What IELTS Writing Task 2 Actually Tests
IELTS Writing Task 2 gives you a written prompt and 40 minutes to write a 250+ word essay that responds to it. The task is worth two thirds of your writing score — Task 1 is worth the other third. You must write a clear position or response, develop at least two main ideas with specific support, and organise the essay into a logical paragraph structure.
The examiner scores your essay against four criteria: Task Response (TR), Coherence and Cohesion (CC), Lexical Resource (LR), and Grammatical Range and Accuracy (GRA). Each is worth 25% of your writing band. Your final writing score is the average of these four, rounded to the nearest 0.5.
Most candidates who score 6.0-6.5 in writing know the criteria in theory. What they miss is the operational detail — what does a "fully developed" idea actually look like, what does "natural paragraph progression" mean, how many complex sentences are enough, and what counts as precise vocabulary. This guide focuses on those operational details.
The 4 IELTS Writing Task 2 Criteria and What They Mean
Task Response (TR)
Problem: The essay states a position but the second main paragraph is a list of points without a single developed idea. The conclusion is missing or merely repeats the introduction. The response does not address all parts of the prompt.
Fix: Make your position clear in the introduction. In each body paragraph, commit to ONE main idea, explain it, give a specific example or elaboration, and link it back to the position. Address every part of multi-part questions. The conclusion should restate the position and add a forward-looking or implication sentence, not just summarise.
Coherence and Cohesion (CC)
Problem: Paragraphs exist but the progression is mechanical. The same linking devices ("firstly, secondly, in addition, furthermore, in conclusion") appear in every paragraph. Sentences feel stitched together rather than connected.
Fix: Use a clear topic sentence at the start of each body paragraph. Move from broad to specific within each paragraph. Replace formulaic connectors with logical reference ("this approach", "such a policy", "this tendency") and varied linking ("although", "while", "given that", "as a result"). Aim for 2-3 different connector types per essay, not the same six repeated.
Lexical Resource (LR)
Problem: Vocabulary is understandable but flat. The same verbs (give, make, do, get, have) are used repeatedly. Synonyms are forced or inaccurate ("big amount" for "large amount").
Fix: Learn 8-10 high-quality topic phrases per common subject (environment, education, technology, society, work). Practice precise collocations in context: "pose a threat to", "have a detrimental impact on", "play a pivotal role in", "take a proactive approach to". Avoid the spelling-swap synonym trap (use a thesaurus, then check collocation) — wrong collocations cost more marks than simple words.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy (GRA)
Problem: Sentences are mostly simple or use the same two complex structures throughout. Errors are recurring: article misuse, subject-verb agreement, wrong tense, or preposition errors.
Fix: Aim for at least 4-5 different complex structures per essay: participle clauses ("Having considered both views..."), conditional clauses, passive voice, relative clauses, and cleft sentences. Eliminate your own recurring error first — most candidates have 1-2 grammar patterns that repeat essay after essay.
Overall Band
7.0
- Weakest Criterion
- Task Response
- Main Problem
- Your position is clear and your essay addresses the prompt, but your second body paragraph lists two reasons without fully developing either. The conclusion restates the introduction without adding insight.
- Next Fix
- Commit your second body paragraph to one reason, develop it with a specific real-world example or elaboration (2-3 sentences of support), and connect it back to the position. In the conclusion, add a forward-looking implication ("If governments fail to act on this, the cost of healthcare will continue to rise") rather than just repeating your thesis.
The 5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Essay Types (and How to Identify Each)
Every IELTS Writing Task 2 prompt falls into one of five types. Recognising the type in the first 60 seconds of your 40-minute window determines whether your structure will work.
Opinion essay ("To what extent do you agree or disagree?") requires a clear position — agree, disagree, or balanced — defended throughout the essay. The most common mistake is presenting both sides equally when the prompt asks for an opinion.
Discussion essay ("Discuss both views and give your own opinion") requires balanced coverage of both views, then a clearly stated personal opinion in the final paragraph. Most candidates fail this type by either skipping one view or burying their opinion until the conclusion.
Advantages and disadvantages essay ("Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?") requires a clear thesis answering the outweigh question. Body 1 = the stronger side, Body 2 = the weaker side, conclusion = verdict.
Problem and solution essay ("What are the causes of X and what can be done?") requires identifying 1-2 main causes and 1-2 solutions. Each body paragraph should develop one cause or one solution with specific elaboration.
Two-part question ("Why is this happening? Is this a positive or negative development?") requires answering both questions explicitly. Each question gets its own body paragraph.
The 4-Paragraph Structure That Works for Every Task 2 Type
Most Band 7+ essays use a 4-paragraph structure: introduction, body 1, body 2, conclusion. Five-paragraph essays are common in American academic writing but tend to fragment the argument in IELTS — you are forced to split one main idea across two short paragraphs, which reduces development quality.
Introduction (2-3 sentences): paraphrase the prompt + state your position or thesis. Avoid copying the question wording. A strong introduction signals what the essay will argue, not what it will discuss.
Body 1 (4-6 sentences): one main idea, clearly stated in the topic sentence, developed with 1-2 sentences of explanation, and supported with one specific example. End with a sentence that links back to the position or transitions to Body 2.
Body 2 (4-6 sentences): second main idea, same internal structure. Body 2 should be the stronger idea, not the weaker one — many examiners unconsciously weight the last body paragraph more heavily.
Conclusion (2-3 sentences): restate the position in different words, summarise the main points in 1 sentence, and add a forward-looking or implication sentence. The conclusion is the last thing the examiner reads — it should leave them with a clear sense that the position was argued and held.
Task 2 Essay vs Task 1 Report: How They Differ
| Feature | IELTS Writing AI | Generic Tools |
|---|---|---|
| Time on task | 40 minutes | 20 minutes |
| Recommended length | 250+ words | 150+ words |
| Position / opinion required | Yes (for most types) | No |
| Structure | 4 paragraphs: intro, 2 body, conclusion | 4 paragraphs: intro+overview, 2 body |
| Scoring criteria | TR, CC, LR, GRA | TA, CC, LR, GRA |
| Band weight in writing score | 2/3 | 1/3 |
The 40-Minute Task 2 Workflow That Lands Band 7+
- 1
Minutes 0-2: Read the prompt twice. Identify the essay type (opinion, discussion, advantages-disadvantages, problem-solution, two-part). Underline the key instruction words ("to what extent", "discuss both", "do the advantages outweigh").
- 2
Minutes 2-5: Decide your position. For opinion essays, commit clearly. For discussion essays, note both views then form your own opinion. For two-part questions, sketch a one-line answer to each part.
- 3
Minutes 5-8: Plan 2 main ideas. For each idea, write 2-3 words that will become your specific example. If you cannot think of a real-world example, your idea is too vague — narrow it.
- 4
Minutes 8-30: Write the essay using the 4-paragraph structure. Use your example words as anchors — they should appear naturally in the body paragraphs.
- 5
Minutes 30-35: Read the essay once. Check: (1) does the introduction answer the question, (2) does each body paragraph develop one idea, (3) does the conclusion restate the position and add an implication, (4) is there variety in connectors and sentence structures?
- 6
Minutes 35-40: Check for your recurring errors. Most candidates lose 0.5-1.0 band on grammar that they could have caught in the final 5 minutes. Tense, articles, subject-verb agreement, prepositions — the four usual suspects.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is IELTS Writing Task 2 harder than Task 1?▾
Yes — Task 2 carries 2/3 of your writing band, requires a 250+ word essay, and demands a clear position and developed arguments. Task 1 is shorter and does not require an opinion. Most candidates spend 40 minutes on Task 2 and 20 on Task 1.
How long should my Task 2 essay be?▾
At least 250 words. The examiner will not penalise you for writing more, but most Band 7+ essays fall in the 280-320 word range. Going significantly over 320 usually means you are listing ideas instead of developing them. Going under 250 usually means your conclusion is underdeveloped.
What are the 5 types of IELTS Writing Task 2?▾
Opinion (agree/disagree), Discussion (discuss both views), Advantages and Disadvantages, Problem and Solution, and Two-Part Question. Most candidates who score below Band 7 fail to identify the type early enough and write a structure that does not match what the prompt asks for.
Do I need to give my own opinion in Task 2?▾
It depends on the prompt. Opinion and discussion essays both require a clear personal opinion. Advantages-disadvantages, problem-solution, and two-part questions do not always require one — read the prompt carefully. If the prompt says "discuss both views and give your own opinion", the opinion must be in the conclusion, not the introduction.
What is the difference between a Band 6 and a Band 7 essay?▾
Band 6 essays have a present position and an attempt at structure, but idea development is shallow and paragraph logic is mechanical. Band 7 essays develop each main idea with specific support, use a clear topic-sentence structure, show varied vocabulary and grammar, and have a conclusion that adds insight rather than restating. The biggest single jump is in idea development.
Should I use a template for Task 2?▾
Templates are useful as planning tools, not as scripts to memorise. Examiners reward relevance and development, not formulaic structure. Use a template for the 4-paragraph skeleton, but write each essay's body paragraphs to the specific prompt. A memorised template with mismatched content will score lower than a fresh, well-developed essay with a less polished structure.
How can I tell whether my Task 2 is Band 7 or Band 6?▾
Run it through an IELTS-specific checker that scores against the four band descriptors. Band 6 essays usually have a present position but undeveloped ideas, mechanical paragraph structure, and limited vocabulary range. Band 7 essays develop each main idea with specific support, use a clear paragraph logic, and show a mix of complex grammatical structures with only occasional errors.
Should I write 4 or 5 paragraphs?▾
Four. Most Band 7+ essays use 4 paragraphs (intro, body 1, body 2, conclusion). Five-paragraph essays split one main idea across two short paragraphs, which reduces development quality. Two body paragraphs is the right balance for 250-320 words.