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IELTS Writing Task 2: How to write a good conclusion

The conclusion is an important part of your IELTS Writing Task 2 response. A good conclusion is not just a summary of information presented in your essay, but also helps emphasise the importance of the main points or opinions in your essay and gives the reader a sense of closure.

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When writing a conclusion (closing paragraph) in Writing Task 2, there are a few things that you should do (or avoid) in order to make your conclusion a more effective one. Knowing what to include or avoid in your closing paragraph can help you get a higher band score in IELTS Writing. So, let’s look at some tips you can practice and implement in your response.  

Tip 1: Refer back to your introductory paragraph

You may want to think of your introduction and conclusion as two pieces of the same puzzle because they should be closely linked. Make sure you: 

Return to the idea(s) that you presented in your introduction  

And add further insight obtained after writing the body of your essay. 

Tip 2: Summarise your essay’s main arguments

It is very important to provide a summary of your essay’s main points in your conclusion. But make sure you avoid repeating things. Instead, show the examiner how the arguments you made and the supporting details you used all fit together. 

Tip 3: Avoid repetition

When summarising the main points in your essay, don’t repeat the language you use in your body paragraphs. Vary your language so that you don’t repeat the same words and sentence structures again and again. This will show the examiner that you can use a wider range of vocabulary and grammatical structures. 

Tip 4: Give your own opinion

In Writing Task 2, you will always be asked to give your opinion in essay form. If you get to your final paragraph and realise that you haven’t given your opinion, make sure you include it in your conclusion so your opinion is clear. 

Tip 5: Don’t introduce a new argument

Make sure you do not raise new points in your conclusion. Remember that your closing paragraph is where you bring closure to your essay and not where you introduce new ideas. 

How to put these tips into action

Now that we have looked at strategies for writing an effective conclusion, let’s see how these strategies work together to bring an essay to a cohesive end. 

Take a look at the sample question, sample introductory paragraph and conclusion below. And see how this test taker has put the 5 tips mentioned into action to write a cohesive conclusion.

Example - Writing Task 2 question

The threat of nuclear weapons maintains world peace. Nuclear power provides cheap and clean energy. 

The benefits of nuclear technology far outweigh the disadvantages. 

To what extent do you agree or disagree?  

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.  

Write at least 250 words. 

Writing Task 2: Sample introduction

Nuclear technology has been around for many years. Whether this technology is used for weapons of mass destruction or as a source of energy, many are of the belief that the use of nuclear energy has more advantages than disadvantages. In my opinion, nuclear technology can indeed be a very efficient energy source. However, nuclear weapons possess such enormous destructive power that any benefits that this technology may offer to humankind are not enough to counter its potentially devastating effects. This essay will address why the drawbacks of nuclear technology outweigh the benefits and will include relevant examples to support this position. 

Writing Task 2: Sample conclusion

Nuclear technology is extremely dangerous. Even though nuclear weapons have only been used twice, on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, evidence from these actions, as well as from nuclear accidents such as the Chernobyl disaster, are irrefutable proof of the disastrous effects of nuclear technology. Even in the absence of nuclear accidents, nuclear power inevitably produces radioactive waste, which is severely damaging to our bodies. Our best protection against these dangers is to simply not use nuclear technology. Instead, we should look for alternative ways to produce sustainable energy and to achieve world peace through spreading a message of tolerance, kindness and non-violence. 

If you review the main points in the example conclusion above: 

The destructive power of nuclear weapons 

The disastrous consequences of nuclear disasters 

The harmful effects of radioactive waste. 

You will see the writer reminds the examiner (reader) the strength and importance of their main ideas, while summarising how this point fit well with the examples provided in the body of the essay.  

To finish, you can see the writer highlights their proposed course of action, which helps end the essay on a more positive note.

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IELTS Charlie

Your Guide to IELTS Band 7

Writing The Conclusion To Your Essay: Tips, Examples and Problems

In this lesson, you’re going to learn how to write the kind of conclusion you see in essays that get a high band score . You will also get some tips for writing conclusions, some examples , and the common problems with conclusions that you need to avoid.

What is the Conclusion?

The conclusion, or concluding paragraph, is not simply the last paragraph of your essay.

A good conclusion should do 2 things:

• remind your reader of your answer(s) to the essay question(s)
• refer to the main reasons for your answer(s)

For most IELTS essay questions, you can do this in just one or two sentences.

Having a conclusion is really important! If you don’t have a conclusion , then your band score for Task Response will be limited to Band 5 at best.

Look at this task:

In the future, nobody will buy printed newspapers or books because they will be able to read everything they want online without paying. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

(Cambridge IELTS 15 Academic Test 2)

Let’s say I strongly agree with this statement. That’s my answer to the essay question. That needs to go into the conclusion.

And I must also remind my reader (the IELTS Examiner!) of the reasons for my view. Let’s say I agree with the statement because: (1) it’s more convenient to get information online when compared to printed materials, and (2) books and newspapers are quite expensive.

So here is one possible conclusion to my essay:

“In conclusion, I strongly believe that everyone in the future will get all their information online for free because reading information online via phones and tablets is so much easier than through bulky books and newspapers, and also because books and newspapers are quite expensive.”

In the above conclusion, I presented my answer to the essay question, and I reminded my reader of the reasons for my view.

Tips for Writing the Conclusion

• restate your answer to the essay question
• summarise your main ideas from the body paragraphs
• 1-2 sentences is usually sufficient, but will probably be longer in a ‘Discuss Both Views’ essay.

Here are 2 more examples of good conclusions.

“In the future, more people will choose to go on holiday in their own country and not travel abroad on holiday. Do you agree or disagree?”

(Cambridge IELTS 15 General Training Test 3)

My answer. Let’s say I broadly agree with the statement, but that I think it depends on where holidaymakers live. (That is my answer to the essay question.)

My reasons. Why do I think this? Here are my main reasons:

• domestic holidays can be cheaper
• overseas travel can be inconvenient
• it depends where people live because people in cold countries want to go to warm ones.

So my conclusion can go like this:

“In conclusion, I feel that people will be more likely to take holidays in their own country because they are generally cheaper and more convenient than foreign holidays. However, it does depend, to an extent, on where people live, as people living in countries with cold climates will continue to want to take holidays somewhere warm.”

I’ve restated my opinion (my answer to the question), and I’ve also referred to my main ideas from the body paragraphs. You will also see that my conclusion is only 2 sentences long.

The concluding paragraph of Discuss Both Views question needs to be a little different.

“Some people say History is one of the most important school subjects. Other people think that, in today’s world, subjects like Science and Technology are more important than History. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.”

(Cambridge IELTS 13 Test 3 – Academic)

For most IELTS questions, you just need to restate your answer along with your main reasons / main ideas. But with Discuss Both Views essays you also need to present your own opinion . You can present your own opinion in a separate paragraph, but you can also include your opinion in the concluding paragraph .

In a Discuss Both Views essay, you would normally discuss the first view in Body Paragraph 1, and the second view in Body Paragraph 2.

In the conclusion, I’m going to say what I think: I think that history is an important subject, but because teaching time is limited, science and technology should be prioritised because of the need to teach job skills.

“In conclusion, there are clearly convincing arguments for both views. However, personally, I believe that while history is very important and should never be omitted entirely from the curriculum, there are only a limited number of teaching hours available, and for this reason, science and technology should be prioritised. After all, it is essential to provide young people with the technological and scientific skills and knowledge needed for life and work in the modern world.”

This paragraph refers very briefly to the 2 different views in the body paragraphs:

“There are clearly convincing arguments for both views…”

Before going on to present my own opinion.

Many people find it difficult to give their own opinion in a Discuss Both Views essay. They often agree strongly with one side, but that’s not always the best option, especially if you are aiming for a high band score. So here a couple of tips for Discuss Both Views essays.

Tip #1: Point out the weaknesses of the view you disagree with

I think one good way of presenting your opinion in a concluding paragraph is to point out the weaknesses in the view that you disagree with.

In the conclusion above, I’ve pointed out that I think history is important, but you have to prioritise science and technology because teaching time is limited.

Tip #2: Say what you REALLY think

My opinion for this essay is what I REALLY think. I’ve not made up my opinion! And because it’s actually my opinion, it’s much easier to explain.

Conclusions: Common Problems

If you are aiming for a high band score, you need to avoid the following common problems

Problem #1: Inconsistent Position

An inconsistent position is when your position seems to change during your essay . This is sometimes because your view in the conclusion seems to be different from your view in the introduction. For example, in your introduction you might write: “ I strongly agree ,” but in the conclusion, you write things that suggest you only “ partly agree ” or even “ disagree .”

An inconsistent position will probably limit your band score for both Task Response and Coherence and Cohesion to Band 5 or Band 6.

Solution : an inconsistent position is usually the result of bad planning , so make sure you plan your essay before you start writing.

Problem #2: Presenting New Ideas in the Conclusion

A second common problem is presenting new ideas in the conclusion , such as new reasons for your view.

You should present the reasons / main ideas (eg advantages or reasons for a view) in the body paragraphs.  The conclusion is not the place for new ideas.

I think this problem happens because test takers suddenly think of great new ideas while writing the conclusion.

Solution: Again, this problem can usually be avoided with good planning before you start writing.

Problem #3: Long Conclusion

I often see conclusions that are simply too long. Remember, you only need to present your answer(s) and reasons again, briefly. You can do this in 1-2 sentences. The only reason for writing more than 2 sentences is if you are presenting your own opinion in a Discuss Both Views essay.

Solution: keep the conclusion short and concise.

Problem #4: Unclear Conclusion

If your conclusions are unclear, then Task Response is going to be limited to Band 6. Make sure you write a clear conclusion, clearly present your explicit answer along with your main reasons.

Problem #5: No Conclusion

If there’s no conclusion – in other words, if you do not present your explicit answer to the essay question – then Task Response will be limited to Band 5 at best.

A conclusion in Task 2 is a little bit like the overview paragraph in Task 1. So, if you don’t have a conclusion (or an overview in Task 1), it’s going to keep your band score down.

Problem #6: Unnatural / Informal Transition Signals

I often see unnatural / informal transition signals at the start of conclusions, for example:

• “to recapitulate”
• “in conclusion, in my opinion.” (either write “in conclusion” OR “in my opinion”, but NOT both!)
• “to bring it all together”

A simple “in conclusion” is all you need at the start of your conclusion.

Key Points To Remember

• present your answer to the essay question(s) in the conclusion, along with brief reference to the reasons for your answer
• keep it short: 1-2 sentences is usually enough
• in a Discuss Both Views essay, you can present your own view in the conclusion
• in a Discuss Both Views essay, point out the weaknesses in the view you disagree with in the conclusion
• do not present new ideas in the conclusion
• use “in conclusion” at the start of your conclusion

I hope that helps! Good luck with your IELTS preparation.

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About the author

Charlie is a former IELTS Examiner with 25 years' teaching experience all over the world. His courses, for both English language learners and teachers, have been taken by over 100,000 students in over 160 countries around the world.

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Discover the 7 STEPS to BAND 7 in IELTS Writing Task 2

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How to Write a Perfect Conclusion in IELTS Essay

Hey there, aspiring IELTS candidates! One of the most critical parts of your IELTS Writing Task 2 essay is the conclusion paragraph. Yes, you heard that right—the final impression you leave can make or break your score. So, how do you craft an IELTS essay conclusion that not only summarizes your points but also leaves the examiner impressed? That’s exactly what we’ll dive into today. And if you're looking for more comprehensive guidance, don't forget to check out our eBooks covering all IELTS modules, including the nitty-gritty of essay writing.

Importance of a Great Conclusion in IELTS Task 2 Essay

If you're thinking that writing a conclusion paragraph in an IELTS essay is all about just a wrap-up and not much else, think again! Here’s why you should pour an equal amount of attention into your conclusion as you do into your introduction and body paragraphs:

The Ultimate Lasting Impression

When you’re striving for that elusive band 9 score, the way you conclude your essay is your final pitch, your last opportunity to persuade the examiner of your argument's validity. While you've had the entirety of the essay to showcase your analytical prowess and command of the English language, this is where you seal the deal. Crafting a well-thought-out conclusion not only ties up all your points in a neat bow but also shows that you're adept at summarizing complex ideas concisely—a skill that IELTS examiners highly value.

The Key to Coherence and Cohesion

A well-crafted conclusion serves as the anchor that ties together the entire landscape of your argument. It ensures that your essay doesn’t just ramble on, but builds up to a convincing, logical finale. By summarizing your main points and restating your thesis in a fresh way, you’re demonstrating excellent cohesion—a vital aspect that can substantially improve your IELTS writing band score. And trust us, you don't want to lose precious points for lacking coherence; it's like building a complex puzzle and then failing to put in the final piece.

Your Secret Weapon for a High Band Score

You might be surprised how many people underestimate the conclusion and miss out on its band score-boosting potential. Think of it as the cherry on top of your IELTS essay sundae. It might be a small part, but it can massively affect the overall taste—err, we mean, score! By restating your thesis, summarizing your arguments, and providing a thoughtful final insight, you're showcasing the kind of task response and analytical depth that examiners are looking for.

By the way, if all this talk of thesis statements, coherence, and cohesion feels overwhelming, you're not alone. We offer a tailored IELTS Essay Correction Service , complete with detailed insights and a band 9 sample response. It's almost like having an IELTS examiner walk you through your mistakes and guide you towards perfection. If you're committed to nailing every aspect of the IELTS essay, including the all-important conclusion, then our in-depth eBooks and essay correction services can be your go-to resources.

The Sample Question

Let’s take a real-life sample question from a past IELTS exam to demonstrate:

Question: “In some countries, the number of people choosing to live by themselves is increasing rapidly. What are the causes of this trend, and what are its potential effects?”

The Elements of a High Band IELTS Essay Conclusion

1. restate the thesis.

Your thesis statement isn't just the opening act; it's the foundational element that orchestrates your entire essay. This concise but impactful sentence sets the tone, lays out your central argument, and guides the reader through the labyrinth of your ideas. Therefore, when crafting the conclusion for your IELTS Task 2 essay, it's crucial to circle back and rephrase this pivotal statement in a fresh and engaging manner.

For instance:

Original Thesis Statement: " The escalating trend towards living alone is predominantly fueled by a thirst for independence and evolving societal landscapes."

Restated Thesis: " The growing trend of solo living stems from deeper societal shifts like the desire for personal freedom and evolving norms."

Notice the word choice and phrasing here? It's not a mere repetition but a thoughtful reiteration that casts your original thesis in a new light. This strategy not only rejuvenates your conclusion but also shows the examiner your lexical resourcefulness—a significant criteria in boosting your band score.

Now, if you're scratching your head wondering how to ingeniously rephrase your thesis or if you're stuck navigating the maze of essay writing, our IELTS Essay Correction Service could be your guiding star. With detailed feedback from seasoned examiners, you'll understand precisely what aspects need refining.

The nuances involved in rephrasing a thesis are often underestimated. Our comprehensive eBooks delve deeper into this topic, offering step-by-step guidance and examples that help you grasp the subtleties of constructing and rephrasing thesis statements for a higher IELTS band score. All of these invaluable insights are smoothly integrated within the content, enabling you to optimize your preparation for the IELTS Writing Task 2.

2. Summarize the Main Points

As you navigate the final stage of your IELTS Writing Task 2 essay, summarizing your main points becomes a critical exercise in clarity and concision. This is not the section for elaborate explanations; rather, it's where you distill your arguments into their purest form, creating a cohesive snapshot that reinforces your thesis.

Summary: "While this brings emotional liberation, it also poses challenges such as social isolation and financial strain.”

Notice how this summary not only encapsulates your points but also ties them back to your restated thesis? It's an essential IELTS strategy for amplifying your band score in both Task Response and Coherence/Cohesion.

If summarizing your arguments effectively feels like trying to capture smoke, our Essay Correction Service is here to guide you. Our examiners will pinpoint areas for improvement, helping you refine your summarization skills—and they'll do so with the level of detail that can illuminate the path to a higher band score.

Furthermore, for those of you yearning for a comprehensive breakdown on how to concisely yet powerfully summarize your arguments, our well-curated eBooks are packed with actionable advice and real-world examples. These invaluable resources seamlessly weave into your IELTS preparation journey, enriching your essay-writing skills from the ground up.

3. Provide Implications or Recommendations

To finish your IELTS essay with finesse, you'll want to discuss the broader implications or possible recommendations stemming from your arguments. This shows the examiner that you're not only aware of your topic's importance but also engaged in pondering its future ramifications—a crucial aspect that examiners value.

Implications: “Swift societal changes, like improved mental health support and economic adjustments, are vital.”

These implications not only wrap up your essay but also resonate with broader societal issues, showcasing your understanding of the topic's complexity. Discussing them adds a layer of sophistication to your essay that could be the ticket to achieving a higher IELTS band score.

Should you feel uncertain about weaving implications or recommendations effectively into your conclusion, remember our Essay Correction Service is always available to offer deep insights and actionable feedback, helping you craft essays that meet or even exceed IELTS standards.

For those looking to take a deep dive into the art of impactful essay conclusions, our enriching eBooks offer step-by-step strategies and examples, making it easier for you to articulate your thoughts in the most compelling way possible. These resources naturally complement your IELTS preparation, filling in the gaps that general study might miss.

Remember, addressing the implications or recommendations doesn't just offer closure; it opens a door to a deeper level of understanding and discussion, amplifying your essay's impact and your potential band score.

4. Write the Final Sentence

As the curtain draws on your IELTS Writing Task 2 essay, the final sentence serves as the encore—a chance to leave a lasting impression on your audience, in this case, the IELTS examiner. This concluding line should encapsulate your thesis, summarize your main points, and resonate with the reader, all while exuding a sense of completeness.

Final Sentence: "As society evolves, proactively addressing these issues becomes crucial for collective well-being."

See how this sentence harmonizes your restated thesis and summary, creating a powerful coda that reverberates long after the examiner has finished reading? Crafting such a compelling final statement is a nuanced skill, one that can accentuate your band score by encapsulating Task Response, Coherence, and Cohesion in a single sentence.

If you find yourself grappling with the intricacies of forming such an impactful final sentence, our Essay Correction Service can offer nuanced feedback that will pinpoint exactly what you need to refine. The depth of our analysis could be the catalyst you need to ascend to higher band scores.

Moreover, for those who seek an in-depth understanding of how to tie up all the loose ends and craft a captivating conclusion, our comprehensive eBooks delve into this subject with actionable insights, offering you the keys to master this essential component of IELTS essay writing.

In sum, a well-crafted final sentence isn't just an end; it's the echo that resounds in the examiner's mind, reinforcing the strength and depth of your arguments. By mastering this crucial aspect, you don't just complete your essay—you elevate it.

IELTS Essay Conclusion: Detailed Breakdown

Combining all the elements, your conclusion for the sample question might look like this:

"In summary, the growing trend of solo living stems from deeper societal shifts like the desire for personal freedom and evolving norms. While this brings emotional liberation, it also poses challenges such as social isolation and financial strain. Swift societal changes, like improved mental health support and economic adjustments, are vital. As society evolves, proactively addressing these issues becomes crucial for collective well-being."

Let's break down how the revised, concise conclusion fulfills the essential elements for crafting a stellar IELTS conclusion as discussed earlier.

Skillfully Restated the Thesis:

"In summary, the growing trend of solo living stems from deeper societal shifts like the desire for personal freedom and evolving norms."

This sentence restates the thesis that the increase in solo living is driven by a quest for personal freedom and social changes, effectively recapping the essay's main argument.

Concisely Summarized the Main Points:

"While this brings emotional liberation, it also poses challenges such as social isolation and financial strain."

This sentence serves as a brief recap of the main points (let’s say we’ve discussed throughout the essay) highlighting both the positive and negative aspects of the trend toward solo living.

Provided Implications or Recommendations:

"Swift societal changes, like improved mental health support and economic adjustments, are vital."

Here, we outline the implications of the growing trend and recommend actionable steps, focusing on the need for societal adaptations such as better mental health services and financial policy adjustments.

Crafted a Memorable Final Sentence:

"As society evolves, proactively addressing these issues becomes crucial for collective well-being."

This sentence serves as a compelling closer, emphasizing the ongoing relevance and urgency of the subject matter.

Incorporated within this concise paragraph are all the key elements that contribute to a high-scoring IELTS essay conclusion. Mastering the art of concluding your IELTS essay can elevate your writing from good to exceptional. And remember, practice makes perfect. You can find extensively detailed guidance in our eBooks, and examiner’s reviews in our Essay Correction Service where we provide in-depth feedback along with a band 9 sample response to set you on the path to success. Happy writing!

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IELTS Writing Task 2 Essay Structures

The four most common IELTS writing Task 2 questions are: Opinion, Advantages and Disadvantages, Problem and Solution Discussion

IELTS Task 2 Essay Structures

Knowing how to structure your IELTS Writing Task 2 essay is an essential skill that can make the difference between getting and not getting the band score you deserve. With that in mind, we have outlined the most common IELTS Writing Task 2 structures below.

Nearly all of my Task 2 essays follow this basic structure: The sentences you put in each paragraph will depend on what type of question you get.

The five most common IELTS Writing Task 2 questions are:

• Opinion (Agree or Disagree)
• Advantages and Disadvantages
• Problem and Solution
• Discussion (Discuss both views)
• Two-part Question

Below I will outline examples and a structure approved by experienced IELTS teachers and examiners for each type of question. This will help you write a clear, coherent answer and hopefully boost your IELTS band score. I also include an example answer for each type of question so you can see the structure in a real essay.

Please note that these are general structures and may vary slightly depending on the question.

Please also note that no ‘one’ Task 2 essay structure will get you a high score. There are many types of structures that can get you a high score. These are just some I think are effective and easy to learn. 

Please visit the lessons below for more detailed guidance on each type of question. I have provided a link at the end of each section.

Opinion Questions (Agree or Disagree) 

Typical Question Words –

What is your opinion?

Do you agree or disagree?

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Direct question.

Example Question –

Some people believe that unpaid community service should be compulsory in high school programmes (for example, working for a charity, improving the neighbourhood or teaching sports to younger children).

Essay Structure 

Introduction 

1- Paraphrase Question

2- Give your opinion and outline the main ideas.

Main Body Paragraph 1 

1- Topic Sentence

2- Explain Topic Sentence

Main Body Paragraph 2

Conclusion 

1- Summary of main points and opinion

Student Sample Answer

It is argued that volunteering should be made part of the school curriculum. This essay agrees with that suggestion completely because it help pupils develop soft skills and helps them gain much-needed work experience.

Education should not be limited to strictly academic pursuits, and those in education should also develop life skills, such as teamwork, empathy and self-discipline, and one of the best ways to hone these aptitudes is through community service. Serving those less fortunate than ourselves teaches us many lessons, including how to work with people from other backgrounds and the value of hard work, thus enabling us to hone these skills before becoming an adult. For example, many young people from wealthier countries take a gap year and help those less fortunate than themselves to increase their gratitude for what they have and improve their work ethic.

Many colleges and companies are also increasingly looking for this type of experience. Most school leavers have the same grades, and charitable work can help set you apart from other students when making college applications. For example, Cambridge and Oxford receive thousands of applications from straight-A students yearly and can only accept a small percentage of applicants. What you have done outside the classroom often differentiates you from everyone else and gets you that coveted spot.

In conclusion, teenagers should be made to partake in unpaid work as part of their schooling because it will help them learn things they wouldn’t ordinarily learn from their teachers, and it will also boost their chances of getting into third-level education.

For more detail on how to answer agree or disagree questions, please visit our opinion essay lesson . 

Need help writing essays like this? Check out our ESSAY CORRECTION SERVICE .

Advantages and Disadvantages Questions

Typical Question Words 

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages.

What are the advantages and disadvantages?

Example Question

Technology is being used more and more in education.

Essay Structure

2- Outline Main Points

Main Body Paragraph 1

1- State Two Advantages

2- Expand/Explain First Advantage

3- Expand/Explain Second Advantage

1- State Two Disadvantages

2- Expand/Explain First Disadvantage

3- Expand/Explain Second Disadvantage

1- Summary of Main Points

Student Sample Answer 

It is argued that technology plays an ever-increasing role in schools and universities. Increased access to information and student freedom are the main advantages, whereas dependency on technology and decreasing levels of face-to-face contact are the main disadvantages.

Access to more information and student autonomy are the principal advantages of increasing the use of electronic devices in education. With the internet, students can access all the information available about any topic, regardless of what books and other resources are available in the school. Furthermore, students can focus on whatever topic or subject they want and study it in depth. A prime example of this is the number of online university courses available to students, covering a myriad of subjects that, up until recently, were unavailable to most learners. This has resulted in more people studying third-level degrees than ever before at a pace and schedule that suits them.

The main disadvantages associated with the increasing use of technology in education are the dependency on this technology and the decrease in face-to-face interaction between students. With many students now using the internet as their primary source of information, they often struggle to use other academic resources to find what they’re looking for. As well as this, students spend more time looking at computer screens by themselves than interacting with each other, which is thought to lead to lower levels of emotional intelligence. For instance, the recent explosion in smartphone use has been at the expense of genuine human interaction. This results in soft skills, such as verbal communication and empathy, being affected.

In conclusion, the benefits technology brings to education, such as unrestricted access to information and student autonomy, must be weighed against the drawbacks, such as dependency on this technology and the negative effects on human interaction.

For more detail on how to answer advantage and disadvantage questions, please visit our  advantage and disadvantage lesson . 

Discuss Both Views Question (Discussion Essay)  

Discuss both points of view and give your opinion.

Example Question 

Technology is being used more and more in education. Some people say that this is a positive trend, while others argue that it is leading to negative consequences.

Discuss both sides of this argument and then give your own opinion.

1- Paraphrase Question and/or state both viewpoints.

2- Thesis Statement

3- Outline Sentence

1- State first viewpoint

2- Discuss first viewpoint

3- Reason why you agree or disagree with viewpoint

4- Example to support your view

1- State second viewpoint

2- Discuss second viewpoint

Sentence 1- Summary

Sentence 2- State which one is better or more important

There is an ever-increasing use of technology, such as tablets and laptops, in the classroom. It is often argued that this is a positive development, whilst others disagree and think it will lead to adverse ramifications. This essay agrees that an increase in technology is beneficial to students and teachers.

The Internet has provided students with access to more information than ever before. This has allowed learners to research and learn about any subject at the touch of a button. It is therefore agreed that technology is a very worthwhile tool for education. Wikipedia is a prime example, where students can type in any keyword and gain access to in-depth knowledge quickly and easily.

However, many disagree and feel that technology deprives people of real human interaction. Human interaction teaches people valuable skills such as discourse, debate and empathy. Without these soft skills, many people find it difficult to become successful in work and their personal lives. Despite this, human interaction is still possible through the internet, and this essay disagrees that technology should be dismissed for this reason. For instance, Skype and Facebook allow people to interact in ways that were never before possible.

While the benefits of technology, particularly the internet, allow students to tap into limitless sources of information, some still feel that people should be wary of this new phenomenon and not allow it to curb face-to-face interaction. However, as long as we carefully consider the importance of human interaction in education, the educational benefits are clearly positive.

For more detail on how to answer discussion questions please visit our  discussion essay lesson . 

Problem and Solution Questions

Problem and solution.

Cause and solution.

Students are becoming more and more reliant on technology.

What are some of the problems associated with reliance on computers, and what are some of the possible solutions?

2- Outline Sentence

1- State Problems

2- Explain First Problem

3- Explain Second Problem

4- Example of Second Problem

1- State Solutions

2- Explain First Solution

3- Explain Second Solution

4- Example of Second Solution

Learners are becoming increasingly dependent on technology, such as the Internet and mobile devices. This essay believes the main problems associated with dependence on computers are the lack of original thought and copying original work from others and suggests critical thinking classes and writing analysis software as the most viable solutions.

The principal problems with over-reliance on technology are people being unable to think for themselves and plagiarism. With access to so much information, students often rely on other people’s opinions instead of forming their own. As well as this, they often use search engines to answer a question and copy the text from a website rather than thinking about the question. This practice is prohibited in schools and universities and stunts students’ intellectual development because they will never truly think for themselves, which is what university is supposed to be for. For example, many teachers complain that students copy web pages straight from Wikipedia word for word rather than giving a reasoned answer to their questions.

Solutions to these worrying problems are special classes to focus on critical thinking and teachers using anti-plagiarism software to detect copying. If teachers create situations where students have to infer meaning and express opinions based on a small amount of information, this will ensure that students have an opportunity to develop these skills. Also, if students know that their assignments are being checked for plagiarism, this will be enough to deter them from doing so. For instance, many universities already use this kind of software to scan coursework for plagiarism, and it could be extended to include all homework by learners in both secondary and tertiary education.

In conclusion, the main problems with the overuse of technology in education are the lack of original thought and plagiarism. These can be solved through special classes that teach students analytical skills and plagiarism detection software.

For more detail on how to answer problem and solution questions please visit our  problem and solution lesson . 

Two-Part Questions

There will normally be a statement, and they will then ask you to answer separate questions.

As most people spend a major part of their adult life at work, job satisfaction is an important element of individual wellbeing.

What factor contributes to job satisfaction?

How realistic is the expectation of job satisfaction for all workers?

2- Outline Sentence (mention both questions)

1- Answer first question directly

2- Explain why

3- Further explain

1- Answer second question directly

As most adults spend most of their time at work, being content with your career is a crucial part of a person’s health and happiness. This essay will first suggest fair pay as a key element leading to job satisfaction, and it will then state that it is not very likely that everyone can be happy with their job.

The most important thing that satisfies someone at work is being compensated fairly. If those more senior than you respect you as a person and the job you are doing, then you feel like you are valued. A fair salary and benefits are important marks of respect, and if you feel you are being underpaid, you will either resent your bosses or look for another job. These two factors came top of a recent job satisfaction survey conducted by Monster.com, which found that 72% of people were pleased with their current role if their superiors regularly told them they were appreciated.

With regard to the question of happiness for all workers, I think this is and always will be highly unlikely. The vast majority of people fail to reach their goals and end up working in a post they don’t really care about in return for a salary. This money is just enough to pay their living expenses which often means they are trapped in a cycle of disenchantment. For example, The Times recently reported that 89% of office workers would leave their jobs if they did not need the money.

In conclusion, being satisfied with your trade or profession is an important part of one’s well-being, and respect from one’s colleagues and fair pay can improve your level of happiness; however, job satisfaction for all workers is an unrealistic prospect.

Can I get a band 8 or 9 following these structures? 

Nobody can give you a Task 2 IELTS structure that guarantees high scores. Your score is dependent on how good your grammar and vocabulary are and how well you answer the question. A good structure will help you answer the question to some extent and boost your score for coherence and cohesion, but you must use relevant ideas and use these ideas well to answer the question.

You can see how my student scored a Band 8.5 in IELTS Writing here:

Next Steps 

We hope you found those IELTS Writing Task 2 structures useful. Looking for some more sample questions? Here are over 100 sample questions from past exam papers.

If you would personalised feedback and guidance until you get the score you need, you can join the Waiting List for my VIP Course here.

About Christopher Pell

My name is Christopher Pell and I'm the Managing Director of IELTS Advantage.

I started IELTS Advantage as a simple blog to help 16 students in my class. Several years later, I am very humbled that my VIP Course has been able to help thousands of people around the world to score a Band 7+ in their IELTS tests.

If you need my help with your IELTS preparation, you can send me an email using the contact us page.

How to write an effective IELTS conclusion

A guide to writing a good conclusion for an ielts essay..

Updated:  April 2024

The conclusion is very important in an IELTS essay because if you do not write one you could lose a whole band score in task response.

Conclusions are pretty easy to write. You just need to rephrase your main points and restate your opinion. One way to do this is to paraphrase the thesis statement again. No new information should be added to the conclusion and it must be concise and to the point. Do not copy your thesis statement word for word either, do not repeat whole sentences or it will lower your score. Work on paraphrasing your thesis statement from the introduction.

If you prefer, you can watch the video below.

5 key points when writing a conclusion.

1. Do not add new information to the conclusion . Any new ideas or main points should be covered in the main body paragraphs.

2. You can re-paraphrase the thesis statement from the introduction. This will show that you have a good understanding of vocabulary and it will leave a good impression on the examiner. Just remember that it is not necessary to paraphrase everything.

3. Do not go into too much detail, conclusions should only be about 2 or 3 sentences long. Keep it short and concise.

4. You need to use a cohesive device when starting the conclusion. There are 3 choices below.

To sum up To conclude In conclusion

Do not to use informal cohesive devices to start the conclusion such as these listed below. They are just too informal or inappropriate in the conclusion.

I reckon  (informal)

In the end  (informal), all in all     (informal), generally speaking    (too vague for a conclusion), finally    (this means you are making another final point), lastly   (this means you have a last point to make), all things considered   (informal).

5. Do not use memorised ‘stock sentences’ in an IELTS essay. I sometimes see these in my students essays. This is because of bad advice being given on the internet. These kinds of memorised sentences are not necessary and may affect your score. See below:

In conclusion, I firmly agree with the aforementioned statement….

To conclude, as stated above, i think…., to sum up, i wholeheartedly agree with the above mentioned points in this essay…, to reiterate, according to the aforementioned points…., taking my above views into consideration…., in a nutshell…, the crux of the matter is…, as outlined above…..

Click here to see a lesson on memorised or cliched phrases I often see in IELTS essays

How can you tell if it’s a good conclusion?

If you were to just read the conclusion only and not the essay, then you should be able to get a very good idea of what the essay was about without even reading the main body paragraphs. It should re-paraphrase your thesis statement and briefly summarise your main points. Let’s see some examples.

Some people prefer to spend their lives doing the same things and avoiding change, whereas others think that change is always a good thing. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Introduction:

Many individuals would rather go through life staying the same, while other people like the idea of facing new challenges. This essay agrees that change is beneficial to our lives because we can expand our worldview and gain new experiences.

Red = Paraphrased task question     Blue = thesis statement

Conclusion:

To conclude, although some prefer to shy away from new ideas because they feel comfortable with routines, I believe that change is advantageous for developing an open mind and experiencing new things.

Green = cohesive device   Red = re-paraphrased background statement from the introduction
   Blue = thesis statement paraphrased again.

A more concise conclusion:

In a discussion essay, you can use a much more concise and direct conclusion that briefly refers to the differing views and a restated opinion.

To sum up, despite differing views on whether change is beneficial, I think that change is important for developing an open mind and experiencing new things.

Green = cohesive device   Red = referring to the different views    Blue = opinion restated

As you can see there is a lot of paraphrasing going on here. This is the key to getting a good band score in vocabulary and task response. Paraphrasing needs a lot of practice and it must be done right.

One of the major problems facing the world today is the growing number of refugees. Some say developed nations of the world should tackle this problem by taking in more refugees. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

A major global issue recently is the increasing amount of refugees. Some believe that developed countries ought to deal with this by accepting more refugees. I hold the view that developed nations should not take in more refugees as it puts a burden on the welfare state and causes unease among local communities.

Red = Paraphrased task question    Blue = thesis statement

In conclusion, although there are people who feel that developed nations must allow additional refugees to enter their countries, I do not agree, as this would put extra pressure on social systems and could create resentments in local neighbourhoods.

Green = cohesive device    Red = re-paraphrased the background statement from the introduction     Blue = thesis statement paraphrased again.

I kept the keyword ‘refugees’ I could use ‘asylum seekers’ but there is a slight difference in meaning so I didn’t change it. Remember: you don’t have to paraphrase everything. Be careful of synonyms as sometimes they carry a different meaning.

Key points:

If your conclusion is too long it could become irrelevant and lose marks. I advise a word count of under 45 words or 3 sentences in a conclusion. (this is just my rule to keep you on track)

You do not have to be an expert on the topic to write about it, the IELTS exam is not a general knowledge test. You do not have to personally agree or disagree, just give an opinion.

The whole point of giving your opinion and giving specific examples is to show the examiner how well you have understood the question, that you can paraphrase, explain and support your ideas. Use grammar and vocabulary accurately. In the conclusion you need to summarise and be concise.

I advise practicing as much as possible with paraphrasing introductions, thesis statements and conclusions. On this blog there are more articles on thesis statements and practice for paraphrasing.

Any questions?  leave a comment below.

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How to write an IELTS essay conclusion

Home  »  IELTS academic task 2 » How to write an IELTS essay conclusion

• State your opinion in a crystal clear way. Usually, you express it in one short sentence. This way your essay will have a good finish. It becomes succinct and your thoughts are condensed. This will definitely help to get a high score for your essay.
• Put a small prediction in your conclusion. For example: “It is predicted that the trend of global warming will continue long into the future unless governments take decisive action”. Or: “It is predicted that parents and children will continue to use electronic devices to communicate and this can only strengthen their bonds”.
• Keep an eye on your grammar accuracy and the range of the grammar structures and vocabulary you use. These aspects also considerably increase your chances for getting a high score.

What not to include in your IELTS essay conclusion!

• New arguments. If there are any arguments that pop up in your head while writing conclusion, ignore them. You should have control over your mind and stay focused. This is the way to a successful conclusion.
• New evidence for the arguments. This point corresponds with the previous one.
• Repetitions . Try to avoid saying what you’ve already mentioned. This refers to the logic used as well as evidence and arguments that were pointed out. Your range of words in the language should also help you avoid word repetitions. Also, sometimes by looking for synonyms you can make the conclusion sound over complicated and confusing to the reader. Do not try to find a synonym if it simply doesn’t exists.

- - Examples of conclusions

Let’s have a look at the following two examples of conclusions . Say, you are dealing with the essay on positive and negative aspects of globalization and you have to introduce your opinion.

You write about the positive effects of it (nowadays there are more ideas, the spread of which leads to the spread of language). You also give examples from different countries.

Possible conclusion №1.

“It is necessary to spread ideas, language as well as culture. It will also start to be more tolerated in the future as it becomes more common. In the future , I sincerely hope , the governments will take effective measures to improve the progress of globalization”.

Why does the conclusion sound a bit incohesive and unconvincing? Pay attention to the following points:

• “ It will also start to be more tolerated in the future...” Of course, you are writing about globalization, but the pronoun “it” makes it unclear. You force the reader to make assumptions, creating a strain for a reader, since they have to determine what you’re saying.
• There is a repetition of the phrase “in the future”.
• The phrase “I sincerely hope...” sounds like “I think it is...”. The following is better in terms of how convinced the author is: “I strongly believe...”, “Therefore, I am convinced that globalization is a necessary form to...”.
• There are no new arguments mentioned - it’s good.
• Even though there are two sentences about the future, they are quite weak. The author could have made at least one of them stronger.

Possible conclusion №2.

“ In conclusion , globalization is, undoubtedly , a positive driver in disseminating ideas, language and culture. It is predicted governments will enact further measures to facilitate its progress”.

• Actually, the conclusion is quite successful and convincing. Probably, there is no need to say “In conclusion”. The position is crystal clear since it is stated that it is “a positive driver”. There is no ambiguity that this is an opinion.
• There is new information that was not included earlier, in the body paragraphs: “It is predicted...”.
• There are neither new arguments nor fresh evidence in the example provided. By saying “undoubtedly”, the author pushes the ideas and what he/she was talking about before into a more positive light. It is, for sure, the position of the author.

Sometimes, the author may make use of quotations with the view of improving the quality of the essay. Personally, I think this is dangerous because the quotation can easily be reproduced incorrectly or mistakenly attributed to someone else.

If you are struggling writing your IELTS Task 2 essay do not worry you are not alone! So many students find this the most challenging part of the IELTS exam .

Where do I place my ideas?

My mind goes blank?

These are very common challenges and surprisingly simple to solve. The key is having a system to follow so you know exactly what to write when you see a Task 2 question .

When you have a system and know the steps, and the sentence structures it definitely becomes a lot easier.

Have a look at this online course which includes all the chapters you need to pass IELTS.

Tutorials and Tips to Prepare for Task 2

• How to Get Ideas for Task 2
• Band 9 Sample Essay
• Extremely Useful Sentences for Task 2
• Five Powerful Sentence Structures to use in your IELTS Writing test
• How to use comparisons in Task 2
• Concession Paragraphs for “do I agree/disagree essays”
• How to write an IELTS Essay Conclusion
• IELTS Cohesion and Coherence
• 3 ways to paraphrase for your Task 2 introduction
• Marking Criteria for IELTS Writing
• Topics Sentences for Your Essays
• 7 Ways to Improve your Sentences in Your IELTS Essays
• Grammar for IELTS Writing
• Academic Collocations for Task 2

• Free Essay Band Score Evaluation
• Sign up to claim your free IELTS materials
• Jump to Band 7 or it’s Free
• IELTS Writing Evaluation
• IELTS Band Score Calculator
• Book Your Online IELTS Test
• Sample Topic Answers
• Useful Sentences
• Sample Task 2 Questions 2022
• Introduction to Paraphrasing
• Model Band 9 Essay
• Five Band 9 Words
• Model Band 7 Essay
• Differences Band 9 vs Band 7 Essay
• Band 6.5 Essay
• Academic Collocations
• Topic Sentences
• Discuss Both Views
• Tutorial: To What Extent Essays
• Paraphrasing Introductions
• Essay Structures
• Essay Plans
• Describe a Pie Chart
• Using Percentages
• Map Vocabulary
• Describe Flow Charts
• Describe a Bar Chart
• How to get Band 9
• AT 1 Sample Questions 2022
• Describe a Graphic
• GT Task 1 Questions 2022
• IELTS Vocabulary
• Google Play / Podcasts
• Apple Podcast
• Android App
• Task 2 Sample Questions
• AT 1 Questions

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How to Write an Effective IELTS Conclusion

When you are writing the essay for Task 2 of the IELTS Writing section, the last thing that you will include will be your conclusion. An essay’s conclusion has one job: To summarize the rest of the essay in a way that makes it sound even more persuasive. However, many IELTS test-takers forget this, and either write too much in their conclusion, or forget to write one, at all.

Here is what to include, in your IELTS essay conclusion.

A Concluding Phrase

The first thing to put in your conclusion is a signal to the reader that you are finishing your essay, and that they have come to the end. This is called the concluding phrase, and does not have to be longer than a couple of words . It tells the reader that you are done making your argument, and that you are now going to summarize your essay. Examples of good concluding phrases are:

• In conclusion,
• To summarize, or

On the other hand, there are some words that should not be used as a concluding phrase, like:

• Finally, or

These terms make it sound like you are going to make another point in your argument, which is not what the conclusion is for.

A Reminder of Your Thesis Statement

The second thing that you should do in your conclusion is tell your reader what you have just proven or shown. A good way to do this is to remind the reader what you thesis statement was, in your introduction . Your thesis statement, after all, is what your essay is all about.

Optional: Summarize Your Argument

If you have time, you can include a quick overview of your essay in your conclusion. This helps remind the reader why your thesis statement is correct. If you choose to summarize your argument in your essay’s conclusion, though, make sure not to go too much in depth: You should not write more than a sentence or two.

Say Why Your Essay is Important

Finally, you should include a sentence or two about why your essay is important. This makes the reader understand why they should take your essay to heart, and think about it. Mentioning why your essay is important also makes your argument sound much stronger, which is the point behind an argumentative essay .

The IELTS Conclusion

To summarize, your essay’s conclusion should recap the rest of your essay. It should include a concluding phrase, a reminder of your thesis statement, a few words on why your essay is important, and can also include a summary of your argument. By writing a good conclusion on Task 2 of the Writing section, you can earn a higher IELTS score.

Sean is a former IELTS administrator and an IELTS blogger for Magoosh. He has a degree in English literature from the University of New Hampshire, and a law degree from the University of Cincinnati. He has also studied abroad in Cambridge, England and in Botswana. In his spare time, he plays ultimate Frisbee, reads, plays guitar, and writes novels, though not all at the same time.

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IELTS Writing Task 2: How to Write an IELTS Conclusion

by Dave | Writing your conclusion | 65 Comments

Your IELTS conclusion is on a mission should you choose to accept it.

There are 3 simple objectives on this mission:, 1. state your opinion/position, 2. give your main reason for this opinion, 3. add an extra detail, let’s look at these objectives more closely below., if you want to read more about conclusions, i recommend checking out some of my sample answers here ., be sure to avoid the mistakes that most students make on writing by signing up for my exclusive ielts ebooks here on patreon., this is the main mission for your conclusion. if you only accomplish one objective, it should be this one., the reason for it is in the band descriptors:, the key here is ‘presents a relevant position’. a position is the same thing as an opinion., if you don’t say your opinion it is impossible to get a band 6 or above. mission not accomplished., put in your conclusion and you can get at least a 6. so – just do it, for example, ‘in my opinion, smoking should be banned in public places’ or ‘i believe that all children should be required to take computer lessons in school.’, here is some vocabulary that will make your position crystal clear:, be careful – only use the ones in blue and red for writing . the pink ones are only for the speaking test ., (by the way, if you want more tips like this you can check out our  facebook group ), 2. give your main reason for this opinion, this one is pretty simple – just say why you have that opinion, don’t make up a new reason – use one that you already talked about in your writing., for example: ‘in my opinion, smoking should be banned in public places because it has harmful side effects for people who are not smoking ‘ or ‘i believe that all children should be required to take computer lessons in school because it will have a positive impact on their ability to get a good job later in life .’, 3. an extra detail, this one is a little controversial., normally, examiners mark everyone’s writing exactly the same., it doesn’t matter if you are in bangladesh or france or japan or antarctica – you get the same marks because every examiner follows the band descriptors, like a perfectly objective robot., but there are a few small areas where examiners do mark things a little differently. this is related to how long they have been marking, some unclear areas in the band descriptors, the person who trained them and even just human nature., in these areas of difference you should always choose the safe option., the safe option here is to include an extra detail to finish off your essay because some examiners will require you to have this for band 7+., what is an extra detail, it could be a solution, more support for your opinion, a prediction – anything really, here are a few examples of extra details:, prediction: if we ban smoking, people will lead longer, more productive lives and less money will be wasted on healthcare., further support: health is more important than anything else and any effort to improve people’s health, including banning smoking, is a positive step forward., solution: the best way for nations to begin to institute these bans is to first raise taxes which will result in fewer smokers overall before completely banning smoking sometime in the next 20 years., you do not need all 3 of those. 1 or 2 sentences with extra detail is enough to make sure you don’t get bumped down to band 6 because of a malfunctioning robot, here is a checklist from our instagram page :.

A Complete Conclusion

‘in my opinion, smoking should be banned in public places because it has harmful side effects for people who are not smoking. health is more important than anything else and any effort to improve people’s health, including banning smoking, is a positive step forward.’, opinion + main reason why + extra detail = mission accomplished, now it’s your turn comment below, write only the conclusion for the following topic in the comments below:, some people believe that we should have complete free speech and be allowed to say anything we want. others think that there should be some limits on free speech. discuss both views and give your own opinion., if you need some more information about conclusions check out this post ., recommended for you.

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65 Comments

Really it is useful in fact I made use of this processes thanks a lot again and again

Glad you found it useful! Thanks for the feedback.

I believe there ought to be certain boundaries to expression of opinions as otherwise it can lead to conflicts. Avoidong conflicts will lead to harmony and yield progress.

Well written!

Some corrections:

the expression, this can lead to

This is very much useful. Thanks for assisting and guiding IELTS students.

You’re welcome!

In conclusion, I am certain that people should screen their words to avoid hurt feelings and be more effective in communication. If every individual is mindful of what they say and be responsible for their speech, the society will become more inclusive and welcoming.

Awesome conclusion – jealous of it!

In conclusion, I am of the opinion that some restrictions ought to be imposed on free speech so that it does not violate social and cultural values or create a negative impact on the society. Government in consultation with active cultural groups should issue a broad framework and regulate the society.

Great work KS!

We just say regulate society – no ‘the’

What score are you aiming for?

In my opinion, free speech should not be restricted by anything because it is the basic right of any person. It is when people are banned from expressing their thoughts openly, many dictatorship regimes gain more power and can easily manipulate people.

Awesome conclusion, Viktor!

Personally, I believe both arguments make valid points, as anything can become damaging in excess, be it maintaining silence when a crime is committed or using free speech to manipulate the public, we must hold critical thinking at all times when it comes to this topic.

Hmmm, careful Lena, when you sit in the middle like that you risk a band 4/5 for task achievement.

Safer to just choose an overall side.

In my opinion,there should be some limits and prohibitions on free speech because saying what we think could sometimes lead to chaos and controversies whereas protecting the peace in society should always be the most important priority for governments.

Good! Make sure you include the first sentence as well, Amir!

I didn’t get it.What do you mean by including the first sentence?

means stand

Naleema Hettiarachchi Gamage In my view, there should be certain limitations in allowing people to talk freely as it may have and harmful impact for the society which could lead to conflicts among social groups. Mindful speaking will not only benefit the society it will also exacerbate the feeling of unity among people

impressive conclusion

To recapitulate, focusing on words that are spoken could prevent hurting the feelings of others. This would more likely have a good impact on others and create a healthy environment.

Good! Better to just use ‘In conclusion’ though!

Keep it up, Niraj – you can say positive impact to be more academic.

To recapItulate, both perspectives have negative and positive sides. while I agree everyone should have the right to express; however I believe that the dignity of others should not be compromised. A peaceful society with a high level of tolerance will certainly flourish at a greater pace.

Good try, Madiha, but that is too close to sitting in the middle.

Always, always, always choose an overall side so you don’t risk a low score for task achievement.

Write it again!

To conclude, I am certain that absolute freedom of speech is a lawful right of everyone in a democratic society, for this liberty to speak up against injustice of any kind keeps a check on the powerful people in a country. The world can be more livable if all the nation-states confer this fundamental right to their citizens.

I am not sure if a comma should be inserted before ‘for’ or not.

Great Harpreet! You don’t need the comma – that makes it sound more like speaking.

In my opinion, I am certain that people should restrict on free speech as it can hurt others feelings and emotions negatively. It is the responsibility of every citizen to be mindful of what they speak. therefore, free speech should be limited to make a happy society

Good work, CM!

The conclusion is a bit odd though – how would someone possibly police every single thing said to make sure it doesn’t hurt someone’s feelings?

At the end, I believe that there should be few restrictions on free speech because some people might hurt others feelings in the context of freedom of speech. This step will help to build a peaceful relationship between human beings.

Please comment !!

Good work, Shubham.

However, it’s a little informal – try to write a little more formally and use some academic collocations.

To conclude, it is better to have a restriction for freedom of expression. Because there is no use of it if it hurts other people sentiments.

Great, Tahzir!

It is a little informal though – try to write more academically!

It is readily apparent to me that free speech should not be restricted because it is the human’s basic right.  Leading to self-censorship, the restriction would also limit the expression of view.

Great conclusion, Anson!

In my opinion, consuming these products give people additional energy and refreshing feeling. However, I strongly believe that their price should be increased by the government as an amazing approach of promoting healthy lifestyle and encouraging people to manage their finances.

Good structure, Geekay.

Careful with your collocations, some of them are not natural.

Thank you Dave. Take care

It is my belief that free speech should be restricted especially online as this would help to fight online bully and insensitive comments from others who project their hurts on others. Limiting free speeches would foster a feeling of accountability in the speaker, which in turn would promote a better society.

Great vocabulary, Paris!

Some corrections: bullying, from those who seek to…, – maybe a healthier society is better at the end too.

Keep it up!

In my opinion,i think that the best way to make people feel relaxed and have a sense of belonging in the society is to make them have their freedom of speech.this will enable them to have mutual relationship among themselves,knowing fully well that their views are accepted by people

In my opinion,i believe that people can feel more relaxed and have a sense of belonging in the society when there is freedom of speech,leading to high rate of mutual relationship,because they feel accepted and not discriminated in the society

In conclusion, freedom of speech is very important in our society today essential the government that is democratic because it is the full right of every individual to speak but not to say things that will destroy the entire country.

Great but try to break it up into two sentences so that your grammar is more accurate, Ebuka!

Really it is useful in fact I made use of this processes thanks very user friendly

In my opinion, as we live in a democratic country where we are given rights to express our thoughts freely so we should always take benefit of that freedom. As speaking on a particular task always helps us to broaden our minds in and every aspect, otherwise it will not think properly and abandon our thinking abilities.

(Please review it for any mistakes)

in my opinion, though free speech allowed to speak anything it does not mean to lead to conflicts rather, think to maintain harmony which regulates the society

Good, try to write slightly more academically and be more careful with punctuation.

I believe that there should be constrains on the freedom of speech because, freedom of speech can result in wrongful and heavy consequences such as ‘defaming an innocent’. Overall, the government must surveil masses that promote loathsome speeches.

Great! Some vocabulary is too informal though, like ‘loathsome’.

Keep working hard, Hibba!

To recapitulate, I believe that freedom of speech and expression is a fundamental right of every citizen however it should be utilized with great care and caution not to affect the sentiments of any section of the society. The administration should keep watch on the activities of people in order to maintain harmony among citizens.

Nice Dilip!

Careful with some words like keep watch and harmony though.

I therefore, stick to the opinion that, people should have a limit in what they speak about. In relation to politics, comments can be made to downgrade other candidates whereas competitors should be fair. Likewise in all aspects of human interactions, conversations must be guided by ethics and morals in order to promote fair values in business and relationships

Awesome work, Suzie!

In conclusion, I believe that people ought to be able to express their opinions freely as long as they take responsibility for their words. This is important because if people are not held accountable for their words, chances of conflict within the society may rise. At the end of the day, responsible articulation of ideas is necessary to improve the society as a whole.

Nice Mohamed!

In conclusion, it is readily apparent to me that free speech without limit is harmful to society as a whole because It can lead to undesirable results such as invasions of privacy and massive false reports. Therefore, moderations need to be adopted for the public interest.

in my opening,i do believe people should have freedom of speech as it is one’s write .allowing people to have freedom of speech brings and unites people

To conclude, i believe people should be granted a freedom of speech without limitation so as to understand people feelings and emotion.When people can freely explain their selves without limitation problem can be solve promptly and effectively.

1. Isn’t restating the general topic necessary? 2. Is it possible that examiners might reduce our score due to the extra detail as a new idea

Not the general topic necessarily but you have to summarize your ideas, Ali.

The extra detail is not in the band descriptors but I know some examiners require it. To be safe, include it but don’t make it too outlandish.

Is that all clear, Ali?

very useful! thanks a lotttt!

It is readily apparent to me that every single person should be able to voice out their concerns because it not only adds up to an individuals growth but it also adds up to every single one’s development. Nevertheless to avoid any disaster I would suggest voicing out every single person’s thoughts should be welcomed everywhere.

I believe, smoking should be forbidden in public places due to its effects in increasing the upper respiratory system infections rate for both active and passive smokers. I dream a day that by good education we can control this phenomenon and see our society without cigarette.

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How to Write a Great IELTS Conclusion

Posted by David S. Wills | Aug 31, 2019 | IELTS Tips , Writing | 1

When writing your IELTS task 2 essay, it is vital to have a good conclusion. However, many candidates don’t know how to do this. They wonder what a conclusion should include and what it shouldn’t include. The process of writing a good conclusion is, to many, a complete mystery.

In fact, the conclusion is usually the easiest part of your essay to write. There is no mystery to it, and in this article I am going to explain clearly how to do it. I will show you, step-by-step, the best way to write an effective conclusion for your IELTS task 2 essay.

What sort of essay requires a conclusion?

First of all, before we get into how to write an IELTS conclusion, I will tell you that you do not need to write a conclusion for task 1 . You only need to write a conclusion for task 2. This is because, for task 1, the information that would go in a conclusion could easily be stated within the introduction. You have to identify general trends and overall ideas about the data, and this really doesn’t need to be done in a conclusion. (Learn about task 1 structures here .)

As for task 2, it is very important. For both Task Response and Coherence and Cohesion , you would need at least some sort of conclusion in order to score highly. A conclusion functions as a way of reviewing and summarising the data included in your essay and adds to the value of the essay by formalising and improving its structure.

So, to review:

Writing a conclusion for IELTS

Every IELTS task 2 essay needs a conclusion. This should simply sum up the main idea of the essay and very briefly restate the main arguments. It can be as short as one sentence, although it may be better to write two or three .

Writing a good conclusion can seem a little difficult, and it is hard to teach because it depends on the type of question and also the content of your essay. However, some important points to consider are that it should be brief , contain no new information , and avoid repeating anything from the rest of the essay . It is also very important to make sure that your position in the conclusion is the same as in the rest of your essay.

Let’s examine an example answer to see how the conclusion matches the rest of the essay.

The prevention of health problems and illness is more important than treatment and medicine. Government funding should reflect this.

To what extent do you agree?

I am going to give you my sample answer here, and below I will format it into a table so that you are able to see an explanation for each sentence:

In many countries, government spending on healthcare is a major economic burden.  Problems like obesity and heart disease are crippling healthcare systems, and some people suggest that rather than raise taxes to pay for treatments, more money should be invested in preventing these illnesses in the first place.  This essay will argue that prevention is better than treatment.  The most obvious benefit of putting prevention before treatment is the reduction in human suffering that would inevitably result.  Some of the biggest health problems in modern societies are utterly preventable, and therefore it is reasonable to suggest that money spent this way would cause less anguish.  Government campaigns to reduce smoking would reduce cancer rates and this would increase people’s quality of life, and of course end the suffering of people who lose loved ones.  From a purely financial standpoint, it is beneficial to focus on preventing sickness rather than curing it.  The cost of treating sick people with expensive medical procedures, equipment, and medicines is vastly higher than the cost of educating people not to smoke, eat unhealthily, or otherwise lead unhealthy lifestyles.  Government campaigns have led to huge decreases in smoking in many Western countries, and it is likely that similar campaigns would yield similar results elsewhere. It would be wise for other countries around the world to implement this sort of system. In conclusion, preventing a disease makes more sense than waiting to treat it.  The benefits to average people and also to governments are significantly higher than simply investing in treatments.

Here, I will put the same answer into a table. In the right-hand column, you will see an explanation of the sentence in the middle.

Further Notes on the Conclusion

Looking at this conclusion, we can see that it is short and simple, yet very effective. In just 30 words, it reflects the whole of the essay. Although it presents no specific details, it alludes to everything that can before it in quite general terms. It also presents us with a simple structure for making a good conclusion:

Just remember that you don’t have to say everything again! Notice that in my second sentence, I don’t completely rewrite the ideas from my body paragraphs, but instead allude to them by saying “the benefits to people and governments…” The word “people” refers to paragraph two and “government” refers to paragraph three. Without repeating myself or writing too much, I have concisely summarized my essay.

Finally, you may have noticed that in my example essays, I use “In conclusion” to start almost every conclusion. You may wonder if this is too basic or too boring. Of course, it may seem repetitive in a book with many essays, but for IELTS you are only writing one conclusion, so it doesn’t matter. Some students think that they need “more exciting” language for their essay, so they try to think of a new phrase to begin their conclusion. However, “In conclusion” is perfectly fine. It is simple yet effective. You could also use:

• To conclude

I have seen some people write “All in all” and “In a nutshell”. These are not acceptable, as they are too informal. My advice is to use “In conclusion” because it is easy and always appropriate.

Here is my conclusion to this article on conclusions 😄:

5 Things to Remember about Conclusions

• You should always write a conclusion at the end of an IELTS writing task 2 essay.
• Summarize your essay without repeating.
• Refer to your main ideas.
• Try to write 1-3 sentences.
• Never try to include some new ideas in your conclusion.

About The Author

David S. Wills

David S. Wills is the author of Scientologist! William S. Burroughs and the 'Weird Cult' and the founder/editor of Beatdom literary journal. He lives and works in rural Cambodia and loves to travel. He has worked as an IELTS tutor since 2010, has completed both TEFL and CELTA courses, and has a certificate from Cambridge for Teaching Writing. David has worked in many different countries, and for several years designed a writing course for the University of Worcester. In 2018, he wrote the popular IELTS handbook, Grammar for IELTS Writing and he has since written two other books about IELTS. His other IELTS website is called IELTS Teaching.

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IELTS Writing: How To Write A Good Conclusion For Your IELTS Essay

Being able to write a good conclusion paragraph is a skill that most IELTS candidates are unaware of and is an important skill to master. Having a good conclusion can help to prove to the examiner that your score should be more than what they initially decided it should be. However, a poor conclusion can have the quite opposite effect. In this article, we will take a look at all the aspects that need to be included in a good conclusion.

What Should A Good Conclusion Include

In order to write a good conclusion, you need to know what to include and what to avoid in order to write a high scoring essay.

A good conclusion will:

• Neatly end the essay
• Link all your ideas together
• Sum up your argument or opinion
• Answer the question

Why Is A Good Conclusion Important

It's important for both the task achievement and cohesion criteria. It serves to summarise the contents of the essay and to emphasise the main opinion of the writer.

Some Tips To Write A Good Conclusion

Here are some tips about what to include in your conclusion, in order to make it an effective one. Firstly your conclusion should refer back to your introduction paragraph. The introduction paragraph is basically just a paraphrase of the question statement, and the first sentence of your conclusion (the summary sentence) will be a paraphrase of your introduction. Therefore your introduction and conclusion are always closely linked.

Once you have done this you should summarise the main points of your essay but remember to do this in a way that does not repeat the same vocabulary of phrases that you used in your main body paragraphs. This will signal to the examiner that you have a wide enough vocabulary for the task. Your summary should only include the main ideas and not any supporting ideas or examples, as this will make your conclusion too long and/or confusing.

The last sentence of your conclusion should either be a recommendation sentence or a prediction sentence.

A prediction is a statement about what you think will happen in the future.

A recommendation is a statement about what you think should happen in the future.

Do not add any new points in your conclusion, especially those that could have been added into the main body paragraphs. Remember your conclusion is meant to round up your arguments and emphasise your main opinion. Therefore, it is definitely not the time it introduces new arguments.

Let’s look at how to put these tips into action. Below is a sample IELTS question along with a model introduction and conclusion paragraph. Notice how both the introduction and the conclusion contain phrases that paraphrase the main question statements

For Example:

Some people believe that technology has made our lives too complex and the solution is to lead a simpler life without technology. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Introduction:

There are those who feel that technology has negatively impacted our lives by overcomplicating them and believe that we should eliminate it from our lives. This essay argues that in fact, quite the opposite is true since improved technology has actually made our lives simpler and has greatly improved our quality of life.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, I totally disagree with the opinion that we should turn away from technology because it overcomplicates our lives. We should rather learn to use technology wisely, as it has become an invaluable tool in almost every aspect of our lives.

IELTS Writing Task 2 Writing a Conclusion

On this page I’ll be looking at how to write a clear and concise conclusion for writing task 2 and discussing its importance to your overall band score using this task as an example. 

Watch the video on how to write a clear conclusion for writing task 2. ​ ​ ​ ​

The conclusion if often neglected mainly because students often run out of time and have to rush through it or they undervalue it and assign more importance to the introduction and body paragraphs.  A clear conclusion is as important as all the other elements of your answer. 

What to include

A conclusion is a summary of the content of your essay. It should show the examiner that you are bringing everything to a close.  Always begin with “To conclude,” or “In conclusion,”. 

Restate your position (for opinion questions) from the introduction. Don’t copy your position word for word. Use synonyms and  paraphrase.

Example: 

Introduction

“I strongly disagree with this statement...”

“ In conclusion, classroom tuition, with tutors  and pupils in the same room,  will never be completely replaced ...”

Restate the main reasons for your position from the body paragraphs. Don’t include the supporting details.  They are not necessary and will take too long. 

Don’t copy your main reasons word for word. Use synonyms and paraphrase.

“... because remote lea rning not a suitable approach for youngsters and, what is more, it is impractical for subjects requiring explicit practice.  

What NOT to include

Never include any new information in the conclusion. A conclusion is a summary of what you have already written. Ideas with supporting details should be in the body paragraphs.

Avoid generalizations and keep it relevant and specific to your answer. Generalizations about the topic are never a good strategy. Conclusions should be specific. 

Conclusions should be limited to one or two sentences.

In conclusion, classroom tuition, with tutors and pupils in the same room, will never be completely replaced because remote learning not a suitable approach for youngsters and, what is more, it is impractical for subjects requiring explicit practice.

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IELTS Sample Essays

Here you will find IELTS Sample Essays for a variety of common topics that appear in the writing exam.

The model answers all have tips and strategies for how you may approach the question and comments on the sample answer.

You can also view sample essays with band scores on this page. 

Looking at IELTS essay topics with answers is a great way to help you to prepare for the test. 

These IELTS sample essays have been categorised in a way that makes it easy for you to see how certain essay question types require you to provide certain responses to ensure the question is fully answered. 

Specifically these are:

• Agree / Disagree
• Discuss Two Opinions
• Problems and Solutions
• Advantages and Disadvantages
• Other Types

Agree / Disagree Type Questions

In these types of question you are given one opinion and you then have to state the extent to which you agree or disagree with that opinion:

• Advertising
• Alternative Medicine
• Spending on the Arts
• Human Cloning
• Social Interaction & the Internet
• Airline Tax
• Free University Education
• Scientific Research
• Banning Smoking
• Employing Older People
• Vegetarianism
• Paying Taxes  
• Examinations or Formal Assessment 
• Multinational Organisations and Culture
• Internet vs Newspapers
• Technology Development  
• Dying of Languages
• Animal Extinction
• Truth in Relationships
• Role of Schools
• Return of Historical Artefacts

Discuss Two Opinions Type Questions

In this essay question type you are given two opinions, and you have to discuss both of these and then give your own view:

• University Education
• Reducing Crime
• Animal Rights
• Child Development
• Diet & Health
• Donating Money to Charity
• Closing Zoos   
• Becoming Independent  
• Formal and Informal Education  
• Influence of Scientists and Politicians
• Sources for Stories
• Searching for Extraterrestrial Life

Cause Type Questions

There are a variety of 'cause type' essay questions. In these you first have to give the reasons why something has happened, in other words the causes, but then discuss a different aspect of it, such as the effects, solutions or the extent to whether it is a positive or negative development:

Causes & Effects:

• Child Obesity
• Skin Whitening Creams
• Family Size
• Having Children Later in Life
• Time Away from Family

Causes and Solutions:

• Youth Crime
• Global Warming
• Paying Attention in Class
• International Travel & Prejudice 
• Museums & Historical Places
• Disappearance of Traditions
• Communication Between Generations

Causes, Pros & Cons:

• Family Closeness
• Living Alone
• Rural to Urban Migration

Problems & Solutions Type Questions

In these type of questions, instead of discussing the causes of a problem, you need to discuss the problems related to a particular issue in society, and then suggest what can be to solve these problems:

• Overpopulation
• Competing for Jobs  
• Professionals Immigrating

Advantage & Disadvantages Type Questions

In these type of questions you are asked to discuss the positive and negative sides of a particular topic. You will usually be asked this in the context of giving an opinion ( e.g. Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages? Is it a positive or negative development? ): 

• Traffic Problems
• Food Additives
• Computer Games
• Age Discrimination at Work  
• Children using Tablets and Computers  
• Cell Phones, Internet, & Communication  
• Working from Home 
• Eating Locally grown  Produce  
• Oil and Gas Essay  
• Peer Pressure on Young People
• Online Fraud
• Decreasing House Sizes

'Hybrid' Types of Essay Question

There are sometimes questions that don't fit easily into a particular category as above. I've called these 'hybrid', as they are of mixed character, are composed of different elements from other types of essay, or are perhaps just worded differently. 

• Protecting Old Buildings
• Animal Testing
• Fear of Crime
• Communication Technology
• Influence of Children's Friends  

Sample Essays with Band Scores

You can also view some sample essays that have been written by candidates practising for the test and have band scores and comments by an experienced ex-IELTS Examiner based on the IELTS marking criteria. 

• IELTS Band 8 Essay Samples
• IELTS Band 7 Essay Samples
• IELTS Band 6 Essay Samples
• IELTS Band 5 Essay Samples
• IELTS Band 4 Essay Samples

Student Sample Essays

For more IELTS essay topics with answers you can also view essays that have been written by students. Some have feedback from other students or IELTS teachers:

• Student Model Essays  (with comments by other students)
• Student Model Essays (with comments by IELTS buddy)

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IELTS Writing Part Two Structure: Conclusions

The conclusion is probably the easiest part of your IELTS writing part two. However, conclusions are still important to get right for several reasons. They play an important structural role in your essay. They're also important because the final impression is memorable. Finally, if something is easy, you should be trying to do it perfectly!

The Three elements of IELTS writing conclusions

For your IELTS writing part two conclusion, you need three things:

• To let the reader know your essay is coming to an end.
• To restate your main argument.
• To recap the main points from your body paragraphs.

Let your reader know your essay is ending

There is very little to say about this one. You just need to start your conclusion with ‘To conclude,’ or ‘In conclusion,’. Because these are introductory clauses, you need the comma at the end.

Restate your main point

Naturally, it’s important to give a conclusion in your conclusion! Your conclusion should be the same one as the one in your thesis statement in your introduction. However, don’t just copy every word you used in your thesis statement. You should express the same idea in different language. In our article on IELTS introductions , our thesis statement was that commuting ’causes more negative effects than positive effects’, so for our conclusion, we should use language like ’causes more harm than good’. This gives the same idea without us repeating ourselves.

Recap your body paragraphs

It’s good for coherence and cohesion to have a clear thread running through your essay. To do this you should recap your main points from your body paragraphs. In our article on IELTS body paragraphs, we made two points about congestion causing air pollution and traffic congestion. Therefore, we should use the same points in our conclusion.

How to write the conclusion

Let’s put these three elements together into a conclusion. While the first element, the ‘in conclusion’, is always first. The second two parts can go either way round. If we’re following the order above, we could write something like:

In conclusion, an increase in commuting does more harm than good because of its effects on traffic congestion and air pollution.

However, we could just as easily switch the last two elements around to write:

In conclusion, an increase in commuting has negative effects on traffic congestion and air pollution. Therefore, it does more harm than good.

Neither of these is better than the other and you should pick whichever you prefer.

We hope this guide was useful for you. Let us know how you get on writing your own IELTS conclusions by leaving a comment below. You can also leave a comment if you have any questions.

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How to Plan & Write IELTS Opinion Essays

IELTS opinion essays, also known as ‘agree or disagree’ essays, come up frequently in the writing exam. In this lesson, I’m going to show you how to plan and write them step-by-step.

Here’s what we’ll be covering:

• 3 Common mistakes
• Essay structure
• How to plan
• How to write an introduction
• How to write main body paragraphs
• How to write a conclusion

Click the links to see lessons on each of these Task 2 essay writing topics. 

Once you understand the process, practice on past questions. Take your time at first and gradually speed up until you can plan and write an essay of at least 250 words in the 40 minutes allowed in the exam.

The Question

The first part of the question for an IELTS opinion essay will be a statement. You will then be asked to give your own opinion about the statement. Here is some typical wording that might be used:

• What is your opinion?
• Do you agree or disagree?
• To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Want  to watch and listen to this lesson?

Click on this video.

Here's a question from a past test paper.

A big salary is much more important than job satisfaction.  

Do you agree or disagree?  

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

I’ll be using this question to guide you through the process of planning and writing an IELTS opinion essay.

3 Common Mistakes

These three errors are common in IELTS opinion essays.

• Not stating an opinion.
• Giving arguments for both views.
• Not supporting your opinion with clear reasons.

The most common mistake that students make is not giving an opinion. The question will clearly state that you must choose one side of the argument. If you fail to do this, you will get a low score for task achievement.

It doesn’t matter which side of the argument you take or even, that you agree with it. Choose the one you can develop the best argument for.

Make sure that you don’t change your opinion part way through the essay, and don’t give reasons for the opposing view.

Essay Structure

Now let’s look at a simple structure you can use to write opinion essays. It’s not the only possible structure but it’s the one I recommend because it’s easy to learn and will enable you to quickly plan and write a high-level essay.

1)  Introduction

• Paraphrase the question
• Give your opinion
• State two supporting reasons

2)  Main body paragraph 1

• Topic sentence – outline 1st reason for supporting this view
• Explanation – explain this idea
• Example – give an example  or expand the idea

3)  Main body paragraph 2

• Topic sentence – outline 2nd reason for supporting this view
• Example – give an example or expand the idea

4)  Conclusion

• Summarise opinion and key reasons

This structure will give us a well-balanced essay with 4 paragraphs.

We now need some ideas to add into the structure and we’ll have everything we need for our essay.

How To Plan IELTS Opinion Essays

# 1  decide on your opinion.

The question I've chosen to work on is quite straightforward and easy to understand so we don’t need to spend time analysing it. The first task, then, is to decide on our opinion.

Here’s the question again:

A big salary is much more important than job satisfaction.

Do you agree or disagree?  

For this essay, I’m going to disagree with the statement and argue that job satisfaction is more important than a big salary.

# 2  Generate ideas

The second task is to generate some ideas to write about.

Since I‘m going to argue that job satisfaction is more important than a large salary, I need ideas to support this view.

There are several different ways to think up ideas. I cover them fully on the  IELTS Essay Planning  page.

With this particular question, I immediately thought of a couple of examples of situations where job satisfaction did prove to be more important than a high salary, so I’m going to use the ‘example method’ of generating ideas.

Once you’ve thought of an example or two, ideas to include in your essay should come to you easily.

You might want to try this yourself before reading on for my ideas.

Here are my examples and some ideas they generated.

Both the examples are partly true but I've adapted them to better fit the essay. It's fine to do this as the examiner won't check your facts.

• Uncle Barry – boasted about high salary but hated his job. Nervous breakdown – lost job & can’t work.
• Me – gave up teaching. Now enjoy my work and am much more relaxed and happy even though I earn much less money.
• High-salary jobs are generally more stressful
• Stress leads to ill health, both mental and physical
• 40 hours a week at work – a third of the day
• Money doesn’t bring happiness
• Better quality of life
• Sense of fulfilment
• Less stressed – healthier and happier

I’ve got more ideas here than I need so I’m going to pick two to develop in the essay – one for each of the main body paragraphs.

Idea 1 – High-salary jobs are generally more stressful and can lead to ill health.

Idea 2 – Job satisfaction gives a sense of fulfilment.

We’re almost ready to start writing our IELTS opinion essay but first, we have one other small task to do.

# 3  Vocabulary

In an IELTS essay, it’s important to be able to say the same things in different ways, either by paraphrasing and/or using synonyms. During the planning stage, quickly jot down a few synonyms of key words you could use to save you having to stop and think of the right language while you’re writing.

For example:

satisfaction – fulfilment, achievement, sense of accomplishment, content, sense of well-being

salary – income, wages, pay, earnings

important – significant, valued, has more meaning

job – work, employment, position

With that done, we can focus on the first paragraph of the essay – the introduction.

How To Write an Introduction

A good introduction has a simple 3 part structure:

1)  Paraphrased question

2)  Thesis statement

3)  outline statement.

An introduction should:

• Have 2-3 sentences
• Be 40-60 words long
• Take 5 minutes to write

1)  Paraphrase the question

Start your introduction by paraphrasing the question.

     Question:  A big salary is much more important than job satisfaction.

                       Do you agree or disagree?  

Paraphrased question:  

It is argued that earning lots of money has more significance to people than being content in their work.

Note that I’ve used some of the synonyms I listed, although it’s fine to repeat one or two words if you need to. Above all, your language must sound natural.

In IELTS opinion essays, the thesis statement is where you state your opinion. For example,

    Thesis statement:  

    This essay totally disagrees with that statement.

That’s all you need to say.

If you decided to agree with the statement, you would write:

'This essay completely agrees with that statement.'

Finally in the introduction, you must outline the two main points (ideas 1 and 2 above) that you’ll cover in the rest of the essay. Do it in one sentence, or you can add them onto the end of the thesis statement if appropriate.

Outl ine statement:  

I believe that people are increasingly concerned about the risk of stress-related ill-health frequently experienced by people in highly paid positions and they care more about feeling fulfilled at work.

So, let’s bring the three elements of our introduction together.

     Introduction

This introduction achieves three important functions:

• It shows the examiner that you understand the question.
• It acts as a guide to the examiner as to what your essay is about.
• It also helps to keep you focused and on track as you write.

The two ideas in your introduction will become your two main body paragraphs.

Main body paragraph 1  – concerns about the risk of stress-related ill-health

Main body paragraph 2  – a sense of fulfilment at work

How To Write Main Body Paragraphs

The structure of a good main body paragraph has 3 parts:

• Topic sentence
• Explanation

If you can’t think of an example, you can add further supporting ideas but we already have our two examples so that’s not an issue here.

A common problem when writing main body paragraphs for IELTS opinion essays is having too many ideas. Again, we have already chosen the two ideas we are going to develop, so we are all set to start writing.

You can see how important the planning stage is and how it makes the actual writing of the essay far quicker and easier.

Main Body Paragraph 1

The  topic sentence  summarises the main idea of the paragraph. That’s all it needs to do so it doesn’t have to be complicated.

It plays an important role in ensuring that your ideas flow logically from one to another. It does this by acting as a signpost for what is to come next, that is, what the paragraph will be about.

If you maintain a clear development of ideas throughout your essay, you will get high marks for task achievement and cohesion and coherence.

We’ll now take the idea for our first main body paragraph and create our topic sentence.

Main idea 1  – concerns about the risk of stress-related ill-health

Topic sentence:  

Employees earning a large income are generally under significant mental and emotional pressure to perform well and achieve targets.

Next, we must write an  explanation sentence . This explains to the examiner what we mean. It expands on our first idea.

Explanation sentence: 

This causes many individuals to suffer high levels of stress which can result in both mental and physical health problems.

Finally, we add an  example  to support our main point. I thought of this in the planning stage so I have it ready to use.

If you can’t think of a real example, it’s fine to make one up, as long as it’s believable. The examiner isn’t going to check your facts.

Example sentence:

This happened to my uncle. He used to boast about his huge salary but the boss kept increasing his sales targets and in the end, the stress became too great and he had a nervous breakdown. Now he regrets being driven by the money.

That’s the 3 parts of our first main body paragraph complete. Here’s the finished paragraph.

We now follow the same process for our second main body paragraph.

Main Body Paragraph 2

Main idea 2  – Job satisfaction gives a sense of fulfilment.

First, we write the  topic sentence  to summarise the main idea.

Topic sentence:

Having a job that they enjoy doing, and in which they feel valued, is a major concern for most of the modern workforce.

Now for the  explanation sentence  to explain this idea.

Explanation sentence:

A significant number of people are giving up well-paid positions to do jobs which pay less but that they find more enjoyable and less stressful.

Finally, an  example  to support our main point. As before, I thought of this in the planning stage so just need to form it into a couple of sentences.

I am an example of this myself. A year ago I left the teaching profession because the workload had become too great and I am now a gardener. I feel really fulfilled in this work and I am much more relaxed and happy even though I earn far less money.

That’s the 3 parts of our second main body paragraph complete. Here’s the finished paragraph.

Now we need a conclusion and our IELTS opinion essay is done.

How To Write a Conclusion

Conclusions to IELTS opinion essays should do two things:

• Summarise the main points
• State your opinion

This can generally be done in a single sentence.

If you are below the minimum 250 words after you’ve written your conclusion, you can add an additional prediction or recommendation statement.

Our essay currently has 233 words so we’re on target and don’t need this extra sentence but you can learn more about how to write a prediction or recommendation statement for IELTS opinion essays on the Task 2 Conclusions page.

The conclusion is the easiest sentence in the essay to write but one of the most important.

A good conclusion will:

• Neatly end the essay
• Link all your ideas together
• Sum up your argument or opinion
• Answer the question

If you achieve this, you’ll improve your score for both task achievement and cohesion and coherence which together make up 50% of the overall marks. Without a conclusion, you’ll score below band 6 for task achievement.

You can start almost any final paragraph of an IELTS opinion essay with the words:

• In conclusion

        or

• To conclude

Now all you need to do is briefly summarise the main ideas into one sentence.

Here’s a top tip . Go back and read the introduction to the essay because this is also a summary of the essay. It outlines what you are going to write about.

To create a great conclusion, you simply have to paraphrase the introduction. Let’s give it a go.

Introduction:

Here is the same information formed into a conclusion:

That’s it. We’ve completed our essay. Here it is with the 4 paragraphs put together.

    Question:

   A big salary is much more important than job satisfaction.

   Do you agree or disagree?

Finished IELTS opinion essay.

Go through this lesson as many times as you need to in order to fully understand it and put in lots of practice writing IELTS opinion essays from past exam questions. Practice is the only way to improve your skills.

5 More Model IELTS Opinion Essays

This pack contains another step-by-step lesson and  model essay. P lus 4 additional opinion essay questions with model answers.

Carefully created to help you achieve 7+ in your Writing test.

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More help with ielts opinion essays & other task 2 essays.

IELTS Writing Task 2  – T he format, the 5 question types, the 5 step essay writing strategy & sample questions. All the key information you need to know.

The 5 Types of Task 2 Essay   – How to recognise the 5 different types of Task 2 essays. 15 sample questions to study and a simple planning structure for each essay type.

Understanding Task 2 Questions  – How to quickly and easily analyse and understand IELTS Writing Task 2 questions.

How To Plan a Task 2 Essay  – Discover why essay planning is essential & learn a simple 4 step strategy, the 4 part essay structure & 4 methods of generating ideas.

How To Write a Task 2 Introduction  – Find out why a good introduction is essential. Learn how to write one using a simple 3 part strategy & discover 4 common mistakes to avoid.

How To Write Task 2 Main Body Paragraphs  – Learn the simple 3 part structure for writing great main body paragraphs and also, 3 common mistakes to avoid. 

How To Write Task 2 Conclusions  – Learn the easy way to write the perfect conclusion for a Task 2 essay. Also discover 4 common mistakes to avoid.

Task 2 Marking Criteria  – Find out how to meet the marking criteria in Task 2. See examples of good and poor answers & learn some common mistakes to avoid.

The 5 Task 2 Essay Types:

Step-by-step instructions on how to plan & write high-level essays. Model answers & common mistakes to avoid.

   Opinion Essays

   Discussion Essays

  Problem Solution Essays

  Advantages & Disadvantages Essays

  Double Question Essays

Other Related Pages

IELTS Writing Test  – Understand the format & marking criteria, know what skills are assessed & learn the difference between the Academic & General writing tests.

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Understanding IELTS Task 2 Essay Structures

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• 2nd September 2024

Introduction to IELTS Task 2 Essay Structures

• 1 Introduction to IELTS Task 2 Essay Structures
• 2 Key Components of a Successful IELTS Task 2 Essay
• 3 Common IELTS Task 2 Essay Types and Their Structures
• 4 Step-by-Step Guide to Crafting Your IELTS Task 2 Essay
• 5 Tips and Strategies for Mastering IELTS Task 2 Essay Structures

Welcome to our guide on IELTS Task 2 essay structures , where we aim to demystify the different formats and strategies involved in crafting an effective essay. Understanding the structure is essential, as it forms the backbone of our response and allows us to communicate our ideas clearly and persuasively. In this section, we’ll explore the primary structures used in the IELTS Task 2 essay , ensuring we are well-prepared for the exam.

When approaching the IELTS Task 2 essay , it’s vital to recognize that there are four main types of essays we might encounter:

• Opinion Essays – Where we state our viewpoint on a particular issue.
• Discussion Essays – In which we examine various perspectives surrounding a topic.
• Problem-Solution Essays – Focused on identifying problems and proposing solutions.
• Advantages and Disadvantages Essays – Where we weigh the pros and cons of a specific situation.

Each of these essay types has its unique requirements, but all share a common structure that includes an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. In the introduction, we will introduce the topic and present our thesis statement. The body paragraphs will be dedicated to elaborating our arguments, providing supporting evidence, and analyzing different viewpoints if necessary. Finally, in the conclusion, we will summarize our main points and restate our position regarding the question posed. Mastering these essential components of IELTS Task 2 essay structures is crucial for achieving a high score in the writing section.

Key Components of a Successful IELTS Task 2 Essay

In our journey to master the IELTS, understanding the key components of a successful IELTS Task 2 essay is crucial. Each component plays a significant role in creating a coherent and compelling argument while adhering to the assessment criteria set by the examiners. Let’s explore these essential elements together.

Firstly, a clear and concise thesis statement sets the foundation of our essay. This statement should encapsulate our main argument or viewpoint and help guide the reader through our thoughts. It’s vital to make our stance evident from the beginning, allowing us to stay focused throughout the essay.

Next, we focus on developing well-structured paragraphs that support our thesis. Each paragraph must contain a topic sentence that introduces the main idea, followed by evidence, examples, and explanations. This structure not only boosts the clarity of our writing but also enhances the logical flow, which is essential for achieving a high score.

• Coherence and Cohesion: Using transitional phrases and linking words is essential to connect our ideas smoothly.
• Addressing the Task Properly: We need to ensure that we fully understand and address all parts of the prompt.
• Variety of Vocabulary and Sentence Structures: Demonstrating a range of vocabulary and grammatical accuracy is crucial for scoring high.

By mastering these key components of a successful IELTS Task 2 essay , we can significantly enhance our writing skills and our chances of securing a favorable score in the IELTS exam.

Common IELTS Task 2 Essay Types and Their Structures

As we prepare for the IELTS exam, understanding the common IELTS Task 2 essay types and their structures becomes essential for success. There are several distinct types of essays that candidates may encounter, each with its own specific requirements and characteristics. Below, we’ll explore these types in detail, helping us to grasp their structures and enhancing our writing skills.

The primary common IELTS Task 2 essay types include:

• Opinion Essays : These essays require us to express our viewpoint on a particular issue. The structure typically follows a clear introductory paragraph, followed by two or three body paragraphs that provide supporting arguments, and concludes with a summary of our stance.
• Discuss Both Views Essays : In this format, we need to discuss two conflicting perspectives on a topic. The structure should include an introduction outlining the issue, separate body paragraphs dedicated to each view, and a conclusion that may also express our personal opinion.
• Problem-Solution Essays : These essays focus on identifying a problem and proposing one or more solutions. We start with an introduction that introduces the problem, followed by paragraphs that elaborate on the problem and its significance, and conclude with a discussion on potential solutions.
• Advantages and Disadvantages Essays : In this type, we analyze the positives and negatives of a particular issue. We can structure it with an introduction, followed by two body paragraphs—one for advantages and another for disadvantages—and a conclusion that summarizes our findings.

By familiarizing ourselves with these common IELTS Task 2 essay types and their respective structures, we bolster our chances of achieving a higher score. Effective practice and understanding the demands of each type will enable us to articulate our thoughts clearly and cohesively in the exam.

Step-by-Step Guide to Crafting Your IELTS Task 2 Essay

Creating a successful IELTS Task 2 essay can be a daunting challenge, but with the right approach, we can simplify the process. This step-by-step guide will assist us in organizing our thoughts and structuring our essays effectively, ensuring we meet the examiners’ requirements while clearly articulating our arguments.

To start, let’s outline our essay with a clear plan. We should follow these essential steps:

• Understand the prompt: Analyze the question to identify what is being asked.
• Brainstorm ideas: Jot down our thoughts on the topic, focusing on relevant arguments.
• Structure our essay: Organize our ideas into a coherent outline, typically consisting of an introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion.
• Write the essay: Begin with the introduction, followed by well-developed body paragraphs, and wrap it up with a compelling conclusion.
• Review and revise: Allocate time to proofread our essay, checking for grammatical errors and clarity.

Using this straightforward step-by-step guide , we can tackle our IELTS Task 2 essay with confidence. Each stage in this process builds upon the previous one, leading us toward crafting a well-structured and persuasive essay that showcases our skills and knowledge effectively.

Tips and Strategies for Mastering IELTS Task 2 Essay Structures

In our journey to excel in the IELTS Task 2 essay, understanding the structure is crucial. A well-organized essay not only helps in conveying our ideas effectively but also adheres to the assessment criteria that examiners use. Here are some essential tips and strategies we can implement to master the IELTS Task 2 essay structures.

• Familiarize ourselves with different essay types: It’s important to recognize that IELTS Task 2 includes various essay types such as opinion essays, discussion essays, and problem-solution essays. Each type has a unique structure that we need to follow.
• Craft a strong thesis statement: Our introduction should include a clear thesis statement that outlines our main argument or stance. This statement will guide the reader through our essay, setting the tone for the discussion.
• Utilize topic sentences: Each paragraph should start with a topic sentence that clearly presents the main idea of that paragraph. This strategy adds cohesion and helps us stay focused on the point we are making.
• Plan and outline: Before we start writing, it’s helpful to spend a few minutes organizing our thoughts. An outline can serve as a roadmap, ensuring that our arguments flow logically and coherently throughout the essay.

By adopting these strategies and continually practicing, we enhance our writing skills and boost our confidence in tackling the IELTS Task 2 essay. Remember, consistent practice will lead us to discover our unique writing style, making us more effective communicators in the exam.

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100 IELTS Essay Questions

Below are practice IELTS essay questions and topics for writing task 2. The 100 essay questions have been used many times over the years. The questions are organised under common topics and essay types. IELTS often use the similar topics for their essays but change the wording of the essay question.

In order to prepare well for writing task 2, you should prepare ideas for common topics and then practise applying them to the tasks given (to the essay questions). Also see model essays and tips  for writing task 2.

Below you will find:

• Essay Questions By Topic
• Essay Questions by Essay Type (for example Opinion, Discussion etc)

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1) Common IELTS Essay Questions

IELTS practice essay questions divided by topic. These topics have been reported by IELTS students in their tests. Essay questions have been recreated as accurately as possible.

• Art   (5 essay questions)
• Business & Money   (17 essay questions)
• Communication & Personality   (20 essay questions)
• Crime & Punishment   (12 essay questions)
• Education   (17 essay questions)
• Environment   (12 essay questions)
• Family & Children   (8 essay questions)
• Food & Diet (13 essay questions)
• Government (6 essay questions)
• Health   (9 essay questions)
• Housing, Buildings & Urban Planning (8 essay questions)
• Language (6 essay questions)
• Leisure (1 essay question)
• Media & Advertising   (12 essay questions)
• Reading  (5 essay questions)
• Society   (10 essay questions)
• Space Exploration (3 questions)
• Sport & Exercise   (6 essay questions)
• Technology  (6 essay questions)
• Tourism and Travel   (11 essay questions)
• Transport  (7 essay questions)
• Work (17 essay questions)

2) IELTS Essay Questions by Essay Type 

There are 5 main types of essay questions in IELTS writing task 2 (opinion essays, discussion essay, advantage/disadvantage essays, solution essay and direct question essays). Click on the links below to see some sample essay questions for you to practice with at home.

• Opinion Essay Model Answer with Useful Tips
• Discussion Essay Model Answer with Useful Tips
• Solution Essay Model Answer with Useful Tips
• Direct Questions Model Essay 
• Adv/Disadv Model Essay with Useful Tips

3) Recent Essay Topics

You can also track recent essay topics on this page: IELTS ESSAY TOPICS 2024

Note: you must also prepare all other topics on the page above because questions are recycled each year.

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Writing Task 2 Sample

IELTS Writing Task 2 ( also known as IELTS Essay Writing ) is the second task of your IELTS Writing test. Here, you will be presented with an essay topic and you will be scored based on your ability to respond to the topic.

You need to write at least 250 words and justify your opinion with arguments, discussion, examples, problem outlining, proposing possible solutions and supporting your position. You will have approximately 40 minutes to finish your Essay Writing. IELTS Writing Task 2 carries more weights than Writing Task 1.

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