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Content Curator | Updated On - Mar 22, 2024

IELTS writing topic has some differences for both Academic and General. For both academic and general tests, there are two writing tasks each for you to answer those questions. IELTS exam writing task 1 Academic, you will be asked to describe a piece of visual information from the graph, chart, or diagram that will be mentioned in the question, and the word limit is 150 words to be completed in 20 minutes. IELTS Writing task 2 questions ask you to discuss a given point of view or an argument the argument should not be more than 250 words and the time allotted will be 40 minutes.

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For IELTS general, there are also two writing tasks for you to answerIELTS Writing task 1 general questions need you to respond to a situation by writing a letter, for instance, asking for a piece of information, and you will have to write about 150 words in 20 minutes. IELTS writing task 2 general questions are similar to what will be asked of you in the academic writing tests, where you will be asked to discuss a given point of view and complete it in 40 minutes within 250 words. 

To ace the IELTS writing test, you should start practicing IELTS sample papers. IELTS essay samples are available on various websites for you to start your preparation. IELTS writing tips like practicing at least one sample paper for academic or general tests, and setting a time limit to learn time management will help you to get into a habit of writing. IELTS exam topic writing includes art, business and money, crime and punishment and to name a few. The IELTS writing task 2 topic with answers is also provided for your convenience to get an idea of what to expect on the test day. 

IELTS Writing Task 2 Topics

IELTS writing task 2 ranges from topics that are referenced from socio-culture affairs and contemporary social issues. Essay writing for IELTS assesses test-taker’s potential to write a response that highlights their ideas, addresses the questions properly. Further, it also assesses accuracy with vocabulary and grammatical coherence for better IELTS scores.

Essay Types in IELTS Writing Task 2

Each of the questions in IELTS writing task 2 topics requires aspirants to present the write-up in an opinion-oriented manner. In addition, agreement/disagreement and several other types. Mentioned below are the question types in essay IELTS writing task 2:

  • IELTS Solution Essay: Certain issues will be mentioned in the questions, and test takers are required to address it.
  • IELTS Agreement/Disagreement Essay: This question type in IELTS writing task 2 questions requires aspirants to interpret a given statement. Test-takers are required to portray agreement or disagreement with the given statement and justify their opinion.
  • IELTS Cause and Solution Essay: Test-takers are required to provide their opinion and justify them with probable reasons.
  • Advantages and Disadvantages Essay IELTS: Applicants are required to highlight the advantages and disadvantages of the given situation as presented in the question.

IELTS Task 2 Topics

Mentioned below are a few of the recent IELTS writing task 2 topics:

Art
  • censorship of art and artists
  • creativity
  • art at school
  • the benefits of art for individuals and society
  • funding
Business & Money
  • small vs large business
  • international business
  • family run business
  • management and leadership
  • success in business
  • business and technology
  • skills vs knowledge for business
  • materialism and consumerism
Communication & Personality

  • technology and communication
  • family and communication
  • face to face vs long distance communication
  • types of communication
  • the development of character and personality
  • innate or developed personalities
  • female/male characters
Crime & Punishment
  • prisons vs rehabilitation
  • capital punishment vs other types of punishment
  • criminals - what makes a criminal
  • major vs minor crime
  • crime and technology
  • teenagers and crime
  • role of policemen
  • men and women in law enforcement
Economics
  • cash vs credit cards
  • saving vs spending
  • globalisation and economy
  • world economic issues
  • economic progress and success
Education
  • children and education
  • relevant subjects
  • education and technology
  • role of teachers
  • discipline and rules in school
  • single-sex schools
  • uniforms
  • funding
  • educational aid to poorer countries
Environment
  • animals
  • protection of endangered species
  • environmental problems
  • saving the environment & solving problems
  • government vs individual roles
Family & Children
  • family roles
  • family size
  • the generation gap
  • discipline
  • role models
  • family and education
Food
  • health diets
  • education of diet
  • traditional vs modern diets
  • fast food
  • children and diet
Health
  • prevention vs cure
  • funding
  • health and education
  • poor countries and rich countries
  • health aid
  • dealing with global epidemics
  • hospitals and treatment
  • obesity
  • exercise and health
Language
  • having only one language in the world
  • methods of language learning
  • travel and language
  • the disappearance of languages
  • language and culture
Media & Advertising
  • censorship, control and freedom of speech
  • advertising methods
  • children and advertising
  • media and technology
  • news & reporting
Other Common Essay Topics
  • Space Exploration
  • Water and Oceans
  • Change or Moving vs Stability and Constancy
Reading
  • paper books vs ebooks
  • children and reading
  • books in education
  • libraries
  • reading and leisure
Technology
  • controlling the internet
  • socialising online
  • children and technology (safety)
  • the change in society
  • letter vs email
  • storing data
  • safety of personal information
  • hacking
Transport
  • development of infrastructure
  • comparing forms of transport
  • problems with modern forms of transport
  • environmental issues
Travel
  • culture and travel
  • understanding people and travel
  • living in a global world
Society
  • overpopulation
  • poverty
  • homeless people
  • crime on the streets
  • modern life styles
  • budget spending
  • public services
Sport
  • professionals vs amateurs
  • salary
  • equipment
  • sport and learning
  • sport as a school subject
  • men vs women in sport
  • types of sport
Work
  • shift work
  • women in work
  • types of jobs (blue collar / white collar)
  • children and exploitation
  • part time work
  • work and technology
  • employment
  • salary
  • equality


Recent writing task 2 topics are broad in scope and cover a wide range of subtopics. For example, under the topic of Education, candidates may be asked to discuss the advantages and disadvantages. It is about online learning or the feasibility of free university education for everyone. Under the Technology topic, they may be asked to write about the effects of social media on society or the possibility of robots replacing human workers in the future.

IELTS Academic Writing Task 1

IELTS Academic writing task 1 requires test-takers to write a response of 150 words. These 150 words are a summary of the infographic (pie chart, bar, or line graph, table).

Question Types in IELTS Academic Writing Task 1

Candidates appearing for the IELTS academic exam are required to answer the below mentioned question types:

  • Bar Chart
  • Table-Chart
  • Multiple Graphs
  • Map
  • Pie Chart
  • Process Diagram
  • Line Graph
  • Combination of these as multiple tasks

IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 Topics

The IELTS writing topics that questions in the academic writing task 1 are referenced from are mentioned below:

Pie Chart

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. The pie chart shows the online sales for retail sectors in Canada in the year 2005 & 2010.  Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.

Pie Chart

Bar Chart

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. The bar chart below shows the production of the world’s oil in OPEC and non-OPEC countries. Write a short report for a university lecturer describing the information shown below. Write at least 150 words.

Bar chart

Line Graph

The graph below shows relative price changes for fresh fruits and vegetables, sugars and sweets, and carbonated drinks between 1978 and 2009. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.

line graph

Multiple Graph

The line graph shows the number of newly graduated students in the UK, while the bar chart compares their proportions in five different jobs occupied by them in 1992, 1997, and 2002.

multiple graph

Process Diagram

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. The diagram below shows the process by which bricks are manufactured for the building industry. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.

process diagram

Table Diagram

The table below shows social and economic indicators for four countries in 1994, according to United Nations statistics. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.

table diagram

Map

The two maps below show an island, before and after the construction of some tourist facilities. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.

map

IELTS General Writing Task 1

IELTS General writing task 1 requires candidates to address letters to certain individuals as given in the question. Letter types have been mentioned below:

  • Formal
  • Semi-formal
  • Informal

IELTS General Writing Task 1 Topics

Questions that test-takers are required to answer in IELTS General writing task 1 are as follows:

Formal

You placed an online order for a flower vase. However, when you received it, it was damaged. Write a letter to the manager of the company. In your letter, you should:

  • Give the details about the equipment.
  • Explain the damage.
  • Suggest what you want the manager to do.
Semi-formal

You live in an apartment for rent. Your neighbor makes a lot of noise which has caused problems for you. Write a letter to your house owner. In your letter, you should:

  • Explain the situation.
  • Tell the house owner how you are affected by this.
  • Suggest what you want the house owner to do.
Informal

Write a letter to your neighbor (who is also your friend) about the damage that occurs to your car while he parks his car in the space allotted to you. In the letter, you should:

  • Describe the damage
  • Say how you feel about this problem.
  • Suggest on actions he should take.

IELTS Writing Tips

Mentioned below are a few of the tips for IELTS Writing Task 2 that candidates might consider in order to score better band scores:

  • Read widely: Candidates must undertake reading of topics from any form of resource. Reading newspapers, magazines, and online articles can help candidates to keep up with current events and gain insights into different viewpoints.
  • Brainstorm: Candidates can brainstorm ideas by listing down all the possible arguments and supporting evidence they can think of on a given topic. They can then choose the most relevant and persuasive arguments to include in their essay.
  • Analyse the question: Candidates should analyze the question carefully to ensure that they understand the requirements of the essay. They should identify the keywords and phrases and consider different ways of approaching the topic.
  • Use personal experience: Candidates can draw on their own experiences and knowledge to provide relevant examples and arguments. This can help to make their writing more engaging and convincing.
  • Research: To generate ideas for the IELTS Writing Task 2 and IELTS writing task 1 section, candidates should use a variety of strategies. IELTS academic reading proficiency can be gained by reading academic journals, IELTS preparation books, and online resources.
  • Mind mapping: Mind mapping is an effective technique to organize ideas and arguments in a coherent and well-structured manner. Candidates should develop a strong thesis statement that clearly states their main argument and provides a roadmap for the reader to follow. The thesis statement should be persuasive, concise, and clear.

To support their arguments, candidates should provide relevant evidence such as statistics, examples, and expert opinions from a variety of sources. Candidates must account for the use of a range of vocabulary and grammatical structures to demonstrate their language proficiency. Apart from this, appropriate spelling, punctuation, and sentence structure which can be mastered with effective IELTS test writing practice is necessary.

FAQs

Ques. How is IELTS writing test done?

Ans. There are two writing tasks for both the general and Academic tests. In task 1, you will be required to respond to a situation by writing a letter, and in task 2 you need to discuss a point of view or given argument.

Ques. How many hours is the IELTS written exam?

Ans. For both the Academic and General writing exams, the time allotted for task 1 is 20 minutes with a word limit of 150 words and for task 2, the time limit is 40 minutes with a word limit of 250 words.

Ques. Is writing difficult in the IELTS exam?

Ans. It depends on from person to person. You will have to be in regular practice of writing by setting a time limit, solving sample papers, and writing sample essays on the most probable topics that are mostly asked in the exam.

Ques. How can I prepare for the IELTS written exam?

Ans. To start your preparation, you have to be consistent with your writing. Try Indulging yourself in reading English books and Newspapers and be updated with some common topics like business and money or crime and punishment.

Ques. What is not allowed in the IELTS writing exam?

Ans. Your answers should be written in full sentences. You should not use bullet points for your answer, and write the answers in paragraphs. Don't copy the entire sentence from the question, and do not be repetitive with your words and ideas.

Ques. What is a good score in the IELTS writing exam?

Ans. The good score varies from university to university. For some universities, 6.5 might be a good score on the writing exam, while for some, it might be a band 8 or more than that.

Ques. How many attempts are there in the IELTS exam?

Ans. There are no restrictions on the number of attempts you can make for the exam. You can take the test as many times as you wish.

Ques. Is there any age limit for writing the IELTS exam?

Ans. There are no specific age limits set for writing this particular exam. However, you are required to be at least 16 years of age to be eligible for the exam.

Ques. On what basis is the IELTS writing test scored?

Ans. Your answers in the writing exam are scored based on your understanding and response to the question, usage of lexical resources, and grammatical accuracy.

Ques. What is asked in writing task 1?

Ans. You will be asked to describe a graph, chart, or table. You should analyze the diagram and then write accordingly. Do not miss any crucial points from the picture.

Ques. Which skills are tested in task 1?

Ans. In task 1, the examiner will check whether you can present, analyze, and compare the given data and describe something in detail.

Ques. Is there any penalty in the writing exam?

Ans. You should know that you will be penalized if you don't write relevant issues to what is asked to write, and also can be penalized if you write more or less than the word limit that is mentioned in the instructions.

Ques. Are there any sample papers available online?

Ans. You can access the IELTS sample paper for every section on the official website, and it is also available on other online platforms.

Ques. How can I enroll for the IELTS coaching?

Ans. Several coaching centers in India prepare you for the exam and apart from that you can prepare for the exam from the comfort of your homes through platforms like British Council, Rice, and so on.

Ques. Can I retake the IELTS writing test only?

Ans. You can retake any of the sections of the IELTS exam, and the pattern is similar to the normal IELTS tests.

*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.

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