IELTS Writing Task 2 Essay Types – How to Identify and Approach Each One

IELTS Task 2 Essay Types – A Complete Guide

 

The IELTS Writing Task 2 (essay) is the same in both Academic and General Training: you must write at least 250 words in about 40 minutes. In Task 2 you respond to a question about an opinion, problem, discussion or argument. It’s crucial to identify the essay type from the prompt, because different questions require different approaches. All IELTS Task 2 essays follow the same basic four-part structure – an introduction, two main paragraphs, and a conclusion – but the content and focus change with the task. In fact, there are five main Task 2 essay types: Opinion (Agree/Disagree) essays, Discussion essays, Problem/Solution essays, Advantage/Disadvantage essays, and Two-Part (Double-Question) essays. This friendly guide will explain each type in turn, with tips and examples for both Academic and General Training students.

At a glance:

• 250 words, 40 minutes: Each Task 2 essay must be ≥250 words for both modules (the IDP IELTS site confirms you lose marks for anything shorter). General Training essays are written in a semi-formal, neutral style on everyday topics, but the essay types are the same as Academic.
• Identify the task: Look for keywords in the question (e.g. agree, disagree, discuss, advantages, disadvantages, problems, solutions, what is your opinion?) to spot the essay type. Examiners expect you to answer the exact question asked; using the wrong structure can cost you Task Response points.
• One structure, many types: No matter the question, use a clear intro, two body paragraphs, one conclusion. What varies is what you discuss. Below we detail each of the five essay types, typical question wording, and how to tackle them.

 

Opinion Essays (Agree/Disagree)

Figure: Sample IELTS opinion essay prompts (agree/disagree questions).

An Opinion (Agree/Disagree) essay presents a statement and asks if you agree with it. The prompt will explicitly ask for your agreement, disagreement or extent of agreement. Typical instructions include “Do you agree or disagree?”, “To what extent do you agree?”, or “What is your opinion?”. For example, a question might say, “Some people think only electric cars should be allowed on the road by 2040. Do you agree?” or “Online shopping has more benefits than drawbacks. To what extent do you agree or disagree?”.

Key points: You must take a clear stance and stick to it. IELTS expert Liz notes that “the biggest mistake for an opinion essay is not giving a clear opinion… Your opinion must be clear and remain the same throughout the entire essay”. Don’t “sit on the fence.” You can choose to agree, disagree or partly agree (as a balanced view), but you must decide one way or the other. In your introduction, paraphrase the statement and state your position straight away. For example, you might write: “It has been argued that electric cars alone should be allowed in cities by 2040. I completely agree with this position, because it would reduce pollution and encourage greener technology.” Such a thesis makes your view obvious to the reader.

Approach: Plan two solid reasons/examples to support your position. Each body paragraph should focus on one reason plus explanation and example (the PEEL structure is useful: Point – Explain – Example – Link). For instance, if you agree that electric cars are better, one paragraph might explain environmental benefits (with evidence), the other might discuss technological or economic advantages. If you disagree, you might write one paragraph on cost issues and another on practical problems of banning traditional vehicles. Just be consistent: if you decide agree, don’t suddenly argue the opposite in Paragraph 2.

Introduction tips: Always paraphrase the question and include your opinion. The IDP IELTS guide advises: “make sure you paraphrase the input language… and indicate your position on the matter” in the introduction. For example, “Some claim that public transport should be free in large cities to cut pollution. I disagree with this idea because providing free services would be costly and may cause overcrowding.”

Conclusion: Restate your thesis and briefly summarize your main reasons. Avoid introducing new ideas. A strong finish might be: “In conclusion, while free transport could save commuters money, the financial burden on taxpayers and logistical issues make it impractical. On balance, governments should focus on alternative pollution solutions.”

Common question phrases: “Do you agree?”, “To what extent do you agree or disagree?”, “What is your opinion?”, “Do you think this is positive or negative?” are all signal words for an opinion essay. When you see them, be sure to express a clear viewpoint.

 

Discussion Essays (Discuss Both Views)

Figure: Sample IELTS discussion essay questions (Discuss both views).

A Discussion essay (also called “Discuss both views”) asks you to present two sides of an argument or issue, usually ending with your own perspective. The prompt typically says something like “Discuss both views and give your opinion” or “Discuss both sides.” For example: “Some people believe university education should be free, while others say students should pay tuition. Discuss both sides and give your opinion.”

Key points: You must cover both viewpoints equally. Unlike the opinion essay, you should not ignore either side. In fact, the IDP guide outlines three tasks in such a question: “Discuss both of these views… and give your own opinion”. This means:

1. Body Paragraph 1: Explain Viewpoint A in a neutral way.
2. Body Paragraph 2: Explain Viewpoint B, also neutrally (and you may weave in your opinion here or in the conclusion).
3. Opinion: Although phrased as “discuss,” you should still make your position clear somewhere – either at the end of the intro (“this essay will show why I side with X”) or in the conclusion.

For example, if the question is “Some say children should learn languages in kindergarten; others say later. Discuss both and give your opinion.” you could write:

• Intro: Paraphrase both opinions, e.g. “Given increased globalization, opinions differ on when to introduce foreign languages. Some argue early childhood is best, while others prefer waiting until adolescence. This essay will discuss both views and explain why I favor early learning.”
• Para 1 (View A): “Supporters of early learning claim children’s brains are more adaptable. For example, toddlers can often pick up pronunciation easily. They argue that starting in kindergarten gives kids a head start in language proficiency.”
• Para 2 (View B): “Opponents maintain that childhood should be for play, and that older children can learn more effectively. Additionally, they believe that resources should focus on fundamentals first. In my view, this perspective underestimates how quickly young children learn languages.”
• Conclusion: “Weighing both sides, I lean towards starting early, because younger children adapt to languages naturally, and any slight delay could put them behind later on.”

Tips: Use signposting phrases to avoid confusion between “other people’s view” and yours. For example: “Some claim…”, “supporters of this view argue…”, “others believe…”, etc. The IDP article shows example phrases for discussion essays: e.g. “Looking at the kindergarten perspective…”, “With regards to waiting for the teenage years…”, “On balance, my personal view is…”. These help separate the two views. Make it obvious where you stand: you can say “I am of the belief that…” or “I support the latter view because…”. IELTSJacky also warns to “develop both sides” to avoid an unbalanced essay.

 

Problem–Solution Essays

The Problem–Solution essay (sometimes called Cause–Solution or Problems and Solutions) presents an issue and asks you to discuss its causes/problems and suggest solutions. The wording often includes: “What are the causes of this problem? What solutions can you suggest?” or “What are the problems and what can be done to fix them?”. For example: “Traffic congestion is increasing in many cities. Why is this happening, and how can it be solved?”

Key points: Focus on one or two main problems (or causes) and link each with a solution. Avoid a laundry list of dozens of issues. IELTSJacky cautions: “Don’t list lots of causes and solutions. Choose just one or two and develop them fully. Be sure to link each problem/cause and its solution”. Each body paragraph usually handles one problem and its solution. For instance:

• Para 1: Describe the problem/cause (why is X happening?), with details/examples.
• Para 2: Give one or more solutions (what can be done to fix it?), with explanation.

For example, with the traffic question:

• Problem (Para1): “One major cause of congestion is rapid urban migration. When too many people move to cities, road usage skyrockets. For example, City A’s population grew 30% in five years, leading to chronic jams.”
• Solution (Para2): “To address this, governments could invest in efficient public transit. If reliable trains and buses are available, fewer people need cars. For instance, after building a new subway, City B saw a 20% drop in downtown traffic.”

Structure: A typical layout is:

• Introduction: Paraphrase the problem and state that you will discuss causes and solutions.
• Body Para 1 – Problem/Cause: Explain the main problem or cause of the issue. Include details and an example.
• Body Para 2 – Solution: Propose at least one solution. Explain how it addresses the problem, with an example if possible.
• Conclusion: Summarize the key cause and solution(s). You might also make a brief recommendation or final comment.

In the intro you might say: “There are several reasons why [problem]. This essay will examine the main cause and recommend a possible solution.” The IELTSJacky template suggests: Intro (paraphrase + summary of problem and solution), Problem para, Solution para, then Conclusion. Also remember the planning tip from techielts: don’t list many points – one or two well-explained issues and solutions is enough.

 

Advantage–Disadvantage Essays

The Advantage–Disadvantage essay asks you to discuss the positive and negative sides of a given topic, and often also give your opinion. Questions will use phrasing like “What are the advantages and disadvantages of …?” or “Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?”. For example: “Online shopping is growing in popularity. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this trend?” or “With globalization, some think the world should have one global language. Do you think the pros of a single language outweigh the cons?”.

Key points: You must write about both sides. Usually that means one paragraph on advantages, one on disadvantages. If the question does not ask for your opinion explicitly (just “advantages and disadvantages”), you can remain neutral in the conclusion. If it does ask “do you think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?”, you should state your position on the debate. In that case, explicitly say which side you favor when you conclude.

Structure typically is:

• Intro: Paraphrase question. Briefly state you will discuss positives and negatives.
• Body 1 – Advantages: Point out the main benefit(s) and explain them with details/examples.
• Body 2 – Disadvantages: Point out the main drawback(s) similarly.
• Conclusion: Summarize both sides; if an opinion is required, state which side has greater weight (e.g. “Overall, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks”). Otherwise just summarize neutrally.

For example: “This essay will discuss the good and bad aspects of X. One major advantage is… However, there are disadvantages as well, such as…” Note if the question asks “Do you agree?”, your opinion is part of your discussion, but otherwise treat it like a balanced comparison. IELTSJacky gives structures for both scenarios: if no opinion is required, simply list pros and cons; if opinion is required, add a thesis like “In my view, the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages.”

Keep it balanced: don’t devote one extra paragraph to one side unless you’re explicitly taking that side in your conclusion. Each advantage and disadvantage can be just one key idea – it’s better to explain one idea well than list two superficial ones in each paragraph. Always answer the second part of the question: if it asks “do they outweigh?”, make sure to give your verdict in the conclusion.

 

Two-Part (Double-Question) Essays

A Two-Part Essay (aka Double Question or Direct Question essay) contains two separate tasks in the prompt. It might have a single topic with two distinct questions. For example: “Why do people spend money on weddings? Is it good to spend a lot on celebrations?” or “Many people now work from home. Is this a positive or negative development?” Each question must be answered.

Key points: Treat each question separately. You should answer both parts fully. Do not focus only on one or conflate them. IELTSJacky warns: “You must answer both questions fully… Don’t confuse it with an opinion or a discussion essay”. Often it’s easiest to dedicate one body paragraph to each question.

Structure:

• Introduction: Paraphrase the overall topic and clearly mention that you will answer both questions. (Often you can preview your answers here.)
• Body 1 – Question 1: Write about the first question. Answer it with reasons/examples.
• Body 2 – Question 2: Write about the second question similarly.
• Conclusion: Briefly summarise your answers to both questions.

For instance, with “Why do people spend money on weddings? Is it good to do so?” you might structure as: Intro (paraphrase and say you will answer the reasons and then evaluate it), Para 1 (answer why people spend, e.g. cultural reasons), Para 2 (answer whether it is good or bad, e.g. expensive vs memorable), Conclusion (sum up answers). The IELTSJacky outline suggests intro (paraphrase + summary of both answers), then one paragraph per question.

Tips: Sometimes the second part might expect an opinion (as in the wedding example). If so, give it in the second paragraph or conclusion. If it’s purely informational (“What factors influence X?”), just explain. Always watch the instructions: if it says “give your view” on one part, don’t ignore it.

 

Conclusion

 

Understanding the five Task 2 essay types is key to writing a high-scoring IELTS essay. Always start by identifying the question type and planning accordingly. Remember, Introduction + 2 Body Paragraphs + Conclusion is the basic format; fill in those sections with content tailored to your task. For opinion essays, state and support your stance clearly. For discussion essays, cover both sides of the issue. For problem–solution essays, link problems to solutions. For advantage–disadvantage essays, list pros and cons and give your view if required. And for two-part essays, answer each question separately.

Whether you’re taking the Academic or General Training test, Task 2 is scored on the same criteria. In General Training, topics tend to be everyday issues and the tone is semi-formal, but the essay types and organization remain identical. Practice spotting the task words (agree/disagree, discuss, problems, pros/cons, etc.) to quickly recognize the essay type on exam day. With a clear structure and by addressing the exact question asked, you can ensure a well-organized answer that meets the Task 2 requirements.

References: Official and expert IELTS guides stress the importance of matching the essay structure to the question type, and provide examples of each Task 2 essay form. Use these insights to guide your planning and to practice answering real IELTS prompts. Good luck!