Analysing the question: five essay types
Recognise the five main Task 2 essay types from their instruction words, separate topic words from instruction and limiting words, list every job the question gives you, and write a precise partly-agree position when the question allows it.
By the end of this lesson you will be able to:
- Separate topic words, limiting words and instruction words in any Task 2 prompt
- Identify opinion, discussion, advantages–disadvantages, problem–solution or cause–effect, and two-part questions
- Know when your own opinion is required and when it is optional
- Count and answer every part of a multi-part question, including hidden jobs
- Write a clear, defensible partly-agree position instead of sitting on the fence
Three kinds of words in every prompt
Topic words tell you what the essay is about: online learning, public transport, living alone.
Limiting words narrow the topic: who, where, when, how much. Young people, in developing countries, in the last twenty years, only, all, should be free, rather than. These are the words candidates skip, and they are often the whole point of the question.
Instruction words tell you what to do with the topic: To what extent do you agree or disagree?, Discuss both views and give your own opinion, What are the causes…?
Most candidates read the topic carefully and the instruction quickly. Examiners do the opposite: the instruction defines the ‘task’ in Task Response. Read it first, and read it twice.
In some countries, a growing number of adults are choosing to live alone rather than with family members.
Why is this happening? Is it a positive or negative development?
- Topic wordsAdults living alone instead of with family.
- Limiting words‘A growing number’ (this is a trend), ‘adults’ (not specifically the elderly or students), ‘choosing’ (it is voluntary, so do not write about people who are forced to live alone).
- Instruction 1‘Why is this happening?’ means explain the causes. Not solutions, not effects.
- Instruction 2‘Is it a positive or negative development?’ demands a judgement. You must say which, or say precisely in what way it is both.
- Essay typeTwo-part (direct questions). Two questions = two jobs, so a natural plan is one body paragraph per question.
The five essay types at a glance
| Type | Typical instruction wording | What you must deliver | Your opinion? |
|---|---|---|---|
| To what extent do you agree or disagree? · Do you agree or disagree? · Is this a positive or negative development? · Do you think this is a good idea? | A clear position (agree, disagree or partly agree) defended throughout. | Required, from introduction to conclusion |
| Discuss both these views and give your own opinion. | A fair explanation of BOTH views, plus your own opinion. | Required |
| What are the advantages and disadvantages…? · Discuss the advantages and disadvantages… · Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages? | Both sides. With ‘outweigh’, a verdict on which side is stronger. | Optional for ‘what are…’ and ‘discuss…’; required for ‘outweigh’ |
| What problems does this cause? What solutions can you suggest? · What are the causes? What can be done? · What are the effects? | Exactly the two elements named: problems + solutions, causes + solutions, or causes + effects. | Not required, but your choice of solutions shows judgement |
| Two separate questions of any other kind, e.g. Why is this happening? Is this a positive or negative development? | A direct answer to each question, with similar weight. | Required whenever one of the questions asks for it |
Each type in detail
1. Opinion
Some people believe that every secondary school student should learn at least two foreign languages. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Jobs: one clear position plus reasons. Structure: two reasons for your view, or a concession paragraph followed by your main argument.
2. Discussion
Some people think that the best way to improve road safety is to raise the minimum driving age, while others believe that stricter driving tests would be more effective. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Jobs: explain view A fairly, explain view B fairly, give your opinion. Structure: one body paragraph per view, with your opinion in the introduction, in the paragraph for the view you support, and in the conclusion.
3. Advantages and disadvantages
Many companies now allow staff to work four longer days a week instead of five. Do the advantages of this arrangement outweigh the disadvantages?
Jobs: advantages, disadvantages and, because of ‘outweigh’, a verdict. Structure: one paragraph per side, conventionally the weaker side first and the stronger side second, so the essay builds towards your verdict.
4. Problem–solution and cause–effect
In many large cities, the number of private cars has risen sharply. What problems does this cause, and what measures could be taken to solve them?
More and more young people are leaving rural areas to work in cities. What are the causes of this, and what effects does it have on the countryside?
Jobs: exactly the two elements named. Structure: one paragraph per element, with solutions that match the problems you described.
5. Two-part (direct questions)
Many people now get most of their news from social media rather than newspapers or television. Why is this? Is this a positive or negative development?
Jobs: answer each question directly. Structure: one body paragraph per question.
The labelling rule used in this course: if the two questions form a cause/problem + solution pair or a cause + effect pair, call it type 4. Any other pair (Why…? + Is it positive or negative?, What…? + Should…?) is type 5. Some books call every two-question prompt ‘two-part’. The label matters far less than the rule behind it: answer exactly the questions asked.
Recognise the type in 20 seconds
- 1
Read the instruction line first
Skip the statement for a moment. The final sentence or two tells you the essay type.
- 2
Count the question marks and the ‘and’s
Each question and each ‘and’ in the instruction is usually a separate job: Discuss both views and give your own opinion = three jobs.
- 3
Look for opinion triggers
agree, your own opinion, positive or negative, outweigh, do you think, is this a good idea. If any appears, your view is compulsory.
- 4
Find the two sides, if any
Both views? Advantages and disadvantages? Problems and solutions? Name them in two or three words each.
- 5
Write the job list
On your question paper or note paper: ‘1) causes 2) solutions’ or ‘1) view A 2) view B 3) my view’. You will tick these off when you check your essay.
Name that essay type
8 questions- 1
Some people say that university education should be free for every student. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
- 2
In many countries, more people are shopping online and many high-street shops are closing. Why is this happening? Is this a positive or negative development?
- 3
Some people argue that zoos are cruel and should be closed, while others believe they play an important role in protecting wildlife. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
- 4
Some governments are building entirely new cities instead of expanding existing ones. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this approach?
- 5
Obesity among children is rising in many countries. What are the main causes of this problem, and what solutions can you suggest?
- 6
More and more young people want to start their own business rather than work for a company. Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?
- 7
In some countries, people are spending more time and money on their pets than ever before. Is this a positive or negative development?
- 8
Children today spend much less time playing outdoors than previous generations did. What are the reasons for this? What effects does this have on their development?
Answer every question to check.
Answer every part: the job list
The difference between band 5, 6 and 7 in Task Response is largely about coverage:
- Band 5: the task is addressed only partially.
- Band 6: all parts are addressed, but some more fully than others.
- Band 7+: all parts are addressed, with a clear position throughout.
So before you plan, list the jobs. Some are obvious (two question marks = two jobs). Others are hidden inside the statement:
- ‘rather than’ / ‘instead of’ / ‘not…but…’ creates a comparison. Some people think that the government, rather than parents, should be responsible for teaching children about healthy eating. You must weigh government against parents, not just praise healthy eating.
- Plurals (problems, measures, reasons) mean at least two of each.
- Absolute words (all, only, always, never, every) are often what you agree or disagree with. Many strong answers accept the general idea but reject the absolute: ‘I agree that most students would benefit, but not that it should apply to all of them.’
- Time or place limits (in the future, in developing countries, in cities) must be reflected in your examples.
Count the jobs, then map the paragraphs
| Instruction | Jobs | A natural body plan |
|---|---|---|
To what extent do you agree or disagree? | 1 position + reasons | Body 1: reason 1 · Body 2: reason 2 (or, for partly agree: Body 1 the part you accept · Body 2 the part you reject) |
Discuss both views and give your own opinion. | View A + view B + your opinion | Body 1: view A · Body 2: view B, which you support · opinion also in the introduction and conclusion |
What are the advantages and disadvantages? | Advantages + disadvantages | Body 1: advantages · Body 2: disadvantages |
Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages? | Both sides + a verdict | Body 1: the weaker side · Body 2: the stronger side · verdict in the introduction and conclusion |
What are the causes? What can be done? | Causes + solutions | Body 1: two causes · Body 2: solutions that match those causes |
Why is this happening? Is it positive or negative? | Reasons + a judgement | Body 1: reasons · Body 2: your judgement, supported |
Missing a job vs covering every job
Band 5–6: one view missing
Prompt: Some people think that the best way to improve road safety is to raise the minimum driving age, while others believe that stricter driving tests would be more effective. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Introduction: Road accidents are a serious problem in many countries. In my opinion, stricter driving tests are the best way to make roads safer, and this essay will explain why.
Body 1: Stricter tests make drivers more skilful.
Body 2: Practical tests in real traffic reduce accidents.
Band 7+: all three jobs
Same prompt.
Introduction: Road accidents claim thousands of lives every year, and there is disagreement about how best to prevent them. While raising the minimum driving age might reduce risk-taking among the youngest drivers, I believe that tougher driving tests would be more effective, because they target the skills that every driver needs, whatever their age.
Body 1: The case for a higher driving age: teenagers take more risks; but age alone does not create skill.
Body 2: The case for stricter tests, which I support: hazard awareness, night and highway driving; applies to all ages.
The left plan writes two paragraphs about the same view and never explains the case for a higher driving age. The examiner sees only two of the three jobs, which is ‘addresses the task only partially’ territory. The right plan gives each view its own paragraph and shows the writer’s opinion in the introduction and in Body 2, so every job is visibly done.
Partly agree: a real position, not a fence
In an opinion essay you may agree, disagree or partly agree. All three can reach band 9. Partly agree only works, though, when it is precise. The examiner must be able to say in one sentence exactly what you think.
Fence-sitting (band 5–6):
- ‘I partly agree and partly disagree.’ (With what? Why?)
- ‘It depends on the person.’ (On what, exactly?)
- ‘There are good and bad points.’ (That is a description, not a position.)
Precise partly-agree positions (band 7+):
- Split the statement: I agree that X, but not that Y.
- Add a condition: I agree with X, but only if Y.
- Limit the scope: X is true for most people / in cities / in the short term, but not for…
- Weigh the sides: Although X has some merit, I believe that, on balance, Y.
Then let the structure follow the position: one body paragraph for the part you accept, one for the part you reject, and a conclusion that repeats the same split in new words.
One warning: do not partly agree just to look balanced. A clear one-sided position is just as acceptable and is often easier to develop in 40 minutes.
Prompt: Some people believe that all students should be required to study science and mathematics until the end of secondary school. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Introduction: In many education systems, students may drop science and mathematics at around sixteen in order to specialise. I agree that every student should continue studying mathematics until they leave school, but I do not believe that compulsory science is equally justified for those pursuing the arts or humanities.
Body 1: Why mathematics should stay compulsory: everyday numeracy (budgets, loans, percentages), reading data in the news, required by most employers.
Body 2: Why compulsory science is harder to justify: crowded timetable, low motivation leads to rote learning, basic scientific literacy can be built into general studies instead.
Conclusion: Maths for all, yes; full science courses for all, no.
- Splits the statementThe prompt bundles ‘science and mathematics’. The writer separates them and takes a different view on each, which is a genuinely precise position.
- Uses the absolute word‘All students’ is what the writer partly rejects. Absolute words are often the best place to build a partly-agree argument.
- Structure mirrors the positionBody 1 = the part accepted, Body 2 = the part rejected. The examiner never has to guess where the writer stands.
- Consistent to the endThe conclusion repeats exactly the same split. A position that changes in the conclusion is the band 6 descriptor ‘conclusions may become unclear’.
Jobs, hidden jobs and positions
7 questions- 1
Match each instruction to the jobs it creates.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?What are the causes? What can be done?Why is this happening? Is it a positive or negative development?What are the advantages and disadvantages? - 2
Some people think that the government, rather than parents, should be responsible for teaching children about healthy eating. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Choose TWO things a band 7 answer must do.
Select 2.
- 3
Instruction: What are the advantages and disadvantages of this trend?
You must not include your own opinion anywhere in this essay.
- 4
Prompt: Many people believe that social media has made people less sociable. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
A candidate who partly agrees can still achieve band 7 or higher in Task Response.
- 5
Which partly-agree thesis is the strongest?
- 6
The question asks: ‘What problems does this cause?’ What does the plural tell you?
- 7
‘Discuss both views and give your own opinion’ gives you jobs.
Answer every question to check.
Writing Task 2 practice
90+ words · 12 minDecode each prompt below. For each one, write: (a) the essay type, (b) the topic and limiting words, (c) the list of jobs, and (d) a one-sentence thesis that answers the question. Aim for at least 90 words in total.
Prompt 1: Some people believe that every city should hold a car-free day once a month. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Prompt 2: Some people think that older people should be encouraged to keep working after retirement age, while others believe they should make way for younger workers. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Prompt 3: In many countries, fewer young people read books for pleasure than in the past. Why is this the case? Is this a negative development?
Self-check before submitting
- ☐ Each prompt is labelled with the correct essay type
- ☐ Limiting words are identified (e.g. ‘every city’, ‘once a month’, ‘for pleasure’)
- ☐ Prompt 2 has three jobs listed: view A, view B and your opinion
- ☐ Prompt 3 has two jobs listed: reasons and a judgement
- ☐ Each thesis is one sentence and answers the instruction directly
- ☐ Every thesis paraphrases rather than copies the prompt
- ☐ No fence-sitting phrases such as ‘it depends’ or ‘both sides have points’ without a clear view
Final quiz: analysing the question
11 questions- 1
Some people think that printed newspapers will soon disappear because of the internet. Do you agree or disagree?
- 2
Many people now live in high-rise apartment buildings. Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?
- 3
In many cities, house prices have risen much faster than wages. What problems does this cause? What measures could governments take to address them?
- 4
Some people believe that school sport should be competitive, while others think it should focus only on fitness and enjoyment. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
- 5
Many university graduates now move abroad to work. Why is this happening? Is this a positive or negative trend for their home countries?
- 6
In a discussion essay, it is acceptable to explain only the view you agree with, as long as you explain it very well.
- 7
In developing countries, many young women are now delaying marriage to pursue careers. Is this a positive or negative development? Choose TWO limiting words or phrases.
Select 2.
- 8
Match each instruction to its essay type.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?What are the causes? What solutions can you suggest?Why is this happening? Do you think it is a good thing? - 9
Put the parts of an ‘outweigh’ essay in the conventional order.
Drag the cards (or use the arrows) into the correct order.
- 1Introduction: paraphrase the topic and give your verdict
- 2Conclusion: restate the verdict and the main reason
- 3Body 1: the weaker side
- 4Body 2: the stronger side
- 10
In an essay that asks ‘What are the advantages and disadvantages?’, your own opinion is .
- 11
Which thesis answers BOTH parts of: Why are more adults choosing to live alone? Is this a positive or negative development?
Answer every question to check.
Key takeaways
Instruction-word vocabulary
Saved as flashcards with a free accountoutweigh
verb/ˌaʊtˈweɪ/
To be greater or more important than something else.
অন্যটির চেয়ে বেশি গুরুত্বপূর্ণ হওয়া
In my view, the benefits of flexible working clearly outweigh the drawbacks.
extent
noun/ɪkˈstent/
The degree to which something is true or happens.
মাত্রা, পরিমাণ
I agree to a large extent, but not entirely.
drawback
noun/ˈdrɔːbæk/
A disadvantage or problem that makes something less attractive.
অসুবিধা, ত্রুটি
The main drawback of a four-day week is fatigue on longer working days.
measure
noun/ˈmeʒə/
An official action taken to deal with a problem.
পদক্ষেপ, ব্যবস্থা
Governments could introduce several measures to reduce food waste.
trend
noun/trend/
A general direction in which something is changing.
প্রবণতা
The trend towards studying abroad shows no sign of slowing down.
development
noun/dɪˈveləpmənt/
A new event or change in a situation.
নতুন পরিবর্তন বা ঘটনা
Many people regard the rise of remote work as a positive development.
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