IELTS Writing Task 2: How to Write a Band 9 Essay

Task 2 asks you to write a 250-word essay in 40 minutes — and it’s worth two-thirds of your writing score. Here’s the system that produces band 8–9 essays.

The 4 essay types

Every Task 2 question is one of these:

1. Opinion (agree/disagree) — “Some people think X. To what extent do you agree or disagree?”
2. Discussion — “Discuss both views and give your own opinion.”
3. Problem/Solution (or Causes/Effects) — “What problems does this cause? What solutions can you suggest?”
4. Two-part question — “Why is this happening? Is it a positive or negative development?”

Identify the type first — it determines your structure and what “answering the question” means.

The proven 4-paragraph structure

Paragraph 1 — Introduction (2–3 sentences)
  · Paraphrase the question
  · State your position / outline

Paragraph 2 — Body 1 (4–5 sentences)
  · Topic sentence: your first main idea
  · Explain it → give a specific example

Paragraph 3 — Body 2 (4–5 sentences)
  · Second main idea (or the opposing view + rebuttal)
  · Explain → example

Paragraph 4 — Conclusion (2 sentences)
  · Restate your position in different words
  · No new ideas

Spend 4–5 minutes planning two strong main ideas before writing. Most band 6 essays fail on weak ideas, not weak English.

Band 9 linking language — used naturally

• Introducing ideas: It is often argued that… / A widely held view is that…
• Adding: Furthermore, / What is more, / In addition,
• Contrasting: However, / Nevertheless, / By contrast, / While it is true that…
• Cause/result: Consequently, / As a result, / This means that…
• Examples: For instance, / A clear example of this is…
• Concluding: In conclusion, / To sum up,

Use 4–6 of these per essay — natural precision beats stuffing in connectors.

The 5 mistakes that cap you at 6.5

1. Not answering the actual question. If it asks “to what extent”, say completely / partly / not at all — a vague position loses Task Response marks.
2. Memorized templates. Examiners spot essays stuffed with “With the development of society…” instantly. Write what this question needs.
3. One idea per sentence, no development. Every main idea needs explanation + a concrete example (For instance, in Japan…).
4. Informal language. Avoid kids, stuff, a lot of, gonna. Use children, possessions, a significant amount of.
5. Over-complicated grammar. Errors in complex sentences cost more than correct simple ones earn. Write complex sentences only when you control them.

A band 9 model paragraph

Firstly, advertising creates artificial needs that fuel overconsumption. Companies deliberately link products to emotions — happiness, status, belonging — so consumers buy items they do not genuinely need. For instance, smartphone manufacturers release near-identical models each year, yet marketing convinces millions to upgrade perfectly functional devices. Consequently, household debt and environmental waste increase while satisfaction does not.

Notice the chain: topic sentence → mechanism → real example → consequence. That is what “developed” means.

Timing checklist

• 0–5 min: analyze question type, plan 2 main ideas + examples
• 5–35 min: write — intro last-minute check: does it state your position?
• 35–40 min: proofread for: third-person -s, articles, verb tense, spelling

Keep preparing

• Practice under real 40-minute conditions — timing is half the battle.
• Read model essays for structure, not for copying sentences.
• Review the public IELTS band descriptors — they literally tell you what examiners score.