Learn how to structure your IELTS writing task 2 essay. I will show you everything you need to know in a simple way. Learn more at www.ted-ielts.com.

1. IELTS Writing
Task 2
Essay Structure

2. Hello!
I am David Wills
I am the founder of TED-IELTS.
You can find me at @tedielts

3. Let’s look at
7 STEPS
To IELTS
Essay Structure

4. 7 Steps to IELTS Essay Structure
1. Analyse the Question
2. Brainstorm Ideas
3. Plan your Overall Structure
4. Plan your Internal Paragraph Structure
5. Write a Strong Introduction
6. Link your Sentences
7. Write a Good Conclusion

5. 1.
Analyse the Question

6. Analyse the Question
✘ Read the whole question carefully.
✘ What is the topic?
✘ What are the specific details?
✘ What is your task?

7. Task 2 Question
Some people claim that not enough of the waste from homes is
recycled. They say that the only way to make people recycle
more is to make it a legal requirement.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
7

8. Analyse the Question
✘ What sort of waste are we talking about?
✗ Waste from homes.
✘ What does “legal requirement” mean?
✗ It means make it a law.
✘ What’s the task?
✗ “To what extent do you agree…?”

9. 2.
Brainstorm Ideas

10. Remember: Don’t pick too many things to
write about. Keep it simple.
10
Choose only the biggest Ideas

11. Good ideas
✘ Faster than alternative
✘ Raise money for conservative
projects
✘ Some people don’t care
Focus on your best ideas
Bad ideas
✘ It is good to punish people
✘ It seems easy
✘ Some people are stupid
✘ Most people are too lazy

12. 3.
Plan your Overall Structure

13. Planning Structure
IELTS Writing task 2 essays should have:
✘ Introduction
✘ 2-3 body paragraphs
✘ Conclusion

14. Essay Plan
Paragraph Purpose
Introduction Introduce topic
Explain purpose of essay
Body paragraph 1 Give 2 opposing arguments and then
refute them
Body paragraph 2 Give strong argument to support my
viewpoint
Conclusion Re-state main idea and summarize
arguments.

15. 4.
Plan your Internal
Paragraph Structure

16. Sequencing Ideas
It is essential that your sentences flow logically. Your
paragraph should have:
✘ Topic sentence
✘ Explanation
✘ Details/Example

17. Good
The case in favour of laws mandating recycling
is simple and irrefutable. These laws would
ensure that a far higher amount of household
waste is recycled, thereby reducing the amount
of pollution that goes into our environment.
People cannot be trusted to do this for
themselves, and the evidence exists in the places
where environmental laws are strictly enforced,
compared to those where they are non-existent,
or weakly enforced.
Logical Flow of Ideas
Bad
These laws would ensure that a far higher
amount of household waste is recycled, thereby
reducing the amount of pollution that goes into
our environment. People cannot be trusted to do
this for themselves, and the evidence exists in the
places where environmental laws are strictly
enforced, compared to those where they are
non-existent, or weakly enforced. The case in
favour of laws mandating recycling is simple and
irrefutable.

18. 5.
Write a Strong
Introduction

19. Introduction
A good introduction plan:
✗ General statement that addresses the topic.
✗ Slightly more specific statement that
relates wider topic to specific question.
✗ A sentence that shows essay intention or
overview.

20. Introduction
Example
Pollution remains a significant problem all around the world
and this is causing people to debate possible solutions. One
such solution is for governments to impose laws requiring
citizens to recycle certain kinds of waste from their homes.
This essay will argue that environmental laws are essential
to reducing waste and thereby saving the planet.

21. Introduction
Example
Pollution remains a significant problem all around the world
and this is causing people to debate possible solutions. One
such solution is for governments to impose laws requiring
citizens to recycle certain kinds of waste from their homes.
This essay will argue that environmental laws are essential
to reducing waste and thereby saving the planet.
General
statement that
addresses the
topic.
Slightly more specific
statement that relates
wider topic to specific
question.
A sentence that
shows essay intention
or overview.

22. 6.
Link your Sentences

23. Introduction
A good introduction plan:
✗ General statement that addresses the topic.
✗ Slightly more specific statement that
relates wider topic to specific question.
✗ A sentence that shows essay intention or
overview.

24. 7.
Write a Good Conclusion

25. It is a pretty good idea to follow a structure like this:
✘ Paraphrase your main idea.
✘ Re-state your main arguments.
You should:
✘ Avoid repetition .
✘ Not add new information.
Conclusion

26. Conclusion
Example
In conclusion, laws are absolutely essential to ensure that
people recycle their household waste. Without such laws,
very few people would actually go to the trouble of
recycling; however, if governments enforce these laws,
almost everyone would have to comply.

27. Sample Band 9 Answer
You can read my full sample answer at www.ted-ielts.com/task-2-structure