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IELTS Opinion Essays: Structure, Topics and Sample Answers

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Updated On Aug 01, 2024

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The article provides guidance on writing IELTS opinion essays, emphasizing structure: an introduction, two body paragraphs supporting one view, and a conclusion. It includes examples, common mistakes to avoid, and tips for clear, concise essays.

Table of Contents

What is the ielts opinion essay format, ielts opinion essay sample answers, latest ielts opinion essay topics of 2024, top 3 common mistakes of ielts opinion essays, tips to answer ielts opinion essay questions.

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IELTS opinion essays mainly focus on agreeing or disagreeing with a particular fact or information. It presents two opposite views and you have to develop your argument supporting one view (strictly one!) You get 40 minutes to complete this task. You have to write at least 250 words on the topic given.

Given below are some examples of IELTS Writing Task 2 opinion essays along with their structure. So, let’s understand how to frame the IELTS opinion essay from the sample answers given in the blog!

If you’re gearing up to tackle the Opinion Essay in IELTS Writing Task 2, know that it’s all about writing your opinion on a specific topic with supporting examples. To make sure your essay ticks off all the criteria of a band 8+ essay, organizing it in the right way is key! You can also check tips to write an effective introduction in IELTS Writing Task 2 to present a great IELTS opinion essay!

Let’s now look at a proper format to learn the structuring of an IELTS opinion essay.

Introduction:

• Keep it short, usually around 2-3 sentences.
• Introduce the topic and clearly state your opinion.
• Provide a brief overview of the main points you will discuss in the body paragraphs.

Body Paragraphs (Usually 2 paragraphs):

• Each paragraph should focus on a single main idea that supports your opinion.
• Start with a topic sentence that introduces the main idea.
• Provide evidence, examples, and reasoning to support your main idea.
• Aim for coherence and cohesion within each paragraph by using appropriate transition words.
• Make sure to use appropriate IELTS Vocabulary and IELTS Grammar while explaining an idea in the body paragraphs.

Conclusion:

• Summarize the main points discussed in the body paragraphs.
• Restate your opinion, emphasizing its importance or relevance.
• Avoid introducing new ideas in the conclusion.

Given below is an example of an IELTS Writing task 2 o pinion essay. Let’s understand how to frame the essay from the ideas we have. Additionally, you can review the IELTS Writing Task 2 practice tests on a regular basis to achieve your desired band score.

Sample Question 1

In the future, nobody will buy printed newspapers or books because they will be able to read everything they want online without paying. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Given below is a brief outline of what to write in the essay after identifying the essay type.

Opinion Essay

Introduction

Paraphrase the topic of the essay using synonyms for the words used in the topic statement. Clearly state the view on the topic.

Body Paragraph 1

Technological improvements have increased the level of ease and convenience to a point where people can access news and information at the click of a button. This has led to print media becoming outdated.

Body Paragraph 2

The development of news websites and sites that freely distribute information and print media in a digital form has led to a trend of availing such services and content without paying.

Summarize the essay and re-state the opinion on the topic.

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Sample Answer

Presently, newspapers, books, journals, magazines, etc. are still actively used by a section of the global population. However, with the arrival of news sites and the availability of books, magazines and other forms of media online, totally free of cost, many believe that such forms of media are on their way to becoming outdated. I agree with this statement, and will explain it further with relevant examples in the essay.

It is a well-known fact that in this day and age if an individual wants to read a book or just go over the news of the day, the first step that they take is to search the internet. Devices such as smartphones and tablets have improved the time efficiency of searching for information online to such an extent that a person can access their preferred form of media in the comfort of their homes in a matter of minutes. Consequently, people have started to abandon their preference for print media due to the presence of much more convenient alternatives.

Additionally, the various forms of print media enjoyed by people can often be availed free of charge on several websites. For instance, most news organizations publish their daily news on their official website, which can be accessed by anyone. Also, some numerous sites and databases provide popular books, journals and magazines in a digital form to the public for a nominal subscription fee or sometimes even for free, leading to a majority of readers of such forms of media shifting away from buying hard copies.

Nevertheless, there is still a sizable chunk of the population that enjoys the conventional forms of print media. That being said, with the cost-effective nature of making such information and content available online, organizations will soon completely shift to internet-based services.

In conclusion, I would like to say that people always prefer the more comfortable alternative that is available. Therefore, it can be safely said that in the coming years, there will be a complete shift from traditional print media to online media services and products.

Sample Question 2

Some people say that international sporting events contribute greatly to peace and stability in the world. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Paraphrase the topic sentence using synonyms.

Mention the view on the topic.

Body Paragraphs

International sports tournaments are events where teams and the general public of various countries come together and collectively participate in the event.

Sports events, especially cricket and football help distract the minds of the citizens from the ongoing difficulties in their country and enjoy these events.

Summarize the essay and state the final view.

Sports has always been a magnificent platform for the finest talents of a country to showcase their skills and represent their nation. At the same time, sports is also one of the few occasions where every citizen of the country unites in support of their favourite teams. It is considered by many that sports are a great approach to maintain stability among countries. This essay will elaborate on the given topic and justify why sports can successfully bring and preserve global peace.

One of the greatest characteristics of any popular sporting event is that supporters of every team involved in the tournament almost always attend the matches that are organized in their cities. Some veteran fans even travel to different parts of the country to witness a match between their favourite teams. These events also unite the populace of a nation as every patriotic individual prays for the success of their national team. For instance, the entire nation wishes for the victory of their national team in the Olympic Games as winning an Olympic Medal is one of the most prestigious honours that can be bestowed upon a country.

It is a well-known fact that the people of a country collectively face several challenges on a day-to-day basis. These issues can be caused by numerous factors and are the typical difficulties that ordinary citizens have to overcome. Sports help people enjoy a few moments of excitement and take a break from the monotony of everyday life.

That being said, sometimes the passion of overenthusiastic sports fans ends up leading to harmful and conflicting situations among communities. Nevertheless, the overall impact of sports on our lives is undoubtedly positive.

Finally, sports are one of the aspects of human life that bind a whole community together. This is enough evidence to understand that sports help maintain peace and stability in a nation.

Ready to grab the latest IELTS writing task 2 question papers of 2024?

Sample Question 3

Our personalities are predetermined as a result of our genes before we are born and there is nothing that can be done to change our character traits. To what extent do you agree?

Paraphrase the topic and mention the view.

Genetics are only a part of the entire list of factors that affect a person’s personality.

One of the most important influences on an individual’s personality is their childhood and upbringing.

Summarize the essay and mention the final view in brief.

Even between small periods of time, there are subtle variabilities in our disposition. Such alterations are quite natural and are a part of a human being’s existence. However, it is often assumed that our personality is entirely dependent on genetics. The following paragraphs will explore the different aspects of personality and justify why genetics are not the only factor influencing our personality.

An individual has countless experiences in their life from childhood to adulthood and finally until death. Every one of these experiences has an impact on a person’s mind, no matter how giant or small. The kind of people present in a person’s immediate surroundings also has a huge influence on their nature and characteristics. Thus, it can be safely surmised that a person’s genes are not the only contributing factor when it comes to personality.

One of the most significant influences on our personality is our childhood experiences and the teachings of our parents. Children are always known to follow in the footsteps of their parents. Thus, if the parents of a child are successful in teaching their children the right values and morals, they are bound to grow into responsible and decent individuals.

It is true that the personality traits of an individual are determined by the features of their parents. Nevertheless, these traits can be altered over the course of many years and different experiences.

In conclusion, genetics affect our personalities in a trivial manner as compared to all the other aspects of our temperament. That being said, our life experiences and learnings are the consequential factors in developing our character.

A few IELTS Writing Task 2 sample essay of opinion essay topics are listed down below, which you can practice. These opinion essay questions may appear in the actual examination.

• In the future, it seems more difficult to live on Earth. Some people think more money should be spent on researching another planet to live on, such as Mars. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
• Many people say that the only way to guarantee a good job is to complete a course in university education. Others claim that it is better to start work after school and gain experience in the world of work. How far do you agree or disagree with the above views?
• Although more and more people read the news on the internet, newspapers will remain the most important source of news for the majority of people. Do you agree or disagree?
• Students in schools and universities learn more from their teachers than through other means such as the Internet, libraries, and TV. To what extent you agree or disagree?
• Nowadays university education is very expensive. Some people say that universities should reduce their fees, especially for the less fortunate students or for those coming from rural areas. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
• Some people think that governments must insist on preserving the traditional appearance of old buildings undergoing renovation or redevelopment. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the statement?
• Some people believe that international trade and communication with other countries is a positive trend, while others think it is harmful to nations and they might lose their identities. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give your own opinion and relevant examples.
• Many people believe that schools should teach children to become good citizens and workers rather than independent individuals. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Give your own opinion and relevant examples.
• People should follow the customs and traditions when they start to live in a new country. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• It is impossible to help all people in the world, so governments should only focus on people in their own countries. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Prevention is better than cure. Do you agree or disagree that out of the country’s health budget, a large proportion should be diverted from treatment to spending on health education and preventive measures?

In IELTS opinion essays, it’s easy to make some common mistakes that can lower your IELTS band score . Getting aware of them is the key to not committing them knowingly or unknowingly while you prepare! The top 3 common mistakes to avoid are:

• Not giving a clear opinion.
• Presenting arguments for both sides of the issue.
• Failing to support your opinion with well-defined reasons and examples.

In the IELTS opinion essays, you need to write your opinion about a topic and back it up with proof and examples. If you use a clear structure and good writing methods, you can improve your chances of doing well!

• Spend 5 minutes on a mind map before writing.
• Stick to one viewpoint throughout the essay.
• Use a single main idea to support the topic in each of the two body paragraphs.
• Express your opinion throughout the essay, not just in the conclusion.
• Keep the introduction short, a maximum of 50 words.
• Ensure each body paragraph explains a main idea within 100 words.
• The conclusion should be shorter than the introduction.
• Write a complete essay following the given structure.
• Aim for a word count of 280 words or less.

Here are the 10 Examples for the Opinion Essay Topics IELTS:

Also check:

• Tips to write great writing essay
• How to get band 8 in IELTS Writing Task 2
• IELTS Writing recent actual test
• IELTS 2024 Study Plan for 1 month (30 Days) / 15 Days / 7 Days

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the structure for writing the introduction for an opinion essay?

Is it mandatory to state my opinion in the introduction? Can I skip it and introduce my opinion in the body paragraphs?

What are the words that I can use to state my opinion?

Can I underline the important sentences, to attract examiner’s attention?

Is it mandatory to write the essay in first person?

Practice IELTS Writing Task 2 based on Essay types

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How to Plan & Write IELTS Opinion Essays

IELTS opinion essays, also known as ‘agree or disagree’ essays, come up frequently in the writing exam. In this lesson, I’m going to show you how to plan and write them step-by-step.

Here’s what we’ll be covering:

• 3 Common mistakes
• Essay structure
• How to plan
• How to write an introduction
• How to write main body paragraphs
• How to write a conclusion

Click the links to see lessons on each of these Task 2 essay writing topics. 

Once you understand the process, practice on past questions. Take your time at first and gradually speed up until you can plan and write an essay of at least 250 words in the 40 minutes allowed in the exam.

The Question

The first part of the question for an IELTS opinion essay will be a statement. You will then be asked to give your own opinion about the statement. Here is some typical wording that might be used:

• What is your opinion?
• Do you agree or disagree?
• To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Want  to watch and listen to this lesson?

Click on this video.

Here's a question from a past test paper.

A big salary is much more important than job satisfaction.  

Do you agree or disagree?  

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

I’ll be using this question to guide you through the process of planning and writing an IELTS opinion essay.

3 Common Mistakes

These three errors are common in IELTS opinion essays.

• Not stating an opinion.
• Giving arguments for both views.
• Not supporting your opinion with clear reasons.

The most common mistake that students make is not giving an opinion. The question will clearly state that you must choose one side of the argument. If you fail to do this, you will get a low score for task achievement.

It doesn’t matter which side of the argument you take or even, that you agree with it. Choose the one you can develop the best argument for.

Make sure that you don’t change your opinion part way through the essay, and don’t give reasons for the opposing view.

Essay Structure

Now let’s look at a simple structure you can use to write opinion essays. It’s not the only possible structure but it’s the one I recommend because it’s easy to learn and will enable you to quickly plan and write a high-level essay.

1)  Introduction

• Paraphrase the question
• Give your opinion
• State two supporting reasons

2)  Main body paragraph 1

• Topic sentence – outline 1st reason for supporting this view
• Explanation – explain this idea
• Example – give an example  or expand the idea

3)  Main body paragraph 2

• Topic sentence – outline 2nd reason for supporting this view
• Example – give an example or expand the idea

4)  Conclusion

• Summarise opinion and key reasons

This structure will give us a well-balanced essay with 4 paragraphs.

We now need some ideas to add into the structure and we’ll have everything we need for our essay.

How To Plan IELTS Opinion Essays

# 1  decide on your opinion.

The question I've chosen to work on is quite straightforward and easy to understand so we don’t need to spend time analysing it. The first task, then, is to decide on our opinion.

Here’s the question again:

A big salary is much more important than job satisfaction.

Do you agree or disagree?  

For this essay, I’m going to disagree with the statement and argue that job satisfaction is more important than a big salary.

# 2  Generate ideas

The second task is to generate some ideas to write about.

Since I‘m going to argue that job satisfaction is more important than a large salary, I need ideas to support this view.

There are several different ways to think up ideas. I cover them fully on the  IELTS Essay Planning  page.

With this particular question, I immediately thought of a couple of examples of situations where job satisfaction did prove to be more important than a high salary, so I’m going to use the ‘example method’ of generating ideas.

Once you’ve thought of an example or two, ideas to include in your essay should come to you easily.

You might want to try this yourself before reading on for my ideas.

Here are my examples and some ideas they generated.

Both the examples are partly true but I've adapted them to better fit the essay. It's fine to do this as the examiner won't check your facts.

• Uncle Barry – boasted about high salary but hated his job. Nervous breakdown – lost job & can’t work.
• Me – gave up teaching. Now enjoy my work and am much more relaxed and happy even though I earn much less money.
• High-salary jobs are generally more stressful
• Stress leads to ill health, both mental and physical
• 40 hours a week at work – a third of the day
• Money doesn’t bring happiness
• Better quality of life
• Sense of fulfilment
• Less stressed – healthier and happier

I’ve got more ideas here than I need so I’m going to pick two to develop in the essay – one for each of the main body paragraphs.

Idea 1 – High-salary jobs are generally more stressful and can lead to ill health.

Idea 2 – Job satisfaction gives a sense of fulfilment.

We’re almost ready to start writing our IELTS opinion essay but first, we have one other small task to do.

# 3  Vocabulary

In an IELTS essay, it’s important to be able to say the same things in different ways, either by paraphrasing and/or using synonyms. During the planning stage, quickly jot down a few synonyms of key words you could use to save you having to stop and think of the right language while you’re writing.

For example:

satisfaction – fulfilment, achievement, sense of accomplishment, content, sense of well-being

salary – income, wages, pay, earnings

important – significant, valued, has more meaning

job – work, employment, position

With that done, we can focus on the first paragraph of the essay – the introduction.

How To Write an Introduction

A good introduction has a simple 3 part structure:

1)  Paraphrased question

2)  Thesis statement

3)  outline statement.

An introduction should:

• Have 2-3 sentences
• Be 40-60 words long
• Take 5 minutes to write

1)  Paraphrase the question

Start your introduction by paraphrasing the question.

     Question:  A big salary is much more important than job satisfaction.

                       Do you agree or disagree?  

Paraphrased question:  

It is argued that earning lots of money has more significance to people than being content in their work.

Note that I’ve used some of the synonyms I listed, although it’s fine to repeat one or two words if you need to. Above all, your language must sound natural.

In IELTS opinion essays, the thesis statement is where you state your opinion. For example,

    Thesis statement:  

    This essay totally disagrees with that statement.

That’s all you need to say.

If you decided to agree with the statement, you would write:

'This essay completely agrees with that statement.'

Finally in the introduction, you must outline the two main points (ideas 1 and 2 above) that you’ll cover in the rest of the essay. Do it in one sentence, or you can add them onto the end of the thesis statement if appropriate.

Outl ine statement:  

I believe that people are increasingly concerned about the risk of stress-related ill-health frequently experienced by people in highly paid positions and they care more about feeling fulfilled at work.

So, let’s bring the three elements of our introduction together.

     Introduction

This introduction achieves three important functions:

• It shows the examiner that you understand the question.
• It acts as a guide to the examiner as to what your essay is about.
• It also helps to keep you focused and on track as you write.

The two ideas in your introduction will become your two main body paragraphs.

Main body paragraph 1  – concerns about the risk of stress-related ill-health

Main body paragraph 2  – a sense of fulfilment at work

How To Write Main Body Paragraphs

The structure of a good main body paragraph has 3 parts:

• Topic sentence
• Explanation

If you can’t think of an example, you can add further supporting ideas but we already have our two examples so that’s not an issue here.

A common problem when writing main body paragraphs for IELTS opinion essays is having too many ideas. Again, we have already chosen the two ideas we are going to develop, so we are all set to start writing.

You can see how important the planning stage is and how it makes the actual writing of the essay far quicker and easier.

Main Body Paragraph 1

The  topic sentence  summarises the main idea of the paragraph. That’s all it needs to do so it doesn’t have to be complicated.

It plays an important role in ensuring that your ideas flow logically from one to another. It does this by acting as a signpost for what is to come next, that is, what the paragraph will be about.

If you maintain a clear development of ideas throughout your essay, you will get high marks for task achievement and cohesion and coherence.

We’ll now take the idea for our first main body paragraph and create our topic sentence.

Main idea 1  – concerns about the risk of stress-related ill-health

Topic sentence:  

Employees earning a large income are generally under significant mental and emotional pressure to perform well and achieve targets.

Next, we must write an  explanation sentence . This explains to the examiner what we mean. It expands on our first idea.

Explanation sentence: 

This causes many individuals to suffer high levels of stress which can result in both mental and physical health problems.

Finally, we add an  example  to support our main point. I thought of this in the planning stage so I have it ready to use.

If you can’t think of a real example, it’s fine to make one up, as long as it’s believable. The examiner isn’t going to check your facts.

Example sentence:

This happened to my uncle. He used to boast about his huge salary but the boss kept increasing his sales targets and in the end, the stress became too great and he had a nervous breakdown. Now he regrets being driven by the money.

That’s the 3 parts of our first main body paragraph complete. Here’s the finished paragraph.

We now follow the same process for our second main body paragraph.

Main Body Paragraph 2

Main idea 2  – Job satisfaction gives a sense of fulfilment.

First, we write the  topic sentence  to summarise the main idea.

Topic sentence:

Having a job that they enjoy doing, and in which they feel valued, is a major concern for most of the modern workforce.

Now for the  explanation sentence  to explain this idea.

Explanation sentence:

A significant number of people are giving up well-paid positions to do jobs which pay less but that they find more enjoyable and less stressful.

Finally, an  example  to support our main point. As before, I thought of this in the planning stage so just need to form it into a couple of sentences.

I am an example of this myself. A year ago I left the teaching profession because the workload had become too great and I am now a gardener. I feel really fulfilled in this work and I am much more relaxed and happy even though I earn far less money.

That’s the 3 parts of our second main body paragraph complete. Here’s the finished paragraph.

Now we need a conclusion and our IELTS opinion essay is done.

How To Write a Conclusion

Conclusions to IELTS opinion essays should do two things:

• Summarise the main points
• State your opinion

This can generally be done in a single sentence.

If you are below the minimum 250 words after you’ve written your conclusion, you can add an additional prediction or recommendation statement.

Our essay currently has 233 words so we’re on target and don’t need this extra sentence but you can learn more about how to write a prediction or recommendation statement for IELTS opinion essays on the Task 2 Conclusions page.

The conclusion is the easiest sentence in the essay to write but one of the most important.

A good conclusion will:

• Neatly end the essay
• Link all your ideas together
• Sum up your argument or opinion
• Answer the question

If you achieve this, you’ll improve your score for both task achievement and cohesion and coherence which together make up 50% of the overall marks. Without a conclusion, you’ll score below band 6 for task achievement.

You can start almost any final paragraph of an IELTS opinion essay with the words:

• In conclusion

        or

• To conclude

Now all you need to do is briefly summarise the main ideas into one sentence.

Here’s a top tip . Go back and read the introduction to the essay because this is also a summary of the essay. It outlines what you are going to write about.

To create a great conclusion, you simply have to paraphrase the introduction. Let’s give it a go.

Introduction:

Here is the same information formed into a conclusion:

That’s it. We’ve completed our essay. Here it is with the 4 paragraphs put together.

    Question:

   A big salary is much more important than job satisfaction.

   Do you agree or disagree?

Finished IELTS opinion essay.

Go through this lesson as many times as you need to in order to fully understand it and put in lots of practice writing IELTS opinion essays from past exam questions. Practice is the only way to improve your skills.

5 More Model IELTS Opinion Essays

This pack contains another step-by-step lesson and  model essay. P lus 4 additional opinion essay questions with model answers.

Carefully created to help you achieve 7+ in your Writing test.

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More help with ielts opinion essays & other task 2 essays.

IELTS Writing Task 2  – T he format, the 5 question types, the 5 step essay writing strategy & sample questions. All the key information you need to know.

The 5 Types of Task 2 Essay   – How to recognise the 5 different types of Task 2 essays. 15 sample questions to study and a simple planning structure for each essay type.

Understanding Task 2 Questions  – How to quickly and easily analyse and understand IELTS Writing Task 2 questions.

How To Plan a Task 2 Essay  – Discover why essay planning is essential & learn a simple 4 step strategy, the 4 part essay structure & 4 methods of generating ideas.

How To Write a Task 2 Introduction  – Find out why a good introduction is essential. Learn how to write one using a simple 3 part strategy & discover 4 common mistakes to avoid.

How To Write Task 2 Main Body Paragraphs  – Learn the simple 3 part structure for writing great main body paragraphs and also, 3 common mistakes to avoid. 

How To Write Task 2 Conclusions  – Learn the easy way to write the perfect conclusion for a Task 2 essay. Also discover 4 common mistakes to avoid.

Task 2 Marking Criteria  – Find out how to meet the marking criteria in Task 2. See examples of good and poor answers & learn some common mistakes to avoid.

The 5 Task 2 Essay Types:

Step-by-step instructions on how to plan & write high-level essays. Model answers & common mistakes to avoid.

   Opinion Essays

   Discussion Essays

  Problem Solution Essays

  Advantages & Disadvantages Essays

  Double Question Essays

Other Related Pages

IELTS Writing Test  – Understand the format & marking criteria, know what skills are assessed & learn the difference between the Academic & General writing tests.

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IELTS Writing Task 2: Opinion Essays- Benchmark IELTS

• Essay Types
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• Problem Solution
• Essay Length

Opinion essays are a very common writing task 2 essay type. As you would expect from the name, you need to write a well-structured IELTS writing essay topics that give your opinion. We’ve put together a guide with everything you need to know to write a great IELTS writing task 2 opinion essay. Let’s get started!

Table of Contents

1.1 understanding the question, 1.2 example opinion questions.

• Essay Structure for Opinion Essays
• 3.1 Identify key words and phrases

3.2 Organise your ideas

3.3 identify vocabulary, 4.1 introduction, 4.2 main body paragraphs, 4.3 conclusion.

• 5.1 Complete the sample opinion essay

5.2 Opinion Sample Essay

1. opinion essay overview.

An opinion essay is also known as an agree or disagree essay . As with all writing task 2 essays, you will have 40 minutes to write at least 250 words .

Read on to find out how to produce a great opinion essay.

It is important that you first understand what writing task 2 essay question you have been given before you start writing. The type of essay question you get will slightly change the structure of your essay.

Remember, there are five main types of writing task 2 questions:

• Advantage/disadvantage
• Double question
• Problem/solution

You will be given an IELTS statement and a question . Here are some common questions/sentence starters that tell you that you have been given an opinion essay:

• What is your opinion
• Do you think…

To what extent do you agree?

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

• Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

The main aims of this type of essay are:

• Choose one side of the argument
• To state your opinion about a given topic
• Support your opinion with clear reasons and examples

A common mistake test takers make when writing an opinion essay is that they treat it like an advantage/disadvantage essay and try to write about both sides of the argument in detail (see our guide on advantage/disadvantage essays and compare the difference).

For an opinion essay, you need to pick a side : it does not matter which side of the argument you choose, just pick the one that you can develop the best argument for.

However, you should briefly acknowledge the other side of the argument, and will show you how to do this in your introduction , main body paragraphs, and conclusion .

You should not give reasons to support the opposing argument , only support one side with reasons and examples.

Make it clear to the examiner what your opinion is from the beginning to the end of your essay (this is called a thesis-led approach: leading with your opinion).

Here are some example opinion writing task 2 questions to help you recognize them in the IELTS exam:

Some people think that more money should be spent on protecting endangered species while others think it is a waste of valuable money.

What is your opinion?

Also, read the following IELTS Essay Writing Guides

• IELTS Discussion Type Questions
• Double Question IELTS Essay Topics
• IELTS Advantage Disadvantage Essay Type
• Problem Solution IELTS Writing Task Statement

Systems of funding university education are different from country to country. While some countries charge students for studying at university, others offer university education for free.

Do you think students should pay for higher education?

Every school system in the world includes regular tests and exams, and many people think that it is important for students to take lots of exams.

Children should not start school until the age of six or seven because they need to have more time to play and develop before they go to school.

Scientists and technology experts seem to be more valued by modern society than musicians and artists.

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2. Essay Structure for Opinion Essays

Although there is more than one way you could choose to structure your essay, we have provided you with a foolproof structure you can always use for opinion essays to score highly in Coherence and cohesion , as well as address all parts of the task to do well in Task achievement :

3. Planning your Opinion Essay

Don’t skip this step! Taking 5 minutes to plan your essay could be the difference between your desired score and a missed opportunity.

3.1 Identify keywords and phrases

By identifying the topic of your essay, you are making sure that you are going to write about the correct topic and not go off-course. Test takers that rush and panic can make the mistake of writing about a completely different topic to the one they have been asked to write about. Don’t be one of those test taskers and make a plan !

Let’s take a look at the question for our sample answer where we have underlined the topic words:

The topic words are underlined and show the general topic of this essay question is protecting endangered species .

Now that we have identified the topic sentence, we should also look for any other keywords or phrases that give more information about the topic. Look at the words in bold below:

Some people think that more money should be spent on protecting endangered species while others think it is a waste of valuable money .

So this question is not only asking you to give your opinion on protecting endangered species, but also the amount of money that is spent on this cause.

A test taker that had only addressed the first point would likely have scored poorly in Task achievement.

There are so many ways you could choose to organize your ideas. We have chosen to note down our ideas by paragraph:

We give more note taking and idea generation tips in  Master Guide for IELTS writing task 2 .

If any useful IELTS vocabulary for writing comes to mind during the planning process, it is useful to write it down so you don’t forget (remember to cross out any notes or planning before the end of the 40 minutes so the examiner does not mark this as your essay).

4. Writing your Opinion Essay

Paraphrasing means being able to write something in your own words without changing the meaning . This is an essential skill needed for the IELTS exam, especially writing task 2.

There is no one right way to paraphrase an IELTS statement. You could choose to use synonyms or parallel expressions (phrases with more than one word but have the same meaning). You could also change the sentence structure, but make sure it is still grammatically correct. Another paraphrase technique is to change a word class, for example, a noun to a verb form.

Take a look at our example, can you see the main changes we have made?

Although this is a formal essay, you are still allowed the use of the first person ‘I’ and ‘my’, you will need to use this when giving your opinion (just don’t over-do it).

Notice that in this example, the opinion has been clearly stated whilst presenting both sides of the argument :

Opinion: However, my view is that more government funding should be used for wildlife conservation.

Other side of the argument:  It is argued by some that the protection of endangered animals is wasteful.

Not all sample essays will show this, but you can choose to briefly state what your essay will do, for example:

This essay will explain my opinion in more detail.

Now let’s move on to the main body paragraphs.

A topic sentence is usually found at the beginning of your paragraph. This should give the reader the main idea of your paragraph in one sentence.

Here are two examples taken from the sample answer:

• One reason that I believe more money should be spent on the conservation of wildlife is that animals are an essential part of maintaining the health of an ecosystem.
• Another reason to support spending on wildlife protection is that it also benefits humanity.

The start of your sentence indicates to the reader that you are clearly stating a reason for your opinion and that you are going to develop this idea throughout the paragraph.

You could also choose to start your topic sentence with the following structures:

• One reason that I believe…
• One argument in favor of… is that…
• The main reason that I think…
• Another reason to second…. (note that second here means ‘ to agree with an idea ’ )

You could also use the grammatical structure ‘ Not only… but also…’ to avoid repetition and put emphasis on the second reason, for example:

Not only does spending money on conservation help the animal kingdom, but it also benefits society as a whole.

Not only will preventing the extinction of species help the animals themselves, but it will also have a positive effect on the quality of air, water, and agricultural land.

As this is an opinion essay, it is essential that you use a range of phrases to give your opinion. Far too often, candidates just repeat the phrase ‘In my opinion…’ Here are some other sentence starters you can use to impress the examiner

• My point is that…
• I am of the opinion that…
• My argument is that…
• As far as I am concerned,…
• In my view…

Your conclusion is a very important part of your essay. You need to restate your opinion (in different words than your introduction) as well as choose the most convincing argument from your essay.

Remember to also briefly mention the other side of the argument to show the examiner that you understand there are two sides and you have clearly chosen one.

Here is a useful structure to do this:

Although it is true that… on balance I believe that/ I am of the view that/ another opinion phrase)…

And here is the full example from our sample essay :

… although it is true that there are valuable uses for funding that could aid environmental protection, on balance I am of the opinion that governments should invest in the protection of endangered species.

5. Example Opinion Essay and Exercise

Now it’s time to test your knowledge about IELTS writing task 2 opinion essays. We’ve created a model answer, but removed some of the keywords and phrases.

You need to select the correct missing words and complete the model answer. Good luck!

5.1 Complete the Sample Opinion Essay

These days, the number of species facing extinction is growing, and as a result,  a larger number of people are becoming involved in environmental issues.  It is argued by some that the protection of endangered animals is wasteful. However, my view is that more government funding should be used for wildlife conservation. This essay will explain my opinion in more detail.

One reason that I believe more money should be spent on the conservation of wildlife is that animals are an essential part of maintaining the health of an ecosystem. If a species becomes endangered, it signals that an ecosystem is out of balance. As a result, the loss of one species may trigger the loss of others and may lead to irreversible consequences for the animal kingdom.

Another reason to support spending on wildlife protection is that it also benefits humanity. For example, if the ecosystem is out of balance then the health of the environment is also negatively affected, for example, the loss of wildlife can affect the quality of clean water and air for a population. In addition, the fertility of agricultural land may also be reduced with the loss of certain species. Having said that, there are those that argue that this is a costly and inefficient use of public funds. They think that money would be better spent on other schemes such as renewable energy projects.

In conclusion, having looked at the topic in detail, although it is true that there are valuable uses for funding that could aid environmental protection, on balance I am of the opinion that governments should invest in the protection of endangered species. The main reason is that the protection of wildlife will not only benefit the animal kingdom, but also the human race and the environment we inhabit.

2 thoughts on “IELTS Writing Task 2: Opinion Essays- Benchmark IELTS”

Hey. Thanks for a great material. I have one concern though. In the ” common questions in opinion essay” part, you mentioned this question ” Discuss both view and give your opinion.” But isn’t it included to the “Discussion essays”??

Hi, I just wanted to ask this question cuz it made to think about it thoroughly.

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How to write an IELTS opinion essay

Ielts opinion essay: structure, model answer, and analysis..

Updated: February 2023

There are 5 types of essays in IELTS writing task 2 and a common one is an opinion essay.

So how do you know if it is an opinion essay?. You will first need to study the instruction words. These words tell you what you should write about and this should be the first step to take before you even begin to plan. Analyse the task and especially the instruction words so you do not go off-topic or write a different essay altogether.

Here are 2 essay tasks below, which one do you think is the opinion essay?

1.  Most people agree that money cannot buy happiness. Why is happiness difficult to define? How can people achieve happiness? 2.  Some people believe that nowadays we have too many choices. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Looking at the instruction words we can see that the second one is an opinion essay as it asks ‘ To what extent do you agree or disagree? ‘

The first task is called a ‘Two-part question essay’ or sometimes called a ‘Direct question essay’.

Instruction words

Opinion essays will have various instruction words such as:

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Do you agree or disagree?

What is your opinion?

Do you think…?

What do you think….?

In your opinion what is ….?

In some cases the instruction words ask your opinion it may be a discussion essay such as:

‘Discuss both views and give your own opinion’ 

The structure of a discussion essay is different from an opinion essay as you will need to explain peoples views before you go into your own opinion.

This task below is a 2 part question essay and the second question asks your opinion.

Most people agree that money cannot buy happiness. Why is happiness difficult to define? How can people achieve happiness?

The opinion essay that I am referring to asks ‘ To what extent do you agree or disagree?’ means how much do you agree/disagree? , do you completely agree/disagree?  or somewhat agree/disagree?  or do you neither agree nor disagree?

You can write in your thesis statement something like:  ‘ I completely agree because…..’ or if you don’t agree, something like: ‘ I absolutely disagree because…..’

What is an effective opinion essay structure?

There is no magic Band 9 structure but my students have found that the structure below works well in an opinion essay.

Tips on structure:

• The main body paragraphs will cover the reasons for your opinion; however, do not list ideas just use one central idea and explain and support it.
• Don’t wait until the conclusion to give your opinion. It must be throughout the whole essay .
• Don’t give 2 different opinions. Do not agree then disagree as it will confuse the examiner. You can balance it with why someone would hold an opposing view but it is not a discussion essay.
• I advise keeping the introduction under 60 words , each body paragraph should be approximately 90 to 105 words , the conclusion needs to be shorter than the introduction and no new ideas should be added to the conclusion
• Aim for between 270 to 295 words , over 300 words is not realistic as you only have 40 minutes to write the essay .

Which body paragraph is better?

Take a look at these 2 main body one paragraphs to the task below, what do you think will score higher?

Task question:

Some people believe that nowadays we have too many choices . To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

A long time ago people used to go to market places and they bought basic daily necessities, now people can buy online and go to many high street shops. In addition, we can choose any hotel we like at cheap prices. Also, businesses compete with each other which means customers can buy items at low cost as well as a bigger selection of goods. Furthermore, the economy benefits because people can select from so many different products. For example, Amazon.com has millions of products that are much cheaper than buying at a shopping mall.

Admittedly, these days there are far too many choices which can be overwhelming; however, I think that for consumers this is an advantage because it forces businesses to compete with each other. This means that shoppers can benefit greatly from lower prices. For example, over the past two decades, Ryanair and EasyJet budget airlines have considerably reduced the cost of airfares for flights all over Europe. Before this, there was only one airline to choose from at exorbitant costs. Presently, many more budget airline options are serving destinations worldwide with incredible bargains for customers.  

Click below for the answer.

The 2nd example is better because I wrote one central idea (lower prices for consumers) and expanded on that. The example given is not entirely true but it looks very feasible. You can just make up examples but they have to be specific and realistic looking. The point of an example is to support your main idea.

At the start of the paragraph I mentioned that too much choice is overwhelming but then contrast that with my opinion (Admittedly, these days there are far too many choices which can be overwhelming; however, I think that…) .

To see how to balance the essay click here for a lesson on balancing your opinion .

In example 1 above this has too many ideas and too many points. It jumps around and is not focusing on one central idea. The points are relevant but there is too much going on.

You will also notice an opinion is not given directly in the first example (I think / I believe etc)  the whole paragraph affects coherence and cohesion as well as task response. The example given about amazon.com is also quite weak and not well explained.

Analysing the question.

As with all IELTS essays, it is crucial to spend a couple of minutes analysing the task and underling the keywords so that you are writing relevant points in the essay. If you go off-topic or write irrelevant points it will affect your score.

This is the task question for my model answer below and it is clear that the essay is about having too many choices these days . This means that there is something negative about having many choices, as the word ‘too’ implies something negative. In my model answer, I disagree with this being a negative and in fact, many choices are beneficial.

Click here for the 5 steps you need to take before writing.

I advise 10 minutes of planning time, this includes time analysing the question and getting relevant ideas.

Click here for a lesson about examples in main body paragraphs.

Model Answer

Some people believe that n owadays we have too many choices . To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

It is argued that in recent times people are overwhelmed by so many choices. Although I agree with this to some extent, for consumers I believe that having so many options enables them to purchase more competitively priced and higher quality products.

Another reason why I believe that more choice is beneficial is that the quality of products has improved in recent years. This is because many businesses are vying for customers’ attention, so their main selling points are not only low prices but also much higher quality. For instance, smartphone costs have decreased in the past 5 years and these devices are more powerful and more durable than ever before. This is primarily because manufacturers have focused on quality control to compete with rival products. I would argue that this has been a benefit to consumers which would not have been possible with one or two companies monopolising the smartphone market.

To conclude, despite the argument that there is too much freedom of choice nowadays, I hold the view that this is a positive trend as so many options allows customers to buy inexpensive items without compromising on quality.

Click below to see more detail and an analysis

1. My thesis statement says: Although I agree with this to some extent, for consumers I believe that having so many options enables them to purchase more competitively priced and higher quality products.

I am giving a balanced opinion here and focusing specifically on choice for consumers.

2. I have covered the points about how more choices have resulted in lower prices in main body one, while in main body two I cover the point about higher quality products because of the fact there are more choices. Notice how I have balanced my view: Admittedly, these days there are far too many choices which can be overwhelming; however, I think that for consumers this is an advantage because it forces businesses to compete with each other. .

3. The examples I gave are made up and not entirely true but they look realistic, the examiner does not check your examples for validity. Examples are there to support your main ideas. Do not put statistics in the examples either.

4. The points I have made in the essay connect with consumerism and shopping, but I have linked them to the points about how having many choices are of benefit to customers or consumers , because my opinion is that having many choices is a good aspect

5. In this type of essay, you could write about other areas where having many choices are relevant such as the choices of universities we can attend, the choices of work we might engage in, The choice of health care options available….and so on.

Here is a good news article from ‘ Business Insider’ that connects with this task question. Reading is a very good way to get ideas for IELTS essays.

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How to Write an IELTS Opinion Essay: A Comprehensive Guide

Ready to master the art of writing an IELTS opinion essay? We've got the perfect roadmap to guide you through each step. From understanding what exactly an IELTS opinion essay is to crafting one that will wow the examiner, we’ve got you covered.

In this easy-to-follow guide, we'll break down all the crucial elements you need to understand. Wondering how to structure your essay? We've got an "IELTS Opinion Essay Template" designed by experts to set you on the right path.

But that's not all. We'll also dissect each section of your essay, from writing an attention-grabbing intro to creating compelling body paragraphs, and wrapping it up with a knockout conclusion. To make it even easier, we offer a convenient "IELTS Opinion Essay Outline" to keep your thoughts organized and your essay on point.

If you're hunting for even more insights, our comprehensive eBook is chock-full of tips and strategies tailor-made for you. And if you want professional eyes on your work, check out our IELTS Essay Correction Service . You'll get detailed feedback from an examiner, complete with a band 9 sample response to inspire you further.

So, whether you're a newbie still getting the hang of things or an advanced student aiming for perfection, this guide is your go-to resource. Get ready to craft an IELTS opinion essay that will leave a lasting impression. Let’s dive in!

Understanding an IELTS Opinion Essay

Navigating the world of IELTS opinion essays can seem quite daunting at first. However, by acquiring a comprehensive understanding of what this type of essay entails, its importance, and the intricacies of writing it effectively, you can equip yourself to excel. Let's delve deeper into these essentials to gain a better understanding of the task.

​ An IELTS opinion essay, sometimes referred to as an argumentative essay, plays a vital role in the IELTS writing test. The key task here is to articulate your stance on a specific topic, which you then need to substantiate with solid arguments, evidence, or pertinent examples. Essentially, it's a platform for you to exhibit your ability to persuasively express and support your opinion.

Why You Need to Know How to Write an Opinion Essay

Why is an IELTS opinion essay so crucial? The answer lies in its objective. The IELTS test aims to assess your English language proficiency, and the opinion essay is a vital component of this assessment. By evaluating your ability to write a convincing and well-articulated essay, examiners can gauge your language skills, coherence, cohesion, and overall command of the language. Therefore, mastering the IELTS opinion essay becomes essential to achieve a high band score.

Key Elements of a High Band Opinion Essay

Ready to dive into the nitty-gritty of a top-notch IELTS opinion essay? Let's break down the key ingredients that make your essay stand out from the rest.

First up, Cohesion: Imagine your essay like a smooth ride where one point effortlessly leads to the next. You'll want to use linking words and phrases like 'however,' 'furthermore,' and 'on the other hand,' to connect your thoughts. Need examples? Our eBook has a whole section dedicated to mastering cohesion!

Next, Structure: Your essay needs a solid framework to hold it up. That means an engaging introduction, well-thought-out body paragraphs, and a snappy conclusion. Don’t know where to start? Our "IELTS Opinion Essay Structure" discussed in detail in the  eBook lays it all out for you.

On to Compelling Argumentation: Make sure you're not just stating your opinion, but backing it up with rock-solid reasoning and examples. This is where your essay shines. If you're struggling to find convincing arguments, our Essay Correction Service provides personalized guidance and tips from an actual examiner!

Clear Opinion: Your viewpoint should be obvious from the get-go and consistent throughout your essay. Don't beat around the bush—make your stance clear.

Last but not least, Language Proficiency: Your choice of vocabulary , grammar, and sentence structure can either make or break your essay. If you're looking to elevate your language game, our Essay Correction Service goes beyond just marking errors. You'll receive comprehensive feedback, including a band 9 sample essay to show you how it's done.

Writing an IELTS Opinion Essay: A Step-by-Step Guide

Writing an IELTS opinion essay involves more than just pouring your thoughts onto paper. It requires strategic planning and execution to ensure that the reader fully comprehends your viewpoint and the evidence backing it. Below is a step-by-step breakdown of how to approach this task:

Understanding the Question

This is the critical first step that forms the foundation of your essay. A comprehensive understanding of the question is pivotal to crafting a coherent response. Here's how to do it:

Identify the Topic: Every essay has a central topic around which the argument revolves. Identify this and ensure your opinion relates directly to it.

Understand the Question Type: Is it asking for your opinion, a discussion, or a problem and solution? In the case of an opinion essay, the question will require you to provide your views on the topic.

Know What is Expected: Analyze the prompt to know precisely what is expected of your essay. Should it be entirely from your perspective, or do you need to consider others' viewpoints as well?

Planning Your Response

Once you have understood the question, plan your essay strategically. A well-structured essay is easier to follow, makes your arguments clearer, and can significantly boost your score.

Outline Your Main Ideas: Identify the main points that will back up your opinion. These should form the core of your body paragraphs.

Identify Supporting Points and Examples: For each main point, find supporting ideas or examples. These should convincingly substantiate your claims and make your argument robust.

Organise Your Ideas: Arrange your ideas logically. Each paragraph should flow seamlessly into the next, creating a coherent and cohesive narrative.

Writing the Introduction

Your introduction sets the tone for your essay and should clearly state your opinion on the topic. Here's how to craft an engaging introduction:

Paraphrase the Question: Start by restating the question in your own words. This shows understanding and sets the context for your essay.

State Your Opinion: Explicitly present your opinion on the topic. Make it clear and concise so that the reader knows your stance from the outset.

Developing the Body Paragraphs

The body of your essay is where you make your arguments. Each paragraph should be dedicated to one main idea and supported with substantial evidence.

State the Main Idea: Start each paragraph with a topic sentence that introduces the main idea.

Provide Support: This can be in the form of facts, statistics, logical reasoning, or examples. It should convincingly back your main point.

Link to Your Opinion: Show how this point supports your overall opinion. This will tie your argument together and maintain a consistent perspective throughout the essay.

Crafting a Conclusion

Your conclusion provides closure and summarises the main points of your essay. Here's how to write an effective conclusion:

Restate Your Opinion: Reiterate your opinion to reinforce it in the reader's mind.

Summarise Main Points: Briefly revisit your main points to remind the reader of your arguments.

Do Not Introduce New Ideas: Your conclusion should only encapsulate the points made in your essay. Introducing new ideas can confuse the reader and dilute your argument.

Mastering each step of this process can ensure a well-crafted IELTS opinion essay that conveys your thoughts effectively and scores high.

IELTS Opinion Essay  Tips for a High Band

Acquiring an excellent IELTS score demands more than just understanding the basics. To truly excel and obtain a high score, you need to pay heed to these expert tips and tricks:

Maintain Formal Language

Formal and academic language is the bedrock of IELTS writing. This demonstrates your proficiency in English and your ability to use a wide range of vocabulary:

Avoid Slang: Slang and colloquial language should be avoided in your essay. They make your essay sound informal and can impact your score negatively.

Use Academic Vocabulary: Try to incorporate advanced and topic-specific vocabulary. This can show your language proficiency and earn you higher marks.

Follow Grammar Rules: Be sure to use proper grammar, including correct tense usage, subject-verb agreement, and accurate punctuation.

Consistency is Key

Your viewpoint in an IELTS opinion essay should be consistent throughout. This aids in creating a coherent and logical argument:

Maintain Your Stance: Your opinion should not fluctuate or contradict itself in the essay. A steady viewpoint makes your essay easier to follow and understand.

Link Ideas: Ensure that all your arguments and evidence clearly support your opinion. They should form a cohesive narrative that consistently upholds your stance.

Time Management

The IELTS writing section is time-bound, and effective time management can make the difference between a good and a great score:

Allocate Time Wisely: Break down your allotted time for Task 2 (usually 40 minutes) into segments for understanding the question, planning, writing, and revising.

Don't Overwrite: Stay within the recommended word limit (at least 250 words for Task 2). We usually recommends for going around 300 words. Remember, writing too many words, such as 350 or more, can eat into your time without necessarily earning you extra points.

Save Time for Proofreading: Always leave a few minutes towards the end to review your work. Look out for grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, or any ideas that could be expressed more clearly.

Keeping these tips and tricks in mind while writing your IELTS opinion essay can help you attain a high band score. Remember, practice implementing these strategies to become more comfortable and efficient when it's time for the actual test.

An IELTS Opinion Essay Band 9 Sample

To better illustrate all the strategies, tips, and structures discussed so far, let's look at a high-scoring IELTS opinion essay example. For more hundreds of band 9 sample essays, visit  here .

Some people think that developing countries need financial help from international organizations. Others, however, argue that countries should be left to resolve their economic issues independently.

Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

The global conundrum surrounding economic assistance extended to developing nations continues to ignite impassioned discussions among world policymakers. Diverse opinions float in this debate; one segment champions the cause of international aid, while another faction upholds the principle of self-reliance. As for my viewpoint, I posit that a judicious amalgamation of external support and indigenous initiatives presents the most advantageous solution for these nations' economic upliftment.

On one flank of the debate, endorsers of international assistance underscore the acute resource deficit confronting developing nations. They contend that socio-economic challenges such as widespread poverty, underdeveloped infrastructure, and limited educational access necessitate extensive capital investment, which often transcends these nations' fiscal capabilities. In this context, international organizations, with their resource abundance, can facilitate requisite financing for development-centric projects. Importantly, their assistance transcends monetary contributions, extending to invaluable expertise and technological exchange, significantly hastening these nations' developmental pace.

Conversely, detractors of international aid highlight its potential to engender dependency, thereby obstructing self-reliance. They assert that nations must navigate their economic difficulties independently, fostering a culture of sustainable growth. This perspective emphasizes that external aid can, at times, obscure pressing issues requiring immediate attention for long-term progress, such as corruption, bureaucratic inefficiency, and inadequate policy frameworks. Consequently, cultivating self-reliance can nudge nations towards systemic reformation, stimulating endogenous development.

To encapsulate, while international aid can offer a swift respite and a resources boost for developmental pursuits, endorsing self-reliance is instrumental in tackling the fundamental impediments to economic advancement. Thus, my conviction remains that a balanced methodology, marrying external assistance with internally driven reforms, emerges as the most sustainable antidote to the economic hurdles plaguing developing countries.

This example illustrates the structure of an IELTS opinion essay and demonstrates how to maintain a consistent perspective, provide supporting arguments, and use formal, academic language throughout.

Summary of the IELTS Opinion Essay Template

We've reached the end of our deep dive into the world of IELTS opinion essays, and we hope you're feeling a whole lot more prepared! From introducing you to our go-to "IELTS Opinion Essay Template" to breaking down each section, we've aimed to make this a one-stop shop for all your essay needs.

In a nutshell, a killer introduction sets the stage, where you rephrase the question and let your opinion shine. Your body paragraphs are the meat of your essay, where you back up your viewpoint with solid arguments and examples. And don't forget that grand finale, the conclusion, where you tie it all together.

If you’re looking for even more insider tips, you can't go wrong with our eBook . It’s like having an IELTS mentor right in your pocket! Plus, if you want real-time feedback on your writing, consider our Essay Correction Service . We offer personalized advice, a band 9 sample response, and tips to level up your essay game.

Remember, the secret ingredient to acing this is practice. The more you use our template and outline across various topics, the better you'll get at crafting essays that not only sound great but also score big.

So there you have it! With this guide and a bit of practice, you're well on your way to becoming an IELTS opinion essay pro. Happy writing, and best of luck on your IELTS journey!

IELTS Charlie

Your Guide to IELTS Band 7

IELTS Opinion Essay: tips, common mistakes, questions & sample essays

In this lesson we are going to look at how to answer an IELTS Opinion essay , also known as an Agree Disagree Essay .

You will learn about this  IELTS Writing Task 2  essay, using  authentic IELTS essay questions , plus the most common mistakes. And I will finish with an  IELTS model essay  written by me in response to a  sample IELTS essay question . So let’s get started!

What Is Your Task?

In this IELTS question type, you are presented with someone’s opinion. Your task is to explain whether you agree or disagree with this statement.

In some tasks, you may be asked to explain  how much  you agree or disagree with the opinion. These “to what extent” questions are more common in the IELTS Academic Writing Test, but they can also appear in the IELTS General Training Writing Test. Here is an example of one of those “to what extent” essays:

In the future, nobody will buy printed newspapers or books because they will be able to read everything they want online without paying. 

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? 

Cambridge IELTS 15 Academic Test 2

The question in an opinion essay can be worded in lots of different ways, including:

• to what extent do you agree or disagree?
• do you agree or disagree?
• what is your opinion about this?

How To Plan An IELTS Opinion Essay

If you are aiming for a high band score (Band 7 and above) it is absolutely vital that you plan your essay . A good plan will help you to see if you have answered the question, developed your ideas and organised them BEFORE you start writing.

Let’s plan an essay using my  4 Step Planning Process .

Step 1: Understand The Task

First, you need to make sure you understand exactly what you need to write about. So you need to read the question carefully, not quickly!

Think about these three questions:

What is the topic about?

What is the topic not about, how should you respond to the topic.

Let’s go back to this essay question, and answer those 3 questions:

The topic is about the future of printed media , specifically newspapers and books. Will people read printed media in the future? Or will online media replace printed media completely?

An important phrase at the end of the topic statement is “without paying” . This means the topic statement is also referring to free information online, rather than information that you have to pay for.

So you could reword the topic statement like this: “will free online information replace printed media in the future?”

The topic is not just about the convenience of online media, but about the fact that it is free . So you need to address the issue of free information online, at least some of the time.

The question “to what extent do you agree or disagree?” tells you how to respond to the topic. In other words, you need to say how much you agree or how much you disagree with the topic statement.

I think it’s difficult to agree fully with the opinion statement because it says that in the future “NOBODY” will buy printed newspapers or books. Personally, I think that some people will want to read printed media, at least some of the time.

Step 2: Decide Your Position

Next, you need to decide your position. In other words, you need to decide what you think .

In an opinion essay, your position is simply your opinion . It’s your answer to the question “to what extent do you agree or disagree?”

So in our example essay question above, my position is the extent to which I agree or disagree.

Step 3: Extend Your Ideas

When you decided your position, you may have started thinking about the reasons for your position, the reasons for your answer. In other words, WHY are you taking this view?

Giving reasons for your view is essential in an IELTS essay. In fact, all IELTS questions tell you to “give reasons for your answer”. So in Step 3, you need to think about your reasons a little more.

However, just presenting your  reasons is not enough. You need to develop them.

The two best ways of developing your ideas is by:

• giving explanations of what you mean
• giving specific examples which illustrate what you mean

Together, these add more detail to your answer.

You MUST do this to get Band 7. If you fail to develop your ideas in detail, your band score for Task Response may be limited to Band 6.

Read more about how to develop your ideas in an IELTS essay.

Step 4: Structure Your Essay

The final step in the planning process is to structure your essay. This simply means deciding which main ideas to put in which paragraphs.

A 4 paragraph structure for an IELTS opinion essay could look like this:

• Paragraph 1: introduce essay and briefly state your views
• Paragraph 2: give a 1st reason for your view
• Paragraph 3: give a 2nd reason for your view
• Paragraph 4: summarise your views.

If you have a 3rd reason for your view, you could add an extra paragraph:

• Paragraph 4: give a 3rd reason for your view
• Paragraph 5: summarise your views.

How To Write Your IELTS Opinion Essay

Let’s go through how to write the different parts of the essay.

How To Write The Introduction To An IELTS Opinion Essay

In the introduction to an IELTS Opinion essay, you need to do two things:

• briefly introduce the topic of the essay
• briefly present your opinion

Introduce The Topic

You should begin with a background sentence which introduces your reader to the topic of the essay. The best way to do this is to paraphrase the opinion statement .

How To Paraphrase

Think about the meaning of this topic statement, and briefly rewrite it using your own words. Try not to use the same grammatical structures as in the essay question. In other words, be flexible . This is important if you are aiming for a Band 7 or higher.

In the example essay question above, the opinion statement said:

“In the future, nobody will buy printed newspapers or books because they will be able to read everything they want online without paying.”

Here is one way of paraphrasing this:

“It has been suggested that paid print media may disappear completely in the future due to competition from free sources of information online.”  

This sentence has the same overall meaning as the original sentence, but uses different vocabulary and different grammatical structures.

How NOT To Paraphrase

When you paraphrase, do NOT just change individual words with synonyms, or you will get some very strange sentences, e.g.

“In the days to come, no people are going to purchase paper news or literature since they can consume all they wish on the Internet with no need to buy.”

DON’T DO THIS!

Present Your Opinion

Next, you should briefly present your opinion. Just state clearly whether you agree or not . For example:

“In my view, this is unlikely to happen.”

If you are a confident writer, and if you have a very good plan, you could also, very briefly, include your reasons:

“In my view, this is unlikely to happen because people will always want to use print media and since much online material is going behind a paywall.”

But be brief!

There’s little point in adding a “scope” sentence: “This essay will discuss the reasons for my view.” 

Just move on to the body.

How To Write The Body Paragraphs

In an IELTS Opinion essay, you need to present  the reasons for your view . WHY do you hold your opinion?

Write each of the main reasons for your view in a separate paragraph. So if you have 2 reasons for your view, write 2 body paragraphs. If you have 3 reasons for your view, write 3 body paragraphs.

Each main body paragraph should contain:

• A reason for your opinion (your main idea )
• A more detailed explanation of this reason
• An example which illustrates your ideas

This structure is what is meant by developing your ideas , and it is essential for a Band 7.

You can read more about developing your ideas here .

How To Write The Conclusion to an IELTS Opinion Essay

In the conclusion to an IELTS Opinion essay, you need to do one thing:

• restate your opinion

Do NOT write any new ideas in your conclusion. If you think of new ideas while writing your conclusion, forget them! It’s too late.

Common Mistakes in IELTS Opinion Essays

These are the most common mistakes made by Test Takers when writing an IELTS Opinion essay:

• changing your opinion during the essay (e.g. your opinion in the introduction is different to your opinion in the conclusion)
• giving reasons that don’t support your opinion
• presenting too many reasons for your view: you MUST develop ALL of your ideas to get a high band score, so it’s best to present 2-3 reasons and explain them al.
• Writing an overly general statement about the topic in the introduction (e.g. “Education is a topic of hot debate.” )
• The reasons for your view are not explained and illustrated. You need to develop all of your ideas to get a band 7 and higher.
• Not fully understanding the topic of the question. This is often caused by reading the question quickly, not carefully.
• Using memorised phrases (e.g. “a hot topic”, “in a nutshell”, “my considered opinion”)
• Using “research studies” as examples: examples should illustrate your ideas, not prove them. Read about  how to use examples in IELTS essays .
• Trying to use rare or “novel” language: examiners are looking for groups of words used naturally, not rare words.

Sample IELTS Opinion Essay Questions

Many manufactured food and drink products contain high levels of sugar, which causes many health problems. Sugary products should be made more expensive to encourage people to consume less sugar. Do you agree or disagree?

(Cambridge IELTS 16 Academic Test 3)

Some people say that now is the best time in history to be living. What is your opinion about this? What other time in history would be interesting to live in?

(Cambridge IELTS 16 General Training Test 4)

In the future, nobody will buy printed newspapers or books because they will be able to read everything they want online without paying. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

(Cambridge IELTS 15 Academic Test 2)

Some people believe that nowadays we have too many choices. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

(Cambridge IELTS 13 Academic Test 2)

Some people say it is important to keep your home and your workplace tidy, with everything organised and in the correct place. What is your opinion about this?

(Cambridge IELTS 13 General Training Test 4)

Model IELTS Opinion Essays

Here is an IELTS Opinion Essay that I wrote in response to this task:

Some people say that music is a good way of bringing people of different cultures and ages together.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

Cambridge IELTS Book 14 Test 3 (Academic)

Almost everyone seems to like music of some sort and perhaps listening to music satisfies a basic human need. Some people go further, arguing that music can actually bridge cultural and generational divides, and I broadly agree with this.

Music is rightly seen as a universal language, that regardless of the language of the lyrics, the underlying melody triggers the same emotional reaction in listeners, whatever their background. The distinctive sound of a love song, for example, or a lullaby will instantly be recognised regardless of the words being sung or the culture in which it came.

Moreover, some music enjoys almost universal appeal. Classical music is a good example of this. The work of composers as diverse as Mozart, Shostakovich and Gershwin is popular the world over, and to these instrumental compositions you could also add the music of famous popular music acts such as Abba and The Beatles.

Large music festivals are also able to bring people of different backgrounds and ages together. The famous summer festival at Glastonbury in the U.K. always has a wide variety of acts, encouraging a remarkably diverse audience in terms of age and ethnicity. Therefore it is clear that such events help bring people closer together.

However, there is one important caveat. Certain types of music seem almost designed to appeal to only the younger generation. Genres like hip-hop, punk and rock ‘n’ roll have each been embraced by teenagers at different times over the last seventy years, almost as a rebellion against their parent’s generation. So to some extent, it could be argued that some music can actually widen generational divides.

On the whole, however, music is certainly a force for unity. People the world over share music as a language and have tastes that transcend their differences, and thus I would agree that music can bring people closer together.

(309 words)

Read my full plan and comments for this essay.

More Model Essays

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Discover the 7 STEPS to BAND 7 in IELTS Writing Task 2

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Writing Task 2 Sample

IELTS Writing Task 2 ( also known as IELTS Essay Writing ) is the second task of your IELTS Writing test. Here, you will be presented with an essay topic and you will be scored based on your ability to respond to the topic.

You need to write at least 250 words and justify your opinion with arguments, discussion, examples, problem outlining, proposing possible solutions and supporting your position. You will have approximately 40 minutes to finish your Essay Writing. IELTS Writing Task 2 carries more weights than Writing Task 1.

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• IELTS Opinion Essays

IELTS Opinion Essays Simplified: 3 Types

IELTS opinion essays are very common in the exam. It can be a bit confusing, especially if you are new to IELTS, to work out the different types of essay.

Some people talk about ' argumentative essays ', ' thesis-led essays ', ' discussion essays ', which can get quite confusing and it is usually not necessary to know this. The important thing is to analyze each question as you see it and answer it.

You can also watch a video of this lesson:

The aim of this lesson is to give you a brief overview of the common types of essay that ask for your opinion.

Of course not everything will fit this pattern as there are a variety of ways a question can be worded, but the types below are common ways to be asked about your opinion in the test.

Task 2 IELTS Opinion Essays can broadly be put into three types:

The 3 Types of IELTS Opinion Essays

1. discuss one opinion.

Advances in technology and automation have reduced the need for manual labour. (opinion) Therefore, working hours should be reduced. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

With these essays you are normally given ONE opinion, and then asked specifically if you agree or disagree with it, or to what extent you agree or disagree. You must make it clear whether you agree, disagree or partly agree and give your reasons why.

2. Discuss TWO OPPOSING opinions

(opinion one) A growing number of people feel that animals should not be exploited by people and that they should have the same rights as humans, (opposing opinion) while others argue that humans must employ animals to satisfy their various needs, including uses for food and research. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

With these essays you have TWO opinions that oppose each other. You have to discuss BOTH of them and also give your opinion. Your essay will get a lower mark for 'task response' if you don’t discuss both of the opinions or you don’t make your opinion clear.

3. Advantages and Disadvantages

The number of old people around the world is increasing dramatically. Could this have more positive or negative effects on society? or… Do the advantages of the trend outweigh the disadvantages? or… Is this a positive development?

In these questions you are given a fact or facts and then you have to look at the positive and negative sides of this. They are all asking for your opinion so you must state this. In the first two you will need to look at both sides as the question is clearly implying there are both positive and negative impacts.

Don't mix this up with a basic advantage and disadvantage essay like this:

What are the advantages and disadvantages of this trend?

Although your organization, ideas and body paragraphs may be similar, this one is not asking for your opinion so you don't need to give it. It is simply asking you to present both sides of the issue.

This has been a quick and broad overview of some common IELTS opinion essay question types and it should be particularly helpful if you are fairly new to IELTS or if you have been studying for a while but are still unclear about the various types of essay.

Take a look at the model essays page and you can browse through some examples of these types of essays.

Look for these types of IELTS opinion essay:

• agree / disagree
• discuss two opinions
• advantages and disadvantages

More Task 2 IELTS Lessons:

Can you use Personal Pronouns in Essays for IELTS?

Learn how to use personal pronouns in essays for IELTS correctly. Can you use "I", "we" and "you"?

IELTS Task Response - 25% of your essay grade

The IELTS Task Response criteria in the scoring makes up 25% of your band score for your essay.

IELTS Music Essay: Understanding a Complex Question

An IELTS essay about music is used to show you how to answer a more complex IELTS essay question that does not have a clear 'task' given to you.

Paragraph Writing for IELTS: Building strong arguments

This paragraph writing lesson provides tips on constructing the best paragraphs for your IELTS essay.

IELTS Problem Solution Essay Strategies and Tips

In IELTS problem solution essays you have to discuss a particular issue and present ideas to solve that problem.

Improving Writing Coherence for IELTS essays

25% of the writing grade is on how you organise your essay so this lesson shows you how to improve your writing coherence.

How to Identify the Task in an IELTS Essay

Learn how to identify the task in an IELTS task 2 essay question. This is one of the most important steps in responding to an essay question.

Thesis Statement Tips for IELTS Essays

Your thesis statement in an IELTS essay should be written quickly and concisely. Use these tips to do that.

IELTS Advantage Disadvantage Essay Tips and Strategies

An advantage disadvantage essay is one type of essay that you may get in the test. This lesson shows how to write a pros cons essay.

Tips on How to Score IELTS Band 8 in Writing and Speaking

To score IELTS Band 8 you need to understand exactly what is in the IELTS Band Descriptors for an 8 for writing and speaking first.

Using Substitution in IELTS to Improve Writing Coherency

You can use substitution in your IELTS essays in order to improve coherency and coherence.

Using Pronouns to Improve IELTS Essay Coherency

Find out how to use pronouns to improve your coherency for IELTS task 2 essays.

Generating ideas for IELTS essays for writing task 2

Generating ideas for IELTS essays for writing task 2 can be difficult but complex ideas are not expected.

Requirements for IELTS Band 7 in Writing

Getting to an IELTS Band 7 is a struggle for many candidates. This lesson explains exactly what you have to do to reach this band score.

Transitional Phrases for Essays

Learn transitional phrases for essays to get a band 7 or higher in your IELTS writing for coherence and cohesion.

How to Write an IELTS Essay: The key steps

Learn key steps on how to write an IELTS Essay. This guides you on how to write a great essay plus other lessons to improve your writing skills.

How to Identify the Topic of an IELTS Essay Question

In IELTS you must identify the topic of your essay as this is a key to making sure your essay is on topic.

Writing an IELTS Essay Introduction

Tips on how to write an introduction for an IELTS essay introduction in a quick and easy way.

Writing an IELTS Essay Conclusion

The IELTS essay conclusion is the final part of your IELTS essay. This lesson guides you on how to write a conclusion quickly but effectively.

How to use brainstorming and planning to generate essay ideas.

Brainstorming and planning is a key step in developing your IELTS essay. This lesson has tips on how to coming up with ideas and organising them.

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The IELTS writing section is one of the essential components of the IELTS exam as it evaluates your ability to express yourself effectively in written English.

Consisting of two tasks, Writing Task 1 and Writing Task 2 , this section aims to measure your skills in presenting information and opinions, as well as your capacity to organise and articulate ideas coherently.

As a result, it's important to know the most common essay topics for IELTS that are likely to come up.

Wish to score high in your IELTS? Download our comprehensive 30-day study guide for free

In this guide, we will discuss the latest IELTS essay topics for 2024 and give you some tips on how to approach them.

Table of Contents

Ielts writing task 2 for academic, 1. opinion essays, 2. discussion essays, 3. solution essays, 4. advantage or disadvantage essays, 5. direct question essays, 1. education, 2. technology, 3. environment, what are the topics for ielts writing, what is the most important essay for ielts, what are the common essay topics for ielts task 2, can i write 400 words in an ielts essay, is 7.0 a good ielts writing score, what happens if i don't write 250 words in ielts, what are the 3 essay types in ielts writing.

These topics are often repeated in IELTS exams , so make sure you are prepared for them!

Read also: IELTS tips and tricks to score high

IELTS Writing Task 2 for Academic assesses your ability to present and support an argument or opinion on a specific topic related to academic subjects or general issues. 

It consists of 2 tasks:

• IELTS Writing Task 1: It assesses your ability to interpret and describe visual information accurately. In this task, you are presented with a graph, chart, table, diagram, or process, and are required to write a short report summarising the information presented.
• IELTS Writing Task 2 : It assesses your ability to present and support an argument or opinion on a specific topic related to academic subjects or general issues. It requires you to express ideas coherently, use relevant examples, and maintain a well-structured essay format.

Types of IELTS essays

IELTS essays are divided into 5 main categories. These are:

Opinion essays require you to express your viewpoint on a given topic. You need to clearly state whether you agree or disagree with a statement and support your opinion with relevant arguments and examples.

“You say if you agree or disagree, back it up with good reasons.”

Sample IELTS essay writing topics:

• In your opinion, should the government invest more in space exploration or environmental conservation?
• Do you believe that social media has a positive impact on mental health?
• Some people argue that zoos are essential for animal conservation. What is your opinion on this matter?
• Is it better to raise children in a single-parent family or a two-parent family? Give reasons for your opinion.
• In your opinion, should school uniforms be mandatory for all students?
• Do you think that violent video games contribute to aggressive behavior in children?
• Some people believe that professional athletes are overpaid. Do you agree or disagree with this view?

Discussion essays demand a balanced analysis of a topic by exploring both sides of an argument. You need to present the main points for each perspective and provide a thoughtful discussion.

“You need to show both sides of a topic and talk about them fairly.”

• Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using renewable energy sources over fossil fuels.
• What are the benefits and drawbacks of online education compared to traditional classroom learning?"
• Examine the impact of globalisation on local cultures and traditions.
• Discuss the pros and cons of the growing popularity of online shopping.
• Compare and contrast the advantages and disadvantages of living in a city versus living in a rural area.
• Examine the impact of technology on interpersonal communication in today's society.
• Discuss the positive and negative effects of immigration on a country's economy.

Solution essays require you to identify a problem and propose effective solutions to address it. You need to analyse the causes of the issue and present practical remedies.

“You talk about a problem and give practical ideas to fix it.”

• What are the main causes of traffic congestion in urban areas, and what measures can be taken to alleviate it?
• Discuss the steps that can be taken to reduce the use of plastic and promote eco-friendly alternatives.
• Explain how governments can encourage citizens to adopt healthier eating habits and combat obesity.
• What can be done to address the issue of unemployment among young people?
• "Discuss the measures that can be implemented to reduce air pollution in major cities.
• How can governments promote renewable energy adoption and decrease reliance on fossil fuels?
• Explain the steps that individuals can take to reduce their carbon footprint and combat climate change.

Advantage or disadvantage essays involve analyzing the positive and negative aspects of a particular subject or situation.

“You look at the good and bad parts of something.”

• Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using artificial intelligence in various industries.
• What are the pros and cons of globalisation on the economies of developing countries?
• Examine the benefits and drawbacks of studying abroad for higher education.
• Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using social media for personal communication.
• What are the positive and negative effects of tourism on local communities and the environment?
• Explain the advantages and disadvantages of using nuclear power as a source of energy.
• Discuss the benefits and drawbacks of the increasing reliance on online banking and digital transactions.

Also read: 12 best books for IELTS exam preparation

Direct question essays consist of several direct questions related to a specific topic. You need to answer these questions comprehensively.

“You answer specific questions about a topic.”

• Should governments invest more in public transportation or road infrastructure? Why?
• Do you believe that the use of animals for scientific research is justified? Why or why not?
• What are the key factors that contribute to job satisfaction? How can job satisfaction be improved?
• Should children be given access to smartphones at a young age? What are the potential consequences?
• Do you think that the death penalty should be abolished worldwide? Why or why not?
• What are the challenges of an ageing population, and how can societies address them?
• Should fast-food advertising be restricted to combat the rise in obesity rates among children? Why?

Also read: List of IELTS vocabulary words

8 Common IELTS Essay Topics

Here are the common IELTS essay topics

• Environment

IELTS essays can cover a wide range of topics, but some topics often appear in the exam. Let's explore The 8 most common IELTS essay topics:

Education is one of the most popular and influential topics for IELTS essays.

Education can take many forms, from formal education in a classroom to informal education through life experiences.

For example, in an essay about education, you could discuss the importance of formal education, the benefits and drawbacks of different types of schooling or teaching methods, or even the impact of technology on education.

Education is a complex and interesting subject. When writing an education-related essay, make sure you research different education systems around the world and provide examples to support your assertions.

Additionally, consider how education can affect different aspects of life, such as economic development or social mobility.

Depending on the question prompt and your personal opinion, you can craft compelling essays that make strong statements about education in general or focus more narrowly on particular aspects, such as technology's role in modern classroom settings.

Additionally, it helps to have a few concrete examples for supporting evidence so that your argument is convincing and well-rounded. Education is a broad topic, but with careful thought, any student can write an essay that impresses the IELTS examiners.

🎥 Watch our IELTS Lessons Playlist on YouTube . Our expert instructor covers all modules: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking.

Technology is one of the ten common IELTS essay topics and is becoming increasingly relevant in modern society.

Technology-related essays ask you to discuss the potential impact of technological solutions on an issue or analyze how technology has been used for progress in a particular field.

Technology can be used as both a positive and negative force, so it's important to consider both sides when tackling these types of IELTS essays. Be sure to explore various opinions and provide reliable evidence to support your points.

Technology should also be discussed regarding its implications for the future, particularly within the context of global development goals. In any case, keep in mind that technology should always be analyzed with a critical eye and thoughtful insight into its impacts on society.

When writing IELTS essays on technology, always use clear and thoughtful language that considers the future implications of this dynamic force.

By understanding the various facets of technology and approaching essay topics with an open mind, you'll be well-prepared to tackle any tech-related IELTS essay you encounter.

The environment is a popular topic for IELTS essays, and it's no surprise why.

Environment-related issues are growing in importance due to the impacts of climate change, pollution, and resource depletion.

As such, there are various IELTS essay topics that may focus on these issues. Examples include:

• Discussing ways to protect our environment from pollution
• Identifying strategies for reducing waste
• Examining the effects of global warming
• Studying methods of sustainable development
• Exploring how to conserve natural resources
• Investigating approaches to preserving biodiversity
• Analyzing the impact of climate change
• Evaluating renewable energy sources
• Proposing solutions to environmental problems
• Comparing environmental protection strategies in different countries.

It is important to keep up with current events and research related to environmental protection to provide relevant examples when writing your essays.

With the right preparation, you can ensure that your IELTS essay stands out from the crowd!

Wish to study abroad? Get started with your application while you prepare for the IELTS!

Work is an important topic in both Work & Study essays, which are commonly seen on IELTS exams.

Work can refer to any job or career someone has chosen to pursue, whether they are paid or unpaid. Work essays typically end with a discussion of future trends related to the topic. It would be best if you explored both sides of this issue before concluding.

Work-related topics that often appear in IELTS essays include globalization and its effect on labour markets, automation and technological advances in the workplace, new forms of employment such as freelancing or gig economy jobs, part-time or flexible working, and the ethical implications of unpaid labour.

Brainstorming different perspectives on these topics is important to develop a well-rounded essay.

Work is an interesting and often contentious topic that many students are passionate about, so it's important to ensure your arguments are clear and persuasive. Work essays require much thought and research to earn a high score on IELTS exams.

Achieve your highest IELTS score! Signup for your free IELTS masterclass with Edvoy. Learn from the best of the best teacher with over 17 years of experience. Sign up now!

Culture is a popular IELTS essay topic due to its broad scope and complexity.

Culture can include anything from national traditions, customs, lifestyles, artwork, holidays, and cuisine. Culture also reflects a country's history and values, making it an important topic of discussion in the IELTS exam.

Essays on culture may ask you to discuss how culture affects society or how particular cultural aspects have changed over time. In addition, you may be asked about your own cultural experiences or views on certain cultures worldwide.

To prepare for this type of essay, you should research different cultures and be familiar with key elements such as language, religious beliefs, values, and rituals.

Being able to draw examples from various countries will help demonstrate your understanding of the complex nature of culture.

Also read: Describe a daily routine that you enjoy

Crime is a popular topic among IELTS essay questions.

Crime involves any behaviour that goes against social norms and laws, such as robbery, theft, murder, assault or even drug trafficking.

Therefore, it is important to consider both sides of an argument when writing about crime; for example, looking at both the benefits and drawbacks of harsher punishments or greater law enforcement.

Crime essay topics may include discussing the causes and effects of crime, how to tackle it, or its impact on society.

Examples of crime essay questions could involve researching the increase in juvenile delinquency, discussing effective strategies to reduce cybercrime, or providing solutions for tackling alcohol-related offences.

It is also important to provide evidence from reliable sources to support your opinion and make a compelling argument. The more informed you are about current issues concerning crime, the better prepared you will be when tackling this question type.

Ensure that your conclusion summarizes your views on crime and provides reasoned arguments that support them.

Related article: IELTS preparation books

Health is a common topic in IELTS essays, as health and well-being are integral parts of our lives.

You might be asked about health services, health care systems, health promotion, or health education. You may also be asked to discuss the causes and effects of public health issues such as obesity.

To answer these questions successfully, you need to understand health policies and current global health trends.

You should also include sound arguments explaining why certain approaches should be used to address health problems. Citing examples from your own experience or research can help strengthen your essay and make it more convincing.

Moreover, if you can provide health-related statistics, this can also help to illustrate the seriousness of health issues.

Health is an important topic in IELTS essays, and by properly researching and understanding health policies and global health trends, you can write effective essays on the subject.

You might also like: Score high on IELTS Speaking Exam

Family is another common IELTS essay topic.

Addressing issues such as nuclear versus extended families, parenting styles, gender roles in the home, or traditional versus modern family dynamics are all valid approaches when writing about this topic.

In any case, make sure you use relevant examples to illustrate your point and develop a logical and well-structured argument.

Family can be explored from different angles, ranging from exploring changes in family structure and values to discussing the roles of parents and children within the family dynamic.

It is also possible to write about how families interact with society or how they have adapted over generations to produce a unique culture.

Another important issue to consider when writing about family is how it has been affected by technological and social advancements. Exploring topics such as technology's impact on family life or how a changing society has led to different expectations of parents can provide interesting insights into the topic of family.

With such a wide range of possibilities, family can make for an interesting and thought-provoking essay topic on the IELTS exam.

The IELTS essays cover a wide range of topics and have been designed to test students' writing abilities.

These above-mentioned topics are the eight most common for IELTS essays, but many other potential topics could come up in your exam.

With practice and commitment, any student can become skilled in writing compelling content for the IELTS exam.

Frequently asked questions

IELTS writing topics cover a wide range of subjects, including education, health, technology, environment, society, work, and more. 

Both Task 1 and Task 2 essays hold importance in IELTS writing. However, Task 2 is often considered more crucial as it contributes more to your overall writing score and requires you to present and support your viewpoint on a relevant topic.

Common IELTS Task 2 essay topics include subjects like climate change, technology's impact, education systems, health, social issues, and cultural diversity.

While there's no strict word limit, it's advisable to aim for around 250 to 300 words for Task 2 essays. Writing excessively, such as 400 words, might lead to less focused and coherent content. It's essential to prioritize clarity and quality over word count.

A writing score of 7.0 in IELTS is generally considered good and reflects a strong level of language proficiency. 

Not meeting the recommended word count of around 250 words in Task 2 essays could potentially lead to a lower score. 

The three main essay types in IELTS writing Task 2 are opinion essays, discussion essays, and solution essays.

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25 agree/disagree opinion essay topics for 2024: ielts writing task 2.

An agree/disagree opinion essay for IELTS Writing Task 2 is a type of essay where you are presented with a statement or assertion, and you are required to express whether you agree or disagree with the statement. Additionally, you are expected to provide supporting arguments and examples to justify your stance.

Here’s a breakdown of the components typically found in an agree/disagree opinion essay:

• Introduction: Begin by paraphrasing the given statement and clearly stating your position (whether you agree or disagree). Provide a brief overview of the main points you will discuss in the body paragraphs.
• Body Paragraphs: Present your main arguments and supporting evidence. Each body paragraph should focus on a single point and provide specific examples or reasons to support your opinion. It’s essential to structure your arguments logically and coherently.
• Counterargument (optional): Acknowledge the opposing viewpoint and briefly explain why you disagree with it. This demonstrates a nuanced understanding of the issue and adds credibility to your argument.
• Conclusion: Summarize your main points and restate your opinion. You can also provide a closing thought or recommendation related to the topic.

Remember, the key to a successful agree/disagree opinion essay is to express a clear and well-supported opinion while addressing all parts of the prompt and demonstrating critical thinking skills.

• Government Should Provide Free Healthcare for All Citizens.”
• “Prison Sentences Should Be Replaced with Rehabilitation Programs.”
• “Education Should Be Free for Everyone, Regardless of Income.”
• “Social Media Has More Negative Than Positive Effects on Society.”
• “Individuals Should Be Allowed to Own Guns for Self-Defense.”
• “Climate Change Is Primarily Caused by Human Activity.”
• “Universities Should Focus More on Practical Skills Than Theoretical Knowledge.”
• “Animal Testing Should Be Banned Worldwide.”
• “The Death Penalty Should Be Abolished in All Countries.”
• “The Legal Drinking Age Should Be Lowered to 18.”
• Government Funding Should Prioritize Environmental Conservation Over Economic Growth.”
• “Telecommuting Is a More Effective Work Arrangement Than Traditional Office Settings.”
• “High School Students Should Be Required to Learn a Second Language.”
• “Social Media Platforms Should Implement Stricter Regulations to Combat Cyberbullying.”
• “The Legalization of Marijuana Would Have More Benefits Than Drawbacks.”
• “Public Transportation Should Be Free to Encourage Environmental Sustainability.”
• “Schools Should Teach Financial Literacy as a Core Subject.”
• “The Internet Has Done More Harm Than Good to Society.”
• “Society Should Embrace Renewable Energy Sources and Phase Out Fossil Fuels.”
• “Artificial Intelligence Poses a Greater Threat Than Benefit to Humanity.”
• “Children Should Be Allowed to Choose Their Own Gender Identity.”
• “Standardized Testing Does More Harm Than Good in Education Systems.”
• “Censorship Is Necessary to Protect Society from Harmful Content.”
• “Companies Should Be Held Responsible for Environmental Damage Caused by Their Operations.”
• “Universal Basic Income Would Help Reduce Income Inequality and Poverty.”

Tips for crafting an effective agree/disagree opinion essay for IELTS Writing Task 2.

Let’s break them down:

• Concise Introduction: Begin your essay with a brief introduction that paraphrases the essay question and clearly states your opinion. Avoid unnecessary elaboration or background information that does not directly contribute to your argument.
• Consistent Opinion: Ensure that your opinion remains consistent throughout the essay. Your arguments and examples should support the opinion expressed in the introduction. Avoid contradicting or changing your stance midway through the essay.
• Reasoned Body Paragraphs: Each body paragraph should present a distinct reason or argument supporting your opinion. Provide relevant details, examples, or evidence to illustrate your points and strengthen your argument. Structuring your essay in this way enhances clarity and coherence.
• Detailed Explanation: Elaborate on your views with sufficient detail in the body paragraphs. Avoid making vague or unsupported assertions. Instead, provide specific examples or explanations to clarify your reasoning and demonstrate a deeper understanding of the topic.
• Concluding Paragraph: Conclude your essay with a succinct summary of your main points and a restatement of your opinion. Keep the conclusion brief but ensure that it provides closure to the essay and reinforces your argument.
• Partial Agreement: While the task requires you to express a clear opinion, it is acceptable to acknowledge nuances or alternative perspectives. If you believe that sports lessons are a beneficial solution but not the most effective one, you can express a partial agreement in your essay. Be sure to explain your reasoning and justify why you consider another solution to be more effective.

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IELTS Task 2 Question Types: Opinion Essays (Agree or Disagree)

by Dave | Understanding Task 2 Writing | 13 Comments

Here I have collected actual IELTS opinion essays (agree or disagree question) from the last several years – enjoy learning about this task type!

Enjoy and consider signing up for my Patreon Ebooks here .

It is important for everyone, including young people, to save money for their future.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Read my essay here.

The working week should be shorter and workers should have a longer weekend.

Do you agree or disagree?

Sports play a significant role in promoting physical and mental well-being.

Read the full EBook on Patreon.

Some people feel that the private lives of celebrities should not be openly shared by the media.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Read my full EBook on Patreon.

Individual greed and selfishness have been the basis of modern society. Some people think that we must return to older more traditional values such as respect for the and the local community in order to create a better world to live in.

Everybody should donate a fixed amount of their income to support charity.

In today’s digital age, anyone with a smartphone can capture and share photographs. this accessibility to photography diminishes the value of professional photographers.

Get the full EBook (and more!) on Patreon.

The demand for coaching services has grown significantly in the digital age, with online coaching platforms becoming prevalent. Some now feel online coaching is a superior option to in-person coach.

Read my EBook essay here.

Financial education should be included as a mandatory subject in schools to prepare students for managing money effectively.

Read my essay here on Patreon.

Some people think that certain old buildings are more worth preserving than other ones.

Some argue that music mainly serves as a way for individuals to reduce their stress and anxiety.

Schools should focus on academic success and passing examinations. Skills such as cookery, dressmaking and woodworking should not be taught at school as it is better to learn these from family.

To that extent do you agree or disagree?

Virtual reality be used as a tool for therapeutic interventions and mental health treatments.

Read the EBook on Patreon.

Schools should use films, computers and games instead of books.

Some people think eating meat is bad for health. 

Friendships that take place online are not as meaningful as those where people meet each other face to face. 

The best way to reduce poverty in developing countries is by giving up to six years of free education, so that they can at least read, write and use numbers.

Some feel that governments should prioritize healthcare instead of other important areas.

To what extent do you agree or disagree

The most important aim of science ought to be to improve people’s lives.

Always telling the truth is the most important consideration in any relationship between people.

Read my essay on Patreon.

Many today feel that attention spans are becoming shorter due to the prevalence of social media.

Some feel that students should not have to take standardized tests in school.

My EBook is on Patreon.

Some feel that movies and tv shows are a good way to study history despite their lack of historical accuracy at times.

Get the EBook on Patreon.

Some believe that new science related to criminal forensics should be used to look at old cases.

Some people think that social networking sites have a huge negative impact on both individuals and society.

Some people say that to prevent illness and disease, governments should focus more on reducing environmental pollution and housing problems.

Doing an enjoyable activity with a child can is better for their overall skills development and creativity than reading.

To what extent do you agree?

Learning at university would be more ffective if men and women were educated separetely.

Some people today have argued that countries should interfere less in the affairs of other nations.

Nowadays, distance-learning programs have gained in popularity, but some people argue that online courses can never be taken as good as those taken at a college or university in person.

People living in the 21st century have a better life quality than people who lived in previous times.

Young people committing crimes should be treated the same as adults by the authorities. 

Although it is generally illegal, physical punishment continues in many countries. Some argue that parents should have the right to punish their children in this way.

Shops should not be allowed to sell any food or drinks that have been scientifically proven to be bad for people’s health.

The best way to make the road transport of goods safer is to ask drivers to take a driving test each year.

Prison is the common way most countries try to solve the problem of crime. However, a more effective solution is to provide the public a better education.

Some people claim that not enough waste from homes is recycled and that the only way to increase recycling is for governments to make it a legal requirement.

In marriages today, some argue that it is the responsibility of both spouses to earn a living for the family.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?  

Read my sample essay here.

Companies should provide sports facilities for local communities.

The best curriculum is not one based on a static body of knowledge but one which teaches student to cope with change.

Some people claim that too much focus and resources have been spent to protect wild animals and birds.

Educating young people is naturally important. However, some think governments ught to invest more education for adults in need.

Read my Ebook on Patreon.

Some people believe that engaging in an active pastime does more to develop childrens’ life skills than time spent reading.

Some experts say for road safety cyclists should pass a test before being allowed on public roads.

Some people believe that violent media directly results in violent behavior.

My essay for this topic is only available as an Ebook on Patreon here.

Today, many young people spend too much of their free time at shopping malls. This can considered negative for young people and society generally.

Some people think the main purpose of school is to turn children into good citizens and workers, rather than to benefit them as individuals.

In many countries, children are becoming overweight and unhealthy. Some people think that the government has the responsibility to solve this problem.

Many young people today spend too much time following the latest fashion trends in areas such as clothing and technology.

Some believe that nuclear weapons benefit the world at large.

Read my essay on Patreon only.

Some people believe that students should acquire working experience during their gap year instead of traveling.

Do you agree or disagree with this statement?

The governments should give each citizen a basic income so that they have enough money to live on, even if they are unemployed.

Some people think that enjoying the present is more important than planning for the future for both countries and individuals.

Scientific research should be carried out and controlled by the governments rather than private companies.

Read my sample answer here.

The best way to solve the world’s environmental problems is to increase the cost of fuel for cars and other private vehicles.

The tendency of human beings to copy one another is shown in the popularity of areas such as fashion and consumer goods.

Some people believe that it is a good idea that older people continue to work if it is possible for them to do.

Many claim that the fast food industry had a negative effect on the environment, eating habits, and families.

Some people say that it is possible to tell a lot about a person’s culture and character from their choice of clothes.

Read my sample answer essay here.

There are different customs in different countries related to how people eat, dress, and so on. Some think that people visiting a country should behave according to customs of the country they visit.

Because many children are not able to learn foreign languages, schools should not force them to learn foreign languages.

Governments should make people responsible for looking after their own local environment.

Some people say that at all levels of education, from primary school to university, too much time is spent on learning facts and not enough on learning practical skills.

Some claim that men are naturally more competitive than women.

Shopping habits depend more on your age group than anything else.

Smoking is a major cause of serious illness and death throughout the world today. In the interest of the public health, governments should ban cigarettes and other tobacco products.

Everyone should become vegetarian because they do not need to eat meat to have a healthy diet.

Some people think employers should not care about the way their employees dress, but the quality at work.

To what extent you agree or disagree?

In many situations, people who break the law should be warned instead of punished.

Crime rates will fall as advances in technology make it easier to detect and prevent crimes.

Some countries are considering imposing curfews in which teenagers will not be allowed outdoors at night unless they are accompanied by an adult.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this policy?

Some think that fathers should have time off from work after the birth of a child.

Some people think that because children find subjects such as mathematics and philosophy difficult, they ought to be optional instead of compulsory.

Globalization is positive for economies but its negative sides should not be ignored.

Although more and more people read news on the Internet, newspapers will remain the most important source of news for the majority of people.

Fast food has become more common in recent years. Some people think that it has a negative effect on lifestyles and diets.

Some people think that there should be a complete ban on all forms of advertising.

Some feel governments, rather than private companies, should be in charge of medical services.

Large companies use sports events to promote their products. Some people think this has a negative impact on sports.

Some feel that good entertainers are as important to society as scientists.

It is a natural process for animal species to become extinct (e.g. dinosaurs, dodos, etc.). There is no reason why people should try to prevent this from happening.

People are annoyed or entertained by advertising but they are not affected by advertisements when making shopping decisions.

Convenience foods will become increasingly prevalent and eventually replace traditional foods and methods of preparation.

Some people believe that wild animals should not be kept in zoos or other man-made environments as there is no longer a need for them in the 21st century.

Many manufactured food and drink products contain high levels of sugar, which causes many health problems. Sugary products should be made more expensive to encourage people to consume less sugar.

Some people think that children under 18 years old should receive full-time education.

Many believe that reading books is a waste of time and children would be better served doing something more useful.

Traditional ideas from older people about the way to live and behave are not helpful to young people and their futures.

Large companies should pay higher salaries to CEOs and executives compared to other workers.

Many believe that living in a city offers greater benefits compared to life in the countryside.

Some claim that studying abroad has great benefits for a student’s home country.

If a product is good and meets customer needs, then people will buy it and advertising is unnecessary.

It is impossible to help all people around the world in need so governments should focus on people from their own country.

Some people think that the best way to increase road safety is to increase the minimum legal age for driving cars and riding motorbikes.

Instead of requiring primary school students to do experiments themselves, schools should only alllow them to watch experiments demonstrated by teachers.

All fathers should be entitled to time-off from work when their children are born.

The growth of multinational companies and the resulting rise of globalization creates positive effects for all.

Some people say it is more important to plant trees in the open spaces in towns and cities than to build more housing.

To what extant do you agree or disagree?

Some believe it is important for cities and towns to invest heavily in building large outdoor public spaces.

Nowadays many people travel to foreign countries for pleasure. Some believe this travel has a negative impact on the countries travelled to.

Some people say that all popular TV entertainment programmes should aim to educate viewers about important social issues.

To succeed in a business, one needs to know maths.

Computer games are very popular for all ages and nationalities. Parents think this has little educational value and it will be harmful for children.

The first man to walk on the moon claimed it was a step forward for mankind. However, it has made little difference in most people’s lives.

One of the most important issues facing the world today is a shortage of food and some think genetically modified foods are a possible solution.

Society is based on rules and laws. It could not function if individuals were free to do whatever they wanted to do.

Some people think that the most important function of music is to help people relax.

Computers today can quickly and accurately translate languages, therefore, it is a waste of time to learn a foreign language.

Some think that it is more important for children to engage in outdoor activities instead of playing videogames.

To what extent to you agree or disagree?

Whether or not a person achieves their aims in life is mostly related to luck.

Some people believe that family is more important than friends.

To what extent do you agree and disagree?

Some people think that it is a waste of time for high school students to study literature, such as novels and poems.

Parents should take courses in parenting in order to improve the lives of their children.

To what extent do you agree ?

Nowadays nurses should not just be required to do basic training but they must have other qualities as well to do their jobs well.

Studies show that crime rates are lower among those with educational degrees. Therefore, the best way to reduce the crime rate is to educate criminals while they are still in prison.

The internet means people do not need to travel to foreign countries to understand how others live.

Cooking at home is a waste of time because there are so many convenient fast food options that make life less stressful.

Some think the current generation should take steps to protect the environment for the next generation.

In many countries, traditional foods are being replaced by fast food. This has a negative impact on families, individuals and society.

Some educators believe that every child should be taught how to play a musical instrument.

Some people believe that the government should spend more money putting in more works of art like paintings and statues in cities to make them better places to live in.

When a person spends most of his or her time working a job with little job satisfaction, their life loses meaning.

Historical objects should be brought back to their country of origin.

Many people think technological devices such as smart phones, tablets and mobile phones bring more disadvantages than advantages.

It is better for children if the whole family including aunts, uncles and so on are involved in a child’s upbringing, rather than just their parents.

The government should lower the budget on the arts in order to allocate more money to education.

Read my answer here.

Many today feel that most urgent problems can only be solved by international cooperation.

Although families have influence on a children’s development, factors outside the home play a bigger part in their lives nowadays.

It is better to learn the way people lived in the past through films and video records than written documents.

Many people think that mobile phones should be banned in public places such as libraries, shops and public transport.

Some think that students must travel to another country in order to learn its language and customs.

Full-time university students spend a lot of time studying. Some say they should do other activities too.

In the future, nobody will buy printed newspapers or books because they will be able to read everything they want online without paying.

Some feel that countries should produce most of the food that is eaten in their country and import as little as possible.

In the future, people may have to live on other planets. Some think that it is therefore important to spend money researching other planets such as Mars.

Governments should spend more money on medical research and less on researching the environment.

After graduation many students take a year to travel. Some think that it would be more useful to work for a year.

Some feel that it is a waste of time to plan for the future and it is more important to focus on the present.

Some today argue that schools are no longer necessary because children can learn so much from the internet and be educated at home.

In many schools and universities today, women have a tendency to study the humanities (such as the arts and languages) while men more often major in science related subjects. Some believe this tendency should be changed.

Some believe that people will purchase a product based on their needs and advertising is not needed.

Many people believe that film is a less important art than other forms such as literature and painting.

There are severe social consequences to housing shortages in cities and only the government can solve these problems.

Watching a live performance such as a play, concert, or sporting event is more enjoyable than watching the same event on television.

Some people believe that smartphones are destroying social interaction today.

Throughout history, male leaders have led us into violence and conflict. If a society is governed by female leaders it will be more peaceful.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

Many feel that students today should learn practical skills at school such as car maintenance and managing a bank account.

Many people think that it is better to get advice from old rather than young people.

Some believe technology has made our lives too complex and the solution is to lead a simpler life without technology.

One good way to promote world peace is through international sporting events.

In the future it will become more difficult to live on Earth so more money should be spent researching how to live on other planets such as Mars.

Some think that governments should tax unhealthy foods to encourage people to eat healthier.

As well as making money, businesses also have a responsibility towards society.

Developing the economy will always damage the environment.

Too much money is wasted on repairing old buildings that should be used to knock them down and build new ones.

Many believe that the best way to ensure a happier society is to reduce the difference in income earnings between the rich and poor.

Extreme sports such as sky diving and skiing are very dangerous and should be banned.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this view?

The crime rate nowadays is decreasing compared to the past due to advances in technology.

Many believe that individuals can do little to improve the environment. Only governments and large companies can make a real difference.

Many people believe that social networking sites (such as Facebook) have a huge negative impact on both individuals and society.

Some people think that it is better to build more public parks and sports facilities in new towns rather than shopping malls.

Students should be primarily taught academic subjects so that they can pass exams, and practical skills such as cooking should not be taught.

Some people think that the news media has become much more influential in people’s lives today and it is a negative development. Do you agree or disagree?

Many psychologists recommend that the best way to relieve stress is to do nothing at all for a period of time during the day.

People today often use the internet to learn about the culture of other countries. This means that it is not that important to travel to those countries.

The most common solution for criminal behaviour is prison but many believe education is a better method.

The job market today is very competitive and it is best to choose a career or field of study early in order to get a good job later in life.

Some believe that because everyone needs a place to live, governments should provide houses for those who are too poor to afford their own.

Some countries are struggling with increases in crime rates. Some believe that having more police on the streets is best way to reduce and combat crime.

Some people say that music is a good way of bringing people of different cultures and ages together.

Some people believe that the best way to increase the road safety is to increase the minimum legal age for driving cars..

Some people believe that nowadays we have too many choices.

Living in a country where you have to speak a foreign language can cause serious social problems, as well as practical problems.

Traffic and housing problems in major cities could be solved by moving companies, factories and their employees to the countryside.

Museums and art galleries should focus on works that show the history and culture of their own country rather than works of other parts of the world.

Some people say that school children should be mainly taught about the literature (e.g fiction and poetry) of their own country because it is more  important than that of other countries., when designing a building, the most important factor is the intended use of the building rather than its outward appearance., plastic shopping bags are used widely and cause many environmental problems. some people say they should be banned., climate change is a phenomenon that affects countries all over the world. many people strongly believe that it is the responsibility of individuals, rather than corporations and governments, to deal with this problem., recommended for you.

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13 Comments

Thank for your samples

You’re very welcome!

are these questions from Cambridge books?

Some are but most are reported on real IELTS exams.

Hello, can u please tell me the ideas of the following essay? ( From the agree side please)                                             For the married couples nowadays, some people say that it is the responsibilities for both spouses to earn a living for the family. To extent do u agree or disagree?     

hello dave, can u please reply me?

Can u please tell me the ideas of the following essay? ( From the agree side please)                                             For the married couples nowadays, some people say that it is the responsibilities for both spouses to earn a living for the family. To extent do u agree or disagree?   

I think I’ve written about that or a similar topic – if I get a chance, I’ll write a sample answer for that specific one, Eric!

Thank u dave

Can u just give me the ideas of the essay? Just in short notes. Not the whole essay. Thank U.

Hello Mr. Dave. I find that your writing style is amazing but it is quite difficult to imitate, especially the body part of the essay. I see I could have learned from you how to write an introduction and conclusion, but it seems too difficult to learn how to write the body. but I must emphasize that I still learn a lot of good vocabulary and phrases from you. It would be great if you have a detailed tutorial on how to write the body so that it is easiest to follow. dear

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IELTS Discussion Essays [Discuss Both Views/Sides]

Posted by David S. Wills | Jun 14, 2021 | IELTS Tips , Writing | 3

In this lesson, I’m going to explain what an IELTS discussion essay is and how you can write a good one. I will talk about structure and content, as well as looking briefly at discussion essay thesis statements, which many people find tricky. I’ve also written a sample essay, which you can find at the bottom of this page.

What is a Discussion Essay?

As the name suggests, a discussion essay is an essay that discusses things! More specifically, it is a type of IELTS writing task 2 essay that requires you to look at two different points of view . You can easily recognise these essays by the following phrase:

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Sometimes it is phrased a little differently. It might say:

Discuss both sides and give your opinion

Discuss both points view and give your opinion

The important thing is that these all mean the same. When you see any of these, you know that you need to write a discussion essay. Importantly, this instruction tells you that you need to do two things:

• Discuss both views (there will have been 2 views mentioned in the previous sentence(s))
• Give your opinion (i.e. state which view you agree with)

If you failed to do either of these things, you would not have satisfied the basic criteria for Task Achievement .

Example Discussion Essay Questions

Here is a list of 5 discussion essay questions either from the IELTS exam, reportedly from the IELTS exam, or from reputable publications that have copied the IELTS question style. (Not that you absolutely should avoid fake IELTS questions when practising.)

Some people say that parents should encourage their children to take part in organised group activities in their free time. Others say that is important for children to learn how to occupy themselves on their own. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Some people prefer to spend their lives doing the same things and avoiding change. Others, however, think that change is always a good thing. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Some people feel that manufacturers and supermarkets have the responsibility to reduce the amount of packaging of goods. Others argue that customers should avoid buying goods with a lot of packaging. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Some people believe that higher education should be funded by the government. Others, however, argue that it is the responsibility of individuals to fund their higher education. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Some people believe that it is important for children to attend extra classes outside school, while others believe that they should be allowed to play after school. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

You can see in these questions that there is a similar pattern. In each case, the question phrase (“Discuss both views and give your own opinion”) is the same and in the previous sentence or sentences, there are two opposing views. This, then, makes “discuss both views” questions a sort of opinion essay .

How to Answer IELTS Discussion Questions

First of all, it is important when answering any IELTS task 2 question that you read the question carefully so that you understand it, then provide an answer that directly responds to the question, following its instructions carefully.

As discussed above, you are required to do two things: 1) Discuss both views, and 2) Give your own opinion. You absolutely must do both of those. It doesn’t really matter what your opinion is or whether you give equal weighting to both sides of the argument. Instead, you must cover both sides and also give some sort of opinion. (It is important, though, according to the marking rubric , that you are consistent in your opinion.)

Your answer of course should be structured carefully so as to present your ideas in a thoroughly logical way that is easy for your reader to interpret. I almost always use a four-paragraph structure in my essays, but some people prefer to use five paragraphs in this sort of essay. The difference would look like this:

You might be wondering why I have given my opinion in the body of the five-paragraph essay but not in the four-paragraph essay. Well, actually I would give my opinion in the body of both. However, my opinion would be more subtly woven into the text of the four-paragraph essay. I personally find this to be a better method, but it is equally possible that you could write an amazing five-paragraph essay. That issue is discussed further in this video:

Discussion Essay Thesis Statement

In academic writing, a thesis statement (sometimes called an essay outline ) is the part of the essay where you insert your opinion. It typically comes at the end of the introduction and guides the reader by explaining your opinion on the issues that have been introduced.

But do you really need to provide one in such a short essay? Well, a 2018 study into successful IELTS essays concluded that thesis statements were “obligatory” – i.e. you absolutely do need one. In fact, that study found that thesis statements appeared in 100% of successful IELTS discussion essays! Therefore, we can conclude they are very important.

Because a discussion essay will tell you to “Discuss both views and give your opinion,” you must introduce the two views and then give your opinion in the introduction. Here is an example:

Introductory paragraph:

In some parts of the world, children are forced to go to cram schools and other facilities of extracurricular learning, but many people believe that this is unfair and that they should be allowed to enjoy their free time instead. This essay will look at both perspectives and then conclude that it is indeed unfair.

My first sentence clearly introduces two different ideas:

• Children should do extra classes
• Children should not do extra classes

Note how I have successfully used synonyms to avoid repeating anything from the question. I have also framed the issue in a new way so that I am not just paraphrasing. (You can learn why paraphrasing is not always helpful here .)

My second sentence is the thesis statement. In this sentence, I outline what the essay will do (“look at both perspectives”) and then give my opinion (“it is unfair”). This is a simple but effective thesis statement.

Thesis Statement Advice

Your IELTS discussion essay thesis statement should do two things:

• Tell the reader what the essay will do
• Present your opinion

Because this is a formal essay, it is best not to be too personal. Instead of saying “I will…” or “I think…” it is better to say “This essay will…” Here are some simple templates that you can follow most of the time:

• This essay will look at both sides and then argue that…
• This essay will discuss both views but ultimately side with…

Just make sure to avoid being overly vague. You are required to give your opinion consistently throughout the essay, so don’t say “This essay will look at both sides and then give my opinion .” It is not really the best approach because the examiner wants to see that you can be consistent in presenting an opinion. That is clearly stated in the marking rubric. For band 7, it says:

• presents a clear position throughout the response

It could be concluded, then, that your opinion is not clear from the start and so you have not done enough to warrant a band 7 for Task Achievement.

Body Paragraphs

As I mentioned above, there are really two main approaches you could take to the body paragraphs:

• Discuss one view per paragraph and incorporate your opinion into each.
• Discuss one view per paragraph and then have another for your opinion.

I suppose there is also a third option:

• Compare and contrast the two viewpoints in each paragraph.

This last one may be a little harder to do successfully without jeopardising your score for Task Achievement or Coherence and Cohesion , but advanced candidates may find it useful.

Remember that there is no single perfect formula for an IELTS essay. That’s not how languages work and that’s not how IELTS works. Different people could come up with different ways to present a successful essay. The most common essay structures are mere guidelines for particularly useful methods of approaching an essay.

Does a Discussion Essay Have to be Balanced?

Because the question says “Discuss both views,” it is quite logical to think that you must provide some degree of balance, but you certainly don’t need to give equal weighting to both sides. Remember that you are also going to give your opinion, so if you come down strongly on one side of the issue, it might be odd to give equal attention to both.

If you do feel very strongly about one side, you might want to present your discussion of the other side as quite negative. However, IELTS is a thinking exam as well as an English exam and an intelligent person can always look at both sides of an issue and explain – at the very least – why someone might believe a thing that is different to his own view. This seems quite important, but there is nothing explicitly mentioned in the marking rubric.

I would suggest that if you think a two-sided issue is basically one-sided (i.e. you strongly disagree with the other view), you should still write one or two sentences about why people believe that and then devote the rest of your essay to disputing their view.

Another approach is to write BP1 as a very short paragraph that explains why people might think one thing, but then have BP2 as a very long paragraph that debunks the opposing view and then explains why the other is correct.

(You can read more about IELTS essays and balance here .)

Sample Answer

Here is my full sample answer to the above question about whether or not children should be made to do extracurricular activities:

In some parts of the world, children are forced to go to cram schools and other facilities of extracurricular learning, but many people believe that this is unfair and that they should be allowed to enjoy their free time instead. This essay will look at both perspectives and then conclude that it is indeed unfair. In countries like South Korea, most children are made to go to an array of cram schools outside of regular school hours. Their parents do this in order to give their child a better future because it helps the child to learn more and thus gives them the academic advantages needed to apply to the best universities or jobs in future. These schools often provide children with an advantage over their peers because they improve their foreign language or math skills more quickly, and thus the children who do not attend these schools might have comparatively poor grades. However, whilst this attitude may result in better academic performance, it is certainly not good for the mental health of these children. It is no coincidence that places like South Korea have the highest rates of suicide among their young populations. The fact is that children are not equipped to spend fourteen or sixteen hours per day in classrooms, memorising facts and figures. In a sense, it is a form of child abuse. Children should be allowed to go home and spend time with friends and family to build social skills. They should be allowed to occupy themselves in order to become more creative and learn how to understand their own mind instead of being trained to repeat what they are told. In conclusion, it is understandable that some parents want their children to go to extra classes, but this is damaging to children and they should be given the freedom to play and socialise outside of regular school hours.

In BP1, I have looked at the topic of cram schools (ie the side of the argument in favour of extra lessons). I explored why parents might want their kids to do this and show the supposed benefits. Note that I never embraced any of these benefits. I was careful to use language that distanced these ideas from my own opinion, which was the opposite, so I said “Their parents do this in order to…”

In BP2, I looked at the opposite side. I was careful to make sure that my first sentence linked to the previous paragraph, highlighting that the benefits are quite minor compared to the drawbacks. All of my sentences here justify my position, which is that it is cruel to force these extra lessons on children.

My conclusion ties all of this together. The first clause references BP1 and the second summarises the main argument in BP2.

You can find two more sample essays here:

• A discussion essay about sports facilities
• A discussion essay about sports abilities

About The Author

David S. Wills

David S. Wills is the author of Scientologist! William S. Burroughs and the 'Weird Cult' and the founder/editor of Beatdom literary journal. He lives and works in rural Cambodia and loves to travel. He has worked as an IELTS tutor since 2010, has completed both TEFL and CELTA courses, and has a certificate from Cambridge for Teaching Writing. David has worked in many different countries, and for several years designed a writing course for the University of Worcester. In 2018, he wrote the popular IELTS handbook, Grammar for IELTS Writing and he has since written two other books about IELTS. His other IELTS website is called IELTS Teaching.

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It is sometimes debatable whether asking children to get extra education after school or letting them play that is actually beneficial for them. Even though both viewpoints have benefits and drawbacks but I believe ,in the childhood age, children have to take rough and discipline education after school to be succeed in the future.

To begin with, many educational experts believe that playing is one of the essential aspects that have to be gotten by children to grow and happy. By using the playing approach, children can have a good mental and psychic health. Besides, letting children play after school can also support them to increase their emotional stimuli and get a positive social interaction. With this way, experts believe children can grow as a better adult in the future and have a freedom to get a better life in the upcoming times.

However, I completely contra with the first idea because I believe childhood is a better time to train children about academic or other skills that benefits them in the future. Based on scientific journal that I read, the ability of children in learning new things are more spectacular compared to adults. A lot of artists, scientist, and even football player who currently becoming a superstar in this era is a string of process that is began since their in the childhood. For instance, nowadays, I am working in the field of election supervision, it because since in my childhood my father love to force me learning about social and political issues by getting additional class. Thus, making children to get extra class after school is an appropriate preference if parents desire to see their son getting a good future.

To conclude, based on experts children have to get a freedom to play after schools but in my viewpoint it will be more advantages if they utilize the playing time with joining additional class after school.

VERY GOOD MR DIRWAN But actually you mixed both of the ideas , you need to take one side for this sort of essay writting, as it is mentioned in the above instruction. By the way WELL DONE . love from Pakistan to my sweet brother.

I have not checked in here for some time because I thought it was getting boring, but the last few posts are really great quality so I guess I’ll add you back to my everyday bloglist. You deserve it my friend. ??

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IELTS Essay Topic: Some people think most crimes are the result of circumstances like poverty and other social problems. Others believe that they are caused by people who are bad in nature. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

• Updated on  
• Aug 2, 2024

Brainstorming Ideas:

• Reasons for people believing that crime is the result of bad nature inherited by them:
• It is their personal choice to engage in crimes
• They are Moral failures. 
• For ex- people having impulsivity and aggressive behaviour engage in crimes.
• Reasons for individuals believing crimes are caused because of socio-economic factors:
• People coming from poor backgrounds are forced to commit crimes
• Social problems like lack of education, unemployment and substance abuse worsen the situation, making people to seek alternate illegal methods of income.
• Poverty and social problems create an environment where crime can flourish.
• Individuals facing deprivation of any kind are more tempted to engage in criminal activities. 

Q. Some people think most crimes are the result of circumstances like poverty and other social problems. Others believe that they are caused by people who are bad in nature. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Ans. Crime is a prevalent issue in modern society and understanding its root causes is important for its effective prevention and control. Some people argue that most crimes are the result of circumstances such as poverty or other social problems. Others believe that criminal behaviour stems from individuals who are bad in nature. In my opinion, most crimes are the consequence of socioeconomic circumstances.

Individuals who believe that crime is the result of inheriting bad nature think that even though people who live in affluent societies with minimal social problems, are subjected to face crimes. They believe that personal choices and moral failings are significant contributors to criminal behaviour. For example, studies have indicated that people who possess personality traits such as impulsivity and aggressiveness are more likely to engage in criminal activities. 

On the other hand, proponents of the view that crime is a result of poverty and social issues argue that individuals coming from poor backgrounds are forced to commit crimes because of necessity. When a person’s basic needs such as food, shelter and security are unmet, they may resort to illegal activities as a means of survival. For instance, incidents like theft and burglary are more common in economically deprived societies where everyone is striving to make ends meet. Furthermore, social problems such as lack of education, unemployment and substance abuse exacerbate the situation. Without access to quality education, many individuals cannot secure well-paying jobs, leading them to seek alternative, often illegal, means of income.

In my opinion, poverty and social problems create an environment where crime can flourish. When individuals are deprived of opportunities and resources, the temptation to break the law becomes stronger. Additionally, the social environment, including peer influence and community norms, plays a crucial role in shaping behaviour. 

In conclusion, addressing these root causes through social policies aimed at reducing poverty, improving education, and providing employment opportunities is essential for effective crime prevention. By creating a more equitable and supportive society, the incidence of crime can be significantly reduced.

Paraphrased Statement: Crime is a prevalent issue in modern society and understanding its root causes is important for its effective prevention and control. Some people argue that most crimes are the result of circumstances such as poverty or other social problems. Others believe that criminal behaviour stems from individuals who are bad in nature.

Thesis Statement: In my opinion, most crimes are the consequences of socioeconomic circumstances.

Body Paragraph 1-Topic Sentences: Individuals who believe that crime is the result of inheriting bad nature think that even though people who live in affluent societies with minimal social problems, are subjected to face crimes.

Body Paragraph 1- Supporting Reasons and Explanations: They believe that personal choices and moral failings are significant contributors to criminal behaviour. For example, studies have indicated that people who possess personality traits such as impulsivity and aggressiveness are more likely to engage in criminal activities.

Body Paragraph 2- Topic sentence: On the other hand, proponents of the view that crime is a result of poverty and social issues argue that individuals coming from poor backgrounds are forced to commit crimes because of necessity. 

Body paragraph 2- Supporting Reasons and Explanations:  When a person’s basic needs such as food, shelter and security are unmet, they may resort to illegal activities as a means of survival. For instance, incidents like theft and burglary are more common in economically deprived societies where everyone is striving to make ends meet. Furthermore, social problems such as lack of education, unemployment and substance abuse exacerbate the situation. Without access to quality education, many individuals cannot secure well-paying jobs, leading them to seek alternative, often illegal, means of income.

Body Paragraph 3- Topic sentence: In my opinion, poverty and social problems create an environment where crime can flourish.

Body paragraph 3- Supporting Reasons and Explanations: When individuals are deprived of opportunities and resources, the temptation to break the law becomes stronger. Additionally, the social environment, including peer influence and community norms, plays a crucial role in shaping behaviour. 

Conclusion: In conclusion, addressing these root causes through social policies aimed at reducing poverty, improving education, and providing employment opportunities is essential for effective crime prevention. By creating a more equitable and supportive society, the incidence of crime can be significantly reduced.

Vocabulary in Use

Linkers and Connectors Used:

Following are the linkers and connectors used:

• In my opinion
• For example
• On the other hand
• For instance
• Furthermore
• Additionally
• In conclusion

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Purti is a CELTA, British Council, and IDP-certified language trainer. Having worked as a Study Abroad Test Prep Expert for the past 7 years, she has guided thousands of students towards their desirable scores in IELTS, TOEFL, GRE, GMAT and other language proficiency tests to study abroad. She is adept in molding learning strategies according to the needs of the learners and has built multiple courses at Leverage IELTS with result-oriented strategies. Proficient in test prep courses such as IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, and Duolingo, she loves to explore different classroom teaching methods, keeps continuously improving her own skills, and stays abreast with the latest teaching methodologies. She is a master trainer at Leverage Edu and aims to help thousands more through her expertise.

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IELTS Discussion Essay Sample Questions

Below is a list of IELTS discussion essay sample questions for IELTS writing task 2. These are also known as two sided essays.

Discussion Essay Tips

• identify both sides
• find supporting points for both side
• only give your opinion if the task asks for it
• use discussion essay language
• follow a safe discussion essay model

Discussion Essay Questions

Some people think that environmental problems should be solved on a global scale while others believe it is better to deal with them nationally. Discuss both sides and give your opinion.

All parents want the best opportunities for their children. There are some people who think that schools should teach children skills but others think having a range of subjects is better for a children’s future. Discuss both sides and give your opinion.

There seems to be an increasing number of serious crimes committed each year. While some think the best way is to use the death penalty as a deterrent, many people believe that other measures will be needed. Discuss both sides.

Completing university education is thought by some to be the best way to get a good job. On the other hand, other people think that getting experience and developing soft skills is more important. Discuss both sides and give your opinion. CLICK HERE: MODEL ESSAY ANSWER

Some people think that exercise is the key to health, while others feel that having a balanced diet is more important. Discuss both sides and give your opinion.

It is thought by some that its is better to live in a city, while others  believe that life is better in the countryside. Discuss both sides and give your opinion.

Some people think that the internet has brought people closer together, while others think that people and communities are become more isolated. Discuss both sides and give your opinion.

Other IELTS Essay Questions

• Opinion Essay Questions
• Solution Essay Questions
• Direct Questions Essay Titles
• Advantage Disadvantage Essay Questions
• All Essay Questions by Topic

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How Kamala Harris Can Win

By Michael J. Sandel

Mr. Sandel teaches political philosophy at Harvard.

Kamala Harris has a lot to do in a short time — build a team, choose a running mate, introduce herself to the country. But her most important task is to figure out what this election should be about.

Over the past week, Ms. Harris has been campaigning on protecting democracy, the rule of law and reproductive freedom from another four years of Donald Trump. As a forceful defender of abortion rights and a former prosecutor, she is ideally equipped to make these issues the centerpiece of her campaign. She relishes reminding voters of Mr. Trump’s status as a felon. “I took on perpetrators of all kinds,” she declared in her first campaign rally, at a gym in Milwaukee on Tuesday. “So hear me when I say: I know Donald Trump’s type.”

But standing up to Mr. Trump and defending reproductive rights is not enough. To defeat him, Ms. Harris needs to address the legitimate grievances he exploits — the sense among many Americans, especially those without a college degree, that their voices aren’t heard, that their work isn’t respected and that elites look down on them. She needs a message that reconnects the Democratic Party with the working-class voters it has alienated in recent decades. Delivering this message may not come naturally to her as a former senator from California, and Mr. Trump has wasted no time attempting to brand her a “radical-left lunatic." But if she wants to shape a progressive politics that can wrest the future from the MAGA movement, then she has to try. It could be the difference between victory and defeat this November.

To begin addressing the anger and polarization gripping this country, Democrats need to recall what brought us to this volatile historical moment: An overwhelming majority of Americans — some 85 percent — believe that their leaders don’t care what they think and that they lack a meaningful say in shaping the forces that govern their lives.

This sense of disempowerment underlies the Republicans’ most potent issues in this campaign: inflation and immigration.

If Ms. Harris continues to repeat economic facts without acknowledging most voters’ feelings, she will fail to address the mood of discontent that has her running just behind Mr. Trump in the polls. Low unemployment, robust job growth, rising wages — by the usual metrics, the economy has been a success during the Biden years. And yet inflation looms so large for voters that most disapprove of the president’s handling of the economy. Why? Because inflation is not merely about the price of eggs. Many voters experience it as an assault on their agency, a daily marker of their powerlessness: No matter how hard I work or how much I make, I can’t get ahead or even keep up.

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