IELTS Academic
IELTS Academic Writing Task 1: Visual Report | Complete Guide
What is IELTS Academic Writing Task 1? The Visual Report is Task 1 of the IELTS Academic Writing test. You are …
What is IELTS Academic Writing Task 2?
The Essay is Task 2 of the IELTS Academic Writing test. You are given a topic statement or question on a general academic theme (education, technology, environment, society, work) and you have 40 minutes to write at least 250 words arguing or discussing a position.
Marvel’s IELTS Companion describes Task 2 as follows:
“The Writing Task 2 of the IELTS test requires you to write at least 250 words. You will be presented with a topic and will be tested on your ability to respond by giving and justifying an opinion, discussing the topic, summarising details, outlining problems, identifying possible solutions. Supporting what you write with reasons, arguments and relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.”
Task 2 is worth two thirds of your Writing band score. Task 1 is worth one third. That means Task 2 carries roughly twice the weight, and the time split mirrors that: 40 minutes for Task 2, 20 minutes for Task 1. Your final Writing band is approximately (Task 1 band + 2 x Task 2 band) divided by 3.
Task Format
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Task type | Discursive essay arguing or discussing a position |
| Word count | At least 250 words (aim for 270-300) |
| Recommended time | 40 minutes |
| Essay types | Opinion, Discussion, Problem-solution, Two-part question |
| Register | Formal academic English. No contractions. |
| Opinion? | Yes - personal opinion is expected, clearly stated. |
| Weighting | 2x (Task 1 is 1x) |
| Marking criteria | Task Response, Coherence & Cohesion, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range & Accuracy |
Writing under 250 words triggers an automatic penalty. Writing without paragraphs caps your band at 5. Writing paragraphs without clear central ideas caps you at 6.
“You cannot score above Band 5 if you do not use any paragraph. You cannot score above Band 6 if your paragraphs do not have a clear central topic.” - Marvel IELTS Companion
The 4 essay types - and how to spot them
Identifying the essay type correctly in the first 30 seconds is the most important decision you make in Task 2. The structure changes depending on what the prompt asks.
Type 1 - Opinion (Agree / Disagree)
How to spot it: Do you agree or disagree? To what extent do you agree? Is this a positive or negative development?
Your job: Pick a side (or take a balanced view) and defend it. Two reasons, each with explanation and example.
Type 2 - Discussion (Discuss both views and give your opinion)
How to spot it: Discuss both these views and give your own opinion. Some people think X, others think Y. Discuss both sides.
Your job: Explain Side A fairly, then explain Side B fairly, then state which side you favour and why. You must discuss both views, even if you strongly prefer one.
Type 3 - Problem - Solution (Causes and Solutions)
How to spot it: What can be done to tackle this problem? What are the causes and what solutions can be proposed?
Your job: Identify the cause(s) of the problem in one body paragraph, then propose 1-2 realistic solutions with explanation in the next body paragraph.
Type 4 - Two-part question
How to spot it: Two separate questions in the prompt, often connected with And.
Your job: Answer both questions clearly, usually one body paragraph per question.
The 4-paragraph structure that scores Band 7+
A 250-word essay needs four paragraphs:
Paragraph 1 - Introduction (~50 words)
- Background sentence - rephrase the topic in your own words
- Thesis statement - state your position or signal the essay’s direction
Stems to use:
- In recent years, the issue of X has attracted considerable attention.
- The question of whether X has generated significant debate.
- In this essay, I will argue that…
- This essay will examine both views before presenting a conclusion.
Paragraph 2 - Body 1 (~80 words)
- Topic sentence - one main idea
- Explanation - why this idea matters
- Example - personal, real-world, or hypothetical
- Mini-conclusion - linking sentence back to the thesis
Paragraph 3 - Body 2 (~80 words)
Same structure as Body 1, with the second main idea or the opposing view.
Paragraph 4 - Conclusion (~40 words)
- Restate your position
- Summarise the main reasons
- Optional final thought or recommendation
Marvel’s transition list for conclusions:
“In conclusion, finally, therefore, consequently, clearly, it is clear, on the whole, in other words, generally speaking.”
Band 9 model essay - Opinion type
Prompt: Some people consider computers to be more of a hindrance than a help. Others believe that they have greatly increased human potential. How could computers be considered a hindrance?
It is easy to understand why some people think computers are more of a hindrance than a help. Things like getting my money back from the bank or changing a ticket are easy without using a computer, yet once one is involved, the process can become time-consuming, complex, and prone to errors. In all the offices I’ve seen, it can sometimes seem that for every hour saved by computers, at least one set of problems is caused by the computers breaking down. This wastes a lot of time. Also, over-enthusiastic use of computers in the home has the potential to divert large amounts of free time away from things like socialising, taking exercise, or having dinner with your family. Spending a lot of leisure time looking at a computer monitor screen hinders achieving other goals in life, like being healthy and socially integrated.
However, it would be simplistic to say that computers are bad. They have caused enormous improvements in communications, medicine, design, education, and lots of other things. These days, virtually everything we know is as far away as the nearest internet point. Computers have brought about a profound change in the way most people in rich countries live. However, it should not be forgotten that a large proportion of the inhabitants of this planet have never even used a computer once.
There are definitely more good things than bad things about computers. The question is not do computers help or hinder, but do we always use them in a sensible and responsible way? (279 words)
Why this scores high: clear position, two supporting reasons per side, real-world examples (banks, offices, family time), sophisticated final question that reframes the debate.
Band 9 model essay - Discussion type
Prompt: Some people think that professional athletes make good role models for young people, while others believe they don’t. Discuss both these points of view and give your own opinion.
People everywhere like watching sports. Many top athletes are admired throughout their countries, and some even have fans all around the world. Young people especially view many athletes as role models and want to emulate the way these stars dress, act and live their lives. While some athletes aren’t deserving of their “role model” status, others act like role models and responsible community citizens.
Top athletes get the attention of young people. Most children and teenagers like to follow professional sports. For many of them, star athletes represent heroes, and children want to be like their heroes. This means they will want to play sports, which is good for their health. Playing sports also teaches valuable life lessons such as teamwork, discipline, goal setting, and the realities of dealing with success and failure. Professional athletes demonstrate the importance of working hard to achieve a goal or regularly practising to become good at something. This is a good example for children to follow.
However, professional athletes are not always good role models. For one thing, when young athletes reach a level of fame, it comes with media attention, large financial benefits, and social attention. This can lead children to believe that money and fame are an important part of sports. Children might focus more on these aspects than on the fun of the game. Then there are those athletes who behave badly. For example, some cheat to win their games or take drugs to improve their performance. This kind of behaviour sends the wrong message to children.
We can thus conclude that professional athletes can be very good role models for children, as long as they focus on the positive aspects of playing sports. (311 words)
Why this scores high: both sides genuinely explored, clear topic sentences, concrete examples (drugs, cheating, teamwork), nuanced conclusion that synthesises rather than simply picks a side.
Band 9 model essay - Problem-Solution type
Prompt: As the number of private cars has increased, so too has the level of pollution in many cities. What can be done to tackle this increasingly common problem?
As the number of private cars has increased, so has the level of pollution. Overreliance on cars at the expense of public transport has made this problem even worse, causing many concerned citizens to look for a solution to the problem.
One potential solution to this problem is to discourage the use of private cars by raising taxes. If the cost of petrol was increased, then many people would consider using alternative forms of transport or even walking. Admittedly, there would be a number of complaints from car drivers, but these would not be of much importance when balanced against the environmental benefits.
Another solution could be to look at more specific causes of the problem. Modern cars are fitted with cleaner-burning engines and catalytic converters. Accordingly, they do not cause as much of an environmental hazard as some older cars. In Japan, for example, cars are heavily taxed once they have been on the road for three years or more, encouraging people to buy new cars which pollute less. By heavily taxing older vehicles, some of the worst polluting vehicles would be taken off the road. However, this would not really be fair to those who cannot afford a new car with such regularity.
An improvement in the quality and efficiency of public transport would also encourage people to use their cars less. In London, for example, a system has been operating for some time in which people are allocated days of the week when they can use their cars. On days that they are not allowed to drive, public transport is taken.
Although these are potential solutions to the problem, none of them is perfect. Only by a concerted effort by both the government and the public can this situation truly be resolved. (298 words)
Why this scores high: identifies the problem in the introduction, offers three distinct solutions (tax petrol, tax older cars, improve public transport) with named examples (Japan, London), and acknowledges the trade-offs of each solution.
Band 9 model essay - Two-part question
Prompt: Nowadays, food has become easier to prepare. Has this change improved the way people live? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
The twentieth century has brought with it many advances. With those advances, human lives have changed dramatically. In some ways, life is worse, but mostly it is better. Changes in food preparation methods, for example, have improved our lives greatly.
The convenience of preparing food today is amazing. Even stoves have gotten too slow for us. Microwave cooking is much easier. We can press a few buttons, and a meal is completely cooked in a short time. People used to spend hours preparing an oven-cooked meal, and now they can use that time for other things. Plus, there are all kinds of portable, pre-packaged foods we can buy.
Food preparation today also allows for more variety. With refrigerators and freezers, we can preserve a lot of different foods in our homes. Since technology makes cooking so much faster, people are willing to make several dishes for even a small meal. If they don’t want to cook a lot of different dishes, it’s common now to eat out at restaurants several times a week.
Healthful eating is also easier than ever. When people cook, they use new fat substitutes and cooking sprays to cut fat and calories. This reduces the risk of heart disease and high cholesterol. Additionally, we can buy fruits and vegetables fresh, frozen or canned. They are easy to prepare, so many of us eat more of those nutritious items daily.
Our lifestyle is fast, but people still like good food. What new food preparation technology has given us is more choices: more convenient, healthier, and of greater variety than ever before in history. (280 words)
Why this scores high: addresses both parts of the question (has it changed life, and has it improved life), three clear angles (convenience, variety, health), and concrete examples.
Vocabulary for essay writing
Sentence stems by function
| Function | Stems |
|---|---|
| Stating opinion | In my view, … / I would argue that… / It seems to me that… |
| Introducing arguments | Proponents argue that… / Supporters maintain that… / Those in favour contend that… |
| Introducing counter-arguments | However, critics point out that… / Conversely, opponents suggest… / On the other hand, … |
| Adding ideas | Furthermore, … / Moreover, … / In addition, … / Additionally, … |
| Giving examples | For instance, … / For example, … / A case in point is… / Take X as an example… |
| Cause and effect | As a result, … / Consequently, … / Therefore, … / This leads to… |
| Concession | Although, … / While, … / Despite, … / Admittedly, … |
| Concluding | In conclusion, … / To summarise, … / On the whole, … / Ultimately, … |
Topic-themed vocabulary
| Topic | Useful phrases |
|---|---|
| Education | curriculum, vocational training, rote learning, critical thinking, transferable skills, life-long learning |
| Technology | digital literacy, screen time, automation, artificial intelligence, data privacy, cyber-security |
| Environment | carbon footprint, renewable energy, sustainability, biodiversity, deforestation, emissions |
| Society | social cohesion, inequality, multiculturalism, urbanisation, ageing population, work-life balance |
| Health | sedentary lifestyle, mental wellbeing, preventive medicine, public health, obesity, longevity |
| Work | job satisfaction, gig economy, remote working, automation, employability, work-life balance |
Avoiding repetition
| Overused | Stronger alternatives |
|---|---|
| important | significant, crucial, essential, vital, key, pivotal |
| big | substantial, considerable, significant, marked, sizeable |
| many | numerous, a substantial number of, a great many, plenty of |
| good | beneficial, advantageous, positive, favourable, constructive |
| bad | detrimental, harmful, adverse, negative, damaging |
| think | believe, contend, maintain, argue, assert |
| people | individuals, citizens, the public, society, the population |
Time-management plan for 40 minutes
| Time | Action |
|---|---|
| 0:00 - 0:02 | Read the prompt twice. Identify the essay type (opinion / discussion / problem-solution / two-part). |
| 0:02 - 0:05 | Brainstorm 2-3 ideas per side. Pick the strongest and decide your thesis. |
| 0:05 - 0:10 | Write the introduction (background + thesis). |
| 0:10 - 0:20 | Write Body 1 (topic sentence + explanation + example). |
| 0:20 - 0:30 | Write Body 2 (topic sentence + explanation + example). |
| 0:30 - 0:35 | Write the conclusion (restate position + main reasons). |
| 0:35 - 0:40 | Check word count, spelling, articles, plurals, tenses, paragraph breaks. |
Marvel’s planning advice:
“Manage your time effectively in the Writing exam. For the essay you will have 40 minutes to write, so give yourself time to plan before you begin writing, and try to allow five minutes at the end to read through your work and check for errors.”
Common mistakes and how to fix them
| Mistake | Why it costs marks | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Misidentifying the essay type | Wrong structure = Task Response cap | Underline the question keywords in the first 30 seconds |
| Not stating your opinion clearly | Examiner cannot find your thesis | One thesis sentence in the introduction, restated in the conclusion |
| One-sided answer to a Discussion prompt | Both views are required by the rubric | Always cover side A AND side B fairly |
| Memorised template phrases | Examiners spot them and ignore them | Use natural sentence stems, not full memorised paragraphs |
| Repeating the prompt words | Repeated text gains no marks | Paraphrase using synonyms |
| Writing under 250 words | Automatic Task Response penalty | Aim for 270-300 |
| No paragraph breaks | Caps band at 5 | 4 paragraphs minimum |
| No conclusion | Task Response loses marks | Even one sentence is better than nothing |
| Misspelling common words | Lexical Resource hit | Drill the high-frequency words: government, environment, which, until, believe, nowadays, their |
| Missing articles (the, a, an) | Common Band 6 error | Read your essay aloud in your head, checking every noun |
| Informal phrasing (lots of, big problem, kids) | Wrong register | Use numerous, significant issue, children |
Marvel’s diagnosis of the typical Band 6 student:
“The most common mistakes of candidates who achieved Band Score 6 are: missing out the, a, an, their, it’s; misspelling their, government, environment, which, until, believe, nowadays.”
Paragraph templates
Opinion essay template
Introduction
[Background sentence rephrasing the topic.]
[Thesis: I (strongly) agree / disagree that... / In my view, ...]
Body 1
[Topic sentence with first reason.]
[Explanation - why this matters.]
[Example - real, personal, or hypothetical.]
[Mini-conclusion linking back to thesis.]
Body 2
[Topic sentence with second reason.]
[Explanation.]
[Example.]
[Mini-conclusion.]
Conclusion
[Restate position.]
[Summarise the two main reasons.]
[Optional final thought.]
Discussion essay template
Introduction
[Background sentence framing the debate.]
[Thesis: This essay will examine both views before concluding that...]
Body 1 - View A
[Topic sentence: Proponents of A argue that...]
[Reason 1 + explanation.]
[Reason 2 + example.]
Body 2 - View B
[Topic sentence: However, supporters of B contend that...]
[Reason 1 + explanation.]
[Reason 2 + example.]
Conclusion
[In conclusion, while both views have merit, I believe (View A / View B / a balanced position) because...]
Problem-Solution template
Introduction
[Background sentence describing the problem.]
[Thesis: This essay will examine the causes and propose solutions.]
Body 1 - Causes
[Topic sentence: The main cause of X is...]
[Explain cause 1.]
[Explain cause 2 if relevant.]
Body 2 - Solutions
[Topic sentence: One effective solution is...]
[Solution 1 + explanation + example.]
[Solution 2 + explanation + example.]
Conclusion
[Restate problem and key solutions.]
[Suggest who should act - government, individuals, schools.]
Two-part question template
Introduction
[Background sentence covering both questions.]
[Thesis: This essay will address both issues, arguing that... and that...]
Body 1 - Answer to Question 1
[Topic sentence answering Q1.]
[Reason + explanation + example.]
Body 2 - Answer to Question 2
[Topic sentence answering Q2.]
[Reason + explanation + example.]
Conclusion
[Synthesise the two answers.]
How examiners score Task 2
Each criterion is worth 25% of your Task 2 band.
1. Task Response
- Have you answered all parts of the question?
- Is your position clear throughout?
- Are your main points developed with explanation and examples?
- Did you write at least 250 words?
2. Coherence and Cohesion
- Logical paragraph structure?
- Clear topic sentences?
- Range of cohesive devices (linkers, referencing, substitution)?
- Smooth flow between ideas?
3. Lexical Resource
- Range of vocabulary appropriate to the topic?
- Accurate word choice and collocations?
- Use of less common items where appropriate?
4. Grammatical Range and Accuracy
- Mix of simple and complex sentences?
- Use of conditional, passive, relative clauses?
- Frequent error-free sentences?
- Accurate punctuation?
Your final Writing band: (Task 1 band + 2 x Task 2 band) divided by 3. That weighting is why Task 2 deserves 40 minutes of your 60 minutes.
Topic categories to prepare
Marvel’s IELTS Companion provides model essays across 30+ topics. Prepare arguments for these recurring categories:
Education
- University: employability vs intellectual development
- Online vs classroom learning
- Standardised testing
- Theoretical vs practical knowledge
Technology
- AI and employment
- Computers in schools - help or hindrance
- Social media and young people
- Privacy vs convenience
Environment
- Pollution from private cars
- Individual vs government responsibility for climate change
- Renewable energy transition
- Consumer behaviour and waste
Society
- Globalisation and cultural identity
- Women in the workplace
- Custom and tradition
- Modern lifestyles and family time
Work
- Same company for life vs frequent job changes
- Wage criteria (skill, qualification, danger)
- Work-life balance
- Athletes as role models
Health
- Effects of drugs
- Modern food preparation
- Public vs private healthcare
IELTS vs LanguageCert vs PTE - writing comparison
| Aspect | IELTS Academic Writing | LanguageCert Academic Writing | PTE Academic Writing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tasks | Task 1 visual report + Task 2 essay | Part 1 report + Part 2 essay | Summarise written text + Write essay |
| Total time | 60 minutes | 75 minutes | ~50 minutes |
| Word counts | 150 + 250 | 150-200 + 250 | 5-75 + 200-300 |
| Essay style | 4 essay types (opinion, discussion, problem-solution, two-part) | Discursive essay with balanced views | Argument essay |
| Scoring | Human-marked, 4 criteria | AI + human, 4 criteria | AI-only, multiple traits |
| Feedback turnaround | Bands in 3-13 days | 5 working days | 2-5 working days |
| Opinion required? | Yes (Task 2) | Yes (Part 2) | Yes |
| Spelling autocorrect | None | None | None |
If you are also preparing LanguageCert, see the LanguageCert Discursive Essay guide for the 250-word Part 2 essay structure.
Practice on the real CD IELTS interface
IELTS Academic Writing is now delivered on computer at most test centres. Typing speed and on-screen editing become real exam skills. The Marvel Edu CD IELTS practice software gives you:
- The exact computer-delivered interface used in the official test
- On-screen word counter that updates as you type
- Full cut, copy, paste, and undo functionality
- AI band-score prediction on all 4 criteria (Task Response, Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammar)
- Sentence-level grammar and vocabulary feedback
- Band-9 model essays from the Marvel IELTS Companion for all 4 essay types
- 30+ sample prompts across education, technology, environment, society, work, and health
Start Free Trial of CD IELTS Practice Software
Quick reference checklist
Before you press submit on Task 2:
- Essay type identified correctly (opinion / discussion / problem-solution / two-part)
- 4 clear paragraphs with one main idea each
- Introduction has a background sentence and a thesis
- Each body paragraph has a topic sentence, explanation, and example
- Conclusion restates your position
- At least 250 words (270-300 ideal)
- No contractions (it is, not it’s)
- Mix of simple and complex sentences
- Articles checked (the, a, an, their, it’s)
- Common spellings checked (government, environment, believe, nowadays, which)
- At least 3 linkers used (however, furthermore, consequently)
- No words copied directly from the prompt
Next steps
- Read all 4 model essays above and notice the repeated paragraph structure
- Build a personal vocabulary bank of topic phrases for the 6 recurring categories
- Plan one essay per day for two weeks - just the introduction and topic sentences
- Write one full timed essay every other day to build stamina
- Get AI feedback on each one so grammar gaps are fixed before exam day
Start your timed practice on the CD IELTS practice software. Pair this guide with the IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 visual report guide for the full Writing module.