IELTS Writing Task 2 Essay Templates (2026)
Paste-ready IELTS Writing Task 2 essay templates for agree/disagree, discussion, advantages/disadvantages, problem/solution and two-part questions, plus high-band phrase banks for Band 7 structure.
How to use Task 2 templates without sounding memorised
IELTS Writing Task 2 templates are flexible paragraph frames examiners accept when you fill them with task-specific ideas. A good template only fixes jobs: paraphrase, thesis, one controlling idea per body, and a conclusion that matches the instruction. It does not supply ready-made opinions about education, cities or technology.
Memorised openings such as In this day and age or There are two sides to every coin waste words and signal a canned script. Examiners notice when the introduction could fit any prompt. Replace empty openers with a short paraphrase of the topic and a thesis that answers that day's question in plain English.
Avoid
Memorised shell
Nowadays this issue is widely debated and people hold different views.
- •No link to the prompt
- •No thesis
- •Sounds rehearsed
Use
Flexible frame
While some argue that [view A], I believe [clear position] because [reason 1] and [reason 2].
- •Answers the instruction
- •Preview of body ideas
- •Easy to adapt
Agree / disagree and to what extent templates
Agree/disagree prompts ask for a clear personal position. To what extent prompts invite you to state full, large, partial or no agreement, but you still need one dominant answer. Use two body paragraphs that prove the same degree of agreement.
| Part | Paste-ready skeleton |
|---|---|
| Intro | The issue of [topic paraphrase] has prompted debate about whether [statement idea]. I [fully / largely / partly agree / disagree] that [restated claim] because [reason 1] and [reason 2]. |
| Body 1 | The main reason I [agree / disagree] is that [controlling idea]. This is because [explanation]. For example, [education / work / city scenario]. As a result, [link back to thesis]. |
| Body 2 | A further point is that [second controlling idea]. When [condition], [effect]. A clear illustration is [second scenario]. This supports my view that [degree of agreement]. |
| Conclusion | In conclusion, I [restate degree] that [claim], mainly because [reason 1] and [reason 2]. [Optional: brief condition if you partly agreed]. |
- Thesis names how far you agree before Body 1 starts
- Any concession is smaller than the main case
- Avoid turning the essay into a balanced discussion with no dominant side
Discussion essay templates (both views + opinion)
Discussion prompts usually say discuss both views and give your own opinion. Treat View A, View B and your judgement as three separate jobs. The template below places your opinion in the introduction and restates it after fair coverage of both sides.
| Part | Paste-ready skeleton |
|---|---|
| Intro | Some people believe that [view A paraphrase], while others argue that [view B paraphrase]. This essay will examine both perspectives before concluding that [your opinion]. |
| Body 1 | Supporters of [view A] argue that [reason]. In practice, [explanation]. For instance, [scenario]. Therefore, this view emphasises [benefit or priority]. |
| Body 2 | By contrast, those who favour [view B] claim that [reason]. This is because [explanation]. A typical example is [scenario]. However / Overall, I find [opinion] more persuasive because [weighing reason]. |
| Conclusion | In summary, while [view A] and [view B] both have merit, I believe [final opinion] because [key justification]. |
Advantages / disadvantages templates (and outweigh)
Some prompts ask you only to discuss advantages and disadvantages. Others ask whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. The second type needs an explicit weighing sentence in the thesis and conclusion.
| Part | Discuss both | Outweigh variant |
|---|---|---|
| Intro | This essay will examine the main advantages and disadvantages of [topic]. | [Topic paraphrase] brings both benefits and drawbacks. Overall, I believe the advantages outweigh the disadvantages because [main reason]. |
| Body 1 | One clear advantage is [benefit]. This means [explanation]. For example, [scenario]. | The strongest advantage is [benefit]. [Explanation + example]. This benefit is significant because [scale / long-term effect]. |
| Body 2 | On the other hand, a major disadvantage is [drawback]. As a result, [effect]. For instance, [scenario]. | Admittedly, [drawback] can occur when [condition]. Yet this problem is often manageable if [mitigation], so it does not cancel the main benefit. |
| Conclusion | In conclusion, [topic] offers [advantage summary] but also [disadvantage summary]. | In conclusion, although [drawback] exists, the advantages of [topic] outweigh the disadvantages because [restate weighing reason]. |
- 1Spot the verbDiscuss both needs balance. Outweigh needs a clear winner.
- 2Match body weightFor outweigh essays, spend more depth on the stronger side.
- 3Avoid new ideas lateDo not invent a third advantage only in the conclusion.
Problem / solution and causes / solutions templates
Problem/solution prompts may ask for problems and solutions, causes and solutions, or causes and effects. Match the instruction exactly. The frames below cover the common problems + solutions and causes + solutions patterns.
| Part | Problems + solutions | Causes + solutions |
|---|---|---|
| Intro | [Topic] has created several serious problems. This essay will discuss [problem 1] and [problem 2], then propose practical solutions. | [Topic] stems from several causes. This essay will examine [cause 1] and [cause 2], then suggest workable solutions. |
| Body 1 | One major problem is [problem]. This occurs when [mechanism], leading to [effect]. For example, [scenario]. | A primary cause is [cause]. When [condition], [effect on people / cities / systems]. For instance, [scenario]. |
| Body 2 | These issues can be addressed by [solution 1] and [solution 2]. If governments / schools / employers [action], [expected result]. A realistic example is [policy or practice]. | To tackle these causes, [solution 1] should [action], while [solution 2] can [action]. Together, these measures would reduce [problem label] by [mechanism]. |
| Conclusion | In conclusion, [problem summary] can be eased if [solution summary] is implemented consistently. | In conclusion, addressing [causes] through [solutions] would significantly improve [outcome]. |
- Solutions must logically match the problems or causes you named
- Prefer specific actors: governments, employers, schools, individuals
- Do not write only causes if the prompt also asks for solutions
Two-part question templates
Two-part questions ask two direct questions in one prompt, for example why something happens and whether it is positive. Answer both parts with roughly equal development so Task Response stays complete.
| Part | Paste-ready skeleton |
|---|---|
| Intro | This essay will first explain [question 1 paraphrase] and then discuss [question 2 paraphrase]. Overall, [short preview of both answers]. |
| Body 1 | Regarding the first question, [direct answer]. This is mainly because [reason]. For example, [scenario]. Consequently, [link to Q1]. |
| Body 2 | As for the second question, I believe [direct answer]. The key reason is [reason]. A clear illustration is [scenario]. Therefore, [link to Q2]. |
| Conclusion | In conclusion, [answer to Q1 in one clause], and [answer to Q2 in one clause]. |
High-band expressions by function
Use these phrases to move ideas cleanly. Swap in topic words from the prompt rather than stacking connectors for decoration.
| Function | Useful phrases |
|---|---|
| Opinion | I largely agree that...; In my view...; I am convinced that...; My own view is that... |
| Contrast | By contrast...; Whereas...; While it is true that...; That said... |
| Cause-effect | This is largely because...; As a result...; This leads to...; Consequently... |
| Examples | For instance...; A clear illustration is...; Take [context], where...; This can be seen when... |
| Conclusions | In conclusion...; Overall...; On balance...; Taking these points together... |
- Essay types overview - Confirm which template matches the prompt
- Linking words guide - Strengthen Coherence without overusing connectors
- Agree / disagree deep dive - Thesis and partial-agreement tactics
Practise next
Frequently asked questions
Will examiners penalise templates?+
No. They penalise memorised content that does not answer the question. Flexible frames filled with task-specific ideas are normal Band 7 practice.
How many paragraphs should Task 2 have?+
Four paragraphs work for most types: introduction, two bodies, conclusion. Discussion essays sometimes use three bodies if you separate opinion, but two developed bodies plus a clear opinion also work.
Can I memorise full introductions?+
Avoid it. Memorised openings often ignore the exact instruction and look generic. Memorise jobs and phrase patterns, not whole paragraphs.
Do I need advanced vocabulary in every sentence?+
No. Precise topic words and clear logic matter more than rare synonyms. Use the phrase table to organise ideas, not to decorate every line.
Should I change the template for to what extent?+
Keep the same four-part shape, but make the degree of agreement explicit in the thesis, topic sentences and conclusion.