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Agree/Disagree essays in IELTS Writing Task 2 require candidates to clearly express their position on a specific statement or question. Success in these essays depends on presenting coherent arguments, supporting your viewpoint with relevant examples or evidence, and maintaining a logical flow throughout. This guide provides a detailed approach to structuring your essay, effective tips for articulating your stance, and sample answers to help you master this essay type with confidence.
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IELTS Agree/Disagree Essay Structure
Building on the need to clearly express your stance in an IELTS agree/disagree essay, mastering its structure is crucial for achieving a high score in Writing Task 2. A well-organised essay not only conveys your ideas effectively but also demonstrates logical reasoning and coherence, which are key assessment criteria. To help you plan and write your essay systematically, the following is a detailed breakdown of each component and its role in presenting a compelling argument.
1. Introduction
The introduction sets the context for the essay and clearly communicates your stance — whether you fully agree, fully disagree, or partially agree. It shows the examiner that you understand the topic and can express your opinion clearly. To make your introduction effective:
- Paraphrase the question using varied vocabulary and sentence structures.
- Provide background information or context if necessary.
- Conclude with a concise thesis statement that summarises your viewpoint and outlines the direction of your essay.
2. Body Paragraph 1
The first body paragraph introduces your initial supporting argument. This paragraph should focus on one main idea and explain it thoroughly. Key points to consider:
- Begin with a clear topic sentence that highlights the main point.
- Support your argument with examples, evidence, or reasoning.
- Use linking and cohesive devices to ensure smooth flow between sentences.
- Maintain relevance to your thesis to demonstrate a logical progression of ideas.
3. Body Paragraph 2
The second body paragraph presents another supporting argument or, in cases of partial agreement, acknowledges a contrasting perspective. To make this paragraph effective:
- Use a topic sentence to introduce your point clearly.
- Provide reasoning, examples, or evidence to reinforce your argument.
- Apply transition words or phrases to maintain coherence with the first paragraph.
- Ensure that the paragraph aligns with your overall stance and contributes to your thesis.
4. Conclusion
The conclusion summarises your opinion and reinforces the key points discussed in the body paragraphs. It should provide a clear closing without introducing new ideas. Tips for writing a strong conclusion:
- Restate your position in different words to reinforce your stance.
- Briefly summarise the main arguments.
- Use concluding phrases such as “In conclusion”, “Overall”, or “To sum up”.
- Ensure consistency with your introduction to demonstrate a cohesive essay structure.
IELTS Agree/Disagree Essay: Sample Structure
Having grasped the importance of a clear essay structure, the next step is to understand how to organise your ideas effectively. A well-planned structure not only enhances clarity and logical flow but also ensures that your response remains relevant to the task.
The following framework outlines a practical approach to structuring an IELTS agree/disagree essay. It helps candidates systematically plan their arguments, maintain a consistent stance throughout, and develop coherent paragraphs that align with the IELTS assessment criteria for task response, coherence, and cohesion.
Introduction
- Begin by paraphrasing the essay question to show understanding of the topic.
- Clearly state your position; agree, disagree, or partially agree.
- End with a concise thesis statement outlining your overall viewpoint.
Body Paragraph 1
- Start with a clear topic sentence introducing your first main point supporting your stance.
- Explain the idea logically and develop it with reasoning or evidence.
- Maintain coherence by linking each sentence smoothly to the next.
Body Paragraph 2
- Present your second main point or address an opposing view if you partially agree.
- Support it with logical explanation and maintain consistency with your thesis.
- Use linking words to ensure clear progression of ideas.
Conclusion
- Summarise your overall opinion in a single, clear statement.
- Restate your main ideas without repeating exact wording from earlier paragraphs.
- End with a balanced and confident closing line that reinforces your stance.
Sample Agree/Disagree Essay
With a clear understanding of the essay structure, it is helpful to see how these principles are applied in a full response. A sample essay demonstrates how to introduce your stance, develop supporting arguments, and conclude effectively while maintaining coherence and clarity throughout.
Sample 1. Some people believe that technology has made our lives easier and more convenient. Others think it has created more problems than it solves.
Introduction:
It is often argued that modern technology simplifies daily life, while some contend that it introduces new challenges. In my opinion, although technology brings certain complications, its overall impact is overwhelmingly positive.
Body Paragraph 1: Supporting Argument:
Firstly, technology enhances efficiency in communication and work. For instance, video conferencing tools allow people to collaborate across continents without the need for travel. Consequently, both time and resources are saved, making professional and personal interactions more convenient.
Body Paragraph 2: Addressing Counterargument
Admittedly, technology can present problems such as over-dependence and reduced social interaction. However, these issues can be managed through conscious usage and digital literacy education. Therefore, the potential drawbacks do not outweigh the significant benefits that technology provides.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, while acknowledging certain challenges, I firmly believe that technology has improved our lives by streamlining tasks, enhancing connectivity, and offering practical solutions to everyday problems.
Sample 2: Some people believe that children should focus on academic subjects only, while others think they should also engage in arts and sports.
Introduction:
It is often debated whether children’s education should concentrate solely on academics or include extracurricular activities such as arts and sports. I firmly believe that a balanced approach, incorporating both academic and non-academic pursuits, is essential for holistic development.
Body Paragraph 1: Supporting Argument
Firstly, engaging in arts and sports helps children develop creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. For example, participation in team sports fosters collaboration and leadership abilities, which are crucial for future success. In addition, creative activities like painting or music stimulate imagination and self-expression.
Body Paragraph 2: Addressing Counterargument
Some argue that time spent on extracurricular activities may distract from academic achievement. While it is true that excessive focus on non-academic pursuits could reduce study time, careful scheduling and prioritisation can prevent this issue. Therefore, the benefits of including arts and sports outweigh the potential drawbacks.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, although academic subjects are vital, incorporating arts and sports into children’s education ensures well-rounded development. Hence, schools should promote a curriculum that balances both academic learning and extracurricular engagement.
IELTS Agree/Disagree Essay: Do’s and Don’ts
Once you are familiar with the structure and have seen a sample essay in practice, it becomes important to understand the key strategies that can enhance your performance and the common pitfalls to avoid. Following these do’s and don’ts will help you build a clear argument, maintain logical flow, and present your opinion effectively, ensuring your essay meets the IELTS assessment criteria.
Do’s
Here are the best practices for writing an impactful agree/disagree essay in IELTS writing task 2.
- In your introduction, leave no ambiguity concerning your level of agreement or disagreement with the prompt.
- Structure your arguments logically. Organise your supporting points into distinct paragraphs, ensuring a coherent flow of ideas.
- Back up your arguments with relevant examples, statistics, or research findings to bolster your credibility.
- Engage in nuanced analysis. Beyond simply stating your stance, explore potential counter-arguments or exceptions to strengthen your overall position.
- Employ a range of sentence structures to maintain reader engagement and showcase your language skills.
- Maintain strong grammar and vocabulary. Demonstrate proficiency in English language mechanics to avoid detracting from your content.
- Limit yourself to writing only four paragraphs.
- Write a short conclusion.
Don’ts
Here are the things you must avoid whilst writing an agree/disagree essay in IELTS writing.
- Avoid ambiguity in your introduction. Ensure to make them as concise as possible.
- Avoid jumping between points or omitting transitions. Doing so can confuse the reader and weaken your argument.
- Assertions without supporting evidence appear unsupported and undermine your credibility.
- Monotonous writing can bore the reader and limit your ability to showcase language proficiency.
- Grammatical errors or vocabulary mistakes can significantly lower your band score, regardless of the strength of your arguments.
- Avoid including too many different ideas.
Explore: Most Useful Words for IELTS Writing Task 1
Common Mistakes in IELTS Agree/Disagree Essays and How to Avoid Them
After understanding the essential do’s and don’ts, it is equally important to be aware of common mistakes that candidates often make in agree/disagree essays. Recognising these pitfalls and knowing how to avoid them can significantly improve your coherence, task response, and overall band score.
| Common Mistakes in IELTS for Agree or Disagree Essays | Description of IELTS Agree or Disagree Essays | How to Avoid the Mistakes |
| Failing to State a Clear Position | Avoiding a clear stance or being ambiguous can confuse the examiner and weaken the essay. | Clearly state your position in the introduction using phrases like I strongly agree that… or I partially disagree with the view that…”. |
| Writing Off-Topic or Irrelevant Content | Including unrelated ideas dilutes your essay and reduces coherence. | Stick to points that directly support your stance. Make a quick plan before writing to ensure all paragraphs are relevant. |
| Lack of Supporting Examples | Opinions without evidence or examples appear weak and unconvincing. | Use phrases like For instance, A striking example is…, or This can be seen in… to provide concrete examples. |
| Poor Paragraph Structure | Mixing multiple ideas or having unclear topic sentences can confuse the reader. | Follow standard structure: Introduction – Body Paragraphs – Conclusion. Include a topic sentence, explanation and supporting examples in each body paragraph. |
| Repetition of Ideas and Vocabulary | Repeating points or phrases makes the essay monotonous and reduces lexical variety. | Use synonyms and varied sentence structures. Employ linking phrases like In addition, On the other hand, Consequently |
| Ignoring Counterarguments | Not acknowledging opposing viewpoints makes the essay less persuasive. | Briefly address counterarguments using phrases like Although some argue that…or Admittedly, there are concerns that… and then reinforce your position. |
| Weak Conclusion | A vague or abrupt conclusion leaves the essay incomplete and affects coherence. | Restate your position and summarise the main points clearly. Use phrases like Therefore, it can be concluded that…Or in summary, the evidence suggests… |
List of Useful Phrases for Agree/Disagree Essays
Building on the discussion of common mistakes and ways to strengthen your arguments, using the right phrases can help you express your opinion clearly, link ideas effectively, and maintain an academic tone throughout your essay. The following list provides phrases that are particularly useful for IELTS agree/disagree essays:
Phrases to Express Agreement
- I strongly agree that…
- I completely support the view that…
- I am in full agreement with the idea that…
- I entirely concur with the notion that…
- It is undeniable that…
Phrases to Express Partial Agreement
- I partly agree that…
- I agree with some aspects of the statement, but…
- To a certain extent, I support the idea that…
- While I acknowledge that…, I also believe that…
- There is merit in the argument that…, however…
Phrases to Express Disagreement
- I strongly disagree with the idea that…
- I cannot accept the view that…
- I am opposed to the notion that…
- I find it hard to agree with the statement that…
- There is little justification for the argument that…
Phrases to Add Supporting Arguments or Evidence
- For instance…
- A striking example of this is…
- This is clearly demonstrated by…
- Evidence of this can be seen in…
- To illustrate this point…
Phrases to Introduce Counterarguments
- Although some people argue that…
- Admittedly, there are concerns that…
- While it is true that…, it is also important to note that…
- Some might claim that…, however…
- On the other hand,…
Phrases for Concluding the Essay
- Therefore, it can be concluded that…
- In summary, the evidence suggests that…
- Overall, it is clear that…
- Consequently, it is apparent that…
- Taking all points into consideration, I firmly believe that…
Also Read: Common Idioms for IELTS Writing Task 2
Having explored the structure, sample essays, common mistakes, do’s and don’ts, and useful phrases, it is clear that mastering IELTS agree/disagree essays requires a combination of organisation, clarity, and strategic language use. By following a structured approach, supporting your arguments with relevant examples, and applying cohesive phrases effectively, candidates can present their opinions convincingly and achieve higher band scores. With consistent practice and attention to these guidelines, writing a well-balanced, coherent, and persuasive agree/disagree essay becomes an achievable goal.
FAQs
Ans. You can write a formal letter by including an introduction (Dear Sir/Madam), body paragraphs (1, 2,3 and more), and a signoff (I hope to hear from you, Yours faithfully).
Ans. Test takers can use a range of linkers, adverbial phrases, references, and punctuations to bolster their overall scores in IELTS writing.
Ans. The IELTS General Writing Task 1 (Letter Writing) requires individuals to complete the task within 20 minutes.
Ans. Your opinion should be stated clearly in the introduction and consistently maintained throughout the essay. You can fully agree, fully disagree, or partially agree/disagree. Each body paragraph should support your stance with logical reasoning, examples, or evidence. Avoid introducing contradictory points without explaining them clearly.
Ans. Generally, an essay should have two body paragraphs — one for each main supporting argument. If partially agreeing, one paragraph can present your supporting argument while the other acknowledges a counterpoint. Each paragraph should be well-developed, coherent, and connected to your thesis.
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