IELTS Academic Writing Task 2 Essay Templates: All 5 Essay Types with Examples
Writing Task 2 is worth twice as many marks as Task 1, so it should be your priority. You have 40 minutes to write at least 250 words in response to a question about a broad social, educational, environmental, or technological topic. There are five main essay types, and each one requires a slightly different structure.
The templates below are not scripts to memorize word-for-word — examiners penalize obviously memorized responses. Instead, they are structural frameworks that you fill in with your own ideas, vocabulary, and examples. Think of them as scaffolding: they hold your essay together while you build the content.
How to Identify Your Essay Type
Before you start writing, you need to identify which type of essay the question is asking for. Read the prompt carefully and look for these clues:
- Opinion essay: "To what extent do you agree or disagree?" or "What is your opinion?"
- Discussion essay: "Discuss both views and give your own opinion."
- Problem-solution essay: "What are the causes and what solutions can you suggest?"
- Advantage-disadvantage essay: "What are the advantages and disadvantages?" or "Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?"
- Two-part question essay: Two separate questions, e.g., "Why is this happening? Is this a positive or negative trend?"
Misidentifying the essay type is one of the most common reasons for a low Task Response score. An opinion essay and a discussion essay require fundamentally different approaches. Always spend 30 seconds confirming the essay type before planning.
Template 1: Opinion Essay (Agree/Disagree)
Introduction (2-3 sentences)
"[Paraphrase the topic in one sentence]. I [strongly/partially] [agree/disagree] with this view because [reason 1] and [reason 2]."
Example: "The question of whether governments should impose higher taxes on unhealthy food is a contentious one. I strongly agree with this proposal because it would reduce consumption of harmful products and generate revenue for public health programs."
Body Paragraph 1 (5-7 sentences)
"The primary reason I [agree/disagree] is that [main argument]. [Explain how/why this is significant]. For instance, [specific example with concrete details]. This demonstrates that [connect example back to argument]. Therefore, [link to overall position]."
Body Paragraph 2 (5-7 sentences)
"Furthermore, [second argument]. [Explanation expanding on the argument]. [Evidence or example]. As a result, [consequence or implication]. This further supports the view that [restate position briefly]."
Conclusion (2-3 sentences)
"In conclusion, I [firmly/strongly] believe that [restate position using different words]. [One sentence summarizing your two key reasons]."
Template 2: Discussion Essay (Both Views + Opinion)
Introduction (2-3 sentences)
"[Paraphrase the topic, mentioning both views]. While [View A has some merit / there are valid arguments on both sides], I believe that [state which view you support]."
Body Paragraph 1: View A (5-7 sentences)
"On the one hand, those who [support View A / believe X] argue that [main argument for View A]. [Explain this reasoning]. For example, [evidence or illustration]. [Additional point if needed]. This perspective is understandable because [brief acknowledgment]."
Body Paragraph 2: View B + Your Opinion (5-7 sentences)
"On the other hand, [proponents of View B / others] contend that [main argument for View B]. [Explain the reasoning]. [Evidence]. I am more inclined to support this view because [your reason]. [Expand on why you find this more convincing]."
Conclusion (2-3 sentences)
"In conclusion, although [View A] has its merits, I am convinced that [View B] is the stronger position because [brief justification]. [Final thought on the topic]."
Template 3: Problem-Solution Essay
Introduction (2-3 sentences)
"[Paraphrase the problem described in the question]. This essay will examine the main causes of this issue and propose practical solutions to address it."
Body Paragraph 1: Problems/Causes (5-7 sentences)
"One of the primary causes of [problem] is [cause 1]. [Explain how this leads to the problem]. [Evidence or example]. Another contributing factor is [cause 2]. [Explain]. As a consequence, [describe the resulting impact]."
Body Paragraph 2: Solutions (5-7 sentences)
"To address [cause 1], [who — governments/schools/individuals] could [proposed solution]. This would [explain how it solves the problem]. Additionally, [second solution] would help tackle [cause 2] by [mechanism]. [Evidence that this approach works, e.g., 'Countries such as X have already implemented this with positive results']."
Conclusion (2-3 sentences)
"In conclusion, [problem] is driven primarily by [brief restatement of causes]. However, through [solution summary], it is possible to [desired outcome]."
Template 4: Advantage-Disadvantage Essay
There are two sub-types: (a) "What are the advantages and disadvantages?" (neutral discussion) and (b) "Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?" (requires your judgment).
Introduction (2-3 sentences)
"[Paraphrase the topic]. While there are clear benefits to [topic], there are also notable drawbacks. [For 'outweigh' questions, add: Overall, I believe the advantages/disadvantages outweigh the disadvantages/advantages]."
Body Paragraph 1: Advantages (5-7 sentences)
"The main advantage of [topic] is that [benefit 1]. [Explain why this matters]. For example, [concrete illustration]. Another benefit is [benefit 2], which [explanation of its significance]."
Body Paragraph 2: Disadvantages (5-7 sentences)
"However, there are significant disadvantages to consider. Firstly, [drawback 1] can lead to [negative consequence]. [Explain or give evidence]. Secondly, [drawback 2] is a concern because [reasoning]. [Example or elaboration]."
Conclusion (2-3 sentences)
For neutral questions: "In conclusion, [topic] presents both advantages, such as [brief list], and disadvantages, including [brief list]. [Individuals/societies] must weigh these carefully when [making decisions about the topic]."
For 'outweigh' questions: "In conclusion, although [topic] has some [drawbacks/benefits], I believe the [advantages/disadvantages] are more significant because [key reason]. [Final summary sentence]."
Template 5: Two-Part Question Essay
Two-part questions ask you two distinct (but related) questions. You must answer both, dedicating one body paragraph to each question.
Introduction (2-3 sentences)
"[Paraphrase the topic, incorporating both questions]. This essay will address both [Question 1 paraphrased] and [Question 2 paraphrased]."
Body Paragraph 1: Answer to Question 1 (5-7 sentences)
"Regarding [Question 1], [your answer]. [Explain]. The main reason for this is [cause/explanation]. For instance, [example]. [Additional supporting point if needed]."
Body Paragraph 2: Answer to Question 2 (5-7 sentences)
"As for [Question 2], I believe [your answer]. [Explain your reasoning]. [Evidence or example]. Furthermore, [additional point]. [Connect back to the topic]."
Conclusion (2-3 sentences)
"In conclusion, [brief answer to Q1] and [brief answer to Q2]. [One sentence tying both answers together into a coherent final thought]."
Universal Phrases for All Essay Types
For Introductions
- "It is often argued that..."
- "In recent years, there has been growing debate about..."
- "The question of whether... is a topic of considerable discussion."
- "[Topic] has become an increasingly important issue in modern society."
For Body Paragraphs
- "A compelling argument in favor of this is that..."
- "This is evidenced by the fact that..."
- "Research conducted by [institution/in country] has shown that..."
- "One notable example of this can be seen in..."
- "As a direct consequence of this,..."
- "This is further compounded by the fact that..."
For Conclusions
- "In conclusion, ..."
- "To summarize, ..."
- "Taking everything into account, ..."
- "All things considered, ..."
Avoid memorizing long lists of 'advanced' phrases. Examiners value natural, accurate language over forced complexity. Use two or three of these phrases naturally rather than cramming in ten awkwardly.
Time Management for Task 2
- 5 minutes: Read the question, identify the essay type, brainstorm ideas, and plan your structure
- 30 minutes: Write your essay paragraph by paragraph, following your chosen template
- 5 minutes: Proofread for grammar errors, missing articles, subject-verb agreement, and spelling
A common mistake is spending too long on Task 1 and leaving insufficient time for Task 2. Since Task 2 is worth double the marks, if you are running low on time, it is better to cut Task 1 short and protect your Task 2 time.
Practice writing full essays with WitPrep's AI Essay Grader. Get band score estimates and criterion-by-criterion feedback on Task Response, Coherence, Vocabulary, and Grammar — so you know exactly where to improve.
Key Takeaways
- There are five essay types — identify yours correctly before planning
- Every essay type uses a 4-paragraph structure: Introduction, Body 1, Body 2, Conclusion
- Use the fill-in-the-blank templates as structural guides, not scripts to memorize
- State your position clearly in both the introduction and conclusion
- Develop each body paragraph with 5-7 sentences using the PEEL method (Point, Explain, Example, Link)
- Allocate 40 minutes: 5 planning, 30 writing, 5 proofreading
- Aim for 270-300 words to stay safely above the 250-word minimum