IELTS General Training Preparation Course: Writing Task 2 essays

1. Question 1 of 16

   What is the minimum length for Writing Task 2?

   • A250 words
   • B150 words
   • C350 words
   • D200 words
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   Answer: A. 250 words

   Task 2 asks for at least 250 words. The 150-word minimum is for the Task 1 letter.

2. Question 2 of 16

   About how long should you spend on Writing Task 2?

   • A30 minutes
   • B20 minutes
   • C40 minutes
   • D60 minutes
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   Answer: C. 40 minutes

   The official advice is to spend no more than 40 minutes on Task 2 and no more than 20 minutes on Task 1, out of 60 minutes in total.

3. Question 3 of 16

   How much does Task 2 count towards the Writing score compared with Task 1?

   • AThe same amount
   • BHalf as much
   • CTwice as much
   • DThree times as much
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   Answer: C. Twice as much

   The official Writing page says Task 2 contributes twice as much as Task 1 to the Writing score.

4. Question 4 of 16

   What kind of text do you write in General Training Writing Task 2?

   • AA short story about your own life
   • BAn informal letter to a friend or relative
   • CA semi-formal or neutral discursive essay
   • DA report that describes a graph or chart
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   Answer: C. A semi-formal or neutral discursive essay

   Task 2 is a discursive essay in a semi-formal or neutral style. Describing a graph is an IELTS Academic task, not General Training.

5. Question 5 of 16

   Can you use examples from your own experience in a Task 2 essay?

   • AYes, relevant personal examples can support your ideas
   • BNo, only statistics from published research are allowed
   • COnly in the conclusion, never in the body paragraphs
   • DNo, personal examples are always penalised by examiners
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   Answer: A. Yes, relevant personal examples can support your ideas

   The official guidance says you should use relevant examples or evidence, and these can come from your own experience.

6. Question 6 of 16

   What happens if part of your essay is off-topic?

   • AYou will be penalised
   • BNothing, if the grammar is correct
   • CYou get extra marks for creativity
   • DOnly the off-topic words are deleted
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   Answer: A. You will be penalised

   The official Writing page says you will be penalised for content that is off-topic. Every paragraph must answer the question.

7. Question 7 of 16

   You learn a model essay by heart and copy it into your answer. What does the official guidance say about copied text?

   • AIt is severely penalised as plagiarism
   • BIt is allowed in the introduction only
   • CIt counts as a good range of vocabulary
   • DIt is allowed if the topic is similar enough
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   Answer: A. It is severely penalised as plagiarism

   The official guidance says plagiarism, meaning text copied from another source, is severely penalised. Write your own answer to the question you are given.

8. Question 8 of 16

   The question ends: "To what extent do you agree or disagree?" What must you do?

   • AGive your own opinion and say how far you agree
   • BWrite a letter to someone who disagrees
   • CWrite only about problems and solutions
   • DDescribe both views without giving any opinion at all
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   Answer: A. Give your own opinion and say how far you agree

   This question type asks for your opinion. Say clearly how far you agree in the introduction and support that view in every paragraph.

9. Question 9 of 16

   The question ends: "Discuss both views and give your own opinion." What must you do?

   • AGive your opinion without mentioning either view
   • BExplain only the view you agree with
   • CExplain both views and also give your own opinion
   • DExplain both views but avoid giving any opinion
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   Answer: C. Explain both views and also give your own opinion

   This question has two parts: discuss both views, then give your own opinion. Missing either part means you have not fully answered it.

10. Question 10 of 16

    The question asks: "What problems does this cause, and what can be done to solve them?" What should your essay include?

    • AA letter to the local council
    • BOnly the problems, explained in detail
    • CBoth the problems and some solutions
    • DOnly the solutions, with examples
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    Answer: C. Both the problems and some solutions

    A problem–solution question has two parts. Answer both, ideally in separate body paragraphs.

11. Question 11 of 16

    Question: "More people should work from home. To what extent do you agree or disagree?" Which sentence is the clearest position statement?

    • AI largely agree, as working from home saves time, though some jobs need people on site.
    • BWorking from home is a topic that many people talk about these days, both online and at work.
    • CThere are many people in the world, and they all have different jobs and different opinions.
    • DThis essay will talk about the topic of working at home and some other things.
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    Answer: A. I largely agree, as working from home saves time, though some jobs need people on site.

    A position statement gives your view and a short reason. The other sentences introduce the topic but give no opinion.

12. Question 12 of 16

    Which order is best for a body paragraph in a Task 2 essay?

    • AConclusion, then main idea, then introduction
    • BExample, then a different unrelated idea, then the main idea
    • CMain idea, then explanation, then an example
    • DThree examples with no main idea
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    Answer: C. Main idea, then explanation, then an example

    A strong paragraph opens with a topic sentence (the main idea), explains it, and supports it with an example.

13. Question 13 of 16

    Which linking word introduces a contrast?

    • AFor example,
    • BAs a result,
    • CHowever,
    • DFurthermore,
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    Answer: C. However,

    "However" shows a contrast. "Furthermore" adds a point, "For example" gives an example and "As a result" shows a result.

14. Question 14 of 16

    Which linking phrase adds another point that supports the same idea?

    • AIn addition,
    • BDespite this,
    • CIn contrast,
    • DOn the other hand,
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    Answer: A. In addition,

    "In addition" adds a point. The other phrases introduce a contrast.

15. Question 15 of 16

    What should the conclusion of a Task 2 essay do?

    • AIntroduce a completely new argument to finish
    • BSum up your main points and your position
    • CCopy the question word for word
    • DList your main ideas as bullet points
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    Answer: B. Sum up your main points and your position

    A conclusion briefly sums up your main ideas and your opinion. New arguments belong in the body, and bullet points are not allowed.

16. Question 16 of 16

    The question says: "Many people now shop online rather than in town centres." Which sentence is the best paraphrase for your introduction?

    • ANobody goes to town centres any more, because everybody prefers to buy everything online.
    • BA growing number of people buy goods on the internet instead of visiting local high streets.
    • COnline games and social media are becoming more and more popular with young people these days.
    • DMany people now shop online rather than in town centres.
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    Answer: B. A growing number of people buy goods on the internet instead of visiting local high streets.

    A good paraphrase keeps the meaning but uses your own words. Copying the question does not show your vocabulary, and the other options change the meaning.

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