Essay Writing for IELTS: Learn How to Write an Essay for IELTS Writing Task 2

IELTS or the International English Language Testing System is an English language proficiency test. It is one of the world’s most popular and commonly written tests as it is conducted and accepted in nearly 150 countries across the globe. This test is mainly conducted to test a candidate’s knowledge of the English language which is essential to migrate to English-speaking countries for higher studies or job purposes. A score of 1-9 will be given to the candidate after the test that will decide how good an applicant is in English. This test helps to analyse whether a candidate’s ability to use English to deal with day-to-day situations or problems.

Exam Pattern

Before knowing the exam pattern, it is important to note that the IELTS exam is of two types which are General and Academic. General is for people wanting to move abroad for Job purposes or for permanent residence whereas Academic is for candidates who want to move abroad for higher studies.

In IELTS, different tasks are present to test your command over the language. They are Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. All the sections except for speaking are conducted on the same day in a span of 2 hours 40 minutes without any break. Speaking test is however conducted on the same day or seven days before or after the test.

In this article, we will see how to write task 2 of the IELTS writing test. The task consists of writing an essay and the questions can vary and people often wonder how to prepare for IELTS essay writing? In this article, we’ll take you through the process of how to write an essay for IELTS task 2.

How to Write an Essay in the IELTS?

Here are a few step-by-step tips for IELTS essay writing:

1. Introduction

While writing an essay, one should typically start with an introduction. Keep the intro short, and in this, you need to repeat what is asked in the question. You shouldn’t copy, but your introduction should give the same meaning as the question. Try to use synonyms.

2. Give Your Opinion

After re-stating the question, give your opinion on the essay. Remember, there is no right or wrong answer in the essay, and even the examiner is also not looking for the right answer. With this task, they just wanted to test your writing skills. Hence, go with your instinct and give your opinion.

3. Support i

After giving your opinion, you need to support it. Back up your essay with good examples and why you felt you need to support it. You can begin your paragraphs with phrases like:

# Personally, I believe that.

# From my point of view.

# I am convinced that.

# In my opinion.

# In my view.

#4. Give the Other Side of Your Opinion

After your opinion, look at the question from the opposite perspective. Share the possibilities, with all the views in one place. Your work will be a useful piece of information.

You can use words like:

# It can also be argued that.

# Someone would oppose the view saying that.

# However, there will always be another side to this discussion.

# In contrast, some people hold the view that.

#5. Conclusion

Write a conclusion that would be a closing point for your side of the opinion or argument. Also, present a good and informative conclusion that would leave a good impression on you for the examiner.

Note that you need to write the writing task 2 essay in a time span of 40 minutes with at least 250 words. If your essay is below that, you will get a low score. Keep these two points, time and word limit, in mind and practice well.

Essay Writing Skills for IELTS

Here are a few essay writing skills for IELTS that you need to enhance for writing a good essay:

#1. Improve Vocabulary: Use good connectors, adjectives to make your essay look good.

#2. Usage of Synonyms: To avoid redundancy, use synonyms of the same words. Make sure to not take away the original meaning.

#3. Handwriting: Good handwriting is important for examiners to understand what you are writing and a good impression.

#4. Writing Speed: Since there is a time constraint, practice writing fast and schedule your time to complete well in the given time span.

#5. Read More to Write Better: When you read a lot, you understand the sentences and grammar better. With this, you can write better with a good presentation. Hence, read more to write better.

What Not to Include While Writing an Essay?

While writing your essay, make sure you keep it formal. Hence, keep the flow formal, and to do that, avoid using:

#1 Idioms

#2 Phrases

#3 Quotes

#4 Proverbs

#5 Informal language

Types of Essays that can Generally be Asked

Here are a few general essays that were asked frequently in the previous years. We cannot be assured that such questions will be asked, but it is important to be prepared. Common essays are:-

#1. Opinion Essays

#2. Advantages and Disadvantages Essays

#3. Agree and Disagree Essays

#4. Your Favourites

#5. Current Affairs

To inculcate the habit of writing good essays, try to attempt as many mock tests as possible and solve different types of questions, previous papers, sample questions before the exam to be well prepared. While writing the test, keep in mind what the evaluator wants, i.e., to test your writing ability, grammar, and vocabulary, and proceed on that path. Move as per the time, and complete your task in 40 given minutes with at least 250 words.

We hope that you received the answer to how to write essay for IELTS task 2. Writing an essay is not easy, but with all the tips, effective strategies, practice, and right preparation, you can perform well in the task and score a good band.

Conclusion

To know more about any other IELTS-related topics, continue reading IELTS Ninja’s blogs and for more help, IELTS Ninja‘s personal mentor with years of experience will help you in every step towards scoring a good band in IELTS. They will help solve your doubts, track your progress, and help improve in weak areas. Check out our free demo class before making the next-best decision to join them. To know more, visit the IELTS Ninja website now.