IELTS Essay Writing — Summary
IELTS Writing Task 2 is an essay of at least 250 words. You usually have 40 minutes to complete it. Your score is based on four criteria, each worth 25%:
| Criterion | What the examiner looks for |
|---|---|
| 1. Task Response | Answering the question fully, giving clear ideas, explanations, and examples |
| 2. Coherence & Cohesion | Logical organization, clear paragraphs, and appropriate linking |
| 3. Lexical Resource | A wide and accurate range of vocabulary |
| 4. Grammatical Range & Accuracy | Variety of sentence structures with few grammatical errors |
The basic 4-paragraph structure
1. Introduction
- Paraphrase the question.
- Give your thesis/opinion or state what the essay will discuss.
2. Body Paragraph 1
- Give your first main idea.
- Explain it.
- Give an example.
- Explain the result/importance if necessary.
3. Body Paragraph 2
- Give your second main idea.
- Explain it.
- Give an example.
- Develop the idea further.
4. Conclusion
- Summarize the main points.
- Restate your position clearly.
- Do not introduce a new idea.
IELTS Task 2 question types
- Opinion essay — Do you agree or disagree?
- Discussion essay — Discuss both views and give your opinion.
- Advantages outweighing Disadvantages — Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
- Problem/Solution — What are the problems and what solutions can you suggest?
- Two-part question — Double or Direct Question.
- Causes/Solution — What are the causes and what solutions can you suggest?
- What is your opinion question — what is your opinion
- Advantages / Disadvantages — What are the advantages and disadvantages?
- Positive or Negative development — Is this a positive or negative development.
A strong body paragraph formula
Main idea → Explanation → Example → Result
For example:
Main idea: Public transport can reduce traffic congestion.
Explanation: When more people use buses and trains, fewer private cars are on the roads.
Example: For instance, cities with efficient metro systems often encourage commuters to leave their cars at home.
Result: Consequently, roads become less congested and travel times can decrease.
For Band 7–9
Focus on developing ideas, not simply using difficult vocabulary. A high-band essay should have:
Clear position + well-developed ideas + logical paragraphs + precise vocabulary + varied grammar + accurate sentence structures.
A useful rule is:
One paragraph = one central idea.
And remember: 250 words is the minimum, not the target. Around 270–300 words is often a comfortable range, provided the writing remains relevant and well developed.
Leave a Reply