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10 Examples Topic Sentences for your Essays

In this tutorial we look at 10 typical IELTS task 2 question s and suggest possible topic sentences . In the audio tutorial these sentences are further improved to avoid repetition, and rewritten to improve their effectiveness.  

Topic sentences form the backbone of your IELTS Task 2 essay . 

What is a Topic Sentence?

A topic sentence is a sentence that captures the essence of your paragraph. It introduces the reader to the topic or main point that you set out to make in that paragraph and sets the tone for the rest of the paragraph.

The examiner should be able to read the topic sentence, and immediately know what the rest of the paragraph will be about. So this part is very important. 

Important points to consider :

• It is important to read the question extremely carefully so that you can order your arguments in a coherent manner.
• You should outline your position and write a coherent argument. It helps to plan your answer or argument before you begin.
• Each paragraph should contain one main idea/point . This is where your topic sentences come in. This sentence IS the main idea or point that you wish to make in the paragraph.
• Your essay is made of paragraphs that have supporting points. Each paragraph should come together to form a coherent whole essay. The topic sentence is just one way to make your writing shine!

Here are 10 examples of topic sentences that you can practice with for your IELTS essay. I have included the questions and examples on how you could write a paragraph.

1. Some people argue that it is the responsibility of the police to educate children about good behaviour in society, whereas others believe that parents should be responsible for teaching their children how to behave in an acceptable way. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

It is the responsibility of the police to educate children about good behaviour …

The police and parents have a mutual responsibility to teach children about good behaviour 

2. Some people believe that more women should be encouraged to pursue careers in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), while others believe that women are naturally suited for careers in the Humanities/ Social Sciences, such as teaching and psychology. Discuss your views and opinion.

There are not enough women pursuing careers in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics( STEM)

Women are better suited for careers in the Humanities/Social Sciences

3. Scientists argue that the use of modern gadgets, such as cellphones and tablets, by young people has the potential to boost creativity. Do you agree or disagree?

There has been evidence that the use of modern gadgets by young people does in fact increase their creativity

The use of modern gadgets decreases the creativity of young people

4. Social media platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter, have become a more important source of news and information for young people, than newspapers. Do you agree or disagree?

Example: Social media platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter, have become a major source of news and information for young people

Example: Newspapers are still a more important source of news and information for young people than social media networks

6. School children should be instructed in their home language for the first 6 years of school.

Example: Young learners need to be taught in their home language in the first 6 years of their education

It is not important for school children to be taught in their home language in the first few years of school

OR more advanced:

Pupils need not be taught in their home language in the first 6 years of their education

7. Nowadays women are having children at a much later age than previous generations. Do you think this a positive or negative thing? Discuss both sides. 

Example: Nowadays females have children much later in life than they did in the past

Currently women start families much later in life than previously (vague?) 

8. In many countries women are opting not to have children. Some people believe that having children stifles a woman’s career growth. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Example: Having children can take a toll on a woman’s career

Female careers been hindered by starting families is (unfortunately) a very common concern for both females and employers. 

9. Nowadays children are exposed to more sex and violence in the media than before. What are the reasons for this? Is this a good thing or a bad thing?

Example: There are several reasons why young people see more sexual and violent media than before 

1 0. Parents need to do more to protect children from cyberbullying. To what extent do you agree or disagree? 

Example: Parents can do a lot to protect their children from cyberbullying

Parenting nowadays has become increasingly more complex largely thanks due to the internet and cyber bullying. 

Regarding protecting their children online, parents need to find a balance between their child’s online freedom and becoming online helicopter parents. 

especially because most parents are not digital natives. 

11. Some people think that children should not have a cell phone until they have reached their teens, whereas others believe that children should have cell phones at an early age. Discuss both views and give your own opinion

Example: Children should not be allowed to have a cell phone until they are 13 

Parents should encourage cell phone use at an early age

As you have seen, there are many different ways you can write your topic sentence.  The topic sentence forms the backbone of your paragraph- it is where you state your main point, so it is important to get this right.

I hope you find the above examples and tips helpful in your preparation for the IELTS writing task !

For feedback to improve your writing, check out our IELTS essay correction service .

You can download or listen to the audio version here:

| Direct Download Here | Stitcher | iTunes | Spotify | Soundcloud | Transcript |

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

For more help with your IELTS preparation , take a look at some tutorials here:

• How to get Band 9 for Task 1
• How to plan for Academic Task 1

• Jun 2, 2023

IELTS Writing Task 2: Topic Sentences; The Key To Band 7+

Updated: 17 hours ago

To reach band 7 or higher in IELTS Writing Task 2 you need to have a clear central topic in each body paragraph of your essay (see IELTS Writing Task 2 band descriptors - Band 7: Coherence & cohesion) . A key factor in achieving this, is having a topic sentence that clearly shows the main idea at the start of each body paragraph. The topic sentence must be clear, and concise, so that the reader (the IELTS examiner), immediately understands the main idea of the paragraph.

Below I’ve given examples of IELTS Writing Task 2 questions, the ideas I had for the essay, and the topic sentences I used for the body paragraphs. Take a look, and if you’d like to read the entire essays, you will find links to them too.

Question: Some people prefer to eat at restaurants, whereas others prefer to eat home-made food. Which do you prefer?

Essay ideas:.

Main Idea 1: Home cooked food is healthier

Sub-idea A: Use high quality and healthy ingredients

Sub-idea B: Hygienic preparation

Main Idea 2: Cheaper to cook at home

Sub-idea A: The home cook does not need to pay cooks, waiters etc.

Sub-idea B: Restaurants are business that aim to make a profit

Topic sentence 1: To begin with, preparing food at home is often a healthier option.

Topic sentence 2: Not only can home cooked food be much healthier, but it is usually much cheaper to make too.

To read the entire essay click here

Now look at a few more examples of ielts writing task 2 main ideas and the topic sentence i’ve created:.

Question: It is generally agreed that family relationships are not as close as they were in the past.

Explain why you think this has happened and suggest how family relationships could be made closer.

Main Idea 1: Changes in society make it harder to maintain close relationships

Sub-idea A: People are more likely to move to another area or city

Sub-idea B: People have very busy lives so have less time for family

Main Idea 2: People should make more effort to foster family relationships

Sub-idea A: People should make an effort to meet up with family regularly

Sub-idea B: We can take advantage of modern communication technology

Topic sentence 1: In the modern world, changes that have occurred in society make it much harder to maintain close family ties.

Topic sentence 2: However, it is possible, even in today’s world, to maintain strong and vibrant relationships with family members, if more effort is made to foster them.

Question: Some people believe that governments should invest more in trains, while others argue that it is more important to improve the roads.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Main Idea 1: Road transport is more convenient and flexible

Sub-idea A: Can travel directly from home, avoid bad weather

Sub-idea B: Travelling by car is flexible - reach any destination with less planning

Main Idea 2: Trains are safer for passengers and the environment

Sub-idea A: Trains are involved in far fewer accidents and deaths

Sub-idea B: They are more efficient, creating less pollution

Topic sentence 1: Travelling by car is often the most convenient way to get to your destination.

Topic sentence 2: Compared to travelling on the roads, train travel is safer for both passengers and the environment.

If you read the entire essays, you’ll see that each body paragraph has a very clear main idea, which is then developed using the sub-ideas. By using very clear topic sentences to show the main idea of the paragraph in this way, you can really help yourself achieve band 7 or higher in IELTS Writing Task 2.

• IELTS Writing Task 2

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IELTS Writing Task 2: Tips, Lessons & Models

Success in IELTS writing task 2 is based on using the right techniques. These free tips, model essays, lessons, videos and information will help develop the skills for writing task 2. This page will teach you how to maximise your IELTS writing task 2 score.

All lessons are on this page are for both GT and Academic writing task 2.

On this page, you will find for free:

• Test Information for Writing Task 2
• Practice essay questions
• Essential tips for IELTS writing task 2
• Free video lessons
• Model essays
• Practice lessons to improve your IELTS essay writing (paraphrasing, skills, ideas, spelling etc

Although some lessons are dated from years ago, all lessons and tips are 100% relevant to IELTS writing task 2 today. 

1. IELTS Writing Task 2 Test Information

Learn about your IELTS writing task 2 test.

• IELTS recommend you spend no more than 40 mins on writing task 2. However, the time is yours to manage as you wish.
• You should write  over 250 words. In the lessons below you will learn about word count and essay length.
• Learn how your total writing score is calculated: Total Writing Score Calculations
• Task Response (25%)
• Coherence & Cohesion (25%)
• Vocabulary (25%)
• Grammar (25%)
• For band score tips and details, see this page: IELTS Writing Task 2 Band Scores 
• Academic writing task 2 is a formal essay. The common types of essays are: Opinion, Discussion, Advantage/Disadvantage, Direct Questions, Solutions. These categorisations will differ from teacher to teacher depending on how they like to teach. See below for 100 IELTS Essay Questions to practise at home.
• GT writing task 2 is the same as Academic IELTS. The essay is written in the same way and the scoring is the same. The only difference is that GT essay questions are often easier and topics are simpler.
• All words will be counted, even small or repeated words. See this page: How Words are Counted
• COMPUTER DELIVERED IELTS: See the following link to read Pros and Cons of Computer Based IELTS : 
• For more information about IELTS test rules and info, see this page: IELTS  Test FAQ

2. IELTS Practice Essay Questions

Practice essay questions to help you prepare ideas for topics in IELTS writing task 2. These questions have been written based on questions reported by IELTS students. They are not IELTS tests.

Over 100 IELTS Essay Questions

3. Essential IELTS Writing Task 2 Tips

The most important writing tips for a strong IELTS essay in writing task 2. Learn about the recommended essay length, how to plan your essay, when to give your opinion and how to write an introduction etc.

How many paragraphs for an IELTS essay? : Essay structure

Key Linking Words List : Academic Vocabulary

Types of IELTS Essays : Main Essay Types in Writing Task 2

Video:  How to write an introduction paragraph : Complete lesson

Essay Planning Tips : How to plan your IELTS essay

Common Essay Topics : 20 Most Common Essay Topics

Video:  Essay Length Advice : How long should your essay be?

Video:  Official Writing Answer Sheet Tips : Using the answer sheet

When to give your opinion : Opinion Essay Tips

Video  Using the last 5 minutes : Exam technique tips

Video: Paraphrasing Tips

Finding Ideas : Developing ideas for essay topics

4. More Video & Tips for Writing Task 2

• Deleting Words in your Essay
• Should I indent the first word of my paragraphs?
• 10 sentences to avoid in your IELTS essay
• Video:  How to add examples to your essay
• Tips: Under Words Penalty
• Do advantages outweigh disadvantages tips?
• Video:   How to give your opinion
• Can you use quotes, idioms or proverbs in your essay?
• Handwriting: Using cursive writing or not
• Essay Questions from 2016
• Writing a Long Introduction: Good or Bad?
• Video : Single-sex & Mixed Schools 
• Video : Grammar – How to Add a Clause
• Video : Grammar – Connecting Sentences
• Video : Conclusion Linkers
• Video : Discussion Essay Useful Language
• Video : Using the Last 5 Minutes Tips
• Video : Should Ideas be Interesting?
• New Essay Topics for 2023

All Free IELTS Writing Task 2 Videos Lessons

5. Model Essays

Sample essays for IELTS writing task 2. These high score model essays will help you understand how to answer the essay questions and how to structure your writing.

• Agree Disagree Opinion Essay: Health
• Advantages & Disadvantages Essay: Language
• Cause  Solution Essay: Crime & Punishment
• Direct Questions Essay: Happiness
• Opinion Essay: Social Media
• Discussion Essay: Work
• Direct Questions Essay: Family
• Direct Questions Essay: Art
• Positive or Negative Development: Social Media
• 2 Model Essays about Economy & Money /Buildings
• Model Essay & Question for Topic of Education

6. Practice Lessons for Writing Task 2

Develop your IELTS writing skills and get useful ideas for many essay questions. Lessons are in order of date and new lessons will be added over time.

• New Essay Topics in 2023 (these are new topics only. You also need to prepare all common topics as well)
• IELTS Essay Topics Prediction 2022
• Grammar Test : Using “the” with countries and nationalities
• Paraphrasing Practice 1
• Paraphrasing Practice 2
• Paraphrasing Practice 3
• Essay Questions for 2017 – questions reported in the test this year.
• Using Passive Voice for Giving Opinions
• Essay Ideas: Employment Competition
• Writing Skills: Paraphrasing Practice
• Writing Skills: Improving Sentences (2)
• Essay Ideas: The Importance of History
• Essay Ideas: Housing & Trees 
• Essay Ideas: International Aid
• Essay Ideas: City Transport
• Essay Ideas: Salaries
• Essay Ideas: Function of Schools
• Essay Ideas: Female Staff in Senior Positions
• Writing Skills: Punctuation Practice
• Writing Skills: Linking Word Practice
• Essay Ideas: Littering in Cities
• Listen and Write Dictation: Natural Disasters
• Discussion Essay with Feedback: Music Topic
• Writing Skills: Improving Sentences: Ebooks Topic
• Essay Ideas: Banning Mobile Phones
• Two Question Essay with Feedback: Judging Business Success
• Essay Ideas: Tourism and Local Communities
• Essay Ideas: Traffic & Pollution
• Writing Skills: Improving a Thesis Statement
• Writing Skills: Improving Sentences (1)
• Essay Ideas: Handwriting Skills
• Essay Ideas: Promoting to Children
• Essay Ideas: Older or Younger Leaders
• Writing Skills: Introduction Feedback
• Writing Skill: Opinion Essay Introduction Feedback
• Writing Skills: Opinion Essay Body Paragraphs
• Writing Skills: Opinion Essay Introduction
• Writing Skills: Opinion Essay Finding Main Points
• Writing Skills: Thesis Statement
• Essay Ideas: Public Services .

………………

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Ielts model essay -two questions essay type, ielts bar chart of age groups 2024, ielts topic: urban planning, ielts listening transcripts: when and how to use them, 2024 ielts speaking part 1 topics, vocabulary for government topic.

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• IELTS Sample

IELTS Writing Task 2/ Essay Topics with sample answer.

Ielts academic and gt essay/ writing task 2 sample.

IELTS Writing Task 2 ( also known as IELTS Essay Writing ) is the second task of your IELTS Writing test. Here, you will be presented with an essay topic and you will be scored based on your ability to respond to the topic.

You need to write at least 250 words and justify your opinion with arguments, discussion, examples, problem outlining, proposing possible solutions and supporting your position. You will have approximately 40 minutes to finish your Essay Writing. IELTS Writing Task 2 carries more weights than Writing Task 1.

Are you planning to take your IELTS Exam soon? Take an online course and achieve your dream score on your IELTS test.

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How to Write a Task 2 Body Paragraph

Most IELTS task 2 essays follow the same basic four-paragraph structure:

• Introduction
• Supporting Paragraph 1
• Supporting Paragraph 2

These paragraphs take up most of your essay and are, therefore, where most marks are won and lost. Write two good supporting paragraphs, and you are most of the way to getting a good final mark.

This post will:

• look at what the examiners want
• look at good and bad examples
• show you how to write topic sentences
• show you how to develop your topic sentence with explanations and examples.

What do the examiners want?

If we look at the public band descriptors or my guide on the difference between band 5 and band 8 answers, we can see that the examiner wants you to respond to the question with ‘ relevant, extended and supported ideas. ’ This means that your ideas must actually relate, or be linked, specifically to the question, and then you have to explain what your ideas mean and then support them with examples.

Good and Bad Examples

Look at the following examples and think about what the examiner wants. Which one is a good essay, and which one is not?

Question- Some parents think that childcare centres provide the best services for children of preschool age. Other working parents think that family members such as grandparents will be better carers for their kids.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Sample 1 – Many parents in full-time employment prefer to leave their children with grandparents when they are at work because they feel their child will be safer with someone from within the family circle. In other words, they do not trust a stranger to look after their child and feel confident that no harm will come to the child whilst being looked after by grandma or grandpa. For example, a 2013 study from Cambridge University showed that 62% of working mothers prefer a member of the immediate family to provide care when they are at work.

Sample 2 – Grandparents are the best people to look after children for very obvious reasons. Grandparents really love their grandchildren and would never harm them. Also, the children really love their grandparents and feel comfortable with them. Finally, grandparents have lots of experience taking care of children because they are old and looked after children for many years themselves.

Can you tell which one is better?

Sample 1 has one main argument- parents prefer grandparents because they trust them. They stated this clearly in the first sentence and then explained why it is in the second. They have also used a very specific example to support their idea. This is exactly what the examiner wants.

Sample 2 has many different arguments, and most of them are very general. They have not been extended with explanations and lack examples. This is exactly what the examiner does not want.

How to Write a Topic Sentence

The very first sentence in your supporting paragraph should be the topic sentence. Each paragraph should have one main idea only, and the topic sentence tells the reader what this idea is. This makes your paragraph and the whole essay clearer and easier to read. You will gain marks for coherence in the IELTS writing test if you do this. Think of them as signposts that direct the reader to where you want to go.

We think of topic sentences in an argument (agree or disagree) essay by thinking of ideas about why we support one side or the other.

Let’s look at another question:

Most high-level positions in companies are filled by men even though the workforce in many developed countries is more than 50 % female. Companies should be required to allocate a certain percentage of these positions to women. Do you agree?

So we have to think of reasons for and against allocating a certain percentage of positions in the workforce to women.

• Prevent discrimination
• Women outperform men in many jobs
• Women outperform men in many schools and university subjects
• Should be based on merit, not gender
• A few jobs, like construction, are better suited to males

I support the ‘for’ category, so I will pick two reasons and write topic sentences for them. You should always pick the ideas you know most about, or in other words, can explain and support them with examples.

Topic Sentence 1 : Women should be allocated a certain percentage of roles because to not do so, discriminates against them because of their gender.

Topic Sentence 2 : Females should be given a bigger share of jobs because women currently outperform males in most university subjects.

As you can see, all I have done is introduce my ideas clearly. There is no need to use very advanced language to do this; stating your position in simple language is all you need to do.

Task : Try taking some of the other ideas above and writing a topic sentence.

Explaining Our Ideas

Explaining ideas is a problem for most students, not because they can’t do it but because they don’t see the point in doing it. They think that the examiner must be educated and that explaining simple ideas to them wastes their time.

You should never assume this; instead, I tell my students to assume that the reader has no knowledge of this subject and you need to explain what you mean for them to understand.

There are certain phrases we can use to explain our ideas, such as:

• That is to say…. (linking)
• In other words… (linking)
• This is because… (giving reasons)
• The reason is…. (giving reasons)
• As a result…. (describing result)
• As a consequence…. (describing result)
• Therefore…. (describing result)

Use one of these phrases to explain what your topic sentence means, the reason why, or the result of your topic sentence. You don’t need to do all three, just one. Make sure that anyone with no knowledge of the subject understands your main point.

Example 1 – Women should be allocated a certain percentage of roles because not doing so discriminates against them because of their gender. As a result, women will be denied jobs, not because of their intellect or skill, but simply because of their sex.

Example 2 – Females should be given a bigger share of jobs because women currently outperform males in most university subjects. That is to say, those young women are just as qualified as men, if not more, and should, therefore, be given at least an equal share in the job market.

The last point I will make about explanations is they should relate specifically to the question. They should not generally explain the idea; they should explain how it answers the question.

Make sure you read the question again before you write a topic sentence or explanation.

Supporting Examples

The last part of a good supporting paragraph is a relevant example. Examples give your points more authority and make your argument stronger.

The two main problems here are not being able to think of examples and examples not being specific enough.

If you can’t think of a good example in the IELTS test, make one up. You should research and use real examples in school or university, but in the test, it is fine to make them up. It is not a test of your knowledge; it is a test of your written English. The examiners will never check the examples and are only worried about how they support your ideas.

These are always best if you can think of real examples from your own experience. However, this is often not possible, so you can make them up as a last resort.

Two good ways to make up examples are using newspaper articles or university research. I often do this when I am writing sample answers, and they also help you be more specific (see below).

The examiner wants your examples to be as specific as possible. To illustrate this, we will look at three examples.

Women should be allocated a certain percentage of roles because to not do so discriminates against them because of their gender. As a result, women will be denied jobs, not because of their intellect or skill, but simply because of their sex.

Example 1- For example, many women fail to get jobs solely based on their gender.

Example 2 – For example, many businesswomen in Asia find it difficult to get jobs as CEOs, despite having the same qualifications as men.

Example 3 – For example, in 2014, only 9 of Singapore’s top 100 companies have female CEOs, despite making up 50% of the total workforce.

The first example is very general and is not a satisfactory example.

Example 2 is much better, but again, ‘businesswomen in Asia’ is very general and does not really support our argument because of this.

Example 3 is very good because it reports a specific fact from a specific place (Singapore) at a specific time (2014).

Putting It All Together

Below I will put everything we have learned to write two supporting paragraphs for this question:

Increasing the price of petrol is the best way to solve the growing traffic and pollution problems.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Raising fuel prices is the best option because it would lower demand. This is because the laws of economics dictate that the higher the price of a commodity, the lower the consumption of that product and this will lead to fewer people using vehicles.  For instance, when the price of fuel skyrocketed during the oil crisis in the 1970s, there was a huge reduction in the number of cars on the road.

Raising the fuel price would also knock on the price of goods because they cost more to transport. This would result in people having less money to spend at the pump, thus reducing the number of cars on the road even further. For example, the higher the food price in a city, the more likely people are to use public transport, principally because they can’t afford a car.

I hope you found the post useful, and let me know if you have any comments or questions below.

About Christopher Pell

My name is Christopher Pell and I'm the Managing Director of IELTS Advantage.

I started IELTS Advantage as a simple blog to help 16 students in my class. Several years later, I am very humbled that my VIP Course has been able to help thousands of people around the world to score a Band 7+ in their IELTS tests.

If you need my help with your IELTS preparation, you can send me an email using the contact us page.

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IELTS Essay Topics 2021: Best Essay Writing Topics for IELTS Task 2

This article talks about the ielts essay topics 2021, ielts essay writing, how to write a topic sentence in academic essay ielts, best essay topics for ielts, ielts task 2 topics. Here you will get all the information about the topics that can come in the examination and essay writing topic that can help you to practise more and help you achieve more in the 2021 session of essay writing.

The article also provides what topic sentences are and how they can be written so that the academic essay that you write leaves no stone unturned. Stay tuned till the end because all the best essay writing topics and essay tips are covered.

Also Read: IELTS Writing task Essay Evaluation by an Expert: Guide to Improve Your Writing Score

IELTS Essay Topics 2021 

Here are some of the essay topics 2021 which are quite useful and can be very important topics for 2021.

# Some people believe in order to frequently enhance the integrity of schooling, high school pupils should be motivated to assess and denounce their educators. Others believe that this would arise in a casualty of admiration and domain in the classroom. Examine both these impressions and give your own viewpoint.

# In many nations, conventional nutrition is being supplanted by multinational fast nutrition. This is having an unfavourable impact on both nations and communities. To what degree do you concede or oppose this viewpoint?

# Today, more and extra people use robots to do assignments at residence and a job. Do you believe it is a favourable or unfavourable improvement? Why?

# Several people understand that cycles are an active and environmentally-friendly method of conveyance. Nevertheless, it is no longer the major form of conveyance. What are the explanations? What could be done to motivate the use of cycles among the broader community?

# Some people believe that spending an amount on carrying wedding receptions, birthday gatherings, and other festivities is just trash of wealth. Others believe that these are essential for people and the community. Assess both impressions, and give your viewpoint.

IELTS Task 2 Topics 

These are sIELTS Essay Topics 2021ome of the IELTS task 2 topics which are categorized by theme

For an extended period, the sculpture has been contemplated an important part of all civilizations on the earth. Nevertheless, nowadays people’s significance has shifted, and we consider science, technology and employment more significant than creations.

What do you believe are the reasons for this?

What can be performed to draw people’s awareness to art?

Some pupils job while studying. This frequently impacts on requiring time for pedagogy and often suffering under tension.

What do you understand are the reasons for this?

What explanations can you indicate?

Environment 

Environmental alteration is a big environmental crisis that has evolved critically in the last tandem of decades. Some people contend that humans should halt simmering fossil powers and utilize only alternative power reserves, mighty as wind and solar energy. Others say that petroleum, gas and coal are important for numerous enterprises, and not utilizing them will steer to financial destruction.

What is your impression?

Benefit your level of perspective with related instances.

Friends and Family 

Presently households are not as intimate as they used to live.

What can be done to give rise to families near?

Government and Society 

The administration should ban smoking in all civil places, just thought this would prohibit some different people’s independence.

Do you concede or oppose?

Give explanations for your opinion.

Increased employment pressures, anxiety and feeling of responsibility are among the major intentions people go to function when they are sick. This way they attain significant undertakings but may contaminate others or get some severe health difficulties themselves.

In your viewpoint should people go to operate if they are unhealthy?

Fund your point of perspective with similar instances from your understanding or knowledge.

Jobs and Employment 

Handful people say that youths should toil part-time and gain currency. In this path they will understand fundamental lessons about jobs and evolve more disciplined. Others contend that youths shouldn’t surrender their comfort and after-school training to a job.

Examine both impressions and provide your viewpoint.

Relationships 

A boosting quantity of people is presently utilizing dating areas to fulfil their second companions. Do you believe that this inclination enables people to associate or does extra damage than decent?

Give your viewpoint. Furnish related illustrations if essential.

Science and Technology 

A bunch of people have evolved conditional on technology as it plays a huge position in our everyday existences. Do you concede that occupancy in the computer generation has additional benefits than drawbacks?

Interpret the favourable and unfavourable consequences of technology on our existences and give your viewpoint.

Despite a diversity of recreational installations and gyms, people are insufficient fit presently than always previously.

What do you believe are the major reasons for this difficulty?

Travel and Tourism 

A bunch of places on the planet rely on tourism as a major citation of revenue. Unfortunately, tourism can also be a citation of difficulties if it is not organized correctly.

Interpret the benefits and drawbacks of tourism in contemporary society. Do you believe that the advantages of tourism surpass its shortcomings?

TV, Music and Media 

Handful people understand that turmoil on TV and in computer sports has a negative impact on the community. Others withhold that these have any substantial significance on people’s behaviour.

IELTS Essay Writing 

The IELTS writing task is different for both the sections for academic and general training test aspirants. In the writing task, the aspirants have to complete two sections, for writing task 1 aspirant will have to compose 150 words in 20 minutes duration and in writing task 2 aspirants have to compose 250 words in 40 minutes and the words shouldn’t exceed

Also Read: Is there a Fact Check in Essay Writing in IELTS? Here’s a List of Do’s and Don’ts

Best Essay Topics for IELTS 

These are some of the best topics for essay writing and can be very helpful

#Nowadays online shopping is incredibly prominent. Examine the consequence of it on the climate and on people who forfeited their businesses because of it.

#Nowadays celebrities receive more wealth than ambassadors. What are the explanations for this? Is it an optimistic or hostile advancement?

#Many people believe that every person is credible for their prosperity, but some people understand there are different superficial components that impact us. Examine both impressions and provide your viewpoint.

#It is too costly to look after and rebuild ancient constructions. This wealth should be paid to the construction of contemporary edifices rather. To what degree do you approve or differ with this viewpoint?

#Some people understand that women should be governed as proportional to men when correlating for employment with the authority or the army. Others think women are limited adequate for this sort of employment. Examine both beliefs and provide your viewpoint.

How to Write a Topic Sentence in IELTS Academic Essay?

The relatively initial sentence in your benefiting passage should be the topic verdict. Each passage should have one major impression only and the topic verdict tells the one who reads what this impression is. This gives rise to your passage and the entire essay clearer and simpler to examine. You will progress ratings for coherence in the writing examination if you do this.

Some points to consider when you write topic sentences

#It is crucial to examine the problem incredibly carefully so that you can request your statements in an understandable way.

#You should summarize your role and compose a coherent statement. It assists to schedule your explanation or statement before you commence.

#Each passage should include one major idea. This is where your topic verdicts appear. This sentence is the major impression or juncture that you love to earn in the passage.

#Your essay is composed of passages that have benefiting degrees. Each passage should come together to construct a coherent total essay. The topic verdict is barely one path to make your essay shine.

Also Read: Does the IELTS Essay Question Repeat? Here’s all about the IELTS Writing Task 2

We wish this article could assist you to vacate your suspicions about the essay writing category of IELTS. Make certain whatever you are composing affects your eloquent terminology abilities. Recognise your vulnerable degrees and function towards them. The above advice and your decision can certainly earn you a reasonable bandwidth in the exam. For more blogs and information on the writing task, 2 and essay writing topics visit IELTS Ninja . Please feel free to comment your views down in the comment box.

Also Read: Which Tense to Use in IELTS Writing Task 2? Learn How to Write a Perfect Essay

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Thank you for providing the list of important topics for the task 2, these were very helful, what do you guys think about it?

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• How to Write Topic Sentences | 4 Steps, Examples & Purpose

How to Write Topic Sentences | 4 Steps, Examples & Purpose

Published on July 21, 2022 by Shona McCombes . Revised on June 5, 2023.

Every paragraph in your paper needs a topic sentence . The topic sentence expresses what the paragraph is about. It should include two key things:

• The  topic of the paragraph
• The central point of the paragraph.

After the topic sentence, you expand on the point zwith evidence and examples.

To build a well-structured argument, you can also use your topic sentences to transition smoothly between paragraphs and show the connections between your points.

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Table of contents

Writing strong topic sentences, topic sentences as transitions between paragraphs, topic sentences that introduce more than one paragraph, where does the topic sentence go, frequently asked questions about topic sentences.

Topic sentences aren’t the first or the last thing you write—you’ll develop them throughout the writing process. To make sure every topic sentence and paragraph serves your argument, follow these steps.

Step 1: Write a thesis statement

The first step to developing your topic sentences is to make sure you have a strong thesis statement . The thesis statement sums up the purpose and argument of the whole paper.

Thesis statement example

Food is an increasingly urgent environmental issue, and to reduce humans’ impact on the planet, it is necessary to change global patterns of food production and consumption.

Step 2: Make an essay outline and draft topic sentences

Next, you should make an outline of your essay’s structure , planning what you want to say in each paragraph and what evidence you’ll use.

At this stage, you can draft a topic sentence that sums up the main point you want to make in each paragraph. The topic sentences should be more specific than the thesis statement, but always clearly related to it.

Topic sentence example

Research has consistently shown that the meat industry has a significant environmental impact .

Step 3: Expand with evidence

The rest of the paragraph should flow logically from the topic sentence, expanding on the point with evidence, examples, or argumentation. This helps keep your paragraphs focused: everything you write should relate to the central idea expressed in the topic sentence.

In our example, you might mention specific research studies and statistics that support your point about the overall impact of the meat industry.

Step 4: Refine your topic sentences

Topic sentences usually start out as simple statements. But it’s important to revise them as you write, making sure they match the content of each paragraph.

A good topic sentence is specific enough to give a clear sense of what to expect from the paragraph, but general enough that it doesn’t give everything away. You can think of it like a signpost: it should tell the reader which direction your argument is going in.

To make your writing stronger and ensure the connections between your paragraphs are clear and logical, you can also use topic sentences to create smooth transitions. To improve sentence flow even more, you can also utilize the paraphrase tool .

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See an example

As you write each topic sentence, ask yourself: how does this point relate to what you wrote in the preceding paragraph? It’s often helpful to use transition words in your topic sentences to show the connections between your ideas.

Emphasize and expand

If the paragraph goes into more detail or gives another example to make the same point, the topic sentence can use words that imply emphasis or similarity (for example, furthermore , indeed , in fact , also ).

Indeed , cattle farming alone is responsible for a large proportion of greenhouse gas emissions.

Summarize and anticipate

If the paragraph turns to a different aspect of the same subject, the topic sentence can briefly sum up the previous paragraph and anticipate the new information that will appear in this one.

While beef clearly has the most dramatic footprint, other animal products also have serious impacts in terms of emissions, water and land use.

Compare and contrast

If the paragraph makes a comparison or introduces contrasting information, the topic sentence can use words that highlight difference or conflict (for example, in contrast , however , yet , on the other hand ).

However , the environmental costs of dietary choices are not always clear-cut; in some cases, small-scale livestock farming is more sustainable than plant-based food production.

You can also imply contrast or complicate your argument by formulating the topic sentence as a question.

Is veganism the only solution, or are there more sustainable ways of producing meat and dairy?

Sometimes you can use a topic sentence to introduce several paragraphs at once.

All of the examples above address the environmental impact of meat-eating versus veganism. Together, they make up one coherent part of a larger argument, so the first paragraph could use a topic sentence to introduce the whole section.

In countries with high levels of meat consumption, a move towards plant-based diets is the most obvious route to making food more sustainable. Research has consistently shown that the meat industry has significant environmental impacts.

The topic sentence usually goes at the very start of a paragraph, but sometimes it can come later to indicate a change of direction in the paragraph’s argument.

Given this evidence of the meat industry’s impact on the planet, veganism seems like the only environmentally responsible option for consumers. However, the environmental costs of dietary choices are not always clear-cut; in some cases, small-scale livestock farming is more sustainable than plant-based food production.

In this example, the first sentence summarizes the main point that has been made so far. Then the topic sentence indicates that this paragraph will address evidence that complicates or contradicts that point.

In more advanced or creative forms of academic writing , you can play with the placement of topic sentences to build suspense and give your arguments more force. But if in doubt, to keep your research paper clear and focused, the easiest method is to place the topic sentence at the start of the paragraph.

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A topic sentence is a sentence that expresses the main point of a paragraph . Everything else in the paragraph should relate to the topic sentence.

Topic sentences help keep your writing focused and guide the reader through your argument.

In an essay or paper , each paragraph should focus on a single idea. By stating the main idea in the topic sentence, you clarify what the paragraph is about for both yourself and your reader.

The topic sentence usually comes at the very start of the paragraph .

However, sometimes you might start with a transition sentence to summarize what was discussed in previous paragraphs, followed by the topic sentence that expresses the focus of the current paragraph.

Let’s say you’re writing a five-paragraph  essay about the environmental impacts of dietary choices. Here are three examples of topic sentences you could use for each of the three body paragraphs :

• Research has shown that the meat industry has severe environmental impacts.
• However, many plant-based foods are also produced in environmentally damaging ways.
• It’s important to consider not only what type of diet we eat, but where our food comes from and how it is produced.

Each of these sentences expresses one main idea – by listing them in order, we can see the overall structure of the essay at a glance. Each paragraph will expand on the topic sentence with relevant detail, evidence, and arguments.

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IELTS Writing Task 2 Body Paragraph Structure

The IELTS Writing Task 2 body paragraph structure follows this basic pattern. But it’s also like a miniature version of the essay. The essay as a whole states, supports, and summarizes the writer’s main position; each body paragraph states, supports, and summarizes the paragraph’s main idea. You’ll see what I mean when I show you the IELTS paragraph writing sample later in this article.

The Writing Task 2 essay can be completed in four paragraphs (introduction, two body paragraphs, conclusion), the body paragraphs themselves can be completed in four parts too:

• a topic sentence,
• an explanation of the position taken in the topic sentence,
• an example to illustrate that explanation,
• and a fourth, final part of the paragraph that summarizes the first three parts.

Table of Contents

Click on a section in the table of contents to skip directly to that part of our guide, or simply start reading to learn all about IELTS Writing Task 2 Paragraphs from beginning to end.

• How Many Paragraphs Should You Have in Your IELTS Essay?
• Common Mistakes with an IELTS Body Paragraph
• The Topic Sentence
• The “Explain Why” Sentence
• The “Give an Example” Sentence
• The Summary Sentence

The structure of an IELTS Writing Task 2 body paragraph flows naturally from the topic sentence. The topic sentence leads to the explanation, the explanation leads to an example, and then all three of those initial sentences flow together into a summary. In greater detail, here is how all four parts work together:

• Topic sentence (states a position)
• Explain why (gives a reason the position in the topic sentence is true, can be 1 or 2 sentences)
• Give an example (provides an example that illustrates the “explain why” part, can be 1 or 2 sentences)
• Summarize the IELTS Writing paragraph (in a single sentence, summarizes the main message of the topic sentence, explanation, and example combined)

Why does IELTS Writing Task 2 body paragraph structure matter?

So why is this four-part structure so important? To answer this, let’s look at the official IELTS Writing Task 2 rubric PDF .

In that rubric, take a look at the “Task Achievement” category. Note that a top score “fully addresses all parts of the task.” And the task instructions themselves say to “Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.” This paragraph structure addresses the “reasons” and “examples” part of the task and helps ensure that the ideas in the essay are “fully extended” and “well supported,” another Band 9 Task Achievement requirement.

In addition, making sure that each sentence flows from the previous one and tying all of the sentences together at the end of the IELTS Writing paragraph makes for a clear, well-organized paragraph. And the rubric indicates that a top-scoring essay “skillfully manages paragraphing.”

It’s also important to remember that most of the essay is contained in the body paragraphs; this will generally be more than half of the word count. So if you can get a good structure in those paragraphs, that will greatly influence your score.

So, do you absolutely need to adhere to this four-part IELTS Writing Task 2 body paragraph structure to satisfy the rubric and get a top score? Not necessarily. But this structure is a very simple, fast way to put together the body portion of a high-scoring Task 2 response.  

How many body paragraphs should you have in your essay?

As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, a successful IELTS essay can have just two body paragraphs. Two paragraphs are enough to satisfy the rubric’s standards for a well-developed response. And since there is an IELTS Writing time limit, I don’t recommend trying to do more than two. To see what two full-body paragraphs might look like, and how the body fits into the essay as a whole, check out Rachel’s IELTS Writing Task 2 template.  

Quick Tips: Common Mistakes with an IELTS Writing Paragraph

Even with this handy four-sentence structure as your guide, it can be easy to make mistakes when you write these body paragraphs. Here are a few common mistakes to avoid:

• Overusing “lofty” vocabulary. It can be tempting to try to impress the scorers with advanced vocab. But using tons of hard words can make your writing harder to understand, and increases your risk of making mistakes.
• Forgetting the example sentence. It can be easy to rush and skip the third sentence in the structure of your body paragraph. But a lack of examples can take multiple bands off of your IELTS band score!
• Inadequate reasons or examples. Once you explain why you hold the position in our topic sentence, think carefully and put yourself in the reader’s shoes. Would someone else reading this really understand how your reason and example explain your position in the topic sentence? Remember that while you understand your position, other people might not!
• Sentences that are run-on or overly long. Your ideas are clearest when divided into separate sentences. Don’t combine any of these four sentences!
• Lack of variety in vocabulary or grammar. Using the exact same sentence structure over and over or repeating the same words and phrases makes your writing sound dull and makes it seem as if you have limited English ability. Make sure you keep things varied!

IELTS Paragraph Writing: Topic Sentences

The topic sentence in your IELTS Writing paragraph is the main idea you’ll build on in the paragraph. But the topic sentence itself also builds on the larger main idea of the whole essay. You can think of it as a more specific opinion that supports the broader opinion you expressed in the introduction for your essay.

Strong IELTS Writing paragraph topic sentences are very important because they impact the clarity of your entire paragraph. If the topic sentence itself is unclear, the sentences that follow will also be harder to understand. After all, how can the reader follow an explanation and example for your position, if the position itself is not understandable to begin with?

With that in mind, let’s look at an example prompt and some example topic sentences.

Topic Sentence Samples

Sample task 2 prompt.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Agreeing vs. Disagreeing

The big ideas in your body paragraphs will come from some initial brainstorming on what you might write. (For more info, check out our tutorial for brainstorming your IELTS Writing Task 2 essay .) Here are a few reasons to either agree or disagree with the idea that casual clothing is more acceptable, and the way we dress is less important:

• Agree: formal clothes = less commonly required at work
• Disagree: workplaces still have dress codes
• Agree: casual wear far more popular than in past
• Disagree: brand names of causal wear = socially important
• Agree: in daily life, people can wear what they like
• Disagree: in many special situations formal wear is still required

Once you’ve completed this kind of brainstorming, you can pick the side you want to write about. You could go with your own opinion, but it’s most useful to go with whichever side you think you can explain the most easily. For the example sentences in this article, I’m going to take the “disagree” position. Once you’ve gone through this whole tutorial though, feel free to go back and write “agree” sentences for extra practice!

I think that ultimately, society still places a lot of importance on how people dress, even if fashion trends have changed.

Possible Body Paragraph Topic Sentences

If you use the thesis statement above as your starting point, what are some more specific opinions that would support that main position? Here are a few possible ones:

Even in situations where people can dress casually, the specific fashion choices they make are still important to others. Actually, many people are under the false impression that casual clothing is truly more acceptable. No one should become too lazy in their approach to fashion, as it is still necessary to dress formally in many important contexts. What we wear is still important to others, but the definitions of formal clothing are different than they used to be.

Note that these examples all contain distinctly different supporting ideas for the thesis. Each one could be the basis for a very different paragraph.  

IELTS Paragraph Writing: “Explain Why”

The “explain why” portion of the IELTS Writing Task 2 body paragraph structure makes a generalization that demonstrates why the topic sentence is true. Just as the topic sentence directly supports the essay’s main idea, the “explain why” sentence (or pair of sentences) directly supports the topic sentence itself. Remember though—keep this general. The purpose of this second part of the paragraph is to provide broad evidence for the statement made in the topic sentence of the IELTS Writing paragraph, not to provide specific supporting examples. (The example comes in the third portion!)

“Explain Why” Sample Sentences

We’ll write these explain why sentences as support for one of the example topic sentences I just showed you. Here’s the one we’ll go with:

Even in situations where people can dress casually, the specific fashion choices they make are still important to others.

And here are some IELTS paragraph writing sample sentences explaining why the position in this topic sentence is true:

First impressions are based partly on how someone looks, since what someone looks like is the only thing we can know for certain when we first meet them. The way a person dresses is a significant part of that. Even within the realm of casual clothes like tee shirts or sports shoes, certain brand names are considered to be more prestigious or stylish by others. Even in relaxed workplaces and other settings that permit casual attire, there are still rules about what people can and can’t wear. The clothes that one puts on in the morning are a matter of choice, and people are judged by their choices.

IELTS Writing Task 2 Body Paragraph Structure: Give an Example

At this point, you’ll give a specific example. This is more specific than the generalizations you’d make in the “Explain Why” part. A specific example should be a single instance of something, something that happened and is real… or sounds like it happened and is real. (It’s actually OK to make up examples on the IELTS if you can’t think of a real one on the spot.)

Before we look at some examples, let’s look at language that can be used to introduce examples in an IELTS Writing paragraph. There are a number of common words and phrases that are useful in this third sentence. Here are a few transitional phrases:

• for instance
• for example
• an example would be
• as evidence of this
• as reported by
• to illustrate this

Now, let’s look at some actual sentences that use this kind of language.

“Give an Example” Sample Sentences

The “Give an Example” sentence is meant to support a specific “Explain Why” sentence. So for these IELTS paragraph writing sample “Give an Example” sentences, we’ll use this “Explain Why” from the previous section:

First impressions are based partly on how someone looks since what someone looks like is the only thing we can know for certain when we first meet them. The way a person dresses is a significant part of that.

Here are some possible ways to give examples of that explanation:

If someone chooses to wear clothing such as cutoff jeans or a faded tee-shirt to a funeral, for instance, they might be seen as disrespectful. Consider the way you might dress for a job interview, especially for a particularly important, well-paying job. Even if you were told you could dress casually, you would likely pick out your clothes very carefully. As evidence of this, someone wearing motorcycle clothing (dark leather jacket, steel-toed boots, etc.) might be seen as tough or even scary by a stranger. To illustrate this, the majority of people surveyed say that they have at times chosen not to talk to someone new because of how they were dressed, as reported by a recent study.

IELTS Paragraph Writing: Summarize the Paragraph

Now it’s time to tie everything together! It’s important to remember, though, that the “Summarize Paragraph” sentence does not have to directly mention every idea from each of the first three sentences. Instead, as you write your body paragraphs, think of this final sentence as a “send-off.” What message do you want the readers to remember now that you are ending the paragraph? In just a few words, what is the paragraph truly saying?

Because the summary sentence is based on the preceding three sentences, before we go on to some example sentences, I’ll give you the first part of the paragraph:

Even in situations where people can dress casually, the specific fashion choices they make are still important to others. First impressions are based partly on how someone looks, and the way one dresses is a significant part of that. If someone chooses to wear clothing such as cutoff jeans or a faded tee-shirt to a funeral, for instance, they might be seen as disrespectful.

Here are some models for how to cap off the above paragraph with a nice summary idea:

In these modern times, people should still take care to dress in a way that doesn’t make people feel upset or uncomfortable. Because there are many ways to make a bad first impression through clothing, it’s clear that the way we dress continues to matter today. A good first impression is important for making friendships and connections, and clothes are absolutely a part of that now, just as they were in the past. From that example and many others, clearly, there are many situations where clothing still has the same importance it had in the past.

IELTS Writing Task 2 Body Paragraph Structure: Full Sample

Now that we’ve put together one IELTS Writing Task 1 body paragraph, piece-by-piece, let’s look at a full example body paragraph, all in one place. I’m going to base this IELTS paragraph writing sample on a new essay question. I’ll also give you a thesis statement for the response to the question, which the model body paragraph will support.

Sample IELTS Writing Task 2 Question

Sample thesis statement.

For this example, instead of brainstorming, I’m going to simply directly show you a possible thesis statement; the thesis statement is the sentence from the introductory paragraph that states the position you’re taking. Body paragraphs support that position, so the example paragraph below will build on this statement:

I believe it is better to make career decisions as an adult, when one has more education and life experience.

Review of Body Paragraph Structure

Before I show you this full example, remember the structure we discussed. This paragraph will have these four sentences: (1) topic sentence (2) “explain why” sentence (3) “give an example” sentence (4) “summarize the paragraph” sentence.

These sentences will be numbered in the example below.

Model IELTS Writing Task 2 Body Paragraph Structure

(1) Adult-level education is particularly important when it comes to making good career decisions. (2) In fact, most good-paying jobs require completion of high school and possibly college education, both of which are not completed until adulthood. (3) To give a few examples, common careers such as police officer, teacher, electrician, nurse, and bus driver all require either a high school or college diploma. (4) Clearly, it’s very difficult for children to choose a career before they’ve even completed the minimum training for most careers.

The Takeaway

As I mentioned at the beginning of this tutorial, IELTS Writing Task 2 body paragraph structure really is like a miniature 4-paragraph essay: you introduce your paragraph topic in the first part, you then support your topic in parts 1 and 2, and finally, in the last sentence, you have a conclusion that reviews everything. Not only that, but the second and third parts of the paragraph contain the building blocks of strong writing: logical reasoning (the “explain why” part), and concrete examples (the “give an example part).

As a result, following this recommended four-part structure will really help you practice the right approach to creating the entire essay. And it will help you practice the kind of idea development that is so important when you write for a class or for a work assignment in an English-speaking country.

This IELTS Writing Task 2 body paragraph structure is especially important to your writing score for another reason: your body paragraphs actually take up most of the essay. Think of these paragraphs as the “backbone” of the essay; the body is the main support for the ideas in the introductory paragraph, and it’s the basis for the conclusion.

For even more assistance with Writing Task 2, you can go to our complete guide to IELTS Writing Task 2 .

David is a Test Prep Expert for Magoosh TOEFL and IELTS. Additionally, he’s helped students with TOEIC, PET, FCE, BULATS, Eiken, SAT, ACT, GRE, and GMAT. David has a BS from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and an MA from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. His work at Magoosh has been cited in many scholarly articles , his Master’s Thesis is featured on the Reading with Pictures website, and he’s presented at the WITESOL (link to PDF) and NAFSA conferences. David has taught K-12 ESL in South Korea as well as undergraduate English and MBA-level business English at American universities. He has also trained English teachers in America, Italy, and Peru. Come join David and the Magoosh team on Youtube , Facebook , and Instagram , or connect with him via LinkedIn !

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IELTS Writing Tasks How to Write Task 2 Introductions

To score highly for IELTS writing tasks, you need to impress the examiner from the very first sentence. This lesson will show you how.

In it you’ll learn:

• Why the introduction is so important
• The 3 part structure
• 4 common mistakes to avoid
• How to write a great introduction

Want  to watch and listen to this lesson?

Click on this video.

Why the Introduction is So Important

Beginning your IELTS writing tasks well will immediately start stacking up the marks for both Task Achievement and Coherence and Cohesion which together carry 50% of the marks.

A good introduction does several things:

• It gives an excellent first impression.
• It shows the examiner that you understand the question.
• It gives the examiner a brief overview of what you’ll cover in the rest of the essay.
• It focuses your thoughts and keeps you on track while writing.

The 3 Part Structure

A good introduction has a simple 3 part structure:

• Paraphrased question

Thesis statement

Outline statement.

This structure can be used for any type of question. It should:

• Have 2-3 sentences
• Be 40-60 words long
• Take 5 minutes to write

Before I show you how to write good introductions to Task 2 IELTS writing tasks, I want to flag up some common errors students make to help you avoid them.

4 Common Mistakes

# 1  not being specific enough.

It’s tempting to start your essay with a general statement about the topic of the question. Don’t do this. You need to be very specific. Here’s an illustration of a poor opening sentence.

Everybody should become a vegetarian because eating meat can cause serious health problems. 

• To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Bad first sentence:

These days, many people are worried about their health and changing their diet is one way that they try to improve it.

This is not a question about health in general but one specifically about becoming a vegetarian for health reasons.

A good first sentence will paraphrase the question, that is, it will state the same information using different language and often, a different sentence structure as well.

We’ll be looking at paraphrasing and an example of a good first sentence later in this lesson.

# 2  Not writing a thesis statement

A thesis statement is a summary of the main idea of your essay. When the examiner reads it, they will instantly know whether or not you have understood the question correctly. It also acts as an outline for the rest of your essay.

This makes the thesis statement the most important sentence in your essay. If you get it right, you will have got off to the perfect start.

There’s an easy to remember formula for writing thesis statements which we’ll be studying below. For now, here’s an example relating to our sample question.

Thesis statement : This essay agrees that the world’s population should stop consuming meat due to the related health risks.

Note the use of synonyms to paraphrase the question.

# 3  Not stating your opinion

Task 2 IELTS writing tasks generally require you to give your opinion. Usually, this will be clearly stated in the question. For example, the instruction might say,

        or

• Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

In other questions, it won’t be so clear that this is what you should do. For example,

• What are the advantages and disadvantages of tourism in the modern world?

However, your opinion – the main idea of your essay – is still required. If you always include it in the introduction, as well as throughout your essay, you won’t go wrong.

# 4  Using inappropriate language

For Task 2 essays, you must use formal language. Most students understand this.

However, many candidates make the mistake of trying to use clever or complex language to add interest or to show off their high-level language skills.

Keep tight control of your language. This is a very short essay and you don’t have the time or space to get carried away with elaborate words and phrases.

Get the information across quickly and succinctly using everyday language that includes topic words and their synonyms.

Most importantly, use the language correctly. The more complex you make it, the more errors you’re likely to make.

I show you how to write essay introductions for each of the 5 question types on their individual pages where I go into everything in much more detail.

Opinion Essays  – Agree or Disagree

Discussion Essays

Problem Solution Essays  + Causes & Solutions

Advantages & Disadvantages Essays

Double Question Essays

For the rest of this page, I’ll go through just one example to illustrate some of the points I’ve made.

How To Write a Great Introduction

Here’s a reminder of the 3 part structure you should use for all task 2 IELTS writing tasks.

Paraphrased Question

Start your introduction by paraphrasing the question.

Some young people are leaving the countryside to live in cities and towns, leaving only old people in the countryside.

Do you think this is a positive or a negative development?

Paraphrased question:   The migration of the younger generation to urban areas is leaving many rural locations populated predominantly by the elderly.

Note the use of synonyms for many of the keywords. For example,

• young people – younger generation
• countryside – rural locations
• cities and towns – urban areas
• leaving – migration
• old people – the elderly

You don’t have to replace them all but do so where possible without making the sentence sound awkward.

It’s fine to repeat one or two words. Don’t spend too much time trying to think of synonyms or use ones you are not 100% sure are correct.

The thesis statement states your opinion on the topic. In most instances, you simply need to decide whether to agree or disagree with it and to reiterate the main idea of the statement. For example,

Thesis statement:  This essay argues that the loss of young people from the rural landscape has problematic consequences.

This thesis statement states the opinion of the writer and paraphrases the question again in a way that makes this view clear.

Finally in the introduction, you must outline the two main points that you’ll cover in the rest of the essay. This acts as a guide to the examiner and also helps to keep you focused and on track as you write.

Do it in one sentence, or you can add them onto the end of the thesis statement if appropriate.

Outline statement:   The two most serious are, the depletion of the rural workforce and the loss of local education facilities.

These two ideas will become your two main body paragraphs.

• Main body paragraph 1 – the depletion of the rural workforce . 
• Main body paragraph 2 – the loss of local education facilities.

The Finished Introduction

So now, let’s pull the whole introduction together.

Final introduction:

The migration of the younger generation to urban areas is leaving many rural locations populated predominantly by the elderly.  This essay argues that the loss of young people from the rural landscape has problematic consequences.  The two most serious are, the depletion of the rural workforce and the loss of local education facilities.

These three sentences exactly follow the 3 part structure I showed you for creating introductions to task 2 IELTS writing tasks and also avoid the common mistakes I outlined above.

This short paragraph would be an excellent introduction to an essay on this topic.

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More help with ielts writing tasks.

IELTS Writing Test  – Understand the format & marking criteria, know what skills are assessed & learn the difference between the Academic & General writing tests.

IELTS Writing Tips  – Top 10 tips to bring you success in your writing test. Essential information you need to know to achieve a high score.

IELTS Writing Task 2  – T he format, the 5 question types, the 5 step essay writing strategy & sample questions. All the key information you need to know.

The 5 Types of Task 2 Essay   – How to recognise the 5 different types of Task 2 essays. 15 sample questions to study and a simple planning structure for each essay type.

Understanding Task 2 Questions  – How to quickly and easily analyse and understand IELTS Writing Task 2 questions.

How To Plan a Task 2 Essay  – Discover why essay planning is essential & learn a simple 4 step strategy, the 4 part essay structure & 4 methods of generating ideas.

How To Write Task 2 Main Body Paragraphs  – Learn the simple 3 part structure for writing great main body paragraphs and also, 3 common mistakes to avoid. 

How To Write Task 2 Conclusions  – Learn the easy way to write the perfect conclusion for a Task 2 essay. Also discover 4 common mistakes to avoid.

Task 2 Marking Criteria  – Find out how to meet the marking criteria in Task 2. See examples of good and poor answers & learn some common mistakes to avoid.

The 5 Task 2 Essay Types:

Step-by-step instructions on how to plan & write high-level essays. Model answers & common mistakes to avoid.

   Opinion Essays

   Discussion Essays

  Problem Solution Essays

  Advantages & Disadvantages Essays

  Double Question Essays

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Common Topics for IELTS 2024 Writing Task 2: 30+ Samples & Tips

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Updated on 30 January, 2024

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The International English Language Testing System, or IELTS, is an international standardized test that assesses a candidate on the basis of four skills Writing, Speaking, Reading, and Listening. The writing section of  IELTS Academic and  General Training is similar. The Writing section of IELTS has two tasks. Task 2 of the writing section requires the candidate to write an essay and cover most of the writing score. It is a descriptive essay-type question, and the  IELTS topics for Writing Task 2 is based on socio-culture affairs and contemporary social issues.  IELTS writing task 2 section focuses on evaluating the applicant’s ability to write a response that is in sync with the terms of content, ideas, the accuracy of  vocabulary , and  grammar . Albeit it is hard to know what exact question might pop up in IELTS task 2 topics, there are certain IELTS task 2 topics that can be recurring when you practice sample papers. Writing Task 2 weighs two times more than Writing Task 1. Thus, you should ensure to allocate more time to task 2. Listed below are the  types of essay topics in the  IELTS Writing Task 2 examination.

Table of Contents

• Tips for IELTS Writing Task 2: Gear to Score Higher

Types of Essay Questions in IELTS Writing Task 2

• Some Very Common IELTS Writing Task 2 Topics With Questions

Art and Design Topic Questions

Education questions, technology questions.

• Communication and Personality Questions
• Economics Questions

Law and Order Questions

Equality questions, language and culture questions, health questions, public infrastructure, healthcare & technology, arts & culture, cultural heritage.

• Environment & Wildlife
• Education & Society
• Marketing & Media
• Environmental Policy
• Arts & Society
• Career Development
• Technology & Ethics
• Urban Development
• Global Economy
• Education & Technology
• Renewable Energy
• Mental Health
• Consumer Behavior

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Frequently asked questions, popular study abroad destinations, tips for ielts writing task 2: gear to score higher .

For the majority of test-takers, the IELTS Writing section is the most difficult part of the exam. Many English speakers make mistakes with vocabulary, phrase structures, or even spelling when they lose count of time or fudge their essays. However, the following advice will help you strengthen your IELTS writing test abilities: 

• Understand the question prompt and make sure you answer the question directly.
• Plan your essay by creating an outline or a mind map to organize your ideas.
• Write an introduction that introduces the topic and presents a clear thesis statement.
• Develop the body paragraphs by providing supporting details and examples that relate to the thesis statement.
• Use transitional words and phrases to connect your ideas and make your writing coherent.
• Use a variety of sentence structures and vocabulary to demonstrate your language proficiency.
• Provide a conclusion that summarizes your main points and restates your thesis in a new way.
• Review your work for grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, and clarity of expression
• Time management is key; ensure you allocate sufficient time for planning, writing, and reviewing your work.
• Follow a clear essay structure (Introduction, Body Paragraphs, and Conclusion) and ensure you have a clear topic sentence for each body paragraph.

Writing task 2 in IELTS is descriptive essay writing. The applicants are supposed to write an essay in response to the statement or situation given in the essay. There are various questions, and applicants must practice all the types to write a winning essay on the examination day. Here are the Task 2 Writing IELTS topics and various types of essay questions that are mostly asked.

IELTS Cause (Reasons) and Solutions Essay: Give reasons for an issue or problem. The question will state a problem, and applicants need to provide the probable causes and reasons for the problems. The reasons should be relevant. 

IELTS Solution Essay: Give solutions to problems. Essay topics will outline a specific problem. Applicants will be asked to address the best solutions to stop or solve problems. 

IELTS Agree/Disagree Essay:  A particular statement will be given as a question. Now, applicants are supposed to either agree or disagree with the statement. Whatever be the response, the justification should be given, like if they agree with the statement, then why. The reason for agreeing with a particular statement should be in the essay. 

IELTS Advantages and Disadvantages Essays: Here, applicants need to draft an essay with advantages and disadvantages and cannot express an opinion or be reasonable. It will be informative.

IELTS Essays Based on Data: Additionally, there can be situations where a candidate might receive a Writing Task 2 IELTS topic in the examination, which requires them to write an essay on the basis of facts and figures. This is generally an informative essay where information, facts, numbers, and relevant details are required to be written. They might also be required to explain why a particular situation occurred and state the reasons behind it.

You Can Also Read Sample Questions and Answers For The IELTS Passage: G reen Wave Washes Over Mainstream Shopping

Some Very Common IELTS Writing Task 2 Topics  With Questions

IELTS Writing Task 2 requires the aspirant to write a 250-word essay, and the time allotted is 40 minutes. Below are some of the common topics for IELTS Writing Task 2. The essay question may change, but the subject of the essay will remain unchanged. Each topic will have subtopics that the IELTS test takers must prepare. Start developing ideas and understanding by practicing the most common IELTS essay topics to write a winning essay within the time limit for  Band 8 .

Reading answers for IELTS: Reducing The Effects Of Climate Change

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• Question 1: For a long time, art has been considered an essential part of all cultures in the world. However, people’s values have changed nowadays, and we tend to consider science, technology, and business more important than arts. What do you think are the causes of this? What can be done to draw people’s attention to art?
• Question 2: Studying art in school improves students’ performance in other subjects because it is easier for multi-skilled students to learn new things. That’s why art should be obligatory in schools. Do you agree or disagree?
• Question 1: Students work while studying. This often results in not investing enough time in education and constantly feeling under pressure. What do you think are the causes of this? What solutions can you suggest?
• Question 2:  Some people argue that girls and boys should be educated separately, while others think it is more advantageous for children to study at the same school. What is your opinion?
• Question 3: Many feel that the common educational system of teachers and students in a classroom will be replaced by the year 2050. Do you agree with this view? Give your opinion.
• Question 1: In today’s advanced science and technology world, many still highly value artists such as musicians, painters, and writers. What can art tell us about life that science cannot?
• Question 2: In the digital age, video games, and TV consumption has increased. The same can have deleterious effects on a child's mental health. To what extent would you support this idea? 

Communication and Personality Questions 

• Question 1:  With the rise of various social media platforms and text messaging, face-to-face communication will lose its essence. To what extent do you agree?
• Question 2: Some students might not perform well in school but end up doing exceedingly well in life. Why do you think it's the case? 

Economics Questions 

• Question 1: Developing the economy will have ill effects on the environment. To what extent do you agree with the statement?
• Question 2: Many countries now face an economic downturn, so it is better for each country to focus on its problems rather than helping other countries. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Use specific reasons and examples to support your position.
• Question 1: In many countries, the age of criminals is going down. Write an answer with reasons and solutions to the problem. 
• Question 2: Some people believe that once a criminal will always be a criminal. Do you speak for or against this statement? 
• Question 3: Many people are behaving very violently in society. Are there ways to prevent them? Speak in support and give solutions to stop such behavior. 
• Question 1: Nowadays, women and men spend equally on beauty products and cosmetics. This was not so in the past. What is the reason behind such behaviors?
• Question 1: Some people believe that watching television is good for children. Some think that watching television is not good for children. Which one do you support and why? 
• Question 2: Some people say that success comes with hard work. While some people think that success comes from luck. Which one do you agree with and why? 
• Question 1: Even when rich countries help poor countries economically, there are still issues related to hunger and diseases. What are the causes and solutions to these issues? 
• Question 2: Obesity is a serious problem. Discuss the causes and the solutions to obesity.

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IELTS Writing Task 2 Topics, Answers and Ideas 

Here are a few Writing Task 2 topics with answers that are frequently asked and would be helpful to students.

• Learning English at school is often seen as more important than learning local languages. If these are not taught, many are at risk of dying out. 
• In your opinion, is it important for everyone to learn English? Should we try to ensure the survival of local languages, and if so, how?

Question: Some people are of the opinion that robots are imperative for the future development of human beings. Whereas some others think that robots have negative effects on society. Discuss both views and give your opinion. 

Ideas: Can talk about its importance, big advances, productivity enhancement, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and more.

Can have negative effects:   Unemployment – automation – safe nets need to be in place – the death of citizens – Tesla accident autonomous driving 

Conclusion: Robotics has a lot of advantages that cannot be ignored. More precautions and government legislation are necessary so we don’t have to forego these advances.

Question: There are people who become spendthrifts during cultural or sports events. What is your notion about it? Give your opinion and examples from your experiences.

Good development encourages people to look forward to aspiring for something. This, in turn, begets higher revenues for promoters and performers and contributes to greater monetary and cultural wealth for society.       Take, for example, the English Premier League (EPL); this entertainment spectacle has brought considerable wealth into cities such as Liverpool, Manchester, and London. When the audiences spend their money to buy the tickets, the football stars get their remuneration. This would lead to qualitative players wanting to play in the EPL, leading to a considerable increase in high-net-worth individuals residing in these cities.       Following the increasing ticket prices, there has been a positive self-fulfilling cycle of improvement and quality. As the higher prices of tickets would lead to higher tax revenues for the government, this is definitely beneficial for society.

Question: There is a tussle between two sections of people, one of them is that new houses in the local area should be built by following the same method in which the old ones were built. At the same time, others disagree and say that local authorities should allow people to build houses of their own choice. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Introduction: Justify the reason why it should be kept in the same style. Highlight points like higher property values, conformity, uniformity, and cohesion.        Example: For instance, due to the immense cultural heritage in certain villages of England, such as Cheshire, The Cotswolds, and Howarth, have extreme rules. Starting a McDonald's-style restaurant in one of these areas is considered equal to architectural vandalism.       Idea: Put a cross argument - Innovates an area with the prospect of highlighting one’s personality - introduces new flavors, styles, and ideas into stale and old areas - can also be made more environmentally friendly - installation of technical innovations like solar cells or even solar panels in roof tiles.        Conclusion: Both are viable and fair. However, the law should be clear from the beginning, and authorities should ensure that citizens strictly abide. 

Question: Are you of the view that students should work before their university studies? Why?  Use relevant examples and reasons to support your choice.       Introduction: Elaborate on your position in an easy-to-read style.        Paragraph 1: This would help in gaining practical experience, contacts, and on-the-job skills. Example: Studies on students in the UK prove that graduates with work experience are twice as likely to find employment.       Paragraph 2: Chance to improve social skills - bridge the gap between the private sector and academics - help students to decide on their future career paths - for example, 1/6 students will change their higher education course while studying at university after gaining work experience. 

Question: Working parents strive to achieve a balance between career and family, but only a few manage to achieve it. What is the reason according to you? Discuss possible solutions and provide examples.

Introduction - State your position:  It is true that working professionals who have a child find it difficult to balance between career and family. Though very few manage it, most people fail at it. This is because the latter section employs certain techniques by which the balance between career and family is maintained. 

Paragraph 1 – The reason for the imbalance:  Increased competition in the workplace - families face strain with an increase in the number of working mothers - changes in society. For example, Studies in the US show that families with two full-time parents are more likely to separate, concluding that maintaining a work-life balance is difficult.

Paragraph 2 – Possible Solutions:  Regulations from the government - increasing maternity leave - more flexible working practices - reducing working hours per week - Example: France has a 35-hour working hour per week. 

Topic: Should governments spend more on public transportation or roads?      Answer Outline: Discuss the benefits of investing in public transportation, such as environmental sustainability, and compare them to the advantages of road development.

Topic: Is homeschooling better than traditional schooling?   Answer Outline : Weigh the personalized approach of homeschooling against the social and extracurricular benefits of traditional schooling. 

Topic: The impact of technology on children’s physical health.  Answer Outline: Explore how excessive screen time and sedentary lifestyle can affect children's health negatively. 

Topic: Should museums and art galleries be free of charge for the general public?  Answer Outline: Argue for increased accessibility to art and culture, highlighting the societal benefits of free public access to museums and galleries. 

Topic: The importance of preserving historical buildings.  Answer Outline: Discuss the cultural, historical, and aesthetic value of maintaining historical structures. 

Environment & Wildlife 

Topic: The effects of global warming on wildlife.  Answer Outline: Examine the impact of climate change on biodiversity, habitat loss, and the survival of various species. 

Education & Society 

Topic: Are uniforms necessary in schools?  Answer Outline: Debate the merits of school uniforms in promoting equality versus the importance of individual expression. 

Marketing & Media 

Topic: The influence of social media on consumer behavior.  Answer Outline: Discuss how social media platforms impact consumer choices and spending habits. 

Environmental Policy 

Topic: Should plastic packaging be banned?  Answer Outline: Explore the environmental repercussions of plastic waste and the feasibility of banning plastic packaging. 

Arts & Society 

Topic: The role of art and music in society.  Answer Outline: Reflect on how art and music enrich community life, influence culture, and contribute to emotional well-being. 

Career Development 

Topic: Is remote work the future of employment?  Answer Outline: Discuss the advantages and challenges of remote work in terms of productivity, work-life balance, and the future job market. 

Healthcare 

Topic: The impact of universal healthcare on society.  Answer Outline: Evaluate the benefits and potential drawbacks of universal healthcare, including its impact on public health and economic implications. 

Technology & Ethics 

Topic: The ethical implications of artificial intelligence.  Answer Outline: Delve into the ethical concerns around AI, such as privacy, job displacement, and decision-making. 

Urban Development 

Topic: The importance of green spaces in urban areas.  Answer Outline: Discuss the health, environmental, and social benefits of incorporating green spaces in urban planning. 

Global Economy 

Topic: The effects of globalization on local economies.  Answer Outline: Explore how globalization impacts local businesses, cultural identity, and economic disparities. 

Education & Technology 

Topic: The role of online learning in modern education.  Answer Outline: Examine the effectiveness, accessibility, and challenges of online learning platforms in contemporary education. 

Renewable Energy 

Topic: The future of renewable energy sources.  Answer Outline: Discuss the potential of renewable energy sources to meet global energy needs and combat climate change. 

Mental Health 

Topic: The importance of mental health awareness in schools.  Answer Outline: Highlight the need for mental health education in schools to support student well-being and academic success. 

Tourism 

Topic: The impact of tourism on local communities.  Answer Outline: Assess the economic benefits versus the cultural and environmental impacts of tourism on local communities. 

Consumer Behavior 

Topic: The influence of advertising on consumer choices.  Answer Outline: Analyze how advertising shapes consumer perceptions, preferences, and spending habits.

In conclusion, the array of common topics for IELTS Writing Task 2 in 2024 provides a comprehensive overview of the issues and themes relevant in today's global context. These topics, ranging from environmental issues to technological advancements and social trends, challenge candidates to engage with a variety of subjects, requiring them to articulate well-thought-out arguments, opinions, and solutions. The provided sample essays and tips are invaluable resources, aiding candidates in developing the necessary skills to succeed in this task. They underscore the importance of critical thinking, coherent structure, and linguistic proficiency. For IELTS aspirants in 2024, mastering these topics not only prepares them for the exam but also equips them with the analytical and writing skills essential for academic and professional success in an increasingly complex and interconnected world.

Source: IELTS Official Website 

What are the IELTS Writing Task 2 topics?

The IELTS topics for Writing Task 2 are divided into themes such as Art, Environment, Education, Friends and Family, Government and Society, Health, Jobs and Employment, Sport, Science and Technology, Relationships, and Travel and Tourism.

How can I score 7+ Band in IELTS writing Task 2?

To respond to  IELTS Writing Task 2 topics with answers that are worthy of scoring 7+ band, candidates need to follow certain strategies:

• Structure the essay
• Answer all parts of the essay
• Use a range of vocabulary and grammatical structures correctly
• Use linking devices
• Check the essay thoroughly before submitting

How do I start my academic writing task 2 IELTS?

To start the academic writing task 2 for IELTS, students need to write a good introduction. Firstly, they have to begin with a general statement and focus on the details. They need to read and then analyze the question, state their position using their own words, and explain their plan of action to develop the essay.

What are common topics in IELTS Writing Task 2?

Some of the common  writing task 2 latest topics in IELTS Writing Task 2 are health, environment, education, development, globalization, public transport, government spending, technology, youth, and criminal justice.

How can you score well in IELTS Writing Task 2?

Candidates must ensure that they write an essay considering a few parameters. These encapsulate grammatical accuracy, task response, cohesion & coherence. So, candidates need to keep these as their focal points to score desirable results. 

How to develop ideas for IELTS Writing Task 2?

The simplest approaches to come up with ideas for IELTS Writing Task 2 include looking at sample essays, searching for ideas on Google, consulting experts, watching movies, thinking about the topic, and coming up with primary concepts from concrete instances.

Is IELTS writing task 2 repeated?

No, the essay question won’t be repeated, but the theme will be the same. Candidates can expect topics from themes such as technology, education, employment, sports, and society.

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