IELTS Writing Task 2: 40-Minute Strategy from Plan to Proofread
Quick answer: Allocate the 40 Task 2 minutes as 5 minutes planning, 33 minutes writing (8.25 minutes per paragraph average), and 2 minutes proofreading. Use the planning phase to identify your thesis and 2–3 supporting arguments per body paragraph; never start writing without a plan.
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Why most candidates run out of time
Candidates spend too long on Task 1 (over 20 minutes) leaving 35–38 minutes for Task 2.
Within Task 2, they over-write the introduction (90 words instead of 50) and run dry by paragraph 3.
Some skip planning altogether, then waste 5 minutes mid-essay reorganising.
The 5+33+2 breakdown
5 minutes planning: read the prompt twice, identify essay type, brainstorm 2–3 supporting points per body paragraph, decide the thesis.
33 minutes writing: 6 minutes intro+thesis (50 words), 11 minutes body 1 (110–130 words), 11 minutes body 2 (110–130 words), 5 minutes conclusion (40–50 words).
2 minutes proofreading: scan for tense errors, missing 's' on third-person verbs, missing articles, spelling.
Planning checklist
Identify essay type: opinion, discussion, double-question, cause-effect, problem-solution.
Identify your thesis: one sentence that summarises your overall position or main argument.
Brainstorm body 1: topic sentence + 2 supporting reasons + 1 example.
Brainstorm body 2: topic sentence + 2 supporting reasons + 1 example.
Sketch the conclusion: 1 sentence summarising your thesis.
- Write the plan in shorthand ("B1: cost ↑ → solo living ↑")
- Plan in your dominant language if it's faster — translate when writing
- If your 5 minutes are up and you don't have a plan, force a thesis and start writing
Writing pace by paragraph
Introduction (6 minutes, 50 words): 2 sentences. First paraphrases the question; second states the thesis.
Body 1 (11 minutes, 120 words): 5–6 sentences. Topic sentence, 2–3 supporting points, 1 example, link.
Body 2 (11 minutes, 120 words): same structure as Body 1.
Conclusion (5 minutes, 50 words): 3 sentences (summary, supporting reason, recommendation).
Proofreading priorities
Priority 1: tense consistency. If you started in past simple, stay there.
Priority 2: third-person 's' on verbs. "He thinks" not "he think".
Priority 3: missing articles (a / an / the). Native readers notice immediately.
Priority 4: subject-verb agreement, especially with collective nouns.
Priority 5: spelling — only the words you know you struggle with. Don't try to verify every word.
Don't try to fix everything in 2 minutes. Focus on the top 3 priorities only.
What to do if you fall behind
If at minute 25 you've only finished body 1, abbreviate body 2 to 90 words and rush conclusion in 3 minutes.
Never skip the conclusion. Even 30 words is better than nothing.
Do not skip Task 1 to make up Task 2 time. Task 1 is one third of the Writing score.
Practice this with WitPrep
Reading about IELTS only gets you so far — band gains come from rubric-graded practice. Open the IELTS Writing coach to drill this exact skill with band-by-band feedback. If you have not yet baselined your level, start with the free IELTS diagnostic (free, ~10 min).
Related WitPrep reading
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I write Task 1 or Task 2 first?
Task 1 first. It's shorter and lower-stakes. Build momentum into Task 2.
Is 5 minutes enough for planning?
Yes if you've practised. Without practice, planning feels rushed but it's the highest-leverage 5 minutes you'll spend.
Can I plan in my native language?
Yes — if it's faster. Translate to English when writing.
What if I write more than 250 words?
Aim for 270–290. Above 320 wastes time without adding marks.
Should I count words at the end?
Quickly yes. Below 250 = penalty.
How fast should I write?
270 words in 33 minutes = 8 words per minute, well within native speaking pace. Don't over-think.
How we verify this content
Every fact on this page is sourced from primary IELTS publishers — IELTS.org, the British Council, IDP IELTS Australia, Cambridge Assessment English, or the relevant national immigration authority. Our IELTS team re-checks these sources at least once per quarter. Where we cite institution-specific scores, we link to that institution's own admissions or visa page. If you spot anything out of date, please contact our editors.