IELTS Writing · learn the shape from a story

The Opinion Essay

"To what extent do you agree or disagree?" — the most common Task 2 question. Meet its exact shape through a short story, then build your own.

The Gardener and the King

Read it once for pleasure. Notice how the gardener wins — you'll need her method in a moment.

The king strode into the palace garden with a plan. "This old oak will come down," he announced. "In its place I shall have a marble fountain, the finest in the land."

The gardener set down her tools and faced him. "Your Majesty," she said, "the tree must stay. I am certain of it." She did not hesitate, and she did not offer three timid maybes. She had one clear answer — and two good reasons.

"First, this tree is the life of the whole garden. Its shade keeps the roses from burning in July; its branches hold the nests of the songbirds you love; its roots draw up the water that feeds every flower-bed you see. Remove it, and the garden dies with it. Last summer the Duke felled his own oak — and within a year his gardens were bare and brown."

"Second, this tree is older than your crown. Your grandfather was crowned beneath it, in its shade, before the whole court. Cut it down, and you cut away the memory of your own house."

The king was silent for a long moment. Then he smiled. "The fountain can wait," he said. "The oak stays." And the gardener, who had known her own mind from her very first word, simply picked up her tools and returned to her work.

She didn't win because she was loud. She won because of the shape of her argument. Open The Shape to see it.

Her argument is the essay

The gardener's four moves are the four parts of an opinion essay. Same colours, all the way through this lesson.

In the story"The tree must stay. I am certain of it."
Introduction + ThesisRephrase the question, then state your position clearly and early. Pick one side.
In the story"First… the shade, the birds, the roots — the Duke's oak fell and his gardens died."
Body Paragraph 1Your first reason → explain it → give one real example.
In the story"Second… older than your crown; your grandfather was crowned beneath it."
Body Paragraph 2Your second reason → explain it → give one real example.
In the story"The oak stays." — she had known her mind from the first word.
ConclusionRestate your position. No new reasons — just as she added nothing new.

The three rules hidden in the story

1
Choose one side. She said "the tree must stay" — not "maybe." An opinion essay takes a clear position and holds it.
2
Two reasons, each with an example. Shade/birds/roots + the Duke's oak; heritage + the grandfather's coronation. Reason then evidence, every time.
3
The conclusion adds nothing new. She simply repeated her position and went back to work.

The same shape, a real question

Some people believe that a formal education is the only route to success in life. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Watch the four colours return — the gardener's argument, now in exam English.

Introduction + Thesis It is sometimes claimed that the only path to success in life is a formal education. While I accept that schooling and university bring clear advantages, I firmly disagree that they are the only route to success, which can equally be reached through experience, determination and talent.
Body Paragraph 1 — reason + example The main reason for my view is that practical experience and sheer determination can build success without academic qualifications. Many people who leave school early go on to master a trade or build a thriving business through hard work and on-the-job learning. A striking illustration is the verger in Somerset Maugham's famous story: though he could neither read nor write, he quietly built a chain of successful shops through shrewdness and effort alone. His wealth owed nothing to a classroom.
Body Paragraph 2 — reason + example Furthermore, formal education neither suits nor reaches everyone, yet success takes many forms. Gifted artists, athletes and entrepreneurs frequently rise to the top of their fields through talent and dedication rather than degrees. Several of the world's most influential technology founders, for example, abandoned university to pursue their ideas, and their work went on to transform entire industries. Their achievements came from vision and persistence, qualities that no examination can measure. Clearly, a diploma is not a precondition for a successful life.
Conclusion — restate, nothing new In conclusion, although a formal education undoubtedly opens many doors, I do not believe it is the only route to success. Experience, determination and natural ability can prove just as powerful — and sometimes more so. Education is valuable, but it is one path among many, not the only one.
Notice: one clear side (disagree), two reasons each with an example, and a conclusion that only restates. Exactly the gardener.

The exact phrases for each move

Keep these to hand while you write your own. One from each group is plenty.

Introduction — rephrase the question

It is sometimes argued that… Many people believe that… There is a widespread view that…

Thesis — state your side

In my opinion,… I firmly believe that… While I accept that…, I would argue that… I largely disagree with this view.

Start a reason

The main reason for this is that… Firstly,… A further point is that… Furthermore,…

Introduce your example

A striking illustration of this is… For example,… This can be seen in… A clear case is…

Conclusion — restate, add nothing

In conclusion,… To sum up,… Having considered both sides, I believe…

Now build your own

Some people think that professional sports stars are paid too much money. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Fill the skeleton first — thesis, two reasons, two examples — then write the full essay. Be the gardener: one side, two reasons, one example each.

Check it like an examiner

PositionI largely agree that top sports stars are paid too much.
Reason 1 + exampleTheir pay is out of proportion to their value to society — a footballer can earn in a week what a nurse earns in years, though nurses save lives.
Reason 2 + exampleHuge salaries come from ticket prices and broadcasting fees that ordinary fans ultimately pay — many families can no longer afford to watch their own team.
ConclusionWhile sport brings joy, these salaries are excessive; a fairer balance is needed.