The fastest way to lose Task Response marks is to write a good essay that answers a different question. Every Task 2 prompt belongs to a recognisable type, and each type needs a slightly different plan and conclusion. The first thirty seconds of the exam should be spent reading the instruction line and naming the type - get this wrong and even brilliant English is capped, because Task Response measures whether you answered the question that was asked.
The five common types
| Instruction signal | Type | What the body must do |
|---|---|---|
| To what extent do you agree or disagree? | Opinion | State and defend one consistent position |
| Discuss both views and give your opinion. | Discussion | One view per paragraph, plus your own opinion |
| What problems…? What solutions…? | Problem-solution | One paragraph of problems, one of solutions |
| Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages? | Advantage-disadvantage | Weigh both, then judge which is greater |
| Two separate questions | Two-part | Answer each question in its own paragraph |
The trap: discussion vs opinion
In a discussion essay you must cover both views fairly and give your own - forgetting your opinion caps the band. In an opinion essay you should not sit on the fence: a wobbling "there are good points on both sides" answer to To what extent do you agree? fails to present the clear position the type demands.
Worked example 1 - a discussion essay
Some believe children should start school at six; others say four is better. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Introduction (frame both + flag your view):
Opinions differ over the ideal age to begin formal schooling. While some favour an early start at four, I will argue that beginning at six, as others suggest, better suits children's development.
Body 1 - the "early start" view (reported, then weighed):
Supporters of starting at four argue that young children absorb language and routines quickly. This is a reasonable point, yet research suggests that very early formal learning can increase anxiety.
Body 2 - the "later start" view + your opinion fused:
I therefore side with those who favour age six, since an extra two years of play-based learning builds the confidence and social skills a classroom demands.
Why this scores: both views are reported fairly (Supporters argue… / those who favour age six) and the writer's opinion is explicit and consistent (I will argue… I therefore side with…). The opinion is woven through, not bolted on at the end - and This is a reasonable point, yet… is the concessive move examiners reward in Task Response and Grammatical Range at once.
Worked example 2 - an advantage-disadvantage essay that judges
More and more people work from home. Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
Body sentences (one of each, then the verdict the type requires):
The principal advantage is flexibility: without a commute, employees reclaim time and often report higher productivity. The clearest drawback, by contrast, is isolation, since remote workers can lose the informal contact that builds teams.
Conclusion (an explicit verdict - not a fence-sit):
On balance, I believe the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, because the gains in flexibility and time are concrete and daily, whereas the drawback of isolation can be managed through occasional in-person meetings.
Why this scores: the question asks Do the advantages outweigh…?, so a list of pros and cons is not enough - the conclusion delivers a clear judgement (the advantages outweigh… because…) and justifies it. On balance and by contrast are precise discourse markers, and the comparison of "concrete and daily" gains against a "manageable" drawback shows genuine weighing.
Type-signalling phrases: I firmly believe… (opinion) · While some claim…, others contend… (discussion) · A major cause of this is… / One effective solution would be… (problem-solution) · The benefits outweigh the drawbacks because… (advantage-disadvantage).
"Outweigh" needs a verdict
For Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages? you must answer yes or no, not merely list both. End with a sentence like: On balance, the benefits clearly outweigh the drawbacks because…
Common mistakes
- Treating a discussion question as an opinion essay (or vice-versa).
- Answering only one half of a two-part question.
- Listing advantages and disadvantages without judging which is greater.
- A vague position that shifts between paragraphs.
- Misreading a causes/solutions prompt as a for/against debate.
Try it
At **/ielts/writing*, read three different Task 2 prompts and - without writing the essay* - label each one by type and note in one line what its body paragraphs and conclusion must contain. Spotting the type in ten seconds is a skill worth more than any memorised phrase.
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