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IELTS essay planner: find the question type and plan each paragraph
An essay that answers a slightly different question loses marks for Task Response, however good the English. Paste your question, check what type it is, and plan a paragraph for each part before you write.
Plan your Task 2 essay
Paste the question, check its type, then add notes for each paragraph. The plan is saved only in this browser.
Try an example question
How to use the planner
- Paste the whole question, including the instruction sentence at the end.
- Check the type. If the planner is unsure or finds wording from two types, reread the instruction and choose the type yourself.
- Write your position in one sentence. For opinion questions, decide how far you agree before planning the body paragraphs.
- Add short notes for each paragraph: the main point, how it answers the question and one specific example.
- Write the essay in 40 minutes, keeping to the plan, then review it.
The Task 2 question types the planner recognises
| Type | Typical instruction wording | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Agree / disagree | “To what extent do you agree or disagree?” · “Is this a positive or negative development?” | Opinion essays guide |
| Discuss both views | “Discuss both views and give your own opinion.” | Discussion essays guide |
| Advantages / disadvantages | “Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?” | Advantages and disadvantages guide |
| Problems / causes and solutions | “What problems does this cause, and what solutions can you suggest?” | Problems and solutions guide |
| Causes and evaluation | “Why is this happening? Is it a positive or negative development?” | Positive or negative development guide |
| Two-part questions | Two direct questions, such as “Why do people…? What can be done…?” | Two-part questions guide |
Some questions combine types, for example a causes question that also asks whether a change is positive. Answer every part of the instruction. See the guide to Task 2 question types for worked explanations.
Worked example
Question: Some people believe that schools should teach practical skills such as cooking and budgeting, while others think academic subjects are more important. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Type: discuss both views, because the instruction asks you to discuss both views and give your opinion. A plan might be:
- Introduction: both views; my opinion: schools should teach both, but budgeting is too useful to leave out.
- Body 1: why academic subjects matter: they open later study and careers; example: maths is needed for many university courses.
- Body 2: why practical skills matter: everyday decisions about money; example: a class planning a monthly budget for a fictional household.
- Conclusion: restate the balanced opinion.
This example question and plan were written for this page. They are not from a real test.
Questions about planning Task 2
How do I know which type of IELTS Task 2 question I have?
Read the instruction sentence after the topic. Wording such as “agree or disagree”, “discuss both views”, “advantages and disadvantages” or a problem plus “solutions” tells you what to answer. The planner looks for that wording, but the instruction itself always decides.
How long should I spend planning a Task 2 essay?
The official advice is to spend no more than 40 minutes on Task 2. Many teachers suggest a few minutes of planning inside that time; a short plan with one clear position and two developed points is enough.
Does the planner write the essay for me?
No. It suggests the question type and gives a paragraph structure. The ideas, examples and wording are yours, which is what the examiner assesses.
Where is my plan saved?
Only in this browser. Nothing is sent to us. Copy or download the plan if you want to keep it elsewhere, and use Clear plan to remove it.
Related free tools
From plan to a checked essay
Write the planned essay in the free workspace and get an estimated band for each of the four criteria, with what to fix first. Your first check needs no account.
Timing from the IELTS Academic Writing format (ielts.org), read 2 November 2026. English Test Coach is independent of IELTS.