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
Soruyu Önceden İncele
IELTS Writing Task 2'de sorunun her bölümünü cevaplayan bir deneme yazarsınız. İfadeyi ve talimat satırını dikkatle okuyun ve sorunun sizden neyi tartışmanızı istediğine dikkat edin.
Konudan sapmayan ama sorulan soruyu hiç cevaplamayan bir deneme yüksek bir banda ulaşamaz.
Soruyu önceden inceleyin, ardından devam etmek için İleri'ye tıklayın.
Soruyu Önceden İncele
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?
Girişi Yaz
Girişi toplam yaklaşık 25 ila 35 kelimelik iki cümleyle yazalım. Önce soruyu kendi kelimelerinizle yeniden yazın. Soruyu kendi kelimelerinizi ve eş anlamlıları kullanarak yeniden ifade edin. Bu, denemenizin konudan sapmamasını sağlar ve geniş bir kelime dağarcığı sergilemenize olanak tanır. İkinci cümle, gelişme paragraflarında tartışacağınız belirli konuları tanıtır.
Bir giriş yazın.
Girişi Yaz
İki Konu Cümlesi Yazın
Her gelişme paragrafının, ana noktasını tanıtan bir konu cümlesine ihtiyacı vardır. Bu uzunlukta bir deneme için iki gelişme paragrafı yeterlidir.
Her paragraf için net bir cümle yazın. Her cümleyi 12 ila 20 kelime arasında tutun; açıklamaları ve örnekleri sonraki adımlara bırakın.
Her gelişme paragrafı için bir konu cümlesi yazın.
İki Konu Cümlesi Yazın
science courses are seen as too hard
fewer scientists hurt the economy
1. Gelişme Paragrafını Detaylandırın
Bir konu cümlesi ancak desteklendiğinde puan kazandırır. Birinci gelişme paragrafını iki noktayla geliştirin. Her nokta için bir açıklama ve somut bir örnek yazın.
Her gelişme paragrafı yaklaşık 4–5 cümle, yani 60 ila 80 kelime olmalıdır. Adı konmuş somut bir durum, genel bir ifadeden daha güçlüdür.
Birinci gelişme paragrafının geri kalanını yazın.
1. Gelişme Paragrafını Detaylandırın
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.
2. Gelişme Paragrafını Detaylandırın
İkinci gelişme paragrafına da birincisi kadar derinlik verin. İki nokta kullanın ve her birini bir açıklama ve bir örnekle destekleyin.
Her gelişme paragrafı yaklaşık 4–5 cümle, yani 60 ila 80 kelime olmalıdır. Birinci paragrafı yeni kelimelerle tekrarlamayın.
İkinci gelişme paragrafının geri kalanını yazın.
2. Gelişme Paragrafını Detaylandırın
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.
Sonuç Bölümünü Yaz
Sonuç denemeyi toparlar. Ana noktaların iki cümlelik bir özetini yazın, ardından konunun neden önemli olduğuna dair bir ya da iki cümle ekleyin.
Girişi kopyalamayın ve yeni bir argüman eklemeyin. Sonucun tamamını 35 ila 50 kelime arasında tutun.
3–4 cümlelik bir sonuç yazın.
Sonuç Bölümünü Yaz
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.
Denemenin Tamamını Gözden Geçir
Girişiniz, konu cümleleriniz, gelişme paragraflarınız ve sonucunuz artık tek bir deneme olarak birlikte görünüyor. Onu tek bir yazı olarak okuyun ve sorunun her bölümünü cevapladığını kontrol edin.
İfadelerinizi örnek denemeyle karşılaştırın ve her paragrafın nasıl farklı bir iş gördüğüne dikkat edin.
Denemenizi inceleyin, ardından devam etmek için İleri'ye tıklayın.
Denemenin Tamamını Gözden Geçir
Nasıl karar verilir
Task 2 denemesi sorunun her bölümünü cevaplar. Task Achievement puanı, sorunun istediklerini kapsamanıza ve her ana noktayı bir açıklama ve bir örnekle desteklemenize bağlıdır.
Sabit bir sırayla çalışın: giriş, iki konu cümlesi, ayrıntılı işlenmiş iki gelişme paragrafı, ardından sonuç.
Girişi Yaz.
Genel olarak bu paragraf için iki cümleye ihtiyacınız olacak. Soruyu kendi kelimelerinizle ve eş anlamlılar kullanarak yeniden ifade edin. Bu, denemenizin konu dışına çıkmamasını sağlar ve geniş bir kelime dağarcığı sergilemenize olanak tanır. İkinci cümle, gelişme paragraflarında ele alacağınız belirli konuları tanıtır. Bu nedenle girişiniz şunları içermelidir:
Yeniden Yazılmış Soru
Belirli Konuların Tanıtımı
İki Konu Cümlesi Yazın. Her gelişme paragrafı için bir konu cümlesi yazın.
Gelişme Paragraflarını Detaylandırın. Her gelişme paragrafını iki noktayla destekleyin ve her noktaya bir açıklama ve bir örnek ekleyin. Her gelişme paragrafı yaklaşık 4–5 cümle olmalıdır.
Sonuç Bölümünü Yaz. Ana noktaları özetleyin, sonra konunun neden önemli olduğunu söyleyin.
Denemenin Tamamını Gözden Geçir. Bölümleri birlikte okuyun ve sorunun her bölümünün cevaplandığını kontrol edin.
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Ayrıntılı işlenmiş iki paragraf, işlenmemiş dört noktadan daha yüksek puan alır. Sınav görevlileri desteği ödüllendirir, bu yüzden yeni bir nokta eklemek yerine zaten sahip olduğunuz bir noktaya bir açıklama ve bir örnek ekleyin.
Giriş
Genel olarak bu paragraf için iki cümleye ihtiyacınız olacak. Soruyu kendi kelimelerinizle ve eş anlamlılar kullanarak yeniden ifade edin. Bu, denemenizin konu dışına çıkmamasını sağlar ve geniş bir kelime dağarcığı sergilemenize olanak tanır. İkinci cümle, gelişme paragraflarında ele alacağınız belirli konuları tanıtır. Bu nedenle girişiniz şunları içermelidir:
Yeniden Yazılmış Soru
Belirli Konuların Tanıtımı
Konu cümleleri
Her gelişme paragrafı için bir konu cümlesi yazın. Her cümle o paragrafın ana noktasını 12 ila 20 kelimeyle tanıtmalı ve örnekleri bir sonraki aşamaya bırakmalıdır.
Destek
Bir konu cümlesi ancak desteklendiğinde puan kazandırır. Noktanın neden doğru olduğunu açıklayın, belirli bir örnek verin ve iki gelişme paragrafına da aynı miktarda destek verin. Her gelişme paragrafı yaklaşık 4–5 cümle olmalıdır.
Sonuç
Sonuç, ana noktaları iki cümlede özetler, ardından konunun neden önemli olduğuna dair bir ya da iki cümle ekler. Girişi kopyalamayın ve yeni bir argüman eklemeyin.
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.
