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IELTS Writing Task 2 Practice Simulator

Practice IELTS essay writing under real exam conditions: get a random Task 2 prompt from 40 real essay topics, write against a 40-minute countdown, and track your word count live against the 250-word minimum.

IELTS Writing Task 2 — Discussion (Both Views)

Some people believe that students should be taught to compete, while others believe that they should be taught to cooperate. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Task 2 minimum: 0 / 250 words

Exam timer — 40 minutes

40:00
Real IELTS Writing Task 2 gives you 40 minutes, no more.

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How IELTS Writing Task 2 works

Task 2 asks you to write a formal essay of at least 250 words responding to a point of view, argument, or problem, in 40 minutes. It's worth twice the marks of Task 1, so most candidates spend the majority of their 60 Writing minutes here.

Every essay is scored against four criteria: Task Response (does your essay fully address the question with a clear position?), Coherence and Cohesion (is it logically organised with clear paragraphing?), Lexical Resource (vocabulary range and precision), and Grammatical Range and Accuracy.

How to use your 40 minutes

  • Plan for 5 minutes. Decide your position and sketch 4 paragraphs (introduction, two body paragraphs, conclusion) before writing a single sentence.
  • Write for about 30 minutes. Aim for 260 to 320 words — enough to develop two full body paragraphs with examples, without rushing your conclusion.
  • Leave 5 minutes to check. Read back for grammar slips, repeated words, and whether every paragraph answers the question.
  • Answer the exact question. A well-written essay that drifts off-topic still loses marks under Task Response — keep referring back to the prompt.
  • Use a clear position. For opinion essays, state your view in the introduction and keep it consistent throughout — examiners penalise essays that sit on the fence.

IELTS Writing Task 2 essay topics list

All 40 essay prompts in the simulator, grouped by question type. These are based on commonly recurring Task 2 themes reported from past IELTS exams — the exact wording rotates between test versions, but the same themes and question types come back again and again.

Opinion (Agree or Disagree) (8 topics)

Some people believe that unpaid community service should be a compulsory part of high school education. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Some people believe that harsher prison sentences are the most effective way to reduce crime. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Governments should invest more money in public transport rather than building new roads. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Social media has had a negative effect on the way people communicate with each other. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Children should begin learning a foreign language as soon as they start school. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Success in life is mainly the result of hard work rather than luck. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Zoos are cruel to animals and should be closed down. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
University education should be free for all students. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Discussion (Both Views) (8 topics)

Some people think that the best way to reduce traffic congestion is to build more roads. Others believe investing in public transport is more effective. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Some people believe that students should be taught to compete, while others believe that they should be taught to cooperate. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Some people think that the government should fund the arts, while others believe this money should be spent on more important public services. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Some people prefer to live in a house, while others prefer an apartment. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Some people believe that exams are the best way to assess a student's ability, while others believe continuous assessment throughout the course is more accurate. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Some people think that parents should closely monitor their children's use of the internet, while others believe children should be trusted to use it responsibly. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Some people believe employees should be able to choose their own working hours, while others think fixed hours are better for productivity. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Some people think advertising encourages people to buy things they don't need, while others believe it provides useful information. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Advantages & Disadvantages (8 topics)

More and more people are choosing to work from home instead of commuting to an office. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this trend?
An increasing number of people are choosing to shop online rather than in physical stores. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this development?
Many countries are seeing a rise in the number of international students studying abroad. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this trend?
More people are relying on GPS and mobile apps for directions instead of reading maps. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this?
An increasing number of families today have both parents working full-time. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this for children?
More people are choosing to become vegetarian or vegan. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this trend?
Many schools are replacing printed textbooks with digital devices such as tablets. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this change?
An increasing number of people are using social media to get their news instead of traditional media. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this?

Problem & Solution (8 topics)

Traffic congestion is becoming a serious problem in many major cities. What are the causes of this problem, and what solutions can you suggest?
Obesity rates are rising in many countries around the world. What are the causes of this, and what measures could be taken to address it?
Many young people today are choosing not to read books for pleasure. What are the reasons for this, and what can be done to encourage more reading?
Air pollution is a growing problem in many large cities. What are the main causes of this, and what steps can be taken to reduce it?
Unemployment among young graduates is a growing concern in many countries. What are the causes of this problem, and what solutions would you suggest?
Many species of animals and plants are at risk of extinction. What are the reasons for this, and what can be done to protect them?
The gap between the rich and the poor is widening in many societies. What are the causes of this, and what measures could reduce it?
Many people are experiencing high levels of stress at work. What are the causes of this, and what can employers and employees do about it?

Two-Part Question (8 topics)

In many countries, people are living longer than in the past. Why is this happening, and what problems might this cause for society?
Many people today choose to travel to other countries for their holidays rather than staying in their own country. Why is this, and is it a positive or negative trend?
In some countries, young people are leaving rural areas to live in cities. What are the reasons for this, and what effects does it have on rural communities?
Many companies now allow employees to work flexible hours rather than a fixed schedule. Why has this become more common, and do you think this is a positive development?
In many parts of the world, fewer people are choosing to get married. What are the reasons for this, and what effect does it have on society?
Some people spend a large amount of money on branded products, such as clothing and accessories. Why do people do this, and do you think it is a good use of money?
In many countries, fewer young people are interested in careers in agriculture. Why might this be the case, and what could be done to change this?
Many students choose to study abroad rather than in their home country. What are the reasons for this, and what are the effects on their home countries?

Frequently asked questions

How much time do I get for IELTS Writing Task 2?+

40 minutes. Task 2 is worth twice as many marks as Task 1, so IELTS recommends spending roughly 40 of the 60 total Writing minutes on it. This simulator uses the same 40-minute countdown so you get used to pacing yourself under real time pressure.

How many words should my Task 2 essay be?+

At least 250 words. Writing under the limit costs you marks under Task Achievement, but there's no upper limit — most successful essays run 260 to 320 words. The word counter here uses the same counting method as our IELTS Word Counter tool, so both tools always agree.

What essay types come up in IELTS Writing Task 2?+

Five main types recur: opinion essays ("to what extent do you agree?"), discussion essays ("discuss both views"), advantages/disadvantages essays, problem/solution essays, and two-part questions. Each expects a different essay structure, which is why this tool lets you filter practice by type.

Should I plan my essay before writing?+

Yes. Spend roughly 5 minutes of your 40 planning your position and paragraph structure before you start writing — a clear plan is the single biggest factor separating Band 6 essays from Band 7+ essays, since it drives the Coherence and Cohesion score directly.

What happens after I finish my practice essay?+

Copy it with the button above the text box, then paste it into Wordy, Worddemy's AI chat assistant, and ask it to score your essay. You'll get instant band-score feedback against the real Task Achievement, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range criteria — the same descriptors real examiners use.

Can I keep practicing without a timer?+

Yes — the timer is optional. You can write at your own pace to focus on structure and vocabulary first, then switch to timed practice closer to your exam date to build up your speed under real conditions.

Writing practice means nothing without feedback

Paste your essay into Wordy for instant AI band-score feedback — Task Achievement, Coherence, Lexical Resource, and Grammar, scored in seconds. Free plan needs no card.

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