IELTS Writing Task 2 discussion essay
The discussion essay ("Discuss both views and give your own opinion") is the trickiest Task 2 type for many students. It has two competing demands: be balanced enough to develop both views fairly, and be clear enough about your own position to score on Task Response.
Most Band 6 discussion essays fail at one of these: either they treat both sides equally and forget to state an opinion, or they state a strong opinion and give the other side only one superficial sentence.
What discussion essay needs
- Both views genuinely developed, not just mentioned.
- A personal opinion that is stated clearly and held consistently.
- Each view supported by a reason and a developed example.
- Equal word balance between the two body paragraphs.
What drops the discussion essay score
- Opinion buried in a vague sentence at the very end.
- One view gets 100 words, the other gets 30.
- Both views mixed together inside the same paragraph.
- Introduction that lists both views but refuses to signal a preference.
Two structures that work
Both structures are accepted by IELTS examiners. Choose the one that fits your argument best.
Introduction: Paraphrase topic. State both views exist. Indicate your opinion.
Body 1: View A -- reason + example (TEXL).
Body 2: View B -- reason + example (TEXL). Your preference can be visible here.
Conclusion: Restate both views briefly. Confirm your opinion clearly.
Best when: you want a clean, predictable structure and your opinion is a partial agreement or balanced preference.
Introduction: Paraphrase topic. State which view you favour and why.
Body 1: Present View A fairly, then use a concession pivot ("while this has merit, it overlooks...") to introduce your argument.
Body 2: Fully develop your preferred view with reason and example.
Conclusion: Restate your position. Briefly acknowledge the other view.
Best when: you have a strong preference and want the essay to feel more like an argument than a report.
How to develop both views with TEXL
Apply TEXL (Topic, Explanation, Example, Link) to each view. Here is how it looks for a discussion essay on remote vs office work.
Topic sentence (the view)
"Some people argue that working from home increases overall productivity."
Explanation
"This is because employees avoid time-consuming commutes and can organize their working hours around their personal peak-performance periods."
Example
"A software developer who works remotely, for instance, can schedule deep-focus coding in the morning and administrative tasks later, rather than conforming to a fixed office schedule."
Link
"For these individuals, remote work clearly represents a more efficient and better-matched way of working."
Scored sample: Band 6 vs Band 7
Question: "Some people believe children should spend most of their free time doing homework and studying. Others believe free time should be for play and relaxation. Discuss both views and give your own opinion."
"Some people think children should study during free time because education is very important for the future. If children study a lot, they can get better grades. This helps them in life. Other people think free time is for playing. Children need to play and enjoy themselves. It is also good for health. I think both views are important and it is good to have a balance."
- Both views present -- but both are extremely thin.
- No development: "education is very important" is a claim, not an argument.
- Opinion ("it is good to have a balance") is vague and uncommitted -- no preference stated.
- No examples for either view.
"Those who advocate for structured study during leisure time argue that academic consistency is crucial in early development. The reasoning is that children who practise skills such as reading, mathematics, or a second language outside of school hours build the kind of cumulative knowledge base that class time alone cannot provide. A child who spends 30 minutes reading each evening, for example, may develop vocabulary and comprehension skills significantly ahead of peers who reserve reading exclusively for school.
Nevertheless, I find the counterargument ultimately more persuasive. Unstructured play is not simply recreational -- developmental psychology research consistently shows that children develop social intelligence, emotional regulation, and creative thinking most effectively through self-directed activity. A child who spends all available time on academic tasks risks burnout and the loss of formative developmental experiences that no school curriculum can replicate."
- View A fully developed with TEXL: claim, mechanism, concrete example.
- Opinion introduced naturally at the start of paragraph 2 ("I find the counterargument more persuasive").
- View B supported by a type of evidence ("developmental psychology research") not just a vague claim.
- Both paragraphs roughly equal in length and depth.
Discussion essay vocabulary
| Function | Phrases |
|---|---|
| Introduce View A | "Those who argue in favour of... contend that..." / "Proponents of this view suggest that..." / "From one perspective," |
| Introduce View B | "On the other hand, critics of this position argue..." / "An alternative perspective holds that..." / "Those who oppose this view maintain that..." |
| State your opinion | "I find the second argument more compelling because..." / "In my view, the balance of evidence supports..." / "While both views have merit, I believe..." |
| Concession pivot | "While this argument has a degree of validity, it overlooks..." / "Although this point is well made, it fails to account for..." |
| Conclude | "Having considered both perspectives, I maintain that..." / "While I acknowledge the validity of both positions, I am persuaded that..." |
Common mistakes and fixes
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| Introduction presents both views but has no opinion | Add "I believe / I find / I am persuaded that..." to the final sentence of the introduction. |
| Both views mixed inside one paragraph | One paragraph = one view. Start a new paragraph when shifting to the other side. |
| One view gets 100 words, the other gets 30 | Give each view its own full TEXL paragraph before the conclusion. |
| Conclusion is more neutral than the introduction | The conclusion must reconfirm the same opinion stated at the start. |
| Both views developed but opinion stated only as "it is good to find a balance" | State a clear preference even when you partially agree with both sides. |
Next step
FAQ
What is different about a discussion essay in IELTS?
A discussion essay ('Discuss both views and give your own opinion') requires you to present both sides of an argument fairly and then state your own position clearly. The key difference from a standard opinion essay is that you must give both views genuine development, not just token acknowledgement. Each view gets its own body paragraph.
Do I have to agree with one side completely?
No -- a balanced position ('both views have merit, however I lean slightly towards...') is fully acceptable. What matters is that your opinion is stated clearly and consistently. The examiner should never have to guess what you think. A vague or neutral conclusion after a well-balanced body is the most common way to drop Task Response marks in discussion essays.
Can I write one paragraph for each view?
Yes, and this is usually the clearest structure. Body paragraph 1 presents View A with a developed reason and example. Body paragraph 2 presents View B the same way. Your personal opinion can appear in the introduction (recommended), at the end of paragraph 2, or in the conclusion -- but it must be clear somewhere. Hiding it in a half-sentence at the end of paragraph 2 is not enough.
How do I introduce both views fairly without sounding like I have no opinion?
Use a thesis that acknowledges the legitimacy of both views while still indicating your stance. For example: 'Although both perspectives have considerable merit, I believe the argument for X is ultimately more convincing given its broader social impact.' This signals balance while still being clear about your position.
What is the difference between a discussion essay and an advantages/disadvantages essay?
A discussion essay ('some people believe... others argue...') presents two different opinions or perspectives about an issue. An advantages/disadvantages essay presents two aspects of the same position or policy (its benefits and its drawbacks). The question wording is the clearest signal: 'discuss both views' = discussion essay; 'discuss the advantages and disadvantages' = advantages/disadvantages essay.
How long should each body paragraph be in a discussion essay?
Each body paragraph should be roughly equal in length -- 80-110 words each. If one view gets 90 words and the other gets 30 words, the essay will be marked as unbalanced even if your language is strong. Equal development of both views is a specific requirement of the discussion essay format.
Can I use the concession structure in a discussion essay?
Yes -- and it is one of the most effective Band 7 techniques. A concession paragraph structure looks like this: 'While proponents of View A argue that X because Y, this perspective overlooks the reality that Z.' This structure allows you to present one view fairly, then introduce the counterargument naturally, signalling your own position without needing a separate opinion paragraph.