Academic Writing Task 2 Topics

In IELTS Academic Writing Task 2, you need to write an academic essay of at least 250 words on a specified topic. Task 2 usually needs 40 minutes, 2/3 writing test time, so we suggest not exceeding 350 words because more extended content won't credit extra score but add error risk in grammar and vocabulary. Your essay writing practice had better limit the size to around 300 words.

Each Academic Writing Task 2 always has one topic. You cannot change the topic even if you aren't familiar with it or dislike it. It means you give up the test if leaving the assigned topic.

Understanding a topic is the foundation of writing an essay about it. Therefore, you should research, prepare, and practice various topics or questions as much as possible in advance. These recent topics collected here are excellent resources to prepare Academic Writing Task 2.

Task 2 is a double-size job as task 1. It is supposed to be a well-organized essay to offer solutions, express opinions, and comment smoothly. Excellent writers have their way of creating a beautiful masterpiece who do not need any preparation for any writing test. But as for IELTS test-takers, severe practice and exercising will improve the final band. 

We collect popular topics of IELTS writing task 2 and revise them weekly. If you click any writing topic, you will get its questions and answers; then, you can view them on demand. It is a handy tool to connect essay topics with questions and answers.

Click topic to get sample questions and answers  

In general, an Academic Task 2 essay should have four or five paragraphs, including an introduction, body, and conclusion. Just list ideas as bullet points isn't an academic paper. You need to present all contents in a proper structure and fluent sentences. Besides, to provide evidence or reasons to support your argument, don't forget a reasonable and robust conclusion.

Here is a common guide for writing task 2 structure:

Paragraph 1 Introduction: give the topic, show your primary point

Paragraph 2,3,4 (or 2,3) Body: Main idea, supporting idea, examples

Paragraph 5(or 4) Conclusion: Summarize ideas, restate your essential point

In Academic Writing Task 2, you will get a brief description of an opinion, an argument, or a problem, and then you follow it to write an essay. The main question types of  academic task 2 are as follows:

• Agree Disagree
• Discussion
• Cause & Solution
• Direct Question

If you view some IELTS academic writing two essays, you may find that they possibly combine two or more question types. For example, you may have to consider an opinion or weigh the pros and cons of a puzzle and then provide a  way to solve it.

So, to sharpen task 2 writing skills, high score hunters must challenge complicated topics and combined question types.

To help IELTS test takers understand academic task 2 essays, we categorized them into four question types by which we offered a few samples. It's a quick way to get a big picture of academic task 2 writing.

However, when facing a real task 2 assignment, you cannot assume it only involves one question type. For example, Cause & Solution and Discussion sometimes are merged into one academic task 2 writing.

Samples: Agree Disagree 

Samples: Discussion 

Samples: Cause & Solution 

Samples: Direct Question