Three requirements hiding in one sentence, and the third is the one candidates leave out.
Two positions are stated. You must present both fairly, and — where the prompt asks for it — state your own. Presenting both and stopping is the single most common way this type is under-answered, and it is capped under Task Response no matter how good the writing is.
Rephrase the debate in your own words and state your position in one clause. Putting the opinion here rather than saving it for the conclusion means a marker skimming for it finds it immediately.
State it, give its strongest reason, and give an example. Taking it seriously is what makes your own position credible; a straw man weakens your essay rather than the argument.
State it, give its strongest reason, an example, and why it outweighs the first. That last clause is the actual discussion and is usually missing.
Restate the position, in different words from the introduction. No new arguments.
If the prompt says 'and give your own opinion', that is a third requirement, not a suggestion. Put it in the introduction and repeat it in the conclusion so it cannot be missed.
If the prompt says 'and give your own opinion', yes — it is a separate requirement and omitting it caps your Task Response band regardless of how well both views are presented. If the prompt says only 'discuss both views', an opinion is optional but a clear one rarely hurts.
Both, and the introduction matters more. A position stated in the first paragraph and confirmed in the last is unmissable; one that appears only at the end can read as though you decided while writing.
You can hold a genuinely balanced position, but it must be stated as a position rather than as an absence of one. 'Both have merit' with nothing after it reads as not answering; 'both have merit, but in different circumstances — X where…, Y where…' is a real thesis and can score well.
Our IELTS mock marks Task 2 against all four criteria and shows which sentences moved each one. The first session is free.
This guide is written from the IELTS test format published by British Council, IDP and Cambridge, in our own words. For the official wording, see the official IELTS sample questions. MockLive AI is an independent practice tool and is not affiliated with the British Council, IDP or Cambridge Assessment English.