IELTS Writing Task 2 Structure: A Clear Plan and Examples

Reviewed by the WritSpeak Team · Published 29 October 2026

A good Task 2 structure has four paragraphs: an introduction, two body paragraphs and a conclusion. Each paragraph has one clear job, and together they answer every part of the question. This plan works for opinion, discussion, problem and solution, and two-part questions, and it fits the 250-word minimum comfortably.

Why structure matters

Task 2 is an essay responding to a point of view, argument or problem. You have about 40 minutes and must write at least 250 words. Task 2 counts twice as much as Task 1, so it is worth a careful plan.

Structure helps two of the four writing criteria directly. Task Response asks whether you answer the whole question with a clear position. Coherence and Cohesion asks whether your essay is easy to follow. Structure does not replace good ideas, vocabulary or grammar, but it stops you losing marks because the reader is confused.

The one plan for every question type

Step 1: Find the question type (about 1 minute)

Read the question and underline the instruction words. Most questions are one of these types:

• Opinion: 'To what extent do you agree or disagree?'
• Discussion: 'Discuss both views and give your opinion.'
• Problem and solution: 'What problems does this cause? What can be done?'
• Two-part question: two direct questions, for example about causes and whether the trend is positive.

Step 2: Choose your position and two main ideas (3–4 minutes)

Write quick notes on the question paper or rough paper. Notes are fine for planning, but your final answer must be full sentences. Notes or bullet points are not accepted as an answer.

Use your two ideas like this:

• Opinion: Body 1 is your first reason. Body 2 is your second reason.
• Discussion: Body 1 is the first view. Body 2 is the second view. Give your own opinion in the introduction and conclusion.
• Problem and solution: Body 1 explains the main problem. Body 2 gives solutions.
• Two-part question: Body 1 answers the first question. Body 2 answers the second.

Step 3: Write four paragraphs (about 30 minutes)

1. Introduction (about 40 words): Paraphrase the question in your own words, then give your position or say what you will discuss.
2. Body paragraph 1 (about 90–100 words): One main idea, an explanation and an example.
3. Body paragraph 2 (about 90–100 words): The same pattern with your second idea.
4. Conclusion (about 30 words): Repeat your answer in different words. Do not add new ideas.

Then use the last few minutes to check your answer for missing articles, verb forms and spelling. This timing is only a suggestion, so adjust it to what works for you.

Inside each body paragraph

Use this simple order: main idea → explanation → example → result. The explanation is the part many learners skip, and it is often what separates a basic paragraph from a stronger one.

Band 6 and band 7 paragraphs compared

Imagine this question: Some people think children should start learning a foreign language in primary school. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Here is a body paragraph at roughly a band 6 level of development:

Firstly, learning a foreign language in primary school is good because children can learn easily. When children are young they have good memory and they are not shy. Also, it is good for their future. For example, they can get a good job when they are older. So I think primary schools should teach languages.

And here is a paragraph on the same idea, developed more fully, closer to band 7:

The strongest reason to start early is that young children usually pick up sounds and basic phrases with little fear of making mistakes. A seven-year-old who sings songs and plays word games in English is practising pronunciation naturally, whereas a teenager may stay silent in case classmates laugh. This early confidence can make later grammar lessons easier, because pupils already have vocabulary to build on. As a result, they are more likely to reach a useful level before they leave school.

What changed?

• The idea is specific. 'Learn easily' became 'little fear of making mistakes'.
• The example is real and detailed. 'Get a good job' is too general. The singing and word-games example shows a clear picture.
• The explanation is there. The second paragraph says why early confidence matters.
• Linking is more natural. 'Whereas', 'because' and 'as a result' show relationships between ideas. The first paragraph uses 'Firstly' and 'Also' like a list.
• Language is less repetitive. The first version repeats 'good' three times. The second uses a wider range of words and structures.

Notice that the band 7 paragraph does not use rare, difficult words. The improvement comes mostly from clearer ideas and precise, natural language. Remember that examiners judge your whole answer against the four criteria, so one paragraph alone does not decide your band.

Weak and better sentences

A common problem is a vague main idea. Compare:

Weak: Technology is very useful for people in many ways.

Better: Online maps and translation apps help travellers manage unfamiliar cities without needing a guide.

The better sentence tells the reader exactly what you are going to talk about, so the rest of the paragraph is easier to write.

Common mistakes and how to fix them

• No clear position. The reader cannot tell what you think. Fix: write your answer in the introduction and repeat it in the conclusion.
• Answering only half the question. Two-part and problem and solution questions need both parts. Fix: underline every question and give each its own paragraph.
• Ideas listed but not explained. Each sentence is a new point. Fix: write one idea, then spend two or three sentences explaining it.
• Memorised phrases that do not fit. Fix: use simple linking words correctly instead of long copied sentences.
• New ideas in the conclusion. Fix: only summarise what you have already said.
• Writing under 250 words. Writing below the minimum is penalised in Task Response. Fix: practise with your plan until four paragraphs of the suggested length feel normal.
• Bullet points. Fix: always write full paragraphs.

Practise it

Take one Task 2 question and write a plan using the four-paragraph pattern. Then write your first body paragraph and check it: does it have a main idea, an explanation, a specific example and a result? Rewrite any vague sentence until a reader could picture exactly what you mean.