IELTS Writing Task 2 Brainstorming Practice
Task 2 Brainstorming Practice: Generate Better Ideas
10 IELTS Writing Task 2 questions. For each question, brainstorm four ideas, two for each body paragraph, then compare your ideas with example answers and see how other strong arguments could be developed.
Before You Start
Strong brainstorming helps you create clear, relevant arguments before you start writing.
A basic idea like:
“Technology is useful”
is difficult to develop because it does not show how or why technology is useful.
A stronger idea:
“Technology allows employees to work remotely, reducing commuting time and improving work-life balance”
gives you a clear direction that can be explained and supported in your essay.
Why This Exercise Matters
Why IELTS Writing Task 2 Brainstorming Practice Matters
Task Response asks one question: did you answer what was actually asked, with a clear position and well-developed ideas, not whether your English “sounds good.” It’s scored independently of grammar and vocabulary, and it’s worth 25% of your Task 2 band.
The problem it fixes
Many Task 2 essays lose marks because the ideas are too general, repetitive, or only partly answer the question. This exercise helps you practise generating relevant arguments before you begin writing, making essay planning faster and more effective.
How it improves Task Response
Strong brainstorming gives you clear directions for each body paragraph. By comparing your own ideas with example responses, you’ll learn different ways to approach the same question and develop arguments that are easier to explain and support.
The knock-on effect on your band
Task 2 counts twice towards your overall Writing score. Developing stronger ideas before you write can improve Task Response, leading to more convincing essays and helping you achieve a higher overall Writing band.
Finished?
What to do Next
You’ve now practised generating ideas for IELTS Writing Task 2 questions and compared your answers with example arguments. The next step is learning how to turn those ideas into well-developed body paragraphs.
- Choose three questions and improve your weakest ideas by making them more specific or adding a clear reason why they support your argument.
- Found it difficult to think of ideas? Revisit the Brainstorming section of the Task Response guide and practise generating ideas before planning your essay.
- Ready for the next step? Move on to the Point → Explain → Support Builder to learn how to develop your ideas into high-scoring Task Response paragraphs.
Task Response Guide
Want the full theory behind this drill?
Go back to the Task Response guide for the complete breakdown, examples, and band descriptors.
Keep Practising · Task Response
More Task Response Exercises
Foundation
Generating Better Ideas
Practise brainstorming relevant ideas for Task 2 questions and learn how to develop arguments before you start writing.
Start here
Begin →
Foundation
Essay Planning Practice
Plan 10 IELTS Writing Task 2 essays with exam questions. Choose your opinion, main ideas, and supporting reasons, then compare with feedback.
Core Skills
Begin →
Idea Development
Strong vs. Weak Evidence
Decide whether each supporting statement is strong enough to develop the writer’s argument or too vague to improve Task Response.
Core Skills
Begin →
Work On Another Criterion
The Other 3 IELTS Writing Task 2 Criteria
Beyond Writing
Practise Another IELTS Skill
Stuck on this exercise?
A short 1-to-1 evaluation class can pinpoint exactly what’s holding your Task Response score back.