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IELTS Writing Task 2: The Discussion Essay

By the end of this exercise, you can discuss two opposing views fairly and still give your own opinion clearly.

At a glance

Free IELTS Writing Task 2 practice for “discuss both views and give your own opinion”: report each side fairly, keep your own view clear and write a conclusion that answers the question.

Level
B2–C1 (CEFR)
For
IELTS Academic
Skills
Writing
Tasks
4 — A model essay · Reporting views · The conclusion · Write your own discussion essay
Cost
free, no sign-up
About this task in the exam

IELTS Writing Task 2 is an essay of at least 250 words in response to a point of view, argument or problem. You have about 40 of the 60 minutes for it, and it counts for twice as much as Task 1. A question that ends “Discuss both views and give your own opinion” asks for two things: explain each view fairly, and say what you think. An essay that only describes both sides has not answered the whole question.

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Ex A – Model answerComplete a model essay so that both views and the writer’s own stay clear
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Ex B – Reporting views8 items: report what others think, and say what you think
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Ex C – The conclusion4 items: choose the conclusion that answers the question, plus 2 review items
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Ex D – WritingWrite a full discussion essay of at least 250 words
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Exercise A

A model essay

Read the model essay. Choose the word or phrase that keeps each view in its own place and the writer’s own opinion clear.

Before you start — optional, not marked
This is just to get you thinking — you can leave it empty and it does not count towards your score.
Model essay

Some people believe that museums and art galleries should be free for everyone to visit. Others think that visitors should pay for entry. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Whether museums and galleries should charge visitors is a question that divides opinion. In some countries national museums are free to visit, while in others a single family visit can be expensive. Some argue that entry should be free for everyone, while others believe that visitors should pay. This essay will discuss both views, but I believe that free entry brings greater benefits.

free entry argue that culture belongs to everyone. If tickets are expensive, families on low incomes and young people may never visit, so museums end up serving only those who can afford them. A school class, for instance, can spend a morning with real historical objects at no cost to the families. free entry encourages people to return several times, so they can learn a little more on each visit instead of trying to see everything at once.

, those who favour charging point out that museums are expensive to run. Buildings must be maintained, and collections need to be protected and studied by specialists. Keeping a famous painting safe from light, damp and theft alone requires expensive equipment and trained staff. people value what they pay for, and that even a small fee would reduce crowding in popular galleries.

, although charging would raise money, in my view the benefits of free entry are greater. Museums exist to share knowledge, and they can be funded in other ways, for example through donations or public money, just as libraries and parks are. entry should remain free for everyone.

Exercise B

Reporting views

A discussion essay reports what other people think and, separately, says what you think. Each item says which job the sentence does. Choose the phrase that does that job correctly.

Complete the sentences
1. Report one side: argue that it builds good study habits.
2. Report the other side: point out that it leaves children too tired to play.
3. Report a common view without saying who holds it: that cities are lonelier places to live than villages.
4. Give your own view: , the advantages of homework outweigh the disadvantages.
5. Report a view held by many people: Many people that technology makes us less sociable.
6. Agree with part of a view: this argument to some extent, but it ignores the cost.
7. Report a cautious claim by experts: Some researchers that short breaks improve concentration.
8. Accept a point from the other side, then give your view: that cars are convenient, I believe cities should have fewer of them.
Exercise C

The conclusion

The most common mistake in a discussion essay is a conclusion with no opinion, or one that adds a new argument. For each question, choose the conclusion that gives the writer’s own view. Items 5 and 6 review the Opinion Essay exercise.

Choose the conclusion
1. The museum question in Exercise A. The best conclusion is:
2. Some people think children should start school at four; others think seven is better. Discuss both views and give your own opinion. The best conclusion is:
3. Some people prefer to work from home; others think employees work better in an office. Discuss both views and give your own opinion. The best conclusion is:
4. Some people think tourists should pay an extra tax to visit popular cities; others think this would harm tourism. Discuss both views and give your own opinion. The best conclusion is:
5. Review (Opinion Essay): the rain, the match went ahead.
6. Review (Opinion Essay): Fuel prices rose sharply. , more people began cycling to work.
Exercise D

Write your own discussion essay

Write an essay for an IELTS examiner on the question below. Give each view its own paragraph, then make your own opinion clear in the introduction and the conclusion.

Your essay
Plan first: introduction with your view → paragraph on the first view → paragraph on the second view → conclusion that repeats your view. Report others’ views with phrases such as supporters argue and critics point out. In the exam you would have about 40 minutes; here there is no time limit.
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