IELTS Writing Task 2: Discussion Essays
This tests whether you can present two contrasting views on an issue fairly and clearly, then give your own opinion, using balanced arguments rather than a one-sided rant.
What this question looks like
The discussion essay (also called "discuss both views") gives you a statement with two opposing opinions and asks you to discuss both, then give your own view. It always uses wording like "Discuss both these views and give your own opinion." You get 40 minutes and must write at least 250 words, with roughly equal space given to each view before your conclusion states your position clearly.
Step-by-step approach
- 1Read the question twice and identify the exact two views you must discuss; underline the key nouns in each view so you don't drift off topic.
- 2Decide your own opinion before you plan. You can agree fully with one side, agree with elements of both, or take a balanced middle position, but you must state it and it must stay consistent throughout.
- 3Plan four paragraphs: introduction (paraphrase + state your opinion in one sentence), Body 1 (view A with two supporting points), Body 2 (view B with two supporting points), conclusion (restate opinion, summarise).
- 4Give real space and genuine reasoning to the view you disagree with; examiners penalise essays that dismiss one side in a single weak sentence.
- 5Use clear signalling language to separate the views: 'Some people argue that...', 'On the other hand, others believe...', 'In my view, the latter argument is more convincing because...'.
- 6Check your conclusion actually matches the opinion stated in your introduction; contradicting yourself damages Task Response even if the ideas were good.
Worked example
Some people think that children should begin learning a foreign language at primary school, while others believe it is better to wait until secondary school. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Introduction: paraphrase the debate (early vs later language learning) and state opinion: primary school is preferable, though secondary can still work with the right approach. Body 1 (early learning view): Point 1 - young children absorb pronunciation and rhythm more naturally due to greater neural plasticity, so accents and listening skills develop more authentically. Point 2 - starting early gives more total years of exposure, which compounds into stronger fluency by adulthood, similar to how children raised bilingually rarely struggle later. Body 2 (later learning view): Point 1 - secondary students have better abstract reasoning, so they grasp grammar rules and translation faster than young children, who often just memorise phrases without understanding structure. Point 2 - secondary schools usually have specialist language teachers and proper resources, whereas primary schools may rely on generalist teachers with limited training, making early lessons superficial. Conclusion: restate that primary school is the stronger choice in principle, but only if schools invest in qualified teachers; otherwise delaying to secondary school may produce better results despite the later start.
This plan gives balanced, substantial treatment to both views (two developed points each, not just one line), directly answers 'give your own opinion' with a clear and consistent position, and the conclusion nuances rather than contradicts the introduction. This balance and clear stance are exactly what Task Response rewards in a discussion essay.
Try it yourself
Write a full discussion essay of at least 250 words in 40 minutes. Discuss both views with roughly equal depth, then give your own clear opinion.
Some people believe that university education should be free for all students, while others think students should pay for their own tuition. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Common mistakes
- !Giving one view a full paragraph and the other only a single sentence, which creates an imbalanced, one-sided essay even if the writer disagrees with that side.
- !Forgetting to state a personal opinion at all, or only hinting at it, when the task explicitly requires 'give your own opinion'.
- !Introducing a third, unrelated view instead of discussing the two views given in the question.
- !Stating one opinion in the introduction and then arguing the opposite (or a different one) in the conclusion, which confuses the examiner and hurts Task Response.
- !Treating this as an advantages/disadvantages essay or an opinion-only essay; the discussion essay specifically requires explaining both sides before concluding with your view.
Quick quiz
1. In a discussion essay, how much space should each of the two given views receive?
2. Where should you first clearly state your own opinion in a discussion essay?
3. A student writes about a third view not mentioned in the question, ignoring one of the two given views. What is the main problem?
4. Which conclusion strategy is safest for a discussion essay?
Practise this in a real IELTS test
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Take a free Writing testIELTS Writing Task 2: Discussion Essays — FAQ
Do I have to agree with one side completely, or can I sit on the fence?
You can fully agree with one view, partly agree with both, or propose a balanced middle position, as in the university fees example above. What matters is that your opinion is clear and consistent from introduction to conclusion, not that you pick an extreme.
How is a discussion essay different from an opinion essay?
An opinion essay ('To what extent do you agree?') asks you to argue mainly for your own view, while a discussion essay explicitly requires you to explain both given views in balanced detail before adding your opinion. Mixing up the two formats is a common reason for losing Task Response marks.
Can my own opinion just repeat one of the two views instead of adding something new?
Yes, it's perfectly fine and common to agree with one of the two given views rather than invent a third position. Just make sure you explain why you find that view more convincing, ideally referencing the strongest point from that side's paragraph, rather than simply restating it.