IELTS Writing Task 2 Topics: Question Types, Band 7 vs 8 Essays
IELTS Writing Task 2 topics come from a small set of recurring themes framed in one of five question types. This guide lists both with a realistic prompt for each, then answers the same question twice, at band 7 and at band 8, and shows criterion by criterion where the extra band comes from.
IELTS Writing Task 2 topics are more predictable than most candidates realise. The task is fixed: at least 250 words in about 40 of the 60 Writing minutes, worth twice as much as Task 1. Every question combines a theme from a small recurring set (education, technology, the environment and so on) with one of five question types that tells you exactly what kind of answer is required. This guide covers both, then answers one realistic prompt twice, as a complete band 7 essay and a complete band 8 essay, so you can see the difference criterion by criterion.
The five Task 2 question types and the structure each needs
The instruction at the end of the prompt decides your paragraph plan. The wording varies slightly, but these five types cover every question you will meet. The full paragraph-by-paragraph plan is in our Task 2 essay structure guide; the table gives the summary.
| Question type | How you recognise it | Structure that scores | The trap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opinion (agree or disagree) | "To what extent do you agree or disagree?" | Position in the introduction, two body paragraphs supporting it (one may be a concession), conclusion restating it | Sitting on the fence, or giving the opinion only in the conclusion |
| Discussion (both views) | "Discuss both views and give your own opinion." | One body paragraph per view; your own view clear in the introduction and conclusion | Describing both views and forgetting the third instruction: your opinion |
| Advantages and disadvantages | "What are the advantages and disadvantages?" / "Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?" | One paragraph each side; the "outweigh" version also needs a judgement in the thesis and conclusion | Treating "outweigh" as a neutral list question |
| Problem and solution | "What problems does this cause? What solutions can you suggest?" | One paragraph of problems (or causes), one of solutions that answer those specific problems | Solutions that do not match the problems named |
| Two-part (direct questions) | Two separate questions: "Why is this happening? Is it a positive or negative development?" | One body paragraph per question, each answered fully | Answering the first question at length and the second in one sentence |
Read the instruction twice before you plan. "Discuss both views and give your own opinion" is three jobs, and Task Response is capped if one is missing, however good the English. The format is identical for Academic and General Training; GT prompts simply tend to be more everyday (see Academic vs General Training).
IELTS Writing Task 2 topics that keep coming back
There is no official published list of topics; what is predictable is the theme. Prompts must be fair to a 17-year-old in one country and a 45-year-old engineer in another, so they stay inside general social issues that need no specialist knowledge. The ten areas below, each with a typical prompt, account for the great majority of questions candidates report. Note how each pairs a theme with one of the five types.
- Education. "Some people believe university students should pay the full cost of their studies, while others think higher education should be free. Discuss both views and give your own opinion."
- Technology. "More and more people rely on their phones for everyday tasks such as paying, navigating and communicating. Is this a positive or negative development?"
- Environment. "Individuals can do little to protect the environment; only governments and large companies can make a real difference. To what extent do you agree or disagree?"
- Health. "In many countries the proportion of overweight children is rising. What are the causes, and what measures could reduce it?"
- Work and careers. "Some employers now allow staff to work from home most of the week. What are the advantages and disadvantages for employees?"
- Cities and transport. "Many cities are becoming overcrowded. What problems does this create, and how could they be solved?"
- Globalisation and culture. "As international travel and trade increase, countries are becoming more alike. Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?"
- Media and advertising. "Some people think advertising aimed at children should be banned. To what extent do you agree or disagree?"
- Crime and law. "Some believe longer prison sentences are the best way to reduce crime; others think education and job opportunities are more effective. Discuss both views and give your own opinion."
- Family and society. "In many places, people are choosing to have children later in life. Why is this happening, and is it a positive or negative development?"
Prepare these areas as ideas and vocabulary, not as essays: two arguments on each side and one concrete example per theme. That makes any prompt feel familiar without tempting you to memorise text.
One Task 2 question answered at band 7 and band 8
The prompt below is an opinion question on cities and transport. Both essays take the same position with almost the same ideas; the difference lies entirely in how the ideas are developed and expressed.
Some people believe that governments should spend money on faster public transport rather than on building more roads. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Band 7 sample essay (266 words)
"Nowadays, traffic congestion is a serious problem in many cities. The number of private cars are increasing every year, and some people argue that governments should invest in faster public transport instead of constructing new roads. I completely agree with this view, because public transport reduces pollution and it is a more efficient use of public money.
Firstly, improving public transport is better for the environment. Private cars produce a large amount of carbon emissions, which contributes to climate change and air pollution in cities. If buses and trains were faster and more reliable, more people would choose to use them instead of driving. For example, in many big cities with a modern metro system, the majority of citizens travel by train every day, and the air quality is better than in cities which depend on cars. Therefore, spending on public transport helps to protect the environment.
Secondly, building more roads is not a long-term solution to congestion. When a new road is built, more people decide to drive, so after a few years the new road is also full of traffic. This means the money is wasted. On the other hand, a fast railway line can carry thousands of passengers per hour and it does not become congested in the same way. In addition, people who cannot afford a car, such as students and elderly people, also benefit from better public transport.
In conclusion, I strongly agree that governments should prioritise faster public transport over new roads, because it reduces pollution and solves congestion more effectively. Governments should take this action as soon as possible."
Band 8 sample essay (280 words)
"Rising car ownership has left many cities gridlocked for much of the day. While some favour adding capacity by building more roads, I agree that investment in faster public transport is the better option, both because new roads tend to fill up almost as quickly as they are built and because mass transit serves a far wider section of society.
The main weakness of road-building is that it rarely relieves congestion for long. When a motorway is widened or a bypass opened, journeys briefly become easier, which encourages people who previously avoided driving at peak times to take the car; within a few years, traffic levels are typically back where they started. A fast rail or rapid bus line does not suffer from this effect to the same degree, since its capacity can be raised simply by running more frequent services. Public transport therefore offers a more durable return on the same money.
Beyond efficiency, there is the question of who benefits. Roads mainly serve those who already own a vehicle, whereas a reliable metro or bus network is used by students, older people, low-income workers and anyone who would rather not drive. Faster services also make it realistic to live further from one's workplace, which eases pressure on housing in city centres. Admittedly, rural communities will always depend on roads; but as the main priority for a congested city, public transport does far more good for the same spending.
In conclusion, although roads cannot be ignored altogether, I firmly believe that governments should direct the bulk of their transport budgets towards faster, more frequent public transport, which tackles congestion more durably and benefits a much broader range of citizens."
What separates band 7 from band 8, criterion by criterion
Examiners award a band for each of the four equally weighted Writing criteria and average them; Task 2 then counts for two thirds of your Writing band. You can see how a half-band change in Writing moves your overall score with the IELTS band score calculator.
- Task Response. Both essays take a clear position and keep it. The band 7 support is relevant but overgeneralises ("the majority of citizens travel by train every day") and ends with a vague recommendation. The band 8 essay explains the mechanism behind "new roads fill up", names who benefits and adds a concession about rural areas that strengthens the position: "relevant, extended and supported ideas", in the words of the descriptors.
- Coherence and Cohesion. The band 7 essay is logically organised but leans on sequence markers ("Firstly", "Secondly", "Therefore", "In addition"), the classic slight overuse of cohesive devices. The band 8 essay links through meaning ("Beyond efficiency, there is the question of who benefits", "Admittedly... but") and uses referencing ("this effect", "the same money") instead of repetition.
- Lexical Resource. Band 7 vocabulary is adequate and mostly accurate but general: "serious problem", "better for the environment", "a large amount of carbon emissions". Band 8 uses precise, natural collocations ("gridlocked", "adding capacity", "relieves congestion", "a durable return", "eases pressure on housing") with only rare slips. It is not longer or rarer words; it is the right word first time.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy. The band 7 essay mixes simple and complex sentences and contains a few errors that do not block meaning ("The number of private cars are increasing"). The band 8 essay moves easily between relative clauses, a semicolon joining balanced clauses, "whereas" and "since" for contrast and reason, and varied sentence openings, with the majority of sentences error-free.
Notice what did not change: the position, the two arguments, the four-paragraph shape. The extra band came from development, precision and control, which is why rewriting your own paragraphs beats reading more model essays.
A 40-minute timing plan for Task 2
| Minutes | Stage | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 0–4 | Analyse and plan | Underline topic and instruction; identify the type; decide your position; note one idea plus one example per body paragraph |
| 4–9 | Introduction | Two sentences: paraphrase the topic, then answer in the form the type demands |
| 9–30 | Body paragraphs | Two paragraphs of 90–110 words: topic sentence, explanation, example, link back to the question |
| 30–35 | Conclusion | Restate position and reasons in new words; no new ideas |
| 35–40 | Check | Subject-verb agreement, articles, plurals, word count (aim for 270–300), every part of the question answered |
The planning minutes are the ones candidates skip and the ones that most improve Task Response. On the computer-delivered test the word count is displayed, which removes the counting problem but not the planning one; see what changes in computer-delivered IELTS.
Common mistakes on IELTS essay topics
- Memorised templates and openers. "In this modern era, it is a controversial issue that..." adds nothing, and examiners discount memorised language under Lexical Resource and Task Response.
- Over-long introductions. Sixty words of background before you answer wastes words that belong in the body. Two sentences is enough.
- Under 250 words. Short responses are penalised under Task Response and almost always under-develop their ideas. Aim for 270–300.
- Drifting off topic. A question about advertising aimed at children is not a question about advertising in general. Keep the key noun of the prompt in every topic sentence.
- Generic vocabulary. "Good", "bad", "important", "many people think" cap you at band 6 or 7 on Lexical Resource. Build topic-specific collocations for the ten areas above.
- No position in an opinion essay. "Both sides have merit" is not an answer to "To what extent do you agree?" Decide, and say to what extent.
If several of these describe your essays, the problem is usually a ceiling at band 6 or 6.5 rather than a lack of English; see why candidates get stuck at IELTS band 6.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common IELTS Writing Task 2 topics?
Candidates most often report prompts about education, technology, the environment, health, work, cities and transport, globalisation, media and advertising, crime, and family or social change. These are themes, not fixed questions: the same theme can appear as any of the five question types, so prepare ideas and vocabulary for each theme rather than a ready-made essay.
How many words should an IELTS Writing Task 2 essay be?
The official minimum is 250 words, and writing fewer is penalised under Task Response. There is no maximum, but essays much over 320 words usually contain more errors and leave no time to check. Most band 7 and band 8 essays fall between 270 and 300 words.
Can I use a memorised essay in IELTS Writing Task 2?
No. Examiners recognise memorised passages and template sentences that do not respond to the specific question, and such language is not credited under Task Response or Lexical Resource. A memorised essay also rarely fits the exact prompt, which drags the whole response off topic. Learn structures, collocations and ideas by theme, then write fresh sentences every time.
What is the difference between band 7 and band 8 in IELTS Writing?
A band 7 essay answers every part of the question with a clear position, is logically organised and uses some less common vocabulary and complex grammar, but with occasional overgeneralisation, slight overuse of linkers and a few errors. A band 8 essay develops its ideas more fully, links them through meaning, chooses precise collocations and produces mostly error-free sentences. The ideas can be the same; the control is not.
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