The prompt asks for your view on a statement or claim. You must decide whether you agree, disagree, or partly agree — and then develop a clear, supported argument. This is not a discussion of "both sides" — you take a position and defend it.
Recognising the question type
Typical prompt patterns:
▸ "To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?"
▸ "Do you agree or disagree? Give your opinion and include relevant examples."
▸ "…What is your opinion?" (careful: if the question gives two views, it is a discussion essay, not this one)
Structure: Two common approaches
A
Full agreement / disagreement (cleaner, safer)
Intro (state position clearly) → Body 1 (reason 1 + support) → Body 2 (reason 2 + support) → Conclusion (restate position). Both body paragraphs support the same side.
B
Partial agreement (more nuanced, higher risk)
Intro (state partial position) → Body 1 (concede opposing point) → Body 2 (your main argument — stronger point) → Conclusion (reaffirm your position). Your opinion must dominate, not balance.
Which approach should you choose?
If you are confident in your ideas and language, approach B can score higher for sophistication. However, many students lose marks by appearing to give a balanced view rather than a personal position — this fails the task achievement criterion. If in doubt, commit to one side fully (approach A) and develop your arguments deeply. A well-developed full agreement essay scores higher than a half-hearted partial one.
Think about this:
Some students try to avoid giving a strong opinion in an opinion essay. Why might they do this? What risk does it create in IELTS?
Is it possible to strongly disagree with a statement even if you personally agree with it in real life? Should you?
Writing with a neutral academic tone
Opinion essays ask for your view — but that doesn't mean informal language. IELTS rewards formal, measured writing. Compare these examples.
✗ Too casual / weak
"I really think that community work is a great thing and everyone should do it."
✓ Formal and measured
"I strongly believe that community service plays a vital role in building social cohesion and should be encouraged more widely."
✗ Too absolute
"Advertising to children is totally wrong and should be completely banned immediately."
✓ Measured and academic
"There is a compelling argument that advertising targeting children raises serious ethical concerns and warrants stricter regulation."
Useful phrases for stating your position
I firmly believe thatStrong, clear position. I firmly believe that all young people should be encouraged to volunteer in their local communities.
In my view, / In my opinion,Standard, neutral opinion marker. Use once — don't repeat throughout the essay. In my view, the benefits of this policy far outweigh the drawbacks.
It is my contention thatFormal, academic. Good for the introduction or conclusion. It is my contention that governments bear primary responsibility for environmental protection.
While there are merits to both positions, I would argue thatAcknowledges complexity before committing to a position. While there are merits to both positions, I would argue that individual responsibility plays a greater role.
You want to say: "I think volunteering is important."
→ Rewrite using a more formal, developed phrase.
I strongly believe that volunteering is an invaluable practice that benefits not only the individual but also the wider community.
You want to say: "Advertising to kids is bad."
→ Rewrite in a neutral, academic register.
It is my contention that commercial advertising directed at young children is ethically problematic and should be subject to greater regulatory oversight.
Discuss:
Can you explain the difference between I think and it is my contention that in terms of register? When would each be appropriate?
Building a strong argument paragraph
Each body paragraph in an opinion essay should follow a clear pattern: state your point → explain why → give support.
1
Topic sentence
State your main point for this paragraph clearly.
2
Explanation
Explain why this point is true or significant. Don't just restate it.
3
Example or evidence
Support with a specific example, statistic, or real-world reference. This shows depth.
4
Link back to position
End with a sentence that connects this point back to your overall argument.
Model argument paragraph
Read this paragraph and identify each of the four steps above.
[A] One significant advantage of requiring young people to participate in voluntary community work is the development of key social and professional skills. [B] When individuals work alongside people from different backgrounds towards a shared goal, they naturally develop communication, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities that are difficult to teach in a classroom setting. [C] In Germany, for example, tens of thousands of school-leavers every year spend a voluntary social year working in hospitals, schools or care homes, and many say it gave them confidence and a clearer sense of direction. [D] This suggests that exposure to voluntary work at a young age has benefits that extend well beyond the immediate task itself, supporting the case for its wider adoption.
[A] Topic sentence → [B] Explanation → [C] Example / evidence → [D] Link back to position
Vocabulary for building arguments
Furthermore / MoreoverAdd another supporting point. Furthermore, research indicates that voluntary work improves mental wellbeing.
This suggests thatDraw a conclusion from evidence. This suggests that early exposure to volunteering has lasting benefits.
For instance / For exampleIntroduce a supporting example. For instance, many community health programmes rely entirely on volunteer networks.
It is widely acknowledged thatPresent a view as broadly held — useful for adding weight to a claim. It is widely acknowledged that volunteering fosters empathy and social responsibility.
Discuss:
Think about a topic you feel strongly about — education, technology, work-life balance. Can you build a two-sentence argument using the topic sentence + explanation pattern?
Plan your essay
📝 The prompt:
Some people believe that young people should be required to do voluntary community work. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this view?
Reason 2: Strengthens community bonds — young people gain perspective on social needs; helps reduce divisions and build civic identity.
Step 3 — Supporting examples for each reason?
Reason 1 support: Countries with national service programmes show higher rates of civic participation and employment readiness among young adults.
Reason 2 support: Community projects — food banks, environmental clean-ups, elderly care — depend on volunteer networks to function. Young volunteers directly meet real social needs.
Discuss:
Does your country have any form of compulsory national or community service? What is your personal opinion on the idea?
Write your essay
Use the community work prompt from Tab 4, or choose the alternative below. Aim for 250–280 words.
Alternative prompt:
Some people argue that governments should spend more money on public healthcare than on arts and culture. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
40:00
Before you submit — check your essay:
Exam practice — on your own
This is a real exam question. Give yourself the full forty minutes and write a complete answer of at least 250 words. Plan briefly, write, then check. There are no structure prompts this time — this is as close to the real test as practice gets.
Real exam question — Cambridge IELTS 16
Many manufactured food and drink products contain high levels of sugar, which causes many health problems. Sugary products should be made more expensive to encourage people to consume less sugar. Do you agree or disagree?
40:00
Finished? Compare with a model
Write your own answer first. Then reveal a Band 9 model — to compare structure, position and language, not to copy.
It is true that excessive sugar consumption is linked to a range of serious health conditions. I completely agree that raising the price of sugary products is a justified and effective way of reducing how much sugar people consume.
The most powerful argument in favour of this measure is that price strongly influences behaviour. When a product becomes more expensive, demand for it almost always falls, and sugar is no exception. Mexico provides a clear illustration: after the government introduced a tax on sugar-sweetened drinks, sales of those drinks dropped significantly within two years, particularly among low-income households who are most at risk of diet-related illness. This demonstrates that financial pressure can change habits in a way that health warnings alone rarely achieve.
A further reason to support higher prices is that the cost of treating sugar-related diseases ultimately falls on society as a whole. Conditions such as type 2 diabetes and obesity place an enormous burden on public healthcare systems, funded by taxpayers. It is therefore reasonable for those who consume these products to contribute more towards the costs they generate. The additional revenue raised can also be reinvested in health education and subsidised healthy food, addressing the criticism that such taxes unfairly affect the poor.
In conclusion, although some may argue that individuals should be free to make their own choices, I firmly believe that making sugary products more expensive is a sensible policy. It reduces harmful consumption and helps fund the health services that deal with its consequences.