IELTS Writing Task 2 Practice
Practice IELTS essays with clear positions, developed arguments, examples, and academic vocabulary.
Recommended time
About 40 minutes
Minimum length
250 words
Weighting
Twice Task 1
Task 2 contributes two thirds of the Writing score.
Style
Academic or neutral
Use a clear, relevant, well-organized argument.
Task 2 Focus
Task 2 tests whether you can respond fully to a point of view, argument, or problem and support a clear position with relevant development.
- Address every part of the prompt
- Use clear paragraphing
- Support ideas with relevant examples
Recognize the Prompt
Do not force every question into the same essay. Identify exactly what the instruction asks you to do.
- Opinion: state how far you agree or disagree and maintain that position.
- Discussion: examine both views and give your own view when requested.
- Problems, causes, solutions, advantages, disadvantages, or two direct questions: answer every requested element.
Practice Workflow
Plan a small number of ideas you can explain well. Development matters more than listing many undeveloped points.
- Paraphrase the issue and give a direct position in the introduction.
- Build each body paragraph around one controlling idea, then explain and support it.
- Use the conclusion to restate the position and main answer without introducing a new argument.
Worked paragraph example
Prompt
Some people believe university education should be free for everyone. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Weaker response
University should be free because education is important. It helps people and society. There are many advantages.
Improved response
Removing tuition fees could widen access for capable students from low-income families. When cost is no longer the deciding factor, admission can depend more heavily on ability, allowing a broader group of graduates to enter skilled professions.
The improved paragraph makes one claim, explains the mechanism, and shows a consequence. A full essay would still need a consistent overall position and development of the financial trade-off.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Answering only part of the instruction.Convert each instruction into a planning question and verify that every one is answered.
- Listing ideas without development.Use fewer main ideas and explain why each is true, how it works, or what it leads to.
- Using a memorized introduction.Paraphrase the precise issue and state a position that directly answers this prompt.
- Adding an impressive but unrelated example.Use an example only when it proves the paragraph’s main claim.
Questions learners ask
Aim for about 40 minutes, including planning and checking.
Official sources
Content reviewed 25 August 2026