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IELTS Writing Task 2: Why Students Go Off Topic (And How to Stay Focused)

Why This Happens

Let’s be blunt. If your essay doesn’t actually answer the question, you can’t score well — no matter how good your grammar or vocabulary are.

The official IELTS band descriptors make it clear:

  • Band 7: “Addresses all parts of the task.”

  • Band 6: “Addresses the task only partially.”

That’s where a lot of students fall flat. They misunderstand the question, panic, or try to squeeze in memorised answers. And suddenly they’re off in their own little essay world — confident, fluent, and totally irrelevant.
So let’s fix that.

What Does “Off Topic” Look Like?

Going off topic does not mean:

  • Using the wrong words

  • Weak arguments

  • Poor structure

It means this:
You are not directly answering the question that was asked.

Let’s break it down:

Example of a Bad Start

Task Question:
More people are choosing to work from home.
Do you think this is a positive or negative development?

Off-topic introduction:
In the modern world, people face many challenges when it comes to balancing work and life. Work-life balance is very important, and technology now plays a large role in people’s careers.

Why it’s wrong:

  • No mention of working from home

  • No clear opinion (positive or negative)

  • Waffle. Nothing the examiner can actually assess

This happens all the time — especially when students write about the topic itself, instead of directly answering the question.

The Fix: Read. Plan. Answer.

Here’s the truth:
If you spend 3–4 minutes properly understanding the question, you’ll avoid 95% of Task Response issues.

Use this checklist:

  • Have I read exactly what’s being asked?

  • What type of essay is it? (Opinion? Problem/Solution?)

  • Have I used a structure that fits that type?

  • Does my introduction clearly show I understand the task?

  • Are my body paragraphs directly supporting my answer?

And if you don’t trust yourself to stay focused, use the ABC brainstorm system.

Use the Brainstorm Grid

You already know the structure. One quick idea for each side of the argument, drawn from these five categories:

  • A: Work (jobs, pay, commuting, etc.)

  • B: Health (physical, mental, access to care)

  • C: Education (school, university, prison education)

  • D: Environment (climate, pollution, lifestyle)

  • E: Family & Society (social media, family life, communication)

Quick point → Quick extension (3–4 words). That’s it.
Do this before writing, every single time.

Answer the Actual Question

Sounds obvious. It isn’t.
Here’s the classic mistake:

Task:
In many countries, more and more people are choosing to live alone.
Why is this the case? Is this a positive or negative development?

Mistake:
Writing about loneliness or social media in general, with no reference to living alone, no explanation of causes, and no opinion.
Even well-written essays get capped at Band 6 if they go off the rails like this.

Final Word

IELTS isn’t testing your creativity.
It’s testing whether you can respond logically and clearly to a question under pressure.

Memorised templates, generic ideas, and ignoring keywords will bury your score.

So slow down.
Read carefully.
Use your structure.
And answer the question.
That’s it.

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