multi part essay

IELTS writing: model answer on accommodation.

Ielts two-part question essay on renting or owning a home..

Updated : November 9th 2022

A two-part question essay is pretty straightforward. Simply answer the first question in main body one, explain and give an example and then answer the second question in main body two. In the thesis statement briefly answer both questions. See the structure and the model answer below. The task is from Cambridge IELTS 15.

It is very important to spend a couple of minutes analysing the task question to understand the general topic as well as the specifics of what you need to write about. Set aside 10 minutes to plan and get ideas for an IELTS essay. Leave a few minutes at the end to check the essay for mistakes such as spelling etc.

IELTS two-part question essay structure.

Model Answer

In some countries, owning a home rather than renting one is very important for people. Why might this be the case? Do you think this is a positive or negative situation?

It is argued that in some nations owning a property is much more important than renting. This is mainly because owning a home gives a feeling of security, stability, and the freedom to renovate it. In my view, this is a positive development as homeowners can make money if they sell their house in the future.

To begin with, if people own their own home they do not have to worry about paying monthly rent and are less anxious about restrictions on decorating the interior. In other words, they tend to feel more stable and comfortable than if they were renting. This enables them to renovate and decorate their abode according to their desires, without the worry of a landlord complaining. For instance, recent research has shown that in the UK the vast majority of new homeowners feel that owning a home is an investment, so they spend most of their income on DIY projects, interior goods, and decorating.

I believe that there is a huge advantage to owning a home because it is an investment where the value of the house increases every year. That is to say, when someone buys a house and installs a new kitchen, or bathroom, and redesigns the interior, the value of the property rises considerably. For example, in England people who rent their homes will never get that money back, whereas those who buy a property can sell it for a considerable profit after just a few years, even in a tough economic situation.

In conclusion, owning a house or flat gives one a sense of security and the choice to redecorate. In my opinion, this is a great benefit because people who invest in their home can sell it later on at a profit.

In IELTS the examiner is not marking your essay on your ideas, rather they mark you on your ability to state an idea, explain and develop the essay, paragraphing, grammar, and vocabulary.

For example, in main body two at the end, I wrote: ‘those who buy a property can sell it for a considerable profit after just a few years, even in a tough economic situation’ . .T his is debatable because with the current economic situation people could lose their investment. However, the examiner is not marking you on this.

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Two-Part Essay Questions in IELTS Writing Task 2

Learn how to answer Two-part essay questions in IELTS writing Task 2 with an overview, recommended approach and practice question. by Tim Martyn

Example question

Recommended approach, practice question.

Two-part essay questions are a common question type in IELTS writing Task 2. You’ll be presented with a statement about some kind of trend or phenomenon. There will be two direct questions, which could ask for reasons, effects, solutions, advantages and disadvantages, or your opinion.

Here are some key points about Two-part essay questions:

• You should spend no more than 40 minutes on the task.
• You should write at least 250 words – you’ll be penalised if your answer is too short.
• Task 2 is worth two thirds of your total writing mark; Task 1 is worth one third.
• You must write in full sentences, not bullet points or note form.

Here’s an example Two-part essay question.

Write about the following topic: In many countries, it has become difficult for young people to afford to buy their own home. Why is this the case? What can be done about this problem? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Here’s my recommended approach for answering Two-part essay questions. We’ll use the example question to go through the steps you need to take.

IMPORTANT: The overall approach is the same for all  Task 2  question types (i.e. discussion, opinion, advantages–disadvantages and two-part essay questions). This is important because, on test day, you could get a question that doesn’t fall neatly into any of these categories. However, if you learn and practise applying the overall approach, you should be able to respond flexibly to any question you’re presented with. Also, while I generally recommend writing 4-paragraph essays, there are other structures you can use to write an effective essay.

Step 1  >  Analyse the question

The first step is to analyse the question. This is crucial – if you don’t take the time to analyse the question properly, you may misunderstand what it’s asking you or fail to respond to key parts of the question. Here’s our question prompt again.

You can see that we’ve been presented with a straightforward statement (i.e. that it has become difficult for young people in many countries to afford their own home), and then there are two direct questions. The direct questions are asking us to:

• give the cause(s) of the problem;
• suggest one or more solutions.

Notice that the question doesn’t actually use the words cause(s) or solution(s) . Because there are no plural or singular forms used, you’re free to include as many causes and solutions in your essay as you like (even just one of each). However, if the question uses plural forms (e.g. causes , effects , solutions ), you’ll need to include more than one of each.

Step 2  >  Think of ideas

Once you fully understand the question and what you’re required to do, the next step is to spend a few minutes thinking of ideas for your essay. Don’t try to brainstorm as many ideas as you can – all you need is a few good ideas. If you’re having trouble coming up with ideas, try asking yourself these questions:

• What are the most obvious ideas?
• If you asked 100 people for their ideas, what do you think most of them would say?

For Two-part essay questions, you need to think of ideas for the first direct question as well as for the second direct question. Again, pay attention to the wording of the question – if plural forms are used (e.g. solutions ), you’ll need to think of more than one.

Step 3  >  Make a plan

Once you’ve thought of some ideas, it’s time to make a plan. I’d recommend that you spend about 5 minutes on your plan. It doesn’t need to be very detailed, but it’s important to think about what examples you’ll use and how you’ll explain your points. If you think of these things in advance, you’ll be able to connect your ideas more effectively when you’re writing your essay. Don’t try to write in full sentences – you can use symbols and abbreviations. The important thing is just to get your ideas down on paper. The plan for this essay might look something like this.

Step 4  >  Write the introduction

Now that you’ve thought of ideas for your essay and made a plan, it’s time to write the introduction. IELTS doesn’t specify what you need to include in your introduction, but for Two-part essay questions, I recommend that you include:

• a paraphrase of the statement given in the question;
• a statement to show that your essay will cover both aspects of the question.

Let’s look at each of these parts one by one.

1. A paraphrase of the statement given in the question

An easy and effective way to start your introduction is to paraphrase the statement given in the question. At this stage, don’t mention the specific focus of the question (i.e. the two direct questions) – we’ll do that in the second part of the introduction. Keep in mind that you mustn’t copy the exact wording used in the question. Instead, you need to use synonyms and other forms of paraphrasing. You won’t be able find synonyms for everything. In fact, some words shouldn’t be replaced because doing so would change the meaning. Our paraphrase could be something like this: In many parts of the world, it has become very challenging for younger generations to be able to purchase a home of their own.

2. A statement to show that your essay will cover both aspects of the question

In the second part of the introduction, you should add a statement to show that your essay will cover both aspects of the question. For our question, we could write something like this: There is a variety of reasons for this, but steps can certainly be taken to tackle the issue.

If we put the two parts of the introduction together, this is what we have.

In many parts of the world, it has become very challenging for younger generations to be able to purchase a home of their own. There is a variety of reasons for this, but steps can certainly be taken to tackle the issue.

Step 5  >  Write the body paragraphs

The next step is to write the body paragraphs. Your first body paragraph should answer the first direct question, and your second body paragraph should answer the second direct question. This particular Two-part essay question doesn’t explicitly ask for our opinion, so it’s best to avoid phrases such as I think and In my opinion . However, other Two-part essay questions may ask for your opinion, in which case it’s appropriate to use such phrases. Here are some possible body paragraphs for our example.

Several factors are to blame for the financial difficulty young people face when trying to buy a home. Firstly, population growth in many countries has led to greater competition among buyers, which drives up prices. In parallel, there is often too little construction taking place, which makes the situation worse as supply cannot keep up with demand. In many countries, interest rates are also much lower than their long-term averages, which encourages people to borrow more and more money to outbid other buyers. As prices have increased, it has become increasingly difficult for younger buyers to save for a deposit, which effectively locks them out of the housing market. There are ways that this issue could be addressed. One solution is for governments to offer young people grants to help them afford their first home. Governments could place conditions on any such grant. For example, they could require that the property be a newly constructed one or that the money only be used to purchase a property in a regional area. Another way to deal with this issue is for governments to release more land for residential construction and offer builders financial incentives. This would help with the supply side of the equation. If there were more properties available, prices would inevitably come down.

Step 6  >  Write the conclusion

The next step is to write the conclusion. Here you need to summarise your answers to the two direct questions. Don’t just copy the words you used in other parts of the essay – use synonyms and paraphrasing as much as you can. Start your conclusion with In conclusion or To conclude . Here’s a possible conclusion for our example.

In conclusion, young people find it difficult to afford their own home primarily due to supply and demand factors. Unless governments take action by offering grants to young buyers or by releasing more land for new homes, the problem is unlikely to go away.

Step 7  >  Check your work

The final step is to check your work. At this stage, you won’t have time to make any major changes, but it’s still an important step. Things to check for:

• whether you’ve used an adequate range of grammar and vocabulary;
• your word count.

Now it’s your turn to practise. Try the Two-part essay question below using the approach outlined above.

Write about the following topic: In many countries, people from rural areas have been relocating to cities. Why is this the case? Do you think this is a positive or a negative development? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

↕  scrollable window

Click below for a sample answer.

Cities around the world have been growing as rural residents move to them in ever-increasing numbers, and there are several explanations for this. Overall, I see the trend towards urbanisation as a negative development.

People choose to relocate to cities for a variety of reasons. Economic opportunity plays a significant role as cities usually offer a wider array of jobs and industries. The limited opportunity in rural areas often means that people have no choice but to move to a city if they wish to improve their career prospects and earning potential. In addition, the range of services and amenities in cities can be strong incentives. For example, cities generally have better healthcare facilities, so those with health issues may decide to relocate to a city in order to have access to such facilities. Most urban centres also have a vibrant cultural and social scene, with diverse entertainment options including restaurants and nightclubs, which tends to attract younger people from rural areas.

I mostly see the phenomenon of people relocating to cities as a negative development. Rapid growth can place significant strain on a city’s infrastructure. For example, as more and more people move to a city, the number of vehicles on the road tends to rise significantly. This can lead to traffic congestion, longer commute times and deteriorating road conditions. Environmental degradation is another major issue associated with urbanisation as it contributes to air and water pollution and encroaches on natural habitats, which can lead to the extinction of animal species.

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How to Identify & Answer Two-part Question Types in IELTS Writing Task 2

In this article, we'll discuss Two-part question types and look at how to identify them and what essay structure you should use to answer them. After learning about this question type, you'll get a chance to look at some practice questions and a complete sample essay.

• How to identify Two-part question types in IELTS Writing Task 2
• The essay structure for the Two-part essay
• Free IELTS Writing Task 2 Two-part Sample Questions and Model Essays
• More IELTS Writing Task 2 Two-part Practice Questions

How to Identify IELTS Writing Two-part Question Types

In an Two-part question type, you will be given two questions and you will need to answer both questions. The two questions will be different. For example, you might need to assess the importance of an idea or action (e.g. How import is it?) and say whether you agree or disagree (e.g. Do you agree or disagree?). Here is an example question:

In education and employment, some people work harder than others. Why do some people work harder? Is it always a good thing to work hard?

Now let's look at how to structure your essay for a Two-part question.

IELTS Writing Task 2 Essay Structure - Two-part

Since you will have two questions to address, this is the best way to map out your ideas for the This is the best way to map out your ideas for the Two Part Essay: I. Introduction II. First Question III. Second Question IV. Conclusion

Below, we will detail how each paragraph should be written.

Introduction - In general, you will need 2-3 sentences for this paragraph. Since this is the first paragraph of your essay, you should paraphrase the questions that were given to you. In other words, rewrite the questions in your own words using synonyms. This will help you in a few ways. First, it will guarantee that your essay is on target and following the theme given to you in the questions. Secondly, it will give you a chance to show the examiners that you have a wide range of vocabulary and can call upon synonyms when necessary. The second sentence will introduce the specific topics that you plan to discuss in your main body paragraphs. Therefore, your introduction paragraph should look like:

• Rewritten Questions - Paraphrasing both questions (1-2 sentences)
• Outline/Opinion Sentence - This is where you will outline the essay. Remember: Your opinion will be embedded throughout the essay, but this is not an opinion essay.

First Question - This paragraph should be about 4-5 sentences long. In this paragraph, you will describe the specific views with explanations, details, or examples. The paragraph should look like this:

• Topic Sentence - This will introduce the first question.
• Explanation/Detail of First Question
• Result - This is where you answer the question.
• Example to Support the Result

Second Question - This paragraph should be about 4-5 sentences long. In this paragraph, you will describe the specific views with explanations, details, or examples. The paragraph should look like this:

• Topic Sentence - This will introduce the second question.
• Explanation/Detail of Second Question

Conclusion - This paragraph will wrap everything up, and it is not the time to add any new information into your essay. This paragraph should be around 2-4 sentences , and include the following information:

• Summary of the Main Points (1-2 sentences)
• Recommendation or Prediction (1-2 sentences)

In short, here is what the final Paragraph Planner would look like for this outline:  

IELTS Writing Two-part Sample Question and Model Essay

Introduction:

These days, the relationship people have with each other has been affected by advancements in technology. There are several ways in which relationships have been negatively affected by technology. (29 words) Paragraph 1:

Technology has greatly impacted relationships. One of the major ways is that nowadays, people have more acquaintances and fewer close friends. For example, many people may have hundreds and thousands of friends on social media websites like Facebook as it is easy to connect through these websites. Thus, technology has led to less face-to-face interaction between people. Because using social media sites has become an integral part of the lives of many people these days and connecting with others has become so much easier as a result of such sites, most people spend more time online chatting with their friends than actually meeting them face-to-face.    (105 words) Paragraph 2:

I believe that the above changes have been negative. Firstly, people now feel lonelier as they spend more time with the computer rather than with other human beings. Studies have shown that people need real face-to-face interaction if they want to remain emotionally healthy, and the lack of such communication has made many people become lonely and even depressed. Consequently, many people who use technology to communicate with others are gradually losing important social skills. These days, it is very common for people to communicate and express themselves using emoticons or other forms of expression that are common online. However, an unfortunate consequence of all this is that people do not know how to express themselves properly using their body language or tone of expression. (124 words) Conclusion:  

To sum up, people have fewer close friends and have less direct contact with people due to technology. This development is negative as it is easier for people to feel lonely because of this and they are becoming less adept in social situations. Given this situation, it is recommended that people should seek to spend less time on electronic devices in order to improve their relationships with others. (68 words) Total Word Count:   326 words Note: This type of essay will most likely have the highest amount of words. Why? Because you are fully answering two questions.

This section presents a list of common IELTS Writing Task 2 - Two-Part Question questions. If you want to prepare for the IELTS Writing Test, these questions are a must study.

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How to approach an IELTS 2-Part Essay

Over the last 12 months, I have noticed a definite trend in the type of questions that IELTS students are being asked to address in writing task two. It seems that the classic “problem / solution” questions are appearing less and less and, instead, test-takers are being asked to write an IELTS 2-Part essay.

But, what is a 2-part essay? And how should you approach one to maximise your chance of a high score? That is what Nick and I are discussing in today’s podcast episode!

Below, you can find a summary of the episode , which includes all of the links to useful materials and the times of each part of the discussion (so you can go directly to the part you want to listen to)   🚀

Subscribe to My IELTS Classroom podcast on Apple podcasts   here  Subscribe to My IELTS Classroom on Google podcasts   here

What is an IELTS 2-Part Essay question?

IELTS have predictable question types that repeat in the exam again and again. These are based on the types of essay that you might typically be asked to write at university:

• Discuss Both Sides
• Agree / Disagree
• Problem / Solution (or Cause / Effect)
• Advantages / Disadvantages
• Positive / Negative Development

Recently, however, IELTS have been “mix and matching” different parts of these essays to create what I call “2-Part Essays”. You might, for example, be asked to explain the causes of a social trend (Cause / Effect) and then to say if you think if the trend is positive or negative trend (Positive / Negative Development).

Nowadays, people spend a lot more time watching movies and TV series than they did in the past. Why is this? Do you think this is a positive or negative development?

Or you may be asked to give your opinion of a statement (Agree / Disagree) and then given a direct question that is unique to the topic:

It is important for children to learn the difference between right and wrong at an early age. Punishment is necessary to help them learn this distinction. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion? What sort of punishment should parents and teachers be allowed to use to teach good behaviour to children?

  Basically, there is no one combination of questions that make up an IELTS 2-Part essay, which is what makes this type of question unique! However, even though the questions that will make up your unique 2-Part essay can be different, the approach that we use will remain the same.

Looking for an IELTS course that covers every type of IELTS essay? Watch the first three lessons in our course here :

How should I approach an IELTS 2-Part Essay Question?

The simplest way to approach 2-Part questions is simply to dedicate one paragraph to each question. If you do this, you can be 100% certain that you have addressed all parts of the task (which is a key element of your Task Response).

Nowadays, people spend a lot more time watching movies and TV series t han they did in the past. Why is this? = Body Paragraph 1 Do you think this is a positive or negative development? = Body Paragraph 2  

99% of the time, it will be easy to answer each question in just one paragraph by offering one or two clear arguments just as we would in a normal essay. There are some rare questions, however, which may seem difficult to address in one paragraph. Take this question for essay prompt:

People nowadays send text messages more frequently than they talk on the phone.   What are the reasons for this trend? Do the advantages of texting outweigh the disadvantages?

The second question asks: “Do the advantages of texting outweigh the disadvantages?”. Usually, we would approach this type of question in TWO paragraphs. For instance, if we believe that there are more advantages, then we would outline the disadvantages in BP1 and the advantages in BP2. However, we really don’t have the time and space in the exam to dedicate two paragraphs to the second question as we also have to spend time outlining the reasons for the trend in BP1.

Therefore, for this essay, I would suggest that you modify your usual approach and outline one disadvantage and two advantages in just one paragraph (assuming that you think that there are more advantages – if you think that there are more disadvantages, you can write one advantage and two disadvantages).

Is this ideal? Not really, but we don’t really have a choice.

The main thing is that the examiner can clearly see that you have made an attempt to address both questions and have a relevant discussion of both.

If you have time to write three paragraphs, you are welcome to do so. However, you will not be penalised for having just one paragraph that addresses the advantages / disadvantages question here. The examiner will expect a more limited discussion than in a traditional “outweighs” essay, and as long as you have addressed the question and given a clear opinion, you will be on target for a high score.

How else can I make sure that satisfy the band descriptors when writing an IELTS 2-Part essay?

Although paragraphing for a 2-Part essay is relatively simple, I do think that the other aspects of the essay can be difficult to write. Here is a list of the technical elements that you should consider when writing this type of essay:

• You should make it clear in the introduction what the 2-questions are that you are going to address in the body.  This is one of the main problems facing test-takers. I often read introductions to 2-Part essays that leave me feeling absolutely baffled as to what will be discussed in the essay. As Nick and I explain in the podcast, the main mistake that test-takers make is trying to paraphrase the “function” words in the questions i.e. words like “reasons” or “values”. You should not do this. An examiner who cannot see the task should be able to clearly understand what the 2 questions that you addressing are, and the “function” words are key elements in making the topics clear.
• You should start each body paragraph with a topic sentence that makes it clear which of the two questions you are addressing.  Again, just like every IELTS essay you need to clearly state what you will be discussing in the first sentence of each paragraph. I don’t know why but students seem to forget this when answering IELTS 2-Part questions.
• You should summarise both questions briefly in the conclusion. Just like the introduction you will need to work hard to summarise your response to both questions in the conclusion. Usually this will mean that you will dedicate one sentence to summarising each, which means that there is no time for a concluding comment.

There is nothing “groundbreaking” about the advice here, but it never ceases to amaze me how many basic essay writing skills students forget when they are presented with two questions to address!

Discover the secret to writing a Band 7.0+ essay

Th en download a copy of our FREE e-book, which explains the most common errors made by test-takers and how you can avoid them. Just click here for your copy.

What are your top tips for 2-Part Essay Questions?

As I have said above, if you make sure that you dedicate one paragraph to each question and clearly signpost in the introduction, topic sentences, and conclusion what the essay discussed, you should find that 2-Part essays are no more difficult to write than any other type of essay. In fact, I think that they can be easier as it can be faster to generate idea for two questions rather than one.

However, I do have advice regarding the most common type of 2-Part question: those that ask you to discuss the causes of a trend and then state if you think if it is a positive of negative development:

Nowadays, people spend a lot more time watching movies and TV series at home than they did in the past. Why is this? Do you think this is a positive or negative development?

99% of the time, I would recommend that you say that the trend you are given is NEGATIVE. The reason for this is very simple: the causes of a recent trend are almost always “positive” (as new trends almost always develop as they help people in some way), so if you also state that the trend is “positive” then it will be hard to come up with two new ideas for BP2.

For example, let’s imagine that for the above question, you have the following ideas for the “cause” of the trend. ( If you haven’t listened to our recent episode about how to brainstorm ideas for recent trends, I recommend that you do that now ):

• People work longer hours and are tired, so they just want to switch off when they come home
• TV today is much better quality than it was in the past – there is no need to pay more to go to the cinema

If you then wanted to say that this was a “positive” trend, you would have to come up with two more “benefits” for people who watch more TV. This would be difficult as “a good way to switch off” and “cheaper than other forms of entertainment” are already “positive”.

However, if you choose to argue that this is a “negative development”, you will have a whole new bank of ideas to choose from that do not overlap:

• People already have a sedentary lifestyle – watching TV in the evening means that people have no incidental exercise at all
• TV is so entertaining that they have less incentive to join clubs, or meet friends and family, which are ultimately more fulfilling ways of spending free time

As we discuss in the podcast, there are a few questions where this approach may not work, but 99% of the time, it is the easiest way to generate ideas!

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How to Plan & Write IELTS Double Question Essays

IELTS double question essays are also known as ‘direct question’ or ‘two questions’ essays. They are distinguished by two characteristics:

• They have one statement with two different questions after it.
• The questions may or may not be linked.

Here are 3 examples:

1) Fossil fuels are essential for producing electricity, powering industry and fueling transportation. However, one day we will reach a point when all the world’s fossil fuels have been depleted.

How can we conserve these resources?

What are some alternatives to fossil fuels?

2) Some parents buy their children whatever they ask for, and allow their children to do whatever they want.

Is this a good way to raise children?

What consequences could this style of parenting have for children as they get older?

3) The arts, including art, music and theatre are considered to be important in society.

Do you think the arts still have a place amongst our modern lifestyles?

Should the arts be included in the school curriculum?

In this lesson, I’m going to demonstrate step-by-step how to plan and write IELTS double question essays.

Here’s what we’ll be covering:

• 3 Common mistakes
• Essay structure
• How to plan
• How to write an introduction
• How to write main body paragraphs
• How to write a conclusion

Want to watch and listen to this lesson?

Click on this video.

Click the links to see lessons on each of these Task 2 essay writing topics. 

Once you understand the process, practice on past questions. Take your time at first and gradually speed up until you can plan and write an essay of at least 250 words in the 40 minutes allowed in the exam.

3 Common Mistakes

These three errors are common in IELTS double question essays.

• Not answering both questions fully.
• Not outlining both answers in the introduction.
• Mistaking it for one of the other essay types.

Many students make the mistake of only answering one of the questions, or focusing more on one question than the other which leads to an unbalanced essay. Both these errors will seriously affect your score for task achievement.

You must outline everything you are going to write about in the introduction. This is your blueprint for the whole essay. I’ll show you how to do this and get your essay off to a great start.

It’s easy to mistake IELTS double question essays for one of the other four types of Task 2 essays, especially opinion or discussion essays. Each should be answered in a slightly different way.

Analysing the question properly is essential to avoiding this error. I’ll also show you how to do this and give you a simple 4 part structure for planning your essay.

Essay Structure

Let’s look at this essay structure straight away. You can use it to write any IELTS double question essay. It’s easy to learn and will enable you to quickly plan and write a high-level essay.

1)  Introduction  

•   Paraphrase the question 
•   Outline sentence – state your answer to both questions

2)  Main body paragraph 1 – Answer question 1

• Topic sentence – state your answer
• Explanation – develop the idea
• Example – give an example

3)  Main body paragraph 2 – Answer question 2

4)  Conclusion Summarise both questions and answers

This structure will give us a well-balanced essay with 4 paragraphs.

We now need some ideas to add to the structure and we’ll have everything we need for our essay.

How To Plan IELTS Double Question Essays

Here’s the question we’re going to be answering in our model essay followed by the 3 steps of the planning process.

Fossil fuels are essential for producing electricity, powering industry and fueling transportation. However, one day we will reach a point when all the world’s fossil fuels have been depleted.

• Analyse the question
• Generate ideas
• Identify vocabulary

# 1  Analyse the question

This is an essential step in the planning process and will ensure that you answer the question fully. It’s quick and easy to do. You just need to identify 3 different types of words:

• Topic words
• Other keywords
• Instruction words

Topics words  are the ones that identify the general subject of the question and will be found in the statement part of the question.

Fossil fuels  are essential for producing electricity, powering industry and fueling transportation. However, one day we will reach a point when all the world’s  fossil fuels  have been depleted.

So, this question is about ‘ fossil fuels ’.

Many people will do this first step of the process and then write about the topic in general. This is a serious mistake and leads to low marks for task achievement.

Now that we know what the general topic is, we need to understand exactly what aspect of fossil fuels we're being asked to write about.

The  other keywords  in the question tell you the specific things you must write about. For IELTS double question essays, these will often be in the instructions, that is, the actual questions.

How can we  conserve  these resources?

What are some  alternatives  to fossil fuels?

By highlighting these words, it’s easy to identify the topics. Your essay must only include ideas relevant to these ideas.

The  instruction words  are the questions themselves. These tell you exactly what type of information is required and each will become the topic for one of the two main body paragraphs.

The first body paragraph will answer the first question (How?) and the second body paragraph will answer the second question (What?).

# 2  Generate ideas

The next task is to generate some ideas to write about.

There are several different ways to think up ideas. I cover them fully on the  IELTS Essay Planning  page.

We’re going to use the ‘friends technique’. This is the method I prefer as it allows you to take a step back from the stress of the exam situation and think more calmly.

Here’s how it works. Imagine that you are in a casual conversation with a friend over a cup of coffee and they ask you this question. What are the first thoughts to come into your head? Plan your essay around these ideas.

Doing this will help you to come up with simple answers in everyday language rather than straining your brain to think of amazing ideas using high-level language, which isn’t necessary.

You might want to try this yourself before reading on for my ideas.

Here are my ideas as I thought of them:

How can we conserve these resources? 

• Become more energy conscious & more energy efficient
• Use more renewable energy sources – solar panels
• All new homes should be built with solar panels on
• Use car less – walk, cycle, public transport, only travel when really necessary
• Energy-efficient light bulbs
• Solar power
• Wave energy
• Tidal energy
• Biomass energy
• Geothermal energy

Don’t spend long on this as you only need one or two ideas.

There is so much to write about this topic that we have to be very careful we don’t try to include too many different ideas and just end up with a list for each question rather than a well-developed essay.

Choose one main idea for each part of the question. My advice on making your selection is to choose ideas that you can quickly think of examples for.

Here are my choices:

• Use car less – walk, cycle, public transport
• Natural forces – solar & wind power, wave & tidal energy

We’re almost ready to start writing our IELTS double question essay but first, we have one other small task to do.

# 3  Vocabulary

During the planning stage, quickly jot down some vocabulary that comes to mind as you decide which ideas you are going to write about, especially synonyms of key words. This will save you having to stop and think of the right language while you’re writing.

For the ideas I’ve chosen, useful words will include:

• sustainable  
• renewable energy
• energy-efficient

With that done, we can focus on the first paragraph of the essay – the introduction.

How To Write an Introduction

The best introductions to IELTS double question essays have a simple 2 part structure:

1)   Paraphrase the question

2)   Outline sentence – state your answer to both questions

• Have 2-3 sentences
• Be 40-60 words long
• Take 5 minutes to write

1)  Paraphrase the question

Start your introduction by paraphrasing the statement part of the question.

Question statement:

Paraphrased question:  

The world is currently reliant on oil, coal and natural gas for the majority of its energy requirements but there will come a time when these run out.

We are simply saying the same thing in a different way and using different vocabulary.

2)  Outline statement

Now we need to add an  outline statement  where we outline the two main points that we’ll cover in the rest of the essay, that is, the answers to the two questions.

We need to be very specific about what we are going to write about.

Here's a reminder of the ideas I’ve chosen to answer the two questions:

• Natural forces –solar & wind power, wave & tidal energy

Outl ine statement:  

This essay will discuss how we can help to prevent our non-renewable resources from becoming depleted by using our cars less frequently and it will name some natural forces that can be harnessed to generate power.

Note my use of synonyms to replace key words in the question. You don’t have to replace every key word but do so where possible whilst ensuring that your language sounds natural.

So, let’s bring the two elements of our introduction together.

     Introduction

This introduction achieves three important functions:

• It shows the examiner that you understand the question.
• It acts as a guide to the examiner as to what your essay is about.
• It also helps to keep you focused and on track as you write.

The two ideas in your introduction will become your two main body paragraphs.

Main body paragraph 1  –  Use car less – walk, cycle, public transport

Main body paragraph 2  –  Renewable energy / natural forces – solar & wind power, wave & tidal energy

How To Write Main Body Paragraphs

Main body paragraphs in IELTS double question essays should contain 3 things:

• Explanation –  develop the idea

Main Body Paragraph 1  – Answer question 1

The  topic sentence  summarises the main idea of the paragraph. That’s all it needs to do so it doesn’t have to be complicated.

It plays an important role in ensuring that your ideas flow logically from one to another. It does this by acting as a signpost for what is to come next, that is, what the paragraph will be about.

If you maintain a clear development of ideas throughout your essay, you will get high marks for task achievement and cohesion and coherence.

We’ll now take the idea for our first main body paragraph and create our topic sentence.

Main body paragraph 1  –  Use car less – walk, cycle, public transport, only travel when really necessary

Topic sentence:  

Conserving energy is a responsibility of every individual and an important way in which we can all do our bit is to use more energy-efficient means of transport. 

Next, we must write an  explanation sentence  that develops the idea.

Explanation sentence: 

The easiest way to do this is to leave the car at home and walk or cycle to our destination if it isn’t too far away, or take public transport for longer journeys. Another way to reduce our fuel consumption is to car share.

Finally, we add an  example  to support our main point. If you can’t think of a real example, it’s fine to make one up, as long as it’s believable. The examiner isn’t going to check your facts. Alternative, you could add another piece of information to support your idea but an example is better.

Example sentence:

Whenever my friends and I get together for coffee, we agree to meet up at a café that we can each get to without having to drive our cars there. We usually go on foot or ride our bikes. If everyone made small decisions like this, it would make a real difference.

That’s the 3 parts of our first main body paragraph complete. Here’s the finished paragraph.

We now follow the same process for our second main body paragraph.

Main Body Paragraph 2  – Answer question 2

Again, we’ll now take the idea I’ve chosen for this paragraph and create our topic sentence.

Main body paragraph 2  –  Renewable energy / natural forces –   solar & wind power, wave & tidal energy

Topic sentence:

The most sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels are the generation of power from natural forces such as the sun, wind and oceans.

Now for the  explanation  where we expand on this idea.

Explanation sentence:

S olar and wind power are already widely used across the world but it is wave power and tidal energy that have the greatest untapped potential to provide for our energy needs in the future.

Finally, an  example  to support our main point.

A report recently commissioned in the United Kingdom estimates that tidal energy could meet as much as  20% of the UK’s current electricity demands once the technology being developed is operational. Wave energy converters are expected to prove equally successful in the long-term.

That’s the 3 parts of our second main body paragraph complete. Here’s the finished paragraph.

Now we need a conclusion and our IELTS double question essay is done.

How To Write a Conclusion

The conclusion is a summary of the main points in your essay and can often be done in a single sentence. It should never introduce new ideas.

If you're below the minimum 250 words after you’ve written your conclusion, you can add a prediction or recommendation statement.

Our essay is already over the minimum word limit so we don’t need this extra sentence but you can learn more about how to write a prediction or recommendation statement for IELTS double question essays on the  Task 2 Conclusions  page.

The conclusion is the easiest sentence in the essay to write but one of the most important.

A good conclusion to an IELTS double question essay will:

• Neatly end the essay
• Link all your ideas together
• Sum up your argument or opinion
• Answer the question

If you achieve this, you’ll improve your score for both task achievement and cohesion and coherence which together make up 50% of the overall marks. Without a conclusion, you’ll score below band 6 for task achievement.

You can start almost any final paragraph of an IELTS double question essay with the words:

• In conclusion

        or

• To conclude

Now all you need to do is briefly summarise the main ideas into one or two sentences.

Here’s a top tip . Go back and read the introduction to the essay because this is also a summary of the essay. It outlines what you are going to write about.

To create a great conclusion, you simply have to paraphrase the introduction.

Introduction:

Here is the same information formed into a conclusion:

That’s it. We’ve completed our essay. Here it is with the 4 paragraphs put together.

Finished IELTS double question essay.

     (351 words)

Go through this lesson as many times as you need to in order to fully understand it and put in lots of practice writing IELTS double question essays from past exam questions. Practice is the only way to improve your skills.

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More help with ielts double question essays & other task 2 essays.

IELTS Writing Task 2  – T he format, the 5 question types, the 5 step essay writing strategy & sample questions. All the key information you need to know.

The 5 Types of Task 2 Essay   – How to recognise the 5 different types of Task 2 essays. 15 sample questions to study and a simple planning structure for each essay type.

Understanding Task 2 Questions  – How to quickly and easily analyse and understand IELTS Writing Task 2 questions.

How To Plan a Task 2 Essay  – Discover why essay planning is essential & learn a simple 4 step strategy, the 4 part essay structure & 4 methods of generating ideas.

How To Write a Task 2 Introduction  – Find out why a good introduction is essential. Learn how to write one using a simple 3 part strategy & discover 4 common mistakes to avoid.

How To Write Task 2 Main Body Paragraphs  – Learn the simple 3 part structure for writing great main body paragraphs and also, 3 common mistakes to avoid. 

How To Write Task 2 Conclusions  – Learn the easy way to write the perfect conclusion for a Task 2 essay. Also discover 4 common mistakes to avoid.

Task 2 Marking Criteria  – Find out how to meet the marking criteria in Task 2. See examples of good and poor answers & learn some common mistakes to avoid.

The 5 Task 2 Essay Types:

Step-by-step instructions on how to plan & write high-level essays. Model answers & common mistakes to avoid.

   Opinion Essays

   Discussion Essays

  Problem Solution Essays

  Advantages & Disadvantages Essays

  Double Question Essays

Other Related Pages

IELTS Writing Test  – Understand the format & marking criteria, know what skills are assessed & learn the difference between the Academic & General writing tests.

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Learn it town | learn english in an online virtual english city, 5  per class with a plan, ielts writing task 2: two-part questions.

Introduction

Today we’re going to look at one kind of IELTS writing task 2 question that often makes students a little worried: the two-part question. This is also sometimes referred to as “the direct question” as it is more direct than other types of writing question, such as advantage/disadvantage or problem/solution. I will show you what this question looks like and how to answer it.

What is a Two-Part Question?

In IELTS writing task 2, there are different sorts of questions you may be asked. One of them is called the two-part question (or sometimes “the direct question”). It is most commonly called a two-part question because it contains two distinct questions.

Of course, some other questions also contain two parts. For example, a problem and solution essay is two parts. However, what we mean by a “two-part question” is one that contains two questions. The reason this is sometimes called a “direct question” task is that the questions themselves are more direct than other IELTS writing task 2 question types, which instruct candidates to explore an idea. This is rather vague, whereas the two-part question is very specific.

Two-Part Question Examples

To understand this idea better, let’s look at an example two-part question:

In education and employment, some people work harder than others. Why do some people work harder? Is it always a good thing to work hard?

Ok, the first thing that you may notice is that there are three parts to this question! However, the first part is actually a lead-in statement. It is not particularly important. The parts that you need to address in your essay are the two questions. This is why some people say “two-part question” and others say “direct question”.

Here is another example:

Happiness if often considered difficult to define. Why is this? What factors determine happiness?

Here the first question contains a pronoun, “this”, which refers back to the idea in the first sentence. In other words, the first question is “Why is it often considered difficult to define happiness?”

Finally, here is one more example question:

Success is often measured by wealth and material possessions. Do you think wealth is the best measure of success? What makes a successful person?

As you can see by now, each question has three parts: an introductory statement and two individual (but related) questions. You will see this exact format used with numerous IELTS topics.

Sometimes the lead-in statement will be very long, and sometimes the questions quite closely linked. Other times the statement may be short or the questions asking quite different things.

How to Answer Two-Part Questions

The first thing to remember is: DON’T PANIC ! Two-part questions often make students a bit nervous, but really they are not so bad. They are no more difficult to answer than the other IELTS task 2 question types.

In fact, this type of question may even be the easiest one to answer!

Although the questions themselves are sometimes a bit challenging, they are direct questions. This means that it is less likely you will stray off-topic while writing. In other words, your task is actually more straightforward than it would be with an agree/disagree question, for example.

Analysing the Question

Let’s look at an example question so we can analyse it. This is the first thing you should do in any IELTS writing task 2 essay, and it’s important to spend a minute or two thinking carefully about it.

Some parents buy their children whatever they ask for, and allow their children to do whatever they want. Is this a good way to raise children? What consequences could this style of parenting have for children as they get older?

We can take three steps to analyse this question.

Let’s look at the first sentence: What is it about? It is about permissive parents – ie parents who give their children too much (or who give in to their child’s demands) and let them do too many things.

Next, the first question contains a pronoun (“this”) which refers to the ideas in the first sentence, and asks if it’s good or not.

The second question talks about the consequences – not for the parents, but for the children.

I have deliberately chosen a slightly difficult question here in order to show you how to answer it. Usually the questions are a little more direct and obvious, but here you need to consider the three sentences in order, understanding each fully.

In a situation like this, if you make an incorrect assumption about the first or second parts of the sentence, it may cause a serious lack of coherence and cohesion, in addition to poor task achievement.

For example, if you thought it was just about children not being made to study enough, you might write the next paragraph all about a lack of studying and the following one may come back closer to the correct idea because of the more specific question. This would look bad, indicating a lack of unity in your writing.

Structuring a Two-Part Question Essay

Thankfully, it is not difficult to create a perfect two-part essay structure. In fact, it is very easy!

Here is a basic essay template:

Answer 1st question

Answer 2nd question

Sample Answer

In this section, I will give you my sample answer to the above question, using the basic four paragraph structure that I mentioned. Obviously, my ideas will be different to yours, but the structure which I outlined can be used 100% of the time.

In today’s society, some parents are becoming increasingly permissive. They do not impose sufficient discipline on their children, and in some cases buy them too many things. This essay will explore why this is not a good way to raise children and why it will have negative impacts upon them in future.

While it is understandable that parents want to give their children expensive toys and let them run freely in the streets, this is actually not really an appropriate method of parenting. Having too many toys encourages children to be materialistic and does not offer them the same change to develop social skills like sharing. Furthermore, when children have asked for the toys, it gives them a sense of entitlement and even power over their parents. As for giving children too much freedom, there are obviously a great many dangers in this world from which they need to be kept safe. Children also need rules and boundaries to encourage them to develop into mature and responsible adults.

If parents insist on this permissive style of parenting, their children will grow up with very different values from those of stricter parents. Children who were never forced to study will end up with poorer grades in school, and those who were given everything they wanted as children will expect everything to come easily as adults. In short, they will lead difficult and disappointing lives, in contrast with what their parents hoped.

In conclusion, although it is tempting to give children whatever they want, parents ought to set rules and boundaries, and to be careful with how they reward children. If parents fail to impose a basic level of discipline, children may grow up with a poor attitude that will cause them and others to suffer.

There are really no words or phrases that are unique to the two-part question essay. Just use regular academic English as with any other IELTS task 2 question, and of course stick to the topic.

For my essay, I used the word “permissive.” It means allowing too much and not setting enough rules. You could use similar words like “liberal,” “easygoing”, “live and let live”, and so on, although they vary slightly in precise meaning.

As always, remember to avoid IELTS phrases and other cliches. Learn new vocabulary by topic and in collocations rather than isolation.

Tips for Two-Part Questions

Finally, a few tips to remember:

Practice this question type often before the exam – it’s pretty common!

Make sure you understand each part of the question before answering.

Always use the four-paragraph essay structure.

Work on idea-generation at home in order to come up with good, on-topic answers.

= This is from the TED IELTS Website

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IELTS Writing Task 2: How to understand IELTS question prompts

The first step to a successful performance in IELTS Writing Task 2 is to understand the question that you have been given. Take a closer look at the different IELTS question types with advice and tips about how to respond to these questions.

Content Tags

When answering an IELTS Task 2 question, it is important to read the question carefully and to answer it relevantly. There are a number of different question types that appear for Task 2 in the Writing test , so it is very important to understand what the question means so that you fully address the task you are given.

Remember that the examiner will assess how thoroughly you address the task in the Task Response criterion, so it's vital that you respond to the question directly and clearly. We realise that you work hard when preparing for the IELTS test and you might memorise essays that match certain prompts.

If you try and answer a question with a formulaic response (a learned response that closely matches the question), your essay will not address the task appropriately and you will lose marks.

Rather than trying to match your answer to an essay-type category (e.g. advantages/disadvantages, causes/solutions), learn how to interpret what the question is asking, so you answer it relevantly.

Task 2 question types

In IELTS Writing Task 2, you are required to write an essay in response to the statement or premise given. In your essay, you may need to:

provide general factual information related to the topic

give reasons for a problem

outline the causes of a problem

present solutions for a problem

justify your opinion (reasons for your opinion)

evaluate evidence and ideas

assess how much you agree or disagree with an idea/the statement

decide if there are more advantages or disadvantages

explain why this situation has occurred

IELTS question types are varied, so it is important to focus on the question prompt. Read through the following table which shows some common essay question types.

Disadvantages versus advantages

Let's look at an IELTS Task 2 question from www.ielts.org and see how you would answer it.

International tourism has brought enormous benefit to many places. At the same time, there is concern about its impact on local inhabitants and the environment. Do the disadvantages of international tourism outweigh the advantages?

This question asks you very specifically to decide if there are more advantages or more disadvantages. You are asked if one outweighs the other, so you must discuss both the advantages and disadvantages. It is not enough to say, "the advantages of international tourism definitely outweigh the disadvantages" and then only describe the advantages in your response. The reader must see both sides of your discussion and the reasons why you think one outweighs the other.

Mistakes you can make with this question type:

Only listing the advantages.

Only listing the disadvantages.

Presenting both, but not deciding if one outweighs the other.

Not presenting your opinion.

How to answer this question type:

Decide on your position - are there more advantages, or more disadvantages? (more advantages).

Present the advantages (3).

Present the disadvantages (2) - as you have decided that there are more advantages.

Repeat your position in the conclusion, so the reader knows that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

Opinion essay

Let's look at another IELTS Task 2 question .

In Britain, when someone gets old they often go to live in a home with other old people where there are nurses to look after them. Sometimes the government has to pay for this care. Who do you think should pay for this care, the government or the family?

This question asks you to make a decision based on your opinion of the statement. You have to decide if the government should pay for old people to live in an aged care home, or if the family should pay. It is important to make a decision and to clearly express this in your introduction. Of course, your decision will be based on your own opinion, so you may think that both should pay.

Giving reasons why both should pay, but not making a decision.

Presenting the problems caused by living in an aged care facility.

Presenting the reasons why the family cannot look after their aged parents.

Giving reasons why old people should be cared for in their own homes.

Not giving a clear opinion on the topic.

Decide on who should pay - the government, the family, or a combination of both.

Give two or three reasons to support your opinion.

Support your reasons with examples from your own experience (the situation in your country).

If you think that both the family and government should pay, support this opinion with how this could work (e.g., partial payment, government subsidising poorer families, government building aged care homes but families pay for the care).

Repeat your opinion on who should pay for this care in the conclusion, so the reader is fully aware of the decision you have made.

We have only looked at two question types in this article and the mistakes you might make when answering them. On a test day, remember to follow these tips when you first read the question:

Read the statement which outlines the premise first - the main ideas in the statement.

Check to see if the statement is referring to more than one idea (e.g., individuals and the society) and make sure you refer to both in your response.

Read the question prompt carefully to see how many parts are in the question.

Cover all parts of the question.

Read the question words - What extent/Why/Suggest/Decide/Evaluate - and answer relevantly.

Express your position clearly.

Support your ideas with relevant examples from your own knowledge and experience (not made up statistics and research)

Organise your essay into paragraphs - with one clear idea developed in each paragraph.

Don't use memorised essays that might not address the task.

So, our final message is to answer the question directly. When you respond to the task, you must answer the question relevantly and appropriately, rather than trying to match a response you have already learned to the question.

If you feel you are ready to do official practice, why not try our official IELTS practice test to get an indication of how well you are preparing for the real IELTS test. You will get expert marker feedback on your Writing performance, chosen by our IELTS markers, which highlight the areas you need to focus on.

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IELTS Writing Task 2 – Topic: TWO – PART QUESTION

ielts writing topics 2019

1.  News editors decide what to broadcast on television and what to print in newspapers. What factors do you think influence these decisions? Do we become used to bad news, and would it be better if more good news was reported?  

Sample Answer

It is true that editors have to make difficult decisions about which news stories they broadcast or publish, and their choices are no doubt influenced by a variety of factors. In my opinion, we are exposed to too much bad news, and I would welcome a greater emphasis on good news.

Editors face a range of considerations when deciding what news stories to focus on. Firstly, I imagine that they have to consider whether viewers or readers will be interested enough to choose their television channel or their newspaper over competing providers. Secondly, news editors have a responsibility to inform the public about important events and issues, and they should therefore prioritise stories that are in the public interest. Finally, editors are probably under some pressure from the owners who employ them. For example, a newspaper owner might have particular political views that he or she wants to promote.

It seems to me that people do become accustomed to negative news. We are exposed on a daily basis to stories about war, crime, natural disasters and tragic human suffering around the world. I believe that such repeated exposure gradually desensitises people, and we become more cynical about the world and more sceptical that we can do anything to change it. I would prefer to see more positive news stories, such as reports of the work of medical staff after a natural disaster, or the kindness of volunteers who help in their communities. This kind of news might inspire us all to lead better lives.

In conclusion, it must be extremely difficult for editors to choose which news stories to present, but I would like to see a more positive approach to this vital public service.

 (285 words, band 9)

2.  Economic progress is often used to measure a country’s success. However, some people believe that other factors are more important. What other factors should also be considered when measuring a country’s success? Do you think one factor is more important than others?   

The relative success of different countries is usually defined in economic terms. There are several other factors, apart from the economy, that could be used to assess a country, and in my opinion education is the most important of all.

Standards of education, health and individual human rights should certainly be considered when measuring a country’s status. A good education system is vital for the development of any nation, with schools, colleges and universities bearing the responsibility for the quality of future generations of workers. Healthcare provision is also an indicator of the standard of living within a country, and this can be measured by looking at average life expectancy rates or availability of medical services. Finally, human rights and levels of equality could be taken into account. For example, a country in which women do not have the same opportunities as men might be considered less successful than a country with better gender equality.

In my view, a country’s education system should be seen as the most important indicator of its success and level of development. This is because education has a considerable effect on the other two factors mentioned above. It affects people’s health in the sense that doctors and nurses need to be trained, and scientists need to be educated to the highest levels before they can carry out medical research. It also affects the economy in the sense that a well-educated workforce will allow a variety of companies and industries to flourish, leading to trade with other countries, and increased wealth.

In conclusion, nations can be assessed and compared in a variety of ways, but I would argue that the standard of a country’s education system is the best measure of its success.

 (288 words, band 9)

3.  Many people prefer to watch foreign films rather than locally produced films. Why could this be?Should governments give more financial support to local film industries?

It is true that foreign films are more popular in many countries than domestically produced films. There could be several reasons why this is the case, and I believe that governments should promote local film-making by subsidising the industry.

There are various reasons why many people find foreign films more enjoyable than the films produced in their own countries. Firstly, the established film industries in certain countries have huge budgets for action, special effects and to shoot scenes in spectacular locations. Hollywood blockbusters like ‘Avatar’ or the James Bond films are examples of such productions, and their global appeal is undeniable. Another reason why these big-budget films are so successful is that they often star the most famous actors and actresses, and they are made by the most accomplished producers and directors. The poor quality, low-budget filmmaking in many countries suffers in comparison.

In my view, governments should support local film industries financially. In every country, there may be talented amateur film-makers who just need to be given the opportunity to prove themselves. To compete with big-budget productions from overseas, these people need money to pay for film crews, actors and a host of other costs related to producing high-quality films. If governments did help with these costs, they would see an increase in employment in the film industry, income from film sales, and perhaps even a rise in tourist numbers. New Zealand, for example, has seen an increase in tourism related to the ‘Lord of the Rings’ films, which were partly funded by government subsidies.

In conclusion, I believe that increased financial support could help to raise the quality of locally made films and allow them to compete with the foreign productions that currently dominate the market.

 (294 words, band 9)

4.  These days more fathers stay at home and take care of their children while mothers go out to work. What could be the reasons for this? Do you think it is a positive or a negative development?

It is true that men are increasingly likely to take on the role of househusband, while more women than ever are the breadwinners in their families. There could be several reasons for this, and I consider it to be a very positive trend.

In recent years, parents have had to adapt to various changes in our societies. Equal rights movements have made great progress, and it has become normal for women to gain qualifications and pursue a career. It has also become socially acceptable for men to stay at home and look after their children. At the same time, the rising cost of living has meant that both marriage partners usually need to work and save money before starting a family. Therefore, when couples have children, they may decide who works and who stays at home depending on the personal preference of each partner, or based on which partner earns the most money.

In my view, the changes described above should be seen as progress. We should be happy to live in a society in which men and women have equal opportunities, and in which women are not put under pressure to sacrifice their careers. Equally, it seems only fair that men should be free to leave their jobs in order to assume childcare responsibilities if this is what they wish to do. Couples should be left to make their own decisions about which parental role each partner takes, according to their particular circumstances and needs.

In conclusion, the changing roles of men and women in the family are a result of wider changes in society, and I believe that these developments are desirable.

 (274 words, band 9)

5.  Happiness is considered very important in life. Why is it difficult to define? What factors are important in achieving happiness?

It is no doubt true that the majority of people would like to be happy in their lives. While the personal nature of happiness makes it difficult to describe, there do seem to be some common needs that we all share with regard to experiencing or achieving happiness.

Happiness is difficult to define because it means something different to each individual person. Nobody can fully understand or experience another person’s feelings, and we all have our own particular passions from which we take pleasure. Some people, for example, derive a sense of satisfaction from earning money or achieving success, whereas for others, health and family are much more important. At the same time, a range of other feelings, from excitement to peacefulness, may be associated with the idea of happiness, and the same person may therefore feel happy in a variety of different ways.

Although it seems almost impossible to give a precise definition of happiness, most people would agree that there are some basic preconditions to achieving it. Firstly, it is hard for a person to be happy if he or she does not have a safe place to live and enough food to eat. Our basic survival needs must surely be met before we can lead a pleasant life. Secondly, the greatest joy in life is usually found in shared experiences with family and friends, and it is rare to find a person who is content to live in complete isolation. Other key factors could be individual freedom and a sense of purpose in life.

In conclusion, happiness is difficult to define because it is particular to each individual, but I believe that our basic needs for shelter, food and company need to be fulfilled before we can experience it.

 (292 words, band 9)

6.  Many people decide on a career path early in their lives and keep to it. This, they argue, leads to a more satisfying working life. To what extent do you agree with this view? What other things can people do in order to have a satisfying working life?

It is true that some people know from an early age what career they want to pursue, and they are happy to spend the rest of their lives in the same profession. While I accept that this may suit many people, I believe that others enjoy changing careers or seeking job satisfaction in different ways.

On the one hand, having a defined career path can certainly lead to a satisfying working life. Many people decide as young children what they want to do as adults, and it gives them a great sense of satisfaction to work towards their goals and gradually achieve them. For example, many children dream of becoming doctors, but to realise this ambition they need to gain the relevant qualifications and undertake years of training. In my experience, very few people who have qualified as doctors choose to change career because they find their work so rewarding, and because they have invested so much time and effort to reach their goal.

On the other hand, people find happiness in their working lives in different ways. Firstly, not everyone dreams of doing a particular job, and it can be equally rewarding to try a variety of professions; starting out on a completely new career path can be a reinvigorating experience. Secondly, some people see their jobs as simply a means of earning money, and they are happy if their salary is high enough to allow them to enjoy life outside work. Finally, job satisfaction is often the result of working conditions, rather than the career itself. For example, a positive working atmosphere, enthusiastic colleagues, and an inspirational boss can make working life much more satisfying, regardless of the profession.

In conclusion, it can certainly be satisfying to pursue a particular career for the whole of one’s life, but this is by no means the only route to fulfilment.

 (310 words, band 9)

7.  There are many different types of music in the world today. Why do we need music? Is the traditional music of a country more important than the international music that is heard everywhere nowadays?

It is true that a rich variety of musical styles can be found around the world. Music is a vital part of all human cultures for a range of reasons, and I would argue that traditional music is more important than modern, international music.

Music is something that accompanies all of us throughout our lives. As children, we are taught songs by our parents and teachers as a means of learning language, or simply as a form of enjoyment. Children delight in singing with others, and it would appear that the act of singing in a group creates a connection between participants, regardless of their age. Later in life, people’s musical preferences develop, and we come to see our favourite songs as part of our life stories. Music both expresses and arouses emotions in a way that words alone cannot. In short, it is difficult to imagine life without it.

In my opinion, traditional music should be valued over the international music that has become so popular. International pop music is often catchy and fun, but it is essentially a commercial product that is marketed and sold by business people. Traditional music, by contrast, expresses the culture, customs and history of a country. Traditional styles, such as …(example)…, connect us to the past and form part of our cultural identity. It would be a real pity if pop music became so predominant that these national styles disappeared.

In conclusion, music is a necessary part of human existence, and I believe that traditional music should be given more importance than international music.

 (261 words, band 9)

8.  Nowadays the way many people interact with each other has changed because of technology. In what ways has technology affected the types of relationships that people make? Has this been a positive or negative development?  

It is true that new technologies have had an influence on communication between people. Technology has affected relationships in various ways, and in my opinion there are both positive and negative effects.

Technology has had an impact on relationships in business, education and social life. Firstly, telephones and the Internet allow business people in different countries to interact without ever meeting each other. Secondly, services like Skype create new possibilities for relationships between students and teachers. For example, a student can now take video lessons with a teacher in a different city or country. Finally, many people use social networks, like Facebook, to make new friends and find people who share common interests, and they interact through their computers rather than face to face.

On the one hand, these developments can be extremely positive. Cooperation between people in different countries was much more difficult when communication was limited to written letters or telegrams. Nowadays, interactions by email, phone or video are almost as good as face-to-face meetings, and many of us benefit from these interactions, either in work or social contexts. On the other hand, the availability of new communication technologies can also have the result of isolating people and discouraging real interaction. For example, many young people choose to make friends online rather than mixing with their peers in the real world, and these ‘virtual’ relationships are a poor substitute for real friendships.

In conclusion, technology has certainly revolutionised communication between people, but not all of the outcomes of this revolution have been positive.

 (257 words, band 9)

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Types of essays in ielts writing task 2.

IELTS Writing Task 2 is much more than just creating an essay of at least 250 words in 40 minutes!

Task 2 of the IELTS Writing test judges your ability to discuss and justify your opinion, provide relevant examples to support your arguments and conclude with your final thoughts or suggestions.

You must have explicit knowledge of the various types of essays asked in the IELTS Writing Task 2, to ace your IELTS essay.

The essay themes are usually based on topics of general interest like technology in education, environmental issues, crime, animal testing, community service, rehabilitation, and public transport, to name a few.

This article will unfold and discuss different kinds of essays asked in IELTS Academic Writing Task 2 .

Table of Contents

IELTS Essay Types and Structure

• Discussion Essay
• Opinion Essay
• Multi-part Essay
• Multi-part and Opinion Essay
• Positive/Negative Essay
• Cause/Solution Essay
• Advantage/Disadvantage Essay

What are the Learning Objectives of Essay Writing?

The IELTS Writing Task 2 consists of several essay types: Discussion Essays, Opinion Essays, Multi-part Essays, Multi-part and Opinion Essays, Positive/Negative Essays, Advantage/Disadvantage Essays, and Cause/Solution Essays.

Immediately after reading the essay prompt, you must first decide your essay structure and points to be covered in each paragraph of the essay. Doing this will help you systematically plan your IELTS Academic essay.

The basic structure of essay writing in IELTS Writing Task 2 is as follows:

• Introduction: The opening paragraph of your essay must be engaging and hint towards what you will explain in the main paragraphs of the essay. The best way to write an introduction is to paraphrase the task statement and write the thesis statement.

Paraphrasing the task statement will indicate the central theme of the essay. On the other hand, the thesis statement explains your take on the topic.

• Body Paragraph 1: The first body paragraph covers the essay's main idea/argument with supporting explanations and examples. For example, in agree/disagree essay, you can write why you agree with the essay task statement. You must write the body paragraph 1 in 6-8 sentences.
• Body Paragraph 2: The second body paragraph discusses the secondary idea/argument of the essay with supporting reasons and examples. For example, in agree/disagree essay, you can write why you disagree with the essay task statement. You must write body paragraph 2 in 6-8 sentences.
• Conclusion: Finally, you must summarize the points discussed in the essay and give your final thoughts or suggestions.

Learn the Art of Writing an Impactful IELTS Essay

Enroll for our IELTS Writing Trial Class Today!

7 Types of Essays in IELTS Academic with Sample Questions

In this section, we will discuss 7 different types of essays in IELTS Task 2 of the writing test. In addition, you will understand the best technique to attempt IELTS Writing Task 2 essays with our sample questions.

Now, let's have a look at the IELTS Writing Task 2 essay types explained below:

1. Discussion Essay

This type of IELTS essay prompt states two varied opinions on a popular trend. You need to discuss both views and give your opinion on the topic.

Sample Question:

Some feel that contemporary technology is widening the disparities between the wealthy and the poor, while others disagree. Discuss both points of view and express your perspective.

How to Attempt:

Introduction: Look for essential terms in the task statement. The phrases "contemporary technology" and "disparities between the wealthy and the poor" are essential in this context. Hence, the introduction must be centred around these words in a paraphrased form. Then, describe what you are going to discuss in the essay.

For example, A segment of society thinks that new-age technology is the prime reason for the rising difference between the rich and poor population, while others believe the contrary. This essay revolves around both viewpoints.

Body Paragraph 1: Discuss why modern technology is increasing the gap between rich and poor. Give at least 1-2 reasons and examples to support your argument.

Body Paragraph 2: Explain why modern technology is a step towards bringing both rich and poor together. Give at least 1-2 reasons and examples to support your argument.

Conclusion: Summarize the entire essay with your final thoughts and suggestions.

2. Opinion Essay

This essay question type asks you to agree or disagree with the task statement. You need to pick a side to write a well-developed essay. Agreeing with both views or giving a diplomatic answer favouring both opinions might mislead the examiner, leading to low scored essay.

Some say that young individuals are more innovative than mature individuals in business or the workplace. Do you agree or disagree with the statement?

Introduction: Talk about the stereotype which claims young people are more creative than mature people in business or at work. Drop a hint on your stance on the topic.

For example, In general, people hold a stereotype that after attaining a certain age, creative thinking takes a back seat. Owing to this, older employees are forced to leave the company to make space for fresh and young talents to let the creative juices flow. I think both young and older adults have strengths and weaknesses in their creative processes.

Body Paragraph 1: Discuss why you think that younger people are more creative than older people in the workplace. Give at least 1-2 reasons and examples to support your argument.

Body Paragraph 2: Elaborate on why you think having more experienced employees is crucial for the company's growth. Give at least 1-2 reasons and examples to support your argument.

Conclusion: Summarize the entire essay with your final thoughts and suggestions. Specifically, for opinion-based essays, your conclusion should focus more on your stance, agree or disagree.

3. Multi-part Essay

Since direct questions are asked in this type of essay, it is also called a 'Direct Question Essay'. The multi-part essay contains questions, some of which can be answered directly, whereas others are complex and require in-depth answers. The structure of the essay will depend upon the order of questions asked in the essay.

Several people work harder than others in education and employment. Why do various people work harder? Is it at all times an excellent thing to work hard?

Introduction: Talk about the importance of working hard while pursuing education and employment. Briefly discuss your opinion on the questions in the essay.

For example, In times of immense competition, it becomes imperative to prove your worth every time. Working hard in everything you do, be it academics or profession, is the need of the hour. People in every occupation require a certain level of expertise, which comes with practice and working hard in a real-time environment. Working hard is only sometimes needed; working smart is a pressing priority in modern times.

Body Paragraph 1: Discuss why you think that people work harder. Give at least 1-2 reasons and examples to support your argument.

Body Paragraph 2: Express your viewpoints on whether working hard is always a good thing to do. Give at least 1-2 reasons and examples to support your argument.

4. Multi-part and Opinion Essay

This essay type is an extended form of a Multi-part essay, with an additional part asking your opinion on the topic. In Multi-part and opinion essay, you will be given a set of questions and explicitly asked to provide your views on the task statement.

We have often thought of creating an ideal society, but most of the time, we have failed to make this happen. How can we create a perfect society? What are your thoughts on a perfect society?

Introduction: Talk about the significance of creating an ideal society and highlight the possible reasons for the failure in shaping a perfect society. Briefly discuss your opinion on the questions in the essay.

For example, Most people want to live in a perfect society. However, the living environment is a deciding factor in residing in various societies. Many countries have diverse cultures with people from different religions; tying all the cultures together can create an exemplary community.

However, due to cultural differences achieving this might take years to accomplish. The following essay will discuss the reasons behind this and practical ways to develop and shape an ideal society.

Body Paragraph 1: Explain the reasons behind the failure to set an ideal community. Give at least 1-2 reasons and examples to support your argument.

Body Paragraph 2: Discuss how to create an ideal society and share your opinion about a perfect community. Give at least 1-2 reasons and examples to support your argument.

Body Paragraph 3: Share your opinion about a perfect community. Give at least 1-2 reasons and examples to support your argument.

5. Positive/Negative Essay

As the name suggests, a Positive/Negative essay contains a statement of general interest, based on which you have to explain whether the subject matter has resulted in a positive or negative development.

For about 500 years, the world has been shaped by globalization. Is it a positive or negative development?

Introduction: Talk about the impact created through globalization on the global economies. Indicate whether you think it is a positive development or not.

For example, Globalization has undoubtedly led to the overall development of worldwide economies in a positive light. While some say that globalization has negative consequences, it has produced significant achievements, albeit authorities should be cautious of the adverse effects of globalization.

Body Paragraph 1: Discuss the positive impact of globalization over the years. Give at least 1-2 reasons and examples to support your argument.

Body Paragraph 2: Explain the negative impact created through globalization over the years. Give at least 1-2 reasons and examples to support your argument.

6. Cause/Solution Essay

In Cause/solution essay, you are given a statement emphasizing a problem faced by people at large. Hence, this type of essay is also known as Problem Solution Essay. You are sometimes asked to discuss problems or issues related to the given topic and give suggestions to solve these issues.

Overpopulation in urban areas has led to several problems. Pick one or two serious issues and make recommendations for how the public and governments might address them.

Introduction: Paraphrase the task statement using synonyms, changing word forms and sentence structures. Talk about 1-2 significant problems related to overpopulation in urban areas. Highlight the points you are going to explain in the essay.

For example, The rising population in urban localities has resulted in many setbacks for society on several grounds. The major problems which are an evident consequence of overpopulation are rising levels of unemployment and the degradation of the environment. In this essay, I will discuss these issues in depth and suggest ways to improve the present challenging and unpleasant situation.

Body Paragraph 1: Discuss the first problem caused by overpopulation. Give at least 1-2 consequences and examples to support your argument.

Body Paragraph 2: Explain the second problem caused by overpopulation. Give at least 1-2 consequences and examples to support your argument.

Body Paragraph 3: Elucidate the solutions for each problem discussed above. The solutions must be practical concerning the specific authorities responsible for handling these problems.

Conclusion: Summarize the entire essay with your final thoughts and suggestions or prediction.

7. Advantage/Disadvantage Essay

In this type of essay, you must discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the given task statement. There are three possible ways to ask this question.

first one will ask you to state the advantages and disadvantages. The second one will ask whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages or vice versa. The last one may ask you for your opinion and the advantages and disadvantages.

Computers are essential to school lessons. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages and give your own opinion.

Introduction: Talk about the importance of computer-aided education in schools. Point out the advantages and disadvantages you will explain in the essay.

For example, Computers are becoming an essential teaching tool in educational institutions. The capacity to supply students with audio-visual information is the most significant benefit of utilizing computers in teaching. In my opinion, the benefits of doing so considerably exceed the tiny drawbacks of excessive computer use.

Body Paragraph 1: Discuss the advantages of computer-aided education in schools. Give at least 1-2 reasons and examples to support your argument.

Body Paragraph 2: Explain the disadvantages of computer-aided education in schools. Give at least 1-2 reasons and examples to support your argument.

Body Paragraph 3: Give your opinion on the relevance of computer-based education in schools. Support your argument with relevant examples.

Improve your Writing Skills for IELTS

Essay writing may be used to fulfil a range of learning goals, including:

• Strengthening Research Skills: Essay writing may assist students in learning how to do research and obtain information from several sources, such as books, articles, and websites.
• Enhancing Writing Abilities: Essays allow students to practice and refine their writing skills, such as grammar, syntax, and structure.
• Improving Critical Thinking and Analysis Skills: Essay writing requires students to analyze and interpret material and ideas and present their thoughts and arguments clearly and logically.
• Showcasing Comprehension of a Topic: Students can demonstrate their grasp of a specific topic or subject by writing an essay.
• Polishing Communication Skills: Writing essays may assist students in developing their ability to persuasively express their thoughts and opinions in writing, which is crucial in academic and professional contexts.

Talk to Our IELTS Expert

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Can I answer task 2 before task 1 in the IELTS exam?

There is no fixed order in which you must attempt the IELTS Writing section. So, you can attempt either of the tasks first. Writing task 2 before task 1 will give you enough time to focus on idea generation and essay structuring. Moreover, task 2 carries twice the weight of Task 1, so emphasizing Task 2 or Task 1 can be beneficial. 

Also Read: Everything You Need to Know About IELTS Academic Writing Task 1

Is writing 350 words or above in Task 2 in the IELTS right?

There is no upper word limit for task 2 in IELTS. Furthermore, you do not get negative marks for writing more than 250 words. However, you should not write too much, as you might end up writing irrelevant content, due to which you might lose marks. To attain a higher band score on the IELTS Writing Task 2, you should attempt to write 270-290 words.

How many words are allowed in the IELTS Task 2?

The recommended word limit for task 2 is at least 250 words. Going a little above the specified word limit is advisable to showcase a structured essay with well-defined ideas. Ideally, you can exceed the word limit by 30-40 words for the IELTS Writing Task 2.

Can online apps evaluate the IELTS Writing Task 2 essays?

IELTS writing task 2 essays may be evaluated using internet applications and websites. These applications utilize machine learning algorithms to assess the essay's syntax, vocabulary, coherence, and general quality. However, it is crucial to highlight that these evaluations should not be applied in place of a professional human assessor. 

They are considered a tool to help you develop your writing skills, not a final judgment of your ability. Furthermore, be aware that these assessments might be inaccurate and may fail to account for your work's cultural and linguistic intricacies. Hence, having your essays examined by a human evaluator or an instructor is always preferable.

How to improve task response in IELTS Writing Task 2?

First, read the question carefully and identify the essay type asked. Then plan out your essay structure and jot down the points you will cover in each paragraph. While writing the essay, you must use correct grammar, vocabulary, and transition words to create an effective essay.

IELTS Task 2 Question Types: Two Questions (Double Questions)

by Dave | Understanding Task 2 Writing | 2 Comments

I have listed here IELTS task 2 questions that contain two questions (double questions) from the real IELTS exam over the last few years – have fun learning about a common IELTS task type!

Enjoy and consider signing up for my Patreon Ebooks here .

Fewer and fewer people today write by hand using a pen or pencil.

What are the reasons for this?

Is this a positive or a negative development?

Read my essay here.

In recent years, there has been a rise in the use of performance-enhancing drugs in sports.

What are the consequences of doping for athletes?

What measures should be taken to combat this issue?

Get access to the full EBook (for this and other topics) on Patreon.

The rise of social media platforms has made it easier for people to vent their frustrations and complaints publicly.

What is the consequence of this trend?

Is there any benefit to expressing complaints on social media?

In many countries, the number of animals and plants is declining.

Why do you think this is happening?

How can this issue be solved?

Read the essay here.

In many societies, there is a growing emphasis on sustainable living and reducing environmental impact.

What are the challenges of adopting a sustainable lifestyle?

What practical actions can individuals take to contribute to sustainability?

The full EBook (for this topic and others) is exclusively available on my Patreon.

Some countries have introduced laws to limit the working hours that an employer can ask from an employee.

Why are these law introduced?

Is this a positive or negative trend?

Nowadays, not enough students choose science subjects at university in many countries.

Why is this?

What effects does this have on society?

In many countries, people increasingly talk about money such as how much they earn or how much they pay for things in their daily conversations.

Car ownership has increased so rapidly over the past thirty years that in many cities around the world there are constant traffic jams.

How true do you think this statement is?

What measures can governments take to discourage people from owning cars?

Some children spend hours every day on their smartphones. 

Why is this the case?

Do you think this is a positive or a negative development?

Some young people like to copy the behaviour and clothes of famous people today.

Why might this be the case? 

What problems can it cause?

Advanced technology has brought many beneficial changes to the world. However, some old people today struggle with the use of technologies such as mobile phones and the Internet.

How can the elderly benefit from using advanced technologies?

How can the elderly be encouraged to use consumer electronics more often?

There is more and more outrage and anger common in society today.

These days consumers are faced with an increasing amount of advertising from various companies.

To what extent do you think consumers are influenced by advertising?

What measures should be taken to protect them?

In many countries, people now wear western clothes such as suits and jeans rather than traditional clothing.

Is this a positive or negative development?

Some children spend hours every day on smartphones.

Do you think this is a positive or negative development?

More and more young people from wealthy countries are spending time in communities in poorer countries doing unpaid work such as teaching or building houses.

Who benefits more from this, the communities or these young people?

Weddings are getting bigger and more expensive.

What is the reason for this?

Is it a positive or negative development?

Some people say that now is the best time in history to be living.

What is your opinion about this?

What other time in history would be interesting to live in?

Today, TV channels broadcast men’s sports shows more than women’s sport shows.

Should TV channels give equal showtime for each?

Many young people today know more about international pop or movie stars than about famous people in the history of their own country.

What can be done to increase young people’s interest in famous people in the history of their country?

Read my sample answer here.

There are different methods businesses use to increase their sales.

What are the different ways companies use to increase sales?

Which one is the most effective?

Many adults nowadays prefer spending their free time playing computer games.

Why do they do this?

Consumers are faced with increasing numbers of advertisements from competing companies.

To what extent do you think are consumers are influenced by advertisements?

What measures can be taken to protect them?

In many countries, people now wear western-style dress such as suits and jeans rather than traditional clothing.

Some believe children should be taught to give speeches and presentations in school.

Should this be taught in schools?

In many countries, increasing numbers of people are becoming interested in learning about the history of the house or building where they live.

What are the reasons behind this?

How can individuals research this?

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?

Some people today prefer to get advice for medical problems and do not want to visit a doctor.

In recent times, economic growth has helped many become richer, both in developed and developing countries. However, those in developed countries are not as happy as they were in the past.

What can be learned from this?

Some people spend a lot of money celebrating personal family events, such as weddings and birthdays.

How important is it to celebrate such events?

Do you think people spend too much money on these events?

Some people work harder than other.

Is this a positive or negative habit?

Some countries have introduced laws to limit working hours for employees.

Why are these laws introduced?

Do you think they are a positive or negative development?

Competition for university study is becoming increasingly strong.

Why are universities becoming more competitive?

Many people are working longer hours.

Why is this happening?

What problems can this cause to people?

Around the world more and more people today are living in urban areas.

What problems does this cause?

In some countries, there are fewer young people who listen to or play classical music these days.

Should young people be encouraged to play or perform classical music?

Nowadays people live longer after they retire.

How does this affect individuals and society?

What can be done about this?

Many educational institutions give greater importance to subjects related to science and ignore subjects such as drama and literature.

Shopping is now one of the most popular forms of leisure activities in many countries for young adults.

These days more fathers stay at home and take care of their children while mothers go out to work.

What could be the reasons for this?

Many researchers believe that we can now study the behaviour of children to see if they will grow up to be criminals, while others disagree.

To what extent do you think crime is determined by genetics?

Is it possible to stop children from growing up to be criminals?

The manufacturing and use of cars damages the environment but their popularity is increasing.

How could this be controlled?

In some countries, owning a home rather than renting one is very important for people.

Why might this be the case?

Do you think this is a positive or negative situation?

In some countries, governments provide payments for unemployed people.

How does this impact people?

Many parents today do not spend much time with their children.

Does this affect parents or children more?

Many people today are choosing to travel to other countries.

A lot of companies and organisations require employees to wear uniforms.

Which kind of jobs are uniforms suitable for?

Are there any disadvantages to wearing a uniform to work?

More and more students at university today are not choosing to study science.

What are the effects of this?

Many people who drop out of school are more successful than those who complete their studies.

Why does this happen?

What does it require to be successful?

Watching TV shows and movies about crime is becoming more and more popular.

What effect does that have on society?

Some think that ambition is a good quality.

Is it important to be ambitious?

Is it a positive or negative characteristic?

Nowadays, entertainers get paid more than politicians.

What are the reasons for this?

Is this a negative or positive development?

Scientists have been warning for many years about environmental protection and how important it is to limit our personal energy consumption.

What are the causes of the over-consumption of electricity?

How can people be encouraged to use less energy?

People have historically attempted to achieve a perfect society. However, it is difficult to decide what a perfect society would be like.

What would be the most important element of an ideal society?

What can normal people do to make society more perfect?

Compared to the past, more people are now studying abroad because it is more convenient and cheaper than before.

Do you think this is beneficial to the foreign student’s home country?

Will this trend change much in the future?

In many countries people are living in a “throwaway society” where things are used for a short time and thrown away. 

What are the causes of this and what problems does it lead to.

Nowadays many people choose to be self-employed, rather than to work for a company or organisation.

What could be the disadvantages of being self-employed?

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IELTS Two-part Question Essay Sample (Corrected)

Millions of people every year move to english speaking countries such as australia, britain or america, in order to study at school, college or university..

Why do so many people want to study English?

Why is English such an important international language?

English speaking countries like Australia, the USA and Britain are becoming a more popular destination destinations for students to study English. In this essay, I will discuss why English is such a n important language and why so many people want to study this language it .

English is a door - opener to well - paid jobs and the most used language among travellers, that's which is why so many students desire to study English as a second language. Many international companies require English skills as a minimum requirement for a job. A lot of people are studying English just to have a better change chance to get a well - paid job. Travelling is another reason why many people study English ; to travel without English skills can be very challenging, especially with customs on in airports. English is quite handy in a globalised world where English is the standard.

But However , English is not just important for individuals . it It is also a very important language for since and worldwide operating companies . For example, scientific research is done in English, so that the research can be published easier more easily to a global audience. Without a global audience, only a fraction of scientists would be able to finance themself themselves .

To sum up, without English the world would be running less smoothly from applying for a n international job to travelling : everything would be much harder. Scientific progress and international companies would be almost not possible impossible . I think English is irreplaceable for our society irreplaceable .

(233 words)

Band Score Estimate (prior to corrections)

Brief comments:

• You must write at least 250 words.
• The task asks two questions and wants reasons. Not just one reason.

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IELTS Multi-part Essay 1 - Writing Task 2

Many people prefer to watch foreign films rather than locally produced films. why could this be should governments give more support to local film industries.

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Many people prefer to watch foreign films rather than locally produced films.

Why could this be?

Should governments give more support to local film industries?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

Sample Answer:

Nowadays, a large number of people choose to watch international films rather than those created in their own country. This might be due to a variety of factors, including technological advancements and improving communication skills. I believe that the government should encourage local film industries in order to stimulate economic growth.

For a number of reasons, foreign-produced films are more popular than domestic ones. One of the most obvious reasons is that foreign films have a wide range of fascinating visual effects and stunning animations, which undoubtedly boost the film’s quality and attract the audience. For example, many Hollywood films, like Jurassic Park, employ astonishing visual effects to create simulations that seem realistic to the viewers but would be impractical or just impossible to capture in reality. Besides this, some people like watching foreign films because it allows them to improve their language abilities and expand their vocabulary, since subtitles enable people to acquire new words, and listening to the dialogue allows them to understand the pronunciation of the other language.

In my opinion, the government should offer extra help to the local film sector for many reasons. The film industry contributes to the country’s economic growth by providing employment to numerous people. For example, a film production company hires many artists and general workers to complete their movie projects, which means more jobs for people in the area. Additionally, the government should support them to upgrade film-making equipment so that high-quality films with improved visuals and sound can be produced that could compete on worldwide platforms and help the country gain international recognition in film-making. 

In conclusion, although international films continue to dominate the domestic market, government support for the national film industry would benefit the national economy and serve as an important source of national pride.

> Opinion (Agree or Disagree) Essay 1 > Opinion (Agree or Disagree) Essay 2 > Discussion Essay 1 > Discussion Essay 2

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IELTS Direct Questions Sample Essay Titles

Below is a list of sample essay questions for IELTS direct questions essays which can come in writing task 2. These essay types are also known as two question essays (although it is possible to get more than two questions).

Direct Questions Essay Tips

• spend time planning the answers to the questions
• each question must have one main point as an answer
• put the answer to each question in a separate body paragraph
• follow a safe direct questions essay model

Direct Questions Sample Titles

News plays an important part of most people’s lives. Why is news so important to people? Why is so much news dedicated to bad news? Should the news focus on good news instead?

Most people agree that money cannot be happiness. Why is happiness difficult to define? How can people achieve happiness?

Success is often measured by wealth and material belongings. Do you think wealth is the best measure of success? What makes a successful person?

The internet is a great course of information and has opened up opportunities for people to learn all over the world. Is all information reliable on the internet? What could be done to control information online?

Art and music are considered some of the fundamental elements of all societies. Do you think art and music still have a place in today’s modern world of technology? Should children spend more time learning art and music at school?

It is often said “when is Rome, do as the Romans do”. Do you think people should adapt and accept the culture of the country they are visit? do you think it is possible to learn a culture without learning the language?

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IELTS Writing Task 2 Essay Structures

Posted by David S. Wills | Apr 11, 2017 | IELTS Tips , Writing | 2

If you want to write a great essay for IELTS, then it needs to have a good structure. Fortunately, this is quite easy to do. Whilst IELTS writing is notoriously difficult , producing a competent structure is something you can learn in just a few hours.

In this article, I will tell you everything you need to know about structuring an IELTS essay. If you want an even more in-depth guide, you can refer to my book, How to Write the Perfect Essay for IELTS, which goes into a lot of detail.

The Importance of Essay Structure

Before we look at how to structure a task 2 essay, we should briefly talk about why we need to do it. This may be obvious to some, but to others it is a mystery.

Essentially, for IELTS you are being marked in four different areas. Each has a basic reason associated with it (although there are many complexities to consider). This is what the IELTS writing band descriptors mean:

Today, we are only interested in Coherence and Cohesion, so let’s look at that.

Basically, you need to structure your essay well in order to present your ideas effectively. If you wrote a lot of good ideas with good vocabulary and accurate grammar, you could still get a poor score for Coherence and Cohesion if your ideas were not structured well.

There are some other things to consider for Coherence and Cohesion ( transition words , linking of clauses, referencing) but structure is the most basic one and perhaps the most important if you are aiming to score band 6 or 7.

An essay that is not well structured will be hard to read. It will also be the first thing that any reader notices, for it is quite obvious when someone has failed to use proper paragraphs.

The First and Most Basic Thing…

Ok, let’s start at the beginning. The most basic thing about essay structure is… you need to use paragraphs .

This might be obvious, but actually a large number of people simply don’t know this. They write a huge block of text that has no paragraphs or else they put each sentence as a single paragraph. This is not good and you would not be able to get a good score for your essay if you did this.

At the most basic, you need to divide your essay into about four paragraphs. There are various reasons, but essentially 4-5 paragraphs is optimal . Any more or less would surely have serious problems.

Common IELTS Essay Structures

When it comes to task 2, the vast majority of essays can be adapted to one simple structure:

• Introduction
• Body paragraph #1
• Body paragraph #2

Of course, these paragraphs will be dictated by the topic and content of the essay, but almost every question could be effectively answered with this structure. I have a writing correction service and for it I write sample band 9 answers. I used this four-paragraph structure for 99% of my answers.

Some people prefer to write 5 paragraphs and this can definitely be useful, but it is a little more difficult to do, and so I recommend that you write four paragraphs for your essays except when you have a very good reason to do otherwise.

Question Types and Essay Structures

The four-paragraph essay structure can essentially be adapted to any IELTS question type:

• Advantage/disadvantage
• Problem/solution
• Discuss both views
• Agree/disagree
• Two-part questions

It requires some small changes in terms of internal paragraph structure, but overall you can just use the same basic format.

For example, if you were given this question, you could easily use the four-paragraph structure:

Some people feel that manufacturers and supermarkets have the responsibility to reduce the amount of packaging of goods. Others argue that customers should avoid buying goods with a lot of packaging. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

You would simply structure your essay like this:

For reference, here is my answer to that question:

Sample Band 9 Answer

The problem of pollution is a major one in the modern era, and in the developed world people have been trying to find solutions for several decades. Currently, one of the biggest debates revolves around whether it should be companies or individual people that bear the majority of the responsibility for this improvement. This essay will look at both arguments and conclude that the responsibility should be shared.

To begin with, some people argue that major corporations are responsible for fixing our environmental problems because they have profited from reprehensible crimes against the environment for decades. If these companies suddenly changed to sustainable, eco-friendly products and packaging, consumers could still continue their normal shopping without having so much of a negative effect on the world. This would take away the individual’s choice and thereby ensure that everyone contributes to repairing our planet. However, companies function on profits and generally single-use plastics are cheap, so many of them are reluctant to make the switch.

On the other hand, people can also make a difference. Companies only sell what there is a demand for, and if people start demanding greener products and more responsible corporate actions, then companies will have to comply. If their customers started complaining about or boycotting overly-packaged goods, companies would quickly change to keep the consumer happy. However, sadly not all people care about the environment, and in many parts of the world cost comes first. If we rely entirely upon people to make this choice, there will be no progress. In many parts of the world, people still think it is fine to throw plastic into rivers so they should not be depended upon to make reasonable choices.

In conclusion, both companies and individuals should take an active role in fixing the damage they have done to the world, but neither can be entirely trusted. Everyone should make some positive effort and it would also be helpful for governments to pass laws with serious punishments for offenders who violate environmental regulations.

Structure: Overall and Internal

One important thing to note here is that there are two ways of viewing essay structure for IELTS. The first is to view it as a matter of structuring your overall essay into paragraphs and the second is that there are some finer details, such as linking sentences.

Indeed, both of these are very important. I have written extensively about internal structure here . You really need to think carefully about both aspects if you want to get a high score for Coherence and Cohesion. Internal linking is more difficult and it is what you should do once you have mastered the basics of overall essay structure.

For now, it is enough to know that you need to write a good introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion if you want to score at least band 6. You should also consider that your introduction and conclusion should, in almost all cases, be shorter than your body paragraphs. This ensures that the body paragraphs are sufficiently developed. Remember that the purpose of the introduction and conclusion is simply to give basic guiding detail and state your position (if needed).

This video gives a pretty good summary of the requirements of Coherence and Cohesion:

About The Author

David S. Wills

David S. Wills is the author of Scientologist! William S. Burroughs and the 'Weird Cult' and the founder/editor of Beatdom literary journal. He lives and works in rural Cambodia and loves to travel. He has worked as an IELTS tutor since 2010, has completed both TEFL and CELTA courses, and has a certificate from Cambridge for Teaching Writing. David has worked in many different countries, and for several years designed a writing course for the University of Worcester. In 2018, he wrote the popular IELTS handbook, Grammar for IELTS Writing and he has since written two other books about IELTS. His other IELTS website is called IELTS Teaching.

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Hey there! Quick question, is it absolutely necessary to use the “outline sentence”? It feels very “I am 10 years old and can’t write a proper thesis statement that actually outlines my essay with the thesis itself.” Is this what you would say is an “official structure”?

No, nothing is really absolutely necessary. However, I would strongly recommend it for IELTS students. It shows a grasp of structure and language, even if, as you say, it may seem rather simplistic in a native speaker’s academic essay.

In learning English writing, I think it’s important students work within a set structure until they have really quite advanced skills, otherwise it tends to turn into a disaster. Giving guides for each sentence is essential. At a certain point they can then break free and try something more complex.

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Cách viết Two-part question trong IELTS Writing Task 2

TÓM TẮT NỘI DUNG

Trong bài thi IELTS Writing Task 2 , thí sinh được yêu cầu viết một bài nghị luận xã hội để trả lời câu hỏi được đưa ra ở đề bài. Tuỳ thuộc vào yêu cầu đề ra mà các câu hỏi được chia làm nhiều dạng như: Two-part question, Opinion , Discussion ,… Trong bài viết này, tác giả sẽ hướng dẫn người đọc cách viết Two-part question trong IELTS Writing Task 2 bằng cách phân tích dạng đề, đưa ra cấu trúc bài viết, đồng thời đưa ra bài mẫu sau khi đã phân tích đề một cách chi tiết.

Giới thiệu về dạng câu hỏi Two-part question trong IELTS Writing Task 2 

Two-part question là dạng đề thi viết có 2 câu hỏi. Đối với dạng đề này, thí sinh cần trả lời cả 2 câu hỏi đề đưa ra. 

Đề thi: In some countries, only few young people go to classical music concerts or play classical music. Why? Should young people be encouraged to attend and learn more? (Đề thi thật ngày 19/12/2020) 

Ta thấy đề bài trên bao gồm 2 câu hỏi: 

Đề thi: Some education systems make students focus on certain subjects at the age of 15, while others require students to study a wide range of subjects until they leave school. What are the benefits of each system? Which do you think is a better educational system? (Đề thi thật ngày 30/05/2020) 

Question 1: What are the benefits of each system?

Question 2: Which do you think is a better educational system?

Đọc thêm: Tổng hợp đề thi IELTS Writing 2021 kèm bài mẫu

Hướng dẫn cách viết bài dạng Two-part question trong IELTS Writing Task 2

Để viết một bài essay hoàn chỉnh cho dạng đề Two-part question, thí sinh có thể tham khảo cấu trúc sau: 

Introduction

Câu 1: Paraphrase đề bài 

Thí sinh nên bắt đầu bằng các cụm từ “It is a fact that” hoặc “It is true that”, tránh các cụm từ như “Some people believe that” bởi vì đối với dạng đề này, đề bài thường là một sự thật/ sự việc đang xảy ra chứ không phải là quan điểm của một nhóm người trong xã hội. 

Câu 2: Giới thiệu nội dung của bài viết/ nêu ra quan điểm cá nhân nếu đề có hỏi quan điểm 

Body 1  (Trả lời câu hỏi thứ nhất) 

Topic sentence: Khái quát nội dung của đoạn 

Đưa ra idea 1

Lập luận, chứng minh, phát triển idea 1.

Đưa ra idea 2

Lập luận, chứng minh, phát triển idea 2 

Body 2 (Trả lời câu hỏi thứ hai)

Lập luận, chứng minh, phát triển idea 2

Conclusion: Tóm tắt lại nội dung bài viết, đề cập lại quan điểm (nếu có) 

Đọc thêm: Cách lên idea bài thi IELTS Writing bằng ứng dụng tư duy phân kỳ

Cụ thể hơn, tác giả sẽ phân tích một chủ đề Writing thuộc dạng Two-part question: 

Đề bài: 

Phân tích câu hỏi: 

Fact: In some countries people spend long hours at work 

(Tạm dịch: Ở một vài quốc gia, mọi người ngày càng dành nhiều thời gian hơn ở nơi làm việc)  

Question 1: Why does this happen? (Tại sao điều này lại xảy ra?), cần đưa ra lí do cho xu hướng này

Question 2: Is it positive or negative development? (Đây là sự phát triển tích cực hay tiêu cực?), cần đưa ra quan điểm cá nhân để trả lời câu hỏi này

Vậy, cấu trúc bài viết sẽ được phác hoạ như sau: 

Introduction: 

Câu 1: Paraphrase đề bài (Có thể sử dụng các từ đồng nghĩa như: spend extra hours/ working overtime/ working time is extended) 

Câu 2: Giới thiệu qua lí do của xu hướng này và đưa ra quan điểm đây là sự phát triển tích cực hay tiêu cực  

Body 1:  Đưa ra 2 lí do cho việc người đi làm ngày càng dành nhiều thời gian hơn cho công việc 

Body 2:  Trả lời lại đây là sự phát triển tích cực hay tiêu cực, sau đó đưa ra 2 lí do và lập luận, phân tích 2 lí do này 

Conclusion: Tóm tắt lại và nhắc lại quan điểm cá nhân một lần nữa 

Đọc thêm: Cách phân tích đề IELTS Writing Task 2 – Một số lỗi thường gặp và giải pháp

Bài mẫu dạng Two-part question trong IELTS Writing Task 2 

Đề bài: In some countries, people spend long hours at work. Why does this happen? Is it positive or negative development?

Nowadays, working overtime is increasingly common for employees in many different parts of the world. There are many reasons behind this phenomenon and I believe this brings more harm than good to people.

There are two main reasons for the extension of working hours among people. Firstly, people want to earn more money, which will satisfy their demand of affording their lives. In this day and age, the living cost is much higher than before, not only in metropolises but also in rural areas. This puts a large financial burden on employees, especially ones who are the breadwinner in the family. As a result, people have to work extra hours to feed themselves and their family, and also to increase the living standard. Secondly, people have to cope with a heavy workload these days, which makes them spend longer hours at work. If people do not extend their working hours, they may not meet the deadlines and be unable to finish given tasks, which prevents them from climbing the career ladder.

Despite the benefits that this trend may bring to people, I believe it is negative due to two major reasons. One is that it causes a lot of detrimental health effects when people spend too much time working. Overworking gives people little time to rest, and if this situation continues for a long time, it may cause some physical diseases relating to the back, neck, eyes and even heart. Moreover, dealing with a high volume of work continuously also makes people suffer from mental problems such as stress, sleep disoders or even depression. Another negative impact of this trend is people can not get a work-life balance. Many people tend to spend more than half a day working, which makes it impossible for them to spend enough time for themselves and their beloved ones including family and friends. This leads to the fact that people may find no fun in life because they have no time for family and their relationships are also likely to be broken.

In conclusion, the tendency of working extra hours is caused by the increasing living expenses and overwhelming workload. Personally, I believe this brings more negative impacts to individuals.

Brings more harm than good: mang lại nhiều tác hại hơn lợi ích 

A large financial burden: gánh nặng tài chính lớn 

Breadwinner: trụ cột gia đình (về mặt tài chính)

Climb the career ladder: thăng tiến trong công việc 

Tự luyện tập

Đề 1: In education and employment, some people work harder than others. Why do some people work harder? Is it always a good thing to work hard?

Đề 2: Happiness if often considered difficult to define. Why is this? What factors determine happiness?

Đề 3: Success is often measured by wealth and material possessions. Do you think wealth is the best measure of success? What makes a successful person?

Bài viết đã đưa ra hướng dẫn cho người đọc về cách viết bài essay dạng Two-part question trong IELTS Writing Task 2. Thông qua bài viết này, tác giả hy vọng người đọc có thể nắm được cách xác định dạng câu hỏi này, cũng như biết được bài essay cần đi theo cấu trúc như thế nào khi gặp câu hỏi ở dạng Two-part question. Chúc bạn luyện thi IELTS hiệu quả, đạt được mục tiêu đề ra

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