IELTS Opinion Essays: Structure, Topics and Sample Answers
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Updated On Sep 17, 2024
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The article provides guidance on writing IELTS opinion essays, emphasizing structure: an introduction, two body paragraphs supporting one view, and a conclusion. It includes examples, common mistakes to avoid, and tips for clear, concise essays.
Table of Contents
What is an ielts opinion essay, breakdown of the ielts opinion essay format, ielts opinion essay sample answers, latest ielts opinion essay topics of 2024, top 3 common mistakes of ielts opinion essays, tips to answer ielts opinion essay questions.
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IELTS opinion essays mainly focus on agreeing or disagreeing with a particular fact or information. It presents two opposite views and you have to develop your argument supporting one view (strictly one!) You get 40 minutes to complete this task. You have to write at least 250 words on the topic given.
Given below are some examples of IELTS Writing Task 2 opinion essays along with their structure. So, let’s understand how to frame the IELTS opinion essay from the sample answers given in the blog!
If you’re gearing up to tackle the Opinion Essay in IELTS Writing Task 2, know that it’s all about writing your opinion on a specific topic with supporting examples. To make sure your essay ticks off all the criteria of a band 8+ essay, organizing it in the right way is key! You can also check tips to write an effective introduction in IELTS Writing Task 2 to present a great IELTS opinion essay!
Let’s now look at a proper format to learn the structuring of an IELTS opinion essay.
Although there is no specific format for IELTS opinion essays, it is crucial to follow certain pointers while answering these essays during the IELTS Writing exam in order to make the answer effective.
Introduction:
- Keep it short, usually around 2-3 sentences.
- Introduce the topic and clearly state your opinion.
- Provide a brief overview of the main points you will discuss in the body paragraphs.
Body Paragraphs (Usually 2 paragraphs):
- Each paragraph should focus on a single main idea that supports your opinion.
- Start with a topic sentence that introduces the main idea.
- Provide evidence, examples, and reasoning to support your main idea.
- Aim for coherence and cohesion within each paragraph by using appropriate transition words.
- Make sure to use appropriate IELTS Vocabulary and grammar while explaining an idea in the body paragraphs.
Conclusion:
- Summarize the main points discussed in the body paragraphs.
- Restate your opinion, emphasizing its importance or relevance.
- Avoid introducing new ideas in the conclusion.
Given below is an example of an IELTS Writing task 2 o pinion essay. Let’s understand how to frame the essay from the ideas we have. Additionally, you can review the IELTS Writing Task 2 practice tests on a regular basis to achieve your desired band score.
Sample Question 1
In the future, nobody will buy printed newspapers or books because they will be able to read everything they want online without paying. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Given below is a brief outline of what to write in the essay after identifying the essay type.
Opinion Essay
Introduction
Paraphrase the topic of the essay using synonyms for the words used in the topic statement. Clearly state the view on the topic.
Body Paragraph 1
Technological improvements have increased the level of ease and convenience to a point where people can access news and information at the click of a button. This has led to print media becoming outdated.
Body Paragraph 2
The development of news websites and sites that freely distribute information and print media in a digital form has led to a trend of availing such services and content without paying.
Summarize the essay and re-state the opinion on the topic.
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Sample Answer
Presently, newspapers, books, journals, magazines, etc. are still actively used by a section of the global population. However, with the arrival of news sites and the availability of books, magazines and other forms of media online, totally free of cost, many believe that such forms of media are on their way to becoming outdated. I agree with this statement, and will explain it further with relevant examples in the essay.
It is a well-known fact that in this day and age if an individual wants to read a book or just go over the news of the day, the first step that they take is to search the internet. Devices such as smartphones and tablets have improved the time efficiency of searching for information online to such an extent that a person can access their preferred form of media in the comfort of their homes in a matter of minutes. Consequently, people have started to abandon their preference for print media due to the presence of much more convenient alternatives.
Additionally, the various forms of print media enjoyed by people can often be availed free of charge on several websites. For instance, most news organizations publish their daily news on their official website, which can be accessed by anyone. Also, some numerous sites and databases provide popular books, journals and magazines in a digital form to the public for a nominal subscription fee or sometimes even for free, leading to a majority of readers of such forms of media shifting away from buying hard copies.
Nevertheless, there is still a sizable chunk of the population that enjoys the conventional forms of print media. That being said, with the cost-effective nature of making such information and content available online, organizations will soon completely shift to internet-based services.
In conclusion, I would like to say that people always prefer the more comfortable alternative that is available. Therefore, it can be safely said that in the coming years, there will be a complete shift from traditional print media to online media services and products.
Sample Question 2
Some people say that international sporting events contribute greatly to peace and stability in the world. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Paraphrase the topic sentence using synonyms.
Mention the view on the topic.
Body Paragraphs
International sports tournaments are events where teams and the general public of various countries come together and collectively participate in the event.
Sports events, especially cricket and football help distract the minds of the citizens from the ongoing difficulties in their country and enjoy these events.
Summarize the essay and state the final view.
Sports has always been a magnificent platform for the finest talents of a country to showcase their skills and represent their nation. At the same time, sports is also one of the few occasions where every citizen of the country unites in support of their favourite teams. It is considered by many that sports are a great approach to maintain stability among countries. This essay will elaborate on the given topic and justify why sports can successfully bring and preserve global peace.
One of the greatest characteristics of any popular sporting event is that supporters of every team involved in the tournament almost always attend the matches that are organized in their cities. Some veteran fans even travel to different parts of the country to witness a match between their favourite teams. These events also unite the populace of a nation as every patriotic individual prays for the success of their national team. For instance, the entire nation wishes for the victory of their national team in the Olympic Games as winning an Olympic Medal is one of the most prestigious honours that can be bestowed upon a country.
It is a well-known fact that the people of a country collectively face several challenges on a day-to-day basis. These issues can be caused by numerous factors and are the typical difficulties that ordinary citizens have to overcome. Sports help people enjoy a few moments of excitement and take a break from the monotony of everyday life.
That being said, sometimes the passion of overenthusiastic sports fans ends up leading to harmful and conflicting situations among communities. Nevertheless, the overall impact of sports on our lives is undoubtedly positive.
Finally, sports are one of the aspects of human life that bind a whole community together. This is enough evidence to understand that sports help maintain peace and stability in a nation.
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Sample Question 3
Our personalities are predetermined as a result of our genes before we are born and there is nothing that can be done to change our character traits. To what extent do you agree?
Paraphrase the topic and mention the view.
Genetics are only a part of the entire list of factors that affect a person’s personality.
One of the most important influences on an individual’s personality is their childhood and upbringing.
Summarize the essay and mention the final view in brief.
Even between small periods of time, there are subtle variabilities in our disposition. Such alterations are quite natural and are a part of a human being’s existence. However, it is often assumed that our personality is entirely dependent on genetics. The following paragraphs will explore the different aspects of personality and justify why genetics are not the only factor influencing our personality.
An individual has countless experiences in their life from childhood to adulthood and finally until death. Every one of these experiences has an impact on a person’s mind, no matter how giant or small. The kind of people present in a person’s immediate surroundings also has a huge influence on their nature and characteristics. Thus, it can be safely surmised that a person’s genes are not the only contributing factor when it comes to personality.
One of the most significant influences on our personality is our childhood experiences and the teachings of our parents. Children are always known to follow in the footsteps of their parents. Thus, if the parents of a child are successful in teaching their children the right values and morals, they are bound to grow into responsible and decent individuals.
It is true that the personality traits of an individual are determined by the features of their parents. Nevertheless, these traits can be altered over the course of many years and different experiences.
In conclusion, genetics affect our personalities in a trivial manner as compared to all the other aspects of our temperament. That being said, our life experiences and learnings are the consequential factors in developing our character.
A few IELTS Writing Task 2 sample essay of opinion essay topics are listed down below, which you can practice. These opinion essay questions may appear in the actual examination.
- In the future, it seems more difficult to live on Earth. Some people think more money should be spent on researching another planet to live on, such as Mars. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
- Many people say that the only way to guarantee a good job is to complete a course in university education. Others claim that it is better to start work after school and gain experience in the world of work. How far do you agree or disagree with the above views?
- Although more and more people read the news on the internet, newspapers will remain the most important source of news for the majority of people. Do you agree or disagree?
- Students in schools and universities learn more from their teachers than through other means such as the Internet, libraries, and TV. To what extent you agree or disagree?
- Nowadays university education is very expensive. Some people say that universities should reduce their fees, especially for the less fortunate students or for those coming from rural areas. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
- Some people think that governments must insist on preserving the traditional appearance of old buildings undergoing renovation or redevelopment. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the statement?
- Some people believe that international trade and communication with other countries is a positive trend, while others think it is harmful to nations and they might lose their identities. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give your own opinion and relevant examples.
- Many people believe that schools should teach children to become good citizens and workers rather than independent individuals. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Give your own opinion and relevant examples.
- People should follow the customs and traditions when they start to live in a new country. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
- It is impossible to help all people in the world, so governments should only focus on people in their own countries. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
- Prevention is better than cure. Do you agree or disagree that out of the country’s health budget, a large proportion should be diverted from treatment to spending on health education and preventive measures?
Looking for opinion essay topics and questions for 2024?
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In IELTS opinion essays, it’s easy to make some common mistakes that can lower your IELTS band score . Getting aware of them is the key to not committing them knowingly or unknowingly while you prepare! The top 3 common mistakes to avoid are:
- Not giving a clear opinion.
- Presenting arguments for both sides of the issue.
- Failing to support your opinion with well-defined reasons and examples.
In the IELTS opinion essays, you need to write your opinion about a topic and back it up with proof and examples. If you use a clear structure and good writing methods, you can improve your chances of doing well! so, let us check out at some important IELTS exam preparation tips for the IELTS opinion essays.
- Spend 5 minutes on a mind map before writing.
- Stick to one viewpoint throughout the essay.
- Use a single main idea to support the topic in each of the two body paragraphs.
- Express your opinion throughout the essay, not just in the conclusion.
- Keep the introduction short, a maximum of 50 words.
- Ensure each body paragraph explains a main idea within 100 words.
- The conclusion should be shorter than the introduction.
- Write a complete essay following the given structure.
- Aim for a word count of 280 words or less.
- Revise the essay to avoid IELTS Grammar and spelling errors which can affect your score.
Here are the 10 Examples for the Opinion Essay Topics IELTS:
Also check:.
- Tips to write great writing essay
- How to get band 8 in IELTS Writing Task 2
- IELTS Writing recent actual test
- IELTS 2024 Study Plan for 1 month (30 Days) / 15 Days / 7 Days
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the structure for writing the introduction for an opinion essay?
Is it mandatory to state my opinion in the introduction? Can I skip it and introduce my opinion in the body paragraphs?
What are the words that I can use to state my opinion?
Can I underline the important sentences, to attract examiner’s attention?
Is it mandatory to write the essay in first person?
Practice IELTS Writing Task 2 based on Essay types
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Nehasri Ravishenbagam
Nehasri Ravishenbagam, a Senior Content Marketing Specialist and a Certified IELTS Trainer of 3 years, crafts her writings in an engaging way with proper SEO practices. She specializes in creating a variety of content for IELTS, CELPIP, TOEFL, and certain immigration-related topics. As a student of literature, she enjoys freelancing for websites and magazines to balance her profession in marketing and her passion for creativity!
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IELTS Writing Topics November & December 2024
The collection of writing topics that were reported by IELTS student in 2024 . These questions could be repeated from previous months. Keep in mind that the provided questions are not predictions.
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- Essay Task 2
IELTS Writing Task 2: Opinion Essays- Benchmark IELTS
- Essay Types
- Double Question
- Advantage Disadvantage
- Problem Solution
- Essay Length
Opinion essays are a very common writing task 2 essay type. As you would expect from the name, you need to write a well-structured IELTS writing essay topics that give your opinion. We’ve put together a guide with everything you need to know to write a great IELTS writing task 2 opinion essay. Let’s get started!
Table of Contents
1.1 understanding the question, 1.2 example opinion questions.
- Essay Structure for Opinion Essays
- 3.1 Identify key words and phrases
3.2 Organise your ideas
3.3 identify vocabulary, 4.1 introduction, 4.2 main body paragraphs, 4.3 conclusion.
- 5.1 Complete the sample opinion essay
5.2 Opinion Sample Essay
1. opinion essay overview.
An opinion essay is also known as an agree or disagree essay . As with all writing task 2 essays, you will have 40 minutes to write at least 250 words .
Read on to find out how to produce a great opinion essay.
It is important that you first understand what writing task 2 essay question you have been given before you start writing. The type of essay question you get will slightly change the structure of your essay.
Remember, there are five main types of writing task 2 questions:
- Advantage/disadvantage
- Double question
- Problem/solution
You will be given an IELTS statement and a question . Here are some common questions/sentence starters that tell you that you have been given an opinion essay:
- What is your opinion
- Do you think…
To what extent do you agree?
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
- Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
The main aims of this type of essay are:
- Choose one side of the argument
- To state your opinion about a given topic
- Support your opinion with clear reasons and examples
A common mistake test takers make when writing an opinion essay is that they treat it like an advantage/disadvantage essay and try to write about both sides of the argument in detail (see our guide on advantage/disadvantage essays and compare the difference).
For an opinion essay, you need to pick a side : it does not matter which side of the argument you choose, just pick the one that you can develop the best argument for.
However, you should briefly acknowledge the other side of the argument, and will show you how to do this in your introduction , main body paragraphs, and conclusion .
You should not give reasons to support the opposing argument , only support one side with reasons and examples.
Make it clear to the examiner what your opinion is from the beginning to the end of your essay (this is called a thesis-led approach: leading with your opinion).
Here are some example opinion writing task 2 questions to help you recognize them in the IELTS exam:
Some people think that more money should be spent on protecting endangered species while others think it is a waste of valuable money.
What is your opinion?
Also, read the following IELTS Essay Writing Guides
- IELTS Discussion Type Questions
- Double Question IELTS Essay Topics
- IELTS Advantage Disadvantage Essay Type
- Problem Solution IELTS Writing Task Statement
Systems of funding university education are different from country to country. While some countries charge students for studying at university, others offer university education for free.
Do you think students should pay for higher education?
Every school system in the world includes regular tests and exams, and many people think that it is important for students to take lots of exams.
Children should not start school until the age of six or seven because they need to have more time to play and develop before they go to school.
Scientists and technology experts seem to be more valued by modern society than musicians and artists.
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2. Essay Structure for Opinion Essays
Although there is more than one way you could choose to structure your essay, we have provided you with a foolproof structure you can always use for opinion essays to score highly in Coherence and cohesion , as well as address all parts of the task to do well in Task achievement :
3. Planning your Opinion Essay
Don’t skip this step! Taking 5 minutes to plan your essay could be the difference between your desired score and a missed opportunity.
3.1 Identify keywords and phrases
By identifying the topic of your essay, you are making sure that you are going to write about the correct topic and not go off-course. Test takers that rush and panic can make the mistake of writing about a completely different topic to the one they have been asked to write about. Don’t be one of those test taskers and make a plan !
Let’s take a look at the question for our sample answer where we have underlined the topic words:
The topic words are underlined and show the general topic of this essay question is protecting endangered species .
Now that we have identified the topic sentence, we should also look for any other keywords or phrases that give more information about the topic. Look at the words in bold below:
Some people think that more money should be spent on protecting endangered species while others think it is a waste of valuable money .
So this question is not only asking you to give your opinion on protecting endangered species, but also the amount of money that is spent on this cause.
A test taker that had only addressed the first point would likely have scored poorly in Task achievement.
There are so many ways you could choose to organize your ideas. We have chosen to note down our ideas by paragraph:
We give more note taking and idea generation tips in Master Guide for IELTS writing task 2 .
If any useful IELTS vocabulary for writing comes to mind during the planning process, it is useful to write it down so you don’t forget (remember to cross out any notes or planning before the end of the 40 minutes so the examiner does not mark this as your essay).
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4. Writing your Opinion Essay
Paraphrasing means being able to write something in your own words without changing the meaning . This is an essential skill needed for the IELTS exam, especially writing task 2.
There is no one right way to paraphrase an IELTS statement. You could choose to use synonyms or parallel expressions (phrases with more than one word but have the same meaning). You could also change the sentence structure, but make sure it is still grammatically correct. Another paraphrase technique is to change a word class, for example, a noun to a verb form.
Take a look at our example, can you see the main changes we have made?
Although this is a formal essay, you are still allowed the use of the first person ‘I’ and ‘my’, you will need to use this when giving your opinion (just don’t over-do it).
Notice that in this example, the opinion has been clearly stated whilst presenting both sides of the argument :
Opinion: However, my view is that more government funding should be used for wildlife conservation.
Other side of the argument: It is argued by some that the protection of endangered animals is wasteful.
Not all sample essays will show this, but you can choose to briefly state what your essay will do, for example:
This essay will explain my opinion in more detail.
Now let’s move on to the main body paragraphs.
A topic sentence is usually found at the beginning of your paragraph. This should give the reader the main idea of your paragraph in one sentence.
Here are two examples taken from the sample answer:
- One reason that I believe more money should be spent on the conservation of wildlife is that animals are an essential part of maintaining the health of an ecosystem.
- Another reason to support spending on wildlife protection is that it also benefits humanity.
The start of your sentence indicates to the reader that you are clearly stating a reason for your opinion and that you are going to develop this idea throughout the paragraph.
You could also choose to start your topic sentence with the following structures:
- One reason that I believe…
- One argument in favor of… is that…
- The main reason that I think…
- Another reason to second…. (note that second here means ‘ to agree with an idea ’ )
You could also use the grammatical structure ‘ Not only… but also…’ to avoid repetition and put emphasis on the second reason, for example:
Not only does spending money on conservation help the animal kingdom, but it also benefits society as a whole.
Not only will preventing the extinction of species help the animals themselves, but it will also have a positive effect on the quality of air, water, and agricultural land.
As this is an opinion essay, it is essential that you use a range of phrases to give your opinion. Far too often, candidates just repeat the phrase ‘In my opinion…’ Here are some other sentence starters you can use to impress the examiner
- My point is that…
- I am of the opinion that…
- My argument is that…
- As far as I am concerned,…
- In my view…
Your conclusion is a very important part of your essay. You need to restate your opinion (in different words than your introduction) as well as choose the most convincing argument from your essay.
Remember to also briefly mention the other side of the argument to show the examiner that you understand there are two sides and you have clearly chosen one.
Here is a useful structure to do this:
Although it is true that… on balance I believe that/ I am of the view that/ another opinion phrase)…
And here is the full example from our sample essay :
… although it is true that there are valuable uses for funding that could aid environmental protection, on balance I am of the opinion that governments should invest in the protection of endangered species.
5. Example Opinion Essay and Exercise
Now it’s time to test your knowledge about IELTS writing task 2 opinion essays. We’ve created a model answer, but removed some of the keywords and phrases.
You need to select the correct missing words and complete the model answer. Good luck!
5.1 Complete the Sample Opinion Essay
These days, the number of species facing extinction is growing, and as a result, a larger number of people are becoming involved in environmental issues. It is argued by some that the protection of endangered animals is wasteful. However, my view is that more government funding should be used for wildlife conservation. This essay will explain my opinion in more detail.
One reason that I believe more money should be spent on the conservation of wildlife is that animals are an essential part of maintaining the health of an ecosystem. If a species becomes endangered, it signals that an ecosystem is out of balance. As a result, the loss of one species may trigger the loss of others and may lead to irreversible consequences for the animal kingdom.
Another reason to support spending on wildlife protection is that it also benefits humanity. For example, if the ecosystem is out of balance then the health of the environment is also negatively affected, for example, the loss of wildlife can affect the quality of clean water and air for a population. In addition, the fertility of agricultural land may also be reduced with the loss of certain species. Having said that, there are those that argue that this is a costly and inefficient use of public funds. They think that money would be better spent on other schemes such as renewable energy projects.
In conclusion, having looked at the topic in detail, although it is true that there are valuable uses for funding that could aid environmental protection, on balance I am of the opinion that governments should invest in the protection of endangered species. The main reason is that the protection of wildlife will not only benefit the animal kingdom, but also the human race and the environment we inhabit.
2 thoughts on “IELTS Writing Task 2: Opinion Essays- Benchmark IELTS”
Hey. Thanks for a great material. I have one concern though. In the ” common questions in opinion essay” part, you mentioned this question ” Discuss both view and give your opinion.” But isn’t it included to the “Discussion essays”??
Hi, I just wanted to ask this question cuz it made to think about it thoroughly.
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