Get ideas for IELTS task 2

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Four step plan for getting ideas

Write a possible answer to the question
Mind gone blank? Put the topic of the question into Google or Youtube
Summarise different opinions on the topics
Attempt more questions and you will find you now have more ideas

1. Write a possible answer to the question

Attempt to write some ideas or opinions of the question.

Write down what you know, try and develop your answers.

One technique for getting ideas is to work through an entire list of past and recent IELTS task 2 questions.

2. Mind gone blank? Put the topic of the question into Google or Youtube

Try and identify the topic of the question, is it climate change or pollution?

Read around the subject, search for different opinions.

For example, we may have this question:

Some people think that it is important to use leisure time for activities that improve the mind, such as reading and doing word puzzles. Other people feel that it is important to rest the mind during leisure time. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

What is the topic here?

Should we use leisure time for activities to improve the mind?

Now we can start researching this topic online and start building an opinion.

You can add BBC, CNN, Guardian, to the search term to find recent coverage on the issues.

Our online IELTS course has an entire module about this, and we offer feedback on your answers so you improve much faster.

3. Summarise different opinions on the topics

After finding the different opinions, summarise them.

This will help you remember them, build your IELTS vocabulary which is essential for a high lexical resource score.

Also, write down entire sentences you find in your research, you can use these later in your essay.

4. Attempt more questions and you will find you now have more ideas.

Working through an entire list of questions is a very fast way to improve.

Here is a list of IELTS topics and sample answers, however, you will benefit more by researching the topics yourself.

Another tip is to become opinionated.

While researching these topics you can ask yourself: How do I feel about cyberbullying?

This will help you when you are using phrases such as:

I strongly agree that cyberbullying is an issue of great importance in modern society…

Although you might be neutral on issues such as cyberbullying it is easier to get ideas if you have an opinion.

Final words

Do not stress over how good the ideas are or how basic they may be.

IELTS is a test of your English capabilities not your knowledge of the ideas you present.

Your ideas are secondary.

If you can present basic ideas in perfect English you’ll score well.

Though the quality of the idea may be secondary, they must be realistic.

Pay attention to the IELTS exam scoring criteria rather than getting too caught up in the formulation of ideas.

Tutorials and Tips to Prepare for Task 2

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