The five most common IELTS Writing Task 2 questions are:
1. Opinion (Agree or Disagree)
2. Advantages and Disadvantages
3. Problem and Solution
4. Discussion (Discuss both views)
5. Two-part Question
Opinion Essay Structure:
Paragraph 1- Introduction
Sentence 1- Paraphrase Question
Sentence 2- Thesis Statement
Sentence 3- Outline Statement
Paragraph 2- Supporting Paragraph 1
Sentence 1- Topic Sentence
Sentence 2/3- Explain Topic Sentence
Sentence 3/4- Example
Paragraph 3- Supporting Paragraph 2
Sentence 1- Topic Sentence
Sentence 2/3- Explain Topic Sentence
Sentence 3/4- Example
Paragraph 4- Conclusion
Sentence 1- Summary and reiteration of your opinion.
That’s it! Four paragraphs.
Q. In some countries, many people suffer from health problems due to eating too much fast
food. It is, therefore, necessary for governments to impose a higher tax on this kind of food.
Do you agree or disagree?
A. Nowadays, a high proportion of people consume fast food around the globe. This has caused
some severe health problems for these people. Everyone loves fast food because it is delicious.
Additionally, people can save time preparing food for their children, especially workaholic
parents. However, they ignore the harmful effects of fast food, such as obesity. Therefore, I
agree that governments shall impose a tax on fast food.
First of all, I think a higher tax shall be imposed on fast food because the health of the citizens is
essential to the country’s development. For instance, if a person consumes fast food daily, he is
likely to face the problem of obesity after a while, followed by high blood pressure and high
cholesterol. With the health problems suffered, he is likely to be the worker with the lowest
productivity. It will affect the economy of the country as a result.
Secondly, fast food can impact people’s choices when choosing what food to consume. People
undeniably decide to devour junk food as it is cheaper and can be prepared within minutes. With
an increased tax imposed, people will not choose these foods as the cost of consuming fast
food will burden their expenditures. Consequently, people will prefer home-cooked food, which
is much healthier and cheaper.
Regardless, imposing a tax on fast food will not reduce the number of people suffering from
health problems. The fast-food advertisements telecasted on multimedia, such as television,
could be a reason for people to consume fast food. As fast-food advertisements are often
relayed during dinner time, children are attracted to the images of fried chicken. The result is
that children will ask their parents to bring them to fast-food restaurants and enjoy the meals
there. It explains why children face health hazards at a younger age. Therefore, I suggest
governments limit the time of fast food advertisements broadcast on television. The
advertisements should be beamed at midnight instead of at dinner time.
In conclusion, I agree that with the higher taxes imposed on fast food, the number of people
ingesting fast food will decrease significantly, thereby reducing the health problems people face.
Advantages and Disadvantages:
Introduction
Sentence 1- Paraphrase question
Sentence 2- Outline sentence
Supporting Paragraph 1 (Advantages or Stronger Side)
Sentence 3- Topic sentence (2 Advantages)
Sentence 4- Explain first advantage
Sentence 5- Explain second advantage
Sentence 6- Example of second advantage
Supporting Paragraph 2 (Disadvantages)
Sentence 6- Topic sentence (2 Disadvantages or Weaker Side)
Sentence 7- Explain first disadvantage
Sentence 8- Explain second disadvantage
Sentence 9- Example of second disadvantage
Conclusion
Sentence 9- Summary of main points
Q. Some experts believe that it is better for children to begin learning a foreign language at
primary schools rather than secondary schools.
Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?
A. Some authorities think that it is more favourable for pupils to begin studying languages
at primary school instead of secondary school. This essay will argue that the advantages
of this outweigh the drawbacks. The essay will first demonstrate that the earlier someone
learns an additional language, the more likely they are to master it and that it brings
added cognitive benefits, followed by an analysis of how the primary disadvantage,
namely confusion with their native tongue, is not valid.
The main reason to start kids off with foreign languages early is that this increases the
likelihood they will achieve fluency in adulthood. That is to say that they will have far
more years to perfect their skills, and speaking bilingually will seem perfectly normal. For
example, in countries such as Holland and Norway, where English is taught from a very
young age, most adults speak it at an advanced level. Learning a second language also
helps to improve overall cognitive abilities. In other words, it benefits the overall
development of a child’s brain. It is well known that bi-lingual children are significantly
more likely to score higher in Mathematics and Science.
Those opposed to this say that it causes the child to become confused between their
mother tongue and the other language. However, there is actually no evidence to
support this view and children from bilingual families do just as well in both languages.
My son was brought up speaking both Vietnamese and English and outperforms most of
his classmates in both.
On balance, the fact that early foreign language learning leads to higher fluency and
improved brain function clearly outweighs the flawed argument that it impairs the uptake
of native languages.
Problem Solution Essay
Paragraph 1- Introduction
Paragraph 2- Problems
Paragraph 3- Solutions
Paragraph 4- Conclusion
The most common mistake for problem solution essays is not expanding on your ideas and
instead simply listing lots of problems and solutions. The examiner does not want a list of all the
problems and solutions you can think of. Instead, the examiner wants you to pick one or two
problems and solutions and then expand on them with explanations and examples.
Q. Global warming is one of the biggest threats humans face in the 21st Century, and sea levels
continue to rise at alarming rates.
What problems are associated with this, and what are some possible solutions?
Problem: flooding of people’s homes and businesses
Solution: build flood barriers or move to higher areas
Problem: loss of agricultural land and starvation
Solution: switch to more suitable crops
Problem: displacement of millions of people
Solution: move people in a planned and orderly way before the floods
Problem: groundwater undrinkable
Solution: build desalination plants
Discussion Essay
Introduction: paraphrase the question, state both points of view, make a thesis statement and
outline your sentence.
Main body paragraph 1: state the first viewpoint, discuss it, state whether you agree or
disagree and give an example to support your view.
Main body paragraph 2: state the second viewpoint, discuss it, state whether you agree or
disagree and give an example to support your view.
Conclusion: summarise and state which viewpoint is better or more important.
Q. Some people think that the best way to reduce crime is to give longer prison sentences.
Others, however, believe there are better alternative ways of reducing crime.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Two-part Question
Q. As most people spend a major part of their adult life at work, job satisfaction is an important
element of individual well-being.
What factor contributes to job satisfaction?
How realistic is the expectation of job satisfaction for all workers?
A. As most adults spend most of their time at work, being content with your career is a
crucial part of a person’s health and happiness. This essay will first suggest fair pay as a
key element leading to job satisfaction, and it will then state that it is not very likely that
everyone can be happy with their job.
B. The most important thing that satisfies someone at work is being compensated fairly. If
those more senior than you respect you as a person and the job you are doing, then you
feel like you are valued. A fair salary and benefits are important marks of respect, and if
you feel you are being underpaid, you will either resent your bosses or look for another
job. These two factors came top of a recent job satisfaction survey conducted by
Monster.com, which found that 72% of people were pleased with their current role if their
superiors regularly told them they were appreciated.
C. With regard to the question of happiness for all workers, I think this is and always will be
highly unlikely. The vast majority of people fail to reach their goals and end up working in
a post they don’t really care about in return for a salary. This money is just enough to pay
their living expenses which often means they are trapped in a cycle of disenchantment.
For example, The Times recently reported that 89% of office workers would leave their
jobs if they did not need the money.
D. In conclusion, being satisfied with your trade or profession is an important part of one’s
well-being, and respect from one’s colleagues and fair pay can improve your level of
happiness; however, job satisfaction for all workers is an unrealistic prospect.
Q. It is important for people to take risks, both in their professional lives and their personal lives.
Do you think the advantages of taking risks outweigh the disadvantages?
Q. In some countries, more people are becoming interested in finding out about the history of
the house or building they live in.
What are the reasons for this? How can people research this question?
Q. Some people believe that professionals such as doctors and engineers should be required to
work in the country where they did their training. Others believe they should be free to work in
another country if they wish.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Q. Some children spend hours every day on their smartphones.
Why is this the case?
Do you think this is a positive or negative development?
Task 2 Questions and Model Answers
Q. It is important for people to take risks, both in their professional lives and their
personal lives.
Do you think the advantages of taking risks outweigh the disadvantages?
MAIN IDEAS
+ create opportunities [prospects]
+ build resilience
– Danger [hazard]
MODEL ANSWER
Risk-taking can be critical for people’s working and private lives. I believe the merits of taking
chances outweigh the drawbacks.
The main benefit of throwing caution to the wind is that it leads to opportunities. For example, if
people take the chance on a new romance they might meet their lifelong partner. However,
without taking the plunge there will be no opportunity to move beyond single life. Similarly,
accepting the risk of a new job offer may help a person move forward in their career. The new
job may lead to the acquisition of new knowledge and skills, which could propel a person up the
career ladder.
Furthermore, taking risks can also lead to greater resilience. This is because the change
involved with risk-taking evokes emotional responses such as fear and doubt. By actively
experiencing these emotions people can become more tolerant of them. This is a valuable
attribute as change and a certain level of risk-taking is unavoidable in all careers and aspects of
life.
However, risk-taking often involves a certain degree of danger. The unpredictable outcomes of
risky decisions can lead to deleterious outcomes. For instance, my Nephew invested all his
money in a new business venture. The business failed and he became both bankrupt and
unemployed at the same time. This had disastrous effects on his career and marriage.
In conclusion, I believe that the benefits of risk-taking surpass the drawbacks. This is because
the merits of creating new prospects and building resilience outweigh the potential hazards of
negative outcomes. Furthermore, the dangers can be mitigated through contingency planning
for negative outcomes.
Q. Some people believe that professionals such as doctors and engineers should be
required to work in the country where they did their training. Others believe they should
be free to work in another country if they wish.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
A common debate is whether specialists trained domestically in vocations including medicine
and engineering are obliged to take on employment in their homeland or should have the
discretion to choose an overseas role. This essay will first elaborate on the merits of each
assessment, before explaining why I agree with the latter.
Supporters of in-demand professions having to work where their education was provided have
several justifications. The first is tertiary education is often subsidised by taxpayers. The cost of
educating students is prohibitive, so if they do not receive government funding, only the wealthy
will be able to graduate, limiting the opportunities for potentially brilliant talent. Therefore, alumni
owe a duty to repay the society that assisted them. Furthermore, these professionals are likely
to be more familiar with the unwritten cultural norms of the country, so can often achieve better
outcomes for citizens.
Nevertheless, many believe it must be a professional’s choice as to their employment’s locale.
The most important consideration is they devote years of their lives to study, neglecting
relationships and accruing debt. Allowing them to move overseas for higher income or a better
lifestyle should be a reward for that sacrifice. For example, Indian doctors often move to
Western nations because not only are the salaries significantly higher, but the natural
environment is healthier for their families. In addition, it could be argued that all taxpayers
receive benefits of some form or another and likewise have obligation to their country, creating a
potential roadblock to any migration.
To conclude, I believe both sides contain valid reasoning. However, in my opinion, if a country
provides all citizens equal opportunities to be educated then there is no reason to limit anyone
from freely making decisions about their career location. Moreover, I argue that migrants often
contribute significantly to their homeland through financial remittances. Therefore, I suggest
governments focus on creating the economic conditions that encourage in-demand professions
to seek jobs locally. (322)
Q. Some children spend hours every day on their smartphones.
Why is this the case?
Do you think this is a positive or negative development?
It is common for many youngsters to use their mobile devices for a significant part of each day.
This essay explains the reasons for this phenomenon, and why I view this trend as creating
detrimental health outcomes.
There are several contributing factors to substantial smartphone use among children. The most
important consideration is that contemporary education places great emphasis on virtual activity.
Often pupils are required to research and submit assignments online and tend to do this on their
smartphones due to their ease of use and accessibility. This was further emphasised during the
recent pandemic when learning was predominantly via the Internet, requiring students to
complete teamwork using mobile applications. Another reason is social media has become the
default form of communication among youths. If children do not constantly access their
smartphones to keep up with the activities of their peers, they may become socially isolated.
In my view, there are more shortcomings of extended smartphone use in the young, mostly
related to their well being. Physically, the downsides of extensive screen time are twofold. First,
eyesight can be damaged through constant exposure to damaging blue light, with children’s
developing eyes being particularly vulnerable. In addition, smartphone use is often directly
related to a sedentary lifestyle as it commonly replaces physical activity. Turning to emotional
harm, if device usage is not strictly monitored, youngsters can be exposed to inappropriate
violent or sexual imagery, as well as online bullying. For instance, many nations have seen an
increase in mental illness among preteens as they are ill-equipped to deal with frequent
harassment not only from their peers but also from delinquent adults.
In conclusion, lengthy time spent using smartphones is attributable to educational demands and
changing interactions among the young, and I view this tendency as being problematic for both
the physical and psychological growth of children. (305 words)
Q. Nowadays, a growing number of people with health problems are trying alternative
medicines and treatments instead of visiting the usual doctor. Do you think this is a
positive or negative development?
Unwell individuals are more likely to seek out remedies that are contrary to mainstream medical
advice these days. I mostly think this is problematic due to potential misdiagnoses and
unproven therapies, although the burden on the traditional health care system could be
reduced.
The main reason why I believe alternative medications could be detrimental is the higher
likelihood of misdiagnosis. Patients could either diagnose themselves incorrectly with limited
knowledge gained online or through unqualified practitioners with limited liability. This is in stark
contrast to doctors who undergo years of training and are guided by strict professional codes of
conduct to ensure appropriate treatment.
Furthermore, many of the substitute treatments are not backed by science. Mainstream
medications prescribed by doctors are subject to peer-reviewed research to ensure that they are
completely safe for the consumer. In contrast, many alternative medications are designed for
different purposes, and may have increased side effects or decreased efficacy. For example,
many non-medical professionals promoted the use of Ivermectin for the treatment of COVID-19,
even though it was designed for the prevention of parasites on animals. Needless to say, the
results have been inconclusive, and its use has resulted in some severe side effects.
However, I consider the alternative treatments could be beneficial in terms of reducing the
burden on public health care for treating minor conditions. Doctors are often overworked, and it
is exceptionally expensive and time-consuming to train new medical professionals. If people
with minor ailments were to seek out trustworthy alternative treatment providers, the pressure
on the health care system could be significantly reduced and allow doctors to focus on more
serious cases.
To conclude, I somewhat believe that sourcing alternative methods to alleviate ailments is
negative, as although this could relieve under-resourced medical practitioners, there is a higher
likelihood of patients relying on an incorrect assumption or unverified and inappropriate
medications.
Q. In some countries, more people are becoming interested in finding out about the
history of the house or building they live in.
What are the reasons for this?
How can people research this question?
In many nations, people have an increasing fascination with learning about the background of
their place of residence. This essay discusses some of the motives for this as well as how
people can unearth this kind of information.
There are two main reasons for this phenomenon. The primary one is due to concern over
potential building problems. By examining past records of one’s place of abode the structural
soundness of the building can be determined. Moreover, many people like to verify that
high-quality building materials were used. Another factor is due to curiosity. Many people
wonder about who has lived in their house in the past and delight over the potential discovery of
previous occupancy by a famous person.
There are many methods to discover the history of a building. The most effective one is to check
public records. From these records we are able to determine who the building was built by and
blueprints of the structural integrity of the construction. Another effective method is to simply ask
neighbours. In many cases, neighbours have been living in the area for a long time and have a
wealth of information. Furthermore, houses in the same neighbourhood often share many
characteristics.
In conclusion, the main reasons why people are interested in discovering the background of
their places of residence is due to concern over the structural soundness of the premises as
well as a natural curiosity. The best ways to find out this information are to search public records
or simply ask around the neighbourhood.
Q. In their advertising, businesses nowadays usually emphasise that their products are
new in some way.
Why is this?
Do you think it is a positive or negative development?
Companies often advertise their merchandise as having novel features. The reason for this is
that product differentiation is often critical to convincing consumers to purchase. This is a
progressive development as it leads to more informed consumers.
The motivation for commercials to highlight product innovations is to persuade consumers to
purchase the featured products. By communicating the unique features of a product consumers
may be convinced to purchases it. This is because they will see the featured product as being
better than others. For instance, every time Apple releases a new version of their I-phone the
new features of it are clearly articulated to potential purchasers. This highlights the value that
can be derived from upgrading your phone to the latest version of the Apple brand, which
increases the likelihood of a purchase.
This is phenomenon is highly beneficial to consumers as they become more informed shoppers.
By having the information about a products unique and novel features savvy consumers are
able to make product comparisons and choose the exact product that best suits their unique
circumstances. For instance, I purchased an I-phone 12 because I saw that it has the highest
camera resolution of all phones currently available. As an amateur photographer, the purchase
of this phone ensures that I can take the best photos possible with a smartphone, and this
feature was well worth the high price tag to me.
In conclusion, companies are choosing to advertise the new features of their products as a way
of convincing shoppers to purchase their products. This is a highly constructive phenomenon as
it is leading to more informed consumers who are making better purchasing decisions.
Q. Many manufactured food and drink products contain high levels of sugar, which
causes many health problems. Sugary products should be made more expensive to
encourage people to consume less sugar.
Do you agree or disagree?
Many people believe that food and beverages that are high in sugar should be sold at high
prices to discourage people from consuming these unhealthy products. I totally disagree
because I think that it is unfair to consumers charge more for these products and also because
there are other more effective ways to discourage consumption of these types of goods.
The main reason why I believe these products should not be made more expensive is that it is
unfair to shoppers. These types of goods, when consumed in moderation, are not a health risk
and therefore it does not seem reasonable that everybody who consumes these goods should
have to pay more. Furthermore, for people on a tight budget, a sweet snack is an affordable
luxury. However, if prices are hiked this might put people’s favourite snack out of reach.
In addition, there are more effective ways to decrease the consumption of sugary goods. The
best way is for the government to engage in public service advertising to educate the public
about the need to eat these types of products in moderation. This type of approach has been
useful with other vices such as alcohol and cigarettes and so it seems reasonable that it will
also work for sugary products. Another effective way to decrease the consumption is to ban
advertising of these types of products. I feel this will be effective because it will create less of a
psychological desire to consume these types of goods.
In conclusion, I am totally against increasing the price of confectionery. This is because it is not
fair to consumers and there are better ways to reduce consumption of these sugary goods.
In the future all cars, buses, and trucks will be driverless. The only people travelling
inside these vehicles would be passengers.
Do you think the advantages of driverless vehicles outweigh the disadvantages?
Technological advances are leading towards all vehicles becoming automated and not having a
driver. I believe the merits of this far exceed the drawbacks.
The main benefit of this phenomenon is the increase in safety. The absence of a driver means
that human error can be totally eliminated. More precisely, car accidents will no longer result
from a lapse of concentration or poor judgment in the operation of a vehicle. For example, there
will no longer be an issue with intoxicated drivers getting behind the wheel and endangering
themselves and others on the road.
In addition, it will be more enjoyable for all occupants of a vehicle as no one will have to perform
driving duties. People who would have been drivers can now relax during a journey. For
instance, they will be able to watch movies or interact with their friends on social media while
travelling. Furthermore, the stress of a long drive can be avoided, meaning that they can arrive
at the destination in a more relaxed state.
However, there are likely to be cyber-criminals who will attempt to take advantage of this
situation. Hackers may seize control of these vehicles and use them for their own nefarious
purposes. For example, a hacker could use an automated vehicle as a getaway vehicle or to
block traffic in order to evade the police. Even worse, they could hack into police vehicles
rendering them useless in a chase.
In conclusion, I believe that the positives of this phenomenon greatly outweigh the negatives.
This is because the increase in safety and enjoyment when travelling surpass the threat posed
by cyber-criminals. Therefore, this new technology should be embraced.
