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Agree and Disagree Essay: IELTS Writing Task 2

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Updated on Mar 08, 2024, 11:05

The IELTS writing is different in academic and general training and is divided into 2 question types. The agree disagree essay IELTS is one of the question types in the writing section of the IELTS test. 

 

On this page, we'll explore different strategies to best answer these sort of essays! Let's get started. 

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1. IELTS Writing Task 2: Agree Disagree Essay Format

These essay questions include a statement and ask your opinion whether you agree or disagree with it.

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2. IELTS Writing Task 2: Agree Disagree Essay Topics

The IELTS cover a wide range of topics in its essay writing part.

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3. IELTS Writing Task 2: Agree and Disagree Essay Samples

Here is a sample Agree/Disagree Essay to help you understand the format! 

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1.

IELTS Writing Task 2: Agree Disagree Essay Format

These essay questions include a statement and ask your opinion whether you agree or disagree with it. If you agree, then you need to elaborate on the same. 
 

If you disagree, then why do you disagree? In some statements, you might not fully agree or disagree. Therefore, you must describe why you partially agree or disagree with the statement.  
 

But you should avoid giving a balanced insight to both. And lastly, present the whole crux of your essay in the conclusion paragraph. This is how you can tackle the agree disagree essay questions.

 

The table below will provide a standard writing structure for these question types: 

 

Essay Writing Parts

What to Focus on This Part? 

Introduction

To begin with, you need to provide a basic overview of that topic. Then, you need to provide your opinion on whether you agree, disagree, or partially agree. 

Body (2-3 Paragraph)


 

Break down the body section into small paragraphs. Each of the paragraphs should include the reasons why you agree/disagree with the given statement. 

Conclusion

Summarise your whole essay into a few words and wrap up by giving a solid conclusion. 

 

Once you have completed writing the essay, do not forget to ensure there is all-around consistency. There should be a complete flow of information, beginning with your opinions and then elaborating them, followed by a conclusion.  
 

2.

IELTS Writing Task 2: Agree Disagree Essay Topics

The IELTS cover a wide range of topics in its essay writing part. But usually, it covers the general and social aspects. These are some of the popular agree and disagree essay topics which are asked in the test:
 

  • Education
  • Technology
  • Government
  • Environment
  • Art and Crafts
  • Cultural Aspects
  • Travel and Tourism 
  • Business and Economy
     

There are many questions which come around the above topics. However, these topics have no limitations, and some new areas may be asked in the exam. But be it any topic, one thing is sure: it will all revolve around the everyday social lifestyle. 

As we know, the essay writing section (Task 2) has more weightage than Task 1. Therefore, you must understand how crucial it is to score in this question type. To perform better, you can start practicing the agree disagree essay questions like this: 
 

  • Everybody should donate a fixed amount of their income to support charity. To what extent do you agree or disagree? 
  • Some people believe that developments in the field of artificial intelligence will have a positive impact on our lives shortly. To what extent do you agree or disagree? 
  • Individuals can do nothing to improve the environment; only govt and large companies can make a difference. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
  • Many people attribute this to a rapid increase in private cars/traffic. Increasing the price of petrol is the best way to solve the problem of growing traffic and population. To what extent do you agree or disagree? What other measures do you think should be adequate?
  • Some people say that parents should restrict their children's hours watching TV and playing computer games and encourage them to spend this time reading books instead. Do you agree or disagree?
  • Some people believe that, eventually, all jobs will be done by artificially intelligent robots. What is your opinion?
  • The growth of online shopping will one day lead to closing all shops in towns and cities. Do you agree or disagree?
  • Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Parents are the best teachers. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
  • Nowadays, environmental problems are too big for individual countries or people to solve. We have reached the stage where we need cooperation on an international level to protect the environment. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
  • Some think plastic shopping bags should be banned because they contribute to land and sea pollution. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
3.

IELTS Writing Task 2: Agree and Disagree Essay Samples

Here is a sample Agree/Disagree Essay to help you understand the format! 

Question: Some people believe that, eventually, all jobs will be done by artificially intelligent robots. What is your opinion?
 

Sample Answer:
 

Introduction (2-4 Sentences)
 

This is an IELTS agree and disagree sample answer that can demonstrate how to write and tackle these questions. 

 

Give an opening sentence by rephrasing the question. Clearly state your opinion whether you agree/disagree with the statement. 
 

  • Example: “Some people believe that artificial intelligence robots will do all the jobs. Although AI is taking over most of the jobs, I disagree with the fact that it will take over all the jobs. I believe human orientation will be required to perform many job roles.”
     

Body (2-3 Paragraphs)
 

Describe why you agree or disagree with the statement. Enrich your opinion by giving solid reasons that support it. Try to add examples or facts that make your stand more valid.
 

Examples: “Artificial intelligence robots have become more advanced and are now contributing to many sectors like manufacturing, where they automate various manufacturing processes and increase output. They are also helping the financial industry by analysing extensive data and making projections based on past trends. AI bots also help businesses interact with customers 24/7 and solve most problems. All these factors describe how AI provides a wide range of activities and impacts jobs. However, human minds are still required to operate these AI-powered robots. 

 

There is also yet another fact that we cannot deny: AI has replaced many jobs. It has replaced jobs requiring repetitive operations like data entry, repetitive manufacturing processes, handling accounts, etc. But these numbers are pretty less than what AI is going to bring. The World Economic Forum has predicted that AI will create over 98 million jobs worldwide, which is way more than the jobs AI will lose. However, there will be a technological shift, so people need to upgrade themselves to sustain their jobs in the future.”
 

Conclusion (2-4 Sentences)

 

Lastly, you can summarise your pointers and end the essay on a concluding note. 

 

Example: “AI robots will be heavily contributing to the workforce and bringing efficiency to the jobs. However, they are not likely to replace all the jobs. Human orientation will still be required to let the AI perform its functions better. Without human capabilities, no AI can work for us. Therefore, the human + robot relationship will bring us a great future together.”
 

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FAQs

Q. What is an agree/disagree essay in the IELTS exam?

A. It is one of the essay-type questions asked in the “Writing Task 2” section of the IELTS exam. You need to write a brief essay around the given theme in these questions. It will require you to provide your opinions on whether you agree or disagree with the statement. It should cover around 250 words and should not take more than 40 minutes to write the same. 


 

Q. How do you write an agree or disagree essay in IELTS?

A. First, you need to understand the demand of the question. The agree disagree essay-type questions require you to give your opinions. So, you must take a stand whether you agree or disagree with the topic. The examiner should understand whether you are in favour or against the statement. Then, you can elaborate with meaningful points and support your arguments. After you have done the same, you can wrap it up with a firm conclusion. 


 

Q. How many paragraphs should I aim for in the essay?

A. It is a 250-word essay, so you can have 4-5 paragraphs. The first introductory paragraph, then 2-3 body paragraphs and one concluding paragraph. This particular structure will cover up the word limit. And remember, do not add too many paragraphs or words because that will kill a lot of time. Instead, focus on the quality to write better, more impactful essay answers. 


 

Q. How do you start an IELTS essay?

A. There are many question types in IELTS. Some are advantages and disadvantages, agree and disagree, opinion-based, problem-based, discussion-based, etc. All of them are required to begin the essay with a different perspective. For example, the problem-based questions highlight the topic and the problems around the topic. The agree disagree questions require you to describe whether you agree or disagree with the theme given. But the most common way to begin with these different essays is first to describe the topic in bits. Next, provide your input based on what is asked in the question. 


 

Q. What is the difference between Task 1 and Task 2?

A. Task 1 and Task 2 are both sub-parts of the writing module of the IELTS exam. Here is the critical difference between them:
 

Task 1:

  • Here, you need to describe the visuals, like graphs or charts, in your own words. 
  • The allocated time limit is 20 minutes, and the word count is 150 words.

 

Task 2:

  • In this part, you need to write an essay revolving around the central theme of the question.
  • You will be required to complete 250 words; the given time frame is 40 minutes. 
Q. Is presenting both sides of the argument in this essay okay?

A. In agree and disagree task 2, you need not have to present both sides. You just need to give a clear stand whether you agree or disagree. There may be one more instance in which you partially agree/disagree with the statement. But it should never require you to focus on both sides. It is only for the different question types, like the advantages and disadvantages. Here, you need to present both the qualities and drawbacks. 


 

Q. Is IELTS writing task 2 easy?

A. Task 2 has an easy to medium difficulty level. But yes, it sometimes looks difficult as a wide range of questions can be asked in this module. However, you can overcome that easily. You just need to do continuous practice on various essay writing types. As we have seen, the agree and disagree essay topics, you can use them and start practising them. Similarly, there are question types like advantages and disadvantages, problem solutions, positive and negative, and opinion-based questions, which you can practice to get better marks. 


 

Q. How long is the IELTS Writing Task 2?

A. The whole writing module lasts one hour, of which writing task 2 is 40 minutes alone. In this 40 minutes, you must write a meaningful essay in 40 minutes. It does sound easy; however, folks run short of time for multiple reasons. So, you must plan your writing well and gather thoughts and ideas quickly. And remember to allocate some minutes to do the proofreading and editing work. 


 

Q. How are the IELTS Writing tasks scored?

A. The writing module tasks range from 1 to 9, with 1 being the lowest and 9 being the highest. There are primary 4 criteria which decide your marks in the writing section:
 

  • Task Achievement: This criterion focuses on whether you have expectedly completed the task. 
  • Coherence and Cohesion: This part focuses on whether your writing is easy to understand. Avoid adding difficult words, improper sentence structure, etc. Ensure that there is proper readability without facing any challenges.
  • Lexical Resources: This criterion looks into your word power and sees how effectively you have utilised the words and phrases in your essay. 
  • Grammar Range and Accuracy: This looks into your grammatical errors. And to avoid this, you can better proofread your essay. 
Q. Can I request a re-mark of my IELTS test if I am unsatisfied with my results?

A. Sometimes, the candidate is not satisfied with the marks. In such a situation, they can apply for the test to be remarked. This process is called the EOR (Enquiry on Results). So, you must select the test sections you are unsatisfied with and request a remark. If you are not so happy with the whole test, then you can also request the remark of the whole test. This process usually takes three days and might go up to 21 days. 


 

Q. Can I take breaks during the IELTS test?

A. Sadly, no breaks are allowed. All the modules, like writing, listening, and reading, will take place in one go. There is no food allowed in the test centre. Therefore, you should eat properly and stay active and energetic throughout the test phase. However, you can bring your water to the test centre. But make sure that the bottle is transparent because they don’t allow colourful bottles in the centre.


 

Q. What should I do if I run out of time during the exam?

A. If you experience running late in dealing with the questions, immediately jump into Writing Task 2. Try to cover the maximum you can and follow the essay's basic format (intro, body, conclusion). If you get some time, then jump on the Task 1. Because Task 2 carries double the marks of Task 2, you should not risk losing it. So, cover it before Task 1 to create a safer side for yourself.