TIPS FOR WRITING IELTS TASK 2
I. TYPES OF ESSAYS:
Opinion Advantages - Problems - Solutions Discussion Two-part Questions
Disadvantages
● What is your opinion? ● Discuss the ● Problem and solution. ● Discuss both points of 2 questions.
● Do you agree or advantages and ● Cause and solution. view and give your
disagree? disadvantages. opinion.
● To what extent do you ● Discuss the
agree or disagree? advantages and
● Direct question. disadvantages and
give your own opinion.
Some people believe Computers are being Students are becoming Computers are being As most people spend a
that unpaid community used more and more in more and more reliant on used more and more in major part of their adult
service should be a education. computers. education. Some people life at work, job
compulsory part of high say that this is a positive satisfaction is an
school programmes (for Discuss the advantages What are some of the trend, while others argue important element of
example working for a and disadvantages and problems associated with that it is leading to individual wellbeing.
charity, improving the give your own opinion. reliance on computers, negative consequences.
neighborhood or and what are some of the What factors contribute to
teaching sports to possible solutions? Discuss both sides of this job satisfaction?
younger children). argument and then give
your own opinion. How realistic is the
To what extent do you expectation of job
agree or disagree? satisfaction for all
workers?
II. GENERAL FORMAT:
Parts Sub-parts Number of Time strategy
sentences (minutes)
INTRODUCTION Topic paraphrase (write the topic again but in your language) 1-2 2-5
Thesis statement 1
Clearly state:
● your opinion
● your thinking
● whether you agree or disagree
● main advantages or disadvantages
PARAGRAPH 1 Topic sentence 1 1 15 - 20
BODY
Supporting sentences + Examples 2-6
(Concluding sentence) 1
PARAGRAPH 2 Topic sentence 2 1
Supporting sentences + Examples 2-6
(Concluding sentence) 1
CONCLUSION Main-point restatement/paraphrase 1-2 2-5
Your opinion/idea/argument 1
(Prediction / Warning / Evaluation / Suggestion…) 1-2
TOTAL 13 - 25 20 - 30
III. USEFUL EXPRESSIONS FOR INTRODUCTION:
1. To start an introduction:
Many/some people claim/opine/believe that... There is no denying that... It is often said that...
We live in an age when many of us are... These days.../ Nowadays.../ In this day and It goes without saying that...
age...
It is universally accepted that... People are divided in their opinion is one of the most important issues...
regarding...
Whether .... or… is a controversial issue...
2. To end an introduction:
Let us examine both views before reaching a The following paragraphs discuss The following essay takes a look at both
concrete decision. whether ...... or ......and reach a reasonable sides of the argument.
conclusion.
I wholeheartedly believe that this trend However, I strongly believe that... I oppose the view and my reasons will be
should be changed. explained in the following paragraphs.
I will support this view with arguments in the I personally believe that... Thus the advantages far outweigh the
following paragraphs. disadvantages...
3. To express opinion:
In my opinion.. I strongly opine that... I strongly agree with the idea that...
I strongly disagree with the given topic... I think... My opinion is that...
Personally speaking... In my view... I believe...
Apparently... Personally speaking... According to me...
From my point of view… (Not 'In my point of view') As far as I am concerned... From my perspective...
I realise... To my way of thinking... It seems to me that...
To me... To my mind... My own view on the matter is...
It appears that... I feel that... I understand...
I suppose…
IV. USEFUL EXPRESSIONS FOR BODY:
1. To begin the 1st paragraph of the body:
It is true that... On the one hand… First of all... Many support the view that...
Some people believe that... According to many... First ... Many people think that...
Let us take a look at... It is worth considering... Firstly ... In the first place..
Though it is true that... Some people believe that... First and foremost… To start with...
To begin with... Initially...
2. To begin the 2nd/ 3rd/ 4th/... paragraph of the body:
Second(ly)... (Not 'Second of all') Likewise... Apart from that... After that...
On the other hand.. Other people believe that... Other people think that... Thirdly...
Moreover... Furthermore... Also... And...
What’s more... Consequently... In addition... Next...
Last but not least... Finally... Besides... Again...
Then...
3. To show comparison (similarities):
In the same way... Similarly... Like the previous point... Just as...
Similar to... Also... At the same time... Likewise...
4. To show contrast (differences):
On the other hand... Meanwhile... Yet...
Even so... Despite the fact that... Nonetheless/ Nevertheless...
Then again... Oppositely... In spite of the fact that...
Alternatively... Despite... / In spite of... Even though...
Though... Although... Whilst...
Unlike... However... But…
On the contrary...
5. To show examples:
As an example... When it comes to... A case... ...could be a good/ideal example
here
An example is... To paraphrase... To illustrate... As an evidence...
To cite an example... To give an example... To show an example... As far .... is concerned...
With respect to Namely... In particular... Regarding...
Particularly... Such as... Among others... As...
Like... For example... For instance...
6. To present an idea:
Research shows that... Research has found that... When it comes to...
With respect to... Not only... but also... In terms of...
7. To introduce more ideas/examples:
Furthermore... In addition... On top of that... Besides...
What is more... Another point worth noting is... Another factor to consider is... Furthermore...
Not only .... but also... Also...
8. To show consequences/effects/results:
Owing to... Due to... Thereby... For this/that reason...
For this/that reason... Eventually... Hence... Because of...
On account of... As a result... Consequently... As a consequence...
As an effect... Thus... The reason why... Therefore...
So...
9. To show result & reason:
Therefore... Consequently... ... has led to/ ... has resulted in... One reason behind this is...
Due to... As a result... As a result of...
10. To emphasize an idea:
It goes without saying that... Obviously... Needless to say... Nonetheless...
Though... Nevertheless... Still... Yet..
Although... There is little doubt that... Even if... After all...
Therefore... Thus.....
11. To clarify/rephrasing:
To put it simply... To put in another way... That is to say... In other words…
12. To end each paragraph of the body:
To summarise... To repeat in short.... To sum up... That is to say...
In short... In a word... To put it simply...
V. USEFUL EXPRESSIONS FOR CONCLUSION:
Taking everything into account... Weighing up both sides of the argument… Taking everything into consideration...
By and large... To summarise... In short...
All things considered... To elucidate...('To elucidate' means - 'make something In a nutshell...
clear' or 'to explain'.)
To draw the conclusion... On the whole... Overall...
To conclude with... All in all... In general...
In conclusion... To conclude... To sum up...
In summary...
