Task 2 – a structure for every essay type

Paragraph-by-paragraph plans for opinion, discussion, advantages/disadvantages, problem/solution and two-part IELTS essays, with thesis and topic-sentence models.

All Task 2 essays share the same skeleton: an introduction, two or three body paragraphs and a conclusion. What changes from type to type is what goes into each paragraph. If the wrong content goes in the wrong place, or a required element is missing, Task Response suffers. This lesson gives you a dependable plan for each of the five types. Treat them as frameworks to hang your own ideas on, not as texts to memorise.

1. Opinion essays (agree / disagree)

Some people believe that unpaid work in the community should be a compulsory part of secondary school programmes. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

You are asked for your position. The whole essay argues for it.

Plan A: one-sided (strongly agree or disagree)

Plan B: balanced with a clear lean (partly agree)

Either plan can earn a high band. Plan A is simpler. Plan B often shows more mature thinking, but your opinion must be explicit in the introduction and conclusion, and the weight of the essay must clearly fall on one side.

Thesis models

• I strongly agree with this proposal, because it would benefit both young people and the communities they live in.
• While community service undoubtedly has value, I do not believe that making it compulsory is the right approach.

Topic sentences

• The main reason I support this idea is that…
• It is true that…; however, …
• A further argument against compulsion is that…

Trap: the phrase ‘to what extent’ does not oblige you to sit in the middle. ‘I completely agree’ is an extent.

2. Discussion essays (both views + your opinion)

Some people believe that the main purpose of a university is to prepare students for jobs. Others think that universities should allow students to study whatever interests them. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Three tasks: view A, view B, your opinion.

There are two good ways to handle your opinion:

• Integrated: you agree with one of the views. State this in the introduction, and in the paragraph on that view say so explicitly (‘I find this argument more convincing, because…’). The conclusion confirms it.
• Separate: your view is a third position or a synthesis. Give it its own short paragraph before or as the conclusion (‘On balance, I believe the supposed conflict is exaggerated…’).

Language for reporting views

• Those who favour… argue that… / Supporters of this view point out that…
• From this perspective, …
• On the other hand, it is argued that… / Others maintain that…
• Opponents of this idea claim that…

Language for your opinion

• In my view, … / Personally, I believe that… / I would argue that…
• I find the second argument more persuasive, because…
• On balance, …

Traps: giving only one sentence to the view you disagree with; forgetting to give your opinion; writing ‘both views have their merits’ as your entire opinion.

3. Advantages and disadvantages

Two different instructions exist, and they are not the same.

(a) Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?

This asks for a judgement. It is really an opinion essay.

An effective refinement is to show how the weaker side can be reduced: ‘Nevertheless, most of these difficulties can be managed…’

(b) What are the advantages and disadvantages? / Discuss the advantages and disadvantages.

This asks you to describe both sides. An opinion is not required, though a brief overall comment in the conclusion is natural.

Useful language

• The main / most obvious advantage is that…
• A further benefit is…
• One significant drawback is that…
• The benefits clearly outweigh the drawbacks. / The drawbacks are outweighed by…
• Despite these problems, …

Trap: answering type (a) with a neutral list and no judgement.

4. Problem / cause and solution essays

In many countries, children and teenagers are far less physically active than in the past. What are the causes of this problem, and what measures could be taken to deal with it?

Variations: causes + solutions; problems + solutions; causes + effects. Count the questions and answer each.

The quality that lifts these essays is the match between problems and solutions. If you say children are inactive because parents fear traffic, a matching solution is safe cycle paths, not ‘the government should run an advertising campaign’.

For each solution, say who should act and how it would help:

If local authorities provided safe cycle paths and well-lit parks, parents would feel more confident about letting their children go out.

Useful language

• One of the main causes of… is… / This is largely due to…
• This problem stems from… / …can be attributed to…
• One way of tackling this would be to… / An effective measure would be…
• Governments / schools / employers could…
• If…, … would… / This would enable… to…

Traps: solutions that are too vague (‘the government should do something’, ‘people should be educated’); causes and solutions that do not correspond; spending 200 words on causes and 40 on solutions.

5. Two-part (direct) questions

In some countries, people are having children later in life than in the past. Why is this happening? Is it a positive or a negative development?

There are two separate questions. Give each its own body paragraph.

Thesis model

This trend is largely the result of longer periods of education and the rising cost of housing, and in my view its effects are, on the whole, positive.

Two-part questions vary widely, so read them carefully. If the second question asks for your opinion (Is this positive or negative? Do you think…?), state it clearly. If both parts are factual (What are the reasons? What are the effects?), no opinion is needed.

Trap: answering the first question at length and the second in a single sentence.

Mixed and unusual questions

Sometimes a question combines elements:

Some people think that newspapers are the best way to learn about current events, while others prefer other media. Discuss both views. Which do you think is the most reliable source of news?

Do not panic. Count the tasks (discuss view A; discuss view B; say which source you think is most reliable) and give each a place in your plan. The principles are always the same: cover every part, take a clear position where one is asked for, develop your ideas.

Quick reference

Should you learn templates?

Learning the structures above is sensible: it frees your attention for ideas and language. Learning whole sentences to reuse in every essay is risky. Examiners are trained to notice memorised language, and phrases such as ‘This is a highly controversial issue in today’s society’ or ‘Every coin has two sides’ add no information. A few flexible frames (The main reason is that…, One way of tackling this would be to…) are useful; ready-made paragraphs are not.

Practice routine

1. Take ten Task 2 questions. For each, only identify the type and write a four-line plan and a thesis sentence. Three minutes per question.
2. Compare your plans with the model plans in the practice tests on this site.
3. Then write full essays for the two types you find hardest.

Key points

• Identify the type from the instruction, then count the tasks.
• Opinion and ‘outweigh’ questions need a clear position from the first paragraph.
• Discussion essays need both views presented fairly, plus your own.
• In problem/solution essays, each solution should answer a stated cause or problem.
• Two-part questions need two balanced answers.
• Learn structures, not scripts.

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