Task 2: a reliable essay structure

Task 2 is worth two-thirds of your Writing score: at least 250 words in 40 minutes. Task Response rewards an answer that addresses every part of the question and presents a clear, developed position that is sustained from the first paragraph to the last. A fixed four-paragraph shape is your friend, because it lets you spend your scarce thinking time on ideas rather than on layout - the structure becomes automatic, and your brain is free to argue.

The four-paragraph plan

1. Introduction (2 sentences). Paraphrase the question, then state your clear position / what the essay will do.
2. Body 1. One main idea → explain it → support it with an example.
3. Body 2. A second main idea → explain → example.
4. Conclusion (1-2 sentences). Restate your position. Add nothing new.

The engine of each body paragraph is PEEL: Point → Explain → Example → Link back to the question. PEEL guarantees development, which is exactly what separates a band-5 paragraph (a claim, then a list) from a band-7 paragraph (a claim that is reasoned through to a conclusion).

Worked example 1 - building one body paragraph with PEEL

Some people think university education should be free for all students. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Introduction (paraphrase + clear position):

It is sometimes argued that higher education ought to be provided at no cost to every student. I strongly agree, because free access widens opportunity and ultimately benefits the wider economy.

Body 1 with PEEL:

(Point) The clearest benefit is greater social mobility. (Explain) When tuition fees are removed, talented students from low-income families are no longer deterred by debt and can pursue degrees that would otherwise feel financially reckless. (Example) In several European countries that abolished fees, enrolment among poorer households rose sharply. (Link) Free tuition therefore makes the system fairer, which is precisely why I support it.

Why this scores: the paragraph makes one point and develops it fully - far stronger than three points mentioned in passing. The Explain step adds the causal reasoning (no longer deterred by debt → can pursue degrees) that earns Task Response; deterred by debt and social mobility are precise collocations (Lexical Resource); and the Link sentence ties the idea back to the question word agree.

Worked example 2 - the introduction and conclusion as a frame

Your introduction makes a promise; your conclusion keeps it. They should mirror each other without repeating the same words.

Introduction (two clean moves - paraphrase, then thesis):

It is sometimes argued that higher education ought to be provided at no cost to every student. I strongly agree, because free access widens opportunity and strengthens the economy.

Conclusion (restate the same position, fresh wording, no new idea):

In conclusion, although free tuition is expensive to fund, the gains in fairness and long-term economic productivity make it, in my view, clearly worthwhile.

Why this scores: the conclusion restates the thesis (free tuition is worthwhile) in new language (gains in fairness and long-term economic productivity rather than widens opportunity). It introduces no fresh argument - which would reopen a debate you have no space to develop - and the concessive although… expensive to fund shows you have weighed the cost, lifting Task Response and Grammatical Range together.

Useful framing phrases: It is widely argued that… · There is no doubt that… · I would argue that… · On balance… · In my view… · The clearest benefit / drawback is…

How to use your 40 minutes

• 5 min - read, decide your position, jot two body ideas (just the Points).
• 30 min - write, one PEEL paragraph at a time.
• 5 min - check tense, articles, subject-verb agreement, and word count.

A short plan is the difference between a focused essay and one that wanders into the conclusion still undecided.

Common mistakes

• Not answering the actual question. "To what extent…" needs a degree of agreement, not a neutral list of pros and cons.
• No clear position until the conclusion - costs Task Response, because the reader cannot follow an argument that hasn't been stated.
• Too many under-developed ideas instead of two strong, fully reasoned ones.
• A conclusion that introduces a brand-new argument.
• Under 250 words - penalised even if the writing is good; aim for roughly 270-290 to be safe.

Try it

Choose a Task 2 prompt at **/ielts/writing and spend only five minutes* writing your introduction plus the first sentence* (the Point) of each body paragraph. If those three sentences already make your whole argument clear, the essay will almost write itself - then expand each Point into a full PEEL paragraph.