Practice › Task 2
IELTS Writing Task 2: Two-part (direct) questions
How to recognise it
- "Two questions in the prompt, e.g. "Why is this happening? Is this a positive development?""
- ""What are the reasons…? How could…?""
What the examiner looks for
A direct, developed answer to each question. Treat them as two separate tasks and give each one its own paragraph; a missing or thin answer to either limits Task Response.
Plan (40 minutes)
| Paragraph | What to write |
|---|---|
| Introduction (~40 words) | Paraphrase the topic and answer both questions in one short sentence each. |
| Body 1 (~90 words) | Answer question 1 fully with reasons and an example. |
| Body 2 (~90 words) | Answer question 2 fully with reasons and an example. |
| Conclusion (~40 words) | Restate both answers briefly. |
How to start
- Direct answers: "This is mainly because [answer 1], and I believe this is [answer 2]."
- Body openings that mirror the questions: "There are several reasons why…" / "In my view, this trend is largely positive because…"
- Avoid: answering only the first question in detail and the second in one line.
These are frames to adapt to the question, not sentences to memorise. Examiners can recognise memorised language, and it lowers Lexical Resource.
Think before you write
- Underline the topic and the instruction words. How many parts must you answer?
- Decide your answer or position in one sentence before planning anything else.
- Choose two main ideas that support it and a specific example for each (a country, a group of people, a situation, not "many people say").
- Note 3-4 topic words you want to use (e.g. for education: curriculum, tuition fees, graduates).
Useful language
- There are two main reasons for this.
- This trend is driven by…
- Another factor is…
- On the whole, this is a positive development because…
- This trend is worrying because…
- This could be achieved by…
- The most effective approach would be…
- Because of this, …
- This explains why…
Mistakes that cost bands
- Treating it as a general essay about the topic instead of answering the exact questions.
- Unbalanced answers: one question gets 150 words, the other 30.
- Not saying clearly whether the development is positive or negative when asked.
11 practice questions
Original questions written for upband.ai in the style of the exam. Write your answer in 40 minutes, then score it.
In many countries, people are getting married later in life than in the past. Why is this happening? Is it a positive or negative development?
Practise this question →Many people change careers several times during their working lives. Why is this? Is it a good thing?
Practise this question →Fewer people read printed books than in the past. Why is this? What can be done to encourage reading?
Practise this question →More adults are returning to education later in life. What are the reasons for this? How can society support them?
Practise this question →Many town centres have more empty shops than they did ten years ago. Why is this happening? What could be done to make town centres popular again?
Practise this question →Many people find it difficult to do enough exercise. Why is this? What could be done to encourage people to be more active?
Practise this question →Traditional crafts and skills are disappearing in many countries. Why is this happening? Does it matter?
Practise this question →Many people say they care about the environment but do not change their behaviour. Why is this? How could people be encouraged to act?
Practise this question →Young people today get most of their news from social media rather than newspapers or television. Why is this? What problems could it cause?
Practise this question →In some countries, more young adults are living with their parents than in the past. Why is this? Is it a positive or negative trend?
Practise this question →More people now travel abroad for medical treatment. Why is this happening? What are the risks?
Practise this question →