elts.coach
Practice ▾
Start free
IELTS Writing Task 2

IELTS Writing Task 2 questions (page 10)

500 practice essay questions in the official wording, grouped by question type. Every question ends with the same instruction: “Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. Write at least 250 words.” Give yourself 40 minutes.

How to write: opinion (agree or disagree)
How to write: discussion (both views)
How to write: advantages and disadvantages
How to write: problems, causes and solutions
How to write: two-part questions

Opinion (agree or disagree)

  1. Some people believe that schools should teach students how to assess the reliability of news reports. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Discussion (both views)

  1. Some people believe that music should be treated primarily as a form of art, while others think it should be managed mainly as a commercial product. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
  2. Some people believe that journalists should specialise in particular subjects, such as science, politics or economics, while others think they should report on a wide range of topics. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
  3. Some people believe that national news organisations should give more coverage to international events, while others think they should focus more on issues affecting local communities. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
  4. You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Some people believe governments should prioritise investment in energy storage systems, while others think expanding renewable power generation should come first. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
  5. Remote work allows employees to organise their schedules more independently, but it can also make it harder for managers to assess how effectively work is being done. Some people think performance should be judged mainly by results, while others believe employers need to monitor the hours staff work. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
  6. Some people believe that schools should include mountain hiking in their education programmes, while others think that school time should be devoted to academic subjects. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
  7. In desert regions, some people argue that new buildings should be designed in traditional styles, while others believe modern architectural designs are more appropriate. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
  8. Some people believe that investigative journalism is essential for exposing wrongdoing by powerful individuals and organisations. Others argue that such reporting can cause unjustified harm to those under investigation. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
  9. Some people believe that music festivals bring important cultural and economic benefits to the places where they are held, while others think they create more problems than benefits. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
  10. Some people believe that deserts are suitable places for disposing of industrial and household waste because few people live there. Others think waste should be treated close to where it is produced. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
  11. Desert regions often extend across national borders. Some people believe that neighbouring countries should manage these areas through joint agreements, while others think each country should make decisions independently. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
  12. Some people believe that traditional forms of dress should be actively preserved as part of a society’s historical heritage, while others argue that clothing traditions should be free to change with contemporary tastes. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
  13. Some people believe that overcoming hardship can contribute to lasting happiness, while others argue that difficult experiences are more likely to undermine a person’s well-being. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Advantages and disadvantages

  1. In some countries, landowners are offered financial incentives to protect wildlife habitats on their property. Do the advantages of this approach outweigh the disadvantages?
  2. Some governments are investing in technologies that could make it possible to grow crops in desert regions. Do the advantages of developing agriculture in deserts outweigh the disadvantages?
  3. Some desert regions contain minerals that are in growing demand. What are the advantages and disadvantages of allowing companies to extract these resources?
  4. In some countries, governments allow limited hunting of certain wild animals, with the fees used to fund conservation programmes. Do the advantages of this policy outweigh the disadvantages?
  5. More musicians from different countries are now collaborating to create music. Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?

Problems, causes and solutions

  1. You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. As renewable energy becomes a larger part of national electricity supplies, storing surplus power for times when generation is low is a growing challenge. What problems can this create, and what measures could governments and energy companies take to address them?
  2. You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. In some mountainous regions, hiking tourism brings income and employment, but it can also disrupt local communities. What problems can this create, and what measures could be taken to address them?
  3. In many countries, concern is growing about the effects of listening to music at high volume, particularly through headphones and at entertainment venues. What problems can this cause, and what measures could individuals and governments take to address them?
  4. You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. In some industries, employees who work remotely have fewer opportunities to learn informally from experienced colleagues. What problems can this cause, and what measures could employers take to address them?
  5. You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. The shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy can create economic difficulties for workers and communities that depend on traditional energy industries. What problems can this transition cause, and what measures could governments and businesses take to address them?
  6. You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Plastic waste and discarded hiking equipment are increasingly found on popular mountain trails. What factors contribute to this problem, and what measures could be taken to address it?
  7. In many major cities, zoos and aquariums occupy valuable urban land, while pressure to redevelop central areas is increasing. What problems can this situation cause, and what measures could governments and these institutions take to address them?

Two-part questions

  1. You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Renewable energy projects can bring significant changes to the communities where they are built. What factors should governments consider when deciding where to locate these projects, and how can they ensure that local residents benefit from them?
  2. In many professions, employees can now choose where they work rather than being required to attend a central workplace. What factors should employers consider when deciding which roles can be done remotely, and how can they ensure that all staff are treated fairly?
  3. You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. The growth of remote work has made it possible for some employees to live far from their employers’ offices. What effects might this trend have on towns and cities, and how could local authorities respond to these effects?
  4. You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. As countries expand their use of renewable energy, employment in traditional energy industries may decline. What challenges could this create for workers and their communities, and how should governments respond?
  5. You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Archaeological evidence suggests that some once-powerful civilisations declined or disappeared. What factors may explain the decline of such societies, and what lessons, if any, can modern societies learn from them?
  6. Music competitions on television attract large audiences in many countries. Why are these programmes so popular, and do they offer aspiring musicians a meaningful route into a professional career?
  7. When archaeological evidence challenges long-held beliefs about a society’s past, the public may be reluctant to accept the new interpretation. Why might this happen, and how can archaeologists respond to such disagreement?
  8. Climate change is altering the habitats and migration patterns of many wild animals. What challenges does this create for wildlife conservation, and what measures can be taken to address them?
  9. You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Write about the following topic: Some schools organise hiking trips in mountainous areas as part of students’ education. What can young people learn from these trips? What should schools do to ensure that all students can take part safely?
  10. Archaeologists increasingly work with specialists in fields such as genetics, chemistry and climate science. Why has this interdisciplinary approach become more important, and what challenges can it create?
  11. Some wildlife conservation campaigns focus more on popular species, such as pandas and elephants, than on less well-known animals. Why is this the case, and is it a positive or negative development?
  12. You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. As more organisations rely on geographically dispersed teams, new employees may find it harder to learn workplace norms and develop professional relationships. What difficulties can this create, and what steps can employers take to address them?
  13. In many countries, experienced journalists are leaving news organisations to work in public relations and corporate communications. Why is this happening, and what effects might it have on journalism?
  14. Some wildlife conservation programmes relocate animals from areas where they are at risk to protected habitats elsewhere. What are the potential benefits and drawbacks of this approach, and what factors should be considered before animals are moved?
  15. The expansion of renewable energy is changing the kinds of jobs available in many countries. Why can it be difficult for workers in traditional energy industries to move into renewable-energy jobs, and what should governments and employers do to support this transition? You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
  16. In some countries, archaeological research is increasingly funded by private businesses rather than public institutions. What factors have led to this, and is it a positive or negative development? You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
  17. In many places, archaeological remains are discovered during construction projects rather than planned excavations. Why does this happen, and what should construction companies do when such remains are found? You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
  18. You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. In many countries, mountain rescue services are called out to help hikers who have become lost or injured. What factors contribute to these incidents, and how could they be reduced?
  19. Although legal ways of accessing music are widely available, many people continue to download or share songs without permission. Why does this happen, and what measures could be taken to protect the interests of musicians?
  20. As remote work becomes more common, employees often use personal devices and home networks to access confidential company information. What problems can this create, and how can employers and employees reduce these risks?
  21. You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Archaeological methods are sometimes used to locate and investigate mass graves from recent conflicts. What advantages can this approach offer, and what difficulties might investigators face?
  22. The uptake of electric vehicles varies considerably between urban and rural areas. What factors explain this disparity, and what measures could ensure that the transition to electric transport benefits both communities?
  23. Online learning platforms increasingly use adaptive technology and automated feedback to personalise the learning process. What effects might this have on the role of teachers, and how should educational institutions ensure that this form of learning remains effective?
  24. Although growth in the global economy has raised average incomes in many countries, its benefits have not been shared equally. Why has this happened, and what can governments do to ensure that economic growth benefits a wider proportion of society?
Get your essay marked in 20 seconds

Write your answer in the app and get a band for each of the four criteria, line-by-line corrections and a rewrite at your target band.

Start free — 2 weeksTake the free mock test
IELTS Writing Task 2 questions by type (page 10) | ielts.coach