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IELTS Writing guide

IELTS Writing Task 2: plan an answer you can actually defend

A strong essay answers the exact question, maintains a clear position and develops each idea with an explanation and a relevant example. Practise those steps before trying to write faster.

Understand the task first

IELTS Writing Task 2 asks you to discuss a point of view, argument or problem in at least 250 words. IELTS recommends about 40 minutes. Task 2 has twice the weight of Task 1 in your Writing score.

Read the instruction carefully. “To what extent do you agree?” asks for your position. “Discuss both views and give your opinion” asks you to cover both views as well as your own. An elegant essay that misses one part of the instruction can still lose marks.

Use a five-minute plan

Try this original practice question:

Question: Some cities are restricting private cars in their centres. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this approach?
  1. Position: Mostly agree, provided reliable public transport exists.
  2. Reason 1: Fewer cars can reduce congestion and give buses more reliable journey times.
  3. Reason 2: Restrictions can make streets safer and more pleasant for walking.
  4. Qualification: People with limited mobility or poor transport access need practical alternatives.

Choose ideas you can explain, not the ideas that merely sound academic. A specific, plausible example is more useful than a list of unsupported claims.

Turn the plan into paragraphs

Possible introduction: Limiting private cars in city centres can improve transport and public space, but it should be introduced alongside accessible alternatives. I largely support the policy for that reason.

The introduction takes a position without repeating the prompt word for word. A body paragraph then needs a claim, an explanation and an example:

Possible body paragraph: One benefit is that buses can run more predictably when fewer private vehicles occupy the busiest roads. If a bus route has dedicated space and a reliable timetable, commuters may choose it over driving. For example, a worker who can reach the centre at a consistent time has less reason to bring a car each morning. This makes the restriction more effective than a rule introduced without transport improvements.

This is a short illustration of paragraph development, not a full 250-word model answer. Write your own complete essay and check whether each paragraph advances your position.

Review all four scoring areas

  • Task Response: Answer every part of the prompt and support your position.
  • Coherence and Cohesion: Put ideas in a logical order. Use linking words only where the relationship is real.
  • Lexical Resource: Choose precise words and natural combinations rather than rare words you cannot control.
  • Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Vary sentence structures while keeping meaning clear and errors limited.

These reflect the official IELTS Writing assessment areas. They are a better revision checklist than counting “advanced” words.

Before you submit

  • Underline the task instruction and check that your conclusion answers it.
  • Check that each body paragraph has one main idea and enough explanation.
  • Remove examples that do not support the claim directly.
  • Proofread articles, verb agreement, punctuation and repeated words.
Scorify provides AI practice feedback and estimated bands. Only the official IELTS test gives an official IELTS score.

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Official reference

Read the latest format and criteria on the official IELTS Academic Writing page.