Writing Task 2: the essay
The task that counts most in Writing: a clear method from question to finished essay.
11 lessons, About 11 hours, 2 free
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Start: What Writing Task 2 asks forModule 2
This module in figures
Counted from its lessons.
- Lessons
- 11
- Study time
- About 11 hours
- Example answers
- 14
- Practice tasks
- 28
- Questions to answer
- 231
The lessons
Lessons in this module
Lessons marked free are open to everyone; the rest need membership (3‑day free trial, then a monthly price set for your country).
- What Writing Task 2 asks forThe four marking criteria in plain English, what lifts an essay from about band 6 to 7, and five common mistakes that cost marks.
- The five question typesRecognise the five main Task 2 question types, know exactly what each one asks you to write, and choose a paragraph plan that answers every part of the question.
- Plan your essay in five minutesA six-step method that turns any Task 2 question into a clear position, two developed ideas and a paragraph map in about five minutes, with timed practice.
- Write a strong introductionA three-move method for Task 2 introductions: paraphrase the topic, answer the question and show the route, in two or three sentences, for every question type.
- Build body paragraphs that scoreA four-part method for Task 2 body paragraphs: a clear topic sentence, a real explanation, a realistic example and a link back, with careful claims instead of sweeping ones.
- Finish with a clear conclusionRestate your position and sum up your reasons in one or two sentences, matched to your introduction and with nothing new, for every Task 2 question type.
- Coherence and cohesionMake your essay easy to follow: put ideas in a logical order, join sentences with clear reference words and the right linkers, and stop overusing ‘Moreover’.
- Vocabulary that sounds naturalChoose precise words, natural collocations and the right tone for Task 2, avoid repetition and common word-choice errors, with topic tables and plenty of practice.
- Grammar for a higher bandThe structures worth using in Task 2, five errors that cost marks again and again, the punctuation you need, and a five-minute grammar check for the end of the exam.
- Example essays with notesThree original essays at about band 6, 7 and 8 (our estimates), with notes on every criterion showing what lifts an essay a band, and practice upgrading one yourself.
- Timed practice: six essay questionsA minute-by-minute routine for 40-minute essays, our own checklist for marking your work, six original timed questions on all five types, and a next-day review that turns mistakes into progress.