IELTS Task 2: A 5-Minute Essay Plan With a Worked Example

Priya Sharma

Priya Sharma writes English learning guides for ESL students. Pune-based language enthusiast.

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Quick answer: Use five minutes in four steps: identify the question type and every part of it, decide a clear position, note two main ideas with one example each, and sketch a four-paragraph outline. Then spend about 35 minutes writing 270 to 300 words and leave a few minutes to check.↗ Share on X

To plan an IELTS Writing Task 2 essay in five minutes, do four things in order: spend 1 minute finding the question type and every part of the question, 1 minute deciding your clear position, 2 minutes writing two main ideas with one example each, and 1 minute sketching a four-paragraph outline. That leaves about 35 minutes to write at least 250 words and a few minutes to check. A short plan like this is what stops you from going off-topic, repeating yourself, or running out of ideas halfway through, which are some of the most common reasons strong writers get stuck below the score they want.

Below you will find the exact five-minute routine, a full worked example, and templates you can practise with today.

Why is planning so important in Task 2?

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Task 2 carries more weight than Task 1 in your Writing score, so it deserves more of your time. The examiner marks your essay on four things:

1. Task Response – did you answer every part of the question and give a clear position?

2. Coherence and Cohesion – is the essay logical and easy to follow?

3. Lexical Resource – your range and accuracy of vocabulary.

4. Grammatical Range and Accuracy – your range and accuracy of grammar.

Notice that the first two are mostly decided before you write a single sentence. If you misread the question, your Task Response suffers no matter how good your English is. If you start writing without a structure, your paragraphs wander and Coherence drops. Five minutes of planning protects half of your score.

Minute 1: What is the question really asking?

Read the question twice. Underline the topic and the instruction words. Then decide which of the common question types it is:

Now count the parts. Many candidates answer only half of a two-part question. Write the parts as a tiny checklist on your question paper, for example: "(1) why? (2) good or bad?"

Minute 2: What is your position?

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Decide your answer now, not while writing. Examiners want a position that is clear and consistent.

Ask yourself: "Which side can I explain most easily with examples?" That is your side. It does not need to be your real personal belief. It needs to be the side you can support best in 35 minutes.

Write your position in one short line, for example: "Mostly agree – benefits bigger, but one risk."

A balanced view is fine, as long as you state it clearly. "Partly agree" is a position. "There are many opinions on this" is not.

Minutes 3 and 4: What are your two main ideas?

Two strong body paragraphs are usually better than three weak ones. Each paragraph needs:

• one main idea (a topic sentence),
• an explanation (why or how it is true),
• an example (a specific, realistic case).

Write them as notes, not full sentences. Use keywords and arrows. Here is a quick method to generate ideas fast when your mind is blank. Run the topic through these angles and pick the two strongest:

• Money / economy
• Health
• Education and skills
• Family and society
• Environment
• Technology
• Government and law

Your example does not need to be a famous study. The examiner does not check facts. A clear, realistic example from everyday life works well: "a student in a rural town who can join online classes", or "a city that builds cycle lanes". Do not invent fake statistics. A made-up percentage adds nothing and can look unnatural.

Minute 5: How do I sketch the outline?

Turn your notes into a simple four-paragraph map:

1. Introduction – paraphrase the question + your position.

2. Body 1 – main idea 1 + explanation + example.

3. Body 2 – main idea 2 + explanation + example.

4. Conclusion – restate your position + summarise the two ideas.

For a discussion essay, Body 1 is "view A", Body 2 is "view B", and your own opinion appears in the introduction and conclusion (and you may say which view you share in Body 2). For a two-part question, Body 1 answers part one and Body 2 answers part two.

What does a five-minute plan look like on paper?

Here is a worked example.

Question: *Some people believe that children should start learning a foreign language at primary school rather than secondary school. Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?*

Minute 1 – type and parts: Advantages vs disadvantages. Must say which is bigger.

Minute 2 – position: Advantages outweigh.

Minutes 3–4 – ideas:

• Disadvantage: pressure on young kids + need more trained teachers → costs for schools. Example: small village school with no language teacher.
• Advantage: young children copy sounds easily → better pronunciation, more years of practice → confidence. Example: child who learns songs and games in English at age 7, talks without fear at 14.

Minute 5 – outline:

• Intro: paraphrase (teaching languages from age 6–7 instead of 11–12) + advantages bigger.
• Body 1: the disadvantages (cost, teachers, pressure) – admit they are real.
• Body 2: the advantages (pronunciation, more time, confidence) – explain why they matter more.
• Conclusion: benefits outweigh; drawbacks can be reduced with training.

That plan fits in about ten lines. Now writing is mostly "filling in the boxes".

Which phrases help me write the plan into an essay quickly?

Keep a few flexible sentence frames ready. Do not memorise whole paragraphs; examiners recognise memorised text and it can hurt your score.

• Introduction position: "In my view, the benefits of this clearly outweigh the drawbacks."
• Topic sentence: "The main argument against this is that..."
• Explanation: "This is because..." / "As a result,..."
• Example: "For instance, ..." / "A clear example of this is..."
• Concession: "Although this is a valid concern, ..."
• Conclusion: "In conclusion, while there are some drawbacks, I believe..."

Use linking words naturally. Starting every sentence with "Moreover" or "Furthermore" is a common habit that makes writing feel mechanical.

How should I split the full 40 minutes?

Examiners suggest about 40 minutes for Task 2. A practical split:

This gives you roughly 270 to 300 words, which is safely above the 250-word minimum. Writing much more than that is not needed and increases the chance of mistakes.

In the check stage, look first for your personal repeated errors. Most learners have two or three they make again and again, such as missing "-s" on verbs or leaving out "the".

What are the most common planning mistakes?

• Skipping the plan because of stress. It feels like saving time, but it usually costs more time later.
• Planning too much. Writing full sentences in the plan wastes minutes. Notes only.
• Changing position in the conclusion. Your conclusion must match your introduction.
• Three ideas in one paragraph. One main idea per paragraph, developed well.
• Examples that are too general. "Many people think this" is not an example. "A nurse who works night shifts" is.
• Ignoring part of the question. Always check your mini-checklist from minute 1 before writing the conclusion.

How do I practise this until it is automatic?

Try this seven-day drill:

1. Days 1–3: Take five past Task 2 questions each day. Plan each one in 5 minutes. Do not write the essay. Just plan.

2. Days 4–5: Plan in 5 minutes, then write only the introduction and one body paragraph.

3. Days 6–7: Write two full essays under exam timing, 40 minutes each.

Planning without writing is the fastest way to build speed, because you practise the hardest thinking many times in one session.

Your next step

Pick one Task 2 question from an official practice book right now. Set a timer for 5 minutes and complete the four steps: question type and parts, position, two ideas with examples, four-paragraph outline. When the timer stops, compare your plan to the checklist in this article. Repeat with four more questions today.

FAQ

How long should I plan an IELTS Task 2 essay?

About five minutes is enough for most candidates. It is long enough to understand the question and structure two strong ideas, and short enough to leave around 35 minutes for writing and checking.

How many body paragraphs should a Task 2 essay have?

Two well-developed body paragraphs usually work best. Each should have one main idea, an explanation and a specific example.

Can I use made-up statistics as examples in IELTS?

It is better not to. Examiners do not reward invented numbers. A clear, realistic example from everyday life supports your idea more naturally.