Writing Guide · Updated May 2026

IELTS Writing Task 2 Topics & Questions 2026

A complete, categorised list of IELTS Writing Task 2 question types and topics — with sample questions for every theme. Use these to practise structure, then check your essay score instantly with AI.

5 question types explained

7 major topics

Sample questions per theme

Examiner tips for each type

How Task 2 Works

250 words

Minimum word count

40 minutes

Recommended time

66%

Of your Writing score

Task 2 carries twice the weight of Task 1 in your IELTS Writing score. You are given a topic and asked to write a formal essay of at least 250 words. Examiners mark on four equally weighted criteria: Task Response, Coherence & Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range & Accuracy. For the full picture of how those criteria add up, start with our pillar on how to improve IELTS Writing, and learn the 4-paragraph structure for a Band 7 essay.

The 5 Question Types

Identifying the question type in the first 30 seconds determines your essay structure. Getting this wrong is one of the most expensive Task Response mistakes.

The five IELTS Writing Task 2 question types, their signal phrases, and the structure each requires
Question type	Signal phrase in the prompt	Essay structure
Opinion (Agree / Disagree)	"To what extent do you agree or disagree?"	Introduction (your position) → Body 1 (reason 1) → Body 2 (reason 2) → Conclusion (restate position)
Discussion (Both Views + Opinion)	"Discuss both views and give your own opinion."	Introduction → Body 1 (View A) → Body 2 (View B) → Body 3 or Conclusion (your opinion)
Problem and Solution	"What are the causes? What solutions can you suggest?"	Introduction → Body 1 (causes/problems) → Body 2 (solutions) → Conclusion
Advantages and Disadvantages	"Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?"	Introduction (your overall view) → Body 1 (advantages) → Body 2 (disadvantages) → Conclusion (clear verdict)
Two-Part Question	"Why is this? What do you think should be done?"	Introduction → Body 1 (answer part 1) → Body 2 (answer part 2) → Conclusion

Opinion (Agree / Disagree)

"To what extent do you agree or disagree?"

Structure

Introduction (your position) → Body 1 (reason 1) → Body 2 (reason 2) → Conclusion (restate position)

Sample question

“Some people believe that university education should be free for all students. To what extent do you agree or disagree?”

Examiner tip: Take a clear position. Examiners penalise essays that seem to agree and disagree with no clear stance. "Partially agree" is fine — but explain precisely what you agree and disagree with.

Discussion (Both Views + Opinion)

"Discuss both views and give your own opinion."

Structure

Introduction → Body 1 (View A) → Body 2 (View B) → Body 3 or Conclusion (your opinion)

Sample question

“Some people think that children should be allowed to use smartphones freely, while others believe their use should be strictly limited. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.”

Examiner tip: Many candidates write a Discussion essay when they see "Discuss both views" but forget to include their own opinion. That directly loses marks on Task Response.

Problem and Solution

"What are the causes? What solutions can you suggest?"

Structure

Introduction → Body 1 (causes/problems) → Body 2 (solutions) → Conclusion

Sample question

“Many cities around the world are experiencing serious traffic congestion problems. What are the causes of this problem? What measures could be taken to solve it?”

Examiner tip: Make sure solutions are realistic and directly address the problems you identified. Generic solutions ("governments should do more") score poorly — be specific.

Advantages and Disadvantages

"Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?"

Structure

Introduction (your overall view) → Body 1 (advantages) → Body 2 (disadvantages) → Conclusion (clear verdict)

Sample question

“Working from home has become increasingly common. Do the advantages of this trend outweigh the disadvantages?”

Examiner tip: If asked "do advantages outweigh disadvantages?", you must give a clear verdict. Saying "there are advantages AND disadvantages" without deciding is a Task Response failure.

Two-Part Question

"Why is this? What do you think should be done?"

Structure

Introduction → Body 1 (answer part 1) → Body 2 (answer part 2) → Conclusion

Sample question

“In many countries, people are eating more fast food than ever before. Why is this happening? What problems does it cause?”

Examiner tip: Give roughly equal attention to both parts. A common mistake is to write 200 words on one part and only 50 on the other — this costs Task Response marks.

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Questions by Topic

IELTS topics repeat across exam cycles. Knowing the most common themes lets you build topic IELTS vocabulary and practise structures before test day. Avoiding the 250-word length penalty is the easy first step.

Education

Very frequent

1
Some people think that universities should focus on providing academic skills rather than preparing students for employment. Do you agree or disagree?
2
Many students choose to study abroad rather than in their home country. What are the advantages and disadvantages of studying overseas?
3
Some believe that children should start learning a foreign language as soon as they begin school. Others think this should happen later. Discuss both views.
4
Should university education be funded by students themselves or by the government? Discuss and give your opinion.
5
Private schools produce better academic results than state schools. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Technology

Very frequent

1
Many people believe that social media has had a negative effect on society. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
2
Artificial intelligence is increasingly being used in the workplace. Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
3
Some people think that children today spend too much time on screens. What problems does this cause and what solutions can be suggested?
4
Technology has made it possible for people to work from anywhere in the world. What are the effects of this development?
5
Some argue that robots will eventually replace humans in most jobs. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Environment

Frequent

1
Climate change is the greatest threat facing the world today. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
2
Governments should make all citizens pay a special tax to fund renewable energy. To what extent do you agree?
3
Some people believe individuals can do little to reduce pollution, and that governments and businesses must take responsibility. Discuss both views.
4
International travel has increased significantly in recent years. What are the problems this creates and how can they be addressed?
5
Many endangered species are now protected by law. Some argue the money should be spent on human problems instead. Discuss.

Health & Lifestyle

Frequent

1
In many countries, obesity is a growing problem. What are the causes of this trend? What can be done to address it?
2
Some people think that governments should make it compulsory for citizens to do regular physical exercise. Do you agree or disagree?
3
Junk food advertising should be banned, especially when targeted at children. To what extent do you agree?
4
Mental health problems are on the rise globally. What are the main causes? What solutions can governments and individuals adopt?
5
Some argue that the best way to improve public health is to raise taxes on unhealthy food and drink. To what extent do you agree?

Work & Employment

Frequent

1
Many young people choose to travel or work abroad before starting a career. Is this a positive or negative development?
2
Some companies offer flexible working hours to employees. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this practice?
3
Women still earn less than men in most industries. What are the causes and what measures can be taken to close the gender pay gap?
4
In many countries, people are having to work longer before they can retire. What are the causes and consequences of this trend?
5
Some people think job satisfaction is more important than salary. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Society & Culture

Moderate

1
Many traditions and customs are being lost as the world becomes more globalised. Is this a positive or negative development?
2
In many countries, an increasing proportion of the population is over 65. What problems does this create and how might they be addressed?
3
Some people think that immigration benefits a country. Others believe it has a negative impact. Discuss both views.
4
Young people in many countries are less interested in politics than older generations. Why is this? What can be done to encourage greater participation?
5
Modern societies have become increasingly individualistic. What are the causes and effects of this trend?

Crime & Punishment

Moderate

1
Some people believe that the best way to reduce crime is to give longer prison sentences. Others disagree. Discuss both views.
2
Crime rates in cities have risen dramatically. What are the main causes and what measures could be taken to tackle crime effectively?
3
Should criminals who commit serious crimes be given rehabilitation rather than prison sentences? Discuss both views.
4
Surveillance cameras in public places help reduce crime but also threaten privacy. Do the benefits outweigh the drawbacks?
5
Punishing young offenders in the same way as adults is unfair and counterproductive. Do you agree or disagree?

Scoring Strategy — What Gets You from Band 6 to Band 7

Task Response

Answer every part of the question directly. The examiner checks whether your position is clear from the introduction. Vague or hedging introductions cost marks even when the body is strong.

Coherence & Cohesion

Use one clear idea per paragraph with a topic sentence. Overusing linking words ("Furthermore… Moreover… Additionally…") actually lowers your CC score — vary your cohesive devices.

Lexical Resource

Use topic-specific vocabulary accurately rather than inserting advanced words for their own sake. Incorrect use of a sophisticated word scores lower than correct use of a simpler one.

Grammatical Range

Include a mix of sentence structures — some compound, some complex, some simple. A mix with occasional minor errors scores higher than uniformly simple sentences written perfectly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common IELTS Writing Task 2 topics?

The most frequently tested IELTS Writing Task 2 topics are Education, Technology, Environment, Health and Lifestyle, Work and Employment, Society and Culture, and Crime and Punishment. Of these, Education and Technology appear most often — roughly once every 2–3 exam cycles.

What are the 5 types of IELTS Writing Task 2 questions?

The five IELTS Writing Task 2 question types are: (1) Opinion / Agree or Disagree — state and defend your position; (2) Discussion — present both sides and give your view; (3) Problem and Solution — identify causes and propose solutions; (4) Advantages and Disadvantages — evaluate pros and cons; (5) Two-part question — answer two separate but related questions. Opinion and Discussion questions are the most common.

How long should an IELTS Writing Task 2 essay be?

IELTS Writing Task 2 requires a minimum of 250 words. Examiners recommend writing 260–300 words for a well-structured essay. Writing fewer than 250 words results in a penalty on your Task Response score. Writing significantly more than 300 words rarely improves your score and wastes time you need for Task 1.

What is the difference between an Agree/Disagree and a Discussion essay?

An Agree/Disagree question asks for your personal opinion on a statement — you should take a clear position (fully agree, partially agree, or disagree) and defend it throughout. A Discussion question presents two opposing views and asks you to discuss both before giving your own opinion. Confusing these two types is one of the most common Task Response errors.

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