A lot of my IELTS students struggle with how many ideas they need and how to structure their essay.
This article will explain clearly what you need to do and why.
It may also help your to read some sample essays from the real test to get a better sense for these types of questions.
Let’s look at an example:
Some people think that governments should spend money on railways. Others believe that there should be more investment into new roads.
Discuss both sides and give your opinion.
Don’t miss out on my new Patreon exclusive essays here if you want to really improve on IELTS!
Dave
Clear Position
The first thing to remember is that you need to discuss both sides.
But you must also clearly state whether your opinion is agree or disagree. This is very important for your Task Achievement score.
If you don’t have a clear opinion, you will lose marks. Therefore you must choose a side.
If you don’t clearly choose a side you won’t score above a 5 for task achievement – no matter how good the rest of your writing is.
Clear Structure
I always recommend to my students that they give their opinion in the introduction as well as the conclusion (for all IELTS Task 2 questions).
Technically, it’s OK to write a very general introduction and leave your opinion to the end.
But I strongly suggest that you don’t do this because it’s not as clear.
Also, you might run out of time before you’ve got to your conclusion, so overall it’s a risky strategy.
Therefore my suggested Task 2 essay structure is four paragraphs – an introduction, two main (or body) paragraphs and a conclusion.
The opinion is presented in the introduction and re-stated in the conclusion.
Ideally each body paragraph should discuss one main idea.
Example Essay Structure
Now let’s look at the essay structure in more detail.
Discuss both sides – You think one side is important but overall the other side is more important.
You need one good reason for each side.
In the example below you feel the reason for supporting rail is more important than the reason supporting roads.
Paragraph 1 (intro) |
Paraphrase the question and state your overall opinion(you feel roads are important but rail is more important) |
Paragraph 2 (body 1) |
Explain and support your reason why one side is important. |
Paragraph 3 (body 2) |
Explain and support your reason why the other side is important. |
Paragraph 4 (conclusion) |
Re-state your overall opinion (you feel roads are important but rail is more important) and summarise your main reasons. |
Notice that this essay has a clear structure and the opinion is clear throughout the essay.
A clear position and clear structure mean your essay is easier to mark which should mean a higher score.
Other similar types of questions than you can answer in the same way include:
– Discuss both sides and give your opinion.
– Discuss the advantages and disadvantages.
Now it’s your turn! Put your answers in the comments.
Look at the question below then compare your ideas with this sample answer (written by an ex-examiner).
Check out our expert sample answer with line by line analysis and key vocabulary
Some are of the opinion that people are naturally born as good leaders while others feel that leadership skills can be learned.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Brainstorm some main ideas:
-
Can you think of some examples of leadership skills?
-
What kind of a person makes a good leader?
-
Why do some people think great leaders are born that way?
-
Can you think of any famous leaders that appear to have natural talent?
-
Do you know anyone who became a better leader through taking a leadership course?
-
Do you think people can become a great leader through hard work, study and experience?
Thank you so much for your assistance God bless you
You’re welcome and good luck in your IELTS preparation!
Thank you very much for your time.
With reference to your statement about opinion essay that if you don’t clearly support one point of view, you will not get more than 5 band in task respond.
The question is that can one partially support both that you agree to both on some extent or you agree to both opinions? Is this an error base on opinion essay?
Yes, that should also be fine but make sure that you have enough support. And make it very clear what your opinion is: http://howtodoielts.com/writing-task-2-ielts-sample-answer-museums/
I really appreciate your great work as a way of assisting us.
The comment you made about two opinion essay that you state clearly the side agree to or else lower band score.
It is right to partially support both sides and state in the opinion or you agree to some extent.
Yes, that is totally fine. It is similar to what I did here: http://howtodoielts.com/writing-task-2-ielts-sample-answer-museums/
sir I m Surbhi from Punjab ……..and I want to score more than 7 in my writing … nd can u tell me that …is it mandatory to write complex sentences in writing task 2 to achieve good bands…………..sir plzzz rply me .. -/\-
Yes, if you want to get a good grammar score around band 6 and above then you need at least some complex sentences: subordinate clauses, conditionals, passive voice, relative clauses, etc.!
I didn’t discuss both views. I only chose a view and had a conclusion. What band is that for my error
I had a question of discuss both views and state your opinion. Give examples if possible.
I discussed just my opinion, I also had a good introduction and conclusion.
What band will I fall into
That will limit you to a band 5 for task achievement – but your scores for cohesion/coherence, vocabulary, and grammar will not be impacted!
Hello dear dave
would you please give a score to this essay?
p.s. : I have exam on saturday 🙁
Some people say that the current obsession with technology and the internet means that we are creating a generation of people that have poor social skills.
Do you agree with this statement?
A group of people believes that depending too much on technology and online networks in the internet result in having a society with people who lack proper communication abilities in the future. I reckon it is totally accurate as being constantly online, detach people from the real world and encourages youngsters to develop an uncivil style of communication.
With the growing attachment of people to just-released technological devices and demand for internet, many people tend to spend the majority of their time online and the absence of face-to-face interaction results in not being able to share genuine feelings. For instance, a large number of people rely on emoticons to express their emotions. it has become a popular trend among people around the world to just express grieve or happiness buy posting an image with a caption full of emoticons. Therefore, it seems that people tend to confuse reality with the virtual world and cannot express how they really feel through meaningful words.
Being able to react quickly to whatever is posted online through smartphones, develop uncivil and even aggressive style of communication among people who are reckless about how they would seem after leaving rude comments. However, it is useful to have a platform for sharing ideas, people should also engage in meaningful dialogues in social media and try to enhance their logical conversation abilities. For example, many teenagers make anonymous accounts and misbehave easily as they are sure no one cannot detect them. All in all, all people should be taught how to use online networks to improve their abilities rather than worsen them.
In conclusion, I believe that squandering too much time on the internet and smartphones, put people off their immediate surround and allows them to be reckless about their manner which both result in poor social skills.
Good work Elaheh! My giving you a score can’t impact the score that you get on the weekend though!
It is good overall – in the band 6 range for most scores – but you should be more disciplined with your cohesion and coherence. Try to write shorter clearer topic sentences on the test. Then stick to developing those ideas with clear examples. Your second paragraph is a better example of structure than your 3rd. Can you see why?
yes i think i can. Basically, it lacked coherence and a clear topic sentence
hi，is it important to have body paragraph 1 and 2 to have a similar length?
Very good question! They should be generally the same length but don’t have to be exactly. If one paragraph is couple of lines longer that is ok. It is better if the paragraph that you agree with in your overall opinion is the longer one.
Thanks for your answer, it is really helpful!
Can anyone evaluate my essay? Have a good day friends!
“Some people say History is one of the most important school subjects. Other people think that, in today’s world, subjects like science and technology are more important than history.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.”
In our age, while group of people believe that History has the highest importance, for the others subjects like Science and Technology have more important as school subject. Importance of history than the other subjects is supported with numerous ideas and one of them is unterstanding process of facts. Besides, the belief which gives importance the subjects like science and technology can told with it’s effect on left brain that manage the numerical skills.
History can be seen as most important subject because of it improves the childrens social skills and also provides to understand the process of life and reasons of facts. Understanding the process of life and recognizing the facts with their beginning and end, provide to understand the reasons and their conclusions. For example, in education system of Turkey doesn’t consist the evoluation of humanity, so, children grow up without knowledge about why, where and how they come to the earth.
For some people, Science and Technology is the most important ones along the other subjects. Science and technology gives more intellectual thinking ability to students. Because of Science and Technology consists the numerical facts and calculations, it improves children’s left brain. Development of left brain is important for thinking complex. Japan education system based on scientific subjects, so that Japanese people good at solving complex and hard problems.
In conclusion, a lot of supportive ideas about importance of history rather than science and technology, also various ideas about science and technology is most important than all subjects consist. In my opinion, thinking complex is more important than developing the social skills with learning the history. I think history is a area which people should focus who have interest in, it is so easy to forget history for whom doesn’t interest about it.
Here’s a bit of feedback!
Try to work more on fixed expressions we use in English. We don’t say ‘while group of people’ but you can say ‘Many believe that’ – those phrases will help raise your score.
Don’t capitalise science and technology.
A lot of your ideas and sentence structures are really hard to understand. For example this sentence is really tough to understand:
History can be seen as most important subject because of it improves the childrens social skills and also provides to understand the process of life and reasons of facts.
I would advise you to work on writing more simply, clearly and not use words that you aren’t 100% confident with!
Hi Dave , if i will write here essay’s answer can you will check and suggest me , how is that . Please reply me.
Hi, Babita. If you post here, I can help you out with some general feedback.
If you need more help you can try my correction service: course.howtodoielts.com/band-scores-corrections
Leadership is considered to be a most important interpersonal skill at work and school settings nowadays. Some believe leaders are born, while some argue that leadership skills could be learnt through education and experience. In my opinion, with proper practice and sufficient responsibility, everyone could become a leader.
To start, many people accept a strong leadership is nature, since some people are demonstrating more developed interpersonal strategies from very early stages of life. By demonstrating leadership skills, I mean some children show a stronger ability to determine what the group’s best interests are and create game rules accordingly. Moreover, these kids often manage to follow through these rules, in the meanwhile making sure others are on the same page during the play. Therefore, not only their peers but also adults tend to rely on them and follow their lead.
On the other hand, individuals could also acquire leadership skills by interacting with others in different settings. It is generally accepted that the more we exercise social skills, such as sharing and turn-taking, the more sociable we become. This also apply to leadership. Given enough responsibility, expectation and support, any individual could improve their social skills and moral development, which is essential to the forming of leadership skills. Therefore, I strongly believe that leaders could be nurtured as they grow up, or even in their mid age.
In conclusion, many leaders are born since they begin to demonstrate better interpersonal skills from a young age, however leadership skills could also be taught in a proper environment. That is why some leaders were born, while some were nurtured. (270 words)
Well done, Jing!
i just came across your website and found how enriched it is with knowledge.It is really very helpful with your help i was able to score 8.5 in my ielts. Thank you so much for providing such a quality of education.
Thanks a lot – appreciate it!
Hello! for the discuss both views and give your opinion type essays, do we need to dedicate an extra paragraph before our conclusion to give our opinion. Is giving your opinion in the introduction and the conclusion sufficient?
Yes, that is sufficient.
Thank you so much for this article and for making others more acknowledged! I would be grateful if you can evaluate my essay on the related topic.
It is believed by some that people who lead others maybe only naturally born, whereas opponents take the view that learning leadership qualities also can be. I agree with the formers because some character traits of a leader cannot be learned.
To begin, a real leader possesses all the necessary qualities from his birthday. It is noticeable that from the beginning of life each person has a different character, moreover, what can distinguish a leader from others is their inspired soul and ability to see the bigger picture. In addition, these people would take balanced risks for the sake of the safety of their team. to illustrate, the second to none leader in Russia is czar Peter the Great who was persuasive, empathetic, and inspired people to follow him and renovate the country. Besides, none of the previous and present rulers couldn’t have the same influence on the nation.
The other view is that leadership cannot be learned, however some of the skills for making character stronger may be learned. In other words, such attributes as seeing the bigger picture and strong character are congenital, nonetheless, individuals have an opportunity to develop their persuasiveness, empathy, and self-confidence. For example, in Sweden, many courses are available for those who are seeking self-improvement, furthermore, after studying was finished, they becoming good supervisors.
In conclusion, some people think that leadership is a potential given naturally and cannot be acquired by learning, while the other part considers that ability to lead people could be mastered. In my opinion, I strongly believe that a leader is a person who innates to inspire others and predict what would happen in a particular situation that cannot be learned, however, individuals can improve and make stronger their character.
Good work, Khris!
Hello Dave
Can you evaluate my essay
I’m so nervous whether it can reach the band of 7.0
Some people think that the purpose of TV news programs is to entertain viewers. Others believe that news programs should be educational and informative.Discuss both views and support your opinion with reasons and any examples where relevant.
The argument around the notion of the way television programs appear to the audiences with educational program and real information, which should be a priority over recreational purpose, is a debatable issue. Personally, though many entertaining programs have its own benefit to some extent, the meaning of educating people, with factual news, which bring viewers much more valuable data, should be made as an ultimate purpose for televisions in informative transmission. In this essay, I am going to give reasons and related examples upon this opinion.
People who support the idea of TV producers should broadcast more programs for entertaining and even make it pervasive among audiences, may point out that many programs like game shows, comedies,… is fascinating and completely fulfill their sense of relaxation. The reason is the recreational factors of one program can have positive contributions to them in some cases, easing tensions for those who are under stress. Comedies, for instance, might bring temporary happiness by its funny plot, making people feel free to have optimistic emotions.
Nevertheless, the aim of educating people, especially teenagers, and the need to receive accurate information have turned the purpose of TVs to the significant one, which fully outweighs the objective of entertainment. It is said that because these funny programs, in fact, show a sole advantage of entertainment and seems to be no contributions to personal development, while educational programs can fulfill it. Scientific programs is the best example, which appreciably convey specific insights for students and help them in cultivation of knowledge. Furthermore, the demand for approaching precise news through an explicit illustration have increased remarkably in this turbulent period. As a consequence, the exposure to up-to-date information helps people to perceive the ongoing events in the globe, making them realise the influences of those news, in which can raise awareness among the society in all aspects of life.
In conclusion, although the contributions of recreational programs cannot be denied, TVs producers should focus more on educating people and broadcasting accurately informative news, which will create more benefits in the long run.
Sure!
It is a little on the long side – try to write under 300 words.
It takes longer to write less, and is easier to write more.
You also have to be really careful with paraphrasing – a lot of the words you change make it too wordy and it doesn’t sound natural anymore.
Nice grammar generally though – include more short simple sentences for a better overall flow to your writing.
Keep working hard, Phuc!