Preparing for IELTS Writing Task 2 in 2026? Practising recent essay questions is a great way to become familiar with the topics and question types you might encounter on test day.
IELTS Writing Task 2 covers a wide range of subjects, including education, technology, health, employment, environmental issues, and society. Although you cannot predict the exact question you will receive, reviewing recently reported topics can help you learn how to develop ideas and respond to different types of essay questions.
In this guide, we'll explore IELTS Writing Task 2 topics reported during 2026, provide practice questions based on those reports, and explain how to prepare for a Band 7 or higher.
About these questions: The topics below are based on third-party collections of questions reported by IELTS candidates in 2026. We have rewritten the questions as IELTS-style practice prompts. They are not official IELTS questions or verified word-for-word examination transcripts.
If you’re looking for a free IELTS Writing Task 2 practice question, then click the button below to write an essay and see a model answer.
Recent question collections suggest that IELTS continues to cover both familiar social issues and modern developments such as technology, employment, and globalization.
Here are 12 useful topics, organized by the month in which related questions were reported.
June 2026 IELTS Writing Task 2 Questions
1. Health: Self-Treatment Instead of Visiting Doctors
Practice Question
More people are choosing to treat health problems themselves instead of seeking professional medical advice.
Do you think this is a positive or negative development?
Some drivers disregard the rules because they believe they are unlikely to be caught.
Traffic congestion and pressure to arrive on time can encourage dangerous driving.
Stronger enforcement, road safety education, and better road design could reduce violations.
Writing tip: Connect each suggested solution to a specific cause.
July 2026 IELTS Writing Task 2 Questions
4. Government Spending: Supporting Artists
Practice Question
Some people think governments should provide financial support to artists, while others believe public money should be reserved for essential services such as healthcare and education.
Group study allows students to exchange ideas and explain difficult concepts.
Independent study provides greater flexibility and fewer distractions.
The most effective method may depend on the subject and learning task.
Writing tip: Use examples to show when each learning method works best.
8. International Business: Transportation or Technology
Practice Question
Some people think efficient transportation is the most important factor in international business, while others believe modern communication technology is more valuable.
High living costs may force people to work additional hours.
Workplace competition can encourage employees to work beyond their contracted hours.
Excessive working hours may contribute to stress, poor health, and reduced family time.
Writing tip: Organize one body paragraph around causes and the other around effects.
11. Crime: Punishment or Social Reform
Practice Question
Some people believe harsher punishments are the most effective way to reduce crime, while others think improving social and economic conditions is more important.
International transportation and large-scale production can increase emissions.
Multinational companies may contribute to pollution and resource consumption.
International cooperation can also encourage cleaner technology and stronger environmental standards.
Writing tip: Explain the relationship between globalization and environmental damage using specific examples.
Additional IELTS Writing Task 2 Topics for October 2026
September and early October topic roundups also identify several important themes worth practising. The following are additional original practice questions based on those themes, not confirmed questions from October examinations.
13. Artificial Intelligence and Employment
Artificial intelligence is increasingly being used to perform tasks previously completed by human employees.
Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?
Some people believe governments should take greater responsibility for improving public health, while others think individuals should make their own lifestyle choices.
Pick one of these questions, set a 40-minute timer, and write a full essay. Each question links to its own practice with a model answer, and you can find more questions in our IELTS Writing Task 2 practice.
IELTS Writing Task 2 Question Types You Need to Know
Recognizing the question type is one of the first things you should do before writing your essay.
Question type
What you need to do
Agree or Disagree
Explain how far you agree with a statement and support your position.
Discuss Both Views
Discuss two opposing opinions and give your own view when requested.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Explain the benefits and drawbacks of a situation.
Causes and Solutions
Identify why a problem occurs and explain possible solutions.
Causes and Effects
Explain the reasons behind a situation and its consequences.
Positive or Negative Development
Evaluate whether a particular change is beneficial or harmful overall.
Some essay questions combine these demands, so always read the instructions carefully. For a model essay and an essay structure for each type, see our guide to IELTS Writing Task 2 question types.
How to Write a Band 7+ IELTS Writing Task 2 Essay
IELTS Writing Task 2 requires at least 250 words, and you should spend approximately 40 minutes on it.
For many questions, a four-paragraph essay is an effective way to organize your response.
Paragraph 1: Introduction Paraphrase the topic and provide a clear thesis statement that addresses the question.
Paragraph 2: First Main Idea Introduce your first argument, explain your reasoning, and provide an appropriate example.
Paragraph 3: Second Main Idea Develop another relevant argument with supporting explanations and examples.
Paragraph 4: Conclusion Summarize the main ideas and restate your position without introducing a completely new argument.
Remember that using a four-paragraph structure does not automatically produce a Band 7 essay. You also need relevant ideas, logical organization, accurate vocabulary, and varied grammar.
In 3 778 IELTS Writing Task 2 essays reviewed by our AI, grammatical range and accuracy was the lowest of the four criteria most often, in 91% of essays. A typical essay was 287 words long, and 14% of essays were under the 250-word minimum. Whatever the topic, those are the two things to check first: answer every part of the question, and reach 250 words.
How to Prepare for IELTS Writing Task 2 with BestMyTest
Reading recent essay questions helps you understand the topics you may encounter, but writing complete essays and reviewing your mistakes is what helps you improve.
Our IELTS preparation course combines Writing practice, AI-powered feedback, and targeted skill exercises to help you work on the areas that affect your score.
Step 1: Complete an IELTS Writing Task 2 Question
Choose a practice topic and write a complete essay. Try to finish within 40 minutes and write at least 250 words. Start with our free IELTS Writing Task 2 practice question.
Step 2: Review Your Writing Feedback
After completing your essay, review your AI Writing feedback. Pay attention to how clearly you answered the question, organized your ideas, used vocabulary, and constructed sentences. See how it works in our IELTS writing review guide.
Your AI writing review: a band for each criterion, with every grammar and word choice correction marked in your essay.
Step 3: Improve Your Weaknesses with Our AI Tutor
Use our AI Tutor exercises to practise the skills you need to improve, including developing supporting details, using more varied sentence structures, and correcting grammar mistakes.
The AI Tutor builds a Task 2 essay with you step by step, suggesting supporting ideas for each body paragraph.
Try one now. This AI Tutor exercise walks you through a real Task 2 essay question from our bank, step by step:
AI Tutor Exercise: IELTS Writing Task 2
Task Achievement — Task 2
Learn how to answer this question in a step-by-step interactive exercise
Task Achievement — Task 2
Prendre connaissance de la question
Dans la Task 2 de l'IELTS Writing, vous rédigez un essai qui répond à chaque partie de la question. Lisez attentivement l'affirmation et la phrase de consigne, et repérez ce que la question vous demande de traiter.
Un essai qui reste dans le sujet mais ne répond jamais à la question posée ne peut pas obtenir une note élevée.
Prenez connaissance de la question, puis cliquez sur Suivant pour continuer.
Prendre connaissance de la question
It is observed that in many countries not enough students are choosing to study science at university. What are the causes? And what will be the effects on society?
Rédiger l'introduction
Rédigeons l'introduction en deux phrases, soit environ 25 à 35 mots au total. D'abord, reformulez la question avec vos propres mots. Paraphrasez-la en utilisant vos propres mots et des synonymes. Cela garantit que votre essai reste dans le sujet et vous permet de montrer un vocabulaire varié. La deuxième phrase présente les points précis que vous traiterez dans les paragraphes de développement.
Écrivez une introduction.
Rédiger l'introduction
Écrire deux phrases principales
Chaque paragraphe de développement a besoin d'une phrase principale qui présente son idée principale. Deux paragraphes de développement suffisent pour un essai de cette longueur.
Écrivez une phrase claire pour chaque paragraphe. Limitez chaque phrase à 12 à 20 mots et gardez les explications et les exemples pour les étapes suivantes.
Écrivez une phrase principale pour chaque paragraphe de développement.
Écrire deux phrases principales
science courses are seen as too hard
fewer scientists hurt the economy
Étoffer le paragraphe de développement 1
Une phrase principale ne rapporte des points que si elle est appuyée. Développez le premier paragraphe de développement avec deux idées. Pour chaque idée, écrivez une explication et un exemple précis.
Chaque paragraphe de développement doit compter environ 4–5 phrases, soit 60 à 80 mots. Une situation concrète et précise a plus de poids qu'une affirmation générale.
Écrivez la suite du premier paragraphe de développement.
Étoffer le paragraphe de développement 1
60
The main reason for the fall in science students is that many find these courses too difficult. Although many teenagers enjoy science at school, university courses are full of theory and research. For example, a survey of UK universities found that students wanted more practical work in the lab. In addition, easier subjects such as the humanities are widely available, so many students choose them instead.
Étoffer le paragraphe de développement 2
Donnez au deuxième paragraphe de développement la même profondeur qu'au premier. Utilisez deux idées et appuyez chacune d'elles avec une explication et un exemple.
Chaque paragraphe de développement doit compter environ 4–5 phrases, soit 60 à 80 mots. Ne répétez pas le premier paragraphe avec d'autres mots.
Écrivez la suite du deuxième paragraphe de développement.
Étoffer le paragraphe de développement 2
60
Countries with few science graduates are likely to suffer both in competition and in their economies. A lack of skilled researchers in fields such as bio-engineering makes foreign companies less willing to invest. Moreover, fewer scientists means fewer new technologies, so these countries lose business when others bring new products to market first. For example, Chinese companies now file almost as many patents as American ones.
Rédiger la conclusion
La conclusion termine l'essai. Écrivez un résumé en deux phrases des idées principales, puis ajoutez une ou deux phrases sur l'importance du sujet.
Ne recopiez pas l'introduction et n'ajoutez pas de nouvel argument. Limitez l'ensemble de la conclusion à 35 à 50 mots.
Écrivez une conclusion de 3–4 phrases.
Rédiger la conclusion
35
In conclusion, the belief that science degrees are too difficult is closely linked to slower economic growth. Only by changing this attitude can countries reverse the trend and keep their place in a competitive world.
Relire votre dissertation complète
Votre introduction, vos phrases principales, vos paragraphes de développement et votre conclusion forment maintenant un seul essai. Lisez-le comme un texte unique et vérifiez qu'il répond à chaque partie de la question.
Comparez vos formulations avec l'exemple d'essai et remarquez comment chaque paragraphe remplit un rôle différent.
Relisez votre essai, puis cliquez sur Suivant pour continuer.
Relire votre dissertation complète
Comment décider
Un essai de Task 2 répond à toutes les parties de la question. La réalisation de la tâche dépend de deux choses : traiter ce que demande la question et appuyer chaque point principal sur une explication et un exemple.
Travaillez toujours dans le même ordre : introduction, deux phrases principales, deux paragraphes de développement étoffés, puis une conclusion.
Rédiger l'introduction.
En général, ce paragraphe demande deux phrases. Paraphrasez la question avec vos propres mots et des synonymes. Votre essai reste ainsi dans le sujet, et vous montrez l'étendue de votre vocabulaire. La deuxième phrase présente les sujets précis que vous allez traiter dans les paragraphes de développement. Votre introduction doit donc contenir :
La question reformulée
La présentation des sujets précis
Écrire deux phrases principales. Écrivez une phrase principale pour chaque paragraphe de développement.
Étoffer les paragraphes de développement. Appuyez chaque paragraphe de développement sur deux points, et donnez à chaque point une explication et un exemple. Chaque paragraphe de développement doit compter environ 4 à 5 phrases.
Rédiger la conclusion. Résumez les points principaux, puis dites pourquoi le sujet est important.
Relire votre dissertation complète. Relisez les parties ensemble et vérifiez que chaque partie de la question a reçu une réponse.
lightbulb_outline
Deux paragraphes étoffés obtiennent une meilleure note que quatre points non développés. Les examinateurs récompensent les justifications : ajoutez donc une explication et un exemple à un point que vous avez déjà plutôt que d'ajouter un nouveau point.
Introduction
En général, ce paragraphe demande deux phrases. Paraphrasez la question avec vos propres mots et des synonymes. Votre essai reste ainsi dans le sujet, et vous montrez l'étendue de votre vocabulaire. La deuxième phrase présente les sujets précis que vous allez traiter dans les paragraphes de développement. Votre introduction doit donc contenir :
La question reformulée
La présentation des sujets précis
Phrases principales
Écrivez une phrase principale pour chaque paragraphe de développement. Chaque phrase doit présenter le point principal de son paragraphe en 12 à 20 mots et garder les exemples pour l'étape suivante.
Appui
Une phrase principale rapporte des points dès qu'elle est justifiée. Expliquez pourquoi le point est vrai, donnez un exemple précis, et accordez autant de justifications aux deux paragraphes de développement. Chaque paragraphe de développement doit compter environ 4 à 5 phrases.
Conclusion
La conclusion résume les points principaux en deux phrases, puis ajoute une ou deux phrases sur l'importance du sujet. Ne recopiez pas l'introduction et n'ajoutez pas de nouvel argument.
1
Then try another Writing question and apply what you've learned.
By repeating this process, you can build your ability to respond to unfamiliar topics without relying on memorized essays.
All IELTS Writing Task 2 Practice Questions
Every IELTS Writing Task 2 question in our practice bank is listed below. Open any question to write your essay, get an instant AI score, and compare it with the model answer.
Frequently Asked Questions About IELTS Writing Task 2 Topics 2026
helpWhat are the latest IELTS Writing Task 2 topics in 2026?expand_moreexpand_less
Recently reported 2026 topics include education, healthcare, technology, long working hours, crime, globalization, environmental protection, and government spending.
helpWill these exact IELTS Writing Task 2 questions appear on my test?expand_moreexpand_less
There is no guarantee. IELTS does not publish an official list of upcoming essay questions. Use reported topics to guide your practice rather than trying to predict your exact question.
helpAre IELTS Academic and General Training Writing Task 2 topics the same?expand_moreexpand_less
Both tests require an essay of at least 250 words, and they use the same broad assessment criteria. However, individual questions can differ.
helpHow many words should I write in IELTS Writing Task 2?expand_moreexpand_less
You must write at least 250 words. Focus on developing a complete response with relevant examples rather than writing unnecessarily long paragraphs.
helpShould I memorize IELTS Writing Task 2 sample essays?expand_moreexpand_less
No. Instead, study how effective essays introduce arguments, develop supporting details, and connect ideas. Then practise using those techniques with different topics.
helpHow can I improve my IELTS Writing Task 2 band score?expand_moreexpand_less
The most effective approach is to write regularly, review your mistakes, identify weaknesses, and practise improving those specific skills. Our IELTS Writing practice questions, AI feedback, and AI Tutor can help you follow this process.
The figures on this page come from the BestMyTest IELTS learner performance data, our records of IELTS practice on BestMyTest up to October 2026. That page explains how we measure each figure. Last updated 15 October 2026.
