IELTS Writing Task 2 topics: 60 practice questions

The 5 types of Task 2 essay

The most common way to lose marks is not answering every part of the question. Underline each part before you start.

A 10-minute plan for every essay

1. Underline the topic, the specific focus and every part of the question (1 minute). Model essay →
2. Decide your answer to each part (1 minute).
3. Write two main ideas, each with a reason and an example (5 minutes).
4. Write a thesis sentence for the introduction that answers the question directly (3 minutes).

Then write for about 30 minutes, leaving 3–5 minutes to check. Download our free IELTS Task 2 essay plan to practise this.

60 IELTS Writing Task 2 practice questions

Education

1. Some people think universities should provide graduates with the knowledge and skills needed in the workplace. Others think the true function of a university is to give access to knowledge for its own sake. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
2. Many students now study online rather than in a classroom. Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?
3. Some people believe children should start school at a very early age. Others think they should begin at seven or later. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
4. Schools should teach practical skills such as cooking and managing money instead of traditional subjects. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
5. In many countries, fewer students are choosing to study science subjects. Why is this happening, and what can be done about it?
6. University education should be free for everyone. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
7. Some parents choose to educate their children at home. Is this a positive or negative development?
8. Teachers have a greater influence on children's development than parents. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
9. Many young people take a year off between school and university. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this?
10. Exams are not the best way to measure a student's ability. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Technology

11. Some people think artificial intelligence will create more jobs than it destroys. Others disagree. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
12. Children today spend too much time on smartphones. What problems does this cause, and how can they be solved? Model essay →
13. Online shopping is replacing shopping in stores. Is this a positive or negative development?
14. Social media has made people less sociable in real life. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Model essay →
15. Many people now work from home using technology. Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
16. Governments should control what is published on the internet. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
17. Some people think robots will soon do most household tasks. Is this a good or bad thing?
18. Technology has made people's lives more complicated rather than simpler. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
19. Cashless payments are becoming more common. What are the advantages and disadvantages?
20. Young people learn more from the internet than from their teachers. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Environment

21. Climate change is the responsibility of governments, not individuals. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Model essay →
22. Many cities have serious air pollution. What are the causes, and what can be done about it? Model essay →
23. Some people think wild animals have no place in the twenty-first century and protecting them is a waste of money. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
24. Plastic bags and packaging should be banned. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
25. People in many countries are throwing away more food than ever. Why is this, and what can be done?
26. Air travel should be taxed more heavily to protect the environment. Do you agree or disagree?
27. Some people think renewable energy should replace fossil fuels as quickly as possible. Others think the change should be gradual. Discuss both views.
28. Building more roads will not solve traffic congestion. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
29. Tourism harms the environment of the places people visit. What can be done to reduce this?
30. Individuals can do little to improve the environment. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Health

31. Some people believe the best way to improve public health is to build more sports facilities. Others think other measures are needed. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
32. Junk food should be taxed in the same way as cigarettes. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
33. More and more people are overweight. What are the causes, and what are the solutions? Model essay →
34. Health care should be free for everyone. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
35. Prevention is better than cure, so governments should spend more on health education than on treatment. Discuss.
36. People are living longer. What problems does this cause, and how can they be solved?
37. Working long hours is harmful to health. What can employers do to reduce stress at work?
38. Mental health is as important as physical health but receives less attention. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
39. Advertising of unhealthy food to children should be banned. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
40. Some people think alternative medicine is useful. Others think it is a waste of money. Discuss both views.

Work and the economy

41. Job satisfaction is more important than a high salary. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Model essay →
42. Many young people change jobs frequently. Is this a positive or negative trend?
43. Some people think the government should pay for the training of unemployed people. Do you agree?
44. A four-day working week would benefit both employers and employees. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Model essay →
45. Women and men should be paid the same for the same work. What measures can make this happen?
46. More people are starting their own businesses. What are the advantages and disadvantages?
47. Older workers should retire early to create jobs for young people. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
48. Some countries rely heavily on skilled migrants. What are the benefits and problems of this?
49. Unpaid internships are unfair to young people. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
50. Money is the main reason people work. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Society and culture

51. In many countries, more and more people are choosing to live alone. Why is this, and is it positive or negative?
52. Museums and art galleries should be free to enter. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
53. Some people think it's important to keep traditional buildings. Others think new, modern buildings are better. Discuss both views. Model essay →
54. Crime among young people is increasing. What are the causes, and what are the solutions?
55. Famous people have a responsibility to set a good example. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
56. Some people think people who move to a new country should adopt its customs. Others think they should keep their own. Discuss both views. Model essay →
57. Volunteering should be compulsory for secondary school students. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
58. Large cities are becoming too expensive to live in. What problems does this cause, and what are the solutions?
59. Global tourism helps people understand other cultures. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
60. Spending money on space exploration is a waste when there are problems on Earth. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Get your essay marked for free

Write an essay on any question above, then paste it into our IELTS writing checker. You'll get an estimated band for Task Response, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource and Grammar, with your spelling, linking words and repeated words highlighted. For timed practice with model answers, use writing practice 1, 2 and 3.