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IELTS Writing Task 2

IELTS Writing Task 2 questions (page 7)

500 practice essay questions in the official wording, grouped by question type. Every question ends with the same instruction: “Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. Write at least 250 words.” Give yourself 40 minutes.

How to write: opinion (agree or disagree)
How to write: discussion (both views)
How to write: advantages and disadvantages
How to write: problems, causes and solutions
How to write: two-part questions

Opinion (agree or disagree)

  1. Some people believe that working remotely gives employees a better quality of life. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
  2. Some people believe that governments should encourage people to use electric vehicles instead of petrol or diesel cars. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Discussion (both views)

  1. Some people think schools should teach students about deserts and the people who live there. Others think this is not an important subject. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
  2. Some people think that music should be played in shops and restaurants, while others believe these places should be quiet. Discuss both views and give your own opinion. You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
  3. Some people think that news reports should only give information about events, while others believe they should also explain why these events happen. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
  4. Write about the following topic: Some people believe that hiking in the mountains is a better way to spend a holiday than visiting a city. Others prefer city holidays. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
  5. Some people think that journalists should be allowed to keep their sources secret, while others believe they should always tell the public where their information comes from. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
  6. Some people believe that more towns should be built in desert areas, while others think these areas should remain mostly undeveloped. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
  7. Write about the following topic: Some people prefer to go hiking in the mountains alone, while others think it is better to hike with a group. Discuss both views and give your own opinion. You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
  8. Some people believe that ancient ruins should be rebuilt to look as they did in the past, while others think they should be left in their present condition. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
  9. Some people believe that having a successful career is the main source of happiness, while others think that good relationships and free time are more important. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
  10. Some people believe that zoos and aquariums help protect animals, while others think that animals should not be kept in captivity. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
  11. Some people believe that learning about the history of fashion is important, while others think it has little value in modern society. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
  12. Some people believe that the growth of the global economy benefits all countries, while others think it mainly benefits richer countries. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
  13. Some people believe that happiness comes mainly from strong relationships with family and friends, while others think it depends more on personal success. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
  14. Some people think that keeping animals in zoos and aquariums is acceptable because it allows the public to learn about wildlife. Others believe that animals should live only in their natural habitats. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
  15. Some people think that electric vehicles are the most effective way to reduce air pollution, while others believe that improving public transport would have a greater impact. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Advantages and disadvantages

  1. You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Large wind farms and solar parks are increasingly being built in open countryside. Do the advantages of these developments outweigh the disadvantages?
  2. Some cities require new public buildings to use renewable energy, such as solar power. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this policy?
  3. Archaeologists are increasingly using television and online videos to present their discoveries to the public. Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?
  4. As the global economy becomes more connected, companies increasingly move production to countries where costs are lower. Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?

Problems, causes and solutions

  1. In some areas, noise and bright lights from towns are affecting wild animals. What problems can this cause, and what measures could be taken to reduce these effects?
  2. In some areas, wild animals are increasingly entering towns and villages. What problems can this cause, and what measures can be taken to protect both people and animals?
  3. In some mountain regions, increasing numbers of people are going hiking. This can cause problems for the local environment and for people who live nearby. What problems can this cause, and what solutions could be used?
  4. Large quantities of plastic waste are now found in rivers and oceans around the world. What are the main reasons for this, and what measures could be taken to reduce the problem?
  5. Electric vehicles are becoming more common, but many people still choose petrol or diesel cars. What problems prevent people from using electric vehicles, and what measures could governments and car companies take to address these problems?

Two-part questions

  1. You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. As renewable energy becomes more widely used, countries need ways to store electricity for times when the sun is not shining or the wind is not blowing. Why is storing this electricity important, and what methods could countries use to do it?
  2. Archaeologists sometimes discover evidence about the homes and daily lives of ordinary people in the past. What can these discoveries teach us about earlier societies? Do you think this knowledge is useful to people today?
  3. Many plants and animals in desert areas are losing their natural homes because people are using more land for farming and building. What problems can this cause, and what can be done to protect these plants and animals?
  4. Many people listen to music while working or studying. Why do people do this? Do you think this is a positive or negative development?
  5. You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. In some jobs, employees can work remotely for all or part of the week. What factors should people consider when deciding whether to work remotely? Do you think this way of working will become more common in the future?
  6. You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Write about the following topic: Some schools organise hiking trips in mountain areas for their students. What benefits can these trips bring to students? What difficulties might schools face when organising them?
  7. In some countries, many people read only the headlines of news stories and not the full articles. Why does this happen? Is this a positive or negative development?
  8. In some desert regions, young people are leaving their communities to find work in cities. Why is this happening, and what could be done to create more job opportunities in these regions?
  9. You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. As renewable energy becomes more common, some workers in traditional power stations may need to change jobs. What problems could these workers face, and what could governments and employers do to help them?
  10. In some places, wild animals enter farms and villages in search of food. What problems can this cause, and what can people do to protect both local communities and wildlife?
  11. You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. In some countries, the amount of electricity produced from renewable energy changes depending on the weather. What problems can this cause for people and businesses, and what can governments do to deal with these problems?
  12. In some desert regions, many young people are leaving their villages to live in cities. Why is this happening? What measures could encourage more young people to remain in these areas?
  13. In many countries, more young people want to become professional musicians. Why do they choose this career, and what difficulties might they face?
  14. You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. As remote work becomes more common, some workers are choosing to leave large cities and live in smaller towns. Why are they making this choice? What effects could this change have on smaller towns?
  15. You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. In some countries, the growth of renewable energy is changing the kinds of jobs available. Why is this happening? What can governments do to help workers whose jobs are affected?
  16. Music is often used in films and television programmes. Why is this? Do you think it has a positive or negative effect on viewers?
  17. Some wild animals move between countries during the year. What problems can this cause for conservation, and how can countries work together to protect these animals?
  18. As remote work becomes more common, how does it affect workers’ daily lives? What can employers do to support people who work remotely?
  19. Archaeologists often have only a small number of objects and remains to study. What difficulties can this cause when they try to understand how people lived in the past? What can they do to make their conclusions more reliable?
  20. Online learning has become a common way for people to gain new skills. What are the main reasons for this? Do you think this is a positive or negative development?
  21. Plastic items are often used for only a short time but remain in the environment for many years. What problems does this create, and what can governments and the public do to reduce these problems?
  22. Many people do not get enough sleep, which can affect their health and ability to function well during the day. What are the main reasons for this problem? What can individuals and governments do to help people get more sleep?
  23. Fashion has changed considerably over the past hundred years. What have been the main reasons for these changes, and how have they affected the way people express their identity through clothing?
  24. Online lessons are increasingly used in schools alongside traditional classroom teaching. What benefits can online learning bring to students, and what challenges might teachers face when using it?
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IELTS Writing Task 2 questions by type (page 7) | ielts.coach