How to plan and structure an IELTS Writing Task 2 essay

4 мин чтения · Обновлено 2026-11-07

A clear four-paragraph plan, a direct answer to the question and 5 minutes of planning are the fastest ways to raise your Task 2 score. This guide shows how to analyse the question, build each paragraph and check your work.

IELTS Writing Task 2 asks you to write at least 250 words in response to an opinion, discussion or problem question. It is worth twice as much as Task 1, so most candidates should spend about 40 of the 60 minutes on it. The good news is that a simple, reliable structure works for almost every question.

What the examiner is looking for

Your essay is marked on four equally weighted criteria:

• Task Response — do you answer every part of the question and support your position?
• Coherence and Cohesion — is the essay logically organised, with clear paragraphs and linking?
• Lexical Resource — do you use a range of accurate vocabulary?
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy — do you use a mix of sentence types with few errors?

Notice that "using difficult words" is only part of one criterion. A well-organised essay that fully answers the question will usually score higher than an essay full of rare vocabulary that drifts off topic.

Step 1: Analyse the question (2 minutes)

Underline the topic, the instruction and any limiting words. Compare these two questions:

• "Some people think universities should provide only job-related courses. To what extent do you agree?" — you must give and support your opinion.
• "Some people think universities should provide only job-related courses, while others disagree. Discuss both views and give your opinion." — you must explain both sides and then give your opinion.

Many essays lose marks simply because they answer a slightly different question. If the question has two parts, your essay needs two clear parts.

Step 2: Plan your position and ideas (3 minutes)

Decide your answer before you start writing. Then choose two main ideas, each with a reason and an example. Two well-developed ideas are better than four thin ones. Write a short plan:

1. Position: mostly disagree — universities should offer both.
2. Idea 1: job-related courses help graduates find work → example: nursing, engineering.
3. Idea 2: general subjects build critical thinking that employers also want → example: history graduates in policy roles.

Step 3: Use a four-paragraph structure

Introduction (2–3 sentences). Paraphrase the question in your own words and state your position clearly. Avoid copying the question word for word, and avoid long general openings such as "Nowadays, education is very important."

Body paragraph 1 (5–7 sentences). Start with a topic sentence that states the main idea. Explain it, give a specific example, and link it back to your position.

Body paragraph 2 (5–7 sentences). Present your second idea, or the other view in a "discuss both views" essay, using the same pattern.

Conclusion (2–3 sentences). Restate your position and summarise the two main ideas. Do not add new arguments here.

This structure helps with Coherence and Cohesion because each paragraph has one clear job.

Linking ideas naturally

Good cohesion is not about adding as many linking words as possible. Use them when they show a real relationship:

• Contrast: however, on the other hand, nevertheless
• Result: therefore, as a result, consequently
• Addition: moreover, in addition
• Example: for instance, for example

Pronouns and phrases such as "this approach" or "such courses" also create cohesion without sounding mechanical.

Building academic vocabulary

Examiners reward words used precisely, not words used to impress. The Academic Word List in AUSLEX covers the general academic words that appear across many essay topics, such as significant, factor, benefit and policy. Learn each word with its collocations — for example "have a significant impact on" — so you can use it naturally.

Step 4: Check your essay (3–5 minutes)

Leave a few minutes to check:

• Have you answered every part of the question?
• Is your position clear in the introduction and the conclusion?
• Are there common errors: subject–verb agreement, articles (a/the), plurals, verb tenses?
• Is the essay at least 250 words? Writing much more does not earn extra marks and increases the chance of errors.

A short model introduction

Question: "Some people think universities should provide only job-related courses. To what extent do you agree?"

It is sometimes argued that universities should focus only on courses that prepare students for specific careers. While vocational degrees clearly help graduates find work, I largely disagree with this view, because broader academic subjects develop skills that employers and society also need.

This introduction paraphrases the question, states a clear position and previews the two main ideas — in only two sentences.

Practise next

• Build your linking vocabulary with the IELTS dictionary.
• Read the guide to IELTS Writing Task 1 charts.
• Check the official task information on the IELTS website.

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