IELTS Writing Task 2: Band 7 Structure, Tips and Model Essay

IELTS Writing Task 2 is a 250-word essay that you write in about 40 minutes, and it's worth twice as much as Task 1 in your Writing score. To get band 7, you need to answer every part of the question, give a clear position, develop each main idea with explanation and examples, organise your essay into logical paragraphs, and use a good range of vocabulary and grammar with only occasional mistakes. This guide explains the four marking criteria, gives you a simple four-paragraph structure, and includes an original band 7 model essay with notes on why it works.

IELTS Writing Task 2 at a glance

• Time: 60 minutes for the whole Writing test. Spend about 40 minutes on Task 2 and 20 on Task 1.
• Length: at least 250 words. Aim for 260 to 300.
• Weighting: Task 2 counts for about two-thirds of your Writing band.
• Same in both versions: Task 2 is similar in IELTS Academic and General Training. Only the topics differ slightly. See IELTS Academic vs General Training.
• Marked on four criteria, each worth 25%: Task Response, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range and Accuracy.

The 5 types of Task 2 question

1. Opinion (agree or disagree): "To what extent do you agree or disagree?"
2. Discussion: "Discuss both views and give your own opinion."
3. Advantages and disadvantages: "Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?"
4. Problem and solution (or cause and solution): "What are the causes of this problem and what can be done?"
5. Two-part (direct) questions: two separate questions you must both answer.

Read the question twice and underline every part. The most common reason for a low Task Response score is answering only half the question.

What band 7 looks like: the four criteria

Task Response

Answer all parts of the question, state your position clearly and keep it the same from start to finish. Each main idea must be extended and supported, not just listed.

Coherence and Cohesion

Organise your ideas logically, with one central idea per body paragraph. Use linking words naturally and accurately. Overusing "Moreover" and "Furthermore" at the start of every sentence can lower this score.

Lexical Resource

Use a range of less common vocabulary and natural word combinations (collocations), such as "a growing number of", "place pressure on" or "a lasting impact". A few spelling or word-choice errors are fine at band 7, as long as they're occasional.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

Use a variety of complex sentences, such as conditionals, relative clauses and passives, and make sure most of your sentences are error-free.

A simple structure for band 7

Four paragraphs work well for almost every question type:

1. Introduction (2 sentences, about 40 words): paraphrase the question, then give your position or say what the essay will cover.
2. Body paragraph 1 (about 100 words): topic sentence, explanation, example, link back to the question.
3. Body paragraph 2 (about 100 words): the same pattern for your second main idea or the other view.
4. Conclusion (1 or 2 sentences, about 40 words): restate your position in new words. Don't add new ideas.

How to use your 40 minutes

• Minutes 0 to 5: read the question, decide your position and plan two main ideas, each with an example.
• Minutes 5 to 35: write. Introduction first, then the two body paragraphs, then the conclusion.
• Minutes 35 to 40: check verb tenses, subject-verb agreement, articles (a, an, the), plurals and spelling.

Band 7 model essay

Question: Some people think that the best way to learn a foreign language is to live in a country where it is spoken. Others believe it can be learned just as well at home with modern technology. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Many people believe that moving abroad is the most effective way to master a new language, while others argue that apps, video lessons and online classes now make this unnecessary. Although technology has made language learning far more accessible, I believe that living among native speakers still offers advantages that cannot easily be replaced.

Those who favour learning at home point out that technology is cheap, flexible and available to almost everyone. A learner in a small town can now take a live lesson with a teacher on another continent, practise vocabulary on a phone during a commute and watch films in the original language every evening. For people with jobs or families, this flexibility is essential, because few of them could leave everything behind to spend a year overseas. In addition, modern learning platforms adapt to each user's level, which allows learners to progress at their own pace.

On the other hand, living in a country where the language is spoken forces learners to use it in real situations, from ordering food to dealing with landlords and colleagues. These everyday interactions build listening and speaking skills much faster, because learners must understand different accents and respond without time to prepare. Someone who studies Spanish in Madrid, for example, hears the language for many hours a day, whereas a learner at home may only practise for thirty minutes. This constant exposure also teaches the informal expressions and cultural knowledge that textbooks rarely include.

In conclusion, while technology allows people to make good progress at home, I would argue that immersion in a country where the language is spoken remains the fastest route to fluency, particularly for speaking. The ideal approach, where possible, is to combine both.

(Word count: 286)

Why this essay would score band 7

• Task Response: it discusses both views in separate paragraphs and gives a clear opinion in the introduction and conclusion. Each view is developed with reasons and an example.
• Coherence and Cohesion: four clear paragraphs, each body paragraph with one central idea and a clear topic sentence. Linking is varied ("Although", "In addition", "On the other hand", "whereas").
• Lexical Resource: natural collocations such as "far more accessible", "constant exposure", "real situations" and "the fastest route to fluency".
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy: a mix of complex structures, including relative clauses ("which allows learners"), contrast clauses ("Although", "whereas") and modal verbs ("cannot easily be replaced"), with no errors.

To push this essay towards band 8, it would need even more precise vocabulary and a slightly more developed second paragraph. But for most candidates, band 7 is about clarity and accuracy, not difficult words.

8 mistakes that keep candidates at band 6

1. Not answering every part of the question.
2. Changing your opinion halfway through the essay.
3. Listing several ideas without explaining any of them.
4. Writing under 250 words, which costs you marks for Task Response.
5. Memorised phrases that don't fit the topic. Examiners are trained to spot them.
6. Repeating the same words from the question instead of paraphrasing.
7. Long, unclear sentences that create grammar mistakes. Accuracy matters more than length.
8. Skipping the final check for small errors such as articles and plurals.

Frequently asked questions

How many words should IELTS Writing Task 2 be?

At least 250 words. Aim for 260 to 300. Longer essays don't score higher, and they leave less time to check your work.

How many paragraphs should Task 2 have?

Four or five. An introduction, two or three body paragraphs and a conclusion work for every question type.

Can I use memorised essays or phrases?

No. Memorised sentences that don't fit the topic are penalised. It's better to learn useful vocabulary and structures and use them flexibly.

Is Writing Task 2 the same in Academic and General Training?

The task is the same type of essay in both versions, with a similar marking system. General Training topics can be slightly more everyday.

How can I get feedback on my essays?

A teacher who marks against the four official criteria will show you exactly what's holding your score back. Our IELTS mock test includes written feedback on your Writing, and our IELTS preparation course gives you individual feedback on your writing throughout the course.

Improve your Writing score

Writing is the lowest-scoring skill for many IELTS candidates, and it's often the skill that decides whether you meet a visa or university requirement. Check the minimum you need in our guide to IELTS score requirements in 2026, and prepare for the rest of the test with our IELTS Speaking guide and 65 tips to pass IELTS. In Dubai or Ras Al Khaimah, our 3-week IELTS preparation course covers all four skills, with three full mock exams and individual feedback on your writing.