Five question types, one essay

Know your question before you plan your answer.

Task 2 always asks you to respond to a point of view, argument or problem — but the exact instruction changes what a strong response looks like. Recognising the question type is the first step in every essay.

Choose a question type below for a full breakdown — how to recognise it, what it’s actually asking, how to plan your response, and a worked example.

Ready for the next step?

Learn the structure every Task 2 essay follows.

Once you know which question type you’re working with, review the soft/hard/soft OREO framework that applies no matter which one you’re given.