2.1. Understanding Task 2 Questions
What is Task 2?
In Task 2, you write a discursive essay of at least 250 words in about 40 minutes. You are given a statement or question about a topic and asked to respond with your views, supported by reasons and examples.
This is the same for both the Academic and General Training tests.
A critical point that many students and teachers get wrong: there is only one essay type — the discursive essay. There are no "advantage/disadvantage essays" or "problem/solution essays" as separate types. The essay you write is always discursive. What changes is the question you're asked — and different questions require you to focus on different things.
What You'll See on Test Day
Every Task 2 question has the same structure:
- A topic statement — background information or a claim (1-3 sentences)
- A question or instruction — what you need to respond to
- Standard instructions — "Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. Write at least 250 words."
Example:
The rising cost and decreasing supply of fossil fuels, along with environmental concerns, means that their continued use as our main source of energy is impractical and alternative sources must be found. The only realistic alternative is nuclear energy.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. Write at least 250 words.
The 5 Question Formats
While the essay type is always discursive, questions come in five main formats. Recognising the format tells you what the examiner expects to see in your response.
Format 1: Opinion
"To what extent do you agree or disagree?" "Do you agree or disagree?"
What to do: Take a clear position and defend it. You may fully agree, fully disagree, or partially agree — but your position must be clear throughout. Even if you agree, acknowledge the other side briefly.
Format 2: Advantages & Disadvantages
"What are the advantages and disadvantages of...?" "Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?"
What to do: Discuss both sides. If asked whether one outweighs the other, state your view clearly.
Format 3: Problems & Solutions
"What are the causes of this problem and what solutions can you suggest?" "What problems does this cause? What measures can be taken?"
What to do: Identify causes/problems in one section, propose solutions in another. Connect solutions logically to the problems you identified.
Format 4: Discuss Both Views
"Discuss both views and give your own opinion." "Some people think X. Others believe Y. Discuss both sides."
What to do: Explore both perspectives, then clearly state which you find more convincing and why.
Format 5: Double Question
"Why is this the case? Is this a positive or negative development?" "What are the reasons for this? What can be done about it?"
What to do: Answer BOTH questions. Dedicate one body paragraph to each question.
Watch for combinations. Sometimes questions blend formats: "What are the disadvantages? What can be done?" (advantages/disadvantages + problems/solutions). Always read carefully and answer every part.
How to Analyse a Question: A Step-by-Step Method
Before writing anything, spend 1-2 minutes analysing the question. Here's how:
Step 1: Identify the Topic
What broad subject is this about? (Education, environment, technology, crime, health, etc.)
Step 2: Identify the Specific Idea
What particular angle or claim within that topic? This is what you need to respond to — not the broad topic.
Step 3: Identify What You Must Do
Read the question/instruction carefully. What exactly are you being asked?
Step 4: Identify What You Must NOT Do
Just as important — what is the question NOT asking?
Worked example:
"The rising cost and decreasing supply of fossil fuels, along with environmental concerns, means that their continued use is impractical and alternative sources must be found. The only realistic alternative is nuclear energy. To what extent do you agree or disagree?"
| Step | Answer |
|---|---|
| Topic | Energy sources |
| Specific idea | Whether nuclear energy is the ONLY realistic alternative to fossil fuels |
| Must do | Discuss whether nuclear energy is a good/the best alternative; take a position |
| Must NOT do | Argue about whether fossil fuels are impractical (this is given as fact); give a detailed history of nuclear disasters; discuss fossil fuels for/against |
The True/False Test
A powerful technique for ensuring you understand the question. Read the question, then ask yourself whether each of these statements is true or false:
Using the nuclear energy question above:
| Statement | T/F | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The question asks whether fossil fuels are impractical | F | This is presented as background fact, not the debatable point |
| You should give a detailed description of how fossil fuels cause global warming | F | Not what's being asked — stay focused on alternatives |
| The question asks whether nuclear energy is a good alternative | T | This is the core debate |
| You should discuss arguments for AND against nuclear energy | T | Even if you agree, show awareness of the other side |
| You should discuss whether fossil fuels are good or bad | F | The question has already stated they're impractical |
| You could mention other alternative energy sources | T | The question says "only" realistic alternative — so other alternatives are relevant |
| You need expert knowledge about nuclear physics | F | Use general knowledge and reasoning — no specialist expertise required |
| You should only present your own opinion with no other perspectives | F | A strong essay acknowledges other views, even when disagreeing |
| You should express your opinion while showing awareness of other perspectives | T | This is what "discursive" means |
The #1 Mistake: Going Off-Topic
The single most common reason students fail to get their target score is not answering the question. This is not a language problem — it's a thinking problem.
How it happens:
-
Answering a question that wasn't asked. The question asks about parents' motivation for giving phones to toddlers. The student writes about why toddlers enjoy phones. Related — but wrong focus.
-
Writing about the broad topic instead of the specific idea. The question asks about nuclear energy as an alternative. The student writes a general essay about energy, pollution, and climate change.
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Including irrelevant information. Adding a paragraph about the history of nuclear energy when the question is about its future viability.
-
Memorised responses. Student has memorised an essay about "technology" and tries to force it to fit any technology-related question, regardless of the specific angle.
The test: After writing, re-read the question. Then re-read your essay. Could someone reading only your essay correctly guess what question you were answering? If not, you've gone off-topic.
Choosing Your Position
For opinion questions, you need to take a position. Here's what's important:
The examiner doesn't have to agree with you. You are not scored on whether your opinion is "correct." You are scored on whether you can:
- State a clear position
- Explain it logically
- Support it with reasons and examples
You could argue that social media is entirely positive, or entirely negative, or a mix of both. As long as your reasoning is clear and your examples support your position, any of these could score a Band 9.
Choose the position that's easiest to write about. Don't pick the position you personally feel most strongly about — pick the one where you can think of the clearest explanations and most concrete examples.
Don't overthink this. You have 40 minutes. You need a position you can explain and exemplify clearly. Spend no more than 30 seconds deciding your stance, then commit to it and move on.
Practice: Analyse These Questions
For each question below, identify: the topic, the specific idea, what you must do, and what you must NOT do.
Question 1:
"More and more colleges and universities are offering courses via distance learning. Distance learning has many benefits, but there are also drawbacks, and not every learner will be suited to this mode of study. To what extent do you agree or disagree?"
Question 2:
"Levels of depression and anti-social behaviour in children have increased dramatically in modern societies. This situation has led many people to believe that childhood itself is in crisis. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this view?"
Question 3:
"Many city centres have traffic flow problems, causing congestion and pollution. One solution is to build fast ring roads on the outskirts of a city, taking traffic away from the centre. While this is helpful in some ways, it also causes new problems. To what extent do you agree or disagree?"
Suggested analysis:
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topic | Education / distance learning | Children / mental health | Urban transport |
| Specific idea | Benefits vs drawbacks of distance learning, and learner suitability | Whether childhood is "in crisis" | Whether ring roads solve or create problems |
| Must do | Discuss benefits AND drawbacks; discuss suitable vs unsuitable learners; give position | Discuss whether rising depression = childhood in crisis; give position | Discuss pros AND cons of ring roads; give position |
| Must NOT do | Discuss why it's good for universities (question is about learners); give history of distance learning | Give detailed medical explanations of depression; discuss adult mental health | Discuss all possible traffic solutions; give detailed engineering analysis |
Key Takeaways
- There is one essay type: the discursive essay. Questions come in 5 formats.
- Always analyse the question before writing — identify exactly what's being asked and what's NOT being asked
- The #1 reason for low scores is going off-topic — not language ability
- The True/False test helps verify you understand the question
- Choose the position that's easiest to write about, not the one you feel most strongly about
- The examiner doesn't need to agree with you — they assess your reasoning, not your opinions
- After writing, check: could someone reading your essay guess the original question?