Below is a list of predicted IELTS Writing Task 2 essay topics for this year, 2022. As usual, these topics are based on common topics, current world issues and trending topics. Both GT and Academic candidates should prepare from the list below.

On this page, you will find:

• List of types of essay questions
• Essay Topics for 2022
• Useful Links for lessons & tips

IELTS Essay Types in 2022

There are five types of essay questions in IELTS Writing Task 2. You will not know which type of essay you will be given. So, you must prepare for all types. When you read the 2022 Essay Topics list below, be ready for that topic to be phrased in different ways for different essay types. Be prepared to be flexible!!

1. Opinion Essay – agree/disagree/ partial agreement
2. Discussion Essay – discuss both sides
3. Advantage / Disadvantage – includes outweigh essay
4. Cause / Problem / Solution Essays
5. Direct Question Essays – Positive . Negative Development / one question / two question / three question essays

Click here to learn how to spot which type of essay you have: IELTS Essay Types

IELTS Essay Topics for 2022

I’ve organised the predicted IELTS essay questions below and highlighted the topics I feel are more likely to appear. All topics in IELTS essays are current world issues and known society concerns. Our world today is mainly focused on health, work, technology, internet and other aspects of life.

Art

1. is art important
2. what can children learn from art, drama etc
3. is literature important to teach in schools
4. should the government fund artists
5. what people gain from live events
6. should art be censored
7. does art transcend the language barrier

Books & Reading

1. e-books – pros and cons
2. are libraries a thing of the past
3. children reading story books in their free time
4. adults reading children’s stories

Business & Money

1. family run businesses – pros and cons
2. should we save or spend
3. should companies be responsible for their employees’ health
4. why some people do not save
5. should money management be taught in schools
6. is dress code or uniforms important in a company
7. why do some people get into debt
8. spending money on unnecessary items / luxury goods
9. supporting small local businesses
10. buying local or foreign products
11. relocating companies to the countryside away from city centers – pros and cons
12. factors in business success
13. is the layout of an office important

Character & People

1. is leadership innate
2. factors behind success
3. are people more impatient than before
4. are older people as respected as they should be
5. people who follow fashion trends
6. keeping up with the Joneses
7. individuality or conformity in schools 
8. why do some people struggle with change
9. are people less respectful of the elderly nowadays
10. are people becoming less formal

Crime & Punishment

1. fixed punishment for a crime or should circumstances play a role in deciding punishment
2. prisons – pros and cons
3. stopping ex-convicts from re-offending
4. how to reduce crime in society
5. do some films encourage criminal behaviour
6. should teenage offenders get the same punishment as adult offenders
7. why people watch crime shows on TV
8. online crimes
9. is safety a personal or government responsibility

Culture

1. are museums and art galleries important
2. can children gain from visiting museums and galleries
3. should the government support artists
4. should schools prioritise science over the Arts
5. importance of traditional clothes and music
6. how tourism is changing local cultures
7. how can the government / schools preserve traditional culture
8. globalisation – will cultures be lost
9. how has the internet affect culture around the world
10. are public celebrations important for culture
11. people spending a lot of money on weddings and celebrations
12. do foreign films change local culture

Education

1. discipline in schools
2. pros and cons of learning online
3. is science and technology important to teach
4. are university degrees more important than experience
5. how can people learn soft skills, such as communication, personal skills etc
6. homework for children – an aid to learning or too much pressure
7. who influences children most – teachers or parents
8. teaching good values – teachers or parents
9. are children from poor backgrounds disadvantaged in education
10. is history important to learn
11. studying abroad
12. children of different abilities should be taught separately
13. home schooling pros and cons
14. education in cities compared to rural areas
15. how to make learning interesting for children
16. all education should be free

Environment, Nature & Wildlife

1. protecting trees/ endangered species – causes / problems / solutions
2. how to educate people about environmental problems
3. noise pollution / air pollution / water pollution – causes / solutions
4. how to tackle littering
5. importance of tackling climate change – causes, problems, solutions
6. importance of spending time in nature
7. are wild animals important
8. testing consumer products on animals
9. children having pets
10. who should protect the environment: individuals or governments

Family

1. what is the generation gap and how can it be tackled
2. can children benefit from a close relationship with their grandparents
3. should women with children go to work
4. are family roles changing within the family
5. who should support elderly family members: family or government
6. is it important for family members to spend time together
7. why do some couples choose not to have children
8. parents should give children the freedom to make their own mistakes

Food

1. is our food culture changing
2. is it important to keep traditional meals
3. why do people eat junk food if it is unhealthy
4. should families eat together
5. is animal welfare important to know about when buying meat in supermarkets
6. what information would stop you buying a certain product
7. what is a balanced diet
8. why are some people vegetarian 

Health

1. should all health care be free – pros and cons
2. is public health a personal responsibility or the responsibility of the government
3. sugar as a cause of health problems
4. problems with junk food
5. importance of mental health
6. tackling obesity in society / in children
7. health problems connected to using screens
8. how to encourage children to do more exercise
9. why people take up meditation, yoga or taichi
10. walking, cycling to work pros and cons
11. funding prevention or treatments

Language & Communication

1. are text messages / emails / video calls a good form of communication
2. pros and cons of one global language
3. how has the internet changed the way we communicate and socialise
4. should children learn a foreign language at an early age
5. is handwriting a thing of the past
6. will snail mail one day disappear
7. difficulties learning a foreign language

Leisure

1. are holidays important
2. why is leisure time important
3. are hobbies important
4. spending time in nature
5. children spending time playing together
6. do people value leisure time more nowadays
7. why do people watch so much TV in their free time
8. Is watching TV a good leisure activity
9. what leisure activities are best for children
10. should children do homework or have fun in their leisure time

Media & The Internet

1. social media and our image of beauty
2. shopping online pros and cons
3. how the internet has changed the way we work
4. importance of accuracy in historical films
5. does the internet make people feel more connected
6. online streaming for films – pros and cons
7. problems sharing personal information online
8. reality TV stars
9. what makes a film successful – stars, special effects or story
10. meeting new people online
11. how advertising influences people – billboards, internet pop ups, brand placement in films, social media
12. celebrities as role models for children
13. are newspapers a thing of the past now that news can be found online
14. unreliable news or information online

Technology

1. technology makes people lazy
2. pros and cons of smart phones
3. technology in the work place results in job losses
4. technology and solving pollution / environmental problems
5. technology, science and health
6. government spending on space exploration or health care social services
7. how has technology changed our lives / the way we work
8. how has technology helped mankind

Transport

1. pros and cons of a traffic free zone in city centers
2. way to reduce pollution from cars
3. should driving tests be obligatory every 5 years
4. how to reduce traffic congestion in city centers
5. pros and cons of plane travel
6. how to ensure road safety
7. should we all use electric cars
8. people over 80 should not be allowed to drive

Tourism

1. experiencing foreign countries on TV rather than travelling there
2. conforming to the culture of the country you are visiting
3. pros and cons of tourism on the domestic economy
4. adventure holidays
5. tourism and environmental factors (including wildlife)
6. pros and cons of taking holidays on your own country
7. tourism and its impact on the country

Sport

1. what children learn from team sports and individual sports
2. should sports teach competition or cooperation
3. should schools increase physical education lessons
4. benefits of exercise, walking, cycling
5. should sports stars be paid so much
6. companies sponsor sports events and teams for advertising – pros and cons
7. sports professionals earning high salaries compared to doctors or nurses
8. why people do adventure sports
9. importance of international sports competitions

World Issues & Social Issues

1. how can homelessness be tackled
2. should world issues be solved nationally or internationally
3. closing the gap between rich and poor countries
4. rich countries should support poor countries at any cost
5. overpopulation – problems / solutions
6. people are living longer – pros and cons
7. should charities help people locally or nationally
8. are charities important
9. more people are raising money for charities – why, is this a good thing
10. living in the countryside or city – pros and cons
11. food wastage / increase in world food demand
12. (affordable) housing shortage – solutions
13. migration of workers from rural to urban areas
14. taking care of the elderly – family or government responsibility
15. lack of good education in under-developed countries

Work

1. pros and cons of working from home
2. work-life balance
3. pros and cons of being self-employed / working for a company
4. bosses contacting people on their days off
5. importance of holidays from work
6. both parents working – how it impacts children
7. is team working skills
8. job satisfaction or salary
9. working online pros and cons
10. work-life balance
11. pros and cons of technology / machines at work

• Was this list useful to you?
• Did you get one of these topics in your test?

USEFUL IELTS WRITING TASK 2 LINKS:

Click below to access some useful lessons and tips for your IELTS essay

How to write an introduction

List of keywords for essay writing

How to use the last 5 mins in your writing test

How long should your essay be

All Free Writing Task 2 Lessons and Tips

Learn how to write a high band score IELTS essay step by step. You will find 15 key steps for a high score IELTS essay. These steps are for both GT and Academic Writing Task 2. After the steps listed below, you will find useful links that will help you learn more and develop the right skills necessary to be successful in IELTS.

Step by Step: How to tackle your IELTS essay

None of these steps below can be missed if you are aiming for a good score in your IELTS Writing Task 2 essay. Be strategic and focused in how you approach your IELTS essay. Failure to tackle the points below will result in a lower score. They are particularly important for candidates aiming for band 7 and above. For those candidates, you must fulfill the requirements of the higher band scores by following and mastering the steps below.

Step 1: Make sure you identify the type of essay you have been given. This essay is what I call a “Direct Questions” essay. There are two specific questions that you must answer. The first question is about cause. You must state the cause of this trend. The second question requires you to evaluate. This means you must present your opinion as to whether you think this is a good thing or a bad thing. Click here to learn about the Types of IELTS Essays.

Step 2: Before you plan your essay, think about the structure. You have two questions and they are of equal weight. This means you will have two body paragraphs. Both body paragraphs will have equal length. Click here to learn about how many paragraphs in your essay.

Step 3: Identify the issues in the essay question. The essay question above is very simple. It is about computer games. However, some IELTS essay questions are more complex so you must take time to identify the issue or issues. 

Step 4: Brainstorm main ideas. When you brainstorm main ideas. it does not mean you will use all your ideas in your essay. First, brainstorm ideas and after that select the best ideas. To prepare ideas, see this list of common essay topics.

Step 5: Develop supporting points. This is the step that most people miss. Most people plan their main ideas and then start writing. Your main ideas are certainly important, but the supporting points are equally as important. And this is the area where most people easily go off topic. So, using your planning time to prepare your supporting points. Don’t start writing until you are clear about the whole content of your body paragraphs.

Step 6: Think about linking for body paragraphs and supporting points. Linking is another area that is often forgotten during the test. Linking and paragraphing is crucial. They are also both very very easy for you to score high points in. So, never overlook these two points. Plan your paragraphs and make sure you are using a good range of appropriate linking words. Here is a list of keywords.

Step 7: Don’t waste time on your introduction. It is a functional paragraph which usually contains just two sentences. The bulk of the marks are in the body paragraphs.

Step 8: Read the essay question again before you start each body paragraph. This will help you make sure you are using the right language to present your ideas. People think having good ideas is enough. It is NOT enough. You must think about how you will present them. So, read the essay question again and get your bearings.

Step 9: Use a range of grammar features. This is not just about tense. There are a whole range of features that you can use to show your grammatical prowess. 

1. 1. noun phrases
   2. gerund noun phrases
   3. noun clauses
   4. language of probability
   5. relative clauses
   6. conditional statements
   7. Referencing
   8. quantifiers and intensifiers
   9. comparatives & superlatives
   10. passive voice

To learn more about grammar in Writing Task 2 and to avoid errors, consider my Grammar E-book whcih will help you boost your grammar score and improve your English. Click here to see a Preview of my Grammar E-book. My Grammar E-book is available in my online store: Liz’s Online Store

Step 10: Avoid errors in grammar: articles, pronouns, uncountable nouns, word order, tenses, complex sentences. The more errors you have, the lower your score. Knowing the strength of your grammar will help you avoid errors. Aim for accuracy – do not aim to impress. 

Step 11: Vocabulary only counts for 25% of your marks. Too many candidates focus too heavily on this area. Use vocabulary appropriate for the topic. Don’t over use idiomatic language. Idioms are mostly informal, not formal, so go with phrasal verbs instead which are also idiomatic. Don’t use less common vocabulary if you might use it incorrectly. Errors will lower your score. Aim for accuracy. Spelling counts. There are some useful vocabulary lists on this page: IELTS Vocabulary.

Step 12: Paraphrasing is a language skill that you need to demonstrate. This doesn’t mean changing all words all the time. It means being selective about which words you change and which words you will leave and repeat. It is fine to repeat some words. Over paraphrasing is one reason why many people get a low score in vocabulary.

Step 13: Don’t aim for a long essay or a short essay. If it is too short, it means you haven’t developed your main ideas enough. If it is too long, it gives you room for more errors which will lower your score. Aim for between 270-290 words on the whole. Click here for a video lesson about essay length.

Step 14: Edit your essay. Leave 2 mins to edit your essay. Pay attention to not repeating linking words, checking spelling and spotting vocabulary errors. You might have other areas specific to your language skills that you want to check. Know your weaknesses.

Step 15: Look at the clock. Timing is everything. You must be very strict with timing so that you have enough time to finish your essay. You can start with task 2 if you want, but if you do, make sure you leave 20 mins for task 1. Use no less than 5 mins preparing your essay. Use no less than 2 mins to check your essay at the end. This leaves around 33 mins for you to write your whole essay. Practise this at home under exam conditions until you are able to do this.

Step 16: If you find my free lessons are not enough for you or if you want more in-depth training for essay writing, please get my Advanced Writing Task 2 lessons which are available in my online store. Click here: Liz’s Online Store

Other Useful Links

• IELTS Writing Task 2 Band Scores Explained
• IELTS Essay Questions for home practice
• When to give your opinion in an IELTS essay

Hope you find this page useful. From Liz 🙂 

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There are 5 types of IELTS essays which can appear in IELTS writing task 2. These types of essays are for both GT and Academic writing task 2. Below you will find sample essay questions for each type of essay and links to model answers. 

Please note that IELTS teachers sometimes divide essays into different categories based on how they teach. This means IELTS and teachers give essays different names and categorise them differently.

1) IELTS Opinion Essay

This type of essay is where you are presented with someone else’s opinion and you are asked if you agree or disagree with it. The opinion is often flawed or extreme in its views. Some teachers call this the Argumentative Essay. The instructions can be written in a number of ways. Below are a few examples:

• Do you agree or disagree?
• Do you agree?
• What do you think?
• To what extent do you agree?
• To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• What is your opinion?

No matter how the instructions are written, you can take any position you want: agree, disagree or partial agreement (balanced view). Below is an example essay question:

Some people think that only electric cars should be allowed on the road by 2040. Do you agree?

Note:

• IELTS will not tell you which type of essay you are given. You must identify the essay type yourself by looking at the instructions and the task given.
• The biggest mistake for an opinion essay is not giving a clear opinion. Writing “this essay will show that…” does not express your own opinion. Your opinion must be clear and remain the same opinion throughout the entire essay.
• Another problem is when people sit on the fence without any clear opinion. A balanced view does not mean you agree with both sides fully. You can’t turn an opinion essay into a discussion essay.

2) IELTS Discussion Essay

This type of essay presents you with a statement and you must present the two sides. This might be two sides of the same issue:

Some people think there should be free health care for all people, but others disagree. Discuss both sides.

Or it might be two separate issues which you need to discuss:

Some people think that urban spaces should be used for parks rather than for housing. Discuss both sides and give your opinion.

3) IELTS Advantage Disadvantage Essays

There are two types of questions in this category.

i) Advantage and Disadvantage Essay

This is similar to a discussion essay where you are given a statement must present the positive and negative side of the issue:

Some people think it is good for students to take a gap year before going to university. What are the advantages and disadvantages of doing so?

ii) Outweigh Essay

This is by far the most difficult of the two essay types in this category. It requires you to present an opinion and explain your opinion.

Some people think the world will eventually have only one language. Do you think the advantages of having one global language outweigh the disadvantages?

4) IELTS Solution Essays

There are a number of types of possible questions in this category:

i) Solution Only Essay

Some children have serious weight problems. What are the possible solutions?

ii) Cause Solution Essay

Children in rural areas are being left behind in their academic development. Why is this is the case? What solutions can you suggest?

iii) Problem Solution Essay

More and more people are moving to cities to look for work. What problems does this cause? What are the possible solutions?

iv) Cause Effect Essay

More and more people are moving from the countryside to cities. Why is this? What problems does it cause?

5) Direct Questions Essays

Some teachers call these the Double Question Essays or Two Question Essays. However, these types of essay questions might contain one, two or three questions for you to answer. Below are some examples.

Pollution around the world is becoming a serious problem. Do you think this is a problem that should be solved internationally or on a local level?

In the question above, you are asked one specific question. Your whole essay must tackle this question only.

More and more people are choosing to work from home. Is this a positive or negative development?

This essay question has just one issue and one question. You must explain what type of development you think working from home is.

Some people spend a lot of money on weddings. Why do they do this? Do you think it is good to spend a lot of money on weddings?

Above, you will see you have been presented with two questions to answer: reasons and opinion (evaluating if it is good or not.) 

News editors decide what to print in newspapers and what to broadcast on TV. What factors do you think influence these decisions? Do we become used to bad news? Would it be better if more news was reported?

It is not common to be given three questions. However, it has appeared in the test before so I’ve included it in this list.

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Practice Essay Questions for IELTS

You can find over 100 essay questions to practice on this page: 100 IELTS Essay Questions. The questions are divided first into topics and then into essay types. This way you can get lots of practice before your actual test day.

Model Essays & Tips

You can find model essays for each type of IELTS writing task 2 on this page: IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Essays & Tips. You’ll also find tips for essay structure, paragraphing, linking words etc. Everything on this website is free for you to use.

Advanced Writing Task 2 Lessons

I also have advanced lessons for IELTS essays in my store which take you step by step through the techniques of writing a high band score essay. You can find my store here: Liz’s Advanced IELTS Store.

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Is it ok to lie in IELTS speaking? Is it ok to make up a story and tell the examiner? 

Many students ask me if they can tell lies in their IELTS test and if they will get a lower band score if they are found lying in their IELTS speaking test.

Is it possible to lie in IELTS Speaking?

Yes, you can lie. It won’t affect your score. But it isn’t necessary. It’s better to tell the truth.

Telling the truth has advantages.

Why lying isn’t necessary in IELTS Speaking

1. There is no reason to lie. Lying will not increase your score.
2. If you don’t have a clear answer – just say so. You are marked on your ability to communicate in English, not on your knowledge or ideas for IELTS speaking. Below are some examples:
   • Q) What is your favourite museum?  
   • A) I don’t have one. I don’t have much interest in history or culture and I think the last time I went to one is when I was a child.
     • Comments: The above answer is excellent. It answers directly and explains more. I also uses both present simple and past simple grammar tenses.
   • Q) Do you like cooking?
   • A) No, actually I don’t. My mother has always cooked for me. To be honest, I find it incredibly tedious and a waste of my time, and anyway I’d rather use my time more productively.
     • Comments: This is a full answer which offers different grammar tenses and a range of language features.
3. Lying requires imagination – it is better just to focus on your language rather than trying to be creative at the same time.
4. When you say the truth, you usually have better intonation which will help your pronunciation score. Matching your meaning with your tone of voice is very important for your pronunciation score.
5. It’s hard to add extra details when you lie. It requires too much effort to add all the extra details to a lie.
6. Under exam pressure, it is hard to lie and create an answer at the same time. Sticking with the truth is easier. 

Adapting the Truth

Adapting the truth is easier than a huge creative lie.

If you are asked to talk about a book you recently read, instead you can talk about a book you read one year ago but say it was recent. It is a “white lie” but all details you will give will be truthful – this will make it easier for you to talk about. However, even in this situation, you can still tell the truth – see below:

• I’d like to talk about a novel I read about a year ago. To be honest, I’ve been so busy during this last year with work that I haven’t had time to read any books. So, I’m going to tell you about one I remember very well from about one year ago. …..
  • Comments: This is a great start to your talk. There are quite a few different grammar tenses used already at the start of the talk. The answer also show that you can communicate clearly and easily in English by giving precise meaning to what you want to say. As long as you stick to the main topic “A book”, you can adapt it as you like. By explaining your choices for the topic, the examiner will be satisfied. It doesn’t affect your score to do this.

ID Check & Facts: Don’t Lie!

Before the recording device is switched on, the examiner will ask you four questions to check your ID. Do NOT lie at this point. The information you provide must match the information given on your ID card.

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU

Click below to open:

• Should I speak fast or slow?
• Correcting mistakes in IELTS Speaking
• All FREE Speaking Tips, Lessons & Model Answers

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This lesson will test your grammar accuracy with ARTICLES (a / the ). Look at the sentences and decide which use of articles is correct. This is a great way to practise both grammar and proofreading skills.

Warning: The correct use of articles is not easy. Many people make mistakes with articles in their IELTS writing test which lowers their score. Give this exercise a try and see how you get on. My answers tomorrow will help you understand more.

Spot the Mistakes Exercise: Articles

Decide which options are correct.

1. The reason for most first-time offenders committing crimes again, once they have been released from prison / the prison, is due to lack of / the lack of rehabilitation.
2. Repeat offending is also owing to the difficult that people / the people with a criminal record have of finding employment / the employment.
3. Ensuring that people serving prison sentence / a prison sentence learn useful skills will help them find jobs / the jobs when they are released.
4. When offenders are released from prison / the prison and can find employment / the employment, it helps them reintegrate back into society / the society.
5. Harsh prison sentences deter people / the people from considering crime / the crime.

Answers

Answers are now available for this lesson.

CLICK HERE: ANSWERS AND EXPLANATION

All the best,

Liz

Coming Soon – Grammar E-book

A Grammar E-book to take your English to a higher level and maximise your Writing Task 2 score.

Download Preview: Grammar E-book PREVIEW

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