Task Type
IELTS Type
Difficulty
Preparation Tips That Actually Works For Task 2
- Hook examiners in your first 3 lines—they skim 100+ essays daily.
- Master 20 high-impact academic phrases, not 100 obscure words.
- Steal arguments/vocab from IELTS Reading passages during practice
- Acknowledge the opposing view in 1 sentence to show critical thinking
- Use one specific example (e.g., “A 2023 UN study found…”) per essay
- If out of time, write a one-sentence conclusion—never leave it blank
- Replace “This is because” with “The rationale lies in…” to avoid repetition
- Use hypothetical stats (“68% of cases”)—examiners prefer measurable claims
- Never write “In my opinion”—just state your view directly
- One “power paragraph” with stat + expert quote + consequence = high score
Some people think that having a set retirement age (e.g. 65 years) for everybody, regardless of occupation, is unfair. They believe that certain workers deserve to retire and receive a pension at an earlier age. Do you agree or disagree? Which types of workers do you think should benefit from early retirement?
Some think that it is more important for children to engage in outdoor activities instead of playing video games. To what extent to you agree or disagree?
It is better to learn the way people lived in the past through films and video records than written documents. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Some people think that schools should teach students how to manage money. Do you agree or disagree?
Many people around the world use social media everyday to keep in touch with other people and get news events. Do you think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
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?
In many cities, traffic congestion is a serious problem. What are the causes of this issue, and what measures could be taken to solve it?
Some people believe that visitors to other countries should follow local customs and behaviour. Others disagree and think that the host country should welcome cultural differences. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Nowadays, many people move to other countries to live and work. Why do people choose to do this? Is it a positive or negative development?
Some people think that technology has made our lives more complex, while others believe it has made them simpler. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
In some countries, young people are encouraged to work or travel for a year between finishing high school and starting university studies. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages for young people who decide to do this.
Some people think that the education system should only focus on preparing students for employment. Others believe it has other important functions. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
In many countries, the amount of crime is increasing. What do you think are the main causes of crime? How can we deal with those causes?
Some people prefer to live in a house, while others feel that there are more advantages to living in an apartment. Are there more advantages than disadvantages of living in a house compared with living in an apartment?
Some people think that a sense of competition in children should be encouraged. Others believe that children who are taught to cooperate rather than compete become more useful adults. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Nowadays, many people use the internet to communicate and get information. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this?
Some people say that now we can see films on our phones or tablets, there is no need to go to the cinema. Others say that to be fully enjoyed, films need to be seen in a cinema. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Some people think that zoos are cruel and should be closed down. Others believe that zoos are useful for protecting rare animals. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
In many parts of the world, water is becoming a scarce resource. What are the causes of this problem? What measures can be taken to solve it?
In some countries, people are having children at a later age than in the past. Why is this happening? Is it a positive or negative development?
Nowadays, more and more people decide to have children later in their life. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this trend?
Some people believe that using animals for experiments is cruel, but others think it is necessary for the development of science. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Some people think that the best way to reduce crime is to give longer prison sentences. Others, however, believe there are better alternative ways to reduce crime. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
In many countries today, crime novels and TV crime dramas are becoming more and more popular. Why do you think these books and TV shows are popular? What is your opinion of crime fiction and TV crime dramas?
Many people work from home using modern technology today. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this development.
Nowadays, many people complain that they have difficulties getting enough sleep. What problems can lack of sleep cause? What can be done about lack of sleep?
Some people think that governments should focus on reducing environmental pollution, while others believe economic development should be the priority. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Some people say that history has little or nothing to offer, while others say that studying the past helps us to understand the present. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.