An agree or disagree essay is the most common Writing Task 2 question. The question gives an opinion, and you must say if you agree or disagree, give reasons, and write at least 250 words in about 40 minutes. Many students lose marks in one simple way: they agree in one paragraph and disagree in the next. Pick one side and stay with it.
How to choose your side
Read the question twice. Ask yourself: which side has more reasons? Pick that side. You do not need to give your real opinion. You need the side you can explain best. Say "I agree" or "I disagree" in the introduction and again in the conclusion. Never change sides in the middle.
The 4-paragraph structure
Use four paragraphs. Paragraph 1: introduction — say what the topic is and if you agree or disagree. Paragraph 2: your first reason, with an example. Paragraph 3: your second reason, with an example. Paragraph 4: conclusion — repeat your opinion in different words. Do not add a new reason in the conclusion.
How to write the introduction
Write two sentences. Sentence 1: say the topic in your own words. Sentence 2: give your opinion. For example: "Many people believe that university should be free for every student. I completely agree with this view because free education gives equal chances to all young people."
How to write the body paragraphs
Each body paragraph has one reason only. Start with a clear topic sentence. Explain the reason in one or two sentences. Then give an example in one or two sentences. For example, reason 1: free education helps poor students. A student from a low-income family can study medicine instead of leaving school early. Reason 2: free education helps the whole country, with more trained doctors and teachers.
Band 8–9 sample essay
The main reason I support early language learning is that young children remember new words and sounds with ease. They hear new sounds clearly and copy correct pronunciation in a natural way, without thinking about grammar rules, and they are not afraid of making mistakes. For example, a child who starts English at the age of six can often speak with a clear accent by the age of twelve, simply because the sounds feel natural to them. This is very hard to copy later in life, when adults must work much harder to change the way they speak.
Another reason is that starting early gives children many more years to use the language. They can read books, watch films and talk to friends in the language for years before they need it for work or study. This long practice builds real confidence, which is the key to fluent speaking. A child who has used English every day since primary school does not freeze in a conversation. They already know how to keep going, even when they make a small mistake.
In conclusion, I strongly believe that learning a foreign language in primary school is the best choice. It uses the natural ability of young children and gives them years of practice before adult life begins. For these reasons, the earlier children start, the stronger their English will be."
The highlighted words are "the key to" — a strong collocation that means "the most important thing for". Use one strong collocation like this in your essay. It lifts your vocabulary score without sounding memorised.
Three mistakes to avoid
The biggest one is sitting on the fence — saying "I partly agree" and arguing both sides. For most students, one clear side scores higher. The second is writing reasons with no examples. A reason without an example is only an opinion. The third is writing under 250 words. Aim for 260 to 280 words every time, and count your words before you finish.
Your 40-minute practice plan
Take one agree or disagree question. Spend 5 minutes planning: pick your side, write two reasons, write one example for each reason. Spend 30 minutes writing four paragraphs. Spend 5 minutes checking your word count and spelling. Do one essay every two days for two weeks.
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