IELTS Writing Task 2: Tips, Lessons & Models

IELTS Writing task 2 is an essay writing question, and there are a few techniques or strategies that can help you tackle each question uniquely and systematically. Any person preparing for IELTS is well aware that Writing can be tricky, as each question has a different theme, and in an actual test, the candidate might come across a question that was never done before.

The IELTS writing test is relatively easy if you fully understand the concept and can arrange your thoughts into grammatically accurate, well-structured phrases. Canamprep has developed IELTS material to give you access to all the study aids you require, such as practice exams, sample questions and answers, videos, articles, expert reviews, online courses, webinars, and much more. Canamprep, in association with Cambridge University and Press, uses authentic Cambridge material along with their own. You may visit the nearest Canamprep branch today for further details!

Easy tips for IELTS writing task 2
•    Read the question three times to be sure about the requirements.
•    Be specific: Use data that is directly related to the question.
•    Structure your answer: Make sure that you organize ideas properly and use relevant examples
•    No need to mention anything out of context, rather use examples by using referencing and relating them to the question
•    Be careful with plurals. If you are asked to give 'advantages,' you must provide at least two benefits.
•    Be proactive: Always relate the question with the theme you have to cover and use the words and information of that theme only.
•    An essay must start with an introduction and end with a conclusion, and ideas must be expressed and organized clearly.
•    Ensure that your ideas are properly arranged to maintain the reader's interest.
•   Work on Synonyms: For example, baby/toddler are synonymous in terms of meaning and can thus be used interchangeably, but adolescent/teenager has significantly distinctive connotations.
•    Hyphenated words are considered as one, for example, up-to-date.
•    For contractions, it’s -one word, whereas it is - would be two words.
•    Any number or a date - is counted as one, that is 55 would be one word, and 9:30 am would also be counted as one.
•    Band eight writers skillfully employ uncommon lexical items.
•    General idioms and clichés should be avoided.
•    Contractions (e.g., can't, doesn't) should not be overused.
•    You do not get a higher band score for a balanced approach, so it is safer to choose one side and stick with that view throughout the essay.
•    Try to use Formal language only (Academic language)

Also read : IELTS Exam type

Lessons for IELTS writing task 2

• Never use memorized language, expressions, or examples
• Keep the flow natural and use language that can be understood by the reader, instead of using isolated words and a fancy tone.
• Take time to understand the usage and implementation of complex sentence structures.
• Using new words or a wide variety of synonyms will not help if the spellings are incorrect; make sure not to make such mistakes.
• Your paragraphing should be clear by sequencing your thoughts correctly. Ensure that your explanations are properly arranged to maintain the interest of the reader/examiner.
• It is crucial to utilize a combination of simple and complex sentences. However, your complex sentences should not be lengthy and complicated.
• Your punctuation must be correct, using capitalization, commas, and periods correctly.

Here are a few questions as examples:

• In today's very competitive world, a worker has to possess multiple skills to succeed.  Among the skills that a worker should possess, which skill do you think is more important, social skills or good qualifications? Explain the reasons and provide specific examples to support your answer.

• A growing number of people feel that animals should not be exploited by people and that they should have the same rights as humans, 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.

• It is inevitable that as technology advances, traditional cultures will be lost. It seems that we cannot have these two things together. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Also read : IELTS Exam dates

5 Question types for IELTS writing task 2

• Advantages and disadvantages type essay
• Opinion-type essay
• Discussion-type essay
• Two-part question essay/ Direct question essay
• Problem solution essay/ Causes solution essay

Make sure each paragraph contains a clear and developed topic with a minimum of two sentences.

• Begin with a key statement.
• Your point must be supported by the example.
• The evidence must support your point to justify it.
• A link – to the next topic or paragraph is required.

Also read : IELTS Test Centers

Sample answer for IELTS writing task 2

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

In some countries, more and more people are becoming interested in finding out about the history of the house or building they live in. What are the reasons for this? How can people research this?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.

This is an answer written by a candidate who achieved a Band 6.0 score.

In our rather futuristic society for many reasons, people are becoming more interested in the past of their hometowns. With the help of rapidly developing technology, their desire to learn about history can be easily put to life. But what are the roots of such eagerness?

First of all, the hectic lifestyle that we all experience nowadays does not leave any space for calmness and peace in our souls, so most people - especially adolescents - are struggling with finding their feet, whilst having a broad spectrum of knowledge about the world around really gives a feeling of confidence in the impermanence of life. In addition to this, it is said that being aware of the past can change the future. Consequently, if people want to live a better life in a more comfortable environment, they have to explore the history of their homes in order not to repeat past mistakes.

For this aim, we are lucky to have multiple tools to carry out research into the subject. Despite libraries being considered an old-fashioned and not necessarily convenient approach to learning, there are quite a few books and magazines which are not available online but which are extremely helpful when it comes to local interests. News, photos, articles, and interviews with different people published in old magazines indeed provide a clear image of past events.

Browsing the internet forums is also a great idea to find new information and make friends with mutual objectives. Putting everything into a nutshell, learning about the history of your place not only builds a sense of confidence but also might have a big impact on our future way of life.

To make sure that all the stages have been properly completed, a checklist should be utilized:
•    Check whether the essay is fully answering the question that was asked.
•    Check that the words are exceeding 250 (you must know in your handwriting how much should be written to exceed 250).
•    Check that no repetition has occurred, of ideas or words. (Some words that do not have direct synonyms will have to repeat, like, University, school, car etcetera. Make sure that wherever possible, use synonyms.)
•    Check for spelling mistakes

Also read : IELTS Exam fee

Band descriptors for IELTS writing task 2

You will be marked on the following-

• Task Response (25%)
• Coherence and Cohesion (25%)
• Lexical Resource (25%)
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy (25%)

Also read : IELTS Exam registration