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How to Write an IELTS Essay

In this introductory lesson you will find some guidance on how you should write an  IELTS essay .

There are then more lessons on the following pages for different types of essay and different questions, with lots of tips and strategies for achieving a high score. 

You can also watch a video of this lesson:

It is important to learn about IELTS essays because there are different essay types, and these will require different ways to answer them.

However, as you will see from the guidance on this page, they can all follow the same basic structure.

These are some of the types of IELTS essays you can get in the test: 

Not every essay will fit one of these patterns, but many do.

You may get some of these tasks mixed up. For example, you could be asked to give your opinion on an issue, and then discuss the advantages or disadvantages of it.

The golden rule is to  ALWAYS read the question very carefully  to see exactly what you are being asked to do.

The second lesson explains more about analysing essay questions. 

How do I Write an IELTS Essay?

In order to answer this, lets first look at a sample question:

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

In the last 20 years there have been significant developments in the field of information technology (IT), for example the World Wide Web and communication by email. However, these developments in IT are likely to have more negative effects than positive in the future.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

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

Write at least 250 words.

An IELTS essay is structured like any other essay; you just need to make it shorter. There are three key elements:

We will look at each of these in turn, using the essay question above as an example.

1) Introduction

You should keep your introduction for the IELTS essay short. Remember you only have 40 minutes to write the essay, and some of this time needs to be spent planning. Therefore, you need to be able to write your introduction fairly quickly so you can start writing your body paragraphs.

You should do just two things:

Here is an example introduction for the above essay question about IT:

The last two decades have seen enormous changes in the way people's lives are affected by IT , with many advances in this field. However, while these technological advances have brought many benefits to the world, I strongly believe that these developments in IT will result in more negative impacts than positive.

As you can see, the first sentence makes sure it refers to the topic (IT) and uses facts about IT taken from the question. Note that these are paraphrased - you must not copy from the rubric!

The second part then clearly sets out the what the essay will be about and confirms the writers opinion (some questions may not ask for your opinion, but this one does). The writer clearly agrees as he/she thinks there will be more negative impacts.

View this lesson for more advice on writing IELTS essay introductions.

2) Body Paragraphs

For an IELTS essay, you should have 2 or 3 body paragraphs - no more, and no less.

For your body paragraph, each paragraph should contain one controlling idea, and have sentences to support this.

Here is the first body paragraph:

On  the  positive side, email has made communication, especially abroad, much simpler and faster. This has resulted in numerous benefits for commerce and business as there is no need to wait weeks for letters or take time sending faxes, which was the case in the past. Furthermore, the World Wide Web means that information on every conceivable subject is now available to us. For example, people can access news, medical advice, online education courses and much more via the internet.  These developments have made life far easier and more convenient for many.

The controlling idea in this first paragraph is the ' benefits of IT ', and there are two supporting ideas, which are underlined. No drawbacks are discussed as the paragraph would then lose coherence.

Most of the essay will focus on the negative aspects of IT, as the writer says there are more negative effects in the introduction. So the next two paragraphs are about these.

The topic sentence in the next paragraph therefore tells us we are changing the focus to the negative points:

Nevertheless, the effects of this new technology have not all been beneficial. For example, many people feel that the widespread use of email is destroying traditional forms of communication such as letter writing, telephone and face-to-face conversation. This could result in a decline in people's basic ability to socialize and interact with each other on a day-to-day basis.

The final body paragraph gives the last negative effect:

In addition, the large size of the Web has meant that it is nearly impossible to regulate and control. This has led to many concerns regarding children accessing unsuitable websites and the spread of computer viruses. Unfortunately, this kind of problem might even get worse in the future at least until more regulated systems are set up.

3) Conclusion

The conclusion only needs to be one or two sentences, and you can do the following:

Here is an example:

In conclusion, developments in IT have brought many benefits, yet I believe that these are outweighed by the drawbacks. In the future these will need to be addressed if we are to avoid damaging impacts on individuals and society.

The full IELTS Essay:

The last two decades have seen enormous changes in the way people's lives are affected by  IT , with many advances in this field. However, while these technological advances have brought many benefits to the world, I strongly believe that  these developments in IT will result in more negative impacts than positive.

Nevertheless, the effects of this new technology have not all been beneficial.  For example, many people feel that the widespread use of email is destroying traditional forms of communication such as letter writing, telephone and face-to-face conversation. This could result in a decline in people's basic ability to socialize and interact with each other on a day-to-day basis.

(290 Words)

The IELTS essay introduction talks in general about the increasing use of IT, thus introducing the topic well. The thesis then clearly sets out the writers opinion.

The following paragraph mentions the present benefits of these developments, but the opening sentence in the third paragraph is a qualifying statement ( Nevertheless, not all the effects. ..), so the writer can now focus on the negative elements.

The fourth paragraph provides two other negative examples ( lack of regulation, viruses ). Both paragraphs suggest that these problems will continue in the future.

The essay concludes with a clear opinion that agrees with the statement.

Overall, it is a well-balanced text that mentions the present situation (... this has made life ...) but importantly, also refers to the future of IT (... likely to increase. .., might get worse ...).

Have you found this page useful?

Then you may be interested in IELTS buddy's Task 2 eBook , full of tips and strategies for quickly achieving a high score in the IELTS test.

ielts essay writing method

Now you know the basics of writing an IELTS Essay, you can go on and look at further sample essays or if you prefer, check out the next lessons for Writing Task 2.

Next IELTS Writing Task 2 Lesson >>>

More IELTS Sample Essays >>>

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Writing Task 2 Sample

IELTS Writing Task 2 ( also known as IELTS Essay Writing ) is the second task of your IELTS Writing test. Here, you will be presented with an essay topic and you will be scored based on your ability to respond to the topic.

You need to write at least 250 words and justify your opinion with arguments, discussion, examples, problem outlining, proposing possible solutions and supporting your position. You will have approximately 40 minutes to finish your Essay Writing. IELTS Writing Task 2 carries more weights than Writing Task 1.

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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.

ielts essay writing method

The five most common IELTS Writing Task 2 questions are:

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.

ielts essay writing method

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)  

ielts essay writing method

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

ielts essay writing method

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

ielts essay writing method

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:

ielts essay writing method

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.

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IELTS Writing Task 2: a step by step method to write an essay with explanations and model answer

A number of IELTS takers have asked me to explain the process of writing a good, solid answer to any IELTS Task 2 question. To be frank, different people approach differently. For me, it’s breaking down this 40-45 minute task in some short steps and then working on it. In this post, I’m showing you how to write a great Task 2 answer following some easy steps. It also includes a model answer.

Step 1: Analyse the question

To analyze the task 2 question, follow these steps.

A. Read it carefully two or three times. Below is a sample question.

The Internet is now becoming common in all communities and cultures. Almost everyone has access to this medium on a daily basis due to the cheap rate of mobile phone and networking systems around the world. However, the impacts of the internet are not always positive.

Describe some of the negative impacts of the internet. What can be done to minimize these bad impacts?

Give reasons for your answer.

B. Get an idea of your expected audience.

Typically, task 2 questions are usually said to be ‘as part of a class project where a dissertation has to be written’. You should write the essay as if it was for a teacher/trainer. This refers to the fact that your writing must please the teacher or expert of English language skills.

C. What is the topic about?

The key words in the initial part of the question have been made bold below:

The Internet is now becoming common in all communities and cultures. Almost everyone has access to this medium on a daily basis due to the cheap rate of mobile phone and networking systems around the world. However, the impacts of the internet are not always positive .

The issue of the first two sentences is the general topic of the internet. This topic is limited or pointed in the third sentence which specifies the ‘effects’ of the internet, in particular, the negative impacts (‘are not always positive’ means are sometimes negative).

D. What is your purpose/task in writing?

The keywords of the rest of the question are underlined below.

Note that there are essentially two questions or tasks in this one activity:

Step 2: Make necessary notes of ideas

Here, I present you an example of the type of notes you need to write at this stage. The model notes are written on the left side. To the right side is a concise explanation of what the notes signify. Remember, in the real exam notes must be in brief. The explanations provided here are to make you understand what the notes mean. You need not write the explanations in the real exam.

Probable negative effects of internet :

How to minimize these impacts:, step 3: make a plan.

Now, it is time for you to decide which of these ideas will certainly be used in your essay. Try to organize these ideas in an organized and logical way.

In the box below right, I’ve provided a sample plan which is made on the basis of these notes. Not all of the ideas have been used in the plan. Related Points are grouped together into paragraphs (marked with a bullet point).

Step 4: Write the Essay

To do this, you must follow the plan you have prepared.

Model answer:

With the advance of information and technology, people who live in remote areas are getting access to the internet. It is because of the cheap rate of smartphones and faster networking systems. However, even though the internet is clearly very popular, the impacts of using the internet are often negative on people, which is now a concern for many.

Internet users can be negatively affected mainly in three ways. Many people, both children, and adults waste a lot of their valuable time using social network and youtube. Moreover, using the internet too much will surely make people lazy and at the same time, it is derogatory for their health because they do not take part in enough physical exercise.

Additionally, nowadays young people are becoming more addicted to pornographic websites. It is influencing them in a negative way and they are losing their morality, which is having a seriously bad impact on moral values of a particular society. Furthermore, the internet has various negative impacts on families and society. Our communication skill is deteriorating day by day due to our over-indulgence on the internet. It is also responsible for the loss of local customs and traditions as people are learning about foreign customs and cultures and capturing them hastily.

Although the scenario is quite unfortunate, there are two key ways to minimize the negative impacts described above. At first, concerned authority should exercise more control over the content of the internet. Contents like pornography and nudity, which may influence people negatively, should be banned or limited. Also, the authority should educate people about the possible negative impacts of the internet. People can regulate themselves and their children.

In fine, necessary actions must be taken immediately to protect the community from the negative impacts of the internet. If we fail to do so and let it continue as it is, more problems will occur one by one and the society and country will suffer.

(318 words)

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Mrinal Mandal

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IELTS Writing Task 2

There are 5 main categories of essays that you may come across in IELTS writing task 2 . We are discussing the various types of IELTS essay writing samples which will help in both General Training as well as Academic Writing task 2. Mentioned below are some of the IELTS essay samples and types.

Table of Contents

Internet Affecting Social Interaction

Working from home, overpopulation, two-part question essay, ielts essay writing topics, 1) opinion essay structure (agree or disagree), 2) advantages and disadvantages type- ielts essay structure, 3) discussion essay, 4) problem and solution essay, 5) two part questions essay, study for ielts with upgrad abroad, frequently asked questions, study master programs in usa, discussion essay.

In this essay type, there are two opinions and each has to be discussed. Apart from these, the writer’s opinion also has to be mentioned. The topic of the sample essay is Childcare.

The first opinion supports that preschool children should stay with grandparents and be taken care of. The second supports children of this age should stay at childcare centres. In the third paragraph, you can mention your opinion.

Discuss both the opinions and provide your view.

Since the majority of the parents these days go to work, it becomes quite confusing to take care of children who are too young to go to school. Some say children of this age should stay with their grandparents. One of the main reasons for this is that they are staying with family members and will be safer than staying with people who barely know them. Grandparents will get time to connect with the children and instil good habits. It is believed by some that children who stay with their grandparents are kinder towards others. One of the important points is also cost-saving. Most good childcare facilities charge a lot of money. This may put an extra financial burden on the parents.

Others believe that children of this age should be sent to childcare facilities. This will make them independent from a very young age. The staff at the centres are properly trained and capable of taking care of the children. Children can also socialize with other children at the facility. Children who stay at childcare facilities are more disciplined. They are taught several activities such as painting, storytelling, singing, dancing, and various other activities that boost their creativity. 

I think young children should be sent to childcare facilities that provide safety.  They can spend time with their grandparents when they are at home. Disciplining children from a tender age is important, which becomes easier by sending them to childcare facilities. Childcare facilities can also prepare students for school and get them habituated with a certain routine from an early age.

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IELTS Sample Essays

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IELTS Sample Essays

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is amongst the commonly accepted English language proficiency test for admissions into top universities in US, UK, Canada, amongst others. IELTS exam is classified into two types, i.e. IELTS General Training and IELTS Academic . Further, it aims to evaluate candidates on their reading, speaking, listening and writing skills in English. Through this blog, we aim to IELTS sample essays and a detailed guide on their structure and format you should adhere to ace this exam with a higher band score.

This Blog Includes:

Agree or disagree type, discuss two opinions type, cause and effect type, problems & solutions type, advantage & disadvantages type, how to write an ielts essay, ielts sample essays writig topics, writing tasks sample papers.

These IELTS sample essays have been organised so that it is simple for you to observe how specific essay question types call for specific solutions to be given in order to ensure the question is completely addressed. Particularly, these are:

IELTS Sample Essays: Types of Essay Questions

Listed below are the popular type of IELTS essay questions-

The agree and disagree type of Essays are the ones where you are given are given one opinion and you have to tell if you agree or disagree to that opinion by stating some valid points. Check out some sample topics:

This type of essay question is given with two opinions, and you have to discuss both the opinions and then present your own view. Check out some sample topics:

There are different types of ’cause type’ essay questions. Such essays are addressed by first giving reasons or causes, then discuss the entirely different aspect of it, such as the effects, solutions or the extent to whether it is a positive or negative development. Have a look at the sample topics:

Causes & Effects:

Causes and Solutions:

Causes, Pros & Cons:

The problems and solutions type of questions look at the problems related to the cause instead of discussing the causes of a problem. A particular issue in society, and then suggest what can be to solve these problems. Have a look at the sample topics:

The advantage & disadvantage type of essays are to discuss the positive and negative sides of the given topic. Have a look at the samples: 

There are sometimes questions that don’t fit easily into a particular category as above. Have a look at some sample topics:

It is believed the key to improving one’s writing skills is to become a voracious reader. There is immense importance of reading in helping you improve your writing style as well as vocabulary. Moreover, it can also help you write impressive IELTS essays that showcase your flair for writing and familiarisation with grammar rules. Before providing you with some helpful IELTS sample essays, take a look at the format you must adhere to while writing one.

IELTS Essay Sample 1

IELTS Essay Sample 2

While going through the IELTS Sample Essays, you must also check out IELTS Essay Topics ! 

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Hence, the aforementioned IELTS Sample Essays will certainly help you in acing the writing section of the exam. Needless to say, devising a proper strategy for an exam like IELTS is important to successfully crack it. Book an online demo session with our Leverage Edu experts and we will guide you throughout your IELTS preparations, providing you with useful tips and study materials to ensure that you achieve a higher band score and actualise your dream of studying abroad.

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IELTS Writing Task 2 Discussion Essay Topic: Discuss the benefits of group study and individual learning

Janice Thompson

Updated On Dec 20, 2021

IELTS Writing Task 2 Discussion Essay Topic: Discuss the benefits of group study and individual learning

Some teachers prefer the group study methods for their students while others prefer the individual learning method. Which one do you prefer? Discuss the benefits of group study and individual learning. 

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

Discussion Essay

Introduction

Paraphrase the topic of the essay and mention the view.

Paragraph 1 – Group study creates a happiness factor that motivates the students. In group study, there are opportunities where students can teach others.

Paragraph 2 – W hen students learn in isolation, they are held responsible for their scores. This serves as a positive fear factor that urges them to complete all the lessons on time.

Conclude the essay by summarizing the topic and stating the final verdict.

Sample Essay

Learning methodologies have long been a subject of debate. Some teachers advocate studying in groups while others don’t recommend it. Students are confused as to which strategy is better for improving their performance. Each of these approaches has its merits and demerits. However, in my opinion, group study is better and result oriented. In the following paragraphs, I shall discuss both sides and explain which is beneficial for the student community.

Group study creates a happiness factor that motivates the students. In group study, there are opportunities where students can teach others. The concepts which seemed to be vague may become easier with the explanation offered by someone in the group. When student A has convincingly explained a concept to student B, the confidence level of student A increases. Student B will also feel relieved because he has gained knowledge over an area that seemed impossible to comprehend. Since they understand every concept, it is easier to recall the answers in the exam hall.

Au contraire, when students learn in isolation, they are held responsible for their scores. This serves as a positive fear factor that urges them to complete all the lessons on time. They are independent in choosing the order in which they want to study. For example, student A may want to finish studying math lessons first because it might be more difficult for him. They can concentrate better. They can start studying at their convenience and need not keep waiting for others to arrive. Sometimes there may be ego clashes between students in the group about the understanding of an idea, which will harm the study environment. There are no such risks in individual learning.

In conclusion, both techniques have their merits and demerits. Though individual learning methods put the student in control of his study environment, I think group study is more productive. Group study reduces stress, and students become more confident because of knowledge sharing.

Band 9 Sample Essay

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The system of studying that is followed by students is greatly influenced by personal disposition. The mode of learning selected divides individuals into two segments, one of which includes group study preferrers and the other is comprised of people inclined towards self-learning. I believe there is more utility in an isolated form of study as opposed to doing so in a group. In the following paragraphs, I will elaborate on both these approaches to determine which is more advantageous.

Firstly, let’s take a look at the individual learning style which has been widely followed by the current and the previous generations. This particular manner of study involves book learning with minimal to zero aid from others. Such a practice is quite desirable if a student is required to completely focus on the subject in concern without any distractions. Consequently, due to the absence of any kind of disturbance or interference, an individual can take full advantage of their time and mental energy.

Contrastingly, there are various merits to the group study approach as well, which have made it a highly prevalent convention, especially in modern times. One of the key benefits of having a group of peers along, when preparing for examinations or doing academic work in general, is the ease and convenience enjoyed in solving doubts or understanding tricky concepts. For example, if a student is unable to solve a tough mathematics problem, they can simply refer to their friend’s or any other group member’s solution and move along to the next question. Such facilities are exclusively available to students when they are studying with a group.

Finally, I would like to conclude by saying that, objectively, both these techniques of academic learning have their benefits and the choice of either one will be entirely dependent on the individual bias. Nevertheless, a solitary means of learning is a more productive use of a student’s time and efforts.

More Writing Task 2 Essay Topics

Practice IELTS Writing Task 2 based on Essay types

Janice Thompson

Janice Thompson

Soon after graduating with a Master’s in Literature from Southern Arkansas University, she joined an institute as an English language trainer. She has had innumerous student interactions and has produced a couple of research papers on English language teaching. She soon found that non-native speakers struggled to meet the English language requirements set by foreign universities. It was when she decided to jump ship into IELTS training. From then on, she has been mentoring IELTS aspirants. She joined IELTSMaterial about a year ago, and her contributions have been exceptional. Her essay ideas and vocabulary have taken many students to a band 9.

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IELTS test format explained

Test takers who understand the format of IELTS are at an advantage. Make sure you’re familiar with how IELTS testing works.

There are two IELTS tests available, IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training . Both tests are graded in exactly the same way. 

You’ll take the first three parts of the test on the same day, in the following order: Listening, Reading and Writing (there are no breaks between these tests). Your Speaking test will be held either on the same day or seven days before or after that, depending on local arrangements.

The IELTS Listening test is designed to assess a wide range of listening skills, including how well you

Take a free listening practice test.

You will need to read quickly and efficiently, and manage your time. You will be asked to read three different passages and respond to related questions in your IELTS Reading test. The content of the Reading test is different for IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training tests.

The IELTS Reading test is designed to assess a wide range of reading skills, including how well you

Academic Reading

 General Training Reading

Take a free reading practice test.

The IELTS Writing test is designed to assess a wide range of writing skills, including how well you

Academic Writing

General Training Writing

Take a free writing practice test.

You will talk to a certified examiner in the IELTS Speaking test. The test is interactive and as close to a real-life situation as a test can get. A variety of accents may be used, and the test will be recorded.

The content of the IELTS Speaking test is the same for both the IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training tests.

The IELTS Speaking test is designed to assess a wide range of skills.

The examiner will want to see how well you can

Make sure that you relax and talk fluently. You will need to speak naturally.

Take a free speaking practice test.

Video-Call Speaking test

From July 2020, some of our IELTS test centres will start delivering the IELTS Speaking test via video calls. This means more flexibility and more availability of IELTS Speaking tests.

You will take the Video-Call Speaking test at an official IELTS test centre with the same high standard of identity verification. The test will be exactly the same as the in-person Speaking test in terms of content, scoring, timing, level of difficulty, question format and security arrangements.  Delivered by an IELTS Speaking Examiner, the video-call Speaking test will maintain the face-to-face feature of the in-person Speaking test.

This test is currently available in Albania, Egypt, Hong Kong, Malaysia, North Macedonia, Oman, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.

For more information, please contact us .

ielts essay writing method

IELTS Game

IELTS Writing: Structure, Tips, Strategies (Academic & General)

IELTS Writing section

IELTS Writing: Structure, Tips, Strategies

Writing is one of the IELTS sections which assesses your writing skills.

A lot of candidates consider this part of the test the most challenging one.

We asked people on  Quora   about their IELTS results and came to the conclusion that it is actually true as in most cases the band for Writing was lower than for other parts.

In this article, IELTS Game will look at this part of the exam in more details and you will learn how to deal with it in the easiest way.

Table Of Contents

General Information about IELTS Writing exam

First of all, it’s necessary to know that Writing is different in two modules of the test.

As a rule, the second task of writing, which is essay, requires you to write more and proves to be more challenging than the first one, and it is worth more points.

That is why it’s advisable to spend 20 minutes on Task 1 and 40 minutes on Task 2.

General Training Writing

Writing in this module of the test includes two tasks: a letter and an essay. You will have 60 minutes to complete both tasks.

1. Task one General training

Task 1 is a letter concerning everyday situation that you are likely to encounter while living in an English-speaking environment.

For example , a letter to an accommodation officer, your employer or a friend. It is recommended to spend 20 minutes on it.

You may be asked to write an informal letter to your friend, a semi-formal letter, or an official letter. You will have to write at least 150 words.

Example of Task 1:

You have received a letter from your bank, asking you to acknowledge receipt of a new bank card. However, the card was missing from the envelope.

Write a letter to the bank’s head office. In your letter:

2. Task two General training

Task 2 is an essay on some common topic, such as family, society, TV, school, communication, etc.

You should write at least 250 words and spend about 40 minutes on this task. Look at the example of an essay question:

Some people believe that teaching children at home is best for a child’s development while others think that it is important for children to go to school.

Discuss the advantages of both methods and give your own opinion.

IELTS Academic Writing

1. task 1 academic.

In Task 1 of the Academic module you will be asked to describe any of the 6 types of charts: a bar chart, a line graph, pie chart, a table, a diagram or a map.

However, in some cases you may have a combination of charts: such a table and a pie chart.

You don’t need to write about everything you see in a picture, you should sum up the information, talk about general trends and changes, and make comparisons.

The most important thing here is that you are not supposed to express your personal opinion, so you should avoid using such phrases as I think, In my opinion, etc.

2. Task 2 Academic

Task 2 is an essay on a given topic. Here,  the examiners assess your ability to express your opinion on a topic and support your ideas with arguments and examples and make conclusions.

Essay tasks in the Academic module are more challenging than in the General module.

Look at the example of an essay question:

It is generally believed that the Internet is an excellent means of communication but some people suggest that it may not be the best place to find information.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

How is Writing assessed in IELTS test?

Writing is marked using a 9-band scale. The examiners use 4 assessment criteria to score your writing:

The first criterion (task response or task achievement) looks at the content of your answer to assess whether it is accurate and relevant to the topic in the question.

The next criterion (coherence and cohesion) describes how well you organize your ideas and how logically  they are sequenced.

Lexical resource assesses your ability to use a wide range of vocabulary .

According to the last criterion (grammatical range and accuracy), you should use a variety of sentence structures and grammar forms correctly.

You can look through the assessment criteria in more details on the official IELTS Website:  Task 1  and  Task 2 .

How to deal with the Writing part?

On a test day you will receive a question paper and two answer sheets: the first for Task 1 and the second for Task 2.

You won’t have any draft paper but you will be able to write on the question paper.

It’s really important to track your writing  time. It’s recommended to spend 20 minutes on first task and 40 on the second, as the essay is worth more marks.

So make sure that you allocate reasonable time for both tasks.

You must answer the questions you are asked.  Here is what you are supposed to do in your writing part.

You should save enough time to proofread and check what you have written.

Don’t forget, you have to write at least 150 words in Task 1 and 250 words in your essay.

If you write shorter, you will lose points. You can write more words than necessary, but don’t expect to gain extra points for it.

How to write an Essay?

The majority of IELTS candidates really struggle with the second task of the Writing paper.

They have a lot of questions concerning types of questions, essay structure and ideas they have to talk about in their essay.

So, let’s take a closer look at this part of the Writing test.

As I have already mentioned above, essay questions can be different in two modules of the test.

But types of essay questions and structure of the answer is the same in both Academic and General Training modules.

You should always start completing Task 2 with making a plan for your answer.

It’s really important to think of the ideas you will write about before writing.

Without a plan you may get confused with different ideas, and your point of view may not be clear to the examiner.

Another point to consider is the paragraph structure.

In your essay you must have 4 or 5 paragraphs: the first paragraph is an introduction , then two or three body paragraphs , and the last paragraph is a conclusion .

Always keep in mind this general structure when you practice writing.

That was the general structure for writing an essay.

But you need to remember that there are several types of essay questions in the IELTS, so the structure of your answer can be a little bit different depending on the question.

So before planning your essay, read the question properly to understand what type of essay you have.

Types of IELTS Writing Essay

In general, there are 5 common types of essays in the IELTS test:

1. Advantage/disadvantage essay

In the advantage/disadvantage essay, you are going to have a task to discuss benefits and drawbacks of something or to compare whether advantages of some tendency outweigh disadvantages, or the other way round.

Some countries show their criminal trials on TV for people to watch.

Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?

2. Opinion essay

In the opinion essay you will be given some statement and you’ll have to give your opinion on it (What is your opinion?) or agree/disagree with this point of view (To what extent do you agree or disagree?).

Here it’s important to choose only one side of an argument and stick to it throughout your essay.

Or you may not agree with both sides and suggest your point of view, but it should be completely different from what you have in the task.

This approach is called balanced opinion.

Some businesses now say that no one can smoke cigarettes in any of their offices. Some governments have banned smoking in all public places. This is a good idea but it also takes away some of our freedom.

Do you agree or disagree? Give reasons.

3. Problem & Solution Essay

The next type of essay ( problem and solution ) will ask you to find problems and suggest the solution to the problems.

In some cases you may be asked to write about causes of some problem.

Nowadays, more and more older people who need employment compete with the younger people for the same jobs.

What problems does this cause? What are the possible solutions?

4. Discussion Essay

The discussion essay will give you two opposing ideas and you will have to discuss these two points of view.

Here you don’t have to stick to this or that idea if you’re not asked to.

Very often, there will be the following phrase in the task  “… and give your opinion “, in this case you must give your opinion supporting one point of view.

Or you may express your personal opinion on this question ( balanced opinion ).

Some people believe that living in big cities is becoming more difficult. Others believe that it is getting easier.

Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

5. Two-part question Essay

In  two-part question essay  you will have to answer two questions.

The questions are usually of the same topic, and you will need to present a detailed answer to each question in a separate paragraph.

Cycling is more environmentally friendly than other forms of transport.

Why is it not popular in many places? How to increase its popularity?

How to improve your score for Writing?

To improve your score for writing, you will have to practice a lot and regularly.

While practicing make sure you comply with the following rules:

Important Links

Writing preparation.

Grammar for Writing

Vocabulary in IELTS writing

Recent Exams

It is important for people to take risks IELTS writing task 2

Writing tips to score higher grades in assignments, how is a grammar checker important in creative writing.

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Thank you so much

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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:

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:

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.

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

2)  Main body paragraph 1

3)  Main body paragraph 2

4)  Conclusion

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.

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:

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

ielts essay writing method

This introduction achieves three important functions:

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:

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.

ielts essay writing method

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.

ielts essay writing method

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:

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:

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:

        or

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:

ielts essay writing method

Here is the same information formed into a conclusion:

ielts essay writing method

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.

ielts essay writing method

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

ielts essay writing method

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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How to structure paragraphs using the PEEL method

Sophia Gardner

May 19, 2021

You may have heard of the acronym PEEL for essays, but what exactly does it mean? And how can it help you? We’re here to explain it all, plus give you some tips on how to nail your next essay.

There’s certainly an art to writing essays. If you haven’t written one for a while, or if you would like to hone your academic writing skills, the PEEL paragraph method is an easy way to get your point across in a clear and concise way, that is easily digestible to the reader. 

So, what exactly is PEEL ? 

okeykat-lfubXm-MW0U-unsplash-1

The PEEL paragraph method is a technique used in writing to help structure paragraphs in a way that presents a single clear and focused argument, which links back to the essay topic or thesis statement. 

It’s good practice to dedicate each paragraph to  one  aspect of your argument, and the PEEL structure simplifies this for you.

It allows you to create a paragraph that is easy and accessible for others to understand. Remember, when you’re writing something, it’s not just you who is reading it - you need to consider the reader and how they are going to be digesting this new information. 

What does PEEL stand for? 

P = Point: start your paragraph with a clear topic sentence that establishes what your paragraph is going to be about. Your point should support your essay argument or thesis statement.

E = Evidence/Example: here you should use a piece of evidence or an example that helps to reaffirm your initial point and develop the argument. 

E = Explain: next you need to explain exactly how your evidence/example supports your point, giving further information to ensure that your reader understands its relevance.

L = Link: to finish the paragraph off, you need to link the point you’ve just made back to your essay question, topic, or thesis.

Download a free PEEL paragraph planner below. 👇

Download a free PEEL Planner

Studiosity English specialist Ellen, says says students often underestimate the importance of a well-structured paragraph. 

PEEL in practice

Here’s an example of what you might include in a PEEL structured paragraph: 

Topic: Should infants be given iPads?  Thesis/argument: Infants should not be given iPads.

Point : Infants should not be given iPads, because studies show children under two can face developmental delays if they are exposed to too much screen time. 

Evidence/Example: A recent paediatric study showed that infants who are exposed to too much screen time may experience delays in speech development.

Explanation: The reason infants are facing these delays is because screen time is replacing other key developmental activities.

Link: The evidence suggests that infants who have a lot of screen time experience negative consequences in their speech development, and therefore they should not be exposed to iPads at such a young age.

Once you’ve written your PEEL paragraph, do a checklist to ensure you have covered off all four elements of the PEEL structure. Your point should be a clear introduction to the argument you are making in this paragraph; your example or evidence should be strong and relevant (ask yourself, have you chosen the best example?); your explanation should be demonstrate why your evidence is important and how it conveys meaning; and your link should summarise the point you’ve just made and link back to the broader essay argument or topic. 

andrew-neel-ute2XAFQU2I-unsplash

Keep your paragraphs clear, focused, and not too long. If you find your paragraphs are getting lengthy, take a look at how you could split them into multiple paragraphs, and ensure you’re creating a new paragraph for each new idea you introduce to the essay. 

Finally, it’s important to always proofread your paragraph. Read it once, twice, and then read it again. Check your paragraph for spelling, grammar, language and sentence flow. A good way to do this is to read it aloud to yourself, and if it sounds clunky or unclear, consider rewriting it. 

That’s it! We hope this helps explain the PEEL method and how it can help you with your next essay. 😊

You might also like:  Proofreading vs editing: what's the difference? How to get easy marks in an exam 5 study hacks that actually work

Topics: English , Writing , Grammar

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ielts essay writing method

IELTS Simon

Lessons with simon, ex-ielts examiner, ielts resources.

« IELTS Advice: the "four-hour essay" | Main | IELTS Writing Task 1: full essay (describe a map) »

August 10, 2011

Ielts writing task 2: method.

I've noticed that the more essay practice I do with my students, the more defined my writing method becomes.

For example, I now know that my 250-word essays usually contain 13 to 15 sentences: 2 for the introduction, 5 to 6 for each main paragraph and 1 sentence for the conclusion. It takes me 10 minutes to write a good plan, 5 minutes to write an introduction, I have 2 main ways of writing main paragraphs etc. etc.

The question is: Do you have a clearly defined method? Do you repeatedly practise writing essays in the same way?

If you don't have a method, it's just "hit and hope".

Feed

What do you think, is there any definite method of writing essay 2?

Thanks & Best Regards Rocky

Posted by: Rocky | August 10, 2011 at 10:02

Trying to do according to this suggested method but with two sentences conclusion. Thanks! your advice really helps me to reach to my desired destination. With warm regards

Posted by: kanny | August 10, 2011 at 10:21

Thanks for your advice . By the way, I hope you are doing well in Manchester at the moment.

Posted by: Kevin | August 10, 2011 at 12:27

Thanks for sharing Simon! I also have the same feeling, and you basically described what I have in mind!

Posted by: Martin | August 10, 2011 at 17:43

I definitely think that it's a good idea to have a method. I follow the same steps every time I write an essay.

That's fine. If you want to do a 2-sentence conclusion, that's your method.

Thanks Kevin. Everything is fine where I am, but it's sad to see some of the scenes in city centres at the moment.

No problem Martin. It's good to hear that you feel the same.

Posted by: Simon | August 10, 2011 at 18:26

I wonder if I use "but" in the right way in this sentence , please help me : _ You should not eat rice but noodle . ( I suggest you to eat noodle )

Posted by: Kevin | August 10, 2011 at 20:49

I'm giving IELTS exam on 20th August and I'm really worried about writing tasks. Can you tell me the method of writing an essay.

waiting for your reply. Thanks.

Posted by: Jess | August 11, 2011 at 07:06

Yes, you can say that Kevin.

Look through my lessons for task 1 and 2. I've written lessons about introductions, conclusions, main paragraphs etc. All the advice is here.

Posted by: Simon | August 11, 2011 at 08:35

I am just wondering the use of adjective which are prime and primary. There are some examples 1.The study is a primary(or prime)example of the way sociologists collect their data.

2.~a prime(or primary) reason the Dow dove more than 200 points at lunchtime~

3.Starbucks shops are prime(or primary) hunting ground for thieves who prey on customers~

I was always confusing the using of it. Can you explain please sir.

I am looking forward to answering soon.(Oh this sentence is also break the to-infinitive rule as you taught us)

Posted by: Don | August 11, 2011 at 09:00

Hi Simon, Can you tell me how many bands we score if we get 28 marks in reading.

Thanks for replying to my earlier query. You are really a best advisor.

Posted by: Jess | August 11, 2011 at 09:06

Hi Jess, I think you get a 6.5 band with that score .

Posted by: Kevin | August 11, 2011 at 12:47

Dear Sir I will b appearing 4 my IELTS on Saturday 13th Aug 2011. I got to know abt ur website just last Saturday. I thank u 4 al ur indirect support n cooperation. Many of my doubts r cleared n i tried my best. I take u as my GURU (Teacher) n I need blessings from u. I hope my exam goes well.

Posted by: Vaishu | August 11, 2011 at 13:55

Sry its (most)and not many of my doubts

Posted by: Vaishu | August 11, 2011 at 14:01

Posted by: Jess | August 11, 2011 at 14:11

Hello Sir, I want to ask about the essay statement "Do you agree or disagree or disagree"

Example 1: Some people say that the Internet is making the world smaller by bringing people together. To what extent do you agree that the internet is making it easier for people to communicate with one another?

Example 2: Some people think that students who don’t take a break in studies between a high school and a university are at disadvantage compared to students that travel and work after high school before furthering their education. Do you agree or disagree?

My question is : do we need to discuss here both sides of the arguments and then find a conclusion (agreement / disagreement)?

If we agree, we should only write the reason of agreement. And if we disagree, we need only write about points which lead us to disagreement. Please elaborate.

Posted by: Khan | August 12, 2011 at 08:31

Dear Simon, "hit or miss" and "hit and hope" are the same?

Posted by: Miray | August 12, 2011 at 09:34

It's a good question because both words can mean "main". I don't think you can find a grammar rule that explains which one you should use - native speakers instinctively know which word is best depending on the other words around it (this is what 'collocation' is all about).

I'd probably use 'prime example' and 'prime hunting ground' but 'primary reason', but both words are possible. Try searching for these phrases on Google (put the words between speech marks e.g. "prime example") and compare the number of results and the different examples you find.

Look at this:

http://ielts-simon.com/ielts-help-and-english-pr/2010/08/students-questions-reading-scores.html

Good luck Vaishu!

You don't need to discuss both sides. It is often much easier to have a strong opinion and support it with reasons (e.g. 2 main reasons = 2 main paragraphs).

They are a bit different.

hit and miss = something that is always random hit and hope = you try something and hope for the best (but this phrases implies that some people don't need to rely on luck to do well)

Posted by: Simon | August 12, 2011 at 12:09

Good morning Simon, what do you think about my conclusion for this topic ?

Writing task 2 : In some countries, people who commit less serious crimes are made to undertake community service instead of a prison sentence. Some people believe that all people who have committed a crime should be sent to prison.

Do you agree or disagree?

Here is my conclusion:

To conclude, our society needs a radical treatment for crime which is done by sentencing rationally and dependently on the scale of justice and love. Thus, the world will become a better place.

Posted by: Kevin | August 12, 2011 at 14:18

Thank you for your kind answer. I am always learning through this lovely page. Thanks again.

Posted by: Don | August 12, 2011 at 15:14

Your conclusion should answer the question more clearly. I'm not sure whether you think criminals should go to prison or do community service.

No problem Don.

Posted by: Simon | August 13, 2011 at 16:30

Hi Wonderful Simon Hi every body I would like share u the TASK 2 TITLE of 13th August in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia It was generally about ' SPACE TRAVEL' and how that make a little differences in some people's life

Posted by: sumu999 | August 15, 2011 at 07:55

hi simon thank you a wonderful website

Posted by: johnson | August 15, 2011 at 14:00

Thanks Sumu and Johnson!

Posted by: Simon | August 15, 2011 at 14:32

Mr. Simon u deserve thank not me i suggest a category for recent TASK 2 TOPICS Thank u Mr.Simon

Posted by: sumu999 | August 16, 2011 at 02:40

Thank you,Simon.I have a test this weekend so I have to study much harder!!

Posted by: Miray | August 16, 2011 at 05:21

hi sir ... can i use this format

The money given to help poor countries does not solve the problem of poverty, so rich countries should give other types of help instead. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

body 1 accept that financial aid is good idea + refute body 2 some good ways of helping poor countries

it this format good

Posted by: johnson | August 16, 2011 at 13:16

I'm trying to use recent questions for my task 2 lessons as often as possible. You can find recent questions that students have shared here:

http://ielts-simon.com/ielts-help-and-english-pr/recent-exam-questions.html

Hi Johnson,

Your 'body 1' is a bit confusing - just use that paragraph to explain why financial aid is a bad idea.

'Body 2' is good.

Posted by: Simon | August 16, 2011 at 15:52

i have write well in ielts task 1 but in task 2 all is well except i just touch the 'in conclusion to write' and time is out.so i cant write conclusion part xecept the word "in conlcusion" only.how much marks is deducted and other introduction part n body part is well.please tell how it is calculate if such happen?

Posted by: sujan | April 15, 2012 at 03:01

Hi Simon I am new here I just need to get 6 each in ielts what should I need to do ???

Posted by: aman | July 01, 2015 at 22:33

Hi Simon, I'm going to attend the IELTS exam on 21st November, I'm very very difficult in writing module (Task 1 & 2), pls suggest or guide me how to become confident to get Band score-7. and if possible can you send some tricks and tips Waiting for your reply.Thanking you.

Posted by: Seetu | October 06, 2015 at 10:54

The comments to this entry are closed.

IELTS Essay Writing Tips

11 Simple Tips To Ace IELTS Essay Writing Task

When asked to IELTS aspirants,

"Which is the most difficult task out of the two writing tasks asked in IELTS Academic and General Training Writing test?"

Most of them answered - IELTS Essay Writing Task

Though Task 1 (Letter writing for IELTS General Training & Report writing for IELTS Academic) is easy by no means, many aspirants find Task 2 (Essay Writing) of IELTS Writing module more challenging.

In task 2, you are supposed to answer a particular question. To be more specific, IELTS Writing Task 2 requires you to write an essay on a given topic in at least 250 words. But, not to forget - the task is time bound. You are given 40 minutes to present the given topic skilfully in your own words and obviously without any mistakes.

You can be asked different types of essays in IELTS Writing Task 2. This includes - Opinion Essay, Argumentative Essay, Advantages/Disadvantages (Pros/Cons) Essay, Problem & Solution Essay and Mixed Essay. You have to identify the type of essay asked and write your response accordingly. You are expected to use your skills, experience and examples while answering.

Now, how is your essay scored? Here are the scoring criteria!

Each criterion contributes 25% of the total Writing Score. If you do not care about these parameters in your writing, you will lose a good portion of your score.

Are you well aware about the IELTS Writing Task 2 now? Then, let's proceed to some tips and strategies to ace this task like a Pro.

IELTS Essay Writing Task - Tips for a Better Score

1. Understand

Understanding what the question specifies, is overcoming half the problem. It is essential to pay attention to all the issues mentioned in the question. First, look at the question carefully then identify the question type- whether it's a discussion, an opinion, a solution to the problem or a combination. Identify the main keywords and understand precisely what the examiner is expecting in the essay. Avoid writing on a general topic, or you won't score more than a band 5.

2. Map Out Your Ideas

Before you commence writing, take 5 minutes first to brainstorm different ideas. Take a pencil and jot down as many as various aspects and perspectives, related to the particular issue in the essay. The test-taker would score more if he/she plans and organizes out their ideas in a proper paraphrased manner. It will in a way save more time as you have already pictured the essay in your mind and will help you pen your essay better and faster.

3. Be Familiarized With The Common Topics

IELTS tutorials, one of the top institutions for IELTS coaching provides multiple IELTS Writing Practice to familiarize you with the pattern of the test, model questions, etc. This will help in widening your vocabulary to brainstorm more ideas. Also, try to read newspapers more which will increase your vocabulary along with keeping you updated with your surrounding ongoing. Always remember that the IELTS exam doesn't test your knowledge but competency in the English Language. So present your answer with a clear thought process with multiple examples to make your writing piece more enhanced.

4. Ask Yourself Questions

Another way to prompt ideas is to ask yourself questions while reading the essay topic like why/what/where/who/how to generate more ideas. When you ask these questions to yourself then you'll be able to think more evidently and thereby creating more ideas.

5. Employ Your Personal Opinion

The most effective method to write an enhanced essay is to include your personal opinion in the essay. Imagine the topic of the essay is a question asked of you by your friend, and then phrase your piece as if you are conveying what you believe in, your thoughts on it. Also, try to use relevant examples and instances in the essay to make it more clear.

So, in the end, remember that IELTS Writing task won't be another mountain to climb to score band 7+, if you think and understand thoroughly of what the essay topic requires.

6. Manage Your Time

Since the test is time bound, it is important to complete the IELTS Essay Writing task on time i.e. within 40 minutes. So, you must develop proper time management skills before appearing for the IELTS Exam.

Manage your time

Start writing your essay with a proper strategy. Do not spend more than 5 minutes in planning your essay. If possible, try to complete your essay within 36-37 minutes so that you can spend the last 2-3 minutes in proofreading. As you might have written the essay in a hurry, proofreading will help you identify spelling and grammar mistakes, if any. This way, you can complete your task efficiently within the stipulated time.

7. Take Care of Lexical Resources

Lexical Resource is one of the four Writing Assessment Criteria that contributes to your writing score. But, many of the IELTS aspirants are unaware regarding the use of lexical features. Lexical resource refers to the use of sufficient range of Vocabulary , correct usage of Spellings, proper implementation of Collocations and Word Formation.

Those who are unknown to this, use repetitive words in their essay. But, an examiner is looking for a variety of words and phrases in your answer. When he/she does not find any variety of language, it creates a negative impression about your Vocabulary. He/she considers that you have a poor language knowledge and marks you accordingly.

So, avoid repetitive words wherever possible in your essay.

8. Make Paragraphs

Many candidates do not use paragraphs while writing an academic piece or an article. They describe the entire topic clearly in just a single paragraph. But, doing so in IELTS Essay Writing Task will definitely cost your marks.

IELTS Essay Writing Task follows a specific structure. Have a look!

Break down your ideas into different paragraphs. Explain each idea of yours in detail with relevant examples in one paragraph. Then, start another paragraph with a new idea. But remember, your ideas should be logically linked though written in different paragraphs.

An essay with 4 paragraphs is ideal for IELTS Essay Writing Task. You can add paragraphs only and only if needed. Do not put any unwanted information or try to unnecessarily expand the paragraph. This will reduce the chance of achieving high band score.

9. Complete Your Answer

In order to finish the task before the time runs out, many candidates tend to leave the answers incomplete. There are some who choose another way of writing to complete their response i.e. they either write short sentences or put only bullet points. This is absolutely a wrong practice.

IELTS Test is meant to assess your English Language skills. And, if you leave the answers incomplete, the examiner will not be able to judge your skills. As a result, he/she will poorly grade your essay. So, instead of writing bullet points or short sentences, you must formulate each point in a separate paragraph with two to three lines of explanation. This way you can showcase your writing skills and create a good impact on the examiner to score better.

10. Know Grammar, Spelling & Punctuation

spelling matters

Using appropriate grammar, writing correct spellings and placing the punctuation marks at right places play a vital role in IELTS Writing Task 2. You need to be extra careful regarding this. Even a minor mistake will directly reduce your score. Thus, a prior practice is worthwhile to ensure success.

11. Use Formal Language

In this times of SMS and other chat applications, it is quite a common issue to use informal expressions and shorthand texts. But, this practice is strictly prohibited for the IELTS Exam. Using inappropriate language or terminologies might offend the examiner and thus, your score will suffer. So, you should use formal language in your writing.

Now that you are acquainted with enough knowledge, it will be easier for you to achieve your desired score in the IELTS Essay Writing task . Committing mistakes will reduce your chance to succeed. So, ensure that you go through these tips thoroughly and put them into regular practice. Be clear and precise in expressing your ideas and add suitable examples to enhance your writing.

To ace the IELTS, practicing alone wouldn't suffice. Here at IELTS tutorials, we have great expertise in giving useful tips, suggestions and proficient feedback, through Online IELTS Writing Practice . IELTS tutorials provides Full Practice Tests, Model Answers, Time-based test Analysis, Expert Guidance, E-booklets, and thereby augmenting the quality of your essay and making your dream of going abroad true.

So, don't take the IELTS exam for granted and practice at the last moment. Sign up now for our IELTS Writing Correction Services which will enable you to learn and understand which areas you should focus more. You will also receive suggestions and corrections for more improvement to write a better Essay, Letter and Report Writing tasks.

IELTS Tutorials Exam Practice App

Problem Solution Essays in IELTS Writing Task 2 IELTS Podcast

  This tutorial discusses how to write problem-solution essays in IELTS Writing Task 2. A “problem and solution” essay, as its name suggests, proposes a problem to you and asks you to suggest a solution or solutions to it. It may also ask about the causes of the problem or the effects which the problem has. Listen and you will learn: How to write a problem solution essay How to understand the question and structure your answer How to make logical arguments in your answer Three things all problem and solution questions have in common Ideas to develop answers to sample IELTS problem/solutions questions Read the Sample Problem Solution Essay Questions below ‘Loneliness’ is an increasing problem in many societies, especially among the elderly. Why is this? How might it be remedied? The world’s oceans are filling up with plastic waste. What are the reasons for this, and how can the situation be improved? Many of the world’s rarest plants and animals are on the verge of becoming extinct. Why is this? What, if anything can be done to slow this process or arrest it all together?   Join many other students who have achieved IELTS success with our online IELTS course or get instant feedback with our online essay checker. You can download or listen to the full tutorial here: | Direct Download Here | Stitcher | iTunes | Spotify

Please Review My Essay For IELTS. Many Thanks.

In the future, people may no longer be able to pay for things in shops using cash. All payments may have to be made by card or using phones.

Do you think this will happen one day? Why do you think some people might not be happy to give up using cash?

It is believed that in the future, people will only be able to use cashless method either via card or their smartphones in stores. I agree that this will apply in the near future since the vast majority of stores in the world allow their customer to pay via card. However, the old might not comfortable with this change since this added complexity to their daily life.

Nowadays many restaurants and shopping stores has accepted payment by visa card or mastercard. Since leveraging cashless payment has positively simplified their payment's process, this can lead to the increase of their sale's profit. Moreover, cashless payment positively changes their customer's support services cause the refund or exchange policy could be easier to process rather than using traditional cash. In Viet Nam, the government has encouraged grocery stores to allow their customers to pay by card or scan QR code. As a result, monthly sale's profit of these stores have boosted by 30% comparing to traditional payment method.

However, the old couldn't get rid of using traditional cash since it brings unnecessary complexity to their life. In order to own a credit card or debit card, people are required to open a bank account. Since most of the bank haven't simplified their registration's process, this would be a challenge to several people especially old aged people. In Viet Nam, you have to physically come to the bank to fill and sign several documents. At the end, bank's customers need to wait for at least three days in order to receive their card.

It is foreseeable that cash is no longer needed in the future instead people will use their credit or debit card or even their smartphone to make payment at stores. Since this method is already being applied in the majority of stores in the world. However, several people especially the old might not be easily to completely stop using cash because it requires them to go through several complex steps at a bank in order to own a debit or credit card.

It is believed that in the future, people will only be able to use a cashless method for purchases either via card or their smartphones in stores. I agree that this will apply (wrong word) in the near future since the vast majority of stores in the world allow their customer (wrong form) to pay via card. However, the old the elderly / older people / senior citizens might not comfortable with this change since this added (wrong tense) complexity to their daily life.

Nowadays many restaurants and shops shopping store s has accepted (wrong tense) payment by visa card or mastercard. Since leveraging (wrong word) cashless payment (wrong word) has positively simplified their payment's (wrong form) process, this can lead to ( Poor English) the increase of their sale's (wrong word) profit.

Here are two ways to write this in idiomatic English.

1. Since cashless payments have simplified their accounting processes, their business expenses have decreased, which translates into high profits.

2. Cashless payments have simplified their accounting processes. This can lead to more efficient operations and an increase in profits.

Moreover, cashless payment (wrong form) positively changes their customer's support services cause (wrong word - cause is a verb. ) the refund or exchange policy could be easier to process rather than using traditional cash. In Viet Nam, the government has encouraged grocery stores to allow their customers to pay by card or scan QR code. As a result, the monthly sale's profit (You can use either "monthly sales" or "monthly profits". They are two different things. You probably mean "profits".) of these stores have boosted gone up / risen by 30% compar ed ing to when all transactions were in cash. traditional payment method.

However, the old older people could n't (Do not use contractions in essays.) get rid of using traditional abandon / stop using / forgo / manage without cash since it brings unnecessary complexity to their life. In order to obtain / get own a credit card or debit card, people are required to open a bank account. Since most of the bank (wrong form) have n't simplified their registration's this process, this would be a challenge to some several people , especially old aged elderly people. In Viet Nam, you have to physically come to the bank to fill out forms and sign several documents. At the end, bank's Then, the customers need to wait for at least three days in order to receive their card.

It is foreseeable that cash is no longer needed in the futu re (run-on sentence. You have two sentences.) instead people will use their credit or debit card or even their smartphone to make payment s at stores. Since this method is already being used applied in the majority of stores in the world. (The previous was not a sentence, but a fragment. You did not construct these sentences correctly..) However, several (Several is less than 10. ) some people especially the old might not be easily (wrong form) to completely stop using cash because it requires them to go through several complex steps at a bank in order to obtain / get / acquire own a debit or credit card.

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ielts essay writing method

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  1. Live Academic IELTS Writing Task 1 Essay Correction

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  1. How to Write an IELTS Essay

    An IELTS essay is structured like any other essay; you just need to make it shorter. There are three key elements: Introduction Body Paragraphs Conclusion We will look at each of these in turn, using the essay question above as an example. 1) Introduction You should keep your introduction for the IELTS essay short.

  2. IELTS Essay Topics with Model Answers

    You need to write at least 250 words and justify your opinion with arguments, discussion, examples, problem outlining, proposing possible solutions and supporting your position. You will have approximately 40 minutes to finish your Essay Writing. IELTS Writing Task 2 carries more weights than Writing Task 1.

  3. How to Write an Essay in IELTS

    Writing for IELTS Task 2 includes an essay writing task of 250 words in 40 minutes. The essay writing task is designed to understand the writing skills, grammar, vocabulary, ideas, and reasoning capabilities of applicants. Task 2 contributes twice Task 1 to the writing score.

  4. IELTS Writing Task 2 Essay Structures + Band 9 Essays

    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.

  5. IELTS Writing Task 2: a step by step method to write an essay with

    Step 4: Write the Essay To do this, you must follow the plan you have prepared. Model answer: With the advance of information and technology, people who live in remote areas are getting access to the internet. It is because of the cheap rate of smartphones and faster networking systems.

  6. IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Essays

    The Essay Writing section of the IELTS Writing Module can be a difficult task for many IELTS aspirants. Thus, it is vital that you polish your essay writing skills before attempting the IELTS by practising various model essay topics. A well-organized essay will help in scoring a desirable band in the writing test.

  7. IELTS Essay Writing Samples

    There are 5 main categories of essays that you may come across in IELTS writing task 2. We are discussing the various types of IELTS essay writing samples which will help in both General Training as well as Academic Writing task 2. Mentioned below are some of the IELTS essay samples and types. Discussion essay (Discuss both views essay)

  8. IELTS Sample Essays: Topics, Practice Essay, PDFs & Tips

    The International English Language Testing System is amongst the commonly accepted English language proficiency test for admissions into top universities in US, UK, Canada, amongst others. IELTS exam is classified into two types, i.e. IELTS General Training and IELTS Academic.Further, it aims to evaluate candidates on their reading, speaking, listening and writing skills in English.

  9. IELTS Writing Task 2 Discussion Essay Topic: Discuss the benefits of

    Some teachers prefer the group study methods for their students while others prefer the individual learning method. Which one do you prefer? Discuss the benefits of group study and individual learning. Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. Outline Essay Type. Discussion Essay ...

  10. IELTS test format explained

    In Task 2 you will be asked to write an essay in response to a point of view, argument or problem. You should find the issues interesting and easy to understand. Timing The IELTS Writing test takes 60 minutes. Spend 20 minutes on Task 1, and 40 minutes on Task 2.

  11. IELTS Writing: Structure, Tips, Strategies (Academic & General)

    Academic IELTS requires to write a report on some graph or chart in Task 1 and an essay in Task 2. The topics for essays in General and Academic modules can be different, but the strategy to write essays is the same. You will have 60 minutes for completing both tasks in the Writing part.

  12. IELTS Opinion Essays

    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.

  13. How to structure paragraphs using the PEEL method

    P = Point: start your paragraph with a clear topic sentence that establishes what your paragraph is going to be about. Your point should support your essay argument or thesis statement. E = Evidence/Example: here you should use a piece of evidence or an example that helps to reaffirm your initial point and develop the argument. E = Explain ...

  14. IELTS Writing Task 2: method

    IELTS Writing Task 2: method I've noticed that the more essay practice I do with my students, the more defined my writing method becomes. For example, I now know that my 250-word essays usually contain 13 to 15 sentences: 2 for the introduction, 5 to 6 for each main paragraph and 1 sentence for the conclusion.

  15. 11 Simple Tips To Ace IELTS Essay Writing Task

    IELTS Essay Writing Task follows a specific structure. Have a look! Structure of an Essay Introduction Body Paragraph 1 Body Paragraph 2 Conclusion Break down your ideas into different paragraphs. Explain each idea of yours in detail with relevant examples in one paragraph. Then, start another paragraph with a new idea.

  16. ‎IELTS Podcast: Problem Solution Essays in IELTS Writing Task 2 on

    This tutorial discusses how to write problem-solution essays in IELTS Writing Task 2. A "problem and solution" essay, as its name suggests, proposes a problem to you and asks you to suggest a solution or solutions to it. It may also ask about the causes of the problem or the effects which the problem has. Ideas to develop answers to sample ...

  17. Please Review My Essay For IELTS. Many Thanks

    Many Thanks. Please Review My Essay For IELTS. Many Thanks. Forums Essay, Paragraph, Dialog & other Composition Writing. 1. Topic: In the future, people may no longer be able to pay for things in shops using cash. All payments may have to be made by card or using phones. Do you think this will happen one day?