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IELTS Writing Task 2

IELTS Writing Task 2 questions (page 9)

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 children skills that can help them lead happier lives. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
  2. Some people believe that the lyrics of popular songs have a strong influence on young people's attitudes and behaviour. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Discussion (both views)

  1. Some people think that people should make their own happiness the main priority in life, while others believe that they should focus more on their responsibilities to society. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
  2. When designing clothes, some designers take inspiration from historical dress, while others prefer to create styles without looking to the past. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
  3. Some people believe that fashion designers should study the history of clothing, while others think they should concentrate on developing new ideas. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
  4. Some people believe that countries should borrow money from international organisations to support economic development, while others think this can cause serious problems in the future. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
  5. Some people think that zoos and aquariums should be free to enter, while others believe visitors should pay an entrance fee. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
  6. Some people believe that desert regions should be protected from commercial development, while others think their natural resources should be used to support economic growth. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
  7. You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Some people believe that mountain hikes are best undertaken with a guide, while others prefer to explore independently. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
  8. Some people believe that studying how communities live in desert environments can help other societies adapt to climate change, while others think these experiences have little relevance outside desert regions. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
  9. Some people believe that archaeological evidence should play an important role in shaping a country's national identity, while others argue that it should be kept separate from political debates. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
  10. Some people argue that remote work should become the usual arrangement for most office-based jobs, while others believe employees benefit more from working at a shared workplace. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
  11. You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Some people believe governments should prioritise retraining workers from fossil-fuel industries for jobs in renewable energy, while others think support should be provided to the wider communities affected by the transition. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
  12. Some people believe that traditional knowledge of how to survive in desert environments should be preserved, while others think it is no longer useful in the modern world. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
  13. As remote work becomes more widespread, some people believe it will reduce traffic congestion and widen access to employment, while others argue that it may weaken local communities and businesses. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
  14. In the digital age, news organisations are under pressure to publish stories as quickly as possible. Some people believe that speed is more important than accuracy, while others think accuracy should always come first. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
  15. Some people believe that countries with large desert areas should invest more in research into desert agriculture, while others think that funding should instead be used to improve food production in regions with more fertile land. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
  16. Some wildlife conservation projects aim to restore ecosystems to the condition they were in before significant human activity altered them. Others argue that conservation efforts should focus on protecting ecosystems as they exist today. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
  17. Some people believe that news organisations should publish stories as soon as information becomes available, while others think they should wait until the facts have been thoroughly checked. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Advantages and disadvantages

  1. Some cities are introducing a deposit system for plastic drink containers: customers pay a small extra amount when they buy a drink and receive it back when they return the empty container. Do the advantages of this system outweigh the disadvantages?
  2. Virtual tours and online videos now allow people to see animals without visiting zoos and aquariums. Do the advantages of this change outweigh the disadvantages?
  3. Artificial intelligence can now compose music that is difficult to distinguish from music written by humans. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this development?
  4. You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. In some regions, local communities are being given the opportunity to own and manage renewable energy projects, rather than leaving them entirely to private companies or national governments. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this approach?
  5. In some countries, people are required to leave their homes when land is designated as a protected wildlife area. Do the advantages of this policy outweigh the disadvantages? You should give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
  6. In some countries, large scientific facilities, such as observatories and research stations, are built in desert regions. What are the advantages and disadvantages of locating these facilities in deserts?

Problems, causes and solutions

  1. In recent years, more workers have moved to other countries to find better-paid jobs. What factors have caused this trend, and what effects does it have on the economies of the countries they leave and the countries they move to?
  2. In some urban areas, noise and artificial light make it difficult for residents to sleep well. What problems can this cause for individuals and communities, and what measures could be taken to improve the situation?
  3. In some parts of the world, plants and animals introduced from elsewhere are causing serious harm to native wildlife. What problems can this create, and what measures could be taken to address them?

Two-part questions

  1. You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. In some cities, noise and bright lighting continue throughout the night, making it difficult for residents to sleep. What effects can this have on people’s wellbeing, and what measures could be taken to address this problem?
  2. Electric vehicles can reduce air pollution in towns, but producing their batteries requires large amounts of raw materials. What are the main environmental benefits and costs of electric vehicles, and how could their negative effects be reduced?
  3. More people are using sleep medicines or supplements to improve the quality of their sleep. Why is this happening, and do you think this is a positive or negative development?
  4. Students who study online often have to learn at home, where they may be distracted by family members, mobile phones or other activities. What problems can these distractions cause, and what can students and online course providers do to reduce them?
  5. You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. In some regions, renewable energy projects are being built on land that could otherwise be used for farming or wildlife conservation. Why is this happening, and how can governments balance the need for clean energy with the protection of land and natural habitats?
  6. You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Write about the following topic: High-altitude hiking can be physically demanding and may expose participants to serious risks. Why do people choose to undertake such hikes, and what can they do to reduce the dangers?
  7. New technologies, such as satellite tracking and genetic analysis, are increasingly being used to protect wildlife. What benefits can these technologies offer, and what limitations should conservationists consider?
  8. Digital technologies have enabled companies to hire employees who live in different countries, rather than recruiting only from nearby communities. What effects might this trend have on workers and national economies, and what measures, if any, should governments take in response?
  9. In recent years, news organisations have increasingly reported events as they unfold, sometimes before all the facts are known. Why has this become more common, and is it a positive or negative development?
  10. Many historical accounts were written by powerful groups, while archaeological evidence can reveal how less influential people lived. To what extent should archaeological discoveries be used to revise established interpretations of the past?
  11. In many countries, renewable electricity is generated far from major population centres. What problems can this create, and how could governments and energy companies address them?
  12. In many countries, news organisations rely heavily on advertising and sponsorship to fund their work. Why has this become increasingly common, and what effects can this have on the independence of journalism?
  13. Music is increasingly used as part of healthcare, for example to support patients recovering from illness or managing long-term conditions. What factors have contributed to this trend, and do you think music can play a valuable role in medical treatment?
  14. Music is increasingly used as part of treatment for people with physical or mental health conditions. Why is this approach becoming more popular, and should music therapy be used alongside conventional medical treatment?
  15. You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Write about the following topic: Some schools are considering replacing some classroom-based lessons with supervised hiking expeditions in mountainous areas. What educational benefits might this bring, and what challenges would schools need to address?
  16. Remote work has reduced the number of people travelling to city centres each day. What problems can this create for urban communities, and how might these problems be addressed?
  17. Many news organisations depend on advertising revenue to fund their work. What effects can this dependence have on the quality and independence of journalism, and how could these effects be reduced?
  18. Archaeological evidence can reveal how past societies adapted to droughts, floods and other environmental changes. Why is this evidence valuable today, and what limits should there be on using lessons from the past to guide modern decisions?
  19. In many parts of the world, populations of insects and other small wild species are declining. What effects can this have on natural environments and human societies, and what measures could be taken to reverse this trend?
  20. Many people who hike in mountainous areas now rely on smartphone apps and GPS devices to find their way. Why has this become common, and do you think this is a positive or negative development?
  21. You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. In some mountain regions, hiking trails are promoted as a way to support local economies. What problems can this approach create for residents and the natural environment, and how can these problems be addressed?
  22. Archaeological research has shown that some past societies declined after prolonged environmental change. Why is it important to study these events, and to what extent can this knowledge help modern societies respond to environmental challenges?
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IELTS Writing Task 2 questions by type (page 9) | ielts.coach