IELTS Writing Task 2 Guide: Essay Types, Structure, Band 7 Sample

In IELTS Writing Task 2 you write an essay of at least 250 words in response to one question, and IELTS advises spending no more than 40 minutes on it. It matters more than Task 1: Task 2 counts twice as much towards your Writing band. The winning method is simple: identify the essay type, answer every part of the question, give a clear position, and build four paragraphs with one main idea each.

The format is the same idea in IELTS Academic and General Training: both ask for a discursive essay in full sentences, never notes or bullet points.

The five question types and what each one demands

Most Task 2 questions fall into five families. The wording tells you what the examiner expects to find in your essay.

The most common reason good writers lose marks is not grammar. It is answering a different question: describing advantages and disadvantages when the task asked which outweigh, or giving only your opinion in a discussion essay. Underline every question word before you plan.

Each type has its own page in Uzbek with a model essay; the opinion essay is a good first one to study: IELTS opinion essay namunasi. For "discuss both views", see the discussion essay guide.

A four-paragraph structure that fits every type

You don't need a clever structure. You need one the examiner can follow without effort.

1. Introduction (40–50 words). Paraphrase the topic in one sentence. Then give your answer or position in one sentence. No background history, no quotes.
2. Body paragraph 1 (90–110 words). One main idea: topic sentence, explanation, a specific example, and a sentence linking back to the question.
3. Body paragraph 2 (90–110 words). The second idea, the other view, or the solutions, built the same way.
4. Conclusion (30–40 words). Repeat your position in new words. Add nothing new.

That adds up to about 260–300 words, which is safely above the minimum without leaving you too little time to check. On the computer test the word count is shown on screen; on paper, count the words on one typical line and multiply.

A 40-minute timing plan

If you are running late at minute 32, write a two-sentence conclusion anyway. An essay without a conclusion usually reads as unfinished, and a clear final position is part of answering the task. For the last five minutes, use a fixed routine such as the IELTS Writing proofreading checklist.

A band 7-style practice essay with commentary

This essay was written by our editors as a practice example. The band is our estimate against the public descriptors, not an official IELTS score, and the question is an original practice question, not a real exam item.

Practice question: In many cities, people now order food, clothes and medicine online instead of visiting shops. Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?

Over the last decade, ordering everyday goods through apps has moved from a novelty to a habit in many cities, including Tashkent. Although this shift creates real problems for small shops and delivery workers, I believe its benefits for most households are greater.

The clearest advantage is time. A working parent who once spent Saturday morning moving between a pharmacy, a clothes market and a supermarket can now place three orders in ten minutes and spend those hours with their children. Online platforms also make prices transparent: when several pharmacies list the same medicine, customers can compare costs instantly rather than accepting whatever the nearest shop charges. For elderly or disabled people, home delivery is not a luxury but a way to stay independent.

The drawbacks, however, should not be dismissed. Small family shops, which cannot afford their own apps or high commission fees, may lose customers and eventually close, making neighbourhoods less lively. In addition, couriers often work long hours without stable contracts, so part of the convenience that customers enjoy is paid for by someone else's insecurity. Heavy delivery traffic also adds to congestion and packaging waste, which cities then have to manage.

In my view, these problems are serious but can be reduced by regulation, for instance by capping commission fees for small sellers and requiring platforms to insure their couriers. The main benefits, by contrast, cannot easily be replaced: saved time, fairer prices and greater independence for vulnerable people. Therefore, I am convinced that the advantages of online shopping outweigh its disadvantages, provided that the people who make it possible are protected.

(266 words)

Why this reads like a 7

• Task response. The question asks which side is stronger, and the essay says so in the introduction and the conclusion. The fourth paragraph explains why the benefits win (the problems can be reduced; the benefits cannot be replaced), which is the step many candidates skip.
• Coherence and cohesion. One idea per paragraph. Linking is varied and not mechanical: however, in addition, these problems, by contrast. Pronouns and phrases like this shift refer back clearly.
• Lexical resource. Precise, topic-specific words (novelty, transparent, commission fees, insecurity, capping) used naturally, not rare words forced in.
• Grammatical range and accuracy. Relative clauses, a passive (is paid for), a conditional (provided that), almost no errors.

What would push it higher

The second and third disadvantages are developed less than the first, and "regulation" could be illustrated with a more concrete case. A band 8 essay tends to support every main point as fully as the best one.

Uzbek and Russian speakers: where Task 2 marks leak

These come from the way Uzbek and Russian build sentences, and examiners see them constantly.

Also watch for long memorised openings such as "In this modern era of rapid technological development…". A sentence that could fit any question adds words but no ideas, and it takes time you need for your examples.

Exercise: name the type, then fix the sentence

Part A. Which of the five types is each practice question?

1. Some people think university should be free for everyone. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
2. More young people in Uzbekistan are moving to big cities. Why is this happening? Is it a positive or negative trend?
3. Some say children should learn English from the first grade; others believe they should start later. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
4. Traffic in big cities is getting worse. What problems does this cause, and what can be done?
5. Many people now work from home. Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
6. Tourism is growing in Samarkand and Bukhara. What are the benefits, and are there any risks? (Careful.)

Part B. Correct each sentence.

1. Internet has changed how students learn.
2. This problem can be solved, government must build more roads.
3. There are many advantage of learning online.
4. Parents should to control screen time.

Answers

1. Opinion: to what extent do you agree or disagree.
2. Two-part question: two direct questions, answer both.
3. Discussion: both views plus your own.
4. Problem / solution: problems first, then solutions linked to them.
5. Advantages / disadvantages with a verdict: say which side outweighs.
6. Two-part question worded as benefits and risks. Unlike item 5, it does not ask which side is stronger, so describe both and answer each question fully.
7. The internet has changed how students learn. The internet takes the.
8. This problem can be solved if the government builds more roads. Or split it into two sentences.
9. There are many advantages to learning online. Plural after many; advantages of/to both work.
10. Parents should control screen time. No to after modal verbs.

Scored 8 or more? Write the practice question from item 5 in 40 minutes, then compare your structure with the sample above.

Rehearse your arguments aloud before you write

Many candidates in Uzbekistan know the grammar but freeze when they need two clear ideas in five minutes. A quick fix is to say your plan out loud first. In BandMate you can explain your position on a Task 2 question to Bandi in a minute, get follow-up questions that test your reasons, and receive corrections on grammar and word choice. It will not give you an official band, but it trains the thinking that Task 2 rewards. If you haven't booked the test yet, the IELTS in Uzbekistan guide covers centres, fees and results.

Sources

• IELTS: Academic Writing test format (Task 2 length, timing, weighting, criteria; checked 1 October 2026)
• IELTS: General Training Writing test format (checked 1 October 2026)

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