IELTS Writing Task 2 — 9 Essay Types (with examples, structures, sample essays, and pro tips)
Below are the nine common Task-2 types you asked for. Each includes: (1) a Question Example (original), (2) a Rock-solid Structure, (3) a Band-7 style Sample Essay (~180–220 words), and (4) Advanced Tips you can apply immediately.
1) Opinion (Agree/Disagree)
Question example
“Some people believe cities should invest mainly in public transport rather than building more roads. To what extent do you agree or disagree?”
Structure
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Intro: Paraphrase + clear position (agree/disagree/partly).
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Body 1: Strong reason supporting your position + example.
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Body 2: Second reason/support + example (optionally rebut the other side).
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Conclusion: Restate position + short future implication.
Sample essay
Public funds should prioritise mass transit rather than road expansion. I largely agree.
First, rail and rapid-bus networks move far more people per hour than private cars, which directly eases congestion. For instance, when Seoul extended dedicated bus lanes, peak-hour delays fell markedly within months. By contrast, adding lanes to urban highways often invites more cars—a rebound effect widely observed in mega-cities.
Second, public transport delivers wider social benefits. Reliable networks connect low-income residents to jobs and schools at low cost, while cleaner fleets reduce air pollution. Electric trams and buses, for example, cut roadside emissions where people actually live and work; this improves public health and saves governments money on long-term healthcare.
Admittedly, roads remain essential for logistics and emergency vehicles. Yet targeted road maintenance can coexist with a decisive shift towards transit.
In conclusion, because efficient, clean mobility and social inclusion depend on high-capacity systems, governments should put public transport first and limit road building to genuine bottlenecks.
Advanced tips
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Make your stance unambiguous in the intro and conclusion.
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Use a mini-rebuttal (“Admittedly… Yet…”) to show balance.
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Prefer policy/evidence verbs: reduces, enables, mitigates, delivers.
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Avoid generic “good/bad”; use criteria (capacity, equity, emissions).
2) Advantages & Disadvantages
Question example
“Working from home has become common. What are its advantages and disadvantages?”
Structure
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Intro: Topic + neutral thesis (both sides).
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Body 1: 2 advantages + example.
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Body 2: 2 disadvantages + example.
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Conclusion: Balanced judgement or conditional recommendation.
Sample essay
Remote work offers flexibility but also new risks.
On the plus side, employees save commuting time and costs, freeing hours for childcare or exercise. Firms likewise tap national talent without relocation budgets. During the pandemic, several software companies reported higher retention after formalising hybrid policies.
However, prolonged home-based routines can blur boundaries, producing longer “hidden” hours and burnout. Collaboration can also suffer when complex tasks rely on spontaneous exchange; junior staff, in particular, miss informal coaching. For example, graduate hires often learn office norms by overhearing problem-solving around them.
Overall, the model works best with clear expectations: core hours, in-person project kickoffs, and mentoring plans. Without such design, benefits may erode.
Advanced tips
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Keep symmetry: 2–3 solid points per side.
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Use who/why each point matters (employee, firm, society).
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End with a conditioned verdict (“works if…”).
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Beware overlap: don’t repeat the same point in different words.
3) Discussion (Discuss Both Views) + Opinion
Question example
“Some say university should focus on academic subjects; others argue it should prepare students for jobs. Discuss both views and give your opinion.”
Structure
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Intro: Present both views + your opinion.
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Body 1: View A (why reasonable) + example.
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Body 2: View B (why reasonable) + example.
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Body 3 (optional): Your evaluation/synthesis (why one prevails or how to integrate).
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Conclusion: Reconfirm your stance.
Sample essay
Universities are seen either as centres of knowledge or pipelines to employment. Both roles matter, but I favour a blended mission.
Supporters of academic depth argue that critical thinking and pure research advance society in ways narrow training cannot. Breakthroughs in materials science, for instance, rarely emerge from short courses; they require long scholarly inquiry.
Conversely, employers expect graduates to be productive quickly. Programmes embedding internships or design studios reduce onboarding time and raise graduate confidence. Polytechnics illustrate how applied learning serves regional economies.
In my view, institutions should couple fundamentals with structured practice. A physics degree, for example, can retain rigorous theory while adding data-analysis projects with industry partners. Such hybrid designs protect intellectual ambition yet improve employability.
In conclusion, universities best serve students—and society—by integrating scholarship with real-world application.
Advanced tips
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Steel-man each side (present the best version of the argument).
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Use a synthesis paragraph to lift the score for cohesion.
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Add sector examples (health, engineering, arts) to show breadth.
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Keep your opinion visible in intro + conclusion.
4) Problem & Solution
Question example
“Many city centres face declining small businesses. What problems does this create, and what solutions could address them?”
Structure
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Intro: Problem statement + preview solutions.
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Body 1: 2–3 key problems + impacts.
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Body 2: 2–3 practical solutions (who does what; how funded).
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Conclusion: Best combination + expected outcome.
Sample essay
The loss of independent shops undermines both local identity and economic resilience.
One problem is homogenisation: when only chains survive, neighbourhoods feel interchangeable, weakening civic pride and tourism appeal. Another is fragility; profits leave the area, and supply chains concentrate, so closures cascade during downturns.
Several steps help. First, targeted rent relief tied to community benefits (e.g., training local apprentices) can stabilise margins. Second, weekend street markets and shared logistics hubs reduce costs and draw footfall. Finally, procurement policies that favour local vendors for municipal contracts keep revenue circulating.
A mixed package—modest subsidies with vibrant place-making—offers the best chance of revival. If cities act early, independent retail can survive alongside larger brands.
Advanced tips
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Pair each problem with a concrete impact (who suffers/how).
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For each solution, specify actor + mechanism + trade-off.
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Avoid generic “government should…”—be operational.
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Close with a bundle (solution set), not a single silver bullet.
5) Two-Part Questions (Direct Questions)
Question example
“Why do many young adults take gap years? Do you think this is a positive or negative development?”
Structure
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Intro: Paraphrase + preview answers to both questions.
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Body 1: Answer Q1 (reasons) + example.
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Body 2: Answer Q2 (evaluate pos/neg) + example.
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Conclusion: Short overall judgement.
Sample essay
Young adults take gap years to gain clarity and skills before committing to degrees. Travel or internships reveal interests and build soft skills such as initiative and teamwork.
Overall, the trend is positive if structured. Students who set goals—language proficiency, portfolio projects—return with direction and often graduate faster. The risk is drifting: unplanned breaks can reduce academic momentum or create financial strain. For instance, some return with debt but no clearer path.
In sum, gap years are beneficial when framed by clear objectives and modest budgets; otherwise, they can delay progress.
Advanced tips
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Answer both questions explicitly; mirror wording (“Why…?” “Is it…?”).
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Keep one main reason cluster per body paragraph.
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Use if/when conditions to give nuanced evaluations.
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Don’t save one question for the conclusion—address it in a body paragraph.
6) Mixed Type (Advantages & Disadvantages + Opinion / Outweigh)
Question example
“Many people shop online. Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?”
Structure
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Intro: Topic + clear outweigh position.
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Body 1: The stronger side (e.g., advantages) with 2 points + example.
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Body 2: Acknowledge the weaker side (key drawbacks) + mitigation.
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Conclusion: Restate “outweigh” verdict + condition.
Sample essay
While online shopping can harm local stores, its advantages outweigh the drawbacks.
Consumers gain wider choice and transparent pricing; comparison tools expose predatory mark-ups. Small producers also reach national audiences via platforms, bypassing costly high-street rents. During lockdowns, such channels preserved income for many artisans.
Drawbacks include packaging waste and the decline of town-centre footfall. Yet cities can tax excessive packaging and invest in cultural events to keep streets lively. Meanwhile, click-and-collect services help local stores blend online reach with physical presence.
Overall, e-commerce’s gains in access and efficiency are greater, provided regulators and retailers design greener, community-friendly models.
Advanced tips
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State which side outweighs in the intro and conclusion.
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Allocate more space to the side you back; don’t write 50/50.
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Add mitigations to neutralise the weaker side.
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Use comparatives (greater, more significant, wider) to signal weighing.
7) Double Questions (two independent questions about one topic)
Question example
“Why are historic buildings popular tourist sites? How can governments balance tourism with preservation?”
Structure
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Intro: Paraphrase + brief answers to both.
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Body 1: Q1 reasons (2–3) + example.
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Body 2: Q2 strategies (2–3) + example.
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Conclusion: One-sentence wrap-up.
Sample essay
Historic buildings attract visitors because they embody identity and craft that modern streets often lack. People also seek authentic stories—palaces, temples and workers’ quarters reveal how earlier generations lived.
To balance access with conservation, governments can introduce timed entries and differential pricing to spread demand and fund restoration. Partnering with local communities for guiding and maintenance creates jobs and fosters stewardship. Digital twins—high-quality scans—allow virtual tours that reduce pressure on fragile interiors.
In short, careful visitor management and community participation keep heritage alive without sacrificing its integrity.
Advanced tips
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Treat the two questions as separate tasks with their own topic sentences.
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Use parallel structure (reasons → strategies).
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Keep the intro tight; the body does the real work.
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One crisp concluding line is enough.
8) Evaluation (judge effectiveness/impact/extent)
Question example
“Many cities promote cycling to cut emissions. Evaluate how effective this policy is and what factors determine its success.”
Structure
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Intro: Define criterion (what “effective” means) + stance (largely effective / limited).
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Body 1: Evidence of effectiveness (metrics: modal share, emissions, safety).
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Body 2: Limiting/enabling factors (infrastructure, density, weather, culture, enforcement).
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Conclusion: Overall verdict + key conditions for success.
Sample essay
Cycling promotion can be highly effective, provided cities align infrastructure and incentives. By “effective,” I mean measurable gains in cycling’s modal share and related drops in car trips and emissions.
Where protected lanes form continuous networks and parking is priced realistically, cycling rises quickly; Seville’s rapid build-out is a classic example. Emissions fall not only because bikes replace short car journeys but also because buses move faster in decongested corridors.
However, success depends on context. Low-density suburbs with wide arterial roads and extreme weather demand e-bikes, end-of-trip showers and safe junction design. Social norms matter too: family-friendly lanes and visible enforcement against dangerous driving build trust.
Overall, cycling strategies work when cities deliver connected lanes, sensible pricing and inclusive design; without these, campaigns remain slogans rather than solutions.
Advanced tips
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Define evaluation criteria in the intro; examiners love clarity.
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Use named metrics (modal share, crash rates, dwell time).
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Balance evidence (“works when…”) with constraints (“fails if…”).
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Conclude with conditions—this sounds analytical and precise.
9) Causes (Reasons) & Effects
Question example
“Obesity rates are rising in many countries. What are the main causes and effects?”
Structure
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Intro: State trend + preview (causes → effects).
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Body 1: 2–3 root causes (environmental, economic, cultural) + example.
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Body 2: 2–3 effects (health, productivity, healthcare costs) + example.
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Conclusion: Most important cause/effect + brief policy hint (optional).
Sample essay
Obesity has surged due to structural changes in how people eat and move. Ultra-processed foods are cheap, aggressively marketed and available at all hours. Sedentary work and screen-based leisure further reduce daily energy use. For families pressed for time, convenience often beats home cooking.
The consequences are serious: rates of type-2 diabetes and heart disease rise, productivity falls, and health systems spend more on chronic care. In some regions, the condition also widens inequality, as poorer households face both food insecurity and diet-related illness.
While education matters, the deeper drivers are pricing, availability and the built environment. Policies that reshape these levers—healthier school meals, safe walking routes, and taxes on sugar-sweetened drinks—target causes rather than symptoms.
Advanced tips
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Separate root causes from proximal triggers; show depth.
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Link each effect to a specific domain (health, economy, equity).
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Avoid moralising; keep a systems lens (prices, time, design).
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A one-line policy nudge in the conclusion adds sophistication.
