
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.

For IELTS general, there are also two writing tasks for you to answer. IELTS 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.
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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.
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:
Mentioned below are a few of the recent IELTS writing task 2 topics:
| Art |
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| Business & Money |
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| Communication & Personality |
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| Crime & Punishment |
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| Economics |
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| Education |
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| Environment |
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| Family & Children |
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| Food |
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| Health |
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| Language |
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| Media & Advertising |
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| Other Common Essay Topics |
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| Reading |
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| Technology |
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| Transport |
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| Travel |
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| Society |
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| Sport |
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| Work |
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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 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).
Candidates appearing for the IELTS academic exam are required to answer the below mentioned question types:
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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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IELTS General writing task 1 requires candidates to address letters to certain individuals as given in the question. Letter types have been mentioned below:
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:
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| 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:
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| 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:
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Mentioned below are a few of the tips for IELTS Writing Task 2 that candidates might consider in order to score better band scores:
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.
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.