Two separate questions, equally weighted, and answering one of them well is worth less than answering both adequately.
Exactly what it says, twice. The marking treats both parts as equal, so the failure mode is an essay that spends three paragraphs on the first question and one line on the second — which caps Task Response even if the first three paragraphs are excellent.
Rephrase, then signal both answers in brief. Answering both in the introduction guarantees neither is missed.
A direct answer, one developed reason, one example.
A direct answer to the second question, given the same weight. If the second asks whether something is positive or negative, take a side rather than describing both.
One sentence per question.
Give it its own body paragraph of comparable length. The commonest version of this failure is an essay on causes that mentions 'and this is largely negative' in the final line and considers the second question answered.
One body paragraph per question, of comparable length, with both answers signalled in the introduction. The two parts are equally weighted, so an essay that answers one thoroughly and the other in a clause is capped under Task Response.
You can, but it makes it much harder for a marker to see that both were answered, and it usually results in the second getting less development. Separate paragraphs are the safer structure under time pressure.
No. Discuss both views gives you two positions on one issue. A two-part question asks two different things — often a cause and an evaluation — and each needs its own answer.
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.