How to Read IELTS Questions

Why This Matters

If you don’t fully understand the question, nothing else you write matters.
You can have perfect grammar, a flawless structure, and elegant vocabulary — and still score Band 6 because your essay misses the point.

Examiners call this poor Task Response, and it’s one of the most common reasons candidates never break Band 7.
This page is here to fix that.

What the Examiner Sees When You Get It Wrong

Imagine a question asks:

What are the causes of this problem, and how can it be solved?

But you write about:

• Why the problem is serious

• What you think about it

• Whether governments or individuals are responsible

That’s a fail.
Not because your English is bad — but because you didn’t do what you were told.
The test is called Task 2 for a reason.

The Truth About IELTS Writing Questions

Most questions follow familiar patterns.
You don’t need to be a genius — you just need to train your brain to spot what the examiner is really asking.

Here’s the golden rule:

If you misread the task, your whole essay collapses.

Step-by-Step: How to Read the Question Properly

1. Spot the Essay Type

This tells you which structure to use.
No guesswork. Just label it and load the right skeleton.

Examples:

• Opinion essays → Clear stance needed

• Discussion essays → Balanced view with opinion

• Problem/Solution essays → Causes + Solutions

• Outweigh essays → Argument for one side being stronger

• Two-Part essays → Two separate questions answered directly

If you mislabel the essay, you’ll use the wrong structure — and your score sinks.

2. Turn the Statement into a Question

This is your secret weapon.
It forces your brain to interact with the task and stops you from skimming.

Example:

Statement:

Large numbers of people are now able to travel overseas thanks to the growth of budget airlines.

Turn it into a question:

Is this a positive or negative development?

Now answer that question clearly in your mind before you write a single word.
This works for every type — but especially for Discussion and Outweigh essays.

3. Identify the Keywords (Not Just the Topic)

Every question has two parts:

• A general topic

• A specific angle

You must spot both.

Example:

Topic: International travel
Angle: Budget airlines, positive or negative development

Mistakes happen when students write a general essay about tourism.
Or go off-topic into climate change or airplane safety.
The examiner knows instantly whether you spotted the angle — or just regurgitated something you learned.

Warning: Two-Part Questions Are Where Good Students Fail

Take this:

Many young children have unsupervised access to the internet and are using it to socialise with others.
This can lead to dangerous situations.
What problems do children face?
How can these be solved?

If you don’t structure your brainstorm around those exact two questions, your whole essay falls apart.
It doesn’t matter how strong your English is — if you write about screen time or the internet in general, it’s Band 6.

Final Word

This is the simplest skill that makes the biggest difference.
Before you write:

1. Identify the type

2. Turn it into a question

3. Focus your answer on the specific angle, not just the general topic

4. Don’t guess. Don’t improvise.

5. If you don’t understand the question, stop and read it again.

Want to Practise?

Try paraphrasing and preparing this IELTS Task 2 question:

Some people think that parents should teach children how to be good members of society.
Others believe this should be taught in schools.
Discuss both these views and give your opinion.

Questions to Ask Yourself:

• What’s the type?

• What’s the real question behind the statement?

• How would you answer it — clearly and directly?