IELTS Writing Task 2 Topics with Answers (2026 Practice List)

Question 1: Some people believe that all university students should study a subject unrelated to their degree, such as art or history. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Model answer

University is often seen as a place to become an expert in one field. However, some people argue that every student should also take at least one course outside their specialism, such as history for engineers or art for medical students. I largely agree with this view, although I believe the extra subject should be chosen by the student rather than imposed.

The main argument in favour is that most real problems cross subject boundaries. An engineer designing a new bridge, for example, must consider how local communities will use it, which is a question of history and society as much as physics. Graduates who have studied a contrasting subject are more likely to notice these wider issues. A second benefit is that an unfamiliar subject trains different ways of thinking. A science student who writes a history essay has to weigh conflicting sources and build an argument, skills that are rarely practised in a laboratory.

On the other hand, there are fair concerns. Degrees in fields such as medicine or law are already demanding, and adding a compulsory unrelated course could increase stress or extend the length of study. There is also a risk that students treat the extra subject as a box to tick and learn very little. For these reasons, the requirement should be modest, perhaps one course per year, and students should be free to pick a subject that genuinely interests them.

In conclusion, I agree that university students benefit from studying beyond their main discipline, because it prepares them for complex problems and develops flexible thinking. Provided the workload is kept reasonable and students have a choice of subject, this kind of requirement would make graduates more capable rather than simply busier.

Question 5: Many office employees now work from home for part of the week. Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?

Model answer

Over the past few years, working from home for two or three days a week has become normal for many office employees. This change has clear benefits for workers, but it also creates problems for city centres. In my view, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, as long as cities adapt.

For workers, the most obvious gain is time. Someone who spends ninety minutes travelling each day saves four and a half hours a week by working from home three days out of five, time which can be used for rest, family or exercise. Remote work also gives people more control over their surroundings, which helps many of them concentrate on tasks that need deep focus, such as writing reports. For cities, fewer daily commuters means less pressure on roads and public transport at peak hours, and lower traffic emissions.

However, there are drawbacks. Some employees, especially younger staff, miss the informal learning that happens when they sit near experienced colleagues. Working alone can also blur the line between work and home life, leading to longer hours rather than shorter ones. City centres face a different problem: cafés, shops and other businesses that depend on office workers lose customers on remote working days, and some may close.

Despite these issues, I believe the benefits are greater, because the problems can be managed. Companies can schedule shared office days for training and teamwork, and city councils can encourage owners to convert empty office buildings into homes, which would bring residents and spending back into the centre.

In conclusion, part-time home working saves employees time and reduces congestion, while its main disadvantages, isolation for some workers and lost trade in city centres, can be reduced through sensible planning. On balance, it is a positive development.

Question 3 (two-part): Why do parents pay for extra tuition, and is it a good idea?

• Introduction: paraphrase, then answer both parts briefly: competition for places; helpful in moderation.
• Body 1 (why): competitive entrance exams; large class sizes; parents working long hours.
• Body 2 (good idea?): targeted help for weak subjects, but risk of tiredness and less free time.
• Conclusion: useful for specific gaps, harmful if it fills every evening.

Question 11 (discussion): Individuals vs governments on the environment

• Body 1: why governments matter most: laws on industry, investment in clean energy and public transport.
• Body 2: why individuals matter: daily choices add up; public pressure changes policy.
• Opinion: both are needed, but government action has the larger effect.

Question 13 (problem/solution): Cheap clothes thrown away quickly

• Causes: low prices, fast-changing fashion on social media, clothes made to last only a short time.
• Solutions: repair and resale schemes, labels showing how long garments last, school lessons on mending.