How to Identify & Answer Two-part Question Types in IELTS Writing Task 2

In this article, we'll discuss Two-part question types and look at how to identify them and
what essay structure you should use to answer them. After learning about this question type,
you'll get a chance to look at some practice questions and a complete sample essay.

How to identify Two-part question types in IELTS Writing Task 2

The essay structure for the Two-part essay
Free IELTS Writing Task 2 Two-part Sample Questions and Model Essays
More IELTS Writing Task 2 Two-part Practice Questions
How to Identify IELTS Writing Two-part Question Types
In an Two-part question type, you will be given two questions and you will need to
answer both questions. The two questions will be different. For example, you might need to
assess the importance of an idea or action (e.g. How import is it?) and say whether you agree or
disagree (e.g. Do you agree or disagree?). Here is an example question:

In education and employment, some people work harder than others. Why do some people work
harder? Is it always a good thing to work hard?

Now let's look at how to structure your essay for a Two-part question.

IELTS Writing Task 2 Essay Structure - Two-part

Since you will have two questions to address, this is the best way to map out your ideas for the
This is the best way to map out your ideas for the Two Part Essay:

I. Introduction
II. First Question
III. Second Question
IV. Conclusion

Below, we will detail how each paragraph should be written.

Introduction - In general, you will need 2-3 sentences for this paragraph. Since this is the first
paragraph of your essay, you should paraphrase the questions that were given to you. In other
words, rewrite the questions in your own words using synonyms. This will help you in a few
ways. First, it will guarantee that your essay is on target and following the theme given to you in
the questions. Secondly, it will give you a chance to show the examiners that you have a wide
range of vocabulary and can call upon synonyms when necessary. The second sentence will
introduce the specific topics that you plan to discuss in your main body paragraphs. Therefore,
your introduction paragraph should look like:

Rewritten Questions - Paraphrasing both questions (1-2 sentences)

Outline/Opinion Sentence - This is where you will outline the essay. Remember: Your opinion
will be embedded throughout the essay, but this is not an opinion essay.
First Question - This paragraph should be about 4-5 sentences long. In this paragraph, you will
describe the specific views with explanations, details, or examples. The paragraph should look
like this:

Topic Sentence - This will introduce the first question.

Explanation/Detail of First Question
Result - This is where you answer the question.
Example to Support the Result

Second Question - This paragraph should be about 4-5 sentences long. In this paragraph, you
will describe the specific views with explanations, details, or examples. The paragraph should
look like this:

Topic Sentence - This will introduce the second question.

Explanation/Detail of Second Question
Result - This is where you answer the question.
Example to Support the Result
Conclusion - This paragraph will wrap everything up, and it is not the time to add any new
information into your essay. This paragraph should be around 2-4 sentences, and include the
following information:

Summary of the Main Points (1-2 sentences)

Recommendation or Prediction (1-2 sentences)
In short, here is what the final Paragraph Planner would look like for this outline:

I. Introduction
A. Rewritten Questions (1-2 sentences)
B. Outline/Opinion Sentence (1 sentence)
II. First Question
A. Topic Sentence (1 sentence)
B. Explanation/Detail of First Question (1 sentence)
C. Result (1 sentence)
D. Example to Support the Result (1 sentence)
III. Second Question
A. Topic Sentence (1 sentence)
B. Explanation/Detail of Second Question (1 sentence)
C. Result (1 sentence)
D. Example to Support the Result (1 sentence)
IV. Conclusion
A. Summary of the Main Points (1-2 sentences)
B. Recommendation or Prediction (1-2 sentences)
By the way: we have built the world's best online IELTS course. Get online IELTS practice and
individual grading and feedback on Speaking and Writing.
To be fair, it's possible to get a good IELTS score studying alone. But Bestmytest is the world's
most effective IELTS course if you are worried about the IELTS and are struggling to improve
your score.
IELTS Writing Two-part Sample Question and Model Essay
Question: Nowadays, the way many people interact with each other has changed because of
technology. In what ways has technology affected the types of relationships people make? Has
this become a positive or negative development?
Model Essay
Introduction:

These days, the relationship people have with each other has been affected by advancements
in technology. There are several ways in which relationships have been negatively affected by
technology. (29 words)

Paragraph 1:

Technology has greatly impacted relationships. One of the major ways is that nowadays, people
have more acquaintances and fewer close friends. For example, many people may have hundreds
and thousands of friends on social media websites like Facebook as it is easy to connect through
these websites. Thus, technology has led to less face-to-face interaction between people. Because
using social media sites has become an integral part of the lives of many people these days and
connecting with others has become so much easier as a result of such sites, most people spend
more time online chatting with their friends than actually meeting them face-to-face. (105
words)

Paragraph 2:

I believe that the above changes have been negative. Firstly, people now feel lonelier as they
spend more time with the computer rather than with other human beings. Studies have shown
that people need real face-to-face interaction if they want to remain emotionally healthy, and the
lack of such communication has made many people become lonely and even depressed.
Consequently, many people who use technology to communicate with others are gradually losing
important social skills. These days, it is very common for people to communicate and express
themselves using emoticons or other forms of expression that are common online. However, an
unfortunate consequence of all this is that people do not know how to express themselves
properly using their body language or tone of expression. (124 words)

Conclusion:

To sum up, people have fewer close friends and have less direct contact with people due to
technology. This development is negative as it is easier for people to feel lonely because of this
and they are becoming less adept in social situations. Given this situation, it is recommended that
people should seek to spend less time on electronic devices in order to improve their
relationships with others. (68 words)

Total Word Count: 326 words

Note: This type of essay will most likely have the highest amount of words. Why? Because you
are fully answering two questions.

IELTS Writing Task 2 - Two-Part Question Questions

This section presents a list of common IELTS Writing Task 2 - Two-Part Question questions. If
you want to prepare for the IELTS Writing Test, these questions are a must study.

Question 1: Many people prefer to watch foreign films rather than locally produced films. Why
could this be?Should governments give more financial support to local film industries?
Question 2: Success is often measured in wealth and material belongings. Does wealth measure
success? What makes a successful person?
Question 3: The internet is a good source of information and opened up opportunities for people
all over the world. Is all information reliable online?What could be done to control information
online?
Question 4: Art and music are considered some of the fundamental elements of society. Do you
think art and music still have a place in today’s modern world of technology?Should children
spend more time learning art and music at school?
Question 5: It is often said “when in Rome, do as the Romans do. ” Do you think people should
adapt and accept the culture of the country they visit?Do you think it is possible to learn a culture
without learning the language?
Question 6: Happiness is considered very important in life. Why is it difficult to define? What
factors are important in achieving happiness?
Question 7: News editors decide what to broadcast on television and what to print in newspapers.
What factors do you think influence these decisions? Do you think that there is too much
emphasis on bad news these days?