Home > IELTS > Writing Task 2: Opinion Essay Questions

Opinion Essay Questions in IELTS Writing Task 2

Learn how to answer Opinion essay questions in IELTS writing Task 2 with an overview, recommended approach and practice question.

by Tim Martyn

two surgeons doing an operation

Overview

Opinion essay questions are a common question type in IELTS writing Task 2. You’ll be presented with a statement or opinion and be asked the extent to which you agree or disagree.

Here are some key points about Opinion essay questions:

  • You should spend no more than 40 minutes on the task.
  • You should write at least 250 words.
  • Task 2 is worth two thirds of your total writing mark; Task 1 is worth one third.
  • You must write in full sentences, not bullet points or note form.

Example question

Here’s an example Opinion essay question.

Write about the following topic:

Governments should provide everyone with free healthcare.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?


Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Assessment criteria

Here are the assessment criteria used for Task 2.

Criterion What does this mean?
Task response Do you address the question prompt appropriately? Do you have a well-developed position? Are your ideas relevant, well extended and supported?
Coherence and cohesion Are your ideas logically organised and easy to follow? How well do you use cohesive devices to connect your ideas?
Lexical resource Do you use a range of vocabulary? Do you make many vocabulary errors? Do your errors make it hard to follow your ideas?
Grammatical range and accuracy Do you use a wide range of grammatical structures? Do you make many grammar errors? Do your errors make it hard to follow your ideas?

You can find out more about the assessment criteria here.

Practice question

Now it’s your turn to practise. Try the Opinion essay question below using the approach outlined above.

Write about the following topic:

There should be a special tax on sugary drinks to make them more expensive and discourage people from consuming them.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

↕  scrollable window

Feedback

Click below for a sample answer.

Some people believe that sugary drinks should be subject to a special tax in order to reduce their consumption. I agree with this approach because it would improve health outcomes and generate additional revenue, which could then be spent on health-related initiatives.

Firstly, implementing a special tax on sugary drinks would benefit the health of the general population. High sugar intake from these drinks has been unequivocally linked to health issues such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and dental problems. By raising the cost of these beverages through taxation, consumption and therefore sugar intake would decrease. Over time, this reduced consumption would lower the prevalence of chronic health conditions in the population. This would of course benefit individuals, but it would also gradually reduce the cost of the healthcare system as fewer and fewer people would require ongoing care for such conditions.

Not only would a special tax on sugary drinks lead to health benefits at the individual and population levels, but it would also generate additional revenue for the government. This newfound revenue could be used for a range purposes, including to upgrade hospital facilities and improve healthcare systems more generally. It could also be used to fund health promotion campaigns. For example, with the revenue raised from sugary drinks, the government could develop advertisements for television and social media to inform the public about the detrimental health effects of excessive sugar consumption.

In conclusion, I fully support a special tax on sugary drinks. It would improve the health of the community and would give the government an additional revenue stream, allowing it to support people’s health in other ways.