IELTS Writing for Master's applicants: How to Fix Answering only one part of a two-part question

Split the question into its parts before planning, give each part its own body paragraph, and say in the introduction that you will address both. Missing one part caps Task Response because the task is only partly answered.

At a glance

For: Master's applicants
Problem: Answering only one part of a two-part question
Scoring criterion: Task Response (Task 2)
Task affected: Task 2 (essay)
IELTS test: Academic
Typical effort: about one week
First step: Number the parts of the question: 1 and 2. Write the numbers on your plan sheet.

Why this happens to master's applicants

Two-part questions ask for two separate answers, for example a cause and a solution or a reason and an opinion. Candidates answer the first part well and let the second shrink to one sentence in the conclusion.

Why this affects master's applicants: academic reading is strong, but formal writing in a second language is often slower than expected.

Candidates may write at a high level of abstraction without a specific example.

A strength to build on: Experience of reading and summarising sources helps with Task 1 and with structuring arguments.

Fix it in four steps

Number the parts of the question: 1 and 2. Write the numbers on your plan sheet.
Draft a one-line answer to each part and check they are not the same point reworded.
Give each part a full body paragraph with the same level of development.
In the conclusion, answer both parts again in one sentence each.

Before and after

Before

There are many reasons for this and governments should do something.

After

The main cause is rising rents in city centres, and the most practical response is for councils to fund affordable housing near transport links.

Ten-minute drill: Collect five two-part questions and for each write two one-line answers in 2 minutes. Mark any where both answers sound alike.

Questions and answers

How can master's applicants fix answering only one part of a two-part question?

How long does it take master's applicants to fix answering only one part of a two-part question?

Most learners need about one week. Offer deadlines fix the date, so work backwards from the test date and book practice feedback early.

What counts as a two-part question?

Any question with two direct questions, such as 'Why is this happening and what can be done?'. Both questions need a developed answer.

Do both parts need equal length?

Roughly equal is safest. One part receiving a single sentence signals that the task was only partly addressed.

What does a good practice drill look like for master's applicants?

Collect five two-part questions and for each write two one-line answers in 2 minutes. Mark any where both answers sound alike. Offer deadlines fix the date, so work backwards from the test date and book practice feedback early.

How can master's applicants tell they have fixed answering only one part of a two-part question?

You can point to a paragraph for each part of the question and both paragraphs are about the same length.

What should master's applicants know about their IELTS Writing target?

Postgraduate programmes set a minimum overall IELTS score and often a higher minimum for Writing. Confirm the exact condition on your offer.

Should master's applicants practise this on Task 1, Task 2 or both?

This is a Task 2 issue, so practise it on full essays. Task 2 carries about twice the weight of Task 1 in the Writing band, so progress here moves the score most. Experience of reading and summarising sources helps with Task 1 and with structuring arguments.

Can an AI checker help master's applicants with answering only one part of a two-part question?

An AI checker can show where this pattern appears in your own essay and which criterion it affects, which makes the fix concrete. It gives a practice estimate, not an official IELTS score, so use it to choose the next revision, rewrite, and check again. The first check on this site is free.

Check your own essay

See where answering only one part of a two-part question appears in your own writing and which criterion it affects, then rewrite the weakest paragraph.

Run a free first check

Feedback is a practice estimate, not an official IELTS score. Last reviewed 2026-11-11. Score requirements change, so confirm them with the organisation that will read your result.