# IELTS Writing Task 2: Essay Types, Structure, Model | topin IELTS guidesWriting Task 2 essay Time About 40 minutes of the 60-minute Writing test Length At least 250 words Essay types Opinion, discussion, advantages and disadvantages, problem and solution or causes and effects, two-part question Weighting Counts twice as much as Task 1 in your Writing band Criteria Task Response, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy ## How it works You read the prompt, identify exactly what it asks and write a formal essay with an introduction, usually two or three body paragraphs and a conclusion. Each body paragraph should make one main point, explain it and support it with an example. Where the question asks for your opinion, it must be clear from the introduction to the conclusion. ## Worked example Some people think that cities should charge drivers a fee to enter the city centre at busy times of day. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Write a model introduction and a plan for the rest of the essay. Show the answer Introduction: A number of cities now charge motorists for driving into the centre during peak hours, and others are considering the idea. I largely agree with this policy, because it reduces congestion and improves air quality, although the charge must be combined with better public transport so that lower-paid workers are not unfairly penalised. Body paragraph 1: The main benefit. A fee discourages unnecessary car journeys at peak times, so traffic moves faster for buses, deliveries and emergency vehicles, and fewer cars mean cleaner air in crowded streets. Example: a commuter who can take a train chooses it once driving costs more. Body paragraph 2: The main objection and how to answer it. A flat charge hits people on low incomes hardest, especially shift workers with no public transport at night. This is a reason to design the scheme well, not to reject it: the money raised can fund cheaper and more frequent buses, with discounts for essential workers. Conclusion: Restate that the charge is justified, on the condition that its revenue is used to give drivers a realistic alternative. The introduction paraphrases the topic and gives a clear position with a condition, which the whole essay then follows. Each body paragraph has one job, and the second deals with the strongest counter-argument instead of ignoring it. The conclusion adds no new ideas. ## A method for Writing Task 2 essay 1. 1 ### Identify the essay type and every part of the question Underline the instruction words: to what extent, discuss both views, what are the causes, do the advantages outweigh. A two-part question needs two answers, and missing one limits Task Response. 2. 2 ### Decide your position before you write Choose a view you can support with two strong reasons. A clear, moderate position that stays the same throughout scores better than one that changes halfway. 3. 3 ### Plan for five minutes Write one line per paragraph: the main idea, an explanation and an example. Two well-developed body paragraphs beat four thin ones. 4. 4 ### Build each body paragraph the same way Start with a topic sentence, explain it in two or three sentences, and support it with a specific example. End by linking back to the question. 5. 5 ### Leave three minutes to check Read for articles, plurals, subject-verb agreement and verb tenses. Repeated small errors lower Grammatical Range and Accuracy. ## Traps to avoid * Answering only part of the question, such as giving causes but no solutions. * Leaving your opinion unclear when the question asks for it. * Listing many ideas without explaining or supporting any of them. * Memorised introductions and phrases that do not fit the topic, which examiners recognise. * Writing under 250 words, which is penalised under Task Response. ## Writing Task 2 essay FAQs How many body paragraphs should an IELTS Task 2 essay have? Two or three is typical. Two well-developed body paragraphs are enough for most questions and leave time to check your work. Can I use 'I' in IELTS Writing Task 2? Yes. When the question asks for your opinion, phrases such as 'I believe' or 'in my view' are appropriate. Keep the rest of the essay formal. Should I give my opinion in a 'discuss both views' essay? Yes, if the question says 'give your own opinion'. Leaving it out means you have not answered every part of the task. How long should a Task 2 essay be? At least 250 words. Around 270 to 320 words is usually enough to develop your ideas fully within 40 minutes. ## Try Writing Task 2 essay under real timing Your first full-length IELTS mock is free, with every section included. [Take the free mock ](/ielts/login)