IELTS Writing
IELTS Writing Task 2
The essay is worth two thirds of your Writing band, so it decides your score. The same essay appears in Academic and General Training. This hub covers every essay type and the structure examiners reward.
In short
- Task 2 is a 250+ word essay, same in Academic and General Training, worth two thirds of your Writing band.
- Identify the essay type first — it sets your structure and whether you give one side or both.
- Marked on Task Response, Coherence & Cohesion, Lexical Resource and Grammatical Range & Accuracy.
Essay types
Read the question, decide the type, and match the structure. Guides for each:
Writing the essay
Structure, cohesion and vocabulary — the parts every essay type shares:
IELTS Writing Task 2 — common questions
What is IELTS Writing Task 2?+
Task 2 is an essay of at least 250 words responding to a point of view, argument or problem. It is the same in IELTS Academic and General Training, and is worth two thirds of your Writing band.
How many words should IELTS Task 2 be?+
At least 250 words, written in about 40 minutes. Under 250 words is penalised under Task Response. Most band 7+ essays run 260–290 words — fully developed, without padding.
What essay types appear in Task 2?+
Opinion (agree or disagree), discussion (both views), problem and solution, advantages and disadvantages, and two-part questions. Identifying the type correctly decides your whole structure.
Why is Task 2 more important than Task 1?+
Task 2 carries twice the weight of Task 1 in your Writing band, so it is where most marks are won or lost. Many candidates spend too long on Task 1 and rush the essay.