IELTS Writing Task 2 has about 4 different types of questions (roughly speaking).
And it's important that you can identify them
because once you can identify and categorize it,
then you know (roughly) what type of answer you're going to write
and you're gonna get full points for Task Response
(If you do it correctly, of course).
Now in this video
I will show you those 4 types
and give you an answer.
But what's really important is that you grab a pen
and I want you to start writing things down as I speak.
I think this will help you a lot.
Learn the material.
Help you a lot to learn the material
and just make it a more productive exercise.
So go grab a pen.
So IELTS Writing Task 2
and the 4 types of questions.
These are
Problem + Solution
Discuss + Opinion
Opinion
Problem + Solution
Write those 4 types down.
Now I'm going to dictate 4 questions to you and I want you to write the questions down
and then categorize them.
I'm gonna go pretty quick.
So if you don't understand and you can't keep up,
just pause it,
go back,
and then write them out,
and then categorize them.
Okay?
This is the beauty of video (you can pause it, watch it, whatever).
So let's get started.
Now the first question will be (I'll say it to you now and then you can later categorize
it):
"The internet has had a significant influence on the culture of many societies.
To what extent would you say that the internet has positively or negatively affected the
development of your society?"
So what was this?
What type is this?
Is this problem + solution?
Was this opinion?
I'll tell you now.
This was opinion.
Okay?
Hopefully you did write that down and you categorized it as an opinion.
How do we plan our answer to the opinion essay?
Well, what I would do is:
You've got 4 paragraphs
Introduction
Body paragraph 1
Body paragraph 2
and then your conclusion.
Focus on your body paragraphs 'cause that's where you're going to pick up the majority
of your points.
And I would say that (Well, first of all that was an opinion like I said),
first paragraph, I would say...
Let's see, "To what extent would you say the internet has positively or negatively affected
the development of your society?"
First paragraph:
"It has revolutionized my society."
Or I would probably avoid saying the pronouns and say:
"In general, it has revolutionized society.
Communication costs have fallen, communication frequency has increased, opportunities have
arised, and this has created multiple businesses.
For example Facebook, Google, Twitter (whatever)..."
And then talk about all the businesses.
Give an example in there and it helps demonstrate the points.
That's my first paragraph.
Next paragraph, I totally agree.
"Not only has the internet..."
And then I'm gonna say something like:
"Not only has the internet facilitated communication, it has also given rise to completely new industries."
And then I talk about new businesses that have been created, thanks to the internet.
Here I'd mention maybe something like how the two recent industries have completely
transformed.
"Airbnb.com"
or the taxi transport business with "uber.com" or the taxi lift.
And a brief description and example.
And that's my second body paragraph.
Then a conclusion.
One or two sentences summarizing.
And hey, presto!
The essay is done.
But what's important is that you get this planned before you start.
Then it's just a case of transferring your ideas into the essay.
Let's carry on.
Next one.
Write this down.
If you're not writing this down, you're missing out in an incredible opportunity to improve
your listening skills, to improve your reading skills, your speaking skills, because what
you're doing is associating sounds to words.
And it's a good opportunity.
Plus you're going to improve your vocabulary.
And as you probably know, the more senses (like touch, feel, sound, sight) that are
involved the more likely you are to remember.
So grab a pen, write this one down.
"The idea of having one job is becoming old-fashioned.
The new fashion is to have several jobs always of earning money.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?"
So if you didn't catch all of that, go back, write it down, and then categorize it.
Okay?
Identify it.
What type of question is it?
Well, I'll tell you.
This is discuss + opinion.
Okay?
So I would say:
"I would agree having one job is old-fashioned.
Nowadays, with the increased job insecurity, or the scarcity of job security, and the rapid
globalization, restructuring industries, I would say that it's common and in fact intelligent
to job-hop."
Or "... to engage in job-hopping."
As you probably heard, you've probably captured a lot of topic-specific vocabulary and collocations.
"job security"
"job-hopping"
"employment market"
"industry restructuring"
These types of words pick up point because it's called "topic-specific vocabulary."
Anyway, that aside...
That would be my first paragraph.
Okay?
I would say:
"Job security's becoming more infrequent.
It's becoming increasingly difficult to find.
So sticking with one job is an old-fashioned concept."
Second paragraph, totally agree.
"Finding jobs has become the norm and there are multiple benefits for this.
For example, you could pick up human resource skills in one company, marketing skills in
another company...
Blah blah blah."
And then perhaps throw in a study like:
"Recent studies from Cambridge University support the view that a varied career in different
organizations has been new respect in this.
Blah blah blah."
Then in conclusion going back to the question, mentioning the paragraphs I just discussed.
Mentioning the points.
Not repeating vocabulary.
Not repeating the exact same word structures, sentence structures, and all that.
And then yeah, and then just finish it.
So it's not as difficult as it looks.
You just have to identify the type of question.
Okay, next one:
"Because of new subjects such as computer programming, numerous education centers have
dropped music from the curriculum.
How important is music in a young person's education?"
What type is this?
Well, I would say this is Problem + Solution.
Okay?
First, I would organize my paragraphs and (like I said before) we're focusing on body
paragraphs.
Body paragraph 1,
body paragraph 2.
First paragraph:
"Schools are dropping music.
Why are they doing this?
Because it's got possibly (or "It is said to have) less importance in a modern society
which is often technology-based (or "orientated around technology")."
And I'll give an example just to demonstrate my point.
"For example, 33% of schools in Scotland now have no music curriculum."
Okay?
Just an invented statistic but it was pretty much realistic.
It wasn't insane.
Next one, the solution.
What could we say as a solution?
We could say:
"Possible solution would be to merge music with computer programming and implement a
new curriculum or a new subject which took the best of both disciplines and try to merge
it together, so the student could get the best of both worlds."
"For instance, a university (or a school) in Russia is currently implying (currently
teaching) this new discipline and has had significant results.
Blah blah blah."
Maybe go into a bit more detail there.
Okay?
Once again, we've got the 2 ideas there.
Rough ideas.
Then we can build a paragraph around the ideas and it becomes a lot easier.
And then you finish off with a couple of words with the conclusion.
Okay?
What's important to mention as well, is that for the introduction we're probably writing
2 or 3 lines as well.
Something about music, something about computer, and then tell the examiner what we plan to
write about.
Okay?
Now then, last one.
Let's see...
So if you've been following, and you've been doing the writing you'd probably know what
type of question this is gonna be.
But let's go anyway:
"In western universities, there are severe problems with students and their behavior.
What do you think are the causes of this?
What solutions can you suggest?"
That one was pretty easy.
Two-part question.
Okay?
So body paragraph 1, what we do is we say (What do you think of the causes of this?)
easy.
The whole paragraph around the courses of poor behavior.
Okay?
So what could cause poor behavior?
Binge drinking culture, for one.
Okay?
Or free education.
"Students don't know the value of their education or receive it."
These are just possible ideas.
Okay?
Possible ideas, and then we'll focus on one.
Try and give an example, demonstrate the points, and then move on to body paragraph 2, which
would be...
Let's see...
"What solutions can you suggest?"
Very easy.
What solutions could I suggest?
Let's see.
We could suggest financial penalties.
We could suggest increased drink prices or increased prices of alcohol.
We could suggest fines.
Financial penalties for students who disobey student regulations.
That one was probably the easiest, if you've got a two-part question.
Okay?
Now, in the other videos we're going to go into a bit more depth.
That was just a rough overview of all the different types of questions, you're probably
going to get.
You might get a different one, and since tutors we'd probably say, "Ah, I would have answered
it this way."
There is a bit of variance here.
But what I'm saying is this is what I've done and I've told all my students to do similar
things and they've got good results.
Okay?
Now, if you want more information,
and more questions to practice with,
and more PDFs,
and more resources,
go to ieltspodcast.com.
Sign up, click the link below, and yeah.
And also if you're having a problem,
send me an email and I'll respond and try and give you some tips.
Okay?
Good luck in the exam.
All the best.
IELTS Write Tas...
IELTS Writing Task 2 has about 4 types of questions.
And it's important to know...
IELTS Writing Task 2 has about 4 different types of question, roughly speaking.
And it's important that you can identify...