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IELTS Writing Task 2 Practice Questions

These 40 IELTS Writing Task 2 questions are original practice prompts in the style of the real test, grouped by the five question types. Tap a question, write your essay in 40 minutes, and get a band score for all four criteria straight away.

Task 2 opinion questions (agree or disagree)

Say how far you agree in the introduction and keep that position in every paragraph. Two body paragraphs that support your view work well; if you partly agree, give one paragraph to each side and make your overall view clear.

  1. Education Some people think that schools should teach practical skills such as cooking and managing money instead of subjects like history and art. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
  2. Technology Children under the age of twelve should not be allowed to own a smartphone. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
  3. Work A four-day working week would benefit both employees and employers. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
  4. Environment Governments should ban private cars from city centres to reduce pollution. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
  5. Health Unhealthy food should be taxed heavily so that people choose healthier meals. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
  6. Society Some people say that older people have little to teach the young today because the world changes so quickly. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
  7. Media News reports focus too much on negative events. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
  8. Tourism International tourism does more harm than good to the places that tourists visit. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Task 2 discussion questions (both views and your opinion)

Give one paragraph to each view, explained fairly, and state your own opinion clearly in the introduction and the conclusion. Leaving out your opinion is one of the most common reasons for a low Task Response score.

  1. Education Some people think university education should be free for everyone, while others believe students should pay for it. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
  2. Technology Some people believe artificial intelligence will create more jobs than it destroys, while others think it will lead to widespread unemployment. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
  3. Work Some people prefer to work for a large company, while others would rather work for a small business. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
  4. Crime Some people think young offenders should be punished in the same way as adults, while others believe they need different treatment. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
  5. Family Some people think parents should decide what their children study at university, while others believe young people should choose for themselves. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
  6. Environment Some people say individuals can do little about climate change and only governments and large companies can make a difference. Others think individual actions matter. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
  7. Culture Some people believe museums and art galleries should be free to enter, while others think visitors should pay. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
  8. Health Some people think public money should be spent on treating illness, while others believe it should go into preventing illness. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Task 2 advantages and disadvantages questions

Cover both sides. When the question asks whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, or whether a change is positive or negative, you also have to give a clear judgement and keep to it.

  1. Work More and more people are working from home instead of in an office. Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?
  2. Family In many countries, people are getting married and having children later in life than in the past. Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?
  3. Education Some students take a year off between finishing school and starting university to travel or work. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this?
  4. Business Online shopping is replacing shops on the high street. Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?
  5. Education Many children now start learning a second language in their first year of primary school. What are the advantages and disadvantages of starting so young?
  6. Sport Some cities spend large sums building stadiums to host international sports events. Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?
  7. Society More people are choosing to live alone than ever before. Is this a positive or negative development?
  8. Technology Self-driving cars may soon be common on the roads. Is this a positive or negative development?

Task 2 problem and solution questions

Answer both parts: one paragraph on the problems or causes, one on the solutions. Link each solution to a problem you described, and be specific about who should act.

  1. Society Many young people are leaving the countryside to live in cities. What problems does this cause, and what can be done about it?
  2. Transport Traffic congestion is getting worse in many large cities. What are the causes of this problem, and what measures could be taken to solve it?
  3. Technology Many people spend several hours a day looking at screens. What problems can this cause, and how can they be reduced?
  4. Environment In some countries, large amounts of food are thrown away every day. Why does this happen, and what can be done to reduce food waste?
  5. Culture Fewer people read books for pleasure than in the past. Why is this, and what could be done to encourage reading?
  6. Housing Housing in many big cities has become too expensive for young people. What are the causes, and what solutions can you suggest?
  7. Education Many students feel under great pressure because of exams. What causes this, and how can schools help?
  8. Health The number of people who are overweight is rising in many countries. What are the causes of this, and what can be done about it?

Task 2 two-part questions

There are two direct questions, and each needs a full answer. A common plan is one body paragraph per question, with your answers stated briefly in the introduction.

  1. Media Many people now get their news from social media rather than from newspapers or television. Why is this happening? Is it a positive or negative development?
  2. Work Some people keep working after the age at which they could retire. Why do they do this? Should older people be encouraged to keep working?
  3. Environment Many people buy clothes they wear only a few times. Why do people do this? What effect does it have on the environment?
  4. Education Many children who start learning a musical instrument give up after a few months. Why does this happen? How can parents and teachers keep them motivated?
  5. Society Many young people today say they want to become famous. Why is fame so attractive? Is it a good goal to have?
  6. Work Some people move to another country for work. What difficulties might they face? How can they overcome them?
  7. Health Many people use apps to track their exercise, sleep and diet. Why have these apps become popular? Do they really make people healthier?
  8. Society Volunteering is becoming popular among teenagers. Why do young people volunteer? Should schools make volunteering compulsory?

Write and check your essay

Tap any of the IELTS Writing Task 2 questions above and it appears here. Write at least 250 words, then check: you get a band for Task Response, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range and Accuracy, with the problems costing you the most marks. The band descriptors, explained show what each band needs.

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How to practise with these questions

  1. Plan for five minutes: your position, two main ideas, and an example for each.
  2. Write for thirty minutes, aiming for 260 to 300 words.
  3. Check the essay and read the three problems costing you the most marks.
  4. Rewrite the weakest paragraph and check again to see whether the band moves.
  5. Next time, pick another question of the same type until that type stops being your lowest.

Writing a report or a letter? Use the IELTS Writing Task 1 checker.

Questions

Are these real IELTS questions?
No. They are original practice questions written in the style of the test. Real exam questions aren't published in advance, but the question types and common topics, such as education, technology, work and the environment, stay the same.
How long should I spend on a Task 2 practice essay?
Forty minutes, as in the test: about five to plan, thirty to write at least 250 words, and five to check. Then check it here and spend ten more minutes fixing the biggest problem.
Why should I paste the question into the checker?
Task Response is scored against the exact question. Without it the checker can't tell whether you answered every part, and it says the score is less certain. Tapping a question on this page fills it in for you.
Can I check my practice essay for free?
Yes: 1 check a day without signing up, or 2 a day with a free account, with a band for every criterion. Sentence-by-sentence corrections and a band 8 rewrite come with a paid plan.
Which question type should I practise most?
The one you score lowest on. Check one essay of each type first, then spend most of your practice on the type where Task Response comes out lowest.