IELTS Task 2: A 5-Minute Plan Before You Write a Word

Priya Sharma

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

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Quick answer: Spend 1 minute reading and underlining the question, 30 seconds choosing your position, 2 minutes finding two ideas with examples, 1 minute mapping four paragraphs, and 30 seconds writing your thesis. That leaves about 35 minutes to write and check a 260 to 300 word essay.↗ Share on X

You can plan an IELTS Writing Task 2 essay in five minutes by following the same five steps every time: read and underline the question (1 minute), decide your position (30 seconds), write two main ideas with one example each (2 minutes), map your four paragraphs (1 minute), and write your thesis sentence (30 seconds). That leaves about 35 minutes to write and check 260 to 300 words. The plan is short notes on the question paper, not a draft.

Below is each step in detail, with a full worked example you can copy.

Why spend five minutes planning when time is so short?

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Task 2 gives you 40 minutes and asks for at least 250 words. Many candidates start writing right away because they feel the clock. Then, halfway through, they run out of ideas, change their opinion, or drift away from the question.

Examiners score four things, each worth one quarter of your Task 2 band:

Two of the four criteria depend directly on planning. A messy essay with great vocabulary still struggles to reach band 7 if the position is unclear.

Step 1 (1 minute): What exactly is the question asking?

Read the question twice. Underline the topic and the instruction words. The instruction tells you the essay type, and each type needs a different shape.

The most common mistake here: answering only half of the question. If there are two questions, you need two clear answers. Put a small "1" and "2" next to each part on your paper.

Step 2 (30 seconds): What is your position?

READ ALSOThe Trap Words That Cost You Marks in IELTS Reading →How to Use Synonyms to Boost Your IELTS Writing Score →How to Avoid Common Trap Words in IELTS Listening Choice Questions: Improve Accuracy →

Choose the position that is easiest to support, not the one you believe most deeply. IELTS tests your English, not your opinions.

Ask yourself: "Which side can I give two clear reasons for, right now?" Pick that side. For opinion questions, a partly-agree position is fine, but only if you can explain it clearly. If you're unsure, a clear "I agree" or "I disagree" is safer.

Write one word at the top of your plan: AGREE, DISAGREE, or PARTLY.

Step 3 (2 minutes): How do you find two strong ideas fast?

This is the step where most time goes. Use the "who is affected" trick. Think about how the topic affects:

• individuals (people, families, students)
• society (communities, the country)
• the economy (jobs, money, business)
• the environment or health

Pick the two strongest. For each idea, write:

1. the idea in 3 to 5 words;

2. a "because" in a few words;

3. one example, which can be general ("in many cities...") or a short made-up case.

Two well-developed ideas beat four thin ones. Examiners reward extension: explaining why and giving an example. A list of reasons with no development is a common reason essays stay at band 6.

Step 4 (1 minute): How should the four paragraphs look?

Most strong Task 2 essays use four paragraphs:

1. Introduction (2 sentences, about 40 to 50 words): paraphrase the question, then give your thesis.

2. Body paragraph 1 (about 90 to 100 words): topic sentence, explanation, example, link back.

3. Body paragraph 2 (about 90 to 100 words): same structure, second idea.

4. Conclusion (2 sentences, about 30 to 40 words): restate your position and summarise both ideas.

That adds up to roughly 260 to 290 words. That's above the 250 minimum without wasting time.

For a discussion essay, body 1 is the view you disagree with and body 2 is the view you support. For problem/solution, body 1 is causes and body 2 is solutions.

Step 5 (30 seconds): How do you write the thesis before you start?

Write your thesis sentence in your notes now. The thesis is the last sentence of your introduction. It tells the examiner your position and your two ideas.

A simple formula:

"I [agree/disagree] that [topic] because [idea 1] and [idea 2]."

When your thesis is written, your essay has a backbone. Every body paragraph simply explains one half of it.

A full worked example

Question: *Some people think that children should start learning a foreign language at primary school rather than secondary school. To what extent do you agree or disagree?*

Step 1: Opinion essay. Topic: foreign language at primary vs secondary school. One position needed.

Step 2: AGREE.

Step 3, ideas:

• Idea 1: young children learn pronunciation easily, because they copy sounds naturally. Example: children who learn early often sound more natural.
• Idea 2: more years of study, because starting early gives extra time. Example: a student who starts at age 7 has many more years of lessons before leaving school.

Step 4, paragraph map:

• Intro: paraphrase + thesis
• Body 1: pronunciation and natural learning
• Body 2: more total years of practice
• Conclusion: restate + both ideas

Step 5, thesis: "I agree with this view because young learners pick up pronunciation more naturally and an early start gives them more years of practice."

Your notes on the paper might look like this:

```

OPINION — AGREE

1. pronunciation / copy sounds / sound natural

2. more years / start age 7 / many more lessons

I: paraphrase + thesis

C: restate + 1 + 2

words: acquire, fluency, curriculum, exposure

```

That's under 40 words of notes. It takes about five minutes once you've practised a few times.

Should you write vocabulary in your plan?

Yes, but only three or four words. Note topic words you want to use, like "curriculum," "exposure," or "fluency." This helps your Lexical Resource score because you won't forget them under pressure.

Don't write long phrases you memorised from the internet. Examiners recognise memorised language, and it can lower your score if it doesn't fit the question.

How do you keep the plan under five minutes?

Planning gets faster with practice. Try this routine:

1. Days 1 to 3: Plan one question a day with no time limit. Just learn the five steps.

2. Days 4 to 7: Plan two questions a day in 8 minutes each.

3. Week 2: Plan three questions a day in 5 minutes each. Don't write the essay; only plan.

4. Week 3: Plan in 5 minutes, then write the full essay in 30 minutes, then check for 5 minutes.

Planning without writing is a fast way to practise. You can plan ten questions in the time it takes to write one essay.

What should you do in the last five minutes?

Your plan should save you time to check. In the final minutes, look for:

• Missing parts: did you answer every part you underlined?
• Position: is your view the same in the introduction and conclusion?
• Common errors: subject-verb agreement ("people *are*"), articles ("*the* government"), plurals.
• Word count: count lines and estimate. If you usually write about 10 words per line, 26 lines means about 260 words.

Your next step

Take three Task 2 questions from an official IELTS practice book. Set a timer for five minutes and plan the first one using the five steps above. Don't write the essay. Compare your notes with the example in this article. Do the second and third question the same way, then write one full essay tomorrow using your best plan.

FAQ

How long should I plan an IELTS Task 2 essay?

About five minutes is enough for most candidates. It leaves around 30 minutes to write and 5 minutes to check, which fits the 40 minutes suggested for Task 2.

How many body paragraphs should a Task 2 essay have?

Two body paragraphs is the most common and safest structure. Two well-developed ideas with explanations and examples usually score better than three or four short ones.

Does my plan count towards the word count?

No. Your notes are not marked. Only the essay you write on the answer sheet counts, and it must be at least 250 words.