Task 2 is scored on four criteria: task response, coherence and cohesion, lexical resource, and grammar. Structure feeds directly into the first two — half of your score.
Four paragraphs, reliably
- 1Introduction (40–50 words): paraphrase the question and state your position clearly.
- 2First body paragraph (90–100 words): one idea + a reason + a specific example.
- 3Second body paragraph (90–100 words): a second idea, same shape.
- 4Conclusion (30–40 words): restate the position, add nothing new.
Don't open with "Nowadays, technology is very important in our life". Examiners read it a hundred times a day and it earns nothing.
One paragraph, one idea
The most common mistake is three shallow ideas in one paragraph. Band 7 asks for ideas that are "extended and supported": developing one idea properly beats listing three.
Write each body paragraph in this order: the idea (1 sentence) → why it's true (1–2) → a specific example (1–2) → tie it back to the question (1).
Make the example specific
"In many countries, people believe..." is not an example. "In South Korea, the government introduced free public transport for students in 2023, and usage rose sharply" is. It doesn't have to be real — it has to be specific: place, time, result.
When to break the template
For "Discuss both views", use one body paragraph per view and state your own position in the introduction, not the conclusion. For "To what extent do you agree", both paragraphs may argue your side — that is also correct.
250 words is the floor, not the target. 260–290 is usually the sweet spot: enough depth, less room for error.