Nowadays, IELTS scores play a vital role in students who wish to study abroad. The IELTS exam evaluates you by 4 modules. They are,
- Writing
- Reading
- Listening
- Speaking
In this blog, I will explain how to start ielts writing task 2, because getting a good score in IELTS writing task 2 is important for getting a high overall band score.
So read the complete blog to understand everything easily and properly about writing task 2 in IELTS, but before that, you must understand what is IELTS writing task 2 and what its types are.
IELTS Writing Task 2
In IELTS writing task 2, candidates provided a point of view or a particular argument topic. They need to write an essay on that. Your essay should exceed 250 words.
You are advised not to spend more than 35 to 40 minutes on task 2. Your IELTS writing task 2 will be assessed on the basis of four different criteria.
- Task Response
- Coherence & cohesion
- Lexical Resource
- Grammatical accuracy
In IELTS writing task 2, General training and academic candidates will take the same test. However, They had taken a different in writing task 1.
Read our other blog to know the best IELTS Reading Tips.
Types Of Essays In IELTS Writing Task 2
As I said earlier, in IELTS writing task 2, you must write an essay on a given topic. There are a total of 7 types of IELTS writing task 2 essays.
Let’s have a look at all types of essays in IELTS writing!
- Agree or disagree
- Discuss both views
- Opinion
- Advantages and disadvantages
- Problem or Solution
- Positive or Negative development
- Direct essay
Agree or disagree
In the agree or disagree question type, the examiner will give you a statement and ask you whether you agree or disagree with the statement.
There is another type of agree or disagree question in which the examiner will ask you, to what extent do you agree or disagree with the statement?
For example;
Some people say that electric vehicles are not worth the money. Do you agree or disagree?(In this, you have to choose one side, you must either agree or disagree with the statement.)
Or
Some people say that electric vehicles are not worth the money. To what extent do you agree or disagree?(In this, you can partially agree or disagree with the statement.)
Discuss both views
In this question type, the examiner will give you 2 different thinking of people about a single topic and ask you to discuss both views.
For example;
The use of animals for scientific research is a contentious issue. Some argue it is necessary for medical advancements and human welfare, while others believe it is unethical and alternatives should be pursued. Discuss both views.
Opinion
This question is more like the previous one (discuss both views). The difference this question has is here you must give your opinion after discussing both views. Here is an example of an opinion essay.
For example;
Some believe online shopping has greatly benefited consumers, while others think it negatively impacts local businesses. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Advantages and disadvantages
This is similar to a discussion essay. In this type, you have to discuss the positive and negative sides of the point given in the essay.
For example:
Most students take study gaps nowadays. Do you think that it is good to take study gaps? What are the advantages and disadvantages of having study gaps?
Problem or Solution
In this type, you have to write a solution, caution, or problem of the question.
Solution type essay
Example:
Most people have thyroid problems nowadays. What is the solution for this?
Caution type essay
Example:
Many children face weight gain problems. What is the cause of this problem?
Problem type essay
Deforestation is one of the major issues in the world. What problem does this cause?
Positive or Negative development
In this, there will be a statement about the latest trend and ask whether it is a positive or negative trend or development.
For example;
Some people argue that the rapid advancement of technology, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI), will bring about positive changes in various aspects of society. Others, however, believe that this development will lead to more negative consequences.
Is it a positive or negative trend?
Direct essay
In this essay type, you have to answer two or three questions. That’s why it is also called a double-question essay or direct essay.
Example:
Deforestation is becoming a serious problem. Do you think it can be solved internationally or at the local level?
Read our other blog for the latest exam-based IELTS Writing Topics.
How To Start IELTS Writing Task 2
Here I will provide the 10 best and most effective tips on how to start ielts writing task 2. Read to know more!
- Maintain A Structure
- Understand And Analyse The Question
- Plan Your Answers
- Answer In Your Own Words
- Make The Introduction Clear
- Add Bold Words To Your Essay
- Avoid Grammar Mistakes
- Recheck Your Answers
- State the Topic of the Essay in Starting
- Support Your Ideas With Example
Maintain A Structure
In writing tasks, you will be provided with a particular topic. It could be either a discussion topic or they will ask your opinion. In this kind of essay writing, you should maintain a clear structure to impress an examiner.
A good structure of the essay will enhance your points and show the examiner your ideas. Try to maintain a proper structure for a different type of essays.
Make sure that your essay should include the following basic structure.
- Introduction
- Body Paragraph 1
- Body Paragraph 2
- Conclusion
This is the first tip on how to start IELTS writing task 2.
Understand And Analyse The Question
Understanding the question is the first step to getting band 6 in the IELTS. Spend some time reading and understanding the question. Sometimes you may not notice some keywords in the question. That’s why you are advised to read the question at least 3-4 times.
First, analyze what type of questions they are asking. Understand whether it is an opinion, discussion, or another type of essay. Analyze the question with your full knowledge. Remember all the relevant information about the essay question. Just answer it what it asks you to do.
This is the second tip on how to start IELTS writing task 2.
Plan Your Answers
When it comes to essay writing, planning is very important. I suggest the candidates to spend at least 5-10 minutes planning their answers before starting writing. Because most of the students lose their marks when they don’t plan properly.
It is a good habit, and this gives you the confidence to start writing. You have to plan the structure of the essay, main content, supporting content, and conclusion before you start writing. Try to write down important keywords related to the essay; it will help you if you forget something important.
This is the third tip on how to start IELTS writing task 2.
Answer In Your Own Words
Don’t write memorized answers. As the examiner has experience in finding textbook answers. Try to insert your own words in between your answers.
The textbook answers will reduce your targeted band score. If you are not confident about your content, then modify the textbook answers according to you. Just don’t copy the same as present in the books.
This is the fourth tip on how to start IELTS writing task 2.
Make The Introduction Clear
The introduction is a first impression of your essay writing. This will tell the examiner whether you understand the question or not. Don’t include too much stuff in the introduction part. Keep it simple and clear.
This is the fifth tip on how to start IELTS writing task 2.
Add Bold Words To Your Essay
In opinion essays or point-of-view essays, you must include bold words to express your points. Some of the words are,
- I agree…,
- I disagree that…,
- I believe…,
- I do not believe…,
In point-of-view essays, you can express your views by saying this,
- In my opinion..,
- On the other hand..,
- The main reason is…,
Make sure to add these kinds of words in the introduction part, and explain why you agree or disagree with that point in the rest of the essay.
When you describe it in the introduction, the examiner will have a clear view of your answer and what your answer is about.
This is the sixth tip on how to start IELTS (International English Language Testing System) writing task 2.
Avoid Grammar Mistakes
Grammar plays a vital role in essay writing. The examiner can find grammatical errors easily, as it is easy to spot. Don’t use any vocabulary whose meaning and spelling you are unsure about.
You can use the common because word instead of that to avoid errors. As using common words is better than using wrong words.
This is the seventh tip on how to start IELTS writing task 2.
Recheck Your Answers
Always try to finish your writing part 5 minutes before the time. Spend those five minutes rechecking your essay.
- Look for some grammatical errors.
- Notice whether you made spelling errors or not.
- Check the structure of the essay.
- If you missed any keywords, try to fill that in.
State the Topic of the Essay in Starting
In the introduction, give the main idea of your topic in the first line after the general statement.
This will help the examiner get an idea of what your essay is about and what you will discuss in the upcoming paragraphs.
Support Your Ideas With Example
Always support the main idea of your essay with an example. This will help the examiner to get clarity about the idea or point you have presented.
Examples work as evidence to support your idea and show the validity of your views.
Conclusion
In this article, we have discussed how to start ielts writing task 2. It is essential to score high in IELTS writing to get a good band score in the IELTS exam. So, you must know how to do IELTS writing task 2 because students mostly make mistakes in task 2.
If you still have queries related to this, you can contact our experts or let us know through comments.
For more content like this, keep visiting CourseMentor™. We wish you good luck for your exam.
FAQs
Do we get IELTS writing task 1 and task 2 marks separately?
No, you do not get separate marks for each task. If you scored 6 in task 1 and 8 in task 2, then your final score will be average.
Writing task 1 – band 6
Writing task 2 – band 8
Average – 6+8/2=7
You will receive only the final score, which is 7.
Are task 1 and task 2 assed by the same 4 areas?
3 of the areas are the same for task 1 and task 2. But 1 criteria is different for task 1 and task 2.
Let us see below:
Task achievement (writing task 1 only)
Task response (writing task 2 only)
Coherence & cohesion (Writing tasks 1 & 2)
Lexical Resources (Writing tasks 1 & 2)
Grammatical range & Accuracy (Writing task 1 & 2)
Can I write Task 2 first in IELTS writing?
Yes, whether you write task 1 or task 2 is your choice. You will have only 1 hour to complete your writing and can manage your time at your convenience.
