Score High IELTS Writing Lecture 20 Essay Question Types

Question Type 1. Argument

This type of questions ask you to take a stance and
justify your position by giving well supported
arguments.

Common phrases used for this type of questions:

▪ Do you agree or disagree?
▪ To what extent do you agree or disagree?
▪ Which (of the two) do you consider more important?
▪ What is your opinion? / Why do you think this
happens?

Type 1 question examples

Using a computer every day can
have more negative than positive
effects on your children.
Do you agree or disagree?
Although some people say it takes
away some of our freedom, smoking
should be banned in all public
places.
Do you agree or disagree?

Some people say that advertising People attend college or university

encourages us to buy things that
we really do not need. Others say
that advertisements tell us about
new products that may improve
our lives.
Which viewpoint do you agree
with?
for many different reasons (e.g, new
experiences, career preparation,
increased knowledge).
Why do you think people attend
college or university?

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Score High IELTS Writing Lecture 20 Essay Question Types

Question Type 2. Discussion

This type of questions asks you to think about two
different viewpoints and discuss both of them. This type
of questions may also ask you to give your opinion after
discussing both views.
Common phrases used for this type of questions:

▪ Discuss both views.

▪ Discuss both views and give your opinion.
▪ Discuss advantages and disadvantages.

Type 2 question examples

In some countries Successful sports People have different
young people are professionals can earn job expectations for
encouraged to work a great deal more jobs. Some people
or travel for a year money than people in prefer to do the same
between finishing other important
high school and job for the same
professions.
starting university company, whereas
Some people think this
studies. is fully justified while others prefer to change
Discuss the others think it is unfair. jobs frequently.
advantages and Discuss both these Write about the
disadvantages for views and give your advantages and
young people who own opinion.
decide to do this. disadvantages of each
viewpoint.

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Score High IELTS Writing Lecture 20 Essay Question Types

Question Type 3. Two-Part

This type of questions is easy to identify as they have
two distinct questions.
Common phrases used for this type of questions:

▪ Why do you think it is important? What are the

possible outcome of this?
▪ What do you think are the causes of this? What should
the government do about it?
▪ Why do you think this happened? What are the
solutions to this problem?

Type 3 question examples

Nowadays we are In some countries As the world becomes
producing more young people have technologically
and more rubbish. little leisure time and advanced, computers
are under a lot of are replacing more and
Why do you think pressure to work hard more jobs.
this is happening? in their studies.
What can the
Describe some job
government do to What do you think
help reduce the positions that may be
are the causes of this? lost because of
amount of rubbish What solutions can
produced? computers, and discuss
you suggest?
at least one problem
that may result.