You will get a lower score in IELTS writing task 2 if you don’t fully address the task in the essay question. This means you need to check your essay plan before you start writing your essay.
Your plan must address all issues in the question.
I hope you find this lesson useful 🙂
IELTS Essay Question
- The main topic is: how children spend their leisure time
- The IELTS essay question below has two issues that need addressing: homework and sport
Essay Question:
Some people think that children should spend their free time doing homework, while others believe it would be better for children to participate in sports activities instead. What is your opinion?
One Sided Opinion
If you agree with one side, for example that sport is more important, then you must still address both issues.
Plan 1:
BP1 – I believe that sport is the best way for children to spend their leisure time because it promotes health.
BP2 – I also think sport is good because students can avoid stress and enjoy their free time.
Comments: This plan is WRONG!!!!! If you agree with one side ( that sport is important), you can’t ignore the issue of homework. Your opinion must address both sport and homework – in the body paragraphs as well as the introduction. This essay would get a low score for Task Response, which is 25% of your marks.
Plan 2:
BP1 – I believe that sport is the best way for children to spend their leisure time.
BP2 – other people think that homework is more important
Comments: This plan is WRONG!!!!! This is an opinion essay, it is not a discussion. This means the instructions are asking for YOUR opinion, not other people’s opinions. Writing a full body paragraph about other people’s opinions is irrelevant to the instructions and will lower your score.
Plan 3:
BP 1 – I believe that sport is the best way for children to spend their leisure time as it promotes health and reduces stress.
BP 2 – I think children should not do homework in their free time because they already spend six hours a day studying and should not do more educational work.
Comments: This is correct. Your opinion has been given on both issues. But personally, I wouldn’t take this approach to this essay question. See below:
Partial Agreement (Balanced View)
For this essay question, I would recommend a balanced view (a partial agreement). This does not mean you agree with both sides equally. It means you present a specific view which is quantified.
Plan
Thesis Statement = In my opinion, while some homework is useful, the amount should be limited and children should spend more time playing sport instead.
BP 1 = children should spend only a small amount of their free time doing homework and the length of time should limited to avoid pressure and stress.
- homework is an essential part of educational development
- homework should be limited to avoid stress which has an adverse effect on school performance
- parents and schools should help children limit this time
BP 2 = the main focus of children’s leisure time should be on sport because ….
- children need to enjoy life outside their educational studies for their own welbeing
- children can benefit through improved health
- having an interest outside school helps reduce stress and encourages them to meet new people
Comments: There is a clear opinion which has been fully explained and addresses all issue.
IELTS Writing Task 2 Tips & Models
You can find writing task 2 tips and model essays on this page: IELTS Writing Task 2 Main Page. All my writing task 2 lessons are for GT and Academic students.







