IELTS General Writing Task 2: Expected Topics, Samples, & Tips

IELTS Exam contains four sections. Each section has a weightage of 25%. The writing Section is one of the four sections of IELTS. It is made up of 2 tasks which are task 1 and task 2. Students often need clarification regarding IELTS General Writing Task 2. Read the blog to learn more about the expected topics, sample questions and tips for scoring well in IELTS General Writing Task 2.

IELTS General Writing Task 2

The IELTS Writing section has two tasks. IELTS General Writing Task 2 gives the essay question, which must be answered in 250 words, within the duration of 40 minutes. The weightage of writing task 2 is 66% of the total writing section, twice as much as the 33% that writing task 1 holds.

For Writing Task 2, the student is assessed based on four parameters:

• Task Management
  
• Consistency and Unity
  
• Vocabulary
  
• Grammatical Accuracy

Each parameter is given 25% weightage. The student must explain the essay with a logical structure and use accurate language.

Types of Questions in IELTS Writing Task 2

To attempt the IELTS writing task 2 well, knowing the type of questions in the section is essential. Let's take a look at the type of questions that comes in IELTS Writing Task 2:

• Discussion Essays: In this type of question, candidates will be given a topic and two opinions. Their work is to discuss both viewpoints separately and then give their opinion..
  
• Example: Many youngsters feel that one must explore their 20s to find out what they want to do in life, while others advise taking up a job that matches their degree and doing it well.
  
• Opinion Essays: As the name suggests, in opinion questions, applicants will be given a topic on which they must provide their opinions. Students have to tell if they agree with it or not. If they do agree, then to what extent, and the same goes for if they disagree.
  Example: The most crucial aspect of life is money. One should do any job which can pay them a handsome salary whether he likes it or not. How much do they agree or disagree?
  
• Double Question Essay: Double Question essay is also known as a two-part question. A single statement will be given in these questions, and then two or more questions will be asked from the information itself. Students need to answer all the questions separately.
  Example: Social Media has become an essential part of people's lives. How has social media attracted so many people? What are the advantages of Social Media? How social media makes a person addicted?
  
• Problem Solution Essay: As the name describes in this question, a problem will be given to the applicants, and they need to provide the solution, answer or remedy.

Question Types:

• Problem and solution
  
• Cause and solution

Example: In many parts of the world, traditional festivals are disappearing. Which problem is this causing? What steps can be taken to address this problem?

Each of the above questions has to be answered differently than others. An excellent way to grab them is to see how others have responded to the same question. The student can use the same structure to answer all questions. A four-paragraph answer is sufficient for all inquiries.

The individual must try to treat each question differently. Each question requires a different approach, so it's advised to analyze each question and answer it accordingly.

Preparation Strategy for IELTS Writing Task 2

Students often think that working on their vocabulary, phrases, and other learning structures will help them answer IELTS Writing Task 2. However, these tips alone cannot help them achieve a high score.

One should analyze the question and write a direct and clear answer to it. The factors which play a crucial role are logical ideas and the accuracy of language.
 
These are the parameters on which the examiner assesses the answers. These are the same four parameters mentioned earlier in the blog. One big mistake many students make is that they include many ideas and explain them.

Instead, they should use just one main idea and try to explain it deeply. Also, the students should write words and phrases they know well. Just basic English is okay instead of writing advanced words which are difficult to understand.
 
Another thing which students should know is that the examiner looks for variety and accuracy. Hence it's essential to balance both. That means using universal language to explain something while taking care of accuracy.

Finally, the last tip is to practice before going to the exam. Take sample tests and see where they stand. Try to write answers within the word limit and given time.

IELTS General Writing Task 2: Tips to Succeed

Here are some tips so that candidates can score well in IELTS General Writing Task 2:

• Word Limit: Students make the mistake of either writing too much or too little, and both are wrong. Writing too much will not let them complete their answer on time while writing too less will not allow the examiner to examine their answers correctly. Therefore, one should try to write precisely within the given word limit.
  
• Simplicity is the key: As told earlier, don't write too many ideas; it will confuse the examiner, and he might not understand what they want to say. Just take one best idea from all and explain it well using good grammar and accurate language.
  
•  Give Reference: Referencing is essential as it gives extra meaning to the sentence. Try to use the pronouns like it, they, him and her to explain better what they want to convey.
  
• Back to Basics: Remember to convey what one has to say and not show off their English. Just use the right words wherever they are necessary. Avoid using the buzzword and fancy words they see anywhere online. Use the words one uses in everyday conversation.
  
•  Avoid Idioms: Continuing the above point, if they can explain their idea in simple English, and then avoid using idioms like "double edge sword" as it will only confuse the examiner. Note that the examiner examines the answer mainly based on their idea and how well it is described. Using idioms is a formality which they can ignore.
  
• Grammar and Accuracy: This is one of the obvious points to remember during IELTS writing task 2. When the exam itself assesses the person's English proficiency, students can't risk making silly mistakes. Use the correct grammar and write accurately. If they find time, then proofread the answer at the end.

IELTS General Writing Task 2: Samples

Following are some of the sample questions for the IELTS General Writing Task 2:

Sample 1
Some people believe that parents should teach their children how to be good citizens. Others, on the other hand, believe that school is the best place to learn about this. Discuss both points of view and express their own opinion.

Some people believe children should be taught to be helpful members of society by their parents. In contrast, others believe that sending children to educational institutions is the best way for them to learn this. The latter point can be helpful in some cases, but family upbringing is more important in educating children to be good members of society.

Schools can be considered appropriate settings for children to learn how to be good citizens. Schools can foster children's cognitive development with standardized educational methods, preparing them to contribute to society. For example, Trung Vuong School and Vinschool are well known for producing successful alums, such as Professor Ngo Bao and Professor Nguyen Hung, who have devoted their talents to the country's development. However, because these people constitute a small proportion of the total number of students enrolled in schools, there are better methods of educating them to be good members of society than sending children to school.

Parents play a more prominent role in teaching their children how to be good citizens. The average class size in Vietnam is 20 students, making it difficult for educators to provide adequate education to each student. On the other hand, one-on-one lessons at home allow children to progress faster. Furthermore, parents form stronger bonds with their children, making it easier for them to shape their children's personalities at a young age. Parents, for example, can instil compassion and integrity in their children by telling those stories like Robin Hood and Cinderella before bedtime. When these children grow up, they will likely become productive members of society.

To summarize, while sending children to school can be viewed as a way of teaching them how to be good citizens, domestic upbringing significantly impacts determining who they will be in the future.

Sample 2
Around the world, married couples are increasingly choosing not to have children. Discuss the benefits and drawbacks for couples who decide to do this.

A growing number of married couples worldwide are choosing to have no children. Couples who do not have children benefit most from being able to focus on their careers and have more time for themselves. The main disadvantages are that they cannot fit in with their peers and have no one to look after them when they get old.

One significant advantage of married couples not having children is that they can concentrate on their careers. This is because they have fewer responsibilities and distractions than couples with children. Another benefit is that they have more free time. Parenting a child is a full-time job that consumes most of their time, whereas childless couples have plenty of free time after work. Many couples, for example, stop going out late with their friends after having a child because they must stay home to care for them.

One disadvantage of couples who choose not to have children is that they may find it difficult to socialize with their peers when most of them have children. Most parents would rather spend more time with other couples who have children. Another disadvantage is that they do not have anyone to look after them in their old age. Children are the ones who look after their elderly parents because their parents did the same for them when they were young. For example, most people living in nursing homes do not have children.

In conclusion, the main advantages of not having children for couples are that they can be more career-oriented and have more free time for themselves, while the main disadvantages are that they may have difficulty fitting in with their friend groups and have no one to care for them when they get older.

Conclusion
IELTS General Writing Task 2 needs to be answered in 250 words in 40 minutes. To score well in the section, students should give practice tests and improve accordingly. If they still have any doubts, contact Canamprep, who can help further.