How to Write a Band 7 IELTS Task 2 Essay (With Examples)

IELTS Writing Task 2 asks you to write an essay of at least 250 words in 40 minutes. It counts for 66% of your Writing band score. Getting Task 2 right is the fastest way to lift your overall Writing band.

How Task 2 Is Scored

Your essay is graded on 4 criteria, equally weighted:

1. Task Response — Did you answer the question fully? Did you give a clear position?
2. Coherence and Cohesion — Is your essay logically organized? Do ideas flow?
3. Lexical Resource — Do you use a wide, accurate vocabulary?
4. Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Do you use varied sentence structures correctly?

To score Band 7 on each criterion, you need to do all four well — not just write a lot.

The 4-Paragraph Structure That Works

For most Task 2 question types, this structure reliably produces a Band 7+ essay:

Paragraph 1: Introduction (3–4 sentences)
Paragraph 2: First main point + example (5–6 sentences)
Paragraph 3: Second main point OR counter-argument (5–6 sentences)
Paragraph 4: Conclusion (2–3 sentences)

Total: ~260–300 words. More isn't always better. A focused 270-word essay often outscores a rambling 350-word one.

Paragraph-by-Paragraph Guide

Introduction

Paraphrase the question (don't copy it), then state your position clearly.

Original question: "Many people believe that social media has had a negative impact on society. To what extent do you agree or disagree?"

Good introduction: "The rise of social networking platforms has led to widespread debate about whether their overall effect on communities is harmful. While social media does present certain risks, I believe its benefits to communication and access to information outweigh the drawbacks."

Body Paragraph 1 — Your main argument

• State your point in the first sentence (topic sentence)
• Explain and develop it
• Give a specific example

Body Paragraph 2 — Second argument or concession

• If it's an "agree/disagree" question: add your second reason
• If it's a "discuss both views" question: address the opposing view fairly, then explain why your view is stronger

Conclusion

Restate your position in different words. Don't introduce new ideas.

Common Mistakes That Drop Your Score

1. Copying the question word-for-word Examiners are trained to spot this. Paraphrase using synonyms and different grammar.

2. Writing less than 250 words You lose Task Response marks. Count carefully.

3. Giving your personal opinion in a "discuss both views" essay Read the question type carefully. "Discuss both views and give your opinion" ≠ "To what extent do you agree?"

4. Using informal language Avoid contractions (don't → do not), slang, and overly casual phrasing.

5. Repeating the same vocabulary If you write "important" three times, replace two of them: significant, crucial, essential.

6. Ignoring grammar variety Use a mix: simple sentences, complex sentences (with "although", "which", "because"), and compound sentences. Don't write every sentence in Subject-Verb-Object format.

Band 7 Essay Example

Question: Some people think that the government should provide free university education for all citizens. Others believe students should pay for it themselves. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

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The question of whether higher education should be funded by the state or by individual students has long been debated. Both perspectives carry merit, though I believe a shared financial responsibility produces the most equitable outcome.

Advocates of free university education argue that it removes financial barriers that prevent talented students from low-income backgrounds from accessing higher learning. When education costs are prohibitive, gifted individuals may be forced into lower-skilled work, which represents both a personal loss and a broader economic inefficiency. Countries such as Germany and Norway have demonstrated that publicly funded universities can coexist with high academic standards and strong economies.

On the other hand, many argue that individuals who directly benefit from a degree should contribute to its cost. University graduates typically earn significantly more over their lifetimes than those without degrees, making it reasonable to expect them to repay a portion of this investment. Furthermore, when students personally fund their studies, they may be more motivated to perform well and choose courses with genuine career prospects.

In my view, the most practical solution lies between these two positions. Governments should subsidize tuition to make university accessible, while graduates repay a modest income-contingent loan once they reach a comfortable earning threshold. This model, used successfully in Australia and the UK, balances fairness with fiscal sustainability.

In conclusion, while fully free university education has clear social advantages, a hybrid model that shares costs between the state and graduates is more equitable and financially realistic.

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Word count: 263 | Estimated band: 7.0–7.5

Practice Writing on Scoravo

Scoravo's Writing section gives you timed Task 1 and Task 2 prompts. Pro users get AI examiner feedback with a band score estimate and specific suggestions — the same 4 criteria an IELTS examiner uses.

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