A Complete Guide On How To Write An IELTS Opinion Essay

The IELTS opinion essay comes up frequently in writing task 2. Task 2 can cover a wide range of essay topics for the IELTS writing task section of the test. Practicing how to write different types of essays is the key to writing a winning essay in IELTS. An opinion essay is a challenging one and it is often referred to as an ‘agree/disagree type of essay. 

This essay is mainly focused on agreeing or disagreeing with information or a particular statement. The question has generally two views, and test-takers need to develop an argument or an opinion in response to the issue. So, how to write opinion essays for IELTS? Read some opinion essay IELTS sample answers to get the basics right. You can refer to the samples in this article for a better understanding. 

How to Understand an IELTS Opinion Essay? 

Look for the following question patterns: 

• Agree/disagree
• What is your opinion? 
• Give your opinion
• To what extent do you agree or disagree? 
• Do you agree or disagree? 

If the question contains any of these, it is an opinion essay type. Now, have a look at a few samples to learn how to write an opinion essay IELTS.

Sample 1 on IELTS opinion essay

Social networking sites are beneficial on an individual level, but for a community as a whole, it does have a negative impact. Give your opinion.

Social media is the new normal. The entire world is now at our fingertips and thanks to social media for connecting us worldwide. The social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are believed to be beneficial for an individual, but not for the community. As per my opinion, social media sites not only affect an individual but also have a lot of negative effects on society as a whole.  Social media is a powerful tool and it has a huge impact on individuals and communities.  There are so many good sides to it and I feel that we have availed multiple benefits from the presence of social media platforms. Facebook and Twitter help an individual to continuously be in touch with friends and family. The world is connected and you do not feel the pain of separation anymore. Your friend from another continent can speak to you anytime. The joy of such moments is unparalleled when you get to video call your parents after a long bad day at work.  Social media is also an important tool for education. You are just a click away to get all kinds of facts and information. It educates people of all age groups. There are multiple things to learn, explore and grow for different interest zones. Live lectures and online classroom programs are possible due to social media platforms. All thanks to social media for allowing such powerful communication and educational facilities to mankind.  However, like a coin, social media also has two sides. Social media platforms are advantageous for an individual, but when it comes to the community, it has caused negative impacts. The community feeling is lost. People now love to interact with individuals over social media, without noticing family and community. The connection in a group and social interaction has been lost. Individuals are not interested in interacting and socializing within the community, as they prefer to indulge themselves in online activities only. Individuals are taking interest in people online, rather than spending time with family, localities, and neighborhoods. Society as a whole is disjointed and there is a loss of community sense. Face-to-face interactions have been replaced by online interactions.  As per my opinion, I feel social media is important for an individual alone. But, when you talk about society and community, social media does not allow us to integrate, mix and socialize in real life. We have our virtual world and we seem to find our presence with the world that does not exist. Gone are the days when we used to visit and meet the people around us. Social media has brought individuals together virtually, without keeping society tied up. There should be more awareness, and community programs so that we can instill a sense of belonging in us.

Opinion Essay IELTS Sample Answers – 2 

Crime is there all over the world. There is not much that can be done about it. How much do you agree or disagree with the statement? 

As societies advance, there is a steep rise in the number of crimes and it is one of the major concerns of modern society. There are various kinds of crimes, some heinous and some very commonly heard ones. Everyone has their perspective about crime, but I strongly feel that crime is avoidable. A man is not born as a criminal, hence, it can be prevented. I completely disagree with the fact that there is nothing much we can do to prevent crime.  Crime is unlawful and does not meet the standards of morality. Humans commit crimes and they are punished to rectify them. If there is a cure to crime, why won't there be precautions to avoid crime? There are many things that we can do to avoid crime.  Firstly, I feel the method of punishment should be changed. Locking up a criminal in prison for years does not change him, and that is why we get repeat offenders after being released from prison. Punishment should be in such a manner, that the purpose of it gets justified. The criminals should be allowed to learn skills, take up classes, participate in various programs, and should be also allowed to do paid or unpaid jobs. The rehabilitation facility inside the prison should be improved. By learning skills inside the prison, criminals can soon find a job once they are released. One of the main reasons for crime is unemployment and this will reduce the crime numbers.  Secondly, the government should run more awareness programs for children to receive free education. Education is the key to avoiding crime. When everyone gets educated, the number of criminals will be less. An educated person knows the difference between wrong and right. Schools should plan the curriculum in such a way that every student is taken care of individually and there should be ample sessions on morality and values.  Lastly, our legal system should be more active. When the criminals are released after the first prison sentence, they should be strictly tracked. The different crime joints, drug dealers, and red light areas should be under the light of legal presence.  I strongly believe that with the above ways, the world can be a better place. A crime is committed because of a particular reason. The reason should be eradicated. The government and society play an important role in creating and alleviating criminals. Crime is avoidable if we can integrate and contribute to transforming such negative personalities in our society.

Tips to Write an Opinion Essay

• The essay-writing is the second task, and the time allotted to this section is 40 minutes. You will not be provided or allowed any additional time. Manage your time, and plan your structure so that you can write at least 250 words within the time limit.
• The essay should be a minimum of 250 words long. There is no upper word limit. It is better to exceed the minimum word limit.
• Avoid complicated long words and any sort of technical jargon. Keep the language simple, but accurate. You cannot be making any small or major mistakes, as this is an English language proficiency test. 
• The essay should be grammatically correct. It is important to fix any minor or major errors that you find while proofreading. 
• An opinion essay will always ask for your opinion. It may not have the same words, but you need to understand the question. The question may directly ask you to share your opinion, or it may ask something indirect like, ‘To what extent do you agree or disagree with the statement?’ or ‘Do you agree with the statement?’.
• You must not talk about the viewpoints of someone else in the IELTS writing task 2 opinion essay. You need to stick to your opinion. 
• Do not keep your introduction long in an opinion essay. It should have an outline about the issue and your opinion denoting whether you agree or disagree with the point mentioned. 
• You need to write at least two paragraphs. Expand your opinion with relevant ideas, thoughts, and examples. You simply cannot give an opinion without justifying your views. 
• It is important to understand the question. In an opinion essay, you need to talk about your ideas, beliefs, and opinions. Unless you understand the question well, you will not be able to express your views properly. 
• You have various aspects to choose from in an IELTS opinion essay. You can either agree, disagree or you can go for both sides. Make sure your opinion is clear and there are relevant reasons behind the opinion that you are stating. 
• Your opinion in the introduction should not be different from the opinion you list in the conclusion. Your views need to be consistent from the introduction to the conclusion.
• Each body paragraph needs to have a reason or justification that relates to your opinion. Do not write a paragraph that has no connection with your opinion. If you agree with something, you cannot write a paragraph on disagreement. 
• An opinion essay should have three parts, introduction, opinion, and conclusion. Do not miss your conclusion. It is important. Take time to summarize all that you have talked about throughout the essay. 
• Opinions should not be given in bullet points. Provide relevant ideas only. The examiner does not want to know 10 reasons why you believe in a particular thing. 
• Use idioms wherever possible. However, do not stuff them unnecessarily. Understand the meaning and then use words. 
• Vocabulary should be used with a strong awareness of collocation. Use collocations wherever it is possible. You need to make sure that you are using it correctly. Wrong collocations will reduce your band score. 
• Your essay should be grammatically correct. Do not make any mistakes in spellings, tenses, prepositions, and punctuation.  
• Proofread your essay once you are done with the writing. It helps you to scan minor and major mistakes that would have otherwise taken away an 8 band from you. 
• Organize your entire essay in small paragraphs. Do not write lengthy paragraphs. 
• Sentences should be short and crisp. The longer the sentences, the more mistakes will be made. 
• Avoid making these three mistakes 1. not stating your opinion, 2. not being consistent with views, and 3. not giving a clear picture and justification of your opinion. 
• Brainstorming is important. You need to come up with relevant and interesting ideas that would support your opinion. 
• Make sure you learn the vocabulary related to the common topics. Rich vocabulary makes your essay colorful and competitive. 

Practice topics on general interest and social problems along with checking opinion essay IELTS sample answers. Controversies and debated topics are commonly the ones you get in an opinion essay.