- An opinion essay asks for your view, usually with “To what extent do you agree or disagree?”
- Agreeing, disagreeing and partly agreeing can all score band 9, if your position is clear and consistent.
- Use four paragraphs: introduction with your view, two body paragraphs with reasons and examples, and a conclusion.
- Write at least 250 words in 40 minutes, about 260–300 words in total.
The opinion essay, also called the agree or disagree essay, is the most common question type in IELTS Writing Task 2. You read a statement and explain how far you agree with it.
It sounds simple, but many essays lose marks because the writer's opinion is unclear or changes halfway through. This guide shows you how to choose a position, a structure that works for any question, and a complete model essay with notes on why it scores well.
What is an IELTS opinion essay?
You are given a statement about a general topic, such as education, technology or the environment, and asked for your opinion. The question usually ends with one of these phrases:
- To what extent do you agree or disagree?
- Do you agree or disagree?
- What is your opinion?
- Is this a positive or negative development?
- Do you think this is a good idea?
Task 2 is marked on four criteria: Task Response, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource and Grammatical Range and Accuracy. For Task Response in an opinion essay, the examiner looks for a clear position that is developed and supported throughout.
Choosing your position
You have three options, and all of them can score well:
- Agree: give two reasons why the statement is right.
- Disagree: give two reasons why it is wrong.
- Partly agree: agree with one part or in some situations, and explain the limits. This suits “to what extent” questions well.
The 4-paragraph structure
- 1Introduction (about 40–50 words)
Paraphrase the statement in one sentence, then give your opinion clearly in the second. Don't list your reasons in detail here.
- 2Body paragraph 1 (about 90–110 words)
Your first and strongest reason: a topic sentence, an explanation, and a specific example.
- 3Body paragraph 2 (about 90–110 words)
Your second reason, built the same way. If you like, mention an opposing view and explain why it doesn't change your opinion.
- 4Conclusion (about 30–40 words)
Restate your opinion and your main reasons in new words. Don't add new ideas.
Plan it in 5 minutes
Here is a plan for a question from our list of 100 Task 2 topics:
Some people think university education should be free for everyone. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
- Position: largely agree, but free places should depend on ability.
- Reason 1: equal opportunity: talent, not family income, decides who studies. Example: a gifted student from a poor family can become a doctor instead of leaving school to work.
- Reason 2: benefits society: graduates pay more tax and fill skilled jobs. Opposing view: waste of taxpayers' money, so award free places on merit.
Model opinion essay
Here is a complete essay based on the plan above, about 300 words. Useful language is highlighted.
In many countries, students finish university with large debts, which has led some people to argue that higher education should be free for everyone. I largely agree with this view, as free university education widens opportunity and benefits society as a whole, although I believe places should still be awarded on merit.
The main reason I support free university education is that it gives talented young people the same chance to succeed, regardless of their family's income. When students have to pay high fees, many able candidates from poorer backgrounds decide not to apply, simply because they cannot risk taking on debt. For example, a gifted student whose family needs her to start earning at eighteen might give up her ambition of becoming a doctor. If her studies were free, her future would depend on her ability rather than her parents' bank balance.
Free higher education also benefits society as a whole. Graduates tend to earn more and therefore pay more tax over their working lives, so much of the cost of their education is returned to the state. A well-educated workforce also fills skilled roles in areas such as healthcare and engineering. Admittedly, critics argue that taxpayers should not fund courses that some students never complete. However, this problem can be reduced by awarding free places on the basis of academic results and requiring students to make good progress to keep them.
In conclusion, I agree that university education should be free, because it rewards talent rather than wealth and largely pays for itself in the long run. Nevertheless, to keep the system fair and affordable, free places should go to students who show they are able and willing to succeed.
Why this essay works
- Task Response: the position (“largely agree… although”) is clear in the introduction, developed in both body paragraphs and repeated in the conclusion.
- Coherence and Cohesion: each body paragraph has one main idea, introduced by a topic sentence, with a logical flow from reason to example.
- Lexical Resource: precise, natural vocabulary such as widens opportunity, regardless of and awarded on merit, without rare words used for show.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy: a mix of complex sentences, including conditionals (If her studies were free…) and relative clauses, all used accurately.
This essay shows the kind of writing examiners associate with the highest bands. Your score depends on your own writing on the day.
Useful phrases for opinion essays
| To… | Try |
|---|---|
| Giving your opinion | I strongly believe that… / In my view,… / I largely agree that… |
| Giving a reason | The main reason for this is that… / This is because… |
| Giving an example | For example,… / A clear example of this is… / This can be seen in… |
| Admitting another view | Admittedly,… / It is true that… / Critics argue that… |
| Answering it | However,… / Nevertheless,… / This problem can be solved by… |
| Concluding | In conclusion,… / To sum up,… / Overall, I believe… |
Avoid doubling up phrases such as “In my opinion, I think…”. One is enough. You can check how varied your linking is with the free linking words checker.
7 common opinion essay mistakes
- No clear opinion. If the examiner can't find your view in the introduction, Task Response suffers.
- Changing your mind. Agreeing in the introduction and disagreeing in the conclusion is a serious error.
- Writing a “both sides” essay. A balanced discussion with no final view answers a different question.
- Ideas without examples. Each reason needs an explanation and a specific example.
- Memorised introductions. Openings like “This is a controversial issue nowadays” add words but say nothing.
- Copying the question. Paraphrase it. Copied words don't count towards your vocabulary score.
- Writing under 250 words. Short essays lose marks. Aim for 260–300.
How to practise opinion essays
- Choose opinion questions from our Task 2 topics list (they are labelled) and plan three in 5 minutes each before writing one in full.
- Stuck for reasons? The essay ideas generator suggests arguments and examples to get you started.
- Get a band estimate and the fixes that matter most from the free IELTS writing checker.
- Taking IELTS on computer? Type your practice essays without spell check. Our IELTS on computer guide has more tips.
Get your opinion essays marked
Write Task 2 in the real exam format and get an AI band score with feedback on all four criteria.
- Opinion, discussion and problem–solution essays
- A band for each criterion, with corrections
- Track your Writing band as you improve
