An IELTS discuss both views essay asks for three parts in one answer: a fair account of each of two opposing views, and your own opinion on the question. It appears in Writing Task 2, which requires at least 250 words and is best given about 40 minutes of the 60-minute Writing test. The wording usually ends with an instruction such as discuss both these views and give your own opinion, and every part of that instruction is assessed.
Because Task 2 counts for two thirds of the Writing mark and the four criteria carry equal weight, a short plan made before writing shapes most of what an examiner can credit. Those criteria are Task Response, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range and Accuracy, so a plan that covers both views and a position supports all four at once.
How do you recognise a discuss both views question?
A discuss both views question presents two opposing opinions on a topic and ends with an instruction such as discuss both these views and give your own opinion. The topic may be education, work, technology or the environment, so the subject matter varies while the closing instruction stays similar. Underline the two views in the prompt, then underline the final instruction, which tells you that the answer needs three clearly separate parts. Questions that ask only whether you agree or disagree belong to a different essay type, and the last sentence of the prompt is where the difference shows.
Why do both views need equal development?
Both views need roughly equal development because Task Response is judged on whether every part of the question is addressed. A paragraph of two sentences on one view and a full paragraph on the other leaves one part of the task thin, and an examiner reads that as incomplete coverage. Aim for a main idea, an explanation and a short example in each view paragraph, which usually gives the two a similar length. Equal space also keeps your reporting fair, so that the opinion which follows reads as a considered judgement.
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Enquire about this tutorWhere does your own opinion go, and how do you signal it?
Your own opinion goes in a separate paragraph after both views, with an optional brief signal of your position in the introduction. Begin that paragraph with a plain signpost such as From a personal perspective, On balance, the first view is stronger because, or This essay supports the first view because. Impersonal phrasing, for example It seems more persuasive that, can show a wider range of grammar and vocabulary. Whichever form you choose, keep the same position from introduction to final sentence, since a clear position maintained throughout the answer is what Task Response looks for.
What is the four-paragraph structure?
A four-paragraph structure gives each part of the question its own space, with the opinion placed after the two views it responds to. A separate conclusion paragraph, giving five paragraphs in all, is also a common layout, though four keeps the answer compact within about 40 minutes.
Linking words between the paragraphs mark each move, such as looking first at, as for the opposing case, and from a personal perspective.
- Paragraph 1: introduction that paraphrases the topic and mentions both views
- Paragraph 2: the first view, with explanation and an example
- Paragraph 3: the second view, developed to a similar length
- Paragraph 4: your opinion with reasons, ending with a one-sentence conclusion
Model answer: Discussion essay on free university education
Task: Some people believe that university education should be free for all students. Others think that students should pay for their own degrees. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion. Write at least 250 words. You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
"University education is funded in very different ways around the world, and the question of who should pay divides opinion. Some people argue that tuition should be free for every student, whereas others maintain that those who benefit personally should cover the cost. This essay will discuss both views before explaining why I favour a partly shared system.
"Supporters of free higher education believe that access should depend on ability instead of family income. When fees are removed, talented students from low-income households can enrol without fearing debt, and society gains more doctors, engineers and teachers. Advocates also point out that graduates tend to pay higher taxes during their careers, so public funding may eventually be recovered.
"Those who favour student payment respond that a degree usually increases lifetime earnings, so it is reasonable for the individual to contribute. They add that universities funded entirely by the state may struggle with limited budgets, which can lead to overcrowded lecture halls and fewer resources. Charging fees, in this view, gives institutions a stable income and encourages students to value their courses.
"In my opinion, neither extreme is entirely convincing, and a shared system works best. Graduates who earn well should repay part of the cost, but only once their income reaches a reasonable level, so that fear of debt does not discourage capable applicants. Governments could also offer grants to students from poorer backgrounds, which protects fairness whilst keeping universities adequately funded. Such a combination recognises the public value of education and the private benefit it brings. Both views therefore contain valid points, and a balanced arrangement offers the fairest route to wider access and sustainable universities.
What this model answer does:
- Task Response: the two views and the writer's opinion each occupy their own paragraph, so every part of the instruction is addressed.
- Task Response: the view paragraphs are of similar length, and each gives a reason and a consequence.
- Coherence and Cohesion: attribution phrases such as supporters of and those who favour keep reported views separate from the opinion, which opens with a clear signpost.
- Lexical Resource: topic vocabulary such as tuition, enrol, graduates and grants is used precisely and varied across paragraphs.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy: relative clauses, modal verbs and participle phrases appear alongside simpler sentences.
How do you report views fairly before evaluating them?
Report a view fairly by attributing it to the people who hold it and stating it at its strongest before you comment on it. Phrases such as some people argue, supporters of this view and advocates of this position keep the ideas separate from your own voice, so the examiner can see where reporting ends and evaluation begins. Leave your opinion out of the two view paragraphs. Evaluation then belongs in the final paragraph, where you can weigh the two cases, acknowledge what is persuasive in the side you reject and give reasons for your preference.
Which mistakes weaken a discussion essay?
The most frequent mistake is describing both views and giving no opinion, which leaves one part of the question unanswered. Linking words need checking too, because a connector such as on the other hand placed where the argument continues in the same direction confuses the reader and weakens Coherence and Cohesion.
- Giving no opinion, or hiding it in the introduction only
- Writing one long paragraph for one view and a short one for the other
- Changing position in the conclusion
- Using a connector that reverses the direction of your argument
- Finishing below the minimum of 250 words
How should you practise and check your work?
Practise in a fixed order: plan, write under timed conditions, then mark the draft against the four assessment criteria. Begin with ten prompts and, for each, underline the two views and write a five-minute plan listing one idea and one example for each view plus your position. Next, write full essays in about 40 minutes, aiming for at least 250 words.
When reviewing a draft, ask whether all three parts are present, whether the view paragraphs are similar in length, whether the opinion is signposted and consistent, and whether the vocabulary and sentence structures vary. Rewriting the weakest paragraph usually teaches more than starting a new essay.
Related guides
- What is IELTS? Format, versions and scoring
- IELTS General Training letter (Task 1)
- IELTS Writing Task 2 essays
- Opinion (agree or disagree) essay
- Advantages and disadvantages essay
- Problem and solution essay
- IELTS Writing Task 2 topics
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Frequently asked questions
- Is it acceptable to use first person pronouns in a discuss both views essay?
- Personal phrasing such as "In my opinion" or "From a personal perspective" is acceptable for candidates, particularly in the opinion paragraph. Impersonal forms, including passive voice and nominalisation, can display a wider range of language, so mixing the two is sensible. Avoid first person pronouns in the paragraphs that report the views, because attribution to other people keeps the reported ideas separate from the candidate's own.
- Should the introduction state the writer's opinion?
- A brief signal of your position in the introduction is optional, and a sentence previewing that both views will be discussed before you give your own is enough. If you do state a position early, the final paragraph must match it. Changing your mind between the introduction and the conclusion weakens the clarity of your position.
- Can the writer's opinion agree partly with both views?
- A partly shared position is acceptable when it answers the question and is explained with reasons. A phrase such as On balance, the first view is supported while accepting that makes the stance clear. The difficulty arises when the opinion stays vague, so state in one sentence which view you favour, or how you combine them, and then justify it.
- How does a discuss both views essay differ from an opinion essay?
- A discuss both views essay requires a developed paragraph for each of two opposing views plus your own position, whereas an opinion essay is built around your argument alone. In an opinion essay, a whole paragraph on the opposing side tends to be a risk. In a discussion essay, that paragraph is required and should be as developed as the other.
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