Hi
In a recent IELTS seminar on how to write a better essay for your IELTS test, I got asked about how to answer a particular type of IELTS writing task 2 question.
The type of question the candidate was uncertain about is the one that asks ‘To what extent do you agree or disagree?‘.
I get asked this question a lot, and so I’d like to answer it here by looking at an example from the official IELTS website.
It is inevitable that as technology develops so traditional cultures must be lost. Technology and tradition are incompatible – you cannot have both together.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
To answer this question, the first thing you need to do is understand what opinion you have to agree or disagree with. In this case, the opinion is that it is inevitable (i.e. certain) that the development of technology will result in the loss of traditional cultures.
You then have to decide if you agree with this opinion completely, partially or not at all.
In your essay, you could…
- explain why you agree completely with this opinion
or…
- explain why you disagree completely with this opinion
or…
- explain why you partially agree with this opinion, i.e. explain why technological development will result in the loss of some but not all traditional cultures.
In other words, this type of essay question is asking ‘How much do you agree with the opinion?‘.
Check out my post ‘Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?‘ to see another type of IELTS writing task 2 question.
Pete
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Hello
I have already seen some indications somewhere as not to worry much about how smart or logical our answers are supposed to look like…;)
but really, it doesn’t matter what view are you taking?? for instance in the case of “development of technology will result in the loss of traditional cultures” – I agree only partially but – for the sake of argument – I think I’d be better of to take the “totally agree” side as it would be easier to organize the writing.
Will not the examiner penalize me for, say, “unrealistic approach” or something..;)
If an answer choice shapes up to be something widely acknowledged as common sense and the others not so – then what???
sorry if I am out of line here but I really need to make sure of this.
Best regards!
Thanks for your question, Ciprian.
When the examiner reads your essay, he/she will look to see if your ideas are relevant (i.e. related to the exact topic of the essay question), extended (i.e. fully explained) and supported with examples.
So, the good news is that if your opinion is directly related to the essay question and you explain and support your ideas, it won’t make any difference to your score if the examiner agrees with your opinion or not.
Here’s what it says in the public version of the officlal IELTS band score descriptors for a band score 8.0:
Hope that puts your mind at rest,
Pete
Thank you Pete, I just needed to confirm as I desperately need a score of 8.
Ciprian
Hello,
Thank you for the informative text. I desperately need to be enlightened.
Assume that I completely agree with the opinion. In my body paragraph, should I also include a paragraph to criticize the opposite opinion.
I mean, I have some choices for the body paragraph :
1) 2-3 paragraphs that completely supports the idea in 2-3 perspectives. But should not criticize the disadvantages of my idea nor criticize the opposite opinion.
2) 2 paragraphs to support the idea and 1 paragraph to criticize my own opinion.
3) 2 paragraphs to support the idea and 1 paragraph to criticize the opposite opinion.
4) 2 paragraphs to support the idea and 1 paragraph to compare my idea with the opposite opinion.
Which one should I choose? I am actually confused because everywhere there are different examples. Thank you very very much for your help.
Thanks for your question, Jack.
You were right when you said you have some choices for the body paragraphs in your essay; you could use any of your four options to answer this type of IELTS essay question.
The option you should choose really depends on the ideas you have at the time.
If you can’t think of any ideas to support one side of the argument, then you should use your first option.
Pete