How to Read and Answer IELTS Writing Task 2 Questions
- Henry Jones
- 11 hours ago
- 6 min read
For my own university exams, I was told "RTFQ", which stands for:
Read
The
Flipping*
Question
*They used another word instead of 'flipping'.
In IELTS Writing Task 2, it is vital that you read and understand the question.
Candidates who do this will likely get a good score.
Candidates who don't do this will will certainly get a bad score.
In this lesson, I'm going to share some of the fundamentals for how to read and understand IELTS Writing Task 2 questions.
In another lesson, I will go into more advanced details about how to read and understand questions.
In the test, you will be given some instructions to follow and a question to answer.
The main instructions will always be the same.
Some instructions (or, "question types") are predictable.
Some general topics (education, health, government spending, etc) are very common.
The specific topic of the question will be different every time.
Therefore, you need to know:
how to follow the typical instructions
topic-specific vocabulary for the most common Task 2 topics
how to read and understand each specific question
In this class we are going to do 3 things:
❓ Discuss the main, predictable instructions.
🖐 Establish what the five "question types" are.
🔤 Identify common Task 2 topics.
1. ❓ The Main, Predictable Instructions:
Here's a typical Writing Task 2 question:
The parts highlighted in green will always be the same.
Let's discuss each in turn.
"You should spend about 40 minutes on this task."
This is important.
If you spend fewer than 40 minutes on this task, you've probably rushed it or not fully answered the question.
If you spend longer than 40 minutes on this task, you won't have enough time to properly complete Writing Task 1, which requires 20 minutes.
You should use the 40 minutes in the following way:
Planning: 5-10 minutes. (link)
Writing: 25-35 minutes.
Checking: 2-5 minutes. (link)
While practising before the test, if you take longer than 40 minutes at first, that's Ok, but by test day you need to practise completing both parts of the Writing Test (Task 1 and Task 2) within 60 minutes.
"Write at least 250 words."
This is important.
If you write fewer than 250 words, you probably haven't answered the question and your arguments are probably underdeveloped.
You should aim to write between 275-300 words.
If you write more than 300 words, your paragraphs might be messy and off-topic and you might run out of time.
However, some high-level, fast-writing students who are aiming for a Band 9, may write more than 300 words for some questions.
"Write about the following topic:"
You need to answer the specific topic written in the question and not write about the topic generally (more on this later).
"Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience."
This instruction is asking you to support your answer with explanations and examples.
First, in your essay plan and in the essay itself, you need to start by giving a simple direct answer to the question.
Then, to provide explanations, imagine you tell someone your answer to the question and they ask you:
‘Why?’
‘How?’
‘What does this mean?’
‘What are the consequences of this?’
‘What more can you say about this?’
'What would you say to <counterargument>?'
To generate examples, imagine the examiner reading at your arguments and asking:
‘Who?’
‘Where?’
‘When?’
‘What evidence do you have for this point?’
‘Can you give me an example to clarify/justify that point?’
It's important to note that it not obligatory to include examples in your Writing Task 2 essays.
You are not expected to be informed about every potential topic, and some questions are about hypothetical situations about which there may be very few real-world examples.
In these cases, your should think of more reasons which support your argument and/or include hypothetical examples.
2. 🖐 The 5 "Types" of Essay Question
IELTS Writing Task 2 questions will always have one of the following formats, with slight variations in wording:
Some people say <opinion>. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Many people do <activity>. Do the advantages of doing <activity> outweigh the disadvantages?
Some people say <opinion>. Other people say <opinion>. Discuss both of these views and give your own opinion.
<situation> is happening in society. What problems can this cause? How could these problems be solved?
<problem> is happening in society. What are the causes of this problem? How could this problem be solved?
<situation> Question about <situation>. Question about <situation>.
These "question types" are instructions for how you should discuss the topic and how you should structure your work. (link)
Now, look at the following questions and try to identify which type of essay it is.
Click on the > button to check your answers.
At the end of this exercise you will find an alternative downloadable version of this exercise which contains 5 more questions.
Which type of question is this?
Discussion - Two-Part Question - Problems/Causes and Solutions
Advantages and Disadvantages - Opinion
👈 Click here for the answer.
This is a "Discussion" (Discuss both views) essay question.
Which type of question is this?
Discussion - Two-Part Question - Problems/Causes and Solutions
Advantages and Disadvantages - Opinion
👈 Click here for the answer.
This one is an "Opinion" (Agree or Disagree) question.
Which type of question is this?
Discussion - Two-Part Question - Problems/Causes and Solutions
Advantages and Disadvantages - Opinion
👈 Click here for the answer.
This is an "Advantages and Disadvantages" question.
Which type of question is this?
Discussion - Two-Part Question - Problems/Causes and Solutions
Advantages and Disadvantages - Opinion
👈 Click here for the answer.
This is a "Problem and Solution" essay. There are also "Causes and Solutions" essays, which are a very similar.
Which type of question is this?
Discussion - Two-Part Question - Problems/Causes and Solutions
Advantages and Disadvantages - Opinion
👈 Click here for the answer.
And finally, this is a Two-Part Question.
3. 🔤 Common Task 2 Topics
The following are the most common 'topics' that appear in Writing Task 2 questions:
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All questions are sociological and non-technical in nature.
That is, the questions are just asking for your opinions on people and society.
In many essays, while giving your opininion, you will probably discuss:
money
health/wellbeing
institutions
practicality
time
Now, look at same questions again, and identify:
The main topics of each essay.
What other potential topics you may discuss in your essay.
Click on the > button to check your answers.
What's the main topic of this question?
What other topics might you discuss in your essay?
👈 Click here for the answer.
The main topic is the environment. Your essay might also discuss institutions, practicality, health/wellbeing, time, and money.
What's the main topic of this question?
What other topics might you discuss in your essay?
👈 Click here for the answer.
The main topics are health, food, lifestyle, money/spending, laws/regulations and institutions. Although your essay will mostly focus on the above topics, your essay may also discuss topics like education and sport.
What's the main topic of this question?
What other topics might you discuss in your essay?
👈 Click here for the answer.
The main topics are education, globalisation and travel. Your essay may also discuss topics like money, development, jobs, lifestyle, culture and languages.
What's the main topic of this question?
What other topics might you discuss in your essay?
👈 Click here for the answer.
The main topics are (communication) technology, (social) media, and social issues. Your essay may also discuss topics like crime, laws/regulations, jobs
What's the main topic of this question?
What other topics might you discuss in your essay?
👈 Click here for the answer.
The main topics are education and work. Your essay may also discuss topics like money, lifestyle, and time.
4. ✅ Conclusion
It is crucial that you read the question so you understand the instructions of what you have to do and the topic(s) you have to write about.
Some instructions are always the same (40 minutes, more than 250 words, give reasons and examples).
Some instructions follow predictable patterns (the five question types).
There are some highly common topics that you will have to write about. In a future article we will look in more detail at how to analyse specific questions, generate ideas, plan, and structure.
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