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- Essay Task 2
IELTS Writing Task 2: Opinion Essays- Benchmark IELTS
- Essay Types
- Double Question
- Advantage Disadvantage
- Problem Solution
- Essay Length
Opinion essays are a very common writing task 2 essay type. As you would expect from the name, you need to write a well-structured IELTS writing essay topics that give your opinion. We’ve put together a guide with everything you need to know to write a great IELTS writing task 2 opinion essay. Let’s get started!
Table of Contents
1.1 understanding the question, 1.2 example opinion questions.
- Essay Structure for Opinion Essays
- 3.1 Identify key words and phrases
3.2 Organise your ideas
3.3 identify vocabulary, 4.1 introduction, 4.2 main body paragraphs, 4.3 conclusion.
- 5.1 Complete the sample opinion essay
5.2 Opinion Sample Essay
1. opinion essay overview.
An opinion essay is also known as an agree or disagree essay . As with all writing task 2 essays, you will have 40 minutes to write at least 250 words .
Read on to find out how to produce a great opinion essay.
It is important that you first understand what writing task 2 essay question you have been given before you start writing. The type of essay question you get will slightly change the structure of your essay.
Remember, there are five main types of writing task 2 questions:
- Advantage/disadvantage
- Double question
- Problem/solution
You will be given an IELTS statement and a question . Here are some common questions/sentence starters that tell you that you have been given an opinion essay:
- What is your opinion
- Do you think…
To what extent do you agree?
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
- Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
The main aims of this type of essay are:
- Choose one side of the argument
- To state your opinion about a given topic
- Support your opinion with clear reasons and examples
A common mistake test takers make when writing an opinion essay is that they treat it like an advantage/disadvantage essay and try to write about both sides of the argument in detail (see our guide on advantage/disadvantage essays and compare the difference).
For an opinion essay, you need to pick a side : it does not matter which side of the argument you choose, just pick the one that you can develop the best argument for.
However, you should briefly acknowledge the other side of the argument, and will show you how to do this in your introduction , main body paragraphs, and conclusion .
You should not give reasons to support the opposing argument , only support one side with reasons and examples.
Make it clear to the examiner what your opinion is from the beginning to the end of your essay (this is called a thesis-led approach: leading with your opinion).
Here are some example opinion writing task 2 questions to help you recognize them in the IELTS exam:
Some people think that more money should be spent on protecting endangered species while others think it is a waste of valuable money.
What is your opinion?
Also, read the following IELTS Essay Writing Guides
- IELTS Discussion Type Questions
- Double Question IELTS Essay Topics
- IELTS Advantage Disadvantage Essay Type
- Problem Solution IELTS Writing Task Statement
Systems of funding university education are different from country to country. While some countries charge students for studying at university, others offer university education for free.
Do you think students should pay for higher education?
Every school system in the world includes regular tests and exams, and many people think that it is important for students to take lots of exams.
Children should not start school until the age of six or seven because they need to have more time to play and develop before they go to school.
Scientists and technology experts seem to be more valued by modern society than musicians and artists.
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2. Essay Structure for Opinion Essays
Although there is more than one way you could choose to structure your essay, we have provided you with a foolproof structure you can always use for opinion essays to score highly in Coherence and cohesion , as well as address all parts of the task to do well in Task achievement :
3. Planning your Opinion Essay
Don’t skip this step! Taking 5 minutes to plan your essay could be the difference between your desired score and a missed opportunity.
3.1 Identify keywords and phrases
By identifying the topic of your essay, you are making sure that you are going to write about the correct topic and not go off-course. Test takers that rush and panic can make the mistake of writing about a completely different topic to the one they have been asked to write about. Don’t be one of those test taskers and make a plan !
Let’s take a look at the question for our sample answer where we have underlined the topic words:
The topic words are underlined and show the general topic of this essay question is protecting endangered species .
Now that we have identified the topic sentence, we should also look for any other keywords or phrases that give more information about the topic. Look at the words in bold below:
Some people think that more money should be spent on protecting endangered species while others think it is a waste of valuable money .
So this question is not only asking you to give your opinion on protecting endangered species, but also the amount of money that is spent on this cause.
A test taker that had only addressed the first point would likely have scored poorly in Task achievement.
There are so many ways you could choose to organize your ideas. We have chosen to note down our ideas by paragraph:
We give more note taking and idea generation tips in Master Guide for IELTS writing task 2 .
If any useful IELTS vocabulary for writing comes to mind during the planning process, it is useful to write it down so you don’t forget (remember to cross out any notes or planning before the end of the 40 minutes so the examiner does not mark this as your essay).
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4. Writing your Opinion Essay
Paraphrasing means being able to write something in your own words without changing the meaning . This is an essential skill needed for the IELTS exam, especially writing task 2.
There is no one right way to paraphrase an IELTS statement. You could choose to use synonyms or parallel expressions (phrases with more than one word but have the same meaning). You could also change the sentence structure, but make sure it is still grammatically correct. Another paraphrase technique is to change a word class, for example, a noun to a verb form.
Take a look at our example, can you see the main changes we have made?
Although this is a formal essay, you are still allowed the use of the first person ‘I’ and ‘my’, you will need to use this when giving your opinion (just don’t over-do it).
Notice that in this example, the opinion has been clearly stated whilst presenting both sides of the argument :
Opinion: However, my view is that more government funding should be used for wildlife conservation.
Other side of the argument: It is argued by some that the protection of endangered animals is wasteful.
Not all sample essays will show this, but you can choose to briefly state what your essay will do, for example:
This essay will explain my opinion in more detail.
Now let’s move on to the main body paragraphs.
A topic sentence is usually found at the beginning of your paragraph. This should give the reader the main idea of your paragraph in one sentence.
Here are two examples taken from the sample answer:
- One reason that I believe more money should be spent on the conservation of wildlife is that animals are an essential part of maintaining the health of an ecosystem.
- Another reason to support spending on wildlife protection is that it also benefits humanity.
The start of your sentence indicates to the reader that you are clearly stating a reason for your opinion and that you are going to develop this idea throughout the paragraph.
You could also choose to start your topic sentence with the following structures:
- One reason that I believe…
- One argument in favor of… is that…
- The main reason that I think…
- Another reason to second…. (note that second here means ‘ to agree with an idea ’ )
You could also use the grammatical structure ‘ Not only… but also…’ to avoid repetition and put emphasis on the second reason, for example:
Not only does spending money on conservation help the animal kingdom, but it also benefits society as a whole.
Not only will preventing the extinction of species help the animals themselves, but it will also have a positive effect on the quality of air, water, and agricultural land.
As this is an opinion essay, it is essential that you use a range of phrases to give your opinion. Far too often, candidates just repeat the phrase ‘In my opinion…’ Here are some other sentence starters you can use to impress the examiner
- My point is that…
- I am of the opinion that…
- My argument is that…
- As far as I am concerned,…
- In my view…
Your conclusion is a very important part of your essay. You need to restate your opinion (in different words than your introduction) as well as choose the most convincing argument from your essay.
Remember to also briefly mention the other side of the argument to show the examiner that you understand there are two sides and you have clearly chosen one.
Here is a useful structure to do this:
Although it is true that… on balance I believe that/ I am of the view that/ another opinion phrase)…
And here is the full example from our sample essay :
… although it is true that there are valuable uses for funding that could aid environmental protection, on balance I am of the opinion that governments should invest in the protection of endangered species.
5. Example Opinion Essay and Exercise
Now it’s time to test your knowledge about IELTS writing task 2 opinion essays. We’ve created a model answer, but removed some of the keywords and phrases.
You need to select the correct missing words and complete the model answer. Good luck!
5.1 Complete the Sample Opinion Essay
These days, the number of species facing extinction is growing, and as a result, a larger number of people are becoming involved in environmental issues. It is argued by some that the protection of endangered animals is wasteful. However, my view is that more government funding should be used for wildlife conservation. This essay will explain my opinion in more detail.
One reason that I believe more money should be spent on the conservation of wildlife is that animals are an essential part of maintaining the health of an ecosystem. If a species becomes endangered, it signals that an ecosystem is out of balance. As a result, the loss of one species may trigger the loss of others and may lead to irreversible consequences for the animal kingdom.
Another reason to support spending on wildlife protection is that it also benefits humanity. For example, if the ecosystem is out of balance then the health of the environment is also negatively affected, for example, the loss of wildlife can affect the quality of clean water and air for a population. In addition, the fertility of agricultural land may also be reduced with the loss of certain species. Having said that, there are those that argue that this is a costly and inefficient use of public funds. They think that money would be better spent on other schemes such as renewable energy projects.
In conclusion, having looked at the topic in detail, although it is true that there are valuable uses for funding that could aid environmental protection, on balance I am of the opinion that governments should invest in the protection of endangered species. The main reason is that the protection of wildlife will not only benefit the animal kingdom, but also the human race and the environment we inhabit.
2 thoughts on “IELTS Writing Task 2: Opinion Essays- Benchmark IELTS”
Hey. Thanks for a great material. I have one concern though. In the ” common questions in opinion essay” part, you mentioned this question ” Discuss both view and give your opinion.” But isn’t it included to the “Discussion essays”??
Hi, I just wanted to ask this question cuz it made to think about it thoroughly.
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IELTS Writing Task 2: Opinion Essay Guide
Having a clear knowledge of how you structure your IELTS Opinion Essay Task is an essential skill that will make you attain your desired band score and eventually move to the country you are aiming for.
Since the IELTS Opinion Essay Task is one of the most challenging parts of the IELTS Writing Test , we have outlined for you everything there is to know about this part of the test, so read on.
What is IELTS Writing Task 2?
What is the ielts writing opinion essay task , what are some essential tips for writing the ielts opinion essay, how to structure your opinion essay answer, planning tips for the ielts opinion essay task , good or bad: writing a long introduction, how to use the last 5 minutes of the ielts writing task 2 test, what are some useful phrases in writing opinion essay, helpful ways to improve your ielts writing for a band 7, model essays for ielts opinion essay task, additional faqs – ielts writing task 2 – opinion essays.
The second and final task of the IELTS Writing Test is IELTS Writing Task 2 . It is similar for both the IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training modules.
You must write at least 250 words and should spend at least 40 minutes (out of the 60 minutes) on this task because it carries more weight.
You must write an essay in response to a point of view, argument, or problem in IELTS Writing Task 2. It assesses your ability to:
- present a logical, relevant, and well-structured argument
- provide facts or examples to back up ideas
- use appropriate language
There are five types of questions that are posed in the IELTS Writing Task 2 and you will only find out the type of test you should answer on the day of the test itself. That is why prior to taking the IELTS Test , you should make yourself familiar with them.
The IELTS opinion essay task is also known as ‘agree or disagree’ or argumentative essay and is one of the most widely used types of IELTS Writing Task 2 questions. This type of query necessitates an answer.
A factual statement will nearly always precede the opinion to provide context. The next question will usually be something along the lines of ‘To what extent do you agree or disagree with…’ or anything along those lines.
One of the most common types of essays in the IELTS Writing Task 2 portion is the opinion essay. Usually, this question asks if you agree or disagree with the given topic.
As a result, rather than remaining neutral, you must choose a side. You are not correctly answering the question if you do not express whether you agree or disagree with the given topic.
Here are the most proven tips to help you get high marks in the IELTS opinion essay task.
- Make the most of your time:
You have an hour (60 minutes) to finish the IELTS Writing Test. Because the IELTS Writing Task 2 is more important for your overall band score , we recommend devoting no more than 20 minutes to Task 1 and 40 minutes to task two. Allow time for planning and double-checking your work. When taking practice examinations, it’s a good idea to stick to a 60-minute time limit.
- Answer the question directly:
Answer the question in a straightforward manner. Avoid writing an essay on a topic you have already prepared ahead of time. Ensure that your examples and ideas are valid. If you simplify too much and are not particular enough, it will alter how the examiner perceives your ideas.
- Answer all the questions:
You must carefully evaluate the question to estimate the number of components it contains. To obtain a band 6 or higher, you must answer all portions of the question. Remember that it is critical to take a clear stance in response to the statement to demonstrate that you understand the subject and to maintain that position throughout the essay.
- Use linking phrases:
You need to begin with an introduction and end with a conclusion. Your ideas must be clearly defined and structured. If you are expected to present both points of view and your viewpoint, begin with your perspective and then move on to the other points of view. The essay might then be finished by returning to your own point of view. This is the most logical order in which these thoughts should be presented.
- Have your essay in paragraphs:
To separate your writing into various pieces, use paragraphs. The examiner should be able to read your essay easier as a result of this. Make sure each paragraph is well-organized and contains a well-developed topic of at least three sentences. It also shows that you can logically arrange and articulate your thoughts and ideas.
- Make use of unusual vocabulary:
Avoid using old-fashioned words that are not used in everyday language. If you use a synonym, be sure it has the same meaning as the original and does not alter the meaning of the issue. When studying a language, use both common and uncommon words. You may also use phrasal verbs when discussing certain topics or using idiomatic language.
- Avoid using memorized words, phrases, or examples:
Avoid using any memorized words, phrases, or examples in your writing. They do not show off your eloquence in writing. Examiners are well aware of this. Furthermore, because they are vague and do not sufficiently handle a task, they should not be utilized in writing. You should always utilize straightforward language and appropriate word choices to communicate your thoughts properly.
- Make use of a variety of advanced sentence structures:
Using several frameworks, you should accurately explain your ideas and beliefs. Prove to the examiner that you can employ a variety of structures and that your sentences are error-free. In your writing, use a combination of smart and basic sentences.
However, keep in mind that your complicated sentences should not be excessively long or intricate. With perfect capitalization, commas, and full stops, your punctuation should likewise be perfect.
In writing essays, paragraphs are vital because they divide your thoughts into manageable pieces that a reader can grasp. Imagine reading a 250-word IELTS opinion essay in just one long block of text?!
As a result, many basic writing standards such as introductions and conclusions and the premise that each paragraph should contain only one idea apply. This makes it easier for a writer to provide clear information that a reader can comprehend.
Generally, you need to have at least four paragraphs in the IELTS opinion essay task. However, you may opt to have a five-paragraph essay, which is completely fine.
First Paragraph — Introduction
This paragraph gives the reader a sense of the essay as a whole and leaves an impression on the examiners. The first sentence is the question statement’s paraphrasing. The examiner should be able to recognize if you have fully understood the question by reading this sentence.
As a result, we recommend that you compose this paragraph so that examiners can acquire a clear picture of the essay.
Second Paragraph — 1st Body Paragraph
When composing your body paragraphs, you can choose one of these two options to construct each one: You can either submit two reasons for agreeing or disagreeing or write a single rationale with an example.
The side with which you disagree is discussed in the first body paragraph of the IELTS opinion essay task. Always remember to layout the first body paragraph’s structure before you start writing.
Third Paragraph — 2 nd Body Paragraph
You make an argument for the viewpoint with which you agree in the third paragraph. As a result, always consider either four or two reasons to support your position, each with an example.
Fourth Paragraph — Conclusion
This paragraph sums up your essay and wraps up your supporting points. To create an effective ending, include the thesis from the introduction, but in a paraphrased form to avoid using the same terms twice. Then, summarize the points from your second and third body paragraphs that support your argument.
Complete IELTS Opinion Essay Task:
How you plan and draft your IELTS opinion essay task will dictate the structure of your output. Remember that you only have 40 minutes for this task, and once you start writing, there is no going back. Hence, it is important that you follow the tips below to produce a quality essay.
Read and Understand the Question:
You will be asked if you agree or disagree with the question stated. That implies you will have to choose a side. Examiners will not evaluate what you are thinking or what you genuinely believe. They will simply look at the content of your essay.
As a result, after giving the question statement some thought, choose the side on which you have more strong points to discuss, even if you do not favor that side in real life.
Pick the Important Points :
You may have various points to discuss. However, you will not be able to write all of them. Examiners want you to clearly communicate your point of view, backed up with logic and examples.
Draft the Structure of your Essay :
Your IELTS opinion essay is finished by composing 14 sentences in four paragraphs. It is as easy as that. This is how we write a 4/14 essay.
The structure is simple to remember and apply in the IELTS Writing Test:
- Introduction – 3 sentences
1 st Sentence: Paraphrase the given topic.
2 nd Sentence: Write a thesis statement.
3 rd Sentence: Write an outline sentence.
- 1st Body Paragraph – 4 sentences
1 st Sent ence: Topic Sentence 1
2 nd Sentence: Explain Topic Sentence 1.
3 rd Sentence: Present logic for Topic Sentence 1, including drawbacks.
4 th Sentence: Give a supportive example for Topic Sentence 1.
- 2nd Body Paragraph – 4 sentences
1 st Sentence: Topic Sentence 2
2 nd Sentence: Explain Topic Sentence 2.
3 rd S entence: Present logic for Topic Sentence 2, including drawbacks.
4 th Sentence: Give a supportive example for Topic Sentence 2.
- Conclusion – 3 sentences
1 st Sentence: Summarize the body paragraph 1.
2 nd Sentence: Summarize the body paragraph 2.
3 rd Sentence: Give a final remark summarizing both body paragraphs.
As mentioned earlier, your introductory paragraph should be clear and concise. You are advised to have a maximum of 3 sentences. Do not elaborate too much so that you would not have anything to write in the succeeding paragraphs anymore. Moreover, it is also not recommended that you write your introduction in only one sentence.
The IELTS opinion essay task requires you to give your opinion in the introduction and conclusion paragraphs.
Opinion in the Introduction
Which side do you favor when you write your opinion in the initial paragraph of your essay?
Let us imagine you are an ordinary writer who does not show your point of view in the first paragraph. The examiner may interpret your points as they see fit in this situation. The reader also may be perplexed when they read in the last line which side you favor. This may cause you to lose points unnecessarily.
Opinion in the Conclusion
It is critical to write your viewpoint in the conclusion as well, as this is the final pronouncement. Finally, it persuades the examiner that your thinking is valid. However, remember that you should not repeat the terms you have already used in the introduction.
The last 5 minutes of the IELTS Writing Test could mean the difference between a 5 and a 6.5 band score. Utilize it well.
Ensure that by this time, you have finished writing your IELTS Writing Test and that you have enough time to double-check the following:
- Punctuations
- Number of Words
- Sentence Structures
These may seem minor details, but you would not believe the number of candidates who have failed to recheck their essay and got a low band score. Do not commit the same mistake.
The use of appropriate words is an important component of effective essay writing. To explain thoughts more effectively, one should continually grow and strengthen one’s vocabulary.
The following are the top words and phrases to know to produce excellent IELTS opinion essays:
Expressing Opinions
- I’d argue that…
- In my opinion…
- Personally, I believe…
- It appears to me that…
- I have to admit that…
- As far as I can tell…
- As for me, I believe…
- That is something I cannot deny…
- I’d like to emphasize that…
- In my personal experience…
Proving Arguments
- This is testified by…
- This is evidenced by…
- This establishes that…
- This is attested/proven by…
Expressing General Point of View
- It is commonly stated that…
- According to popular belief…
- It is commonly assumed that…
- It is generally assumed that…
- It is largely agreed upon that…
- It’s a widely held assumption that…
Outlining Facts
- It is evident that …
- The truth is that …
- It is obvious that …
- This shows that …
- There is no doubt that …
Giving Examples
- As an example…
- Take for instance…
- We can see this in…
- A good illustration of this is…
- Evidence for this is manifested in…
- To summarize…
- In conclusion…
- In general…
- Taking everything into account…
Preparing for the IELTS Writing Test is not as difficult as you would imagine. It just takes enough practice and preparation.
The good news is that this is not the first time you are writing, and for sure, you already have the knowledge and skills for it. You just need to review and apply them when you take the IELTS Writing Test.
- Make sure you understand the concepts you are discussing :
“If you won’t be able to make a six-year-old understand it, you don’t comprehend it yourself,” Albert Einstein once stated.
Take time to mentally explain the notion to a six-year-old who lives inside your head before you begin writing. If you want to attain a specific outcome with your writing, consider what that result should be. Have a clear objective in mind before you start writing. Then stay with it.
- Learn how to brainstorm ideas and create an outline:
Unfortunately, having good English grammar and vocabulary is not enough. Because the IELTS examiner is evaluating your ability to generate cohesive and orderly responses, you should practice thinking of themes to write about. As a result, you should practice brainstorming and outlining ideas for your IELTS Writing Task 2 responses.
- Do not go overboard with your explanations:
You should keep things simple if you have taken the effort to organize your thoughts ahead of time.
The goal is to provide readers with just enough information to understand what you are saying without overwhelming them with unnecessary information. If you are getting bogged down with unnecessary details, consider whether each piece of information is necessary to help your reader understand your point. Otherwise, get rid of it.
- Avoid using too many prepositional phrases:
Prepositional phrases make your work overly wordy and difficult. It is a fact. Although prepositions are not difficult to grasp, they do necessitate some explanation. You should get clever about prepositions and strive to simplify them whenever possible. Your writing will gain a much-needed boost in clarity.
- Know your strategy:
Each IELTS Writing task necessitates a distinct strategy.
IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
You need to determine the major patterns and characteristics and rewrite the material from the task in the introduction using synonyms and grammar transformations. Describe only the facts that are relevant to the inquiry, not all of it. In conclusion, summarize the main themes from your body paragraphs.
IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
You need to analyze the question and brainstorm ideas using bullet points. Design paragraphs by addressing your bullet points, and write the letter.
IELTS Writing Task 2
Rephrase the question in the introduction and construct a thesis statement based on your viewpoint. Write topic sentences outlining your essential points – one for each theme – and use one of them to begin each body paragraph. Use explanations and examples to support the main sentence in the rest of the paragraph; in conclusion, summarize your points.
- Improve your grammatical range and vocabulary:
Spend time reading different materials, such as commercials, articles, manuals, magazines, reports, and sample models from practice exams, in the weeks leading up to test day to learn new vocabulary in varied situations.
Practice making sentences with new words and difficult structures.
- Keep your sentences short and simple:
Long, complex sentences can be written with style by literary experts. It is easier to read shorter, less convoluted sentences. Keep things simple.
However, vary the length of your sentences to create a smooth flow in your writing.
- Practice, practice, practice:
The best way to enhance your writing is to figure out what makes it weak in the first place and then work on addressing (and eventually preventing) the flaws. You will improve your writing, editing, and proofreading skills as you write, edit, and proofread more. Practice as often as you can.
Before taking the IELTS Writing Test, you are advised to spend time reading the sample and model responses that receive high marks from the examiner. This will help you strategize and choose which technique to employ when you finally have to take the IELTS Writing Test.
How Do I Write an Opinion Essay for IELTS?
To write an IELTS opinion essay task, you first need to read and understand the question. Then, you have to plan and draft what you need to include in the essay.
Next, you will write the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion of your essay. Make sure you meet the required number of words, at least 250 words.
Can You Use Quotes, Idioms, or Proverbs in Your Essay?
In the IELTS Writing Test Task 2, you get a high score when you employ appropriate, natural language in the proper context.
As a result, avoid using quotes, idioms, or proverbs in your essays. Because these are not your own words, they are not appropriate for the IELTS Opinion Essay Task. Utilizing them in your essay will lead to low marks.
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How to write an IELTS opinion essay
Ielts opinion essay: structure, model answer, and analysis..
Updated: February 2023
There are 5 types of essays in IELTS writing task 2 and a common one is an opinion essay.
So how do you know if it is an opinion essay?. You will first need to study the instruction words. These words tell you what you should write about and this should be the first step to take before you even begin to plan. Analyse the task and especially the instruction words so you do not go off-topic or write a different essay altogether.
Here are 2 essay tasks below, which one do you think is the opinion essay?
1. Most people agree that money cannot buy happiness. Why is happiness difficult to define? How can people achieve happiness? 2. Some people believe that nowadays we have too many choices. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Looking at the instruction words we can see that the second one is an opinion essay as it asks ‘ To what extent do you agree or disagree? ‘
The first task is called a ‘Two-part question essay’ or sometimes called a ‘Direct question essay’.
Instruction words
Opinion essays will have various instruction words such as:
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Do you agree or disagree?
What is your opinion?
Do you think…?
What do you think….?
In your opinion what is ….?
In some cases the instruction words ask your opinion it may be a discussion essay such as:
‘Discuss both views and give your own opinion’
The structure of a discussion essay is different from an opinion essay as you will need to explain peoples views before you go into your own opinion.
This task below is a 2 part question essay and the second question asks your opinion.
Most people agree that money cannot buy happiness. Why is happiness difficult to define? How can people achieve happiness?
The opinion essay that I am referring to asks ‘ To what extent do you agree or disagree?’ means how much do you agree/disagree? , do you completely agree/disagree? or somewhat agree/disagree? or do you neither agree nor disagree?
You can write in your thesis statement something like: ‘ I completely agree because…..’ or if you don’t agree, something like: ‘ I absolutely disagree because…..’
What is an effective opinion essay structure?
There is no magic Band 9 structure but my students have found that the structure below works well in an opinion essay.
Tips on structure:
- The main body paragraphs will cover the reasons for your opinion; however, do not list ideas just use one central idea and explain and support it.
- Don’t wait until the conclusion to give your opinion. It must be throughout the whole essay .
- Don’t give 2 different opinions. Do not agree then disagree as it will confuse the examiner. You can balance it with why someone would hold an opposing view but it is not a discussion essay.
- I advise keeping the introduction under 60 words , each body paragraph should be approximately 90 to 105 words , the conclusion needs to be shorter than the introduction and no new ideas should be added to the conclusion
- Aim for between 270 to 295 words , over 300 words is not realistic as you only have 40 minutes to write the essay .
Which body paragraph is better?
Take a look at these 2 main body one paragraphs to the task below, what do you think will score higher?
Task question:
Some people believe that nowadays we have too many choices . To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
A long time ago people used to go to market places and they bought basic daily necessities, now people can buy online and go to many high street shops. In addition, we can choose any hotel we like at cheap prices. Also, businesses compete with each other which means customers can buy items at low cost as well as a bigger selection of goods. Furthermore, the economy benefits because people can select from so many different products. For example, Amazon.com has millions of products that are much cheaper than buying at a shopping mall.
Admittedly, these days there are far too many choices which can be overwhelming; however, I think that for consumers this is an advantage because it forces businesses to compete with each other. This means that shoppers can benefit greatly from lower prices. For example, over the past two decades, Ryanair and EasyJet budget airlines have considerably reduced the cost of airfares for flights all over Europe. Before this, there was only one airline to choose from at exorbitant costs. Presently, many more budget airline options are serving destinations worldwide with incredible bargains for customers.
Click below for the answer.
The 2nd example is better because I wrote one central idea (lower prices for consumers) and expanded on that. The example given is not entirely true but it looks very feasible. You can just make up examples but they have to be specific and realistic looking. The point of an example is to support your main idea.
At the start of the paragraph I mentioned that too much choice is overwhelming but then contrast that with my opinion (Admittedly, these days there are far too many choices which can be overwhelming; however, I think that…) .
To see how to balance the essay click here for a lesson on balancing your opinion .
In example 1 above this has too many ideas and too many points. It jumps around and is not focusing on one central idea. The points are relevant but there is too much going on.
You will also notice an opinion is not given directly in the first example (I think / I believe etc) the whole paragraph affects coherence and cohesion as well as task response. The example given about amazon.com is also quite weak and not well explained.
Analysing the question.
As with all IELTS essays, it is crucial to spend a couple of minutes analysing the task and underling the keywords so that you are writing relevant points in the essay. If you go off-topic or write irrelevant points it will affect your score.
This is the task question for my model answer below and it is clear that the essay is about having too many choices these days . This means that there is something negative about having many choices, as the word ‘too’ implies something negative. In my model answer, I disagree with this being a negative and in fact, many choices are beneficial.
Click here for the 5 steps you need to take before writing.
I advise 10 minutes of planning time, this includes time analysing the question and getting relevant ideas.
Click here for a lesson about examples in main body paragraphs.
Model Answer
Some people believe that n owadays we have too many choices . To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
It is argued that in recent times people are overwhelmed by so many choices. Although I agree with this to some extent, for consumers I believe that having so many options enables them to purchase more competitively priced and higher quality products.
Another reason why I believe that more choice is beneficial is that the quality of products has improved in recent years. This is because many businesses are vying for customers’ attention, so their main selling points are not only low prices but also much higher quality. For instance, smartphone costs have decreased in the past 5 years and these devices are more powerful and more durable than ever before. This is primarily because manufacturers have focused on quality control to compete with rival products. I would argue that this has been a benefit to consumers which would not have been possible with one or two companies monopolising the smartphone market.
To conclude, despite the argument that there is too much freedom of choice nowadays, I hold the view that this is a positive trend as so many options allows customers to buy inexpensive items without compromising on quality.
Click below to see more detail and an analysis
1. My thesis statement says: Although I agree with this to some extent, for consumers I believe that having so many options enables them to purchase more competitively priced and higher quality products.
I am giving a balanced opinion here and focusing specifically on choice for consumers.
2. I have covered the points about how more choices have resulted in lower prices in main body one, while in main body two I cover the point about higher quality products because of the fact there are more choices. Notice how I have balanced my view: Admittedly, these days there are far too many choices which can be overwhelming; however, I think that for consumers this is an advantage because it forces businesses to compete with each other. .
3. The examples I gave are made up and not entirely true but they look realistic, the examiner does not check your examples for validity. Examples are there to support your main ideas. Do not put statistics in the examples either.
4. The points I have made in the essay connect with consumerism and shopping, but I have linked them to the points about how having many choices are of benefit to customers or consumers , because my opinion is that having many choices is a good aspect
5. In this type of essay, you could write about other areas where having many choices are relevant such as the choices of universities we can attend, the choices of work we might engage in, The choice of health care options available….and so on.
Here is a good news article from ‘ Business Insider’ that connects with this task question. Reading is a very good way to get ideas for IELTS essays.
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