IELTS Writing Task 2

IELTS Writing Task 2 - Overview

You do not just claim yourself a Roman by visiting Rome, so is the concept of the IELTS writing task. If you are considering enrolling in an English-speaking university or professional registration, you will need to register for the IELTS Academic to attain your proficiency in English language certificate. If you plan to take the exam for migration purposes, you must do the IELTS General.

IELTS Writing Task 2 is the second phase of the writing test, and it asks you to produce an essay in response to the point of view, argument, or problem. Your essay should be written in a formal tone, be at least 250 words long, and take less than 40 minutes to complete. You will be given a topic and asked to answer it by expressing and justifying your perspective, addressing the topic, summarising details, and highlighting difficulties. You also need to identify potential solutions and defend your stand with arguments, reasons, relevant examples from your perspective, and knowledge or experience.

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What Is the Basic Structure for IELTS Writing Task 2 in the IELTS Exam?
IELTS Task 2 Essay Structures
IELTS Writing Task 2 Assessing Elements
What is IELTS General Writing Task 2
IELTS Academic Writing Task 2
The Distinction Between IELTS Academic Writing Task 2 and General Writing Task 2
Common IELTS Writing task 2 Topics
Sample IELTS Task 2 for 2023
FAQs

What Is the Basic Structure for IELTS Writing Task 2 in the IELTS Exam?

One thing to keep in mind about the structures is that they are not a magic wand that will automatically boost your score. They will assist you but keep in mind that they only account for a minor fraction of your overall score. These frameworks provide a sentence-by-sentence template for all primary Task 2 question types, making exam day easier.

Here are the most common IELTS Writing Task 2 questions:

Opinion (agree or disagree)
Advantages and Disadvantages
Problem and Solution
Discussion (Discuss both views)

IELTS Task 2 Essay Structures

Knowing the format your IELTS Writing Task 2 essay should follow is a crucial skill that might determine achieving the band score you deserve and not obtaining it.

With that in mind, the most prevalent IELTS Writing Task 2 structures are:

Introduction
Main Body (paragraph 1)
Main Body (paragraph 2)
Conclusion

All Task 2 essays have the same fundamental structure. The sentences you use in each paragraph will vary depending on the question.

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IELTS Writing Task 2 Assessing Elements

Students must compose a formal essay of at least 250 words for the offered essay themes in IELTS Writing Task 2. The IELTS Academic and IELTS General Writing Task 2 are interchangeable.
The following four factors are used to evaluate your answers:

Task response
Lexical resource
Coherence and Cohesion
Grammatical range and accuracy

Task Response

This criterion determines whether your response is relevant.
For example, if the essay topic is:
Question: Everyone should have a vegetarian diet because meat consumption might lead to significant health issues. What is your take?
If you agree, your task response should revolve around the health problems caused by eating meat.

Lexical Resources

This criterion examines your diction.
For instance, suppose the essay topic is:
Question: Everyone should have a vegetarian diet because meat consumption might lead to significant health issues. Yes or no, do you agree or disagree with this statement?
In your response, you should employ complex words in the appropriate context.

For example,
There are several compelling reasons to go vegan and quit eating meat. Normal rating
There are various compelling reasons to go vegan and quit eating meat.

Average
There are numerous reasons for us to go vegan and quit eating meat.
Excellent in terms of Lexical Resource

Coherence and Cohesion

This criterion evaluates the essay's organisation utilising a variety of linking terms.
Question: In certain countries, young people are encouraged to work or travel between finishing high school and beginning university studies for a year. Discuss the benefits and disadvantages for young people who choose to do so.

For Coherence

Each point must be explained in different paragraphs and not packed. The benefits must be described in one paragraph, while the disadvantages must be presented in the next. There is no coherence when things are mixed up. The first paragraph may explain the advantages, while the second paragraph can explain the disadvantages. That shows there is flow and coherence. But, if one paragraph carries both advantages and disadvantages. That means there is no flow in the essay.

For Cohesion
The concepts must be rationally connected.
If you elaborate on the advantages but using the other hand, A is an advantage. Suppose B is also an advantage and started with, on the other hand. Cohesion is bad.
If A is for advantage. While B, on the other hand, is a disadvantage, that means cohesion is good

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

This criterion examines your spelling and grammar.
Simple subject-verb agreement, for example. Correct, education is good. Education is good – incorrect.
Basic prepositions 10:00A.M – incorrect, Correct at 10:00 AM

Simple tenses include:

We would not be in trouble now if the administration had tackled this matter - Incorrect
If this administration had resolved this problem, we would not have been in trouble now – Correct

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What is IELTS General Writing Task 2

The General Training Writing test tasks are based on topics of general interest. You will be required to produce an essay responding to the point of view, argument, or problem in task 2. Compared to an Academic Writing assignment, the essay can have a significantly more personal tone. You will back up your argument with examples from your knowledge and experience.

Your ability to use English essay-writing norms to organise and link material cohesively, using correct and acceptable language to express your ideas and opinions, will be assessed.

IELTS Academic Writing Task 2

Writing Task 1 and Writing Task 2 comprise the IELTS Academic Writing section. The Academic Writing test has different questions than the General Training Writing test. A point of view, argument, or problem will be provided to you in Academic Writing Task 2. Environment, immigration, culture, and even technology are all topics. You can be asked to agree or disagree with a viewpoint or argument, discuss two competing viewpoints, write about the benefits and disadvantages, or explain a problem or its source and provide a remedy.

The Distinction Between IELTS Academic Writing Task 2 and General Writing Task 2

Many people who take the IELTS test are unsure which one to take, resulting in the never-ending IELTS Academic vs IELTS General debate. IELTS Academic essays will be slightly more complicated than IELTS General essays. The topics chosen will differ between the two. IELTS Academic will have more complex topics, whilst IELTS General would have fewer.

The short answer is that it depends on your reasons for taking IELTS.

You are to take the IELTS Academic if you want to study at an English-speaking university or register as a professional. If you take it for immigration purposes, you will need to take the IELTS General exam.

Many people are unsure which IELTS test they require! E2 has helped over 1.5 million students study for a variety of English proficiency exams, and there is no more excellent advice we can give than for students to spend time learning the format of the test they wish to take.

Let us go over the fundamentals of both IELTS categories so you can answer the question, "What is the difference between IELTS General and IELTS Academic?
The IELTS test has four parts:

IELTS Academic and IELTS General have the same Writing Task 2, Listening, and Speaking sections. The essay is the second writing task. You will be assigned a 40-minute essay question to respond to in at least 250 words. You will hear four audio recordings and must answer forty questions in the Listening test.
An examiner will interview you during the Speaking examination. The interview, a short presentation, and a conversation are all part of this test. It lasts 11-14 minutes.

Common IELTS Writing task 2 Topics

The most prevalent IELTS essay themes for task 2 questions are listed below.

Sport
Employment
Law
Health
Technology
Politics
Education
Language and culture
Crime
Environment

Sample IELTS Task 2 for 2023

Question:

A school of thought believes that all university students should be allowed to study whatever course they like. Another school of thought believed that they should only be granted access to study subjects that will benefit them in the future, such as those related to science and technology. Present and analyse the two views and give your opinion.

Many people believe that students should master topics in higher education that will help them in the future. However, there are numerous arguments opposing this notion. This essay investigates the debate and concludes.

On the one hand, proponents of studying disciplines that will be helpful in the future point to the numerous advantages that such a selection can provide students. One of the most compelling arguments is that future knowledge may be taught through university curricula designed by pedagogical specialists. They are adamant that the substance of university courses may help students improve not just their knowledge and abilities for a future living but also their potential for future career progression.

On the contrary, opponents of this viewpoint argue that students should select a unique subject of study in higher education based on their natural abilities, tendency, and genius. They place a greater emphasis on students' talent and creativity. They genuinely believe that if a student lacks the desire and ability to learn a particular subject in college, they will not be successful in the future, even if the field of study is relevant to the labour market.

Overall, it appears natural that a university student's study in a given topic should be based on several factors such as enthusiasm, skill, and creativity. When choosing a major in higher education. However, students must consider labour market demand while deciding on a major in higher education to avoid knowledge and skill mismatch in their future jobs.

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We believe this blog has helped you understand what IELTS Writing Task 2 entails and how important it is when you are planning on furthering more on your academics in an English language-speaking university.