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IELTS Writing Task 2 Samples: Five Model Essays

Five original IELTS Writing Task 2 sample essays, one for each question type, with notes on structure: opinion, discussion, outweigh, problem, two-part.

October 5, 2026 10 min read

Five questions, five essays, one for each Task 2 question type. All were written for this guide.

The fastest way to learn from a sample essay is to write your own first. Read the question, plan for five minutes, write for thirty-five, and then compare.

What to look for

Each essay has four paragraphs, and each body paragraph is built the same way: an idea, an explanation of why it is true, and an example. That pattern is what the band descriptors mean by main ideas that are “extended and supported”.

What differs between the five is what the question asks for. The Task 2 guide has the full table of question types.

Sample 1: opinion essay

Some people think that universities should only offer subjects that lead directly to jobs. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

It is sometimes argued that higher education should be limited to subjects with a clear route into employment. I disagree with this view, because the job market changes too quickly to predict and because universities serve a wider purpose than job training.

The first problem is that nobody can say with confidence which subjects will lead to work. A degree is normally completed three or four years after it is chosen, and whole industries can appear or shrink in that time. Twenty years ago, for example, few people would have recommended studying data analysis, yet it is now one of the most sought-after skills. If universities had offered only the courses that matched the jobs of that period, many of today’s graduates would be poorly prepared. Planning education around current vacancies is therefore a gamble.

In addition, subjects that seem to have no direct career path often teach the abilities employers value most. Students of history or philosophy spend years analysing evidence, building arguments and writing clearly. These skills transfer to law, journalism, management and public service, even though none of those careers is named in the degree title. Removing such subjects would therefore narrow the range of talent available to employers, not improve it.

Supporters of the idea are right that students deserve honest information about their prospects, and universities should publish employment figures for every course. That is an argument for better advice, however, not for closing departments. For these reasons, I do not believe that universities should restrict themselves to vocational subjects. Future needs are impossible to forecast, and a broad education produces adaptable graduates who are useful in many fields.

274 words.

Why it works. The position is in the second sentence and never changes. Each body paragraph gives one reason, explains it and supports it with an example. The other side is acknowledged and answered at the start of the final paragraph, which shows awareness without weakening the position. See the opinion essay guide.

Sample 2: discussion essay

Some people believe that older relatives should live with their families, while others think that care homes are a better choice. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

As people live longer, more families have to decide how an elderly relative should be looked after. Some believe a care home is the best solution, while others feel the family home is the right place. This essay will discuss both views and explain why I believe living with family is usually preferable.

Those who favour care homes point to the quality of professional support. Staff are trained to deal with medical needs, and help is available throughout the day and night, which few working families can offer. A person with serious memory loss, for instance, may need supervision that relatives simply cannot provide while also holding down jobs. Care homes can also reduce loneliness, since residents eat and take part in activities together. For families who live far away or work long hours, this may be the only realistic option.

On the other hand, I would argue that most older people are happier and healthier among their own family. Living at home allows them to keep familiar routines and to remain part of daily life, which gives them a sense of purpose. Grandparents who help to look after children, for example, often say that it keeps them active. Furthermore, the relationship benefits younger generations, who learn patience and hear family history that would otherwise be lost. Care at home is also considerably cheaper than residential fees in most countries, which matters to families on ordinary incomes.

In conclusion, although care homes are the sensible choice when someone needs constant medical attention, I believe that in most cases older relatives should live with their families, because this arrangement supports their well-being and strengthens the family as a whole.

278 words.

Why it works. Both views get a full paragraph, and the view the writer disagrees with comes first. The writer’s own opinion is announced in the introduction, developed with a little more weight in the second body paragraph, and confirmed in the conclusion. See the discussion essay guide.

Sample 3: advantages and disadvantages (outweigh)

More employees now work from home for part of the week. Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?

In many countries it has become normal for staff to spend some of the working week at home instead of in an office. Although this arrangement has clear drawbacks, I believe that its benefits for both workers and employers are greater.

The main advantage is the time and money that employees save. Someone who commutes for an hour each way gains ten hours a week by working from home, and that time can be spent with family, on exercise or simply on rest. Workers also spend less on transport and meals. As a result, they tend to be less tired and more satisfied with their jobs, and companies benefit because satisfied staff are less likely to leave. Employers can also reduce costs by renting smaller offices, and they can recruit talented people who live too far away to travel in every day.

There are, admittedly, real disadvantages. Communication is slower when colleagues cannot speak face to face, and new employees may find it harder to learn from experienced ones. Some people also feel isolated when they work alone, and the line between work and private life can become unclear. However, these problems are reduced when staff are in the office for part of the week, which is exactly the pattern the question describes. Meetings and training can be arranged for office days, while tasks that require concentration are done at home.

In conclusion, working from home for part of the week does make teamwork more difficult, but this can be managed with sensible planning. The savings in time and cost and the improvement in employees’ well-being are more significant, so I am convinced that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

279 words.

Why it works. The question says outweigh, so the essay gives a verdict in the introduction and repeats it in the conclusion. The disadvantages are taken seriously and then weighed against the benefits, which is what “outweigh” asks for. A list of both sides with no judgement would not answer this question. See the advantages and disadvantages guide.

Sample 4: problem and solution

In many cities the amount of household waste is rising every year. What are the causes of this, and what can be done to reduce it?

Cities around the world are producing more rubbish each year, and local authorities are struggling to deal with it. This essay will examine two main causes of the increase and suggest how each of them can be tackled.

One major cause is the growth of packaging. Food and other goods are now sold wrapped in several layers of plastic and cardboard, and the rise of online shopping means that even small items arrive in large boxes. A second cause is that many products are designed to be replaced, not repaired. Cheap clothing and electronic devices often last only a year or two, and because repairs cost almost as much as a new item, people throw them away. Both trends mean that more material enters each home and leaves it as rubbish.

Both problems can be reduced with practical measures. To cut packaging, governments could charge manufacturers according to the amount of material they use, which would give them a financial reason to use less. Such a policy has already lowered the use of plastic bags in many countries where shops must charge for them. To deal with short-lived products, the law could require companies to sell spare parts and to guarantee their goods for longer. In addition, councils could support local repair workshops, so that mending a phone or a jacket becomes cheaper and more convenient than buying another.

In conclusion, household waste is increasing mainly because of excessive packaging and products that are quickly thrown away. Charging producers for packaging and making repair easier would address these causes directly, and together they could significantly reduce the amount of rubbish that cities have to handle.

275 words.

Why it works. Two causes, two solutions, and each solution answers one of the causes. That link is the whole essay. The solutions are specific enough to explain how they would work, and one of them is supported with a real-world parallel. See the problem and solution guide.

Sample 5: two-part question

People increasingly rely on their phones to remember things for them. Why is this happening? Is it a positive or negative development?

Many people no longer try to remember telephone numbers, appointments or directions, because their phones store this information for them. This essay will explain why the habit has become so common and argue that, on balance, it is a positive change.

The main reason is convenience. A modern phone is always within reach, and it records information more accurately than human memory can. It is far easier to set a reminder than to hold a list of tasks in mind, and a map application removes the need to learn a route. At the same time, the amount of information people deal with has grown enormously. An office worker may have to manage dozens of passwords, meetings and contacts, which would be almost impossible to remember without help. Relying on a device is, in short, a reasonable response to a real difficulty.

In my view, this development is mainly beneficial. When routine details are stored on a device, people are free to give their attention to work that requires thought, such as solving problems or being creative. Fewer appointments are missed and fewer mistakes are made as a result. There is a risk, of course, that people feel helpless when a phone is lost or its battery is flat, and some worry that memory weakens when it is not used. However, similar fears were expressed about calculators and written diaries, and neither made people less capable. Keeping a written copy of a few essential numbers is enough to deal with the practical risk.

In conclusion, people depend on phones for memory because it is easier and because modern life demands more than memory can hold. I believe this is a positive development overall.

282 words.

Why it works. There are two questions and each gets its own body paragraph: the first explains why, the second gives an opinion. The introduction previews both answers. The second question asks for a judgement, so the essay gives one plainly, deals with the opposing concern and holds its line. See the two-part question guide.

What the five have in common

  • The introduction answers the question. Where an opinion is asked for, it is stated there, not saved for the end.
  • Two body paragraphs, one job each.
  • Every idea is explained and then supported with an example or a consequence.
  • The conclusion adds nothing new. It restates the answer in different words.
  • The language is formal and plain. No contractions, no slang, and no rare words used for show.
  • All are between 270 and 300 words.

Practise it

Choose one question above and write your own essay in 40 minutes before you read the sample again. Then run it through the IELTS writing checker to see a band for each of the four criteria and the specific sentences that held it down. Want to compare tools first? Here are the best IELTS Writing checkers.

Sources

Last reviewed October 5, 2026. See our editorial policy for how guides are checked and corrected.

Frequently asked questions

Are these real IELTS Writing Task 2 questions?
No. The five questions and the five essays were written for this guide in the format of the test. Real test questions are copyrighted, and the topics you meet on the day will be different in any case.
Should I memorise IELTS sample essays?
No. A memorised essay almost never fits the exact question, and examiners are trained to disregard rehearsed language. Study how each sample answers its question and builds a paragraph, then write your own ideas in that shape.
What band are these Task 2 sample essays?
They are written to show what the Band 7 and above descriptors describe: every part of the question addressed, a clear position, and main ideas that are extended and supported. Only an examiner can award a band, so use them as models of method.
How should I practise with Task 2 sample essays?
Read only the question, plan for five minutes and write your own essay in thirty-five. Then compare it with the sample: did you answer every part, where is your position stated, and does each body paragraph explain its idea and give an example?
Do all IELTS Task 2 essays use the same structure?
The frame is the same: an introduction, two body paragraphs and a conclusion. What goes in the body paragraphs depends on the question type, which is why reading the instruction line carefully matters more than the topic.
How many body paragraphs should a Task 2 essay have?
Two is enough and is what these samples use. Two well-developed paragraphs of about 90 to 100 words each score better than three thin ones, because the descriptors reward ideas that are extended and supported.