Writing theory

Task 2 asks you to respond to a specific question, rather than write everything you know about a topic. Specialist knowledge is unnecessary; relevant reasoning and examples can come from your knowledge or experience. Official Writing preparation resources.

Read in three layers

Topic: What broad subject is being discussed?

Focus: Which population, policy, situation, or aspect of that subject matters?

Instruction: What must you decide, discuss, explain, or propose?

Consider this original prompt:

“Some people believe city governments should make public transport free for residents. To what extent do you agree or disagree?”

The topic is public transport. The focus is free services funded or arranged by city governments for residents. The instruction asks for your degree of agreement. An essay about the advantages of travelling in general would miss that focus.

Make a task checklist

For “Discuss both views and give your own opinion,” the checklist contains three jobs: explain the first view, explain the second view, and present your judgment.

For “Why does this happen, and what effects does it have on individuals and society?”, the checklist includes causes, effects on individuals, and effects on society.

Question-type labels can help you practise, but the actual wording controls your answer. Hybrid questions may combine instructions. Read each part instead of forcing the prompt into a memorised template. IELTS guidance on understanding Task 2 prompts.

Scope words deserve attention

Words such as “all,” “only,” “main,” “young,” “local,” and “government” can change the argument.

“Governments should fund all university courses” is broader than “Governments should fund courses that address labour shortages.” Your agreement might differ because the scope differs.

Before planning, finish this sentence in plain English: “I must explain or decide whether…” If your version omits a part of the question, correct it before writing.