IELTS Task 2 · Essay type
IELTS Task 2 Opinion Essay (Agree / Disagree)
The opinion essay asks how far you agree with a statement. The single most important thing is a clear position you hold from the first paragraph to the last — examiners penalise an opinion that drifts or sits on the fence.
In short
- Prompt cues: "To what extent do you agree or disagree?", "Do you agree or disagree?", "What is your opinion?"
- Use the four-paragraph plan below — introduction, two developed body paragraphs, conclusion.
- Band 7 needs a clear, sustained response, a range of cohesive devices, some less common vocabulary, and mostly error-free complex sentences.
The paragraph plan
What goes in each paragraph for a opinion (agree / disagree) prompt.
| Paragraph | What it contains |
|---|---|
| Introduction | Paraphrase the statement, then state your position clearly and unambiguously (fully agree, mostly agree, or disagree). |
| Body 1 | Your first reason for that position — topic sentence, explanation, then a specific example or consequence. |
| Body 2 | Your second, distinct reason — developed the same way. Two well-developed reasons beat four thin ones. |
| Conclusion | Restate the same position in different words and summarise your two reasons. No new ideas. |
What caps this essay type at Band 6.5
- Sitting on the fence — an unclear position caps Task Response at Band 5.
- Switching position between paragraphs.
- Giving both sides equally when the task asks only for your opinion.
- Under 250 words, or only simple sentences.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I recognise an IELTS Task 2 opinion (agree / disagree) prompt?
"To what extent do you agree or disagree?", "Do you agree or disagree?", "What is your opinion?"
How many words and how long for Task 2?
At least 250 words in about 40 minutes. Task 2 is worth roughly two-thirds of your IELTS Writing band, so give it the larger share of the hour.
How is the essay scored?
On four equal criteria: Task Response, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range and Accuracy — each 25%.
How many paragraphs should I write?
Four: introduction, two developed body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Depth of development matters more than the number of paragraphs.
Can I get my essay marked against the criteria?
Yes. The Writing Correction Service marks IELTS Task 1 and Task 2 against all four official criteria with line-by-line feedback and a predicted band score in 48 hours.
Other Task 2 essay types: Discussion (Both Views) · Advantages & Disadvantages · Problem & Solution · Two-Part (Direct) Question · Task 2 overview
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