Introduction

One of the biggest challenges in IELTS Writing Task 2 is knowing how to organize your ideas. Many candidates have good grammar and vocabulary but lose marks because their essays are not logically structured. To tackle this issue, understanding IELTS Essay Structures: A Complete Guide for Writing Task 2 can be immensely helpful.

In this post, you’ll learn the most common IELTS essay structures for Task 2 questions. Each structure is easy to follow, helps your ideas flow clearly, and makes it easier for the examiner to understand your argument.

Why Essay Structure Matters in IELTS

Examiners assess your Coherence and Cohesion: how well your ideas connect. A clear structure means:

• Each paragraph has one main idea.
• Supporting points are easy to follow.
• Linking words show logical flow.

Without structure, even good ideas may sound confusing.

The Most Common IELTS Essay Structures

1. Opinion Essay (Agree or Disagree)

Question example: Do you agree or disagree that technology makes our lives easier?

Structure:

• Introduction: Paraphrase the question + clear opinion.
• Body Paragraph 1: First reason supporting your opinion + example.
• Body Paragraph 2: Second reason supporting your opinion + example.
• Conclusion: Summarise and restate opinion.

👉 Tip: Don’t sit on the fence. Choose one clear side.

2. Discussion Essay (Discuss Both Views and Give Your Opinion)

Question example: Some people think the government should pay for university. Others believe students should pay. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Structure:

• Introduction: Paraphrase the question + state that you will discuss both.
• Body Paragraph 1: View A with explanation + example.
• Body Paragraph 2: View B with explanation + example.
• Conclusion: State your own opinion, often agreeing partly with one side.

👉 Tip: Stay balanced. Show understanding of both sides before giving your view.

3. Problem–Solution Essay

Question example: What are the problems caused by traffic in cities, and how can they be solved?

Structure:

• Introduction: Paraphrase the question.
• Body Paragraph 1: Describe first problem + example.
• Body Paragraph 2: Suggest solution(s) + explain how they solve the problems.
• Conclusion: Summarise main problem and solution.

👉 Tip: Always link solutions directly to the problems mentioned.

4. Advantages–Disadvantages Essay

Question example: What are the advantages and disadvantages of working from home?

Structure:

• Introduction: Paraphrase the question.
• Body Paragraph 1: Advantages with explanation + example.
• Body Paragraph 2: Disadvantages with explanation + example.
• Conclusion: State whether advantages outweigh disadvantages (your opinion is optional but recommended).

👉 Tip: Keep balance. Don’t write only positives or only negatives.

5. Double Question Essay

Question example: Why do people choose to live in cities? What problems does this cause?

Structure:

• Introduction: Paraphrase the question.
• Body Paragraph 1: Answer Question 1 with explanation + example.
• Body Paragraph 2: Answer Question 2 with explanation + example.
• Conclusion: Summarise both answers.

👉 Tip: Treat each question as a mini-paragraph.

Key Linking Words for IELTS Essays

To make your essay flow smoothly, use a range of transition words:

• Adding ideas: moreover, in addition, furthermore
• Giving examples: for example, such as, for instance
• Contrasting: however, on the other hand, although
• Concluding: in conclusion, to sum up, overall

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Writing too many ideas in one paragraph.
• Forgetting to give examples.
• Repeating the same words.
• Not answering all parts of the question.

Conclusion

In conclusion, learning IELTS essay structures gives you a strong foundation for Writing Task 2. Instead of worrying about, organization, you can focus on developing ideas and showing good language range.

Start by practicing one structure at a time. Use real IELTS questions, plan quickly, and time yourself. Over time, these structures will feel natural — helping you score higher in Coherence and Cohesion.

👉 Ready to practice? Check out our guides on IELTS Writing Task 2 introductions and IELTS Writing Task 2 conclusions.