IELTS Writing Task 2 Practice
IELTS Academic · Academic Writing Task 2 · 16 free exercises
Task 2 is a 250-word argumentative essay in 40 minutes, and it is worth twice Task 1. The prompt sets a specific question — discuss both views, agree or disagree, problem and solution — and answering a slightly different question is the most common way strong English still scores badly.
How to approach it
- Answer the exact question asked. "Discuss both views and give your own opinion" needs both views AND your position — leaving one out caps Task Response.
- Make your position clear in the introduction and keep it consistent to the conclusion.
- One idea per paragraph, developed with a reason and an example. Two shallow paragraphs beat five thin ones.
- Write at least 250 words. Under-length is penalised directly, whatever the quality.
- Leave two minutes to reread. Most band-limiting errors are ones the writer can already spot.
All Writing Task 2 exercises
Cambridge IELTS 11 Academic, Cambridge University Press
- Economic progress versus other kinds of progress - Test 4
- Government spending: railways versus roads - Test 1
- Reasons for learning a foreign language - Test 3
- Recycling: should it be a legal requirement? - Test 2
Cambridge IELTS 12 Academic, Cambridge University Press
- A large number of young adults compared with older people - Test 6
- Letting children make their own everyday choices - Test 8
- Sharing information freely versus keeping it private - Test 5
- Spending on high-speed rail versus existing public transport - Test 7
Cambridge IELTS 13 Academic, Cambridge University Press
- Social and practical problems of living with a foreign language - Test 1
- Whether History or Science and Technology is more important at school - Test 3
- Whether we now have too many choices - Test 2
- Why people still go hungry despite advances in agriculture - Test 4