Free IELTS Writing Task 2 practice questions and sample answers

Learn how to write clear introductions and matching conclusions for IELTS Writing Task 2. Use a two-sentence introduction, paraphrase without copying, choose a thesis for each essay type, avoid common traps, and practise with five model answers.

• Artificial Intelligence and Education: Agree or Disagree AnalysisOpinion (agree or disagree) · Academic
• Compulsory community service in schools: discuss both viewsDiscussion (both views) · General Training
• Declining student interest in science: causes and consequencesTwo-part question · Academic
• Early reading skills and preschool influences on academic successTwo-part question · General Training
• Free university education for all: discuss both viewsDiscussion (both views) · Academic
• Learning foreign languages at school: discuss both viewsDiscussion (both views) · Academic
• Learning foreign languages in primary school: discuss both viewsDiscussion (both views) · General Training
• Mandatory full-time education until eighteen: to what extentOpinion (agree or disagree) · General Training
• Mandatory international study or work placements: advantages and disadvantagesAdvantages and disadvantages · Academic
• Mandatory school uniforms for all students: agree or disagreeOpinion (agree or disagree) · General Training
• Reading children's story books: a waste of time?Opinion (agree or disagree) · General Training
• School-related student stress: causes and potential solutionsProblem and solution · General Training
• Should arts be compulsory in schools: discuss both viewsDiscussion (both views) · General Training
• Should schools teach basic cooking skills? An argumentative essayOpinion (agree or disagree) · General Training
• Should schools teach children how to cook: opinion essayOpinion (agree or disagree) · General Training
• Should universities focus primarily on preparing students for employment?Opinion (agree or disagree) · General Training
• Should university education be free for all students?Discussion (both views) · General Training
• Should university students live away from home? Pros and consAdvantages and disadvantages · Academic
• Student stress in schools: identifying causes and solutionsProblem and solution · General Training
• Taking a gap year before university: advantages and disadvantagesAdvantages and disadvantages · General Training
• Taking a gap year: advantages and disadvantages discussedAdvantages and disadvantages · General Training
• The importance of history and learning from the pastTwo-part question · General Training
• University focus: job-ready skills versus broad academic educationDiscussion (both views) · Academic
• Will Artificial Intelligence replace human teachers? An opinion essayOpinion (agree or disagree) · Academic

• Are video games beneficial for children: agree or disagreeOpinion (agree or disagree) · General Training
• Artificial Intelligence and Job Displacement: Discuss Both ViewsDiscussion (both views) · General Training
• Communicating with extraterrestrial life: discuss both viewsDiscussion (both views) · General Training
• Data access by technology companies: discuss both viewsDiscussion (both views) · General Training
• E-books versus traditional paper books: discuss both viewsDiscussion (both views) · General Training
• Genetically modified crops: advantages and disadvantages of food technologyAdvantages and disadvantages · General Training
• Has technology simplified or complicated human existence: discuss both viewsDiscussion (both views) · General Training
• Is genetic engineering a threat to human existence?Opinion (agree or disagree) · General Training
• Modern communication technology and social relationships: agree or disagreeOpinion (agree or disagree) · General Training
• Social media and communication quality: discuss both viewsDiscussion (both views) · General Training
• Space exploration versus Earthly investment: discuss both viewsDiscussion (both views) · General Training
• Space exploration: a waste of resources or essential?Discussion (both views) · General Training
• Technological progress and the wealth gap: to what extentOpinion (agree or disagree) · General Training
• The evolution of communication through technology: impacts and evaluationTwo-part question · General Training
• The future of public libraries: discussing online-only accessAdvantages and disadvantages · General Training

• Banning private vehicles in city centers: discuss the impactAdvantages and disadvantages · Academic
• Consumer goods production and environmental damage: causes and solutionsProblem and solution · General Training
• Environmental protection: government or individual responsibility?Opinion (agree or disagree) · General Training
• Global Environmental Responsibility: Should Rich Nations Lead Alone?Opinion (agree or disagree) · Academic
• Green spaces versus public transport: discuss both viewsDiscussion (both views) · General Training
• Growing versus buying vegetables: discuss both viewsDiscussion (both views) · General Training
• Individual versus government responsibility in environmental protection: discuss both viewsDiscussion (both views) · General Training
• Littering in public parks: causes and potential solutionsProblem and solution · General Training
• Nuclear energy for power generation: advantages and disadvantagesAdvantages and disadvantages · General Training
• Plastic Pollution Solutions: Individual versus Institutional ResponsibilityDiscussion (both views) · Academic
• Rising global waste production: environmental challenges and potential solutionsProblem and solution · General Training
• The ethics of keeping animals in zoos: discuss viewsDiscussion (both views) · General Training
• The impact of consumerism on the environment and solutionsTwo-part question · General Training
• Urban development and green spaces: is preservation essential?Opinion (agree or disagree) · Academic
• Water scarcity: addressing primary causes and global solutionsProblem and solution · General Training

• Addressing the Global Challenge of Rising Youth Unemployment RatesProblem and solution · General Training
• Celebrity salaries versus essential workers: discuss both viewsDiscussion (both views) · General Training
• Choosing a career: salary versus job satisfaction discussionDiscussion (both views) · Academic
• Corporate profit versus social responsibility: discuss both viewsDiscussion (both views) · General Training
• Essential leadership qualities and their acquisition: a critical analysisTwo-part question · General Training
• Fixed career paths versus frequent job changes: agree or disagreeOpinion (agree or disagree) · Academic
• Hard work vs luckOpinion (agree or disagree) · General Training
• High executive salaries in corporate structures: agree or disagreeOpinion (agree or disagree) · Academic
• Industrial Automation: Assessing the Advantages and Disadvantages for WorkersAdvantages and disadvantages · General Training
• Job satisfaction versus high salary: do you agree?Opinion (agree or disagree) · General Training
• Legislating reduced working hours: reasons and personal assessmentTwo-part question · General Training
• Prioritising family versus career success: discuss both viewsDiscussion (both views) · General Training
• Relocating for employment: do the benefits outweigh the drawbacks?Advantages and disadvantages · Academic
• Relocating for professional opportunities: do advantages outweigh disadvantages?Advantages and disadvantages · Academic
• Remote working trends: do the benefits outweigh the drawbacks?Advantages and disadvantages · Academic
• Should people continue working in their old age?Opinion (agree or disagree) · Academic
• Staying in one job versus changing jobs: discuss bothDiscussion (both views) · Academic
• Teamwork versus solitary work: discuss both viewsDiscussion (both views) · General Training
• The four-day work week: advantages and disadvantages analysisAdvantages and disadvantages · General Training
• The rise of remote work and digital services: advantages disadvantagesAdvantages and disadvantages · Academic
• The rise of remote work: advantages and disadvantagesAdvantages and disadvantages · General Training
• Working for large versus small companies: opinion essayOpinion (agree or disagree) · General Training
• Working in a team versus alone: discuss both viewsDiscussion (both views) · General Training

• Addressing the Global Challenge of an Aging PopulationProblem and solution · Academic
• Addressing the rising problem of cyberbullying among teenagersProblem and solution · General Training
• Cooking as an essential life skill: discuss both viewsDiscussion (both views) · General Training
• Declining bicycle usage: causes and potential solutionsTwo-part question · Academic
• Defining success through wealth versus happiness: discuss both viewsDiscussion (both views) · General Training
• Defining Success: Wealth Versus Personal Happiness and FamilyDiscussion (both views) · General Training
• Globalization: analyzing the advantages and disadvantages of global integrationDiscussion (both views) · General Training
• High salaries for professional athletes: is it fair?Opinion (agree or disagree) · Academic
• House or Apartment Living: Discuss Both ViewsDiscussion (both views) · General Training
• Importance of public outdoor spaces: agree or disagreeOpinion (agree or disagree) · Academic
• Interdependence versus individual independence in modern society: discuss bothDiscussion (both views) · Academic
• Is modern life beneficial or overly demanding: discuss bothDiscussion (both views) · General Training
• Keeping pets in apartments: discuss both viewsDiscussion (both views) · General Training
• Living Abroad for Work or Study: Advantages and DisadvantagesAdvantages and disadvantages · General Training
• Living in houses versus apartments: discuss both viewsDiscussion (both views) · General Training
• Mandatory volunteering for young people: discuss both viewsDiscussion (both views) · General Training
• Public transport vs roadsDiscussion (both views) · General Training
• Rural to urban migration and overcrowding: consequences and solutionsProblem and solution · General Training
• Should freedom of speech be absolute? Assessing the debateOpinion (agree or disagree) · General Training
• Should libraries prioritise digital technology over physical books?Opinion (agree or disagree) · General Training
• Should public transport be free to reduce traffic congestion?Opinion (agree or disagree) · General Training
• Should society provide direct financial aid to homeless people?Opinion (agree or disagree) · General Training
• Surveillance cameras in public spaces: discuss both viewsDiscussion (both views) · Academic
• The Impact of Advertising on Modern Society: Benefits and DrawbacksAdvantages and disadvantages · General Training
• The implementation of a single global language: evaluating impactsAdvantages and disadvantages · General Training
• The importance of friendship and qualities of good friendsTwo-part question · General Training
• The importance of hobbies and popular recreational activitiesTwo-part question · General Training
• The popularity of keeping pets: reasons and personal impactTwo-part question · General Training
• The rising trend of pet ownership: advantages and disadvantagesAdvantages and disadvantages · General Training
• Urban Overpopulation: Addressing Challenges and Developing Effective SolutionsProblem and solution · General Training
• Urban traffic congestion: causes and potential solutionsProblem and solution · General Training
• Urban versus rural living: to what extent agree?Opinion (agree or disagree) · General Training
• Urbanisation Trends: Causes and Implications for Modern SocietyTwo-part question · General Training
• Urbanisation trends: reasons for migration and associated societal problemsTwo-part question · General Training
• Women opting out of marriage: to what extent agree?Opinion (agree or disagree) · General Training

• Antibiotic resistance: causes and strategies for the medical communityProblem and solution · General Training
• Artificial intelligence in healthcare diagnosis and treatment: positive or negativeOpinion (agree or disagree) · Academic
• Banning fast food advertising to children: effective or not?Problem and solution · Academic
• Government intervention in health: pollution and housing policiesOpinion (agree or disagree) · Academic
• Reasons for declining sleep patterns and potential solutionsProblem and solution · General Training
• Rising fast food consumption: problems and potential solutionsProblem and solution · General Training
• Rising global obesity rates: primary causes and effective solutionsProblem and solution · General Training
• Sedentary lifestyles and physical inactivity: problems and solutionsProblem and solution · General Training
• Sedentary lifestyles and strategies to promote physical activityProblem and solution · General Training
• Should fast food be prohibited in schools: discuss both viewsDiscussion (both views) · General Training
• Should healthcare be free for all: discuss both viewsDiscussion (both views) · General Training
• Testing new medicines on animals: to what extent agreeOpinion (agree or disagree) · Academic
• The rising popularity of fast food: reasons and consequencesTwo-part question · General Training

• Government funding for space exploration: discuss both viewsDiscussion (both views) · Academic
• Government influence on personal lifestyle choices: to what extentOpinion (agree or disagree) · General Training
• Government spending on space exploration: to what extent agreeOpinion (agree or disagree) · General Training
• Government spending priorities: health care versus other sectorsDiscussion (both views) · Academic
• Public transport investment: speed versus affordability and serviceDiscussion (both views) · General Training
• Searching for life on other planetsDiscussion (both views) · General Training

• Are traditional museums and galleries obsolete in digital times?Opinion (agree or disagree) · Academic
• Demolishing old buildings for urban development: a critical analysisAdvantages and disadvantages · General Training
• Globalization and its impact on culture: discuss both viewsDiscussion (both views) · General Training
• Globalization and the loss of cultural identities: opinion essayOpinion (agree or disagree) · Academic
• Government funding for arts versus public services: discuss both viewsDiscussion (both views) · General Training
• Live performances versus televised broadcasts: opinion essayOpinion (agree or disagree) · Academic
• Preserving historical legacies: methods and societal importanceTwo-part question · General Training
• Preserving traditional ways of life: importance and implementation strategiesTwo-part question · General Training
• The erosion of cultural traditions: causes and potential solutionsProblem and solution · General Training
• The extinction of indigenous languages: causes and solutionsProblem and solution · General Training
• The importance of art and music for human societyTwo-part question · General Training
• The importance of museums and free public accessTwo-part question · General Training
• The role of art and government funding: two-part questionTwo-part question · General Training
• The significance of fashion: discuss both viewsDiscussion (both views) · General Training

• Parental pressure for child success: reasons and impact assessmentTwo-part question · Academic
• Should parenting classes be mandatory for new parents?Opinion (agree or disagree) · General Training
• Traditional family structure and societal stability: do you agree?Opinion (agree or disagree) · General Training

• Is the death penalty ever justified in modern society?Opinion (agree or disagree) · General Training
• Strict laws versus education for crime reduction: discuss both viewsDiscussion (both views) · General Training
• Surveillance cameras in cities: benefits and drawbacks for libertiesAdvantages and disadvantages · General Training

• Credit cards versus cash: advantages and disadvantages analysedAdvantages and disadvantages · General Training
• Economic development versus social values: do advantages outweigh disadvantages?Advantages and disadvantages · Academic
• Financial aid for developing nations: to what extentOpinion (agree or disagree) · Academic
• High salaries for professional athletes: discuss both viewsDiscussion (both views) · General Training
• International aid to developing nations: discuss both viewsDiscussion (both views) · General Training
• Online shopping versus physical stores: discuss both viewsDiscussion (both views) · General Training
• Online versus physical retail: discuss both viewsDiscussion (both views) · General Training
• Prioritising future savings versus immediate enjoyment: agree or disagreeOpinion (agree or disagree) · General Training
• Rising urban living costs: identifying problems and potential solutionsProblem and solution · General Training
• Saving money versus spending on experiences: discuss both viewsDiscussion (both views) · General Training
• Should citizens pay taxes to the state: express your opinionOpinion (agree or disagree) · Academic
• The rise of a cashless society: advantages and disadvantagesAdvantages and disadvantages · General Training
• The rise of online shopping: advantages and disadvantages analysedAdvantages and disadvantages · General Training
• Universal Basic Income in the age of automation: evaluate impactsAdvantages and disadvantages · Academic

• Has social media caused more harm than good?Opinion (agree or disagree) · General Training
• Social media for communication and news: advantages versus disadvantagesAdvantages and disadvantages · General Training
• Social media influence on youth: to what extentOpinion (agree or disagree) · Academic
• Television influence on modern society: discuss both viewsDiscussion (both views) · General Training
• The decline of print newspapers: a positive or negative developmentOpinion (agree or disagree) · Academic
• The importance of following current affairs: reasons and consequencesTwo-part question · General Training
• The influence of news media: discuss both viewsDiscussion (both views) · Academic
• The relevance of printed newspapers: discuss both viewsDiscussion (both views) · General Training

• Does international travel foster greater tolerance and understanding?Opinion (agree or disagree) · General Training
• International tourism and cultural tension: to what extentOpinion (agree or disagree) · Academic
• International tourism: analysing the advantages and disadvantagesAdvantages and disadvantages · General Training
• International tourism: discussing the advantages and disadvantagesAdvantages and disadvantages · General Training
• International travel and cultural understanding: discuss both viewsDiscussion (both views) · General Training
• The rise of solo travel: reasons and implicationsTwo-part question · General Training

1. 1State a clear position in the introduction and develop it consistently throughout the essay.
2. 2One useful approach is to develop a main reason in each body paragraph, supported by explanation or an example.
3. 3A qualified or partial agreement is fine when its limits are clear and supported.

• Are traditional museums and galleries obsolete in digital times?
• Are video games beneficial for children: agree or disagree
• Artificial Intelligence and Education: Agree or Disagree Analysis
• Artificial intelligence in healthcare diagnosis and treatment: positive or negative
• Does international travel foster greater tolerance and understanding?
• Environmental protection: government or individual responsibility?
• Financial aid for developing nations: to what extent
• Fixed career paths versus frequent job changes: agree or disagree

1. 1Explain both views fairly, with reasons or examples for each.
2. 2If the prompt asks for your opinion, state it clearly and support it throughout the response.
3. 3A separate paragraph for each view can help organise the discussion; make the relationship between the views clear.

• Artificial Intelligence and Job Displacement: Discuss Both Views
• Celebrity salaries versus essential workers: discuss both views
• Choosing a career: salary versus job satisfaction discussion
• Communicating with extraterrestrial life: discuss both views
• Compulsory community service in schools: discuss both views
• Cooking as an essential life skill: discuss both views
• Corporate profit versus social responsibility: discuss both views
• Data access by technology companies: discuss both views

1. 1Discuss the benefits and drawbacks requested in the question.
2. 2One useful structure is a paragraph for advantages and another for disadvantages, with explanations or examples.
3. 3If asked for your opinion or whether advantages outweigh disadvantages, give and support a clear judgement; otherwise summarise both sides.

• Banning private vehicles in city centers: discuss the impact
• Credit cards versus cash: advantages and disadvantages analysed
• Demolishing old buildings for urban development: a critical analysis
• Economic development versus social values: do advantages outweigh disadvantages?
• Genetically modified crops: advantages and disadvantages of food technology
• Industrial Automation: Assessing the Advantages and Disadvantages for Workers
• International tourism: analysing the advantages and disadvantages
• International tourism: discussing the advantages and disadvantages

1. 1Identify the specific causes, problems or effects asked about in the prompt.
2. 2Explain how each proposed solution or preventive measure addresses the issue, and who could carry it out.
3. 3Separate paragraphs for the issues and responses can make the structure clear; follow every part of the question.

• Addressing the Global Challenge of an Aging Population
• Addressing the Global Challenge of Rising Youth Unemployment Rates
• Addressing the rising problem of cyberbullying among teenagers
• Antibiotic resistance: causes and strategies for the medical community
• Banning fast food advertising to children: effective or not?
• Consumer goods production and environmental damage: causes and solutions
• Littering in public parks: causes and potential solutions
• Reasons for declining sleep patterns and potential solutions

1. 1Answer both questions directly and develop each answer.
2. 2One useful structure is a body paragraph for each question, using clear topic sentences and relevant support.
3. 3Check that neither requested part is omitted or replaced with an answer to a different question.

• Declining bicycle usage: causes and potential solutions
• Declining student interest in science: causes and consequences
• Early reading skills and preschool influences on academic success
• Essential leadership qualities and their acquisition: a critical analysis
• Legislating reduced working hours: reasons and personal assessment
• Parental pressure for child success: reasons and impact assessment
• Preserving historical legacies: methods and societal importance
• Preserving traditional ways of life: importance and implementation strategies

Format and scoring references: IELTS Writing format and official Writing band descriptors.

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