Academic Writing Task 2 - question types and essay formats

In the Academic Task 2 essay you may be asked from a range of questions. Whatever the question, it’s good to have an essay structure in mind. A four-paragraph structure is the most common, and the easiest to adapt to different questions.
Before you take the test, practice using the structure so you can plan your essay quickly on the day of the test.
Here are some possible question types and four-paragraph structures to match:

Agree or Disagree

Many children these days have an unhealthy diet. Both schools and parents are equally responsible for solving this problem. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

1. Introduction: topic and give your opinion (how much you agree or disagree)
2. Main paragraph 1: Why you agree
3. Main paragraph 2: Why you disagree
4. Conclusion: summarise your argument

Note: when the question asks ‘to what extent’, you can agree or disagree in both main paragraphs.

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Advantages or Disadvantages outweigh each other

In some countries, governments are encouraging people to use their cars less and to take public transport instead. Do the advantages of this trend outweigh the disadvantages?

1. Introduction: topic and give your opinion (more advantages or disadvantages?)
2. Main paragraph 1: Advantages
3. Main paragraph 2: Disadvantages
4. Conclusion: summarise your opinion in a different way from the introduction

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Problem and Solution

Crime rates tend to be higher in cities than in smaller towns. Explain some possible reasons for this problem and suggest some solutions.

1. Introduction: topic and general answer to question
2. Main paragraph 1: Give reasons for problem
3. Main paragraph 2: Offer some solutions
4. Conclusion: summarise (and paraphrase) your argument

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Discuss two views plus your opinion

Some people say children use technology too much these days. Others believe that using technology now will help them in the future. Discuss both these views and give your opinion.

1. Introduction: topic and give your opinion
2. Main paragraph 1: Discuss one view
3. Main paragraph 2: Discuss second view
4. Conclusion: summarise (and paraphrase) your opinion

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Two-part questions

Some people think that history as a subject at school is not useful and should be replaced with a more practical subject. Why do you think it is important to learn about history? What would be the effect if children were not taught history?

1. Introduction: topic and give an overall answer to both questions
2. Main paragraph 1: Answer first question
3. Main paragraph 2: Answer second question
4. Conclusion: summarise both answers

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One or two general points:

• Introduce the topic by paraphrasing the question
• Try to give two or three ideas in each paragraph
• Always support your ideas with examples
• Make sure examples are quite general – not personal examples
• Conclude by summarising your opinion in a different way from the into (paraphrase)