase for your Task 2 introduction
• Marking Criteria for IELTS Writing
• Topics Sentences for Your Essays
• 7 Ways to Improve your Sentences in Your IELTS Essays
• Grammar for IELTS Writing
• Academic Collocations for Task 2

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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

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: Liz’s 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 each type.

• Opinion Essay Questions
• Discussion Essay Questions
• Solution Essay Questions
• Direct Questions Essay Titles 
• Advantage / Disadvantage Essay Questions

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IELTS Essay Writing: The Argument-led and Thesis-led Approaches

by Manjusha Nambiar · April 6, 2013

You can approach your IELTS essay task in two different ways. For example, you may opt for an argument-led approach or a thesis-led approach.

Consider the essay questions given below.

1. Nowadays more and more teenagers get involved in criminal activities. Why do you think this is happening? What can be done to prevent this?

2. Nowadays more and more teenagers get involved in criminal activities. What can be done to prevent this?

The first essay topic includes two questions whereas the second one includes just one topic. When your essay topic asks you to answer more than one question, the argument-led approach is more suitable because it allows you to discuss and compare different views and analyse problems. The thesis-led approach is more useful when you have to answer only one question and when you have a clear opinion on that.

The argument led approach

This approach is helpful while discussing different views or comparing advantages and disadvantages.

Read the essay topic given below.

A large number of unmarried youngsters now live on their own in cities away from their hometowns. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this trend?

This essay asks you to compare the advantages and disadvantages of a particular trend. Before you start writing brain storm ideas for both sides of the argument; that is, both for and against the issue.

In your introduction, paraphrase the question showing the topic clearly. Do not repeat the exact same words or phrases given in the question. Of course, this is not always possible and sometimes you will have to repeat some of the words. However, avoid the repetition of the entire question at all costs. You may express your opinion in the introduction itself.

Here is a sample introduction statement.

The number of unmarried men and women who live on their own are definitely on the rise. This trend has both positive and negative aspects. For one thing, when people live on their own, they learn to become self-reliant. On the other hand, too much freedom can sometimes lead them astray.

Develop the body of your response

Now that you have clearly stated that this trend has both positive and negative sides, you have to develop your body paragraphs accordingly.

You may write about the positive sides in the first body paragraph. Make sure you support your arguments with valid examples from your own experience. Do not write anything about the negative sides in this paragraph. Discuss only one main point in each paragraph. In the next body paragraph, you can write about the negative sides. Conclude your essay by summarizing the main points.

The Thesis-led approach

Read the essay question given below.

A large number of unmarried youngsters now live on their own in cities away from their hometowns. Is this a positive or negative trend?

As you can see, this essay topic clearly asks for your opinion. The argument-led approach is not suitable in this case. Instead, you have to opt for the thesis-led approach . This approach is suitable when you have or when you are required to take a clear opinion on a particular topic.

If you believe that something is good or right, the whole of your essay – your introduction, body paragraphs and conclusion – should support that view. Do not write about the negative aspects after you have clearly stated that something is good. Now in case, you believe that something is bad, do not write one paragraph explaining why it is bad and another paragraph analyzing the positive aspects of the situation.

Here is a sample introduction statement for the essay topic given above.

More and more unmarried young men and women now live on their own in large cities. This is clearly a positive development. When people live on their own, they learn many skills necessary for success in life. For example, they learn to be responsible for their actions. They also learn to become self-reliant.

Tags: essay writing

Manjusha Nambiar

Hi, I'm Manjusha. This is my blog where I give IELTS preparation tips.

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3 IELTS essay structures you can use for any Writing Task 2

By ieltsetc on June 22, 2018

IELTS writing structures are important to organise your ideas and strengthen your arguments. Here are 3 options.

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December 4, 2020 at 4:40 am

I have been preparing for my IELTS examination and this article will surely be of much help. Am grateful that you have shared this information about the structure that can strengthen my argument. It’s a very insightful article. Thank you for the post it will be very useful.

December 4, 2020 at 4:11 pm

Thanks Anna – I’m really glad you found it helpful. Good luck with your IELTS test! Best wishes Fiona

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IELTS Writing Task 2 Argumentative Essay Topic: Too much emphasis is placed on going university for academic education

Updated On Dec 11, 2021

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Too much emphasis is placed on going to university for academic education. People should be encouraged to do vocational training because there is a lack of qualified tradespeople such as electricians or plumbers. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

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Sample Essay

For most people, vocational training is considered a dishonourable escape route for those who are not smart enough to attend colleges. Now that the scarcity of qualified craftsmen, such as construction workers, electricians or locksmiths is getting more acute, some have suggested that more people should be encouraged to undergo vocational training. From my point of view, I cast no doubt on the veracity of this statement.

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Multiple benefits can be derived from attending trade schools instead of universities. In the first place, programs of vocational schools are often shorter. More specifically, while college students have to commit to at least three years of full-time study, it takes only 1 or 2 years for students to receive certain specialised certifications. In addition, the principal focus of vocational programs is on providing hands-on experience to students, and there is no need for them to study subjects that are not relevant to their choice of subject. The prime example for this is Vietnamese college students, regardless of what majors they pursue, are obliged to study concepts of the communist party while students of trade schools do not have to. For this reason, their employability is significantly enhanced.

Despite such advantages, many are still sceptical about taking vocational training as it does not offer much flexibility. I acknowledge that career choices are much more limited for vocational students and that there is little chance for them to change their careers if they desire to. However, if students receive a proper career orientation program before embarking on their learning, few wrong decisions will be made.

All things considered, I am inclined to restate that vocational training should no longer be kept on the periphery of the educational system and that it should be encouraged among students of all levels of education.

[do_widget id=custom_html-47]

• I cast no doubt on…: I firmly believe in…
• Derive benefit from: take the benefit from
• Vocational school: a school that provides you with skills necessary for a job.
• Prime example: classical example
• Employability is enhanced: The chance of getting employed is increased
• Keep something on the periphery: consider it to be unimportant.

Band 9 Sample Essay

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There has always been an ever-pervasive argument when it comes to the essence and necessity of formal academic education and professional courses for the students. Some people say as there is a pronounced paucity of qualified and educated professionals such as electricians, more stress should be exerted on the vocational training. I find myself agreeing to this statement and in the following paragraphs, I shall be talking about the same.

The first and the prime reason for the inclination towards vocational training shall be the faster and promising employability post the completion of such practical and applicable courses. As is known to all, there is a dearth of such trained and educated employees and hence, the gradient of demand-supply is pretty persistent in such cases, and therefore, the better job prospects for the trainees. Secondly, the courses they choose to go for are typically around the emphatic curricula of a course in particular. Unlike academic qualifications, where one goes through the entire rigmarole and clamour of the additional and secondary syllabus that might not even be distantly related to the considered course subject. Therefore, while undergoing the classes of such vocations, there is staunch andragogy of hardcore learning that finds the implications in the real life. 

Moreover, our academic education system has considerable anomalies and when the point of application of the facts and knowledge imparted in the institutions arises. Many a time it has been that there is a concept of rote learning in these educational hubs and students are hardly left with any logical understanding that categorically helps them in picturizing it to the concrete reality. Similarly, they are made to cram and jam the pages of their textbooks that they are hardly able to take away any plausible or heuristic applicability of it. Owing to this, a generic perspective to studies, majorly at bachelor’s level that hardly finds any implementation, finishes with the untrained and naive graduates striving hard to seek employment. 

Though education is important when it comes to academic knowledge, learning everything under the sun renders a person over-soaked with unprocessed and superfluous knowledge.

Conclusion thus could be focussing more on the quintessential need of the hour and the avenues of vocational coaching for the better career prospects of people as well as the betterment of society. 

More Writing Task 2 Essay Topics

• The Consumption Of The World’s Resources Is Increasing At a Dangerous Rate
• Scientists Agree That People Are Damaging Their Health By Eating Too Much Junk Food
• Students Today Can Access Information Online So Libraries Are Not Necessary
• In Some Countries Secondary Schools Aim To Provide a General Education Across a Range Of Subjects
• Some People Prefer To Directly Help Or Support People Who Need It In The Local Community

Also check :

• Tips to write introduction in IELTS Writing Task 2
• Tips to write great writing essay
• IELTS Sample essays
• IELTS Writing task 2 Preparation Tips
• IELTS Writing tips
• How to get band 8 in IELTS Writing Task 2
• IELTS Writing recent actual test
• IELTS Band 9 essays
• Advantage and Disadvantage Essays
• IELTS Writing Answer sheet
• IELTS map vocabulary
• IELTS Writing Task 1 Connectors

Practice IELTS Writing Task 2 based on Essay types

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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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Anna H. Smith

Posted on Dec 4, 2020

Thank you so much for the useful material you produce and generously share with us. This guide will help in writing the best IELTS argumentative essay during my test. Thanks for this very educative post.

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