how to write an essay introduction in ielts

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IELTS Writing Task 2
IELTS Essay

How to Write an IELTS Essay

In this introductory lesson you will find some guidance on how you should write an IELTS essay .

There are then more lessons on the following pages for different types of essay and different questions, with lots of tips and strategies for achieving a high score.

You can also watch a video of this lesson:

how to write an essay introduction in ielts

Essay Types

It is important to learn about IELTS essays because there are different essay types, and these will require different ways to answer them.

However, as you will see from the guidance on this page, they can all follow the same basic structure.

These are some of the types of IELTS essays you can get in the test:

Agree / disagree
Discuss two opinions
Advantages & disadvantages
Causes (reasons) & solutions
Causes (reasons) & effects
Problems & solutions

Not every essay will fit one of these patterns, but many do.

You may get some of these tasks mixed up. For example, you could be asked to give your opinion on an issue, and then discuss the advantages or disadvantages of it.

The golden rule is to ALWAYS read the question very carefully to see exactly what you are being asked to do.

The second lesson explains more about analysing essay questions.

How do I Write an IELTS Essay?

In order to answer this, lets first look at a sample question:

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

In the last 20 years there have been significant developments in the field of information technology (IT), for example the World Wide Web and communication by email. However, these developments in IT are likely to have more negative effects than positive in the future.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own experience or knowledge.

Write at least 250 words.

An IELTS essay is structured like any other essay; you just need to make it shorter. There are three key elements:

Introduction
Body Paragraphs

We will look at each of these in turn, using the essay question above as an example.

1) Introduction

You should keep your introduction for the IELTS essay short. Remember you only have 40 minutes to write the essay, and some of this time needs to be spent planning. Therefore, you need to be able to write your introduction fairly quickly so you can start writing your body paragraphs.

You should do just two things:

State the topic of the essay, using some basic facts (that you may be able to take from the question)
Say what you are going to write about

Here is an example introduction for the above essay question about IT:

The last two decades have seen enormous changes in the way people's lives are affected by IT, with many advances in this field. However, while these technological advances have brought many benefits to the world, I strongly believe that these developments in IT will result in more negative impacts than positive.

As you can see, the first sentence makes sure it refers to the topic (IT) and uses facts about IT taken from the question. Note that these are paraphrased - you must not copy from the rubric!

The second part then clearly sets out the what the essay will be about and confirms the writers opinion (some questions may not ask for your opinion, but this one does). The writer clearly agrees as he/she thinks there will be more negative impacts.

View this lesson for more advice on writing IELTS essay introductions.

2) Body Paragraphs

For an IELTS essay, you should have 2 or 3 body paragraphs - no more, and no less.

For your body paragraph, each paragraph should contain one controlling idea, and have sentences to support this.

Lets look at the first paragraph for the essay about IT. The essay is about the benefits and drawbacks of IT, so these will need to be discussed in separate paragraphs.

Here is the first body paragraph:

On the positive side, email has made communication, especially abroad, much simpler and faster. This has resulted in numerous benefits for commerce and business as there is no need to wait weeks for letters or take time sending faxes, which was the case in the past. Furthermore, the World Wide Web means that information on every conceivable subject is now available to us. For example, people can access news, medical advice, online education courses and much more via the internet. These developments have made life far easier and more convenient for many.

The controlling idea in this first paragraph is the 'benefits of IT', and there are two supporting ideas, which are underlined. No drawbacks are discussed as the paragraph would then lose coherence.

Most of the essay will focus on the negative aspects of IT, as the writer says there are more negative effects in the introduction. So the next two paragraphs are about these.

The topic sentence in the next paragraph therefore tells us we are changing the focus to the negative points:

Nevertheless, the effects of this new technology have not all been beneficial. For example, many people feel that the widespread use of email is destroying traditional forms of communication such as letter writing, telephone and face-to-face conversation. This could result in a decline in people's basic ability to socialize and interact with each other on a day-to-day basis.

The final body paragraph gives the last negative effect:

In addition, the large size of the Web has meant that it is nearly impossible to regulate and control. This has led to many concerns regarding children accessing unsuitable websites and the spread of computer viruses. Unfortunately, this kind of problem might even get worse in the future at least until more regulated systems are set up.

3) Conclusion

The conclusion only needs to be one or two sentences, and you can do the following:

Re-state what the essay is about (re-write the last sentence of your introduction in different words)
Give some thoughts about the future

Here is an example:

In conclusion, developments in IT have brought many benefits, yet I believe that these are outweighed by the drawbacks. In the future these will need to be addressed if we are to avoid damaging impacts on individuals and society.

The Full IELTS Essay

(290 Words)

The IELTS essay introduction talks in general about the increasing use of IT, thus introducing the topic well. The thesis then clearly sets out the writers opinion.

The following paragraph mentions the present benefits of these developments, but the opening sentence in the third paragraph is a qualifying statement (Nevertheless, not all the effects... ), so the writer can now focus on the negative elements.

The fourth paragraph provides two other negative examples (lack of regulation, viruses). Both paragraphs suggest that these problems will continue in the future.

The essay concludes with a clear opinion that agrees with the statement.

Overall, it is a well-balanced text that mentions the present situation ( ...this has made life.. .) but importantly, also refers to the future of IT (. ..likely to increase..., might get worse. ..).

Now you know the basics of writing an IELTS Essay, you can go on and look at further sample essays or if you prefer, check out the next lessons for Writing Task 2.

More Task 2 IELTS Lessons:

Improving Writing Coherence for IELTS essays

25% of the writing grade is on how you organise your essay so this lesson shows you how to improve your writing coherence.

Requirements for IELTS Band 7 in Writing

Getting to an IELTS Band 7 is a struggle for many candidates. This lesson explains exactly what you have to do to reach this band score.

IELTS Task Response - 25% of your essay grade

The IELTS Task Response criteria in the scoring makes up 25% of your band score for your essay.

Thesis Statement Tips for IELTS Essays

Your thesis statement in an IELTS essay should be written quickly and concisely. Use these tips to do that.

Using Pronouns to Improve IELTS Essay Coherency

Find out how to use pronouns to improve your coherency for IELTS task 2 essays.

Transitional Phrases for Essays

Learn transitional phrases for essays to get a band 7 or higher in your IELTS writing for coherence and cohesion.

IELTS Music Essay: Understanding a Complex Question

An IELTS essay about music is used to show you how to answer a more complex IELTS essay question that does not have a clear 'task' given to you.

Tips on How to Score IELTS Band 8 in Writing and Speaking

To score IELTS Band 8 you need to understand exactly what is in the IELTS Band Descriptors for an 8 for writing and speaking first.

The 3 Types of IELTS Opinion Essays in IELTS

IELTS opinion essays in IELTS can be placed into three types. This lesson explains the different types and how to analyse these essay questions.

IELTS Advantage Disadvantage Essay Tips and Strategies

An advantage disadvantage essay is one type of essay that you may get in the test. This lesson shows how to write a pros cons essay.

Writing an IELTS Essay Introduction

Tips on how to write an introduction for an IELTS essay introduction in a quick and easy way.

How to Identify the Topic of an IELTS Essay Question

In IELTS you must identify the topic of your essay as this is a key to making sure your essay is on topic.

How to Identify the Task in an IELTS Essay

Learn how to identify the task in an IELTS task 2 essay question. This is one of the most important steps in responding to an essay question.

Writing an IELTS Essay Conclusion

The IELTS essay conclusion is the final part of your IELTS essay. This lesson guides you on how to write a conclusion quickly but effectively.

Paragraph Writing for IELTS: Building strong arguments

This paragraph writing lesson provides tips on constructing the best paragraphs for your IELTS essay.

Using Substitution in IELTS to Improve Writing Coherency

You can use substitution in your IELTS essays in order to improve coherency and coherence.

Generating ideas for IELTS essays for writing task 2

Generating ideas for IELTS essays for writing task 2 can be difficult but complex ideas are not expected.

How to use brainstorming and planning to generate essay ideas.

Brainstorming and planning is a key step in developing your IELTS essay. This lesson has tips on how to coming up with ideas and organising them.

Can you use Personal Pronouns in Essays for IELTS?

Learn how to use personal pronouns in essays for IELTS correctly. Can you use "I", "we" and "you"?

IELTS Problem Solution Essay Strategies and Tips

In IELTS problem solution essays you have to discuss a particular issue and present ideas to solve that problem.

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IELTS Writing Task 2: How To Write an Effective Introduction

Ielts writing task 2 introduction.

Did you know that a strong introduction can make the difference between a Band 6 and a Band 8 in IELTS Writing Task 2?

In the video above, I’ll show you how to write a Band 8 introduction and avoid the 7 biggest mistakes most people make when they introduce their essays.

This post will help you write better introductions in your Task 2 IELTS essays and show the specific sentences I advise all of my students to use when writing IELTS Writing Task 2 introductions.

The introduction is the first part of the essay the examiner will read, and it will give them a good first impression of what to expect in the rest of the essay.

Just like in person, first impressions last.

I often tell my students that a bad introduction in IELTS writing part 2 is the same as going in to the speaking exam and being rude to the examiner- no matter how good you are in the rest of it, the examiner won’t be happy, and unhappy examiners are more likely to give you a lower mark.

Despite this warning, many good students go on to produce introductions with a few common problems in them.

Common Problems

Talking too generally about the topic.

Most of these essays start off with ‘Nowadays……’ or ‘In modern life….’ followed by general information about the topic. In my opinion, this is the worst start you can possibly make. Remember that you are supposed to answer the question, not write generally about the topic.

Not giving your opinion

This is the most important sentence in the essay. Not including this will lose you marks in several different ways.

Not supporting your opinion with main ideas

If you don’t do this, the examiner doesn’t really know what you think about the question. This will also lose you marks. I’ll show you how to write an outline sentence below.

Trying to write a ‘hook’ or be entertaining

Remember, this is an IELTS exam, not a university essay. There are no extra points for being interesting; in fact, being boring will probably help you. This will help you avoid ‘flowery’ language.

Using an informal style

Know your audience. You are expected to write in an academic style.

Good and Bad Examples

Question: There is a good deal of evidence that increasing car use is contributing to global warming and having other undesirable effects on people’s health and well-being.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Good Introduction

Rising global temperatures and human health and fitness issues are often viewed as being caused by the expanding use of automobiles. This essay agrees that the increasing use of motor vehicles contributes to rising global temperatures because of the production of greenhouse gases by vehicles and certain health issues are caused by the release of toxic chemicals by internal combustion engines.

Bad Introduction

Nowadays, cars are a very popular way of getting around. Day by day many more people drive cars around but others feel that they cause global warming. Global warming is one of the most serious issues in modern life. They also affect people’s health and well-being which is also a serious issue.

As you can see, the bad example generally talks about the topic, copies words and phrases from the question, and doesn’t include a thesis statement or outline statement.

If your introductions look something like this, don’t worry. Most of my students write introductions a lot like this when they first start in my class and the structure below always helps them fix any problems and write very effective introductions.

Structure of a Good Introduction

If you use this structure, you will not only score higher marks but also save time in the exam. If you practice enough, introductions will become easy, and you will do them in just a few minutes. This will leave you lots of time to focus on the main body paragraphs, where you can pick up lots of marks.

An IELTS writing task 2 opinion essay should have three elements, and these should be:

Paraphrase question
Give opinion
Support opinion with 2 ideas

That’s it. Simple!

Do you need me to correct your essays and give you feedback on them? Check out our essay correction service or email me at [email protected].

About Christopher Pell

My name is Christopher Pell and I'm the Managing Director of IELTS Advantage.

I started IELTS Advantage as a simple blog to help 16 students in my class. Several years later, I am very humbled that my VIP Course has been able to help thousands of people around the world to score a Band 7+ in their IELTS tests.

If you need my help with your IELTS preparation, you can send me an email using the contact us page.

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How to Write an Introduction for IELTS Writing Task 2

Posted by David S. Wills | Jul 8, 2021 | IELTS Tips , Writing | 0

The following is an excerpt from my 2019 book, How to Write the Perfect Essay for IELTS . It is all about how to write an introduction to an essay and I felt it was important enough that I would include it here for everyone to read. If you want to see the rest of the book, you can find it on sale here .

Writing an Introduction

An essay’s introduction is incredibly important because it is the first thing that an examiner will read. In this short paragraph, you will attempt to address the topic and give a basic overview of your essay. If this is clear and relatively error-free, the examiner will be impressed and they may view the rest of your essay more favourably. Note that this is not a conscious decision and an examiner will always try to be fair. However, human nature is such that first impressions are important.

In our examples and rules above, I have explained the basics of writing an introduction. However, you might be wondering a few things:

Do I always have to follow the same rules for writing an introduction?
Will every essay require the same sort of introduction?
Do I need to outline my essay in the introduction?
Does each part of the introduction really require just one sentence?
Is there an ideal number of words to write in an introduction?

The answer to all these is: NO. There are many possible ways to write a good introduction, and different teachers will tell you different things. What I have done so far is give you some helpful advice about writing essays. My advice is intended to give all IELTS students the best chance of scoring band 7.0 or higher by offering simple, practice advice, but there are different ways of writing a great essay.

Essentially, what you do need to do is:

Introduce the topic.
Assert a position and/or explain the purpose of your essay.

To do this, I think that the best way to write an introduction is to paraphrase the question and then write a thesis statement. Let’s look at these in detail.

Introducing the Topic

You should write one or two sentences at the very beginning of your essay that explain the topic. If you begin with a very general topic, you might need to write two sentences as the second one will focus on the key issue. Some teachers will tell you that you need to paraphrase the question, but while this can be helpful, it is not the best approach .

In Section II of this book, we talked about analysing the question. If you have fully analysed the question, then writing the first sentence of your essay should be pretty easy. You just need to find what the main idea is, and explain it. Let’s look at an example:

Some people say that now we can see films on our phones or tablets there is no need to go to the cinema. Others say that to be fully enjoyed, films need to be seen in a cinema. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

My introduction to this essay would be:

In recent years, mobile technology has improved to the point that people can now watch movies in HD almost anywhere by using a phone or tablet. This development has caused some people to speculate that cinemas will soon be obsolete. However, this essay will argue against that viewpoint.

In analysing the question, I noted that it contained two contradictory statements:

It is better to watch movies on a phone or tablet.
It is better to watch movies in the cinema.

There is a more focused point hidden within the question:

There is no point in going to the cinema anymore.

My first sentence is extremely broad. I have started with a phrase (“in recent years”) that sets this topic within a time context then stated the main idea: the improvement of mobile technology has changed the way we view movies. Rather than make one very long, complicated sentence, I have added a shorter one that expands upon and qualifies my first. The second sentence focuses my essay by introducing item #3 from above. It states that because of these technological developments, there is no reason to go to the cinema. Essentially, my first two sentences say the same thing as the question. However, I have not exactly paraphrased it. I did not attempt to copy the question with new words. Instead, I let the idea of the question develop in my head, and then wrote down the general idea of it. I think that this is the best way to handle writing an introductory sentence.

Here’s a video about how to write a great first sentence:

Asserting a Position and/or Explaining the Purpose of the Essay

What do I mean by “asserting a position”? In Section II of this book, I talked about maintaining a clear position throughout the essay. This is important for scoring highly in Task Achievement . There are different perspectives on what this requires, with some people claiming that you only need to make your position clear in the conclusion. Others, however, say that it should be stated in the introduction. The safest and most sensible option is to state your position in the introduction, support it in the body paragraphs, and then reaffirm it in the conclusion.

Of course, not all questions require a position. Some of them just ask to explain something, like a problem and a solution. In this case, you would not need to give an opinion in the introduction. You should instead write one or two sentences announcing what you will do in the essay. In the guide to structures, I referred to these as “thesis statement” and “essay outline”. You don’t always need to give both, but they are good ways of scoring highly for Coherence and Cohesion because they help clarify the structure of your essay.

In my previous example, I only wrote “…this essay will argue against that viewpoint.” This is a sort of thesis statement. I could have expanded it to say, “The first paragraph will look at reasons why it appears that cinemas will become obsolete, while the second will explore the continued relevance of cinemas in the digital era.” This is an example of an essay outline . However, there is a slight problem with this sort of sentence. While it undoubtedly adds value to an essay, it also adds to the word count, and to the length of time taken to write an essay. It is important to finish your essay within 40 minutes and also to spend time checking for errors. As such, writing an extra sentence or two could cost additional time that could be spent elsewhere. If you struggle with finishing in time, you should probably write a shorter introduction and ensure that you finish the whole essay. Advanced students, who can easily finish in time and wish to improve their score to a band 8.0 or 9.0, would do well to consider incorporating essay outlines for an improved structure.

Another reason why we may choose to include a thesis statement or essay outline is that it improves the register of an essay. In other words, it makes it more formal . Whilst a question may ask for your opinion on an issue, writing “I think…” is less formal than writing “This essay will argue that…” By getting into the habit of writing this sort of sentence, you can reduce the number of personal pronouns and increase the formality of your essay, thereby improving its tone.

Here is an example from a problem and solution essay, which would not require a thesis statement, but would require an essay outline:

Despite the growing number of gyms and fitness centres, more and more people are leading a sedentary lifestyle in the modern society. What problems are associated with this? What solutions can you suggest?

In the twenty-first century, an unprecedented number of people are living sedentary lifestyles due to changes in our work and social habits. [DW1] This is a seriously dangerous phenomenon and greatly threatens our health and happiness. [DW2] This essay will look at the problems and solutions. [DW3]

I could have expanded it slightly:

In the twenty-first century, an unprecedented number of people are living sedentary lifestyles due to changes in our work and social habits. This is a seriously dangerous phenomenon and greatly threatens our health and happiness. This essay will first look at the problems and then explore some solutions.

By adding these small extra details, I am giving a slightly more advanced guide to the essay. However, the difference is pretty minimal. This is something to consider for people aiming to make improvements and score band 7.0 or higher.

[DW1] I have written a single sentence to introduce the topic, which essentially paraphrases the question.

[DW2] This sentence develops the idea further.

[DW3] Here, I outline in the most basic terms the function of the essay.

About The Author

David S. Wills

David S. Wills is the author of Scientologist! William S. Burroughs and the 'Weird Cult' and the founder/editor of Beatdom literary journal. He lives and works in rural Cambodia and loves to travel. He has worked as an IELTS tutor since 2010, has completed both TEFL and CELTA courses, and has a certificate from Cambridge for Teaching Writing. David has worked in many different countries, and for several years designed a writing course for the University of Worcester. In 2018, he wrote the popular IELTS handbook, Grammar for IELTS Writing and he has since written two other books about IELTS. His other IELTS website is called IELTS Teaching.

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How to Write a Great Introduction in IELTS Task 2 Essay: A Comprehensive Guide

Greetings, future IELTS conquerors! 🎉 If you're here, it's probably because you're grappling with the IELTS Task 2 Essay and, more specifically, that all-important introduction. Don't worry; we've got your back. Let's delve deep into this critical aspect of IELTS writing so that you can kick off your essay on a high note.

To make this as real as possible, we're using a sample question from a past IELTS exam. The question reads: "Some people believe that unpaid community service should be a compulsory part of high school programs. To what extent do you agree or disagree?"

IELTS Task 2 Essay Introduction: Why is this Important?

If you're eyeing a high band score, it’s crucial to understand the undeniable importance of a compelling introduction in your IELTS Task 2 Essay. Think of the introduction as your initial handshake with the examiner—it's your first impression, and we all know how lasting first impressions can be.

How to Achieve a High Band Score in IELTS Academic Task 1 Report - eBook by IELTS Luminary

Setting the Stage for Success

Let's begin by setting the stage for what the introduction means in the context of the IELTS writing test. You're essentially setting the tone for your whole essay. Fail to engage the reader here, and you risk losing their attention for the remainder of your argument, affecting your overall band score.

Your Elevator Pitch to the Examiner

Picture this: you get into an elevator with a renowned IELTS examiner. You have merely 30 seconds to convince them why your viewpoint on the topic is worth their attention. Your introduction is that 30-second elevator pitch. It's short but powerful, capturing the essence of what's to come.

The Traffic Light Analogy

Let's consider another analogy: a traffic light. Your introduction serves as the green light that signals the reader to proceed into the depths of your essay. A confusing or dull introduction acts like a red or yellow light, making the examiner pause or even reconsider delving into the rest of your essay.

How to Write a High Band Scoring Task 2 Essay - eBook by IELTS Luminary (IELTS Essay eBook)

Mastering Your Introduction with IELTS Luminary

Writing a captivating introduction isn't just about following a set formula; it's an art. Luckily, it's an art you can learn. If you're struggling with constructing strong introductions, you might find incredible value in our IELTS eBooks . These resources offer comprehensive strategies for each section of the IELTS exam, including detailed tips on mastering the art of the introduction.

But, what if you've already drafted an essay and are uncertain about its quality? No worries, our IELTS Essay Correction Service is here to save the day. An experienced examiner will provide you personalized, detailed insights into your writing, including how to enhance your introductions. It's like having a personal IELTS coach who not only points out your mistakes but guides you on how to fix them.

The Ingredients of a Band 9 Introduction

Now, what goes into a stellar IELTS Task 2 Essay introduction? Three critical components:

Hook: A sentence to grab the reader's attention

Background Information: A brief context about the topic

Thesis Statement: Your main argument or opinion on the issue

Why These Three Components?

Firstly, let's demystify why thes e three components are like the Holy Trinity of your introduction. Your "Hook" works like a magnet, pu lling the reader into your essay. The "Background Information" acts as a bridge, leading the reader from your hook to your thesis statement. Finally, your "Thesis Statement" is the crown jewel, summarizing your entire essay in a nutshell. It's like a mini-roadmap of what's to come.

1.1. Crafting the Perfect Hook

Ah, the hook—the golden key that unlocks reader engagement in your IELTS Task 2 essay. It's your debut act, your brief moment to make a memorable first impression. But why does it matter so much? Well, the hook is a pivotal engagement tool that can lure the reader into your argument. It's what compels the evaluator or any reader to shift from passive reading to active engagement. If done correctly, it makes the reader think, "Wow, I need to read more about this!"

Now, when you're writing your hook, you might have a lot of questions. What type of hook is best suited for an IELTS essay? How can it align with my thesis statement? These questions are perfectly addressed in our IELTS preparation eBooks , which provide specific examples and techniques for mastering the art of the hook.

IELTS Reading Tips and Strategies eBooks - IELTS Luminary

1.2. What Makes a Question an Effective Hook?

In your example, you used a particularly interesting hook: "Does unpaid community service turn high school students into responsible citizens, or is it just free labor?" This question is ingenious for several reasons. First, it's provocative; it challenges the reader's pre-existing beliefs about unpaid community service. Second, it's open-ended, encouraging the reader to ponder and question their own stance on the issue. These attributes make the reader eager to explore the perspectives you'll unfold in the subsequent paragraphs.

If you're uncertain about how well your hook aligns with the rest of your essay, our IELTS Essay Correction Service can be a lifesaver. A seasoned examiner reviews your essay and gives you detailed feedback on how effective your hook is, among other elements.

IELTS Speaking eBook - How to Achieve a High Band Score in IELTS Speaking - IELTS Luminary

1.3. The Role of a Hook in the Bigger Picture

While a hook is your opening act, it should never be disconnected from your main argument. It needs to be a natural prelude to the background information and thesis statement that follow. Think of your hook as the first step in a journey—you capture attention with the hook and then guide your reader down the path of understanding why your argument holds water.

Remember, a hook isn't just about being flashy; it's about being relevant and setting the stage for a compelling argument. When done right, it enhances the overall coherence and effectiveness of your IELTS Task 2 essay. And if you want to see how a complete, high-scoring essay looks like from start to finish, don't hesitate to check out our comprehensive eBooks or get detailed feedback through our Essay Correction Service .

2.1. Providing the Must-Know Background Information

So, you've successfully managed to engage your reader with a gripping hook. The next logical step is to seamlessly transition into the background information. Think of this as the foundation upon which your entire argument will stand. Without context, even the most compelling hook becomes an isolated gimmick. In essence, you're telling your reader, "Great, now that I've piqued your interest, let's dig deeper into why you should care about this topic."

For instance, in your sentence—"The debate surrounding unpaid community service as part of high school curriculums has ignited passionate discussions about educational priorities"—you've managed to encapsulate the essence of the ongoing discourse. You highlight that this isn't just a fringe topic, but one that's at the forefront of educational debates. The term "passionate discussions" indicates that there's no universal agreement, making your forthcoming argument all the more vital.

Here's a subtle tip: When crafting this section, try to present both sides of the argument briefly. This strategy not only enhances your essay's comprehensiveness but also shows you've done your homework. If you're wondering how to integrate conflicting perspectives in your essay without compromising your argument, our IELTS preparation eBooks offer some advanced techniques for this.

2.2. The Role of Background Information in Scoring High

IELTS examiners don't just want to see that you can argue a point. They want to see that you understand the larger context, that you can connect the dots. This makes your essay not just a collection of personal opinions but a well-thought-out piece that aligns with broader educational or societal issues. It's what takes your essay from a Band 6 to a Band 8 or 9. And if you're skeptical about how well you've provided background information, our Essay Correction Service can give you an examiner's perspective, evaluating the strength and relevance of your contextual setup.

3. Writing an Effective Thesis Statement: Your Answer in Brief

The thesis statement is more than just a sentence; it's the backbone of your entire essay. This is the pivotal moment where you give your reader a crystal-clear snapshot of your stance. At this juncture, ambiguity is your enemy. What you aim for is razor-sharp clarity, eliminating any room for misinterpretation. For instance, your example—"I firmly believe that integrating unpaid community service into high school curriculums can foster social responsibility among students"—is a textbook case of an impactful thesis. It does more than simply state an opinion; it conveys conviction through the words "firmly believe."

But why is conviction so important? In the IELTS Task 2 landscape, a wishy-washy thesis statement can drastically undermine the potency of your argument. A strong thesis, however, does the opposite. It solidifies your viewpoint, providing a sturdy framework for the supporting paragraphs that follow. To put it another way, it's the anchor that keeps your essay from drifting into a sea of vagueness.

By using the phrase "foster social responsibility among students," you're also subtly highlighting the essay's central theme. You're not just talking about unpaid community service; you're talking about its capacity to instill social responsibility—a skill vital for the growth of the individual and the community.

Now, you might be wondering, "How do I know if my thesis statement is strong enough?" Well, that's something our Essay Correction Service is perfectly suited for. Our team of examiners can provide in-depth feedback on the effectiveness of your thesis statement, along with suggestions for improvement. And if you're looking to get a deeper understanding of constructing powerful thesis statements, our eBooks are packed with strategies and examples that can guide you.

Example Introduction of a Band 9 IELTS Essay

Based on our discussion of essential components like the hook, background information, and a robust thesis statement, here's how a high-standard introduction might look:

"Does unpaid community service in high schools serve as a stepping stone to responsible adulthood, or is it simply a form of free labor? This contentious issue has sparked numerous debates about the very essence of education and social development. I strongly assert that incorporating unpaid community service into high school curriculums is not merely a social obligation but a fundamental aspect of cultivating socially responsible citizens."

This introduction effectively grabs the examiner's attention with a thought-provoking hook, provides essential background information, and concludes with a compelling thesis statement. It's designed to set the stage for a persuasive essay, guiding the reader seamlessly into the ensuing arguments.

Wrapping Up the Discussion

Now, if you're wondering how to blend all these elements into a compelling narrative, we’ve got something special for you. Our IELTS eBooks cover these topics and much more, providing practical tips and exercises to fine-tune your writing skills.

Feeling a bit shaky about your essay? Why not get it reviewed by an expert? Our IELTS Essay Correction Service provides invaluable personalized feedback, right down to the nitty-gritty details of crafting the perfect introduction.

So there it is: your foolproof guide to constructing a Band 9 introduction for your IELTS Task 2 Essay. With a riveting hook, relevant background information, and a clear thesis statement, you’re setting yourself up for a top-notch essay and, ultimately, a higher band score. Keep tuning in for more actionable IELTS tips and strategies.

Ready to ace that IELTS exam? We bet you are! Keep practicing and see you in our next deep-dive!

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IELTS Writing Task 2: Tips, Lessons & Models

Success in IELTS writing task 2 is based on using the right techniques. These free tips, model essays, lessons, videos and information will help develop the skills for writing task 2. This page will teach you how to maximise your IELTS writing task 2 score.

All lessons are on this page are for both GT and Academic writing task 2.

On this page, you will find for free:

Test Information for Writing Task 2
Practice essay questions
Essential tips for IELTS writing task 2
Free video lessons
Model essays
Practice lessons to improve your IELTS essay writing (paraphrasing, skills, ideas, spelling etc

Although some lessons are dated from years ago, all lessons and tips are 100% relevant to IELTS writing task 2 today.

1. IELTS Writing Task 2 Test Information

Learn about your IELTS writing task 2 test.

IELTS recommend you spend no more than 40 mins on writing task 2. However, the time is yours to manage as you wish.
You should write over 250 words. In the lessons below you will learn about word count and essay length.
Learn how your total writing score is calculated: Total Writing Score Calculations
Task Response (25%)
Coherence & Cohesion (25%)
Vocabulary (25%)
Grammar (25%)
For band score tips and details, see this page: IELTS Writing Task 2 Band Scores
Academic writing task 2 is a formal essay. The common types of essays are: Opinion, Discussion, Advantage/Disadvantage, Direct Questions, Solutions. These categorisations will differ from teacher to teacher depending on how they like to teach. See below for 100 IELTS Essay Questions to practise at home.
GT writing task 2 is the same as Academic IELTS. The essay is written in the same way and the scoring is the same. The only difference is that GT essay questions are often easier and topics are simpler.
All words will be counted, even small or repeated words. See this page: How Words are Counted
COMPUTER DELIVERED IELTS: See the following link to read Pros and Cons of Computer Based IELTS :
For more information about IELTS test rules and info, see this page: IELTS Test FAQ

2. IELTS Practice Essay Questions

Practice essay questions to help you prepare ideas for topics in IELTS writing task 2. These questions have been written based on questions reported by IELTS students. They are not IELTS tests.

Over 100 IELTS Essay Questions

3. Essential IELTS Writing Task 2 Tips

The most important writing tips for a strong IELTS essay in writing task 2. Learn about the recommended essay length, how to plan your essay, when to give your opinion and how to write an introduction etc.

How many paragraphs for an IELTS essay? : Essay structure

Key Linking Words List : Academic Vocabulary

Types of IELTS Essays : Main Essay Types in Writing Task 2

Video: How to write an introduction paragraph : Complete lesson

Essay Planning Tips : How to plan your IELTS essay

Common Essay Topics : 20 Most Common Essay Topics

Video: Essay Length Advice : How long should your essay be?

Video: Official Writing Answer Sheet Tips : Using the answer sheet

When to give your opinion : Opinion Essay Tips

Video Using the last 5 minutes : Exam technique tips

Video: Paraphrasing Tips

Finding Ideas : Developing ideas for essay topics

4. More Video & Tips for Writing Task 2

Deleting Words in your Essay
Should I indent the first word of my paragraphs?
10 sentences to avoid in your IELTS essay
Video: How to add examples to your essay
Tips: Under Words Penalty
Do advantages outweigh disadvantages tips?
Video: How to give your opinion
Can you use quotes, idioms or proverbs in your essay?
Handwriting: Using cursive writing or not
Essay Questions from 2016
Writing a Long Introduction: Good or Bad?
Video : Single-sex & Mixed Schools
Video : Grammar – How to Add a Clause
Video : Grammar – Connecting Sentences
Video : Conclusion Linkers
Video : Discussion Essay Useful Language
Video : Using the Last 5 Minutes Tips
Video : Should Ideas be Interesting?
New Essay Topics for 2023

All Free IELTS Writing Task 2 Videos Lessons

5. Model Essays

Sample essays for IELTS writing task 2. These high score model essays will help you understand how to answer the essay questions and how to structure your writing.

Agree Disagree Opinion Essay: Health
Advantages & Disadvantages Essay: Language
Cause Solution Essay: Crime & Punishment
Direct Questions Essay: Happiness
Opinion Essay: Social Media
Discussion Essay: Work
Direct Questions Essay: Family
Direct Questions Essay: Art
Positive or Negative Development: Social Media
2 Model Essays about Economy & Money /Buildings
Model Essay & Question for Topic of Education
Two Question Essay: Technology

6. Practice Lessons for Writing Task 2

Develop your IELTS writing skills and get useful ideas for many essay questions. Lessons are in order of date and new lessons will be added over time.

New Essay Topics in 2023 (these are new topics only. You also need to prepare all common topics as well)
IELTS Essay Topics Prediction 2022
Grammar Test : Using “the” with countries and nationalities
Paraphrasing Practice 1
Paraphrasing Practice 2
Paraphrasing Practice 3
Essay Questions for 2017 – questions reported in the test this year.
Using Passive Voice for Giving Opinions
Essay Ideas: Employment Competition
Writing Skills: Paraphrasing Practice
Writing Skills: Improving Sentences (2)
Essay Ideas: The Importance of History
Essay Ideas: Housing & Trees
Essay Ideas: International Aid
Essay Ideas: City Transport
Essay Ideas: Salaries
Essay Ideas: Function of Schools
Essay Ideas: Female Staff in Senior Positions
Writing Skills: Punctuation Practice
Writing Skills: Linking Word Practice
Essay Ideas: Littering in Cities
Listen and Write Dictation: Natural Disasters
Discussion Essay with Feedback: Music Topic
Writing Skills: Improving Sentences: Ebooks Topic
Essay Ideas: Banning Mobile Phones
Two Question Essay with Feedback: Judging Business Success
Essay Ideas: Tourism and Local Communities
Essay Ideas: Traffic & Pollution
Writing Skills: Improving a Thesis Statement
Writing Skills: Improving Sentences (1)
Essay Ideas: Handwriting Skills
Essay Ideas: Promoting to Children
Essay Ideas: Older or Younger Leaders
Writing Skills: Introduction Feedback
Writing Skill: Opinion Essay Introduction Feedback
Writing Skills: Opinion Essay Body Paragraphs
Writing Skills: Opinion Essay Introduction
Writing Skills: Opinion Essay Finding Main Points
Writing Skills: Thesis Statement
Essay Ideas: Public Services .

………………

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IELTS Writing: How To Write An Effective Essay Introduction

As the saying goes first impressions last and this is true for most things including your essay introduction for the IELTS writing module. Unfortunately, most students do not realise this and put very little effort into constructing the perfect introduction. In this article, we will take a closer look at how to write a good essay introduction paragraph and why it is so important to do so.

Why Writing A Good Introduction Is So Important

Your introduction paragraph is your first connection to the examiner. It gives them a clear idea about whether you have sufficiently understood the question or not, and it will also let the examiner know about the rest of your essay will be like. If you provide a messy and unorganised introduction, the chances are that the examiner will assume that the rest of your essay will be the same.

The Trick To Writing A Good Introduction

A good introduction should be 2-3 sentences long, and only 40-60 words long. It should take you only 5 minutes to write. Every formal academic essay introduction should include:

Paraphrased question sentence
Thesis statement
Outline statement (optional)
Paraphrase the question:

Paraphrase the question means rewording the question by using synonyms and changing the order of the sentence

Add a Thesis statement

A thesis statement is one sentence that expresses the main idea of an essay. It gives the examiner an idea about your viewpoint regarding the essay topic. The examiner can judge by your thesis statement whether or not you have fully understood the question. You will have to reuse the instruction words in your essay. It should be concise and to the point.

To summarise to write a good introduction you need to rephrase (paraphrase) the question statement using synonyms and then write a brief outline of what to expect in the upcoming paragraphs. Make sure that you clearly state your opinion in the introduction paragraph of your essay, in order to straight away give the examiner a clear idea that you have understood the meaning of the question. You could do this by stating something like 'I believe that ……. And in this essay, I will discuss the reasons for my point of view.

Sample question:

“A lot of places in the world rely on tourism as a main source of income. Unfortunately, tourism can also be a source of problems if it is not managed correctly.

Describe the advantages and disadvantages of tourism in the modern world. Do you think that the benefits of tourism outweigh its drawbacks?”

Sample Introduction:

Nowadays tourism generates a significant portion of the national income for many countries, but it has certain drawbacks too. This essay will examine the advantages and disadvantages of tourism and provide a logical conclusion.

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How to Write IELTS Essay Introductions – The Quick & Easy Way!

Test your understanding of this English lesson

136 comments.

Thanks a lot!

Thanks . Jade.

Writing an introduction for an essay is -I think- the most important and at the same time difficult part in the process; since it provides a general picture of what the whole essay is all about.

Jade’s guidelines help us organize our ideas in order to develop effective and coherent introductions.

Many thanks for sharing these writing tips with us Jade.

Hi! I’m Ghislain. Please I am looking the people with who to practise in Englis please check my account details. Thank you

Thanks Jade, I like your classes because eventhough I don’t think to attend an exam like IELTS, but in order to improve my listening skills and to understand a native speakers accent your classes are so helpful. thank you so much again.

If there is someone who wants to practise in English with me please check my account details.

It’s dificult

Great lesson thank you

If I want to study what the project.

Because if you don’t, Jade will be angry…..I love this option very much

Great coach! I want to use these phrases and templates forever. Introduction is the catchy part of any formal writing and this surely is gonna help me. Thank you for this lesson and quiz.

thank you jade

Thanks Jade for your efforts to help us writing an essay, and for the templates. But the truth is that the explanations were a little bit confusing. You improvise, you must follow a line of thinking, and you didn´t it.

Many thanks Jada, It will be helpful on my IELTS test.

Difficult but interesting topic. Thank you, Jade :)

Teacher Jade, This your best lesson. Thank you.

Thank you so much.your lesson is so handy.good luck

Thank you so much Jade. Your lesson is helpful and It make me get better about the IELTS.

Jade, I’ve watched the video for three times because I want to make sure that I really understand how to use them. Thanks a lot for your lesson.

Hi Jade, your lesson is really awesome. Appreciating for your informative contribution.

great lesson!! Thanks!!

Jesus bless!! hugs teacher!!

awesome:) thanks my teacher:)

Your lessons are very helpful.

By the way, I will take IGCSE (ESL) lesson. can you give me the detail about it? Thank you Ms. Jade, I love u :)

Thank you Jade.

8/10 Thanks!

Thank you teacher Jade! Great class! You are awesome!

thank you a lot! there are intersting question

I’ll take the IELTS at the last day this month, this must be helpful. Good luck to me!

Nice explaination. But Jade u didnt mention your personal channel

Nice and very interesting. I must to listening once

thanks Jade for this interesting lesson,I hope it would help me in my ESL classes.

I’ve already watched some of your videos an I find them very helpful. Thank you

difficult lesson but got 50%. Thanks for delivering lecture.

thanks so much

SuperB, Thank you Sir,

I scored 7 in IELTS,would you say it is a good score ?

it´s very difficult i need to listen it again

Thanks Mrs. Jade for this wonderful vedio

Hy Jade! Thanks for this video. I’m from Romania and I want to buy your course about grammar, but a don’t know how I could pay. Do you help me please?

thanks Mrs Jade it is very helpful

hi samar, I’d also take ielts exam soon but i need to practise my speaking more.

I u are interested plz don’t hesitate to contact me, i think we could help eachother.

this my skype mhmd.ezat

Hi Thaks alot

You have a sweet British accent!

thanks Jade

please show us how to cmplete the other parts of the essay..

oh its good….

Thank u Dear Jade! It was so useful…..

Really great lesson. many thanks

Thank you ¡¡ .. this is really useful ¡

can you teach me english:D please add me on your skype… i wanna pratice english more:( and can make friend with you. my skype..hunter.nguyen5

Thanks! Very informative lesson. However, now is three in the morning and I need sleep. Chao.

I have exam on 14 March and I think it will help me. Thank you! :)

Very helpful. Thanks!

Many Thanks

it is a very Helpful website. many Thanks for you.

It is quite helpful. I liked it.

jade you so cool & fresh whare are you from?

took 10 out of 10

it was very helpful

thanks jade, it is a very Helpful

Thanks, you are really offering great learning resources indeed!! appreciated it~

As you said, this is really quick and easy way to write an introduction, thank you a lot Jade for your sharing, learnt a lot!

Greetings Jade, Why is it good to follow a structure for writing an introduction in your exam?Because if you don’t, Jade will be angry. ))I loved this one:))) I’ve a question for you Jade, the same one I’d asked to Rebbeca, with all do respect for you, and totally no offense at all, the question is; why do I found it easier to understand everything here in this video: https://www.engvid.com/the-secret-to-remembering-english-vocabulary/ while I always find it much harder for me to understand the way you talking or lecturing??? appreciate it so much to know your opinion and answer. Respects. Amer.

Thanks, simple and effective. Additionally, I want to go fishing with you :)

Hi Jade, You taught this lesson very well but I got 70 correct out of 100. I am going to watch that again.Also, I like your accent. Thanks alot.

rhetorical questions; A rhetorical question is a question that you ask without expecting an answer. The question might be one that does not have an answer. It might also be one that has an obvious answer but you have asked the question to make a point. ‘Can fish swim’? Of course fish can swim and we may say this to make an example in a situation where something is obvious. On an extremely hot day after walking a long distance, a friend asks; Are you thirsty? And the reply; ‘Can fish swim?’ Other similar examples are; Can birds fly? Do dogs bark? Do cats meow?

hello jade… it was nice to see your video, i understand that. thank you.. i have some more doubt in english preopostions and grammar , can you help me ??

Good tips! Thanks!

someone talk to to me. i want to improve my speaking skill,,,,

this is my skype name..khansh65

It’s important for me to write a essay. Thanks Jade :)

thanks jade madam

thank you so much :D

it was really good

thanks a lot!!

Thank you so much

It has little bit confused me to understand first. But I think this techinique will help to write in exams.

Thank u a lot, I got 100 scores. I will practice base on 3 of your structures more and more. :)

thanks ,good practice for me

It is the greatest quiz ever =D

thanks a lot.

Thaks a lot Jade. You are the best.

Thank you Jade!!!!~

Is some one interested in practicing the speaking part? test in 7 days..

thanks! i did well, 100%.

thanks it is very useful

yes¡¡ my score is 10/10 ..a love you jade.¡¡

Thanks Jade….

Thanks Jade a lot, I like your teaching style.

Thanks a lot

Thanks JADE very helpful lecture

I like this lesson, thank you lovely teacher

-its very productive for me.

Thank you, Jade. I’ll follow these instructions on my next IELTS writing test.

Hello ms could u help me to learn writing?

First of all thank you for the video and for your effort, but if I may to ask you for a complete essay example to see how all points came together as a paragraph tank you again

Miss/ Mrs this was really amazing, i mean ,i’m seriously enjoying these lectures

Thank you! I´ve a good class…

It is very helpful lecture, which will help us not only economize time, but will get a good score.Thanks for systematization of an introduction.

Thank you Jade you’re amazing ♥

very helpful!Thanks, Jade

thanks a lot it’s important way to write a good introduction

Thank you Jade for this precious lesson. My weakness is writing. I am confident that I will improve a lot thanks to your lessons and to EngVid. I think I will attend the IELTS test in less thana year from now. I want to achieve a C1 level. ;)

Can this be my opinion that “I think the family should pay for the elderly people. But the elderly people whose family are not capable to pay for them,their care expense should be paid by government.” ?

Thank you so much.. I was looking for something like that :D

FOR ME IT’S THE MOST DIFFICULT PART TO WRITE IN AN ESSAY. THANKS A LOT! ^^

Interesting lesson.

Perhaps the “sometimes” should be clarified. It certainly means that government doesn’t pay for all the elderly people but only for the impecunious people. Then the focus would be more as what to do with the poor elderly people.

Nota bene : It’s not always the case. For example, most government pay for the education of every children even the rich ones.

thanks a lot, it helps me too much to find my way how to write an essay.

Thank you Jade , I’m going to use these informations a lot for my preparing to exam =) I’m sure it will be very helpful !!

Thanks Jade ,this will help me to improve on my essay, its really helpful.

very bad presentation :(

9 correct out of 10. Thank you, Jade. :)

I felt that your presentation was very helpful:)

Thank you Jade for the video ! I also enjoyed the funny quizz.

Thank you Jade for this lesson.

Awesome class! It was exactly what I needed! Thanks!

Thanks Jade

Thank you Jade

Thanks Jade, enjoy fishing.

Thanks jade? great help!

Thanks Jade I really enjoyed that and have another way of writing an introduction. I have followed and understood how James has suggested but I will try both yours and James idea’s now, fabulous

that was so amusing other than being helpful. Thanks so much !

Thanks a lot Jade for useful lesson!

thanks Jade, great lesson

Thank you so much Teacher Jade:) I’ve been writing essays in school for so many years and I was really having a hard time in making it. The worst part I guess in that experience is not knowing where to start.

i got 9 out of 10, thank you jade

Many thanks! I’m just wondering if it’s possible to insert a quote in an introduction of an essay or should it be written in the body?

Do these structures work for any kind of question type in IELTS?

I got 70. mmmhhh thank you Jade

I got 7 out of 10, thanks jade

hahahahhha I loved this option ….”Because if you don’t, Jade will be angry.”

Thank you a lot

about engVid

Learn English for free with 2048 video lessons by experienced teachers. Classes cover English grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, IELTS, TOEFL, and more. Join millions of English learners worldwide who are improving every day with engVid.

2-Intermediate

Aug 24, 2023

IELTS Writing Task 2: How to Write the Introduction Paragraph

Updated: 4 days ago

There are many ways to write an introduction paragraph but a simple and tested technique is the following:

1. Paraphrase the question (use synonyms/ different parts of speech/ different word order etc.).

2. For questions which ask for your opinion - give your opinion.

3. Outline your 2/ 3 main ideas (which will be in body paragraphs 1 & 2).

Let’s look at an IELTS Writing Task 2 question and use this format to write the introduction paragraph:

Some people argue that we are born with a fixed personality while others argue that we develop our personality because of our experiences.

What do you think is the most important factor?

1. Paraphrase the IELTS Question

A. use the passive:.

One of the best ways to begin is to change the active “some people believe” to the passive, “it is believed by some people” or vice-versa.

b. Use a similar, but different verb:

Verbs such as “argue”, “believe”, or “think” are interchangeable in this context. So, if the question says, “Some people believe ”, you can write “It is argued by some people”, or just, “ It is often argued ”.

c. Use synonyms

In the rest of the sentence, look for synonyms which can replace words in the question. For example, “fixed” becomes “determined” , “develop” becomes “forms” , “personality” becomes “character” , and “because” becomes “due to” .

d. Change parts of speech or word order

You can also change parts of speech, word order or grammatical structure. For example, we develop our personality… becomes the development of our personality…

2. Give Your Opinion (usually required)

A. completely agree/ disagree with one side.

Most IELTS questions ask for your opinion. The easiest way to write an IELTS essay that asks for your opinion is to completely agree (or disagree) with one side. In this case you can use one of the following phrases in your introduction:

I totally agree…

I completely agree…

I strongly believe...

I firmly believe...

For example:

I strongly believe that our personalities are decided by our upbringing and the events in our lives.

I firmly believe that we are born with our characters and they are not changed by circumstances.

If you are not so good at writing, this is a good way to write the essay because your opinion will be very clear (which is important for band 7 and higher for Task Response in IELTS Writing Task 2).

b. Partially agree with both sides

However, if you want to say that you partially agree with more than one side, you can use the following phrases:

I somewhat agree…

I partially agree…

I somewhat agree that we are born with innate characteristics. However, I also think that our upbringing affects how our personalities develop.

If you use this approach, make sure that you write in a very clear way. Often this approach causes problems because the examiner becomes confused about what the writer's opinion is. Make sure that you show that you partially agree with both sides in the introduction and conclusion. Be consistent.

c. Argue both sides, but support one side more

An advanced approach that works for both questions that ask for your opinion, and questions which ask you to discuss both sides, is to argue both sides, but support one side more.

You can do this by using a contrast adverb (or adverbial phrase) such as while , although , and however .

In my opinion, while genetics do play an important role, what happens in our lives is the most important factor in the development of our personalities.

Although we are born with some fixed characteristics, our upbringing is a more important factor in how our personality develops.

Using this approach, you can give both sides of the argument, but show that you support one side more by saying that it is more important. This is the most advanced approach.

3. Outline your 2/ 3 main ideas

At this point you already need to know the 2 or 3 main ideas in your essay. For the essay above I have chosen the following:

Main Idea 1: Genetics create a starting point for our personalities.

Main Idea 2: But experiences have a bigger impact on how our personality develops.

As you can see I am taking an advanced approach and showing I partially agree with both arguments. So, to outline these main ideas, I could write:

"While genetics do play an important role, it is what happens in our lives, particularly in our childhoods, that is the most important factor in the development of our personalities."

Putting it all together

If we put this all together we have the following introduction:

"It is believed by some people that personality is determined at birth, but others think that our character is formed due to the experiences we have. In my opinion, while genetics do play an important role, it is what happens in our lives, particularly in our childhoods, that is the most important factor in the development of our personalities."

To read my whole model answer for this essay look here: IELTS Writing Task 2: 8. Personality (fastforwardielts.com)

IELTS Writing Task 2

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IELTS Writing Task 2: How to write an introduction

What does introduction contains in ielts writing task 2, how to write an introduction in ielts writing task 2.

Are you preparing for IELTS Writing Task 2? Do you want to write a good essay to score high in the exam? Well, in IELTS Writing Task 2, creating an attractive introduction to an Essay is important to set the tone and engage the reviewer. However, many students need to learn how to write an introduction in your IELTS Writing Task 2. If you are also one of those, this blog is for you.

In this blog, we have provided the details on how to write an essay introduction effectively. It will help in ensuring that you start your task in the right way to maximise your chances of success further.

To start your introduction to the IELTS Writing Task 2, it is vital to know the key points that you must follow to write an introduction. Including these key points in your introduction will help develop a strong response to IELTS Writing Task 2. Let’s know what type of points you must have in an introduction.

Contextualise the Topic – Candidates must understand the question of the essay and include basic information and context to make your essay attractive.

State the Thesis Statement – It is important to include the main point of the topic so that the reviewer will know the base of the essay.

Outline the Essay Structure – You must provide a brief overview of focus points in your essay body paragraph.

Once you know what points you must include in your essay to make it attractive, let's understand how to write an introduction for your Writing Task 2.

Understand the Question – To write an introduction in IELTS Writing Task 2, first, you must understand the essay question. It is essential to know the key points , requirements of the essay, and basic needs that are required to include in your essay. This will help you write an introduction effectively.

Engage the Reader – Now, think of an innovative way and start an introduction accordingly. Make sure it goes in the right direction. It will help to engage the reviewer and get a good score on the test.

Provide Background Information – You must provide some background information and include key points to make your IELTS Writing Task 2 attractive. In background information and key points, you must clarify important phrases, provide pertinent data or figures, or talk about the current problem's importance.

State Your Thesis Statement – You must clearly explain the main point of the essay topic in an introduction. Your thesis statement will show your idea and help the reviewer to follow a roadmap. However, your statement must be clear by focusing on the main point.

Outline Your Main Points – You must provide a brief overview in the essay paragraph by including the main points. Providing this detail helps reviewers understand your essay's structure and prepare them for the arguments you will present.

Use Clear and Formal Language – It is essential to create an introduction in a simple, clear, formal language. Moreover, you should avoid slang, colloquialisms, or overly complex language, which is necessary for academic writing.

Be Concise and to the Point – Your IELTS Writing Task 2 should not be lengthy. You must avoid repeating lines and create an introduction in a concise and focused way. Try to cover your ideas in a few words to make your essay clear and compelling. Your introduction should only be around 2-3 sentences long.

Avoid Personal Opinions – Many candidates include their personal opinion in an introduction. It will distract you from the main point, impacting your score. So, make sure you present your idea without including personal opinion.

Check for Coherence and Cohesion – Ensure your introduction is natural and logical. Maintain the flow from one sentence to another sentence. Examining the relationships between your ideas is important to ensure that your IELTS introduction flows naturally into the essay's body paragraphs. This will help you determine the coherence and cohesiveness of your writing.

Proofread and Revise – Once you have completed your introduction, you must proofread the sentences. Make sure your task is free of grammatical errors, spelling, or awkward phrasings. A well-written introduction will help you to get a good score .

In conclusion, understanding how to write an essay introduction is crucial for success in the IELTS Writing Task 2 . As we have mentioned, you can follow these tips to write an IELTS Introduction to create an impressive introduction for writing task 2. However, it is important to practice regularly to develop your writing skills and increase the confidence needed to create an introduction to attract the reviewer. We hope the above-mentioned guidelines regarding how to write an introduction for IELTS Writing Task 2 will be helpful for you.

However, you can contact Prepare IELTS Exam (PI) expert counsellors for further guidance. Our team of education experts is dedicated to providing you with the best guidance in the IELTS exam. You can get a one-on-one counselling session online via our platform. Contact us at [email protected] or call us at +91 9773398388 .

Your IELTS introduction should typically be around 2-3 sentences long, providing enough context and information to engage the reader without being overly lengthy.

Although personal pronouns can sometimes be used in introductions, avoiding them in academic writing is generally advisable. Instead, focus on presenting your ideas in a more objective and formal manner.

While including a hook or attention-grabber can enhance the effectiveness of your introduction, it is not strictly necessary. Focus on providing relevant background information and stating your thesis statement clearly and concisely.

Background information can enhance understanding, but it is not always necessary. Include it based on topic complexity and essay requirements. For straightforward topics, focus on presenting your thesis directly. Save background details for more complex subjects.

Yes, sparingly. Relevant quotes or anecdotes can add interest and credibility. Ensure they directly relate to your topic and support your argument. Keep them concise to stay within the word limit. Properly attribute and cite sources for academic integrity. Use them strategically for maximum impact.

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4 Steps to write a band 9 IELTS essay introduction

4 Steps to write a band 9 essay introduction for IELTS writing

4 Steps to write a band 9 essay introduction in IELTS writing Exam

Many test takers often do not know how to start writing an essay and might lose quite a lot of time before they actually start to write.

However, if you are well aware of a few simple steps you need to take, the process of writing an IELTS essay introduction will become quick and effortless.

IELTS Game will introduce four steps you should follow in order to write an effective introductory paragraph.

4 Steps to write a band 9 essay introduction for IELTS writing task 2

1. read the essay task carefully and make sure you understand what is required of you..

Essay prompts will often contain two or three sentences – to illustrate a situation and ask your opinion.

In task 2 examples below, note how you can be asked to provide answers to one or two questions:

You should be able to give answers to each of the question put by the essay task .

Step 2 to write Essay introduction

2. decide what your view on the topic is and brainstorm reasons for it.

Do you have enough of them? How will you order them?

It is possible that you will not be able to come up with arguments to support your point of view whereas there will be many ideas for the opposite side.

Go for the one you can write about, not the one you think is right.

IELTS examiners do not assess your opinion, they want to see how well you can express yourself.

By brainstorming ideas for your essay, you are also thinking of organizing them into a clear and logical order.

Sometimes test takers consider this as an unnecessary and time-consuming activity.

However, if you skip this step, you are running the risk of redoing parts of your essay later on, which in turn can not only look scruffy but more importantly will ruin cohesive structure of your essay.

Thus, do make sure you spend a few minutes considering your arguments and planning your structure.

Let us have a look at some ideas for « In many cities today, most people live in large apartment blocks. Does this kind of accommodation has more advantages or disadvantages?» question.

Advantages:

Closeness to other people
Safer than living in houses
Well-developed infrastructure
The ability to enjoy nice views from higher floors

Disadvantages:

Noise from neighbors

As there are more advantages on the list, the decision is made in their favour, regardless of whether we really feel that way.

3. Paraphrase the situation given in the essay task

By restating the IELTS task 2 essay prompt in other words, you let the examiner know that you understand it.

Use synonyms and different parts of speech as well as changing sentence structure for an effective paraphrase. For example:

Original: In many cities today, most people live in large apartment blocks.

Paraphrase: Many people in urban areas choose to reside in big blocks of apartments.

It is important for people to take risks IELTS writing task 2

Writing tips to score higher grades in assignments, how is a grammar checker important in creative writing, 4. write a thesis statement – a sentence in which you express your opinion.

Start with words and phrases showing that the opinion belongs to you (use a comma after it) and continue with your actual opinion. Going back to our example:

In my opinion, although living in an apartment has limitations such as noise disturbance and lack of gardens, advantages of such housing are far more.

Finally, the introductory paragraph is ready:

The Final Introduction

Many people in urban areas choose to reside in big blocks of apartments. In my opinion, although living in an apartment has limitations such as noise disturbance and lack of gardens, advantages of such housing are far more.

You may also use the following phrases to introduce your opinion:

In my opinion,
From my point of view,
I am confident that…
I am convinced that…
I personally feel that…

As you see, there is nothing difficult in writing an introduction for your essay, but it is a very important step. You just need to follow the simple rules, and your introduction will look perfect. Good luck!

How to Write a Perfect Closing Paragraph for IELTS Essay?
Top 5 Grammar rules you should know for IELTS writing task 1 & 2

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Academic practice
General practice
Task 1 Academic
Task 1 General
Task 2 (essay)

IELTS Academic task 1 Lesson 1: how to write introduction?

You should start your task 1 answer by introducing the graph from your question. Just write 1-2 sentences to say what your graph shows and for what period of time (if there is one).

To do this, you need to paraphrase text from your task 1 question.

Example of good introduction :

Question : The graphs below give information about computer ownership as a percentage of the population between 2002 and 2010, and by level of education for the years 2002 and 2010.

Introduction : The bar charts show data about computer ownership, with a further classification by level of education, from 2002 to 2010.

To write a good introduction, follow these techniques :

Change introductory expressions

the graph/chart/table/diagram

gives information about/on
provides information about/on
illustrates
gives reason why (only if graph provides reasons for smth)
explains why (only if graph provides explanation for smth)
compares (only if several items are compared)
compares smth in terms of smth the charts compare two cities in terms of the number of employed people.
compares smth in year1 and year2 the graph compares the population in 2000 and 2013.
“The pie charts provide information on the proportion of males and females working in agricultural sector.” OR “The pie charts show the proportion of males and females working in agricultural sector.”
“The table compares five companies in terms of the number of employees.” OR “The table illustrates the number of employees in five companies.”

Paraphrasing

You can rewrite a phrase by using the word how :

shows the number of people ... = shows how many people ...
depicts changes in spending on ... = depicts how much changed spending on ...

You can rewrite a phrase by using synonyms :

number of = quantity of (not interchangeable with amount of )
spending = expenditure
rate = percentage
ratio = proportion
information = data
change can be sometimes replaced by increase , decrease or variation
share = portion
place = site

Time periods

from 1985 to 1995 = between 1985 and 1995
in 1985 = in the year 1985
in 1985 and 1995 = in 1985 and 1995 respectively = in the years 1985 and 1995
The table shows consumption rates from 2001 to 2004.
The graph shows consumption rates in 2012 and 2015 respectively.

Paraphrasing in use:

See how the topic was paraphrased to make a very good task 1 introduction (picture on the right).

Show is changed to compare
Percentages added
Different added
In 2007 and 2009 → In the years 2007 and 2009

As you see, you don't have to make up a completely new introduction. Just take the given topic as a base, and change/add some details.

Practice. Choose the correct options:

The table shows the amount of students who study abroad in 2001 and 2011. The table shows the number of students who study abroad in 2001 and 2011.

Amount or number? Note that students are countable.

The graph illustrate China's annual growth rate of exports of goods. The graph illustrates China's annual growth rate of exports of goods.

Look at the verb that follows the word graph . Hmm, the graph should be singular, so illustrates is the correct option.

The line graph shows how many Finnish people went to the cinema between June and October 2014. The line graph shows how much Finnish people went to the cinema between June and October 2014.

You can say how much water or how much effort (these nouns are uncountable). But people are countable, so you should use how many in this case.

The pie charts compare the world population of 1900 with 2000 . The pie charts compare the world population in 1900 and 2000 .

You should use phrase in + year , not of + year or at + year . Moreover, it seems like you compare population with year in the first sentence.

The bar chart gives information about average household expenditure in Japan. The bar chart shows information about average household expenditure in Japan.

You can use either gives information about or shows , but not both at the same time.

Ebooks & Courses
Practice Tests

IELTS Writing Tasks How to Write Task 2 Introductions

To score highly for IELTS writing tasks, you need to impress the examiner from the very first sentence. This lesson will show you how.

In it you’ll learn:

Why the introduction is so important
The 3 part structure
4 common mistakes to avoid
How to write a great introduction

Want to watch and listen to this lesson?

Click on this video.

Why the Introduction is So Important

Beginning your IELTS writing tasks well will immediately start stacking up the marks for both Task Achievement and Coherence and Cohesion which together carry 50% of the marks.

A good introduction does several things:

It gives an excellent first impression.
It shows the examiner that you understand the question.
It gives the examiner a brief overview of what you’ll cover in the rest of the essay.
It focuses your thoughts and keeps you on track while writing.

The 3 Part Structure

A good introduction has a simple 3 part structure:

Paraphrased question

Thesis statement

Outline statement.

This structure can be used for any type of question. It should:

Have 2-3 sentences
Be 40-60 words long
Take 5 minutes to write

Before I show you how to write good introductions to Task 2 IELTS writing tasks, I want to flag up some common errors students make to help you avoid them.

4 Common Mistakes

# 1 not being specific enough.

It’s tempting to start your essay with a general statement about the topic of the question. Don’t do this. You need to be very specific. Here’s an illustration of a poor opening sentence.

Everybody should become a vegetarian because eating meat can cause serious health problems.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Bad first sentence:

These days, many people are worried about their health and changing their diet is one way that they try to improve it.

This is not a question about health in general but one specifically about becoming a vegetarian for health reasons.

A good first sentence will paraphrase the question, that is, it will state the same information using different language and often, a different sentence structure as well.

We’ll be looking at paraphrasing and an example of a good first sentence later in this lesson.

# 2 Not writing a thesis statement

A thesis statement is a summary of the main idea of your essay. When the examiner reads it, they will instantly know whether or not you have understood the question correctly. It also acts as an outline for the rest of your essay.

This makes the thesis statement the most important sentence in your essay. If you get it right, you will have got off to the perfect start.

There’s an easy to remember formula for writing thesis statements which we’ll be studying below. For now, here’s an example relating to our sample question.

Thesis statement : This essay agrees that the world’s population should stop consuming meat due to the related health risks.

Note the use of synonyms to paraphrase the question.

# 3 Not stating your opinion

Task 2 IELTS writing tasks generally require you to give your opinion. Usually, this will be clearly stated in the question. For example, the instruction might say,

Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

In other questions, it won’t be so clear that this is what you should do. For example,

What are the advantages and disadvantages of tourism in the modern world?

However, your opinion – the main idea of your essay – is still required. If you always include it in the introduction, as well as throughout your essay, you won’t go wrong.

# 4 Using inappropriate language

For Task 2 essays, you must use formal language. Most students understand this.

However, many candidates make the mistake of trying to use clever or complex language to add interest or to show off their high-level language skills.

Keep tight control of your language. This is a very short essay and you don’t have the time or space to get carried away with elaborate words and phrases.

Get the information across quickly and succinctly using everyday language that includes topic words and their synonyms.

Most importantly, use the language correctly. The more complex you make it, the more errors you’re likely to make.

I show you how to write essay introductions for each of the 5 question types on their individual pages where I go into everything in much more detail.

Opinion Essays – Agree or Disagree

Discussion Essays

Problem Solution Essays + Causes & Solutions

Advantages & Disadvantages Essays

Double Question Essays

For the rest of this page, I’ll go through just one example to illustrate some of the points I’ve made.

How To Write a Great Introduction

Here’s a reminder of the 3 part structure you should use for all task 2 IELTS writing tasks.

Paraphrased Question

Start your introduction by paraphrasing the question.

Some young people are leaving the countryside to live in cities and towns, leaving only old people in the countryside.

Do you think this is a positive or a negative development?

Paraphrased question: The migration of the younger generation to urban areas is leaving many rural locations populated predominantly by the elderly.

Note the use of synonyms for many of the keywords. For example,

young people – younger generation
countryside – rural locations
cities and towns – urban areas
leaving – migration
old people – the elderly

You don’t have to replace them all but do so where possible without making the sentence sound awkward.

It’s fine to repeat one or two words. Don’t spend too much time trying to think of synonyms or use ones you are not 100% sure are correct.

The thesis statement states your opinion on the topic. In most instances, you simply need to decide whether to agree or disagree with it and to reiterate the main idea of the statement. For example,

Thesis statement: This essay argues that the loss of young people from the rural landscape has problematic consequences.

This thesis statement states the opinion of the writer and paraphrases the question again in a way that makes this view clear.

Finally in the introduction, you must outline the two main points that you’ll cover in the rest of the essay. This acts as a guide to the examiner and also helps to keep you focused and on track as you write.

Do it in one sentence, or you can add them onto the end of the thesis statement if appropriate.

Outline statement: The two most serious are, the depletion of the rural workforce and the loss of local education facilities.

These two ideas will become your two main body paragraphs.

Main body paragraph 1 – the depletion of the rural workforce .
Main body paragraph 2 – the loss of local education facilities.

The Finished Introduction

So now, let’s pull the whole introduction together.

Final introduction:

The migration of the younger generation to urban areas is leaving many rural locations populated predominantly by the elderly. This essay argues that the loss of young people from the rural landscape has problematic consequences. The two most serious are, the depletion of the rural workforce and the loss of local education facilities.

These three sentences exactly follow the 3 part structure I showed you for creating introductions to task 2 IELTS writing tasks and also avoid the common mistakes I outlined above.

This short paragraph would be an excellent introduction to an essay on this topic.

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More help with ielts writing tasks.

IELTS Writing Test – Understand the format & marking criteria, know what skills are assessed & learn the difference between the Academic & General writing tests.

IELTS Writing Tips – Top 10 tips to bring you success in your writing test. Essential information you need to know to achieve a high score.

IELTS Writing Task 2 – T he format, the 5 question types, the 5 step essay writing strategy & sample questions. All the key information you need to know.

The 5 Types of Task 2 Essay – How to recognise the 5 different types of Task 2 essays. 15 sample questions to study and a simple planning structure for each essay type.

Understanding Task 2 Questions – How to quickly and easily analyse and understand IELTS Writing Task 2 questions.

How To Plan a Task 2 Essay – Discover why essay planning is essential & learn a simple 4 step strategy, the 4 part essay structure & 4 methods of generating ideas.

How To Write Task 2 Main Body Paragraphs – Learn the simple 3 part structure for writing great main body paragraphs and also, 3 common mistakes to avoid.

How To Write Task 2 Conclusions – Learn the easy way to write the perfect conclusion for a Task 2 essay. Also discover 4 common mistakes to avoid.

Task 2 Marking Criteria – Find out how to meet the marking criteria in Task 2. See examples of good and poor answers & learn some common mistakes to avoid.

The 5 Task 2 Essay Types:

Step-by-step instructions on how to plan & write high-level essays. Model answers & common mistakes to avoid.

Opinion Essays

Discussion Essays

Problem Solution Essays

Advantages & Disadvantages Essays

Double Question Essays

IELTS Writing
Task 2 Introductions
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How to Write an Introduction in IELTS Writing – 3 Useful Tips

Updated On Dec 18, 2021

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How to Write an Introduction in IELTS Writing – 3 Useful Tips

Limited-Time Offer : Access a FREE 10-Day IELTS Study Plan!

This article will furnish you with 3 useful tips to write an excellent introduction for the IELTS Writing test.

One of the most effective ways to write an introduction is paraphrasing keywords to change topic into new one.

Keywords are the words related to the writing topic, and throughout the article we have to repeat these keywords again and again. Of course, every IELTS learner knows not to repeat identically but must paraphrase these keywords.

However, when referring to the keywords, you must find ways to paraphrase keywords and back to think, you will lose time. Your mind might sometimes goes blank and you sometimes cannot come up with any replaced words and you would lose your head. Then, a little trick to save time is : Write down the keywords and paraphrasing ways for them before starting to write your essay, then while writing, whenever you have to repeat the keywords, just look up and select from vocabularies above.

Take the topic below as a prime example:

As well as making money, businesses also have social responsibilities. Do you agree or disagree?

Based on this subject, I have identified 3 keywords : “making money”, “ businesses” and “social responsibilities” needed to be repeated several times in Task 2. So, before you write, you should create a list of synonyms or related words to paraphrase them as follows:

Making money = increase income = increase revenue = generate/make profit

Businesses = enterprises = corporations = companies = firms

Social responsibilities = guarantee their responsibilities in society = be responsible = take over social responsibilities = socially responsible manner

Once you get a list above, while writing, you can quickly look up and select a phrase in the list. This will help you save time without being interrupted to think

For each keywords you need 2 -3 paraphrase ways, each of which can be repeated 2-3 times, don’t need too many

In case your vocabulary is not good enough to paraphrase effectively , there will be several easy tips for you without wasting time.

Using synonyms :

For example : It can be difficult to choose a suitable course for students straight after school .

Paraphrase :

Difficult = hard = challenging

Choose = select = pick up

Suitable course = appropriate course = available course

Changing word forms :

Difficult to choose = difficult choice = hard choice

Be responsible = hold/take responsibility for

Using “It is”:

Ieltsmaterial.com is one of the best online studying IELTS recently

–> It is said that Ieltsmaterial.com is one of the best online studying IELTS recently

Also check :

Tips to Improve IELTS Writing Skills
IELTS Writing recent actual test
IELTS Band 9 essays
Advantage and Disadvantage Essays
IELTS Writing Answer sheet
IELTS map vocabulary
IELTS Writing Task 1 Connectors

Practice IELTS Writing Task 2 based on Essay types

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Nafia Zuhana is an experienced content writer and IELTS Trainer. Currently, she is guiding students who are appearing for IELTS General and Academic exams through ieltsmaterial.com. With an 8.5 score herself, she trains and provides test takers with strategies, tips, and nuances on how to crack the IELTS Exam. She holds a degree in Master of Arts – Creative Writing, Oxford Brookes University, UK. She has worked with The Hindu for over a year as an English language trainer.

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IELTS Writing Task 2: How to write a good introduction

Introductions are an important part of a Writing Task 2 essay. They let your examiner know what to expect from your essay. That’s why we have put together a quick list of tips you can use to write an effective introduction for Writing Task 2.

Content Tags

An introduction is important to the essay because it creates an initial impression in terms of the quality of your writing. A clear, well-organised and relevant introduction will most certainly create a positive first impression on the examiner. So, what makes up an effective introduction? Let’s take a look.

Tip 1: Stop to read and analyse the question

In Writing Task 2, you need to address all the parts of the question or task in a relevant way. Because your introduction is the first step towards achieving this goal, you need to introduce your answer to all the different parts of the question. This is why it is important to take some time to read and analyse the task before you start writing, so you know exactly what you are being asked to write about.

Tip 2: Begin with a general statement and then focus in on the details of the question

Writing Task 2 questions usually begin with a general statement before focusing in on more specific points or questions about the topic. Using a similar model in your own introduction is a great way to start your essay, but make sure that your general statement is clearly related to your topic and is not too broad.

Tip 3: Use your own words

While it is perfectly acceptable for you to use the task as a guide for your introduction, make sure you do not copy material from the task.

Copying the task word-for-word shows the examiner that you have a limited range of language, which can affect your band score. Instead, change the order of the information, use synonyms, and explain more complex ideas in your own words.

It is also important not to use a memorised introduction where you insert words related to the question topic. Examiners read thousands of responses so can recognise memorised scripts.

Tip 4: State your position

In Writing Task 2, you will need to develop a position while exploring the different parts of the task. It is then important that you clearly state your position in your introduction.

Tip 5: Explain how you plan to develop your essay

Even though this strategy can be considered as optional, briefly explaining how you plan to develop the topic can help you better organise your writing. It is also a good way to let the examiner know what you’ll be covering in the essay.

Review your introduction

Don’t forget to re-read your introduction once you’ve finished writing your essay. It is common for test takers to begin their essays thinking about a specific argument, or a specific way to organise their writing but change their minds as they develop the topic. So, after completing your Writing Task 2, make sure that your final draft still matches your introduction.

Now that we have gone over some important strategies for writing a good introduction for Writing Task 2, it’s time to look at a sample introduction. Start by reading and analysing the prompt, as mentioned in tip 1. Then, carefully read the sample introduction and notice the different strategies used, which have been highlighted for you.

Sample question

The threat of nuclear weapons maintains world peace. Nuclear power provides cheap and clean energy.

The benefits of nuclear technology far outweigh the disadvantages.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

Sample introduction

General Statement:

Nuclear technology has been around for many years.

Details:

Whether this technology is used for weapons of mass destruction or as a source of energy, many are of the belief that the use of nuclear energy has more advantages than disadvantages.

Position:

In my opinion, nuclear technology can indeed be a very efficient energy source. However, nuclear weapons possess such enormous destructive power that any benefits that this technology may offer to humankind are not enough to counter its potential devastating effects.

Plan:

This essay will address why the drawbacks of nuclear technology outweigh the benefits and will include relevant examples to support this position.

Just as an effective introduction will let the examiner know what they can expect from your essay, a good conclusion will remind them of the main points presented and will summarise what you want your examiner to remember from your writing. Check our blog for our post on strategies for writing a good conclusion!

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Easy IELTS Writing Task 2 essay structures for any question
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IELTS Writing Task 2: How to write an introduction
An introduction paragraph for an IELTS writing task 2 essay requires only two statements. A Background Statement - This is a paraphrase of the essay question. All essays must have this statement. A Thesis Statement - A direct answer to the essay question and task.
PDF Writing Task 2 Essay structure and writing an introduction
Procedure: introduce focus of the lesson: Writing Task 2 - Essay structures and introductions. give each student a copy of Worksheet 1 and one minute to read the Task 2 question. elicit possible next steps before writing i.e. brainstorming ideas. draw attention to the True / False task and clarify the importance of spending time with the ...
Writing an IELTS Essay Introduction
In the writing for task 2, you must write an IELTS essay introduction, but you only have 40 minutes. In this time you need to analyze the question, brainstorm ideas to write about, formulate an essay plan, and then write your response. Even for a native writer of English, this is a lot to do in 40 minutes! So you need to use your time carefully.
How to Write an IELTS Essay: The key steps
1) Introduction. You should keep your introduction for the IELTS essay short. Remember you only have 40 minutes to write the essay, and some of this time needs to be spent planning. Therefore, you need to be able to write your introduction fairly quickly so you can start writing your body paragraphs.
How to Write the Perfect IELTS Essay Introduction
Watch this video to find out how to write The PERFECT IELTS Essay Introduction in IELTS Writing Task 2. IELTS Ex-examiner Mark teaches you everything you nee...
IELTS Writing Task 2: How to write a good introduction
Tip 1: Stop to read and analyse the question. In Writing Task 2, you need to address all the parts of the question or task in a relevant way. Because your introduction is the first step towards achieving this goal, you need to introduce your answer to all the different parts of the question. This is why it is important to take some time to read ...
IELTS Writing Task 2 Introduction
If you practice enough, introductions will become easy, and you will do them in just a few minutes. This will leave you lots of time to focus on the main body paragraphs, where you can pick up lots of marks. An IELTS writing task 2 opinion essay should have three elements, and these should be: Paraphrase question. Give opinion.
IELTS Writing
Learn how to write the perfect IELTS introduction, main body paragraphs, and conclusion on my free 5 Day Writing Challenge here: https://bit.ly/3hftE0T?el=yo...
How to Write an Introduction for IELTS Writing Task 2
Essentially, what you do need to do is: Introduce the topic. Assert a position and/or explain the purpose of your essay. To do this, I think that the best way to write an introduction is to paraphrase the question and then write a thesis statement. Let's look at these in detail.
How to Write a Great Introduction in IELTS Task 2 Essay: A
Learn how to write a great introduction in IELTS Task 2 essay. From creating an engaging hook to providing critical background information and nailing your thesis statement, we break down every element to help you score Band 9. Boost your IELTS writing skills and discover strategies for writing an IELTS task 2 essay introduction paragraph. In addition to this article on IELTS essay ...
IELTS Writing Task 2: Tips, Lessons & Models
These free tips, model essays, lessons, videos and information will help develop the skills for writing task 2. This page will teach you how to maximise your IELTS writing task 2 score. All lessons are on this page are for both GT and Academic writing task 2. On this page, you will find for free: Test Information for Writing Task 2.
IELTS Writing: How To Write An Effective Essay Introduction
The Trick To Writing A Good Introduction. A good introduction should be 2-3 sentences long, and only 40-60 words long. It should take you only 5 minutes to write. Every formal academic essay introduction should include: Paraphrase the question means rewording the question by using synonyms and changing the order of the sentence.
How to Write IELTS Essay Introductions
Jade. • 3-Advanced • IELTS • writing. In this lesson, you'll learn different ways to write easy but effective introductions to your essays. You don't need to be imaginative with your introduction — all you need to do is follow the structure I give you. For most people, the hardest part of writing an essay is beginning.
IELTS Writing Task 2: How to Write the Introduction Paragraph
1. Paraphrase the IELTS Question. a. Use the passive: One of the best ways to begin is to change the active "some people believe" to the passive, "it is believed by some people" or vice-versa. b. Use a similar, but different verb: Verbs such as "argue", "believe", or "think" are interchangeable in this context.
IELTS Writing Task 2
Download PDF: https://bit.ly/course-slides-previewLearn how to write a perfect introduction to your IELTS Writing Task 2 essay using my easy 3-sentence formu...
IELTS Writing Task 2: Tips to Write an Effective Introduction
Getting started, or writing an introductory paragraph, can be easy if you remember that an introduction has four purposes: Introduce the topic of the essay. Arouses the reader's interest in the topic. Indicates the overall "plan" of the essay. Tells reader what the essay is about. In the IELTS writing exam, the examiners are not looking ...
IELTS Writing Task 2: How to write an introduction
Be Concise and to the Point - Your IELTS Writing Task 2 should not be lengthy. You must avoid repeating lines and create an introduction in a concise and focused way. Try to cover your ideas in a few words to make your essay clear and compelling. Your introduction should only be around 2-3 sentences long.
4 Steps to write a band 9 IELTS essay introduction
Step 3. 3. Paraphrase the situation given in the essay task. By restating the IELTS task 2 essay prompt in other words, you let the examiner know that you understand it. Use synonyms and different parts of speech as well as changing sentence structure for an effective paraphrase. For example:
IELTS Writing task 1: how to write introduction
You should start your task 1 answer by introducing the graph from your question. Just write 1-2 sentences to say what your graph shows and for what period of time (if there is one). To do this, you need to paraphrase text from your task 1 question. Example of good introduction: Question: The graphs below give information about computer ...
IELTS Writing Tasks How to Write Task 2 Introductions
Outline statement. This structure can be used for any type of question. It should: Have 2-3 sentences. Be 40-60 words long. Take 5 minutes to write. Before I show you how to write good introductions to Task 2 IELTS writing tasks, I want to flag up some common errors students make to help you avoid them.
How to Write an Introduction in IELTS Writing
Difficult = hard = challenging. Choose = select = pick up. Suitable course = appropriate course = available course. Changing word forms: Difficult to choose = difficult choice = hard choice. Be responsible = hold/take responsibility for. Using "It is": Ieltsmaterial.com is one of the best online studying IELTS recently.
IELTS Writing Task 2: How to write a good introduction
Tip 1: Stop to read and analyse the question. In Writing Task 2, you need to address all the parts of the question or task in a relevant way. Because your introduction is the first step towards achieving this goal, you need to introduce your answer to all the different parts of the question. This is why it is important to take some time to read ...
Useful Vocabulary for IELTS Writing! How and when to use ...
How and when to use "Nowadays" in your IELTS Writing Test. #ielts #ieltswriting For example, you could start your essay like this. Nowadays, many young people are choosing to study abroad.
How to write an essay on #ielts exam easily
#ielts لو بغيت تتدرب على كل تاسكات اختبار الايلتس ومهاراته الاربعة تواصل ويانا على أرقامنا باقي ٣ أماكن فقط ...

How to Write an IELTS Essay

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