IELTS Compass
Preparing your study plan
IELTS Compass
Preparing your study plan
IELTS Writing
Task 2 is worth two-thirds of your Writing score, so structure matters more than vocabulary. Use these templates for every question type, build paragraphs with PEE/PEEL, and steal the band 7+ phrases below.
Every body paragraph in Task 2 should follow the same skeleton. PEE is the minimum; PEEL adds a link back to the question, which examiners reward.
| Letter | Element | What to write |
|---|---|---|
| P | Point | A clear topic sentence stating the idea of the paragraph |
| E | Explanation | Explain why the point is true — the logic behind it |
| E | Example | A specific, concrete example (a country, a study, a trend) |
| L | Link | One sentence linking the paragraph back to the question |
Example paragraph
Point: Remote work has made employees more productive in many industries. Explanation: This is largely because workers can eliminate long commutes and design their own schedules around peak focus. Example: A 2023 survey of UK tech firms found that teams working from home delivered 12% more output per week. Link: Clearly, flexibility is not just a perk but a driver of performance.
| Paragraph | Content |
|---|---|
| Introduction | Paraphrase the question + state your opinion clearly |
| Body 1 | Reason 1 with explanation and example (PEE) |
| Body 2 | Reason 2 with explanation and example (PEE) |
| Body 3 (optional) | Acknowledge the other side, then reassert your view |
| Conclusion | Restate your opinion and summarise your reasons |
| Paragraph | Content |
|---|---|
| Introduction | Paraphrase + state that both views will be discussed |
| Body 1 | View A: explain why people hold it, with an example |
| Body 2 | View B: explain the opposing view, with an example |
| Conclusion | Summarise both views and give your own balanced position |
| Paragraph | Content |
|---|---|
| Introduction | Paraphrase + outline the problem and the solution |
| Body 1 | Problem: causes and consequences, with an example |
| Body 2 | Solution: practical measures, with an example |
| Conclusion | Summarise the problem and restate the solution |
| Purpose | Phrases |
|---|---|
| Introducing your opinion | In my view, … · I firmly believe that … · From my perspective, … |
| Introducing the other side | Admittedly, … · It is often argued that … · Some people contend that … |
| Giving reasons | This is largely because … · The main reason for this is … · This can be attributed to … |
| Giving examples | For instance, … · A case in point is … · This is evident in … |
| Concluding | In conclusion, … · To sum up, … · On balance, … |
Use phrases naturally
Examiners penalise memorised chunks that don't fit the sentence. Learn the phrases as frames and adapt them to your argument — never paste them in wholesale.
To lift your Lexical Resource score, pair these phrases with the topic word sets in the IELTS vocabulary list by topic — collocations and example sentences for the themes examiners reuse.
Question: Some people believe that unpaid community service should be a compulsory part of high school programmes. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Introduction. In my view, requiring teenagers to take part in unpaid community service is a worthwhile policy, although it should be structured flexibly. Body 1. The main reason for this is that such programmes build civic awareness at an age when values are still forming. For instance, schools in Finland that mandate volunteering report higher rates of adult community engagement. Body 2. Admittedly, compulsory service can feel like a burden to students already stretched by exams. This is why the requirement should allow students to choose causes that match their interests, turning obligation into genuine motivation. Conclusion. On balance, compulsory community service is justified, provided schools give students real choice in how they contribute.
Practise this structure daily inside the free 30-day IELTS study plan, which schedules timed Task 2 essays from Cambridge 10–19 and logs your scores so you can watch your Writing band climb. Not sure what band 7 actually looks like on the mark scheme? See the IELTS band scores explained guide for the Writing descriptors.
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