First, here’s the basic 4 part structure I recommend that you use for Task

2 essays:

1) Introduction

2) Main Body Paragraph 1

3) Main Body Paragraph 2

4) Conclusion

There are 5 main types of IELTS Task 2 essays:

1) Opinion Essays

2) Discussion Essays

3) Problem Solution Essays

4) Advantages & Disadvantages Essays

5) Double Question Essays

1) Opinion Essays
The question statement contains :

● What is your opinion?

● Do you agree or disagree?
● To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Structure:

Introduction →

1. Paraphrase the Question

2. state your opinion
3. outlining the main ideas.
Ending lines:

I believe that [opinion]. This is because [main point 1] and [main point 2]. As we will
discuss in this essay, [brief mention of what will be covered].

For example:
I believe that remote work is more beneficial than traditional office work. This is because it
offers greater flexibility and reduces commuting time. As we will discuss in this essay, these
advantages lead to improved work-life balance and higher productivity.

I strongly believe/firmly believe that online education is more beneficial than traditional
classroom learning. As we will discuss in this essay, the flexibility and accessibility of online
courses offer significant advantages.

Main Body Paragraph 1 →

1. Topic sentence – outline 1st reason for supporting this view

2. Explanation – explain this idea
3. Example – give an example

Start with:

a) Firstly / First and foremost / First of all

Main Body Paragraph 2 →

1. Topic sentence – outline 2nd reason for supporting this view

2. Explanation – explain this idea
3. Example – give an example

Start with:

a) Secondly / Second / furthermore

Conclusion →

1. Summarise opinion and key reasons

[Restate Opinion] + [Summarize Key Points] + [Final Thought/Recommendation]

For example:

In conclusion, I firmly believe that remote work is more advantageous than traditional
office work. This is because it provides flexibility, saves time, and enhances productivity.
Therefore, companies should consider offering more remote working options to their
employees.

********************************************************************************************************

2) Discussion Essays
The question statement contains :

● Discuss both views and give your opinion

Structure:

Introduction →

1. Paraphrase the Question

a. [one General statement + It is often argued that [view 1], whilst others
disagree/believe and think [view 2]
2. state your opinion
3. outlining the main ideas.

Ending lines:

I will discuss both views but personally, I agree with [opinion] because [main point 1]
and [main point 2].

Main Body Paragraph 1 →

1. Topic sentence – outline the view you don’t agree with

2. Explanation – explain why this view is held by some people
3. Example – give an example

Start with:

a) On the one hand,

Main Body Paragraph 2 →

1. Topic sentence – outline the view you do agree with

2. Explanation – explain why this view is held by some people
3. Example – give an example

Start with:

a) On the other hand,

Conclusion →

2. Summarise opinion and key reasons

[Restate Opinion] + [Summarize Key Points] + [Final Thought/Recommendation]

For example:

In conclusion, I firmly believe that remote work is more advantageous than traditional
office work. This is because it provides flexibility, saves time, and enhances productivity.
Therefore, companies should consider offering more remote working options to their
employees.

**********************************************************************************

3) Problem Essays
‘causes and solutions’ or ‘problems and solutions’ essays.

Key tips:

● Don’t list lots of causes and solutions.

● Choose just one or two and develop them fully.
● Be sure to link each problem/cause and its solution.

The question contains:

● What are the causes of this? How can this problem be solved?
● Why is this the case? What can be done about this problem?
● What are the negative impacts of playing computer games. What
can be done to minimize the bad effects?
Structure:

Introduction →

1. Paraphrase the question

2. State 1 key problem/cause and related solution
3. Ending line:
This essay will discuss the main problems/causes associated with
[from the question] and propose some possible solutions to
avoid/solve them.

For example:
More and more professionals from developing or underdeveloped countries are
choosing to live and work in richer countries. As a result, poorer countries will
struggle to develop but this can be tackled by offering more incentives to stay
and better living conditions.

Main Body Paragraph 1 →

1. Topic sentence – state the problem or cause

2. Explanation – give detail explaining the problem or cause
3. Example – give an example

Start with:

a) One of the first problems/causes of [from question] is ……, [problem 1].

Another major problem is …….[problem 2]

Main Body Paragraph 2 →

1. Topic sentence – state the solution

2. Explanation – give detail explaining the solution
3. Example – give an example

Start with:
a) To counter these challenges/problems,
[cities/administration/government/parents/companies etc,] can adopt proactive
measures. Firstly, [Define first solution]. Moreover, [Define second solution]. For
instance, [write one small example for 2nd solution(some city/country evidence]

Conclusion →

3. Summarise opinion and key reasons

[Restate Opinion] + [Summarize Key Points] + [Final Thought/Recommendation]

To conclude, the major problem of [from question] caused by the [comma separated
short reasons] can be addressed/ partly alleviated by [comma separation short
solutions]

For example:

To conclude, the major urban problem of traffic congestion caused by the excessive

number of private cars on city roads can be partly alleviated by the introduction of park-

and-ride systems on city fringes.

**********************************************************************************

4) Advantages & Disadvantages Essays

Here is some typical wording that might be used:

● What are the advantages and disadvantages of….?

● Do you think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
● Discuss the advantages and disadvantages and give your opinion.

Structure:

Introduction →

● Paraphrase the question

● Outline the view or views stated the statement
lines:

Nowadays, [paraphase the question], but it has certain drawbacks too. This essay
will examine the advantages and disadvantages of [problem] and provide a logical
conclusion.

Example:
Nowadays tourism generates a significant portion of national income for many
countries, but it has certain drawbacks too. This essay will examine the
advantages and disadvantages of tourism and provide a logical conclusion.

Main Body Paragraph 1 →

1. Topic sentence – state 2 advantages

2. Explanation – give detail explaining the advantages
3. Example – give an example
4. Result – state the result

Start with:

a) On the one hand, there are number of benefits of [from the question]. Firstly,
[1st benefit]. In other words, [Define 1st benefit in more detail]. Secondly, [[2nd
benefit]. For instance, [write one small example for 2nd solution(some city/country
evidence]

Main Body Paragraph 2 →

1. Topic sentence – state 2 disadvantages

2. Explanation – give detail explaining the disadvantages
3. Result – state the result

Start with:

a) On the other hand, one negative aspect of [from the question] is [1st
disadvantage]. Another issue of [from the question] is [2nd disadvantage].
Conclusion →

4. Summarise opinion and key reasons

[Restate Opinion] + [Summarize Key Points] + [Final Thought/Recommendation]

To conclude, although [from the question] can have certain negative effects like
[1st disadvantage] and [2nd disadvantage], it has an extreme positive influence
on [country, people, company, nature etc,] by [1st advantage] and [2nd
advantage]. I believe that these benefits of [from the question] outweigh its
drawbacks.

For example:

To conclude, although tourism can have certain negative effects like destructive
impact and growth of crime rate, it has an extremely positive influence on
country’s economy and provides a large number of new jobs for the local
people. I believe that these benefits of tourism outweigh its drawbacks.

**********************************************************************************

5) Double Question Essays

The question contains:

● Two direct questions.

Structure:

Introduction →

1. Paraphrase the question

2. Outline sentence – state your answer to both questions
Advanced English vs Basic English

1. Inquire = ask 11. Cease = stop

2. Obtain = get 12. Collaborate = work together

3. Ascertain = determine 13. Ponder = consider

4. Comprehend = understand 14. Implement = put into action

5. Enhance = improve 15. Resilient = strong

6. Adequate = sufficient 16. Acquire = obtain

7. Diverse = varied 17. Scrutinize = examine closely

8. Elaborate = detailed 18. Examine = inspect

9. Evident = clear 19. Amplify = increase

10. Uncover = discover 20. Redeem = recover

********1. Work & Careers********

1. Productivity 8. pay increments

2. To subsidise 9. bonuses

3. output 10. incentives

4. Work/life balance 11. job satisfaction

5. To motivate people 12. Target related

6. perks 13. On the job training

7. financial rewards 14. Ongoing training

15. day release programs 21. redundancy

16. career progression 22. to restructure

17. job prospects 23. to downsize

18. to measure 24. to outsource

19. superficial 25. the workforce

20. performance reviews/ appraisals 26. Human Resources

******** 2. Education & Schooling ********

1. curriculum 13. to synthesize sources

2. pedagogical 14. rote-learning

3. syllabus 15. to supplement

4. formal examinations 16. to assimilate knowledge

5. continuous assessments 17. guided learning

6. academic achievements 18. data-gathering

7. further education 19. distance learning

8. higher education 20. self-study

9. group work 21. to discriminate between resources

10. teacher-led lessons 22. to sift information

11. autonomous learning 23. to marshal facts

12. study skills 24. an integral part of the syllabus

25. to work/study under supervision

******** 3. Children & Families ********

1. foster parents 11. peer pressure

2. role models 12. dual-income

3. guardians 13. breadwinner

4. ground rules 14. child-minding

5. conventions 15. after-school childcare

6. codes of conduct 16. viable

7. bullying 17. peers

8. truancy 18. bonding

9. delinquency 19. patterns of behaviors

10. abduction 20. Well brought-up

******** 4. Nature, Environment & Energy ********

1. contamination 12. soil erosion

2. biosphere 13. logging

3. emissions 14. dumping

4. pollutant particles 15. waste

5. run-off 16. landfills

6. The water cycle 17. waste processing

7. aquifers 18. poaching

8. filtration 19. habitat loss

9. water table 20. food chain

10. deliberate 21. dwindling numbers

11. tainted 22. extinction

23. famine 25. irrigation

24. drought 26. catastrophe

27. exacerbated

******** 5. Culture, Art & Traditions ********

1. to preserve 14. the fabric of the society

2. rituals 15. to conserve

3. parades 16. to hand something down

4. to transmit 17. Heritage

5. social memes 18. legends

6. public duty 19. folklore

7. self-sacrifice 20. inheritance

8. cultural traditions 21. fine art

9. mythology/ myth 22. handicrafts

10. to evoke 23. opera

11. medieval 24. shanties

12. ceremonies 25. linguistic

13. cultural norms 26. media

******** 6. Healthcare, Health and Sport ********

1. to stem 4. inadequate development

2. Sedentary lifestyle 5. strain

3. obesity 6. symptoms
7. impairment 18. participation

8. poor diet 19. competitive

9. convenience food 20. ameliorating the physical effects

10. addiction 21. remedies

11. to socialize 22. an initiative

12. interpersonal skills 23. raise awareness

13. to underperform 24. health warnings

14. active lifestyle 25. champions

15. a regime, a programme 26. figureheads

16. to detoxify 27. dependency

17. sponsorship 28. pursuits

******** 7. Global Challenges ********

1. a challenge 10. demographics

2. economic or political instability 11. longevity

3. Social unrest 12. to migrate

4. an issue 13. brain drain

5. pressing matters 14. existential threat

6. joblessness 15. an outbreak

7. economic prospects 16. civil war

8. social mobility 17. livelihood

9. the private sector 18. developed countries

19. developing countries

******** 8. Cities & infrastructure ********

1. urban 13. to settle in a place

2. investment or funding 14. urban sprawl

3. infrastructure 15. public-private partnerships

4. high-capacity 16. civic pride

5. public transport 17. tax incentives

6. congestion 18. home working

7. conurbations 19. to commute

8. transport hubs 20. suburbs

9. facilities and amenities 21. the inner city

10. a bottleneck 22. communal car-pooling

11. overcrowding 23. outdated

12. hinterland 24. innovations

25. a burden

******** 9. Countryside & agriculture ********

1. rural 6. rural unemployment

2. a backwater 7. rural poverty

3. rural depopulation 8. material considerations

4. country dwellers 9. an abundance

5. a scarcity 10. wildlife

11. forestry 17. to afflict

12. water bodies 18. animal husbandry

13. subsistence 19. crop rotation

14. self-sufficient 20. remote viewing

15. smallholders 21. environmental awareness

16. the wider economy 22. far-flung

******** 10. Government and the authorities ********

1. trustworthy 16. community service

2. paramount 17. rehabilitation

3. devious 18. an offender

4. minutiae 19. tendencies

5. grievance 20. corruption

6. sensitivity 21. bribery

7. to commit an offense/ a crime 22. to enforce laws

8. informants 23. inequitable

9. evidence 24. law-abiding

10. a trial 25. transferable skills

11. conviction rates 26. lateral thinking

12. a deterrent (barrier) 27. investigative

13. sentencing 28. to transcend

14. imprisonment 29. a context

15. a fine 30. to outweigh 31. Over-familiarity

 Starts with Firstly,

Prompt : Opinion Essay

Hey chat, I am trying to write an opinion Main para 2 : Structure:

essay. I have a below format which i
want you to follow and write a high band Topic sentence – outline 2nd reason for
essay on this topic: Some people think supporting this view
women should be allowed to join the
army, the navy and the air force just like Explanation – explain this idea
men. To what extent do you agree or
disagree? Example – give an example

Introduction → Starts with Secondly,

Paraphrase the Question

state your opinion Conclusion:

outlining the main ideas. [Restate Opinion] + [Summarize Key

Points] + [Final
Thought/Recommendation]

Intro structure : Paraphrase the question

line + I believe that [opinion]. This is
because [main point 1] and [main point Starts with In conclusion,
2]. As we will discuss in this essay, [brief
mention of what will be covered].

Main Para 1 : Structure:

Topic sentence – outline 1st reason for

supporting this view

Explanation – explain this idea

Example – give an example