An opinion essay is a common question type in IELTS Writing Task 2. It asks you to state whether you agree or disagree with a statement. These essay prompts usually include the phrase:
“To what extent do you agree or disagree?”
A high-scoring opinion essay should follow a four-paragraph structure:
Paraphrase the question
Clearly state your opinion (agree, disagree, or partial agreement)
Present your first reason
Support with an example or evidence
Present your second reason
Support with an example or further explanation
Summarize your main points
Restate your opinion in a different way
In an opinion essay, Task Response is one of the scoring criteria. Your position must be:
Clear throughout the essay
Consistent with your argument
Fully supported
✅ “I completely agree with the idea that…”
✅ “I strongly disagree with the view that…”
✅ “While some people may argue otherwise, I believe that…”
❌ “There are many sides to this.”
❌ “It depends.”
❌ “Somewhat true.”
Clarity is more important than complexity.
Yes, partial agreement is allowed. But your essay must still maintain a clear line of reasoning. This means:
You recognize both sides, but emphasize your main view.
Avoid presenting a discussion-style essay.
“Although I agree that social media helps people stay connected, I believe it causes more harm due to reduced face-to-face interactions.”
Analyze the question – Identify keywords and instruction words.
Decide your opinion – Agree, disagree, or partial.
Brainstorm reasons – Choose 2–3 strong ideas.
Think of examples – Real-world or hypothetical examples.
Outline structure – Write down a plan before you start writing.
Using natural, formal sentence starters boosts your coherence and lexical resource scores.
“It is often argued that…”
“Some people believe that…”
“In my opinion, I completely agree/disagree with the idea that…”
“One major reason why I agree is that…”
“For example, studies have shown that…”
“Another compelling argument is…”
“In conclusion, I firmly believe that…”
“To summarize, the evidence suggests that…”
“Some people think that modern technology is making people more sociable. To what extent do you agree or disagree?”
“University education should be free for everyone. To what extent do you agree or disagree?”
“Only governments can make a real difference in protecting the environment. To what extent do you agree or disagree?”
“Some people believe that the government should invest more in public transport rather than roads. To what extent do you agree or disagree?”
Paraphrase: Some argue that public transport deserves more government funding than road construction.
Thesis: I completely agree that investment should prioritize public transport.
Public transport reduces traffic congestion.
Example: Cities with subway systems experience fewer traffic jams.
Environmentally sustainable: fewer emissions and better fuel efficiency.
Example: Electric buses reduce CO2 compared to private cars.
Reaffirm agreement: Funding public transport improves traffic and the environment.
| Mistake | Why It’s a Problem |
|---|---|
| ❌ Not stating a clear opinion | Reduces Task Response score |
| ❌ Discussing both sides equally | Turns into a discussion essay |
| ❌ No examples | Weakens idea support |
| ❌ Writing an off-topic response | Leads to low band score |
| ❌ Using informal language | Penalized under Lexical Resource |
| ❌ Repeating the question too closely | Hurts lexical variety and originality |
A: Yes. IELTS allows formal first-person usage in opinion essays. Just avoid casual tone.
A: Only if you partially agree. For full agreement/disagreement, focus on your chosen view.
A: Not necessarily real—but examples should be logical and relevant.
A: Yes, but you must still show which side you lean toward more and support it clearly.
Underline keywords in the prompt
Decide your opinion
Choose 2–3 reasons
Plan examples
Paraphrase the question
Use clear thesis statement
Stick to your position
Use linking words naturally
Avoid repetition
Count words (aim for 260–280)
Check grammar and spelling
Make sure each paragraph supports your opinion
Writing an effective opinion essay in IELTS Task 2 is not about being complex—it’s about being clear, logical, and relevant. Choose your position, structure your essay logically, and support each idea with specific explanations and examples.
By following the techniques in this lesson, you can meet the IELTS Band Descriptors for:
Task Response
Coherence and Cohesion
Lexical Resource
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
And most importantly—you’ll express your opinion with confidence.