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IELTS Writing Task 2 asks you to write an essay of at least 250 words in about 40 minutes, and it counts twice as much as Task 1 in your Writing band. These tips show Pakistani students how to answer the exact question, structure the essay clearly and write the kind of English that examiners reward at Band 7.
Tips only help if you use them, so there’s a practice prompt with a ready-made plan at the end. No guide can promise a band, but every tip below is tied to how Task 2 is actually marked.
Write at least 250 words in about 40 minutes: 5 to plan, 30 to write and 5 to check. Answer every part of the exact question with a clear position, in four paragraphs (an introduction, two body paragraphs and a conclusion). Task 2 counts twice as much as Task 1, and it’s marked on four equal criteria.
What Is IELTS Writing Task 2?
Writing Task 2 is an essay of at least 250 words, with about 40 minutes to write it. See the official IELTS Writing format. Most questions are one of five types:
- Opinion (agree or disagree): do you agree or disagree with a statement?
- Discussion: discuss both views and give your own opinion.
- Problem and solution: what are the causes, and what can be done?
- Advantages and disadvantages: do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
- Two-part question: answer two separate but related questions.
Work out which type you’re facing before you write a single word. It decides what a complete answer looks like.
How IELTS Writing Task 2 Is Marked
Your essay is marked on four criteria, each worth a quarter of your Task 2 score.
Many students focus only on grammar and vocabulary. Task Response and Coherence count just as much, and they’re often quicker to improve, because they depend on planning rather than on years of language learning.
| Criterion | What Band 7 looks like |
|---|---|
| Task Response | Every part of the question is answered, with a clear position throughout and main ideas that are developed and supported |
| Coherence and Cohesion | Ideas are logically organised with clear progression, each paragraph has a clear central topic, and linking words are used well, if occasionally over- or under-used |
| Lexical Resource | Enough range for some flexibility and precision, including some less common words, with only occasional errors |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | A variety of complex structures, with frequent error-free sentences and only a few errors |
Paraphrased from the public IELTS Writing band descriptors. Read the full descriptors for the exact wording.
8 IELTS Writing Task 2 Tips That Actually Work
The most common reason for a low Task Response score is not answering the actual question. Students read quickly, panic and write about the general topic instead of the specific question. Before you write anything, underline the key words in the prompt and ask yourself: what exactly am I being asked to do?
An introduction, two developed body paragraphs and a conclusion is a reliable plan for almost every Task 2 question. It isn’t an IELTS rule, so adapt it when a question needs it, as long as every part of the prompt is answered.
Your introduction does two jobs: it introduces the topic in your own words, and it states your opinion or how you’ll answer. Words copied straight from the question don’t count towards your 250 words, so paraphrase, then move quickly to answering the question.
Nowadays, many people think that technology has made our lives easier. This essay will discuss whether this is true.
Modern technology has transformed daily life in numerous ways, and many argue that these changes have been overwhelmingly positive. I strongly agree with this view, for the reasons outlined below.
A common mistake is fitting too many ideas into one paragraph. Give each body paragraph one main point, explain it clearly and support it with a specific example or reason. One idea explained well is worth far more than three mentioned briefly.
Topic sentence: Remote work has significantly improved work-life balance for many employees.
Explanation: When workers no longer have to commute to an office every day, they gain several hours that they can spend with family, on exercise or on personal development.
Example: For instance, someone who used to spend two hours a day in traffic can use that time to study for a qualification instead.
Don’t invent statistics to support your points. A clear, believable example is worth more than a number you can’t back up.
Linking words help your Coherence score, but many students overuse “furthermore”, “moreover” and “in addition” until the essay sounds mechanical. Vary them, and make sure each one actually fits the logic of the sentence.
| Function | Linking words |
|---|---|
| Adding | Furthermore, In addition, Moreover, Not only… but also |
| Contrasting | However, On the other hand, Nevertheless, Despite this |
| Result | As a result, Consequently, Therefore, This means that |
| Example | For instance, For example, To illustrate, Such as |
| Concluding | In conclusion, To summarise, Overall, In summary |
Useful linking words by function
IELTS looks at the range, accuracy and appropriacy of your vocabulary across the whole essay. An occasional slip doesn’t carry a fixed penalty, but repeated wrong or unnatural word choices make your meaning less clear. Aim for precise language, not forced synonyms. See the official Writing criteria.
The amelioration of environmental predicaments necessitates the utilisation of renewable energy paradigms.
Addressing environmental problems requires a widespread shift towards renewable energy sources.
Grammatical Range means showing that you can use different kinds of sentence, not just simple ones. Mix simple, compound and complex sentences, and use relative clauses, conditionals and the passive where they fit. Not every sentence needs to be long: variety is the point.
Simple: Remote work is becoming increasingly common.
Complex: Although remote work offers greater flexibility, it can make collaboration more difficult.
Relative clause: Employees who work from home can save several hours of commuting every week.
Conditional: If governments invested more in digital infrastructure, remote work could become possible for far more people.
The biggest practical mistake is spending too long on Task 1 and leaving 20 minutes for Task 2, which is worth twice as much. Keep to 40 minutes for Task 2 whatever happened in Task 1, or do Task 2 first if that helps you.
| Time | What to do |
|---|---|
| 5 minutes | Read the question, decide your position and plan your two main ideas |
| 30 minutes | Write the introduction, two body paragraphs and conclusion |
| 5 minutes | Check grammar, spelling and word choice, and count your words |
A 40-minute plan for Task 2
The 4 Most Common Mistakes Pakistani Students Make
- Writing in Urdu sentence order. Urdu and English build sentences differently, so translating from Urdu thinking often produces awkward English. The fix is to plan and write in English from the start. Our article on why Pakistani students struggle with IELTS explains how.
- Repeating the same word throughout the essay. Repetition makes writing feel limited, though there’s no fixed count that lowers your score. Use a synonym only when it truly fits the meaning: accuracy comes first.
- Bringing new ideas into the conclusion. The conclusion should only restate what you’ve already argued. A new idea there confuses the reader and weakens your Task Response.
- Not giving a clear opinion. For opinion and discussion questions, the examiner needs to know what you think. Sitting on the fence lowers your Task Response score. State your position in the introduction and keep to it.
Practise IELTS Writing Task 2 Today
The best way to improve Writing Task 2 isn’t reading more tips; it’s writing. Write a full essay on this prompt in 40 minutes, using the timer below:
Some people believe that working from home has more advantages than disadvantages. Others disagree. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Some people believe that working from home has more advantages than disadvantages. Others disagree. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
This is the essay from our free IELTS level check. When you’ve finished, copy it into a Word document with your name and the topic at the top, and send it from that page. It’s marked within 24 hours, one level check per person.
Spell check is off, as in IELTS on computer. The counter counts every word you type; in the real test, words copied from the question don’t count towards the 250.
When you've finished, check your essay against the four criteria above. To have an essay marked, choose the level check prompt in the timer: our free IELTS level check marks one essay per person within 24 hours. For model essays and a self-check list, see our IELTS writing practice guide.
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