Structure of IELTS Writing task 2

The IELTS Writing task 2 is an important section of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam, designed to assess your ability to express your thoughts, arguments, and ideas in written form. This section evaluates your capacity to engage with different topics, structure your responses effectively, and present a clear and coherent argument or analysis within a limited time frame.

Understanding the structure of IELTS Writing task 2 is crucial for aiming and achieving your desired band score and fulfilling your academic or immigration goals. This blog will provide you with a comprehensive overview of the structure of IELTS Writing task 2, and essential steps to win in this section of the IELTS test.

Structure of the IELTS Writing task 2

The IELTS Writing Task 2 requires you to demonstrate your ability to write well-structured essays on a given topic. This task plays a significant role in assessing your proficiency in academic and general English. To score high in this task, it is important for you to understand the structure of the IELTS Writing task 2:

5 types of IELTS Writing task 2

Writing task 2 is the essay-writing section which typically involves writing an essay on a given topic or responding to a specific question. There are 5 types of IELTS Writing task 2 that you might get in your Writing test:

1. Opinion essays (Agree/Disagree): In this type of essay, you are presented with a statement, and you need to express your opinion on whether you agree or disagree with it. You will have to support your opinion with reasons and examples.

2. Discussion essays (Discuss Both Sides): These essays require you to present both sides of an argument or issue and then provide your own viewpoint. You should critically analyse the topic, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of each side before presenting your opinion.

3. Problem-solution essays: For this type of essay, you are given a problem or issue and asked to propose solutions. You should first describe the problem and its consequences and then suggest possible solutions with supporting details.

4. Advantages and disadvantages essays: In this type of essay, you need to outline the positive and negative aspects of a specific topic. You should provide a balanced view by discussing both the advantages and disadvantages.

5. Two-part question essays: These essays involve answering two or more questions related to a particular topic. It's important to address all parts of the question in your essay.

8 steps to score band 8 in your IELTS Writing task 2

Here are the 8 steps for you to consider following when preparing for your IELTS Writing task 2 if you are aiming for an IELTS band score of 8:

Step 1: Stick to the question

Give the answer that matches the question. Don't use an essay you've already written on a similar topic. Make sure the examples and ideas you use fit the question. If you talk in general terms and don't get specific, it might make your ideas complicated for the examiner to understand.

Step 2: Address every part of the question

Thoroughly examine the question and determine how many aspects it contains. To score a Band 6 or higher, you must respond to each of these parts.

Step 3: Make your essay easy to follow

Arrange your essay in a clear and logical order. Begin with an introduction and end with a conclusion. If you need to discuss different viewpoints and your own opinion, start by stating your opinion, then talk about the other viewpoints, and finally, go back to your own opinion before finishing. This helps your essay flow logically.

Step 4: Divide your essay into parts

Split your essay into sections called paragraphs. Each paragraph should have a clear main idea and be at least two sentences long.

Here's a simple way to structure each paragraph, think of "PEEL" (Point, Example, Explain, Link):

• Point: Start with your main idea or topic

• Example: Provide an example that backs up your point

• Explain: Explain how the example supports your main idea

• Link: Transition to the next topic or paragraph

You need to use enough paragraphs to make your response well-organised. This shows that you can arrange your thoughts and ideas in a clear way.

Step 5: Use less common words and spell them right

To get a Band 8 score, you should use unusual words skillfully. When we learn a language, we pick up everyday words for everyday things we do. Uncommon words are used for special topics or when we use idioms (saying things in a special way).

Don't use words that are very old-fashioned and not used today. If you pick another word with the same meaning, it should not change the idea.

For example, "adolescent" and "teenager" mean about the same and can be swapped. But "toddler" and "baby" have different meanings. In Band 8, it's expected that you know which words fit together and which ones are right for different topics.

Step 6: Avoid repeating memorised stuff

Don't use things you've memorised, like set sentences, phrases, or examples, in your essay. Examiners can quickly tell when you do this, and it doesn't show how well you can write naturally. Also, stay away from really common sayings or phrases that lots of people use, like:

• "The grass is always greener on the other side"

• "Love is blind"

• "Off the top of my head"

• "Old is gold"

• "A friend in need is a friend indeed"

Step 7: Mix up your sentences

To score at band 8, you should be able to use many different sentence structures correctly to express your thoughts and opinions in sentence structure for IELTS Writing task 2. Prove to the examiner that you can use a variety of structures, and make sure your sentences don't have mistakes in them.

It's good to use both simple and complex sentences. But keep in mind, that complex sentences should not be overly long and hard to follow. You also need to be spot-on with your punctuation, using capital letters, commas, and periods correctly.

Step 8: Consider this checklist

Follow this checklist to ensure your writing includes all the features expected for a Band 8 score:

Task Response

• Did you fully answer every part of the question?

• Are your ideas and supporting details directly related to the question?

• Did you avoid making broad generalisations?

• Is your position clear throughout the entire essay?

• Have you supported your ideas with clear examples (avoid vague research or survey results)?

• Did you write more than 250 words?

Coherence and Cohesion

• Can the examiner easily follow your ideas from the beginning to the end?

• Does your essay progress logically (introduction, main ideas with supporting examples, conclusion)?

• Did you use a variety of linking words and phrases?

• Have you avoided repeating the same words and starting every sentence with a linking device (e.g., "Firstly," "Secondly")?

• Did you use referencing and substitution correctly (e.g., "These issues" and "problems/issues")?

• Did you use enough paragraphs to structure your essay effectively?

• Have you dedicated one paragraph to developing each idea?

• Is there a clear introductory and concluding paragraph?

Lexical Resource

• Did you use a range of vocabulary relevant to the topic?

• Have you chosen precise vocabulary?

• Did you steer clear of memorised language, clichés (e.g., "double-edged sword"), and proverbs?

• Did you use collocations correctly (e.g., "environmental problem" or "global issue")?

• Did you incorporate appropriate uncommon words (e.g., "detrimental to," "cultural diversity," "measures")?

• Have you checked and corrected your spelling errors?

• Did you proofread for typos?

• Did you use the right word forms (adverbs, nouns, adjectives, and verbs)?

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

• Did you use simple and complex sentence structures accurately?

• Have you employed a variety of structures (e.g., conditional, present perfect, relative clauses, modal verbs)?

• Did you avoid excessively long and complex sentences?

• Are your sentences free from errors?

• Did you punctuate correctly?

• Did you start sentences with capital letters and capitalise proper nouns?

• Did you use commas correctly in complex sentences when needed (e.g., "If the government invests funds in implementing environmentally-friendly solutions, pollution in the atmosphere will be reduced.")?

• Did you use full stops (periods) to end sentences?

Hope this blog helps you understand the structure of IELTS Writing task 2, if you want to know more about the IELTS test, you can reach out to your nearest IDP IELTS test centre. Our team of IELTS experts will guide you with your queries.

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