IELTS Writing Task 2 Question Types - How to Identify and Answer Each Type

Topic sentences are in bold.
Explanations and details are in red.
Examples are in blue.

Introduction:

Some people believe that the death penalty can benefit a nation. I completely agree with this opinion, as the death penalty can positively impact a country through lowering both crime and tax rates. (33 words) 

Paragraph 1:

Establishing the death penalty could effectively decrease crime rates in society. The most compelling reason for the death penalty's positive contribution to society, is that it is an effective deterrent to serious crime. For example, people who are thinking of murder or committing violent acts will think twice before doing so, and dangerous criminals who have undergone the death penalty would never be able to reoffend. As a result of this policy, crime rate would go down. (77 words)

Paragraph 2:

Additionally, the death penalty could lower taxes for citizens. With this policy, the government would be able to spend less money on keeping the criminal in prison. If the criminal is jailed for many years or for life, the government would need to pay for the enormous expenses involved such as the cost of food for the prisoners and the salaries for the prison officers. However, with the death sentence, the prisoner will spend less time in prison and this would reduce the cost of imprisonment substantially. (87 words)

Conclusion:  

In conclusion, I wholeheartedly agree with the opinion that sentencing serious criminals to death is beneficial for countries. This is because of its deterrent effect, its ability to save the government a lot of money and the fact that we can keep dangerous criminals out of society forever. Given this situation, it is recommended that governments around the world should think about implementing this form of punishment. (67 words)

Total Word Count:  264 words

Note: This type of essay may not have the highest amount of words, since you must only explain your opinion. Other types of essays will most likely have higher word counts, since they involve answering two part questions or adding your opinion. 

Topic sentences are in bold. 
Explanations and details are in red. 
Examples are in blue.  
Opinions are in green .

Introduction: 

While some people argue that we should emphasize the importance of competition when
teaching children, others take the view that focusing on cooperation is more important. In my
opinion, it is better for children to be taught to cooperate. (39 words) 

Paragraph 1:

On one side of the argument, there are people who hold the opinion that encouraging competitiveness in children will yield better results. The most compelling reason for believing this is that competitiveness prepares them for life in the real world. When students grow up, for example, they will need to compete with other students for a place in university.  However, I strongly believe that winning is not everything. A society focused solely on winning and competing ignores other important traits like compassion and generosity. (84 words)

Paragraph 2:

Despite these aforementioned views, other people believe that instilling a sense of cooperation in children will prove to be more beneficial for society as a whole. In society and work, cooperation and teamwork are both often required. For instance, a company will only achieve its overall goal if all parts work together and complement each other.  Consequently, I believe that cooperation is an extremely important value, and has more value over competition. Children who learn that winning against another is not the most important thing will be more willing to work together towards achieving their goals. (96 words)

Conclusion:  

All in all, there is a disagreement in society regarding the effects of competition on children. I strongly reckon that children should be taught compassion and core values, as these will have better long-term effects on society. (37 words)

Total Word Count:  256 words

Topic sentences are in bold. 
Explanations and details are in red. 
Examples are in blue.  

Introduction:

Traditionally, children have begun studying foreign languages at later stages in their educational careers, but some believe that it could be beneficial to introduce them earlier. While there are both advantages and disadvantages associated with this topic, the positive aspects take precedence over the drawbacks. (45 words) 

Paragraph 1:
 

Young children are better able to learn languages for a variety of factors. First off, studies show that young children pick up languages better than teenagers. The younger brains are, the more they are able to retain information in the long-term. It has also been proven that young brains absorb material at a faster rate. Additionally, implementing language lessons in primary schools would allow for more flexibility within the school system. Younger children will be able to engage with the material more frequently through shorter sessions, thus maintaining their enthusiasm and progress.   (92 words)

Paragraph 2:
 

However, there are some disadvantages when it comes to learning languages at an earlier age. Primary teachers may not be qualified to provide lessons in foreign languages, resulting in inadequate teaching.  This could demotivate younger students and give them a negative experience in language learning.  Further, school districts may not be able to carry on foreign language teaching from primary to middle schools. In this case, students would not only lose their progress, but they would also be demotivated due to the lack of consistency throughout their educational careers. However, these issues can be effectively addressed through consistent support in the school district, and pose only a minor threat to the advantages. (112 words)

Conclusion:  
 

Although there are a few disadvantages regarding the study of a foreign language during primary school, there are a plethora of advantages that outweigh the negative aspects. Young children’s innate abilities should be appreciated and fostered to their full advantage. (40 words)

Total Word Count:  289 words

Note: It is normal for this specific essay to be longer than 250 words. Due to the topic and question type, 30 words over the limit would definitely not count against you.

Topic sentences are in bold.
Explanations and details are in red.
Examples are in blue.

Introduction: 

People in industrialized nations can expect to live longer than ever before. Although there will be some negative consequences associated with this shift, societies can take steps to diminish these effects. (31 words) 

Paragraph 1:

The ageing population will bring about rising costs to society. As citizens age and grow weaker, society’s tax burden increases. If a large amount of the population is elderly and retired, pensions costs and taxes will increase, thus creating a burden for younger tax-paying individuals. Additionally, older members of society will require more specialized care as their health worsens, which will bring about higher medical costs due to increased demand. (70 words)

Paragraph 2:

However, there are some steps that both the government and individuals can take to mitigate these problems. Firstly, an increase in the retirement age would offset increasing costs from older generations.  If people are able to retire later, the age for receiving a government-funded state pension would rise. Additionally, this extra time would allow the ageing population to pass on knowledge and help train younger workers in their respective fields. (70 words)

Paragraph 3:

Promoting programs and initiatives in the health care industry could also alleviate potential risks from the aforementioned problems. If the healthcare industry prepares for the increase in the ageing population, the potential problem of higher taxes could be avoided. For example, by promoting advances in medical programs, elderly people may be able to live with better health standards and contribute to society for a longer period of time. These medical advances would also help future generations as they get older. (81 words)

Conclusion:

Various measures can be taken in order to offset potential problems from the ageing population. It is crucial that both individuals and governments work together in this venture. (28 words)

Total Word Count:  280 words
 

Topic sentences are in bold. 
Explanations and details are in red. 
Examples are in blue.  

Introduction:

Health problems including heart disease, obesity, and diabetes are becoming more widespread in developed countries. There are several reasons contributing to this problem, as well as potentially drastic long-term effects. (30 words)

Paragraph 1:

Lifestyle choices are important and major causes of poor health in developed countries. These days, it is perhaps easier and cheaper to follow an unhealthy diet. For example, the recent boom in fast food restaurants and chains has enticed people to eat at these establishments rather than cooking healthy meals at home. Stress is another factor that has contributed to poor health. The fast-paced corporate culture and competitive work atmosphere make for a difficult work-life balance, resulting in little to no time for eating healthy or taking care of oneself. (90 words)

Paragraph 2:

These lifestyle choices will have drastic long-term effects. If generations continue to partake in these unhealthy habits, they will continue on for generations to come. For instance, parents who have diabetes or are prone to obesity have a higher chance of passing these conditions on to their children, and so on. Consequently, these health problems could result in a higher cost of living. Due to increased demand for services, it is only natural that the health care industry would charge higher prices to its clients, resulting in higher costs. (89 words)

Conclusion:  

Poor lifestyle choices, ranging from unhealthy diets and higher stress, have certainly contributed to the decrease in health standards. If not properly taken care of, these problems could cause harmful long-term effects to future generations in terms of disease and a higher cost of living. (45 words)

Total Word Count: 254 words

Topic sentences are in bold. 
Explanations and details are in red. 
Examples are in blue.  
Results are in green.
Opinions are in orange. 

Introduction:

These days, the relationship people have with each other has been affected by advancements
in technology. There are several ways in which relationships have been negatively affected by technology. (29 words) 

Paragraph 1:

Technology has greatly impacted relationships. One of the major ways is that nowadays, people have more acquaintances and fewer close friends. For example, many people may have hundreds and thousands of friends on social media websites like Facebook as it is easy to connect through these websites. Thus, technology has led to less face-to-face interaction between people. Because using social media sites has become an integral part of the lives of many people these days and connecting with others has become so much easier as a result of such sites, most people spend more time online chatting with their friends than actually meeting them face-to-face.   (105 words)

Paragraph 2:

I believe that the above changes have been negative. Firstly, people now feel lonelier as they spend more time with the computer rather than with other human beings. Studies have shown that people need real face-to-face interaction if they want to remain emotionally healthy, and the lack of such communication has made many people become lonely and even depressed. Consequently, many people who use technology to communicate with others are gradually losing important social skills. These days, it is very common for people to communicate and express themselves using emoticons or other forms of expression that are common online. However, an unfortunate consequence of all this is that people do not know how to express themselves properly using their body language or tone of expression. (124 words)

Conclusion:  

To sum up, people have fewer close friends and have less direct contact with people due to technology. This development is negative as it is easier for people to feel lonely because of this and they are becoming less adept in social situations. Given this situation, it is recommended that people should seek to spend less time on electronic devices in order to improve their relationships with others. (68 words)

Total Word Count:  326 words

Note: This type of essay will most likely have the highest amount of words. Why? Because you are fully answering two questions.