Five Types of IELTS Essays

Love giving opinions? Welcome to IELTS writing task 2. In this task, you get different types of essays, one of which is an opinion essay. There are five types of IELTS essays you can get in writing task 2. Apart from an opinion essay, other possible types of essay questions include advantages and disadvantages, problem and solution, discussion, and direct questions. Dive into this blog and learn about every IELTS essay and sample essay answers for each type.

IELTS Writing Task 2 

Task 2 is one of the two tasks in the IELTS writing section. The section takes approximately 40 minutes to complete, during which you will need to write 250 words. The section contains an essay question you need to answer. This essay question is the same for both the IELTS Academic and General Training tests. There are five types of IELTS essays that you can encounter in the writing task, which we will discuss in the upcoming sections.

IELTS Essay Structure

Here is an easy-to-follow essay writing format to answer essays in IELTS writing task 2:

• Introduction
  
  
• Main Body Paragraph 1
  
  
• Main Body Paragraph 2
  
  
• Conclusion
  
  

Depending on the type of question you are asked, you will use different types of sentences in each paragraph.

Types of IELTS Essays

The five IELTS Writing Task 2 questions are as follows:

1. Opinion – Agree/Disagree Type

2. Advantages/Disadvantages Type

3. Problem and Solution Type

4. Discussion Type – Discuss both views

5. Direct Question Type

Now let’s understand about each IELTS essay type in depth and see their sample answers: 

1. Opinion Question Type:

In this question type, you will be provided with an opinion. Your task will be to write how much you agree or disagree with the opinion. You can either completely agree or disagree with the statement, and you can also provide a balanced response by stating an equal number of points in favour and against the topic. It is also known as the agree-disagree essay of IELTS.

Common Question Words:

1. Do you agree or disagree?

2. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

3. What is your opinion?

Here is an opinion writing sample question:

Some people believe that unpaid community service should be compulsory in high school programs (for example, working for a charity, improving the neighbourhood or teaching sports to younger children).

IELTS Essay Structure for this Type

Introduction

1. Paraphrase the question

2. Express your viewpoint and list the main ideas.

Main Body Paragraph 1

1. Topic Sentence

2. Elaborate upon the topic sentence

3. Give a relevant example

Main Body Paragraph 2

1. Topic Sentence

2. Elaborate upon the topic sentence

3. Give a relevant example

Conclusion

Summarize the main ideas and give your opinion

Sample Answer

It is believed that volunteering ought to be taught in schools. This essay wholeheartedly concurs with that recommendation because it aids students in acquiring crucial work experience while also helping them build soft skills.

Education should not only focus on academic subjects; students should also learn life skills like teamwork, empathy, and self-discipline. Community service is one of the finest ways to develop these talents. Serving those less fortunate than ourselves teaches us numerous lessons, like the importance of hard work and how to work with others from different backgrounds, allowing us to develop these qualities before we become adults. To boost their appreciation for what they have and to strengthen their work ethic, many young people from wealthy nations, for instance, take a year off from school to volunteer with those who are less fortunate than themselves.

These kinds of experiences are increasingly sought after by many institutions and employers. Since most graduates have similar grades, volunteering can help you stand out when applying to colleges compared to other students. For instance, Cambridge and Oxford only accept a small portion of the hundreds of applications from straight-A students each year. What you have accomplished outside of the classroom frequently sets you apart from the competition and secures you that desired position.

In conclusion, teens should be required to perform unpaid work as part of their education since doing so would enable them to obtain skills and knowledge that they might not otherwise learn from their teachers and will increase their likelihood of enrolling in third-level institutions.

Also read: IELTS Exam dates

2. Advantages/Disadvantages Type: 

Common Essay Words

1. What are the advantages and disadvantages?

2. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages.

Sample Question

In many cities, planners keep offices, shops, and schools separate from each other. Do you think the merits of this policy outweigh the demerit? 

IELTS Essay Structure for this Type

Introduction

1. Paraphrase the question

2. Write main ideas

Main Body Paragraph 1

1. Topic Sentence

2. Elaborate upon the topic sentence

3. Give a relevant example

Main Body Paragraph 2

1. Topic Sentence

2. Elaborate upon the topic sentence

3. Give a relevant example

Conclusion

Summarize the main ideas

Also read : IELTS Test Centres

3. Problem and Solution Type: 

Common question words

1.Cause and Solution

2.Problem and Solution

Sample Question

1. Students are becoming more and more reliant on technology.

2. What are some of the problems associated with reliance on computers, and what are some of the possible solutions?

IELTS Essay Structure for this Type

Introduction

1.Paraphrase the question

2.Give an outline sentence

Main Body Paragraph 1

1. Topic Sentence

2. Elaborate upon the topic sentence

3. Write a relevant example

Main Body Paragraph 2

1. Topic Sentence

2. Elaborate upon the topic sentence

3. Site a relevant example

Conclusion

Summarize the main point

Also read: IELTS Exam fee

4. Discussion Type:

In this question type, you will be provided with a problem, and you have to suggest the best possible solutions.

Common question words

Discuss both points of view and give your opinion

Sample Question

1. Technology is being used more and more in education. Some people say that this is a positive trend, while others argue that it is leading to negative consequences.

2. Discuss both sides of this argument and then give your own opinion.

IELTS Essay Structure for this Type

Introduction

1. Paraphrase the statement or write both views

2. Write thesis statement

3. Give an outline sentence

4. Main Body Paragraph 1

Write the first viewpoint

1. Discuss this viewpoint

2. Give reasons why you agree or disagree with this first viewpoint

3. Write a relevant example to support this viewpoint

4. Main Body Paragraph 2

Write the second viewpoint

1. Discuss this viewpoint

2. Give reasons why you agree or disagree with this viewpoint

3. Write a relevant example to support this viewpoint

4. Conclusion

Summarize the essay

Write which viewpoint is better or more important

Also read : IELTS Exam Registration

5. Direct Question Type:

Also known as a two-question essay or double-question essay, this IELTS essay type requires you to answer one, two, and sometimes three questions based on the given topic.

Common question words

Typically, they will make a remark and then ask you to respond to specific questions.

Sample Question

As most people spend a major part of their adult life at work, job satisfaction is an important element of individual well-being.

1. What factor contributes to job satisfaction?

2. How realistic is the expectation of job satisfaction for all workers?

IELTS Essay structure for this Type

Introduction

1. Paraphrase the question

2. Give an outline sentence stating both the questions

Main Body Paragraph 1

1. Write an answer to the first question

2. Explain the reason for the first question

3. Elaborate upon the first question further

4. Write an example

Main Body Paragraph 2

1. Write an answer to the second question

2. Explain the reason for your answer

3. Elaborate upon the second question further

4. Write a relevant example

Conclusion

Summarize the essay

The quality of your language and vocabulary as well as how well you respond to the question will determine your grade for the IELTS essay. Your score for coherence and cohesion will go up if you have a solid framework, but you must use relevant ideas and use them effectively to respond to the question.

Also read: IELTS Exam pattern