I nte r nati o nal e n g LI s h lan g uag e testi n g syste m

In order to improve a country’s education system, young students should be 

allowed to openly criticize their teachers during class time.  What is your 

opinion?  What are some other ways education systems could be improved?

Did you notice the two sets of action words?  They are:

1. What is your opinion?

2. What are some other ways education systems could be improved?

The ‘do you agree or disagree’ portion of the question is asking for the student’s 

position on the subject, and this can be answered in a single sentence.

The ‘what are some other ways education systems could be improved’ question re-

quires a more in-depth response.

In the following example essay, blue and green text has been used to indicate pre-

cisely where the essay addresses each of the task’s questions:

---

IELTS Academic and General Task 2: How to write at a band 9 level

59