Task 2 essays - Idea development and examples

Learning Outcomes

After reading this article, you will be able to generate and expand relevant ideas in IELTS Task 2 essays. You will learn to build reasons, develop explanations, and support arguments using concrete examples. You will also be able to distinguish between general and specific examples and apply these techniques directly to your own writing and planning.

IELTS Academic, General & UKVI Syllabus

For IELTS, you must demonstrate clear and sufficient development of your ideas in Task 2 essays. When revising this topic, focus on these syllabus points:

• Develop main ideas using reasons, explanations, and specific support.
• Include clear, relevant examples to illustrate points.
• Vary the type of examples—general, personal, or factual—to fit each argument.
• Avoid unsupported opinions or lists of points without further development.
• Explain how the example relates directly to your idea.

Test Your Knowledge

Attempt these questions before reading this article. If you find some difficult or cannot remember the answers, remember to look more closely at that area during your revision.

1. Why is it important to provide an example for each key point in a Task 2 body paragraph?
2. What types of examples can you use in your IELTS Task 2 essay? Name at least two.
3. True or false: Simply listing examples without any explanation is enough to fully develop an argument in IELTS Task 2.
4. What is the difference between a general example and a personal example in Task 2 writing?

Introduction

Developing clear, well-supported ideas is critical for success in IELTS Writing Task 2. The examiner will assess your ability to explain, justify, and illustrate your main points. Effective idea development means making your argument convincing—not only stating opinions, but expanding them using reasons, explanations, and relevant examples. This approaches the band descriptor for "fully extending and supporting main ideas," required for top marks.

Key Term: Idea Development
The structured process of expanding a point in your writing by explaining your opinion, giving reasons, and supporting with relevant and clear examples.

Key Term: Example
Any specific case, fact, personal story, or hypothetical situation used in a paragraph to support and clarify your idea.

Why Develop Ideas?

IELTS Task 2 examiners expect each main point or argument to be fully developed. This means:

• Stating your point clearly.
• Explaining or justifying it.
• Providing a relevant example to illustrate the point.
• Showing how the example supports your idea.

Points stated without explanation or illustration are considered underdeveloped and will limit your score.

Types of Examples in Task 2

There are several ways to support your ideas:

• General Example: A typical or common situation that illustrates your point, often beginning "For example," "For instance," or "A common case is..."
• Personal Example: A situation from your own experience or something you have observed, signaled with phrases like "In my experience," "I have noticed that..."
• Factual Example: A specific reference to a known fact, statistic, or event—these are most convincing if accurate.
• Hypothetical Example: An imagined scenario used to clarify a point, often introduced by "Suppose..." or "Picture if...".

Most Task 2 essays benefit from a mix of these. Examiners do not require real statistics or researched facts, but you must ensure your examples are plausible and understandable.

Structure for Developing Ideas

To build a strong paragraph or argument, follow this structure:

1. State your point: Make your argument or main idea clear.
2. Explain: Give a reason or expand on the idea.
3. Support with an example: Use an example to clarify and make the point believable.
4. Link: Connect how your example supports your point (optional but helps your paragraph's logic).

Key Term: Explanation
A sentence (or sentences) that clarifies why your point is valid or why it matters for the essay question.

Example and Explanation: What is Required?

Your support must do more than just list a case. Always:

• Connect the example directly to your point.
• Explain why the example is relevant or important.

If you do not explain the link between your example and your point, the examiner may view your development as incomplete.

Worked Example 1.1

Consider the following Task 2 prompt:

Some people believe that the best way to improve road safety is to increase the minimum legal age for drivers. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Sample body paragraph (focused on the "agree" side):

One reason for raising the minimum age is that younger drivers are more likely to take risks and be involved in accidents. For example, research in several countries shows that drivers under 21 are statistically more likely to speed and break traffic laws. As a result, increasing the age limit could reduce the number of accidents among the most at-risk group and improve overall road safety.

Answer:
Here, the argument is stated, a factual example supports it, and there is a clear explanation of why this example proves the main point.

Worked Example 1.2

Task 2 prompt:

Some people think that governments should spend more money on supporting the arts than on health care. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Sample paragraph (disagree):

Healthcare should remain the funding priority because it directly affects life expectancy and well-being. For instance, in my country, increased investment in medical facilities has led to rapid improvements in survival rates for serious illnesses. This demonstrates that spending on health services provides immediate, real benefits for society, while support for the arts is less urgent.

Answer:
This paragraph uses a personal/factual example (about the writer's country) and explains the link between increased funding and its benefit, supporting the argument fully.

Worked Example 1.3

Task 2 prompt:

Children should start learning a second language as early as possible in school. Do you agree or disagree?

Sample development:

Learning a language from a young age allows children to acquire pronunciation and vocabulary more naturally. For example, many primary schools that introduce foreign languages early observe that their students achieve higher fluency than those who begin in secondary school. This shows that starting early makes language learning both easier and more effective.

Answer:
Here, a general example is used, and the explanation makes clear how it supports the point being argued.

Using Examples Wisely

Do not overuse personal experience—balance it with general cases or reliable facts. Avoid invented statistics unless they are believable. Always keep explanations simple and relevant.

Exam Warning

A common mistake is to list several general statements or examples without explaining their connection to your argument. Examiners may not award marks for idea development if the example is not clearly relevant or left unexplained.

Revision Tip

Before moving to the next paragraph, ask yourself: "Have I explained my point and used an example that clearly supports it?" If the answer is no, add an extra sentence to clarify.

Summary

Fully developed Task 2 essays provide reasons, explanations, and relevant examples for every main point. Examples can be drawn from your knowledge, observation, or logical reasoning. Always link the example back to the argument.

Key Point Checklist

This article has covered the following key knowledge points:

• Show how every key idea or opinion in IELTS Task 2 must be developed using reasons and explanations—not just stated.
• Include at least one clear, relevant example for each main idea, choosing from general, personal, factual or hypothetical examples.
• Connect each example directly to the argument being made, with a brief explanation of how it supports the point.
• Use a variety of example types throughout the essay, but do not over-rely on personal stories or invented facts.
• Avoid simply listing points or examples without expanding them—these do not receive full marks.
• Check each paragraph for a logical flow from statement, to explanation, to example and explanation of relevance.

Key Terms and Concepts

• Idea Development
• Example
• Explanation