The Ultimate Guide to

WRITING TASK 2
Ho Ngoc Minh Thu
Ho Chi Minh City University of Education
Writing Task 2 Criteria

1. Task response
2. Coherence & cohesion
3. Lexical resource
4. Grammatical range &
accuracy
 Bước chung

1. Chọn quan điểm (đồng ý/không

đồng ý hoàn toàn/một phần...)
2. Cân bằng những quan sát và ý
kiến ​c á nhân của bạn với những
quan điểm khác nhau
3. Dựa trên kinh nghiệm của bạn
 1. Understanding the task
1.1. The words and phrases 1-8 are often used in Writing Task 2. Match them with
their correct meanings A-H.

1. to what extent A. connected to the topic

2. positive trend B. to give a summary of
3. a factor C. a means of achieving something
4. an approach D. to consider the different sides
5. to regard E. how far or how much
6. to outline F. to view or to judge
7. to discuss G. a change for the better
8. relevant H. an element or condition
 2. Planning and organising your ideas
2.1. For statements 1, 3 and 6, decide how much you agree. For the statements in
2, 4 and 5, decide which one you agree with. For each of the statements, explain
why you agree or disagree. Then give your opinion on the topic.
1. Children have to be educated, but they also have to be allowed to learn things for
themselves.
2. ‘Advertisements spoil our enjoyment of today’s entertainment.’ ‘I think the adverts
are often more enjoyable than the programmes they interrupt.’
3. The world would be a happier place if we all enjoyed our work.
4. Computers allow us to stay connected with each other. However, they also
encourage people not to go out and socialise.
5. Some countries reduce inner-city traffic by increasing public transport. Others
impose a tax on people who drive in the city.
6. Nowadays, more people are travelling to remote places, spreading their own
language and culture as a result.
 2. Planning and organising your ideas
2.2. You will lose marks if you include ideas that are not relevant to the question. Look
at these ideas that a candidate noted to answer the question. Cross out four ideas
that are not relevant to the task and should not be included.
1. Instant communication (e.g. emails/text
messages) means that it is difficult to
escape from work.
2. The Internet makes it easier to do
homework.
3. In my company, computers have replaced
many staff and have caused more
unemployment.
4. A friend of mine uses a social networking
site a great deal but we rarely see her.
5. Virtual friends made on the Internet
cannot be compared to our actual friends
and family.
 2. Planning and organising your ideas
2.2. You will lose marks if you include ideas that are not relevant to the question.
Look at these ideas that a candidate noted to answer the question. Cross out four
ideas that are not relevant to the task and should not be included.
6. I learned to type using a computer
program, these programs make it easy to
understand computers and make learning
fun.
7. My cousin travelled for a year but kept in
touch with his family every day.
8. With more and more technological
advances, our society will continue to
develop faster and faster.
9. Through the Internet, we can share
memories with people who are far away.
 2. Planning and organising your ideas
2.3. Decide which of the remaining ideas from 2 can be put together into the same
paragraph. Put the ideas from 2 into the correct box below.

For: the Internet helps us to stay connected Against: the Internet isolates us

1. Instant communication (e.g. emails/text messages) means that it is difficult to

escape from work.
2. A friend of mine uses a social networking site a great deal but we rarely see her.
3. Virtual friends made on the Internet cannot be compared to our actual friends
and family.
4. My cousin travelled for a year but kept in touch with his family every day.
5. Through the Internet, we can share memories with people who are far away.
 3. Writing an introduction
3.1. Match the introductory sentences A-D below to Writing Task 2 questions 1-6.
1. Children have to be educated, but they also A. Each year, there are more and more cars on our
have to be allowed to learn things for streets creating congestion and causing delays.
themselves. To what extent do you agree or There are several ways that local governments can
disagree with this view? try to solve these problems.
2. ‘Advertisements spoil our enjoyment of B. Unless we are born into wealth, we all need to find
today’s entertainment.’ ‘I think the adverts are a way to earn a living. For many, our working life
often more enjoyable than the programmes takes up most of our waking hours and this can
they interrupt.’ Discuss both statements and make us very unhappy indeed.
give your own opinion. C. As a society, we have a duty to teach our young
3. The world would be a happier place if we all people. However, there are some lessons that we
enjoyed our work. To what extent do you agree need to learn for ourselves.
or disagree with this view? D. Marketing involves teaching as many people as
possible about a product. There is no better way to
reach people than through television, popular
culture and the internet.
 3. Writing an introduction
3.1. Match the introductory sentences A-D below to Writing Task 2 questions 1-6.
4. Computers allow us to stay connected with A. Each year, there are more and more cars on our
each other. However, they also encourage streets creating congestion and causing delays.
people not to go out and socialise. Discuss both There are several ways that local governments can
statements and give your own opinion. try to solve these problems.
5. Some countries reduce inner-city traffic by B. Unless we are born into wealth, we all need to find
increasing public transport. Others impose a tax a way to earn a living. For many, our working life
on people who drive in the city. What are the takes up most of our waking hours and this can
advantages and disadvantages of each make us very unhappy indeed.
system? C. As a society, we have a duty to teach our young
6. Nowadays, most people are traveling to people. However, there are some lessons that we
remote places, spreading their own language need to learn for ourselves.
and culture as a result. To what extent do you D. Marketing involves teaching as many people as
think this is a positive trend? possible about a product. There is no better way to
reach people than through television, popular
culture and the internet.
 3. Writing an introduction
3.2. In this introduction for the Writing Task in 2.2, too many words have been copied
from the question. Improve the introduction by replacing the underlined phrases.
Use the word from the box.

keep in touch however

anywhere in the world obsession
stay at home see their friends

The Internet is a wonderful tool that

helps us to stay connected with each
other no matter where we are. On the
other hand, some websites encourage
us not to socialise.
 3. Writing an introduction
3.2. In this introduction for the Writing Task in 2.1, too many words have been copied
from the question. Improve the introduction by replacing the underlined phrases.
Use the word from the box.
Step 1: Paraphrase
The Internet is a wonderful tool that
helps us to keep in touch. However,
some websites stay at home.
Step 2: Explain what you intend to write
about and give a brief response to the
question
While there might be some support to
the latter viewpoint, I agree with the
former statement for many reasons.
 4. Linking ideas - Cohesion
4.1. The following words and phrases are all used to connect sentences and ideas
together. Put them into the correct place in the list, according to how they are used.
that is because of however in spite of furthermore in addition
on the other hand consequently while so despite
such as as a result whereas for instance not only ... but also
although also in fact

Connecting similar ideas:

Connecting different ideas:
Clarifying an idea:
Giving examples:
Giving a reason or conclusion:
 4. Linking ideas - Cohesion
4.2. Choose the correct words
1. Advertisements provide vital revenue for the entertainment industry. Consequently /
Despite, without adverts people could lose certain forms of entertainment altogether.
2. Nowadays, the internet has become an indispensable business tool. Although / In
fact, many people would find it very difficult to get through a working way without it.
3. The internet brings the world into everyone’s home. Also / However, some individuals
want to shut out the outside world from time to time.
4. Schools can give children academic knowledge. Whereas / Furthermore, at school,
children can learn social skills.
5. Many people today spend time on social networking sites. As a result / For example,
Facebook and Instagram are both used around the world to help people stay
connected.
 4. Linking ideas - Cohesion
4.3. Which connectors in the box could also be used to link the ideas in 4.2?
In addition On the other hand In other words For instance As a result
1. Advertisements provide vital revenue for the entertainment industry. Consequently,
without adverts people could lose certain forms of entertainment altogether.
2. Nowadays, the internet has become an indispensable business tool. In fact, many
people would find it very difficult to get through a working way without it.
3. The internet brings the world into everyone’s home. However, some individuals want
to shut out the outside world from time to time.
4. Schools can give children academic knowledge. Furthermore, at school, children can
learn social skills.
5. Many people today spend time on social networking sites. For example, Facebook
and Instagram are both used around the world to help them stay connected.
 5. Lexical Resource - Avoiding repetition
5.1. Extracts 1-5 repeat the same vocabulary. Improve them by replacing the
underlined phrases with a suitable synonym for the box and the appropriate pronoun.
funding system natural resources facilities method technology
1. We depend on oil, coal and gas for the majority of our energy needs. However, oil, coal and gas
will one day run out.
2. Remote and rural areas may initially seem like idyllic places to live but they often lack hospitals,
shops and schools. Living without easy access to hospitals, shops and schools can make life very
difficult indeed.
3. Governments sometimes try to encourage innovation by offering grants. This is not always
effective because special grants are often difficult to obtain.
4. Some teachers ask students to simply copy down texts from a blackboard. However, copying
down texts does not help students to become independent or flexible in their use of language.
5. In my country, cars driving through the city centre are charged a toll. Charging a toll has been
a success because the traffic has decreased considerably.
5. Lexical Resource - Using the correct style
5.2. Sentences 1-6 contain one example of incorrect style. Find the mistakes and
correct them.
1. Children with no access to education are most likely gonna end up in manual jobs.
2. Two of the major problems we are facing today are global warming & increased
pollution.
3. A lot of our modern conveniences are contributing to our unhealthy lifestyle, e.g. we
often use a car instead of walking to the local shops.
4. Some businesses think it is OK to simply dump toxic waste and pay the necessary fine.
5. Kids of any age need the right type of guidance.
6. I find that the internet helps me a lot when I travel. I can use it to book flights, find a hotel,
get maps, etc.
 6. Expressing a personal view
Your Writing Task 2 answer should give your own VIEWS ON or ATTITUDE TO the
topic. One way to show this is by using:
A. Adverbs such as personally, probably, generally...
B. Modals such as might, could, ...
C. Phrases such as in my view, in my opinion, from my opinion,
in my perspective, I think/feel/realise/believe/imagine...
D. Verbs such as appear to be, seem to be, ...

These can help to stress your ideas or change them from a simple fact to a personal
opinion.
For example:
Travelling is dangerous. -> Travelling can be dangerous.
Most people agree with me. -> I think most people would agree with me.
6. Expressing a personal view - Reaching a conclusion
6.1. These concluding sentences all contain a mistake. Find the mistakes and
correct them.

1. In conclusion, I completely disagree this view.

2. As far as I am concern, this is a problem without any real solution.
3. In conclude, there are both negatives and positives to this system,
but the negatives seem to far outweigh the positives.
4. In my point of view, education is a vital part of every child’s life.
 7. Paragraph organisation
A good paragraph consists of:
a topic sentence (TS)
developing sentences (D1, D2, D3 etc.)
a rounding off / re-stating sentence (RO)
7. Paragraph organisation