Welcome to Task 2
An argument, not an opinion piece.
IELTS Writing Task 2 asks you to respond to a point of view, argument or problem in a discursive essay of at least 250 words. It carries roughly twice the weight of Task 1, which makes it the single most important 40 minutes of the Writing test.
Many candidates lose marks not because they lack an opinion, but because they don’t fully answer the specific question they were asked. Task 2 questions come in several distinct types, and each one expects a slightly different kind of response.
This section teaches you to recognise each question type, plan a response before you write, and structure your essay so every paragraph does clear, deliberate work.
Know your question
Task 2 question types
Select a question type below to learn how to recognise it, what it’s actually asking you to do, and how to plan and structure a strong response.
Task 2
Opinion
State and defend your own position on a given statement.
Task 2
Discussion
Examine two given viewpoints before giving your own.
Task 2
Advantages / Disadvantages
Weigh the benefits and drawbacks of a situation or trend.
Task 2
Problem / Solution
Identify the causes of a problem and propose realistic solutions.
Task 2
Two-Part / Direct Questions
Answer two related questions on the same topic fully and separately.
A common trap
Answering the wrong question well is still the wrong answer
A well-written essay that misidentifies the question type can score poorly on Task Response, even when the grammar and vocabulary are strong. A Discussion question asks you to examine both given views — writing a one-sided Opinion essay instead, however fluently, does not fulfil the task.
Before you plan
Identify the type before you decide your position.
Spend the first minute of your planning time simply identifying which of the five question types you’ve been given. Everything else you plan — your position, your paragraphs, your examples — depends on getting this first step right.
Ready to begin?
Learn the structure every strong essay follows.
Whichever question type you’re given, a strong Task 2 essay follows the same underlying structure. Learn the OREO framework before working through the individual question types.