Writing Task 2

Write 250 words response to an essay question in 40 minutes

Your essay is assessed on the following criteria

1. Task achievement
2. Coherence and Cohesion
3. Lexical Resource(Vocabulary)
4. Grammatical range and Accuracy
1. Task Achievement
Answer all part of the question
Present relevant ideas
Fully explain these ideas
Support ideas with specific relevant example

To score highly in task achievement, you will need to answer the

question properly
Example 1
More and more people are migrating to cities in search of a better
life, but city life can be extremely difficult. Explain some of the
difficulties of living in a city. How can governments make urban life
better for everyone?

There are 2 things that must be talk about

1. Difficulties of urban life
2. What governments can do to improve urban living

If you do not address both of these topics, you will score 5 or below
2. Coherence and Cohesion
Structure your answer in logical paragraphs
Include an Introduction and Conclusion
One main idea per paragraph
Support main point with an explanation and then an example
Use cohesive devices accurately and appropriately
Vary your linking phrases using synonyms
 To score highly in Coherence and Cohesion, you need to make it clear
that each paragraph is about and then logically organize each
sentence in the paragraph

You should also link these ideas with cohesive device

Opening Sentence (main Idea)
Explanation/Reason
Example
Closing Sentence (Repeat main idea)
Each paragraph should have only 1 idea that is developed and
supported.
A band 5 answer will have more than one idea in each paragraph and
7 band essay will have only 1 idea and the paragraph will explain and
support it
 For example
If we want to write the benefits of urban life

Band 5 response
Urban living has many benefits. Access to transport is very easy.
Everything is very close and convenient. Schools and shops are
everywhere. Living in the city has many benefits.

Band 7 response
Urban living has many benefits. One of them is access to transport. This
means that people can commute easily to and from work more
efficiently and economically. For example, trains run regularly and
commuters can avoid peak-hour traffic. Using train is also more
affordable than the cost of petrol. Therefore, in terms of
transportation, urban living provides positive options.
Lexical Resource (Vocabulary)
Try to vary your vocabulary using accurate synonyms
Use less common words (old people = Elderly)
Use correct word forms
Check your work for spelling and word formation mistakes

You should avoid using long or complicated words as they may not be
appropriate or accurate
To get high band you do need to use less common words but these
need to be used precisely
Grammatical Range and Accuracy

Use of variety of complex and simple sentences

Use of variety of appropriate structures
Check your writing for errors
 Simple sentences
Subject, verb, object
Eg. Many people are migrating to the city.

Complex sentence
Does not mean long or complicated.
Consists of two sentences joined together with a connecting word.
For eg.
1. Urban living has many benefits
2. Urban living has drawbacks
Complex sentence
Although urban living has many benefits, it also has many drawbacks
Types of Essay
1. Agree/disagree
The agree/disagree essay question gives you a topic and asks if you
agree or disagree with an idea related to that topic. For example:

Less and less parents these days are smacking their children. Some
people think that this is leading to a generation of misbehaved
children. Do you agree or disagree with this view?

This question is related to the topic of smacking children. The idea that
not smacking is actually a bad thing. The question is asking if you agree
with that idea. Your essay will have to answer that question by giving
your opinion and then explaining why with supporting ideas and
examples.
2. Advantage/disadvantage
The advantage/disadvantage essay question gives you a topic, and then
asks you to discuss the advantages and disadvantages. A sample
advantage/disadvantage essay question looks like this:

Some graduates prefer to travel for a year between graduation and

gaining full-time employment. Discuss the advantages and
disadvantages of this.

Here you will need to present both sides of the argument (one per
paragraph) with supporting ideas and examples for each.
3. Discuss both views
The discuss both views question gives you two views or opinions
related to a topic and asks you to discuss both. For example:

Some people think its the governments responsibility to tackle

environmental issues. Others believe it is up to each individual to be
environmentally responsible. Discuss both sides.

Here you need to spend one body paragraph on each opinion, giving
explanations and examples for why people may hold each view.
4. Discuss both views and give your opinion
The discuss both views and give your opinion question is very similar, but
instead of just asking you to discuss two views, it also asks you to state which
one you agree with. For example:

Some people think its better to educate boys and girls in separate schools.
However, others believe that boys and girls benefit more from attending
the same school. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

In response to this essay question, youd need to discuss both opinions (one
in each paragraph) and give explanations and examples to support each one.
Youd also have to say which one you agree with. You can do that within the
body paragraph.
5. Problem/solution
The problem/solution essay question presents you with an issue which you
need to discuss and then provide possible solutions for. For example:

The overpopulation of urban areas has led to numerous problems. Identify

one or two serious ones and suggest ways that governments can tackle
these problems.

Here you would talk about the problems caused by overpopulation in the
first body paragraph, and suggest some government-led solutions in the
second body paragraph.
6. Double question
In the double question essay, youre actually asked two questions, and
you need to make sure you answer both. For example:

Today more people are travelling than ever before. Why is this the
case? What are the benefits of travelling for the traveller?

Here you have two questions to answer. 1. Why are people travelling
more than before. 2. What are the benefits of travelling. You should
spend one paragraph on answering each question.