⚡ TL;DR

A detailed guide to this IELTS Writing Task 2 essay type, with structure templates, useful vocabulary, and techniques to achieve Band 7+.

Originally published June 2020. Last reviewed 3 July 2026.

Take A Look At IELTS Writing Samples From Low To High Band Scores With Teacher Feedback.

Writing Task 2 – Band Score 9
Writing Task 2 – Band Score 9

Writing Task 2 – Band Score 9

Most of the students studying for the IELTS Test have said they find the IELTS Writing Tasks difficult. Take a look at this student essay example and see how it compares to your own writing. This is a writing task 2 health/obesity topic, agree/disagree essay example.

Writing Task 2 – Band Score 8
Writing Task 2 – Band Score 8

Writing Task 2 – Band Score 8

Most of the students studying for the IELTS Test have said they find the IELTS Writing Tasks difficult. Take a look at this student essay example and see how it compares to your own writing. This is a writing task 2 Social Media/Internet topic, problem/solution essay example.

Writing Task 2 – Band Score 7
Writing Task 2 – Band Score 7

Writing Task 2 – Band Score 7

Most of the students studying for the IELTS Test have said they find the IELTS Writing Tasks difficult. Take a look at this student essay example and see how it compares to your own writing. This is a writing task 2 Environment topic, cause/effect essay example.

Writing Task 2 – Band Score 6
Writing Task 2 – Band Score 6

Writing Task 2 – Band Score 6

Most of the students studying for the IELTS Test have said they find the IELTS Writing Tasks difficult. Take a look at this student essay example and see how it compares to your own writing. This is a writing task 2 Government topic, agree/disagree essay example.

Writing Task 2 – Band Score 4.5
Writing Task 2 – Band Score 4.5

Writing Task 2 – Band Score 4.5

Most of the students studying for the IELTS Test have said they find the IELTS Writing Tasks difficult.  Take a look at this student essay example and see how it compares to your own writing. This is a writing task 2 health topic, problem/solution essay example.

Learning from Student Essay Examples

Studying real student essays at different band levels is one of the most effective ways to understand what IELTS examiners look for. These examples demonstrate the practical difference between band levels.

How to Use These Examples

  1. Read the question first: Before reading the essay, consider how you would answer it yourself.
  2. Identify strengths: Note what the essay does well — clear structure, specific examples, varied vocabulary.
  3. Spot weaknesses: Identify areas for improvement — underdeveloped ideas, grammatical errors, repetition.
  4. Compare across bands: Read essays at different bands for the same topic to understand the scoring progression.
  5. Write your own version: After analysing, write your own response to the same question under timed conditions.

Common Patterns in High-Scoring Essays

  • Clear thesis statement in the introduction
  • Each body paragraph focuses on one main idea
  • Specific examples support general claims
  • A range of sentence structures (simple, compound, complex)
  • Topic-specific vocabulary used accurately
  • A conclusion that reinforces the main argument without introducing new ideas

Originally published on IELTS Achieve. Last reviewed 3 July 2026.