Structuring an IELTS Writing Task 2 essay is an important yet very confusing issue for many candidates. In this post we are focusing at this issue and try to learn what an IELTS Writing Task 2 structure/format/template really means and how to write a great answer to a Task 2 question using a simple structure. You will also get an example answer for an ‘agree-disagree’ essay on ‘nuclear technology’ here.

Every type of IELTS Writing Task 2 essay follows a particular structure. Some candidates, even some trainers, might consider learning about an essay structure a total waste of time. Well, that might be a completely wrong conception. Let’s just take a close look what an essay structure is and how it can help you to get a great band score.

A structure works like a foundation for an IELTS Writing Task 2 essay. Think it like this:
Do you remember drawing a picture in your early school days (primary level / Kindergarten level)? Remember how our art teachers taught us draw a picture of a house, a mouse or an aeroplane? First, we used to draw an outline or sketch of the picture. Consider the following picture of a house with a banana tree nearby.

In the first picture to your left, you can see the structure of the picture; and to your right, the second picture shows the complete picture with colours and small details that were drawn on the structure. Compare the pictures and see how the structure has helped the completed picture.

A structure in IELTS Writing Task 2 works just like this. It helps you to complete your Writing Task 2 essay easily, gives it a great shape and arranges it perfectly.

Here are the reasons why you should follow a writing structure:

• It controls your writing (250 words or more but not too many words).
• It helps you to complete your essay within the stipulated time (around 45 minutes).
• It makes the organisation clear (paragraphing).
• It gives ample time to arrange your ideas for the writing.
• It gives you confidence on writing the essay clearly.

Let’s take a look at a practical example:

Let’s consider the following ‘agree-disagree’ essay title:

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Nuclear technology should be used for constructive purposes.

Do you agree or disagree?

Use your own knowledge and experience and support your arguments with examples and relevant evidence.

You should write at least 250 words.

Now, take a close look at the question carefully. As you can see, the question wants us to agree or disagree with the issue, so we can say that this topic is an agree-disagree topic.

Now here is the structure for any agree-disagree topic in an IELTS Writing exam:

Now, let’s write the introduction:

The world has come to know about the effects of nuclear technology since World War II. Nuclear energy has a destructive power and it can wipe out the human race in minutes. Keeping the negative effects in mind, I firmly agree with the statement as I strongly believe that this type of energy source can benefit us if we use it productively.

Initially, the prime reason why I agree with the statement is the potential of nuclear energy to produce massive energy. If we take a glance at some European countries, we can find the clear evidence of this. Countries like France, Slovakia, Ukraine and Hungary use this energy source to produce electricity and they have been quite successful regarding this sort of production. As of 2017, France has produced around 400,000 Gwh (Giga watt hours) of electricity from sustainable nuclear power source.

Additionally, a reason why nuclear technology can be immensely helpful is that it barely contributes to greenhouse gas emissions like fossil fuel burning does. This denotes less overall pollution to the environment as long as nuclear power facilities are properly maintained. As an example, many European and American countries have already used such energy source fruitfully to minimise pollution in their environment and the result been a reduced amount of contamination in the air and water, and fortunately, most of the nuclear plants in those countries are being operated without any kind of disaster.

In fine, nuclear technology undoubtedly contains many positive uses and presents lots of promises for the coming future. It can save our environment by declining pollution and producing electric and other types of energy. However, authorities of nuclear plants should be cautious about disasters that happened previously during the Second World War, Chernobyl and Fukushima; and only then nuclear technology can serve us in the best ways possible.

Now, let’s have a look at the complete essay what we have designed according to the structure:

The world has come to know about the effects of nuclear technology since World War II. Nuclear energy has a destructive power and it can wipe out the human race in minutes. Keeping the negative effects in mind, I firmly agree with the statement as I strongly believe that this type of energy source can benefit us if we use it productively.

Initially, the prime reason why I agree with the statement is the potential of nuclear energy to produce massive energy. If we take a glance at some European countries, we can find the clear evidence of this. Countries like France, Slovakia, Ukraine and Hungary use this energy source to produce electricity and they have been quite successful regarding this sort of production. As of 2017, France has produced around 400,000 Gwh (Giga watt hours) of electricity from sustainable nuclear power source.

Additionally, a reason why nuclear technology can be immensely helpful is that it barely contributes to greenhouse gas emissions like fossil fuel burning does. This denotes less overall pollution to the environment as long as nuclear power facilities are properly maintained. As an example, many European and American countries have already used such energy source fruitfully to minimise pollution in their environment and the result been a reduced amount of contamination in the air and water, and fortunately, most of the nuclear plants in those countries are being operated without any kind of disaster.

In fine, nuclear technology undoubtedly contains many positive uses and presents lots of promises for the coming future. It can save our environment by declining pollution and producing electric and other types of energy. However, authorities of nuclear plants should be cautious about disasters that happened previously during the Second World War, Chernobyl and Fukushima; and only then nuclear technology can serve us in the best ways possible.

(305 words)

I hope this post has helped you understand the importance of structuring an IELTS Writing Task 2 Essay. You can write all the ‘agree-disagree’ essay following this structure.

Let me know how this post has helped you (or not) in comments below.

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