Understanding Task 2

Warm-up: Your first 250 words

2 warm-up questions

• Have you ever written an essay in English — for school, an exam, or work? How did it go?
• Here's a real-style Task 2 question: 'Some people think that children should start formal education at a younger age. To what extent do you agree or disagree?' Take two minutes and talk me through what you would write — your opinion and two reasons.

Reading: What the examiner is judging

Read a 256-word text about What the examiner is judging

What the examiner is judging Task 2 asks for an essay of at least 250 words in about 40 minutes — and it counts for two thirds of your writing score. The examiner reads hundreds of essays; yours has a few minutes to show four things. The four marking criteria (25% each): Task Response — did you answer the exact question, fully, with a clear position? Coherence and Cohesion — does the essay move in organised paragraphs, with linked ideas? Lexical Resource — is the vocabulary varied and precise? Grammatical Range and Accuracy — do you control a mix of simple and complex sentences? The question comes in four flavours, and you must recognise which one you have: Opinion ("To what extent do you agree or disagree?"), Discussion ("Discuss both views and give your opinion"), Problem–Solution ("What are the causes? What solutions can you suggest?") and Two-part questions (two separate questions in one prompt). Here is the practical difference between bands. At Band 6, the examiner sees relevant ideas, but some are left as bare statements, the position fades in and out, and linking words feel mechanical. At Band 7, every paragraph carries one clear idea that is explained and supported with an example, and the writer's opinion is visible from the introduction to the final line. One rule above all: when the question asks for your opinion, you must give it — clearly, early, and consistently. The biggest single cause of disappointing scores is an essay that describes a topic instead of answering the question.

Vocabulary: Essay Vocabulary

6 items

Framework: The PEEL Framework

PEEL, 4 steps

PEEL: A proven structure for writing clear, well-developed body paragraphs in any essay type.

Reading: The finished Band 7 essay

Read a 412-word text about The finished Band 7 essay

The finished Band 7 essay Before you study any technique, you should see the finished product. Below is a complete, strong Band 7-style answer to the question from your warm-up — just over 250 words, four paragraphs, written in 40 minutes. The structural moves are in bold. Read it aloud with your tutor, one paragraph at a time. The question "Some people think that children should start formal education at a younger age. To what extent do you agree or disagree?" The essay In many countries there is a debate about whether formal schooling should begin earlier in a child's life. I largely disagree with this idea, because young children learn best through play, and starting school too early can damage their motivation. The main reason for my view is that play is how young children naturally develop. This is because activities such as building, drawing and pretending teach language and problem-solving without pressure. For example, in Finland, where formal lessons begin at seven, children spend their early years in play-based kindergartens — and they still perform among the best in the world by the age of fifteen. This suggests that an early start is simply not necessary for later success. A second problem is that beginning school too young can harm a child's attitude to learning. In other words, a four-year-old who must sit still and complete written tasks may come to see learning as stressful rather than enjoyable. For instance, teachers often report that the youngest children in a class lose confidence more quickly than their older classmates. As a result, an early start can produce exactly the opposite of what parents hope for. I accept that an earlier start may help children who receive little support at home. However, that support can be provided through quality childcare rather than formal lessons. In conclusion, I believe that children should not start formal education at a younger age, since play-based learning builds stronger foundations and protects the one thing every school career depends on: a child's enjoyment of learning. Why this is Band 7, not Band 6 The opinion appears in the introduction, is repeated through both body paragraphs, and returns in the conclusion. Each body paragraph is one complete PEEL: a point, an explanation, a real example, and a link back to the argument. The opposite view is acknowledged — and answered — in one confident paragraph. Nothing is wasted: every sentence earns its place in just over 250 words.

Discussion: Plan it like a Band 7

3 discussion questions

• Mission: go back to the warm-up question — children starting school younger — and talk through a full essay plan using what you've just seen: your opinion in one sentence, two PEEL body paragraphs (point, explanation, example, link), and a one-line conclusion. Your opinion can be different from the model's. (Success = a clear position plus one real example per paragraph. Tutor: hold them to PEEL — stop them whenever a point arrives with no example.)
• Second take: plan the OPPOSITE opinion in two minutes. Which position gives you better examples? That — not your true feelings — is often the smarter exam choice.
• Compare this plan with your two-minute attempt at the start of the lesson. What was missing then — the clear opinion, the examples, or the structure? Name the one thing you'll fix first.