Recent IELTS Writing Task 2 topics — July 2026 (with essay plans)

IELTS Writing Task 2 asks you to write a 250-word essay responding to a prompt, and the same themes recur every cycle. Below are the Task 2 topic areas and question types most commonly reported in July 2026, grouped so you can prepare ideas in advance — then a quick plan and a strong opening line for each. These are representative themes from candidate reports, not official questions.

The five recurring theme areas

• Education — online vs classroom learning, subjects schools should teach, exams vs continuous assessment.
• Technology — social media's effect on relationships, AI replacing jobs, screen time for children.
• Environment — individual vs government responsibility, plastic and consumption, city planning.
• Work — work-life balance, remote working, changing jobs frequently.
• Society & culture — globalisation and local culture, ageing populations, crime and punishment.

Know your four question types

Whatever the theme, Task 2 comes in a few fixed formats. Identify yours before you write — the structure depends on it:

• Opinion (agree/disagree) — state a clear position and defend it throughout.
• Discussion (discuss both views + your opinion) — one body paragraph per view, then your stance.
• Problem/solution (or cause/solution) — one paragraph on causes/problems, one on solutions.
• Two-part (direct questions) — answer each question in its own paragraph.

Reported question 1 — Technology (opinion)

"Some people believe that social media has done more harm than good to personal relationships. To what extent do you agree or disagree?"

Plan: State a clear position (e.g. mostly agree). Body 1 — harms: shallow interactions, comparison and anxiety. Body 2 — the genuine upside: staying connected across distance. Conclusion — restate, with a balanced qualifier.

Band 8 opening: "While social media has undeniably made staying in touch effortless, I largely agree that it has weakened the depth of our personal relationships rather than strengthened them."

Reported question 2 — Education (discussion)

"Some think children should study a wide range of subjects; others believe they should focus only on subjects useful for their future career. Discuss both views and give your opinion."

Plan: Body 1 — the case for breadth (well-rounded thinking, keeping options open). Body 2 — the case for focus (depth, employability). Conclusion — your view (e.g. breadth first, specialisation later).

Band 8 opening: "Whether young people benefit more from a broad education or an early focus on career-relevant subjects is a genuine dilemma, and while both have merit, I believe breadth should come first."

Reported question 3 — Environment (problem/solution)

"Many cities are becoming increasingly polluted. What are the causes of this, and what measures can be taken to solve the problem?"

Plan: Body 1 — causes: traffic, industry, poor planning. Body 2 — solutions: public transport investment, emissions rules, green urban design. Keep causes and solutions in separate paragraphs.

Band 8 opening: "Urban pollution has worsened sharply in recent decades, driven largely by traffic and unchecked industrial growth; addressing it will require decisive action from both governments and individuals."

How to prepare Task 2 efficiently

• Prepare ideas by theme, not by memorising essays — you can't predict the exact prompt.
• Always write a clear thesis in the introduction and hold it to the conclusion.
• Develop each idea fully: point → explain → example → link. Two developed ideas beat five listed ones.
• Practise under 40 minutes so timing is automatic on test day.

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