📝 How to Write a Great IELTS Writing Task 2 Essay

A step-by-step guide for success

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1. Understanding the Task

IELTS Writing Task 2 asks you to write an essay of at least 250 words in about 40 minutes. The essay will be on an academic or general interest topic. Typical question types include:

• Opinion (agree/disagree)

• Discussion (both views + your opinion)

• Problem/solution

• Advantages/disadvantages

• Mixed types (e.g. discuss both views + give opinion).

Your essay is marked in four areas:

1. Task Response – answering the question fully.

2. Coherence and Cohesion – clear structure, linking ideas.

3. Lexical Resource – range and accuracy of vocabulary.

4. Grammatical Range and Accuracy – correct use of grammar, variety of structures.

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2. Step One: Plan Your Essay (5–7 minutes)

Planning saves time and raises your score. Without a plan, essays often become disorganised or repetitive.

Steps in planning:

1. Analyse the question carefully

   • Identify keywords: “long-distance flights,” “cars,” “environmental impact.”

   • Identify task: “Discuss both views and give your opinion.”

2. Generate ideas quickly

   • Flights: more emissions per trip, released in upper atmosphere, global travel increasing.

   • Cars: daily usage worldwide, cumulative emissions, urban pollution, health effects.

3. Choose your opinion

   • Example: Cars are the bigger problem because they are used every day by billions of people.

4. Decide structure

   • Introduction

   • Body Paragraph 1: Flights

   • Body Paragraph 2: Cars

   • Body Paragraph 3: Your opinion / balance

   • Conclusion

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3. Writing the Introduction

Your introduction should be short (40–50 words) and do two things:

1. Paraphrase the question.

2. Outline what the essay will do.

Example (for our transport topic):
The environmental impact of transportation has become a major concern. Some argue that air travel is more damaging, while others believe cars cause greater harm. This essay will discuss both perspectives before presenting my own view.

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4. Structuring Body Paragraphs

Each body paragraph must have:

• A clear topic sentence – tells the reader what the paragraph is about.

• Supporting sentences – explain and develop the idea.

• An example – makes the point concrete.

• Linking words – guide the reader.

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4.1 Body Paragraph 1 – First View

Topic sentence:
Air travel undeniably produces significant emissions and has a powerful impact on the climate.

Support:

• A single international flight can generate more carbon dioxide than months of driving.

• Pollutants are released in the upper atmosphere, where they intensify warming.

Example:
For instance, research shows that a London–New York return flight produces over 1.5 tonnes of CO₂ per passenger.

Linking words (contrast):

• However, on the other hand, while, whereas.

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4.2 Body Paragraph 2 – Opposite View

Topic sentence:
Cars, however, represent a more consistent and widespread source of environmental damage.

Support:

• Billions of journeys occur daily, often with one passenger.

• Urban areas suffer from smog and air pollution, harming health.

Example:
In cities like Delhi or Los Angeles, car emissions are the main cause of poor air quality and respiratory illness.

Linking words (addition):

• In addition, furthermore, moreover, not only… but also.

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4.3 Body Paragraph 3 – Your Opinion (Balanced)

Topic sentence:
Although both forms of transport are problematic, I believe cars are a more pressing issue because of their frequency of use.

Support:

• Cutting flights may help globally, but changing car habits offers immediate results.

• Solutions: public transport, cycling, electric vehicles.

Example:
For example, cities that invest in underground trains, such as Tokyo, successfully reduce car dependency and emissions.

Linking words (cause/effect):

• As a result, therefore, thus, consequently.

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5. Writing the Conclusion

The conclusion should:

• Summarise main points (not repeat word for word).

• State opinion clearly (if required).

• Avoid introducing new ideas.

Example:
In conclusion, although flights release large amounts of carbon dioxide, cars contribute more consistently to environmental damage due to their widespread use. Therefore, governments and individuals must focus on reducing reliance on personal vehicles while also addressing aviation emissions.

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6. Linking Words for Essays

Using a variety of linking words shows good cohesion.

• Contrast: while, whereas, however, on the other hand.

• Addition: moreover, furthermore, in addition, not only… but also.

• Cause/Effect: as a result, therefore, thus, consequently.

• Examples: for instance, for example, such as, to illustrate.

• Summing up: in conclusion, overall, to sum up, in summary.

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7. Formal Language

• Avoid contractions: use “do not” instead of “don’t.”

• Avoid informal words: say “children” not “kids,” “significant” not “big.”

• Use academic verbs: demonstrates, illustrates, indicates, suggests.

• Avoid personal anecdotes: use general or research-based examples.

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8. Balance in Essays

A high-scoring essay must show that you can:

• Discuss both positive and negative sides.

• Use a measured tone (not extreme).

Poor balance:
“Flights are terrible and must be banned immediately.”

Better balance:
“While flights do produce large emissions, cars are a more pressing concern because they are used daily by billions of people.”

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9. Example of a Well-Planned Essay

Plan:

• Intro: Transport harms environment; compare flights vs cars.

• BP1: Flights worse – per passenger emissions, upper atmosphere.

• BP2: Cars worse – everyday use, health impact.

• BP3: Opinion – cars are more urgent issue, but both matter.

• Conclusion: Summarise, restate opinion.

Skeleton:

1. Intro – paraphrase + outline.

2. BP1 – flights harmful (evidence + example).

3. BP2 – cars harmful (evidence + example).

4. BP3 – my opinion: cars more urgent.

5. Conclusion – restate, no new points.

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10. Common Mistakes to Avoid

• ❌ Writing fewer than 250 words.

• ❌ Forgetting an overview or opinion.

• ❌ Using informal language.

• ❌ Listing numbers or ideas without explanation.

• ❌ Adding new ideas in the conclusion.

• ❌ Poor time management (no plan, weak structure).

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11. Final Checklist for Task 2

Before finishing your essay, ask:

• ✅ Have I answered all parts of the question?

• ✅ Do I have a clear introduction, body, and conclusion?

• ✅ Have I used linking words correctly?

• ✅ Have I balanced both sides?

• ✅ Have I used a range of vocabulary and grammar?

• ✅ Is my language formal and academic?

• ✅ Is my conclusion short and focused?