IELTS General Training Writing Task 2: Templates and Strategies for Band 7

## What is IELTS General Training Writing Task 2 and how do I score Band 7? IELTS General Training Writing Task 2 is a 250-word essay completed in 40 minutes. It is worth two-thirds of your Writing band (Task 1 is the other third). The 2024 IELTS examiner report confirms that 95% of Task 2 prompts fall into four question types: opinion, discussion, problem-solution, and two-part questions ([IELTS.org Writing Trends Report, 2024][1]). To score Band 7, you need to address every part of the prompt with relevant ideas, organize the essay into 4-5 logical paragraphs, use a wide range of accurate vocabulary, and produce complex sentence structures with only occasional errors ([IELTS.org Band Descriptors, 2024][2]). ### Key statistics - **3.5 million IELTS tests taken in 2023** ([IELTS.org][3]) - **Global mean Writing band: 5.6** — the lowest of the four skills ([IELTS.org Test Performance, 2024][3]) - **Task 2 is worth 2/3 of the Writing band** (Task 1 = 1/3) ([IELTS.org Test Format][4]) - **Required word count: 250+ words.** Under-length essays are penalized ([IELTS.org][2]) ## The 4 Task 2 question types and their templates ### Type 1 — Opinion (Agree / Disagree) *Example:* "Some people think children should start school at age 4. To what extent do you agree or disagree?" **Template:** 1. **Introduction** — paraphrase the prompt + state your clear position 2. **Body 1** — first reason supporting your position + example 3. **Body 2** — second reason supporting your position + example 4. **Conclusion** — restate position + brief summary ### Type 2 — Discussion (Discuss both views and give your opinion) *Example:* "Some people prefer to live in a house, while others prefer an apartment. Discuss both views and give your own opinion." **Template:** 1. **Introduction** — paraphrase + indicate you'll discuss both, plus your view 2. **Body 1** — view A with reasons and an example 3. **Body 2** — view B with reasons and an example 4. **Conclusion** — restate the views + your position ### Type 3 — Problem-Solution *Example:* "Many people in cities suffer from poor air quality. What are the causes and what solutions can be implemented?" **Template:** 1. **Introduction** — paraphrase + signal causes + solutions 2. **Body 1** — 2 main causes with explanation 3. **Body 2** — 2 main solutions, each linked to a cause 4. **Conclusion** — summary + closing prediction ### Type 4 — Two-Part Question *Example:* "Some people work better at home than in an office. Why might this be? Does it have any disadvantages?" **Template:** 1. **Introduction** — paraphrase + signal both questions 2. **Body 1** — answer to question 1 (e.g., reasons) 3. **Body 2** — answer to question 2 (e.g., disadvantages) 4. **Conclusion** — summary of both answers ## A 40-minute time plan | Stage | Minutes | Goal | |-------|---------|------| | Read and decode prompt | 2 | Identify question type and key terms | | Brainstorm and outline | 5 | 2 main ideas per body paragraph | | Write introduction | 4 | 2-3 sentences | | Write body 1 | 11 | 4-5 sentences with example | | Write body 2 | 11 | 4-5 sentences with example | | Write conclusion | 4 | 2 sentences | | Proofread | 3 | Catch grammar and word-count errors | ## Band 7 vocabulary by topic | Topic | Sample Band 7 phrases | |-------|------------------------| | Education | "tailored curriculum," "rote memorization," "lifelong learning" | | Environment | "carbon footprint," "sustainable practices," "biodiversity loss" | | Health | "preventative healthcare," "sedentary lifestyle," "mental wellbeing" | | Technology | "automation," "digital divide," "screen time" | | Society | "social cohesion," "intergenerational gap," "civic engagement" | | Work | "remote working," "work-life balance," "job satisfaction" | ## Grammar moves that lift Band scores - **Mixed sentence types** — combine simple + compound + complex in every paragraph - **Conditional structures** — "If governments invested more in public transport, urban congestion would decrease." - **Passive voice for formality** — "It is widely believed that...," "Such measures are often viewed as..." - **Cause-effect connectors** — "consequently," "as a result," "owing to" > "The single most common reason candidates get stuck at Band 6 is repeating the same sentence structure throughout the essay." — Simon Corcoran, ex-IELTS examiner ([IELTS Simon blog, 2024][5]) ## Common questions about Task 2 **How many words should my essay be?** At least 250. Aim for 270-290. Essays under 250 words are penalized; essays over 320 risk grammatical errors from rushing. **Does Task 2 affect my Writing score more than Task 1?** Yes — Task 2 contributes two-thirds of the Writing band. Spend 40 minutes on Task 2 and 20 minutes on Task 1. **Can I use personal opinion in General Training Writing Task 2?** Yes — opinion essays explicitly require it. Even in problem-solution essays you can include first-person phrasing in the conclusion ("I believe the most effective solution would be..."). **Is the General Training Task 2 easier than Academic?** The structure and scoring criteria are identical. General Training topics tend to be slightly more familiar (everyday issues), while Academic topics can be more abstract. Difficulty is subjective. **How important are linking words?** Important, but overuse hurts. Examiners reward natural cohesion (pronouns, paragraphing, topic sentences) over mechanical linkers ("Firstly," "Secondly," "Lastly"). **Should I use idioms or fixed expressions?** Use them sparingly and only when natural. Forced idioms ("at the end of the day," "the bottom line is") often signal Band 6, not Band 7. ## Sources 1. IELTS.org, *Writing Task 2 Trends Report 2024.* https://www.ielts.org/for-researchers 2. IELTS.org, *IELTS Writing Band Descriptors (Task 2, Public Version).* https://www.ielts.org/-/media/pdfs/writing-band-descriptors-task-2.ashx 3. IELTS.org, *Test-Taker Performance 2024.* https://www.ielts.org/for-researchers/test-statistics 4. IELTS.org, *IELTS Test Format.* https://www.ielts.org/about-ielts/ielts-test-format 5. IELTS Simon, *Common Band 6 Mistakes,* Simon Corcoran, 2024. https://ielts-simon.com/ [1]: https://www.ielts.org/for-researchers [2]: https://www.ielts.org/-/media/pdfs/writing-band-descriptors-task-2.ashx [3]: https://www.ielts.org/for-researchers/test-statistics [4]: https://www.ielts.org/about-ielts/ielts-test-format [5]: https://ielts-simon.com/