🧠 IELTS Opinion Essay Template and Strategy for Band 7+

Opinion essays are one of the most frequently tested formats in IELTS Writing Task 2. These essays require you to clearly state and defend your point of view on a given topic. Whether the question says “Do you agree or disagree?” or “To what extent do you agree?”, the strategy is the same: choose a position and justify it with strong arguments and examples.

In this guide, you'll learn a complete template and step-by-step strategy to structure an effective IELTS opinion essay that meets the criteria for Band 9.

📌 What Is an Opinion Essay in IELTS?

An IELTS opinion essay is a Task 2 question that asks you to express your view on a particular issue. You are expected to present a clear position, develop relevant ideas, and support them with examples.

Common question phrases:

• Do you agree or disagree?
• To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages? (Also treated as an opinion essay)

📐 Proven Template for IELTS Opinion Essays

The following structure works for all types of opinion essays:

🟩 Introduction

• Paraphrase the question
• State your opinion clearly

🟩 Body Paragraph 1 – First Reason for Your Opinion

• Topic sentence introducing your reason
• Explanation of the reason
• Relevant example

🟩 Body Paragraph 2 – Second Reason for Your Opinion

• Topic sentence introducing another reason
• Explanation
• Example to support your point

🟩 (Optional) Body Paragraph 3 – Address Opposing View

• Briefly mention the other side
• Explain why you still disagree or why your view is stronger

🟩 Conclusion

• Restate your opinion
• Summarize your main points

📝 Strong Sample Essay Using the Template

Question: “Some people think that it is better to include more public parks and sports facilities in new towns rather than shopping centers. Do you agree or disagree?”

Introduction

Some argue that developing recreational areas such as parks and sports facilities should be prioritized over shopping centers in modern urban planning. I completely agree with this view because such developments promote physical health and create more inclusive communities.

Body Paragraph 1

First of all, public parks and sports venues encourage a healthy lifestyle, which is essential in today’s sedentary society. When people have access to jogging paths, football fields, or outdoor gyms, they are more likely to engage in regular physical activity. This not only improves individual well-being but also reduces long-term healthcare costs. For example, studies have shown that neighborhoods with green spaces report lower levels of obesity and stress-related illnesses.

Body Paragraph 2

Moreover, recreational spaces provide opportunities for social interaction and community engagement. Parks serve as shared spaces where people from different backgrounds can meet and build relationships. In contrast, shopping malls primarily promote consumerism and are often exclusive in terms of affordability. Recreational facilities, on the other hand, are accessible to all and contribute to building stronger social bonds.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I firmly believe that new towns should focus more on parks and sports facilities rather than shopping centers. These areas offer significant benefits to public health and community well-being, which outweigh the convenience of retail complexes.

💡 Strong Features:

• Clear and consistent opinion
• Logical organization with relevant examples
• Strong academic vocabulary and collocations
• Accurate and flexible grammar

📘 Useful Phrases for Opinion Essays

• From my perspective...
• I firmly believe that...
• There is no doubt that...
• It is widely accepted that...
• One key reason is that...
• Furthermore / In addition / Moreover

🔧 Strategy Tips to Score Band 8–9

• ✅ Always take a clear stance — don’t sit on the fence
• ✅ Stick to one side of the argument unless you are confident with partial agreement
• ✅ Support each idea with a specific example
• ✅ Avoid repeating words — use synonyms and paraphrasing
• ✅ Use formal, academic language (no contractions or slang)

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

• ❌ Not stating your opinion clearly in the introduction and conclusion
• ❌ Repeating the same vocabulary too often
• ❌ Writing overly general examples (e.g., “Everyone knows...”)
• ❌ Mixing up essay types — don't discuss both sides equally in an opinion essay
• ❌ Going off-topic or failing to address all parts of the question

🧪 Practice Prompts for Opinion Essays

• "Some believe that children should be taught to be competitive in school. Others think teamwork and cooperation are more important. Do you agree or disagree?"
• "Some think that governments should invest more in public transportation than in roads and highways. Do you agree or disagree?"
• "Advertising influences the way people think and behave. To what extent do you agree or disagree?"

Using this strategy and template will help you develop opinion essays that are well-organized, logically argued, and fully meet the IELTS scoring criteria. Practice with various prompts and evaluate your own writing using the band descriptors for continual improvement.

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