A 40-minute Task 2 test where the model says nothing
One realistic question, then silence for 40 minutes, then a compact evidence-based mark. No tips, no outline, no encouragement.
Give me one IELTS Writing Task 2 question on [TOPIC]. Essay type: [ESSAY TYPE]. Realistic difficulty, official phrasing style. Then say only: "You have 40 minutes. Start now." Nothing else — no tips, no outline, no encouragement. When I send my essay, mark it with this table only: | Criterion | Band | Evidence quote | Fix | plus word count, whether I answered every part of the question, and whether an overview/position was stated in the introduction.
Best on ChatGPT · Claude · Gemini.
What to fill in
| Token | What to paste |
|---|---|
| [TOPIC] | A Task 2 theme — education, technology, environment, crime, health, globalisation. |
| [ESSAY TYPE] | One of: opinion, discussion, advantages-disadvantages, problem-solution, two-part. Rotate it — most candidates over-practise opinion essays and get ambushed by two-part questions. |
What you should get back
A single realistic question in official phrasing, then nothing but the start instruction, and after you submit, a four-row evidence table plus word count, task coverage and a position check.
What it actually returned
Tested on Gemini 2.5 Flash, API, August 2026, 2026-08-06. Trimmed — this is an excerpt of a longer response, not the whole thing.
Many educational institutions are now focusing on developing students' practical skills and emotional intelligence, in addition to traditional academic subjects. Why do you think there is a growing emphasis on these areas? What are the potential advantages of this broader educational approach for individuals and society? You have 40 minutes. Start now.
Our verdict on this run
Exactly right, and nothing more — which is the entire specification. No tips, no outline, no "good luck", no offer to brainstorm ideas first, and no commentary after the start instruction. The question is genuinely a two-part one as requested (two distinct questions, both of which must be answered for full Task Response), and the phrasing is close to official style. Worth checking each time regardless: asking for two-part and receiving a discussion question is a common slip, and you will not notice mid-exam. The marking half of this prompt only fires once you submit an essay, so it is not visible in a single-turn capture like this one.
How this prompt goes wrong
It cannot resist helping. The most common break is an outline or a "here are some ideas to consider" after the question, which turns a test into a lesson and makes the resulting band meaningless — you did not write that essay under exam conditions, you wrote it with a plan supplied. If it offers help, ignore what it wrote and start your timer anyway. Watch the word count too: models routinely miscount by 10–20 words, so if you are anywhere near the 250 minimum, count it yourself rather than trusting the report.
Tips
- Use a real timer and no dictionary. The "nothing else" instruction is what makes this a test rather than a lesson.
- Rotate the essay type every time. Over-practising opinion essays is the most common preparation mistake.
- Write it in a plain text box with no spell-check, so the conditions match the computer-delivered test.
Related prompts
- Mock examinerA 250-word verdict with no room for flatteryA tired, strict examiner persona capped at 250 words: the band first, three quoted justifications, one upgrade condition, nothing else.
- Mock examinerFind out what an examiner notices in your first 50 wordsTests your essay the way it is actually read — fast — separating conspicuous errors from invisible ones and naming the feature that tips the band.
- Mock examinerRun a full Speaking test where the examiner never breaks roleA complete Parts 1–3 interview in examiner register — no teaching, no encouragement, no band — so it feels like the real thing.
- Writing Task 2Test your introduction and conclusion against seven checksRuns a yes/no scorecard over the two most formulaic paragraphs in Task 2, quotes the evidence, then rewrites both in your own voice.
Common questions
Why does it give me tips even though I said not to?
Helpfulness is the default and a single in-message instruction is weak against it. Setting the rule in custom instructions works better — and if it slips anyway, simply ignore the extra text and start your timer.
Is 40 minutes right for Task 2?
Yes. The Writing paper is 60 minutes total, and the standard split is 20 minutes on Task 1 and 40 on Task 2, because Task 2 carries twice the marks.
Can I trust the word count it reports?
Not near the boundary. Models miscount routinely. Anything close to 250 words should be counted properly, since being under the minimum carries a penalty.