IELTS Writing Task 2: The essay structure that scores band 7+

IELTS Writing Task 2 is where most band 6.5 candidates lose their target band. The good news: examiners reward a small number of clear paragraph moves. This article gives you a structure you can rehearse in a week — with a worked opinion essay showing every move in action.

The four-paragraph shape

Almost every high-scoring Task 2 essay uses the same shape: introduction, body 1, body 2, conclusion. The differences at band 7+ come from the internal moves inside each paragraph — not from radical reinventions of the structure.

Paragraph 1 — Introduction

• Sentence 1: Paraphrase the question topic (not the whole question).
• Sentence 2: State your position or the essay's scope.
• Sentence 3: Preview both body paragraphs in one line.

Paragraph 2 — First body

• Topic sentence stating one main idea.
• One extended reason or explanation.
• One specific example, ideally from a real domain (education, work, health).
• A short link sentence back to your position.

Paragraph 3 — Second body

Same architecture as body 1 but a fresh idea. Do not repeat the same reason with different vocabulary — examiners spot this instantly.

Paragraph 4 — Conclusion

• Restate your position in different words.
• Summarise the two main body ideas in a single line.
• Do NOT introduce a new argument here.

A worked opinion essay

Prompt: "Some people think that public libraries are becoming unnecessary because information is available online. To what extent do you agree or disagree?"

Introduction: The idea that public libraries have lost their purpose in an age of ubiquitous online information is compelling but ultimately misleading. I disagree with this view. Libraries remain essential both as trusted community learning spaces and as guardians of digital access for those who cannot pay for it.

Body 1: The most obvious value of a modern public library is its role as a shared, quiet learning space. Many students in dense cities have no dedicated place to study at home — a public library provides a well-lit, distraction-free environment at no cost. The Boroondara Library Service in Melbourne, for instance, hosts hundreds of secondary students each week in exam period, offering not just desks but supervised study rooms and free after-hours access.

Body 2: Second, libraries close what economists call the digital divide. Cheap smartphones now give most households some form of internet access, but structured broadband, print-quality colour printing and one-to-one help with online forms are not free. A rural library in Kenya or Nigeria might be the only place a first-generation university applicant can print their transcripts. Removing this service would disproportionately harm the students who already need the most support.

Conclusion: While internet access has transformed how people find information, it has not replaced the two roles libraries play best: providing shared learning space, and providing free digital access to those who cannot pay for it. For these reasons I strongly disagree that public libraries are becoming unnecessary.

Three mistakes that cost you 0.5 bands

1. Memorised phrases. "It is a highly controversial issue in the modern world" adds no content. Examiners see it in thousands of essays.
2. Two ideas in one body paragraph. If body 1 tries to cover both "learning space" and "digital divide", both arguments feel thin. One idea per paragraph, deeply extended.
3. A new argument in the conclusion. Task 2 conclusions synthesise; they do not add.

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