How to Plan an IELTS Writing Task 2 Essay in 5 Minutes – A Step-by-Step Guide

You have 40 minutes to read the question, plan your answer, write the essay and check your work for IELTS Writing Task 2. Even though it might be tempting to start writing right away, planning for just 5 minutes can make a huge difference in how well you do on language, task response, and even coherence.

What you’ll learn in this piece is:

• Why making plans is important
• A tried-and-true way to plan a 5-minute essay
• How to break down any IELTS sentence writing question
• Examples of how to plan each type of writing
• Things you should not do when planning

Why You Need to Plan Before Writing:

Making plans helps you:

• Stay on subject and not bring up unrelated issues
• Put your thoughts in a sensible order
• Avoid using the same words over and over or running out of time
• Be confident and write faster

Don’t forget that 50% of your writing grade is based on Coherence and Task Response. Most of the time, an article with good grammar but a bad plan gets a Band 5 or 6.

Here is a 5-minute plan that walks you through each step.
To plan your IELTS writing in 5 minutes, follow these easy steps:

Step 1: Look over the question for one minute
Figure out the type of essay: Opinion, Discussion, Problem-Solving, Pros and Cons, or Double Question.
Highlight words and sentences in the prompt.
It is important that you fully understand what is being asked of you.

Example:
Some people believe that fast food should be banned by the government to make everyone healthier. Should I agree or not?
– This is an opinion piece. You need to choose a side and back it up.

Step 2: Choose Your Position (30 seconds)
Pick your view right away.
Choose a side, even if you only agree with part of it. Don’t be neutral.
You don’t have to write about what you really think; pick the side you can write about best.

Example:
I don’t agree with the idea of banning fast food. It’s better to teach people and give them healthy choices.

Step 3: Come up with two main ideas (one minute)
You need two body paragraphs for most IELTS Task 2 writings. Each one should have:

• One main idea
• One reason
• One example

For instance:

1. Banning fast food goes against people’s rights and won’t fix the real issue.
2. Education and better food labels work better.

Step 4: Plan the structure of your paragraphs (1.5 minutes)
Follow this easy plan:

• Introduction: Rephrase and make your point clear
• Body Paragraph 1: First reason, support, and example
• Body Paragraph 2: Second reason, support, and example
• Conclusion: Summarise the position and stress the main points

Make a short plan like this:
Problem with fast food: I don’t agree with banning it
Body 1: Limits freedom; people will still find unhealthy food, like drinks and snacks
Body 2: Best answer is education and labelling (example: UK’s traffic light system)
Conclusion: Educate instead of ban, and accept people’s choices

Step 5: Write down words (1 minute)
Note:

• 3–5 important words or phrases about the subject
• A few synonyms to avoid repetition
• Any linkers to connect ideas

Example:
Keywords: unhealthy, obesity, fast food, knowledge, food choices
Synonyms: junk food, processed food, nutrients
Linkers: For example, on the one hand, also, because of, to sum up

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More Planning Examples by Essay Type

Opinion Essay
Question: Working from home is better than working in an office.
Plan:
Position: Agree
Reason 1: Saves time and money on transport (e.g. people save two hours a day)
Reason 2: Better work-life balance with flexible scheduling (e.g. childcare, less stress)
Conclusion: Strongly agree, it’s efficient and employee-friendly

Discussion Essay
Question: Some say college should focus on jobs, others on personal growth.
Plan:
View 1: Job-focused education (e.g. skill-based degrees lead to employment)
View 2: Personal development (e.g. ethics, critical thinking, lifelong learning)
Opinion: Both are important; balanced education is ideal

Problem-Solution Essay
Question: Traffic jams are getting worse in towns.
Plan:
Problem 1: Too many cars, not enough public transport
Problem 2: Urban population growth
Solution 1: Invest in metro and bus systems (e.g. Tokyo’s transit)
Solution 2: Impose congestion charges, promote carpooling
Conclusion: Focus on urban planning and policy

Advantages and Disadvantages Essay
Question: What are the pros and cons of using credit cards instead of cash?
Plan:
Pros: Convenient, safe (e.g. online shopping, fraud protection)
Cons: Overspending, debt risk (e.g. credit misuse in the US)
Opinion: Benefits outweigh risks if used wisely

Double Question Essay
Question: Fewer people are reading books. Why? What can be done?
Plan:
Why: Distractions from smartphones and fast content
Solution: Promote school reading and digital libraries (e.g. e-books in curriculum)
Conclusion: Tech caused decline; education policy can help

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Useful Vocabulary Templates
Function | Phrase
Beginning | Many people say that…, There is a discussion going on about…
Opinion | I’m sure that…, I totally agree with…
Addition | Besides that, here’s one more thing to think about
Example | In this case, one example is…, A case in point is…
Conclusion | In the end, to sum up, taking everything into account…

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Avoid These Common Planning Mistakes

• Skipping planning → Leads to poor structure and off-topic writing
• Planning too long → Keep it to 5 minutes to allow writing time
• Incomplete response → Answer both parts if it’s a two-part question
• Vague points → Provide clear reasons and specific examples
• Copying the question → Always paraphrase the question in your introduction

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Why 5-Minute Planning Works

• Saves time: You write faster when you know your structure
• Improves clarity: Better flow helps your reader follow your ideas
• Increases relevance: Helps you stay on topic and write confidently
• Reduces mistakes: Avoids unrelated or repetitive points

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Practice Activity

Select a question from below. Use a timer to plan for 5 minutes (not writing the full essay yet).

Question: Some people believe that kids should learn from their parents how to be good people. Others think this should be taught in school. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

After your plan, try writing the full essay in 35 minutes.

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Thoughts for Now

Planning your IELTS Writing Task 2 essay for just 5 minutes can significantly improve the speed and quality of your writing. Good essays begin with clarity, structure, and purpose—all built during planning.

With regular practice, you’ll be able to plan and write high-band essays efficiently.

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Call to Action
Do you want ready-to-use planning templates for all IELTS essay types? Share your favorite essay type in the comments, and we’ll send you a downloadable guide!