IELTS Writing Task 2 two-part question: how to answer both parts, with samples

It is one of our five types of Task 2 question. It starts with a sentence about a topic, then asks two direct questions. There is no fixed wording, so the two questions change from essay to essay.

Here are two of our original practice questions of this type. They are not real exam questions, but they follow the same pattern as the test.

Practice question 1. More adults are returning to education in their thirties, forties and fifties, often studying part-time while they continue to work. Why are so many adults choosing to study again? Is this a positive or negative development?

Practice question 2. In many countries, more people are living alone than ever before, including young workers and older people. Why is this happening? How should governments respond to this change?

Both end with the same line as every Task 2 question: “Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.” You have about 40 minutes and must write at least 250 words.

Before you plan, decide what kind of answer each question needs. The first word usually tells you.

“Why …?” asks for reasons or causes. Give one or two reasons and explain each one with an example.

“Is this a positive or negative development?” asks for your opinion. Choose positive or negative, or say which is stronger, and keep that view to the end. Questions such as “Is it a sensible way to spend money?” work the same way.

“How …?” or “What can be done …?” asks for ways or actions. Explain how each one would work. “How might this affect …?” asks for results, so describe the effects, not solutions.

“Who should be responsible …?” asks you to name a person or group and say why. A question that asks “What problems …? What solutions …?” also has two parts, but it is a problem and solution question: see our problem and solution essay guide.

Here is a quick plan for practice question 2, about people living alone. The first question asks for causes, and the second asks for actions, so each gets its own paragraph.

Introduction. More people now live alone, mainly because of longer lives and work in big cities. Governments should respond with suitable housing and ways to keep people connected.

Body 1: why? People live longer, so many older people live alone after a partner dies. Young workers move to cities for jobs and rent small flats on their own.

Body 2: how should governments respond? Build more small, affordable homes near transport. Support local centres where older people can meet others, so living alone does not mean being lonely.

Conclusion. Repeat both answers in new words, with no new idea.

Answering only one question. Some essays explain the reasons in detail and forget the second question. Both questions are part of the task, so both need an answer.

Mixing the two answers. If every paragraph has a little of each answer, the examiner has to search for them. Give each question its own paragraph, in the order asked.

One long answer and one short one. A full paragraph for the first question and two sentences for the second is not a balanced answer. Plan both before you write, so you have enough ideas for each.

Answering a question that was not asked. If the question asks how something affects people, write about effects, not solutions. IELTS says you will be penalised if what you write is not related to the topic.

No clear opinion when one is asked for. “It has good and bad sides” does not answer “Is this positive or negative?” Choose a side, or say which side is stronger. For more traps, read our Task 2 mistakes that stop you reaching Band 7.

An examiner marks every Task 2 essay on the four criteria below. Task 2 contributes twice as much as Task 1 to the Writing score, so this essay matters more than your Task 1 answer.

In the notes on the two samples, each criterion has a short tag. TR is Task response, CC is Coherence and cohesion, LR is Lexical resource (vocabulary), and GRA is Grammatical range and accuracy.

Both samples answer practice question 1: “More adults are returning to education in their thirties, forties and fifties, often studying part-time while they continue to work. Why are so many adults choosing to study again? Is this a positive or negative development?”

The first question asks for reasons, and the second asks for your opinion. Read the Band 7 sample first, then the Band 9 sample, and use the numbered notes under each one.

This essay answers both questions, in the right order, with a clear position. The notes show why it stays at Band 7: the second answer is thinner than the first, and there are a few small errors.

This essay answers the same question with the same plan. Compare the notes: both answers are equally full, each idea has a specific example, and the language is precise and accurate.

Both samples have the same four-paragraph plan and answer both questions. The difference is how fully each question is answered, and how precisely.

Task response: Band 7 develops the first answer well but lists ideas in the second. Band 9 gives both answers the same depth, with a specific example for each idea.

Coherence and cohesion: Band 7 uses “Firstly”, “Secondly” and “In addition”. Band 9 links ideas with words such as “such courses” and “also”, so the linking is almost invisible. The descriptors call this “reference and substitution”.

Vocabulary and grammar: Band 7 has a few small errors, such as “in the same time”. Band 9 uses precise collocations and complex sentences without errors. The table quotes the public band descriptors for each level.

Choose “Two-part question” in the topic generator below to get one of our practice questions and a 40-minute timer. Then check your length with our IELTS word counter.

Some questions combine two types, such as a “Why” question and a “positive or negative” question. To practise judging the good and bad sides of a change, read our advantages and disadvantages essay guide. To join your ideas smoothly, see our linking words for IELTS.