IELTS Writing Task 2: how to write a 'discuss both views' essay
The 'discuss both views and give your own opinion' essay is the second most common IELTS Task 2 type — and the one people most often get wrong. The reason is simple: they discuss both sides but forget to give their own opinion, which the question explicitly asks for. Here's how to cover everything.
The four-paragraph shape
- Introduction: paraphrase the topic, note that there are two views, and state your own opinion.
- Body 1: explain the first view — the reasons people hold it, with an example.
- Body 2: explain the second view — its reasons and an example.
- Conclusion: summarise both views and restate which one you find more convincing.
Discuss both — but fairly
Even if you lean one way, both body paragraphs must genuinely present that side's reasoning, not knock it down in one line. A balanced discussion is what the question is testing. You can still make your own view clear — just don't skip a side.
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Take a free IELTS mock test →Don't forget YOUR opinion
This is the make-or-break for Task Response. 'And give your own opinion' is part of the task, so state your position clearly in the introduction and reinforce it in the conclusion. An essay that discusses both views but never commits to one caps at band 6, however well written.
One position, held consistently
Decide your view before you start and keep it steady. If you say you favour one side in the introduction, your conclusion must agree. A discussion essay still needs a clear, consistent stance — it just has to earn it by covering both sides first.