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Band7

IELTS Writing Task 2 Discussion essays

A discussion question sets two groups against each other and asks you to explain both. Most versions then add “and give your own opinion”, so the essay has three jobs: view A, view B, and where you stand.

  1. 1

    Three jobs, not two. Present view A, present view B, and say where you stand.

  2. 2

    Give the other view a real case. Two weak sentences for the view you dislike, then an attack, leaves part of the task unanswered.

  3. 3

    Your opinion still has to appear. Presenting both views so neutrally that your own never appears misses the third job.

This guide covers

  • How to spot it
  • Paragraph plan
  • Common mistakes
  • 3 original practice questions
WRITING TASK 2Discuss both views and giveyour own opinion.two views,then yours

How to spot it

Read the instruction line

3 wordings signal this type. Check for the look-alike before you plan.

  • 1Standard form

    “Discuss both views and give your own opinion.”

    Both views come from the sentence above the instruction, usually “some people think … others believe …”.

  • 2

    “Discuss both sides of this argument.”

    Sometimes without a request for your opinion. A brief view in the conclusion is still sensible, but the weight of the essay sits on the two sides.

  • 3

    “Discuss both these views.”

    Same task, slightly different wording. “Discuss both” with views, sides, arguments or opinions is this type.

Paragraph plan

Recommended structure

Four paragraphs, one job each.

Structure only — you supply the arguments
  1. 1

    Introduction

    Paraphrase both views, say you will discuss each, and signal your own view if you already have one.

  2. 2

    Body paragraph 1

    Present the first view only: the reasoning and one example. Do not answer it in this paragraph.

  3. 3

    Body paragraph 2

    Present the second view in the same way. Close by saying which you find stronger, or how you weigh the two.

  4. 4

    Conclusion

    Summarise both views in one sentence and restate your own opinion. Do not introduce a third view.

Structure notes

  • Each body paragraph belongs to one view. Present it as its supporters would: their reasoning, and an example they might use.

  • Your own view can be signalled in the introduction and must be stated in the conclusion.

  • The cleanest place for the comparison is the closing sentence of body paragraph 2: which argument holds up better, and why.

Planning and final check

Plan first, check last

Before you write

Planning in the first few minutes

  1. 1

    Name the two views in your own words

    Short labels in the margin. Paraphrasing early stops you copying the prompt into the introduction.

  2. 2

    Put the view you find more persuasive second

    It then flows into your judgement. If you sit between the two, name the condition that decides it.

  3. 3

    One reason and one example for each view

    A short “however” at the end of view A is tolerable. A paragraph that spends half its length rebutting itself is not a fair presentation.

Before you finish

Final check

Common mistakes

Do and don't

The 5 mistakes that keep discussion essays below their potential, each with the fix.

  1. 1

    Don’t

    A straw man for the view you dislike

    A weak reason, chosen so the view is easy to dismiss, is not a real discussion.

    Do

    Give each view its best argument

    Your opinion is more convincing when it beats a strong case.

  2. 2

    Don’t

    Forgetting your own opinion

    When the instruction says “give your own opinion”, a conclusion that only summarises the two views has skipped part of the task.

    Do

    State a view in plain words

    A qualified opinion still counts, as long as you state it.

  3. 3

    Don’t

    Mixing both views in every paragraph

    Alternating sides sentence by sentence makes paragraphs hard to follow and weakens Coherence and Cohesion.

    Do

    One paragraph, one view

    Keep each side in its own paragraph.

  4. 4

    Don’t

    Adding a third view

    A compromise can be your opinion, but it should not appear as a new body paragraph with fresh arguments.

    Do

    Put a compromise in the conclusion

    Build it from the two views you have already discussed.

  5. 5

    Don’t

    Copying the views from the prompt

    Lifting the prompt’s wording to introduce each view shows little Lexical Resource.

    Do

    Paraphrase the views

    Use your own labels from the planning stage.

A teaching paragraph

One paragraph, marked up

A teaching illustration of one paragraph — not a model essay and not a Grade Report.

The question

Discussion

Some people think that museums should be free for everyone, while others believe visitors should pay to support them. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Second body paragraph, presenting the paying view and then weighing it

Those who favour admission charges argue that a museum is costly to run (note 1) and that the people who use it should share that cost. Conservation, security and new exhibitions all require stable income, and a modest fee paid by visitors is more predictable than a grant that may be cut when a government changes its priorities. A regional museum facing a reduced budget (note 2), for example, might otherwise close galleries altogether. This argument is reasonable, but I find it less convincing than the case for free entry, because a fee mainly deters the families and students (note 3) who would gain the most from a visit, while the shortfall could be met by charging only for special exhibitions.

Practice

Practice questions

Original questions written for Band7. Start writing carries the question into the checker.

  • DiscussionOriginal practice question

    Some people believe children should be taught to cook at school, while others think this is the responsibility of parents. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

    Start writing
  • DiscussionOriginal practice question

    Some argue that companies should allow staff to work from home whenever they wish. Others believe teams work best in the same office. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

    Start writing
  • DiscussionOriginal practice question

    Some people think that historic buildings in city centres should be protected at any cost, while others feel they should make way for modern housing. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

    Start writing

FAQ

Questions about discussion essays

Signal it briefly in the introduction, weigh the views at the end of the second body paragraph, and state it clearly in the conclusion. The body paragraphs themselves should present each view fairly.

You can take a balanced position, but name what decides it, for example the age of the learner or the size of the city. "Both views have merits" without a condition is not yet an opinion.

No. A discussion essay presents what two groups of people believe. An advantages and disadvantages essay weighs the effects of one development. The paragraph shape is similar, but the content you are asked for is different.

No. It teaches the question type. To get a practice Estimated Band, write an essay in the Task 2 checker. That estimate is not an official IELTS score.

Write a full discussion essay

Choose a practice question above or bring your own. The checker keeps it in this browser while you sign up. Aim for Band 7+; the Grade Report is a practice estimate.

Task 2 checker