Are these the real IELTS Writing questions for October 2026?

No. IELTS does not release live questions. These prompts are written around the themes candidates reported after their tests in September and October 2026. The themes repeat far more than the exact wording, so preparing arguments by theme is what transfers to the real exam.

Do IELTS Writing Task 2 topics change every month?

Not in any predictable way. Unlike Speaking, Task 2 has no widely reported rotation. Education, technology, environment, health and society make up most prompts year round; what changes is the specific statement you are asked to respond to.

How many words should IELTS Writing Task 2 be?

At least 250, and around 260 to 290 is a sensible target. Going under the minimum costs marks under Task Response, while writing far more rarely helps and usually costs accuracy and time.

Can I use an example from my own country?

Yes. Personal and local examples are perfectly acceptable and often more convincing than invented statistics. Keep them brief and tie each one back to the point it supports.

Writing 10 min read· October 2026

Recent IELTS Writing Task 2 topics: September & October 2026

IELTS Writing Task 2 essay questions reported in September and October 2026, grouped by question type, with a quick plan and a Band 8 opening for each.

Task 2 questions do not follow a published cycle, but the themes behind them are remarkably stable. Below are the topic areas and question types candidates reported in September and early October 2026, each with a quick plan and a strong opening line. These are representative prompts written around reported themes, not official exam questions, which IELTS never releases.

Themes reported in September and October

Technology & work: artificial intelligence in the workplace, automation of jobs, working from home.
Education: university fees, practical versus academic subjects, the role of teachers when information is online.
Health: fast food and obesity, government versus individual responsibility for health.
Environment & cities: car-free city centres, public transport, the cost of protecting wildlife.
Society: older people living alone, the influence of advertising on children, spending on space exploration.

Know your four question types

Identify the format before you plan, because it decides your paragraphs:

Opinion (agree/disagree): one clear position, held from introduction to conclusion.
Discussion (discuss both views and give your opinion): one paragraph per view, your stance stated in the introduction.
Problem/solution or cause/effect: causes or problems in one paragraph, solutions or effects in the other.
Two-part question: answer each question in its own paragraph.

Reported question 1: Technology (opinion)

"Artificial intelligence will soon do many of the jobs people do today. Some people think this is a positive development. To what extent do you agree or disagree?"

Plan: Position, partly agree. Body 1, the gains: dangerous and repetitive work removed, lower costs. Body 2, the risk: workers displaced faster than they can retrain. Conclusion, positive only if retraining keeps pace.

Band 8 opening: "Although handing routine work to artificial intelligence promises real gains in safety and productivity, I believe it will only be a positive development if governments and employers retrain the people it displaces."

Reported question 2: Environment (discussion)

"Some people think private cars should be banned from city centres. Others believe this would cause more problems than it solves. Discuss both views and give your opinion."

Plan: Body 1, the case for a ban: cleaner air, safer streets, more space for people. Body 2, the case against: harm to small businesses, disabled and elderly residents, poor public transport in many cities. Conclusion, a phased ban only once transport is in place.

Band 8 opening: "Banning private cars from city centres would clearly improve air quality and safety, but I believe it should follow, rather than precede, serious investment in public transport."

Reported question 3: Society (two-part)

"In many countries, more older people are living alone. Why is this happening? Is it a positive or negative development?"

Plan: Body 1, reasons: longer life expectancy, smaller families, children moving away for work. Body 2, evaluation: independence is valued, but loneliness is a real health risk. Conclusion, negative unless communities provide support.

Band 8 opening: "The growing number of older people living alone reflects longer lives and more mobile families, and while it allows many to keep their independence, I regard it as a largely negative trend because of the isolation it brings."

How to prepare Task 2 efficiently

Build a bank of two arguments and one example per theme above, rather than memorising whole essays.
Write a clear thesis in the introduction and repeat it, in new words, in the conclusion.
Develop each idea fully: point, explanation, example, link back to the question.
Practise inside 40 minutes, including five minutes to plan and three to check.

Earlier cycles

Get your essays scored instantly

A plan is easy; hitting the band descriptors in 40 minutes is the hard part. On IELTSVega you can write Task 2 essays on prompts like these and get an instant band on Task Response, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource and Grammar, with feedback on exactly what is holding your score down.