IELTS Writing predictions October 2026
The 39 Task 2 questions and 39 Task 1 tasks added to the BandLadder writing bank this season, for Academic and General Training. Every Task 2 question links to a Band 8 sample essay with a paragraph plan and the vocabulary it uses.
These are practice predictions: topics and questions from the BandLadder bank for the current season, chosen to match what candidates report. They are not leaked or confirmed exam questions, and no one can tell you which card you will get. Prepare across the whole range.
Task 2 questions for October 2026, by essay type
Opinion · 13
It is important for all towns and cities to have large public outdoor places like squares and parks. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Academic · Band 8 sample essay
People who decide on a career path early and keep to it are likelier to have a satisfying working life than those who change jobs frequently. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Academic · Band 8 sample essay
It is a good idea for people to continue working in their old age if it is possible for them to do so. Do you agree or disagree?
Academic · Band 8 sample essay
Some people say that to prevent illness and disease, governments should focus more on reducing environmental pollution and housing problems. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Academic · Band 8 sample essay
Many people believe that watching a live performance is more enjoyable than watching the same event on television. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Academic · Band 8 sample essay
Some people think that it is a good thing for senior management positions to have much higher salaries than other workers in a company. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Academic · Band 8 sample essay
People believe that they should be able to keep all the money they earn and should not pay taxes to the state. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Academic · Band 8 sample essay
Some people think that children who spend a lot of time reading children's story books are wasting their time which could be better used doing other more useful activities. To what extent do you agree?
General Training · Band 8 sample essay
Libraries should focus on improving their technological resources rather than building a larger collection of paper books. To what extent do you agree?
General Training · Band 8 sample essay
In many countries, women no longer feel the need to get married. Some people believe that this is because women are able to earn their own income and therefore do not require the financial security that marriage can bring. To what extent do you agree?
General Training · Band 8 sample essay
Most societies has its homeless people. Some people think that the best way to help them is to give them money. To what extent do you agree?
General Training · Band 8 sample essay
It is sometimes thought that people who travel outside of their own country are more tolerant and understanding of others. To what extent do you agree?
General Training · Band 8 sample essay
The government is spending a lot of money to discover life on other planets. Some people think that the government is wasting money and should spend more money addressing the problems of the public. To what extent do you agree? (2017, 2020)
General Training · Band 8 sample essay
Discussion · 9
Some people want governments to spend money looking for life on other planets. Others, however, think this is a waste of public money when there are so many problems on earth. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Academic · Band 8 sample essay
Some people think that in modern society individuals are becoming more dependent on each other, while others say that individuals are becoming more independent of each other. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Academic · Band 8 sample essay
Some people say that when deciding how taxes should be spent, governments should prioritize health care. Other people believe that there are more important priorities for taxpayers' money. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Academic · Band 8 sample essay
Some people think that e-books are the death of paper books, while others think that paper books will never disappear. Discuss both sides and give your opinion.
General Training · Band 8 sample essay
More developing countries are given aid from international organizations to help them in their development plans. Some people argue that financial aid is important but others suggest that practical aid and advice are more important. Discuss both views and give your opinion. (Reported 2017, Academic Test)
General Training · Band 8 sample essay
Globalization has both advantages and disadvantages. Discuss both and give your opinion.
General Training · Band 8 sample essay
Some people think that life is good for people while others believe that constant change can be too demanding on people. Discuss both sides and give your opinion.
General Training · Band 8 sample essay
Some scientists think that there are intelligent life forms on other planets and messages should be sent to contact them. Other scientists think it is a bad idea and would be dangerous. Discuss both views and give your own opinion. (2017, 2022)
General Training · Band 8 sample essay
Some people think that space exploration is a waste of resources, while others think that it is essential for mankind to continue to explore the universe in which we live. Discuss both sides and give your opinion. (appears most years in the test)
General Training · Band 8 sample essay
Advantages and disadvantages · 6
In some countries, university students live at home with their families while they study, whereas in other countries students attend university in another city. Do you think the benefits of living away from home during university outweigh the disadvantages?
Academic · Band 8 sample essay
In many countries today, if people want to find work, they have to move away from their friends and their families. Do you think the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?
Academic · Band 8 sample essay
Nowadays, more people move away from their friends and families for work. Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
Academic · Band 8 sample essay
Most countries aim to improve their standard of living through economic development, but many important social values can be lost as a result. Do the advantages of economic development outweigh the disadvantages?
Academic · Band 8 sample essay
Many people around the world use social media to keep in touch with other people and get the news. Do you think the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?
Academic · Band 8 sample essay
In many cities, there is a lack of space to develop and as a result, in order to modernize, old buildings are demolished and replaced with new buildings. What are the disadvantages of knocking down old buildings? Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
General Training · Band 8 sample essay
Problem and solution · 4
It is observed that in many countries not enough students are choosing to study science as a subject. What are the causes? And what will be the effects on society?
Academic · Band 8 sample essay
In many countries, people are moving away from rural areas and towards urban areas. Why do you think that is? What problems can this cause?
General Training · Band 8 sample essay
With the development of modern society is the loss of traditional ways of life. Is it important to keep our traditional ways of life? How can this be achieved?
General Training · Band 8 sample essay
The population of most cities is growing as people move to cities to find work and new opportunities. What problems does overpopulation in cities cause? How can these problems be solved?
General Training · Band 8 sample essay
Two-part question · 7
Some countries have introduced laws to limit working hours for employees. Why are these laws introduced? Do you think they are a positive or negative development?
Academic · Band 8 sample essay
Nowadays people use bicycles less as a form of transport. Why is this the case? What can we do to encourage people to use bicycles more?
Academic · Band 8 sample essay
Parents are putting a lot of pressure on their children to succeed. What are the reasons for this? Is it a positive or negative development?
Academic · Band 8 sample essay
Children who start reading earlier in life perform better later on in their school studies. How important are early reading skills in a child's academic performance? What other preschool factors influence a child's academic success?
General Training · Band 8 sample essay
Public libraries will soon no longer be housed in a building as all facilities and books will be available online for everyone to access. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of public libraries only existing online.
General Training · Band 8 sample essay
Every culture, throughout time, has recorded its history in one way or another. In what ways can history be passed on to the next generation? Why is history important to society?
General Training · Band 8 sample essay
All societies have their own music and art. In what way are music and art important for society and for the individual?
General Training · Band 8 sample essay
Task 1 for October 2026
In this set: letter (formal or semi-formal) 16, line graph 7, chart 7, letter (informal) 4, table 2, pie chart 1, map 1, bar chart 1. Guides: line graphs, maps, processes, General Training letters. For letters, see all 483 letter samples with Band 8 answers.
- Line graphThe graph below shows the production levels of the main kinds of fuel in the UK between 1981 and 2000.
- Line graphThe line graph shows the percentages of Australian exports in four countries. The graph below shows the percentage of Australian exports to 4 countries from 1990 to 2012.
- ChartThe charts below show the percentages of men aged 60-64 in employment in four countries in 1970 and 2000.
- Line graphThe graphs below show the total percentage of films released and the total percentage of ticket sales in 1996 and 2006 in a country.
- Line graphThe line graph shows the percentages of Australian exports in four countries.
- Line graphThe graph below shows the quantities of goods transported in the UK between 1974 and 2002 by four different modes of transport.
- TableThe following table shows the number of people from five European nations living in each other's countries in 2011.
- TableThe table below shows information about the population of New Zealand from 2011 to 2012 by age group.
- Pie chartThe table and pie charts below show the number of research students in Australian universities in 2001 and 2010.
- ChartThe charts below show the percentage of workers in three sectors across four countries in 1980 and 2010.
- ChartThe diagram below shows how one type of coal is used to produce electricity.
- ChartThe chart below shows the percentage of a drug company's total sales, by region, from 2002 to 2006.
- MapThe plans below show the ground floor of a library in 2001 and how it was redeveloped in 2009.
- Line graphThe graph below shows the percentage of the Australian workforce in five industries between 1962 and 2012.
- Line graphThe graph below shows the unemployment rates in the UK, the rest of Europe and Japan from 1993 to 2007.
- ChartThe charts below give information about the number of hours that students study each day at five different universities.
- ChartThe chart below gives information about the journey to school by children aged 11 to 16 in the UK in a year.
- Bar chartThe two bar charts below show the proportion of 14-to 16-year-old students studying a foreign language in an English-speaking country and the top three foreign languages.
- ChartThe charts below show the protein and calorie intake of people in different parts of the world.
- Letter (informal)Your friend is thinking about learning to drive and would like some advice. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter say why a driving license is advantageous recommend a driving school give any extra guidance/tips …
- Letter (formal or semi-formal)Your local bookshop has invited members of the public to recommend a guest speaker for an upcoming event that will include a series of talks from well-known people. Write an e-mail to the bookshop. In your e-mail suggest…
- Letter (informal)A good friend has just changed schools and is having difficulty fitting in and needs your advice. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter make suggestions as to how they could make friends suggest joining clubs, pa…
- Letter (informal)Your friend is about to celebrate a landmark birthday and would welcome suggestions as to how it should be celebrated. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter say what type of party should be held e.g. themed, fanc…
- Letter (formal or semi-formal)There have been some problems with the bus service, especially its reliability, in your area over the last two weeks. Write a letter to the manager of the bus company. In your letter describe what the problems are explai…
- Letter (formal or semi-formal)You are part of a group of musicians who meet on Tuesday and Friday evenings to practice in the community hall. You have been told, however, that it is no longer possible for the group to use the hall. Write a letter to …
- Letter (formal or semi-formal)You are going on a month-long training program in the UK and know that the head of the course would like one of the participants to be the social events organizer. Write a letter to the Training Organiser. In your letter…
- Letter (formal or semi-formal)You share a parking area with several neighbors and have recently started having problems. Write a letter to be copied to all neighbors that share the parking area. In that letter explain the problems suggest ways to hel…
- Letter (formal or semi-formal)You saw a brochure for a one-week walking tour in the mountains. You're very interested in taking part, but you're not very fit and are worried you won't be able to keep up. Write to the tour operator. In your letter exp…
- Letter (formal or semi-formal)You are planning a short visit to a city where one of your relatives lives. Write a letter to your relative. In your letter: explain when and how long you will be in town ask whether you can stay at their home offer to p…
- Letter (formal or semi-formal)You have just received a credit card statement from your bank. The statement lists a number of expensive purchases that you are sure you did not make. Write a letter to the bank manager. In the letter: introduce yourself…
- Letter (informal)You have recently moved into a new house. You want to tell your friend about your good news. Write to your friend. In the letter: describe the house describe the neighborhood invite your friend to come and see the house …
- Letter (formal or semi-formal)You work for an international company and would like to spend six months working in its head office in another country. Write a letter to your manager. In your letter explain why you want to work in the company's head of…
- Letter (formal or semi-formal)A restaurant has placed an advertisement for waiters and waitresses in your local newspaper. Write a letter to the restaurant, applying for the job. In your letter explain what you are currently doing sescribe your suita…
- Letter (formal or semi-formal)You would like to buy some electrical goods at a shop in a nearby town. Write a letter to the shop. In your letter ask if they have the things you want or whether they will be able to order them ask what the prices are h…
- Letter (formal or semi-formal)You ordered a new chequebook from your bank two weeks ago but you have received nothing. Write a letter to the manager complaining about the bad service. In the letter when and how you ordered the chequebook ask how much…
- Letter (formal or semi-formal)Your neighbors have recently written to you to complain about the noise from your house/ flat. Write a letter to your neighbors. In your letter explain the reasons for the noise apologize. describe what action you will t…
- Letter (formal or semi-formal)You have a full-time job and you are also doing a part-time evening course. You now find that you cannot continue the course. Write a letter to your teachers. In your letter describe the situation explain why you cannot …
- Letter (formal or semi-formal)You and your family are living in rented accommodation in an English-speaking country. You are not satisfied with the condition of some of the furniture. Write a letter to your landlord. In your letter introduce yourself…
- Letter (formal or semi-formal)You have just moved into a new home and are planning to hold a party. You are worried that the noise may disturb your neighbor. Write a letter to your neighbor. In your letter, Introduce yourself Describe your plans for …
Write one and get a band in minutes
Pick any question above, write for 40 minutes, and get scored on task response, coherence, vocabulary and grammar with the sentences that cost you marked.
Frequently asked questions
What are the IELTS Writing Task 2 topics for October 2026?
Task 2 themes recur rather than rotate on a fixed schedule. This page lists the 39 Task 2 questions added to the BandLadder bank for the current season, across work, education, technology, environment and society, each with a Band 8 sample essay.
Are these the real IELTS Writing questions?
No. They are practice questions of the kind candidates report. Practise the five essay types on a range of themes rather than memorising essays; a memorised essay that does not answer the exact question scores below 5 on task response.
Which Task 1 types should I practise?
For Academic, line graphs and multi-chart tasks are the most common in this set, then tables, maps and pie charts. For General Training, formal and semi-formal letters outnumber informal ones by about four to one.
Also for October 2026: IELTS Speaking predictions · PTE predictions · all Task 2 sample essays · Writing 6.5 to 7