IELTS Writing Task 2: develop the idea behind the sentence
A useful Task 2 paragraph does more than state an opinion: it explains a relevant reason and supports it. This guide works through an original example and gives you a short exercise to test the same skill before checking a complete essay.
By the GetYour9 team · Updated
Start with what the prompt asks you to do
Before drafting, separate the topic from the instruction. “Public libraries” is a topic. “To what extent do you agree?” tells you the response you must build. An answer can contain excellent English about the topic while barely addressing the instruction.
Original practice prompt: Some people believe public libraries are no longer needed because information is available online. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
For this exercise, choose a clear position before collecting vocabulary. One possible position is that online information is useful, but libraries still matter because they provide access and a place to study. This is an example approach, not the only valid position.
Connect your claim to a reason and an example
Ask “why?” after the claim and “how?” after the reason. Those questions expose the missing explanation more effectively than adding a stock linking phrase.
First attempt
Libraries are necessary. Many people use libraries and they are very useful. Therefore, they should stay open.
One possible revision
Public libraries remain useful for residents who cannot study comfortably at home. A quiet shared space lets them concentrate without needing to pay for a private workspace. For example, a student living in a crowded apartment can use a library desk to prepare an assignment after school.
The revision narrows the claim, explains the practical benefit, and connects the example to it. It does not prove a particular IELTS band. A full assessment would also consider the prompt, the whole essay, and language control.
Keep the other side connected to your position
If you acknowledge online information, explain what it changes and what it does not. Simply writing “On the other hand” followed by an unrelated advantage creates two separate mini-essays rather than a coherent argument.
For the library prompt, you might recognise that online resources reduce the need to visit a building just to find facts. You can then explain why that does not remove the need for shared facilities. Check that your conclusion matches the position developed in the paragraphs.
Try a short idea-development exercise
Use the claim “Libraries help people develop new skills.” Write one sentence explaining how, then one example that illustrates that explanation. Keep the example hypothetical if you do not have a personal one; do not invent research statistics.
Which supports the claim more directly: “Libraries are popular around the world” or “A library can run an introductory computer class for residents who have never used online services”?
Show explanation
The computer-class example is more direct because it shows a way people acquire a skill. Popularity alone does not explain learning. A developed paragraph would still need a clear reason and a link back to the essay’s position.
Review the complete answer before chasing a band
Read only the first sentence of each paragraph. Does that sequence express a consistent answer to the instruction? Next, inspect each example: does it demonstrate the preceding reason, or just repeat the same claim?
Finally, read for sentence clarity and precise word choice. Keep a record of recurring issues rather than accepting every rewrite. Use a full Writing report to prioritise a weakness, then practise it on a new prompt. This guide is a teaching exercise, not an official sample answer or score prediction.
- Underline your position and check that it stays consistent.
- Mark one explanation and one relevant example in each body paragraph.
- Remove unsupported numerical claims.
- Rewrite one weak point, then try a different question.
Common questions
Is this a Band 9 model essay?
No. These are original teaching examples showing idea development. They are not examiner-rated essays and do not carry a band score.
Do longer or more complicated words improve an essay automatically?
No. Choose words that communicate the intended meaning accurately. An unusual word that changes the meaning can make the paragraph less clear.
Where can I see official Writing tasks?
Use the IELTS sample test questions linked in the references. Follow the instructions on the official task rather than treating this exercise as an exam paper.
References and corrections
- IELTS: official sample test questions — Official Writing samples and task instructions.
Original teaching examples are illustrative. GetYour9 is not affiliated with or endorsed by the IELTS test owners. Report a content issue or read our Privacy Policy.
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