Task 2 is worth twice as much as Task 1, so even small problems here can pull your overall score down noticeably. Most candidates stay at Band 6.0–6.5 not because their ideas are weak, but because of the way they organise, explain and support those ideas. The examiner looks for a clear position, logical flow, accurate language, and enough development.

Here are six of the most common errors — with examples and simple ways to fix them.

Many answers discuss both sides of an argument but never clearly state which view they support (or whether they agree/disagree). This makes Task Response weak — often Band 5.5 or 6.0 even if the writing is otherwise good.

Fix: Decide your position before you start writing and state it directly in the second sentence of your introduction. A plain “I believe…” or “I completely agree that…” is clearer than “This essay will argue that…”. Restate your position in the conclusion so the examiner cannot miss it.

Some candidates spend most of the essay on one side and only a short paragraph on the other, even when the question asks to “discuss both views”. This is penalised for lack of balance in Task Response.

Fix: Plan two body paragraphs of roughly equal length — one for each view. Give each side similar development (2–3 sentences + example). Spend 5 minutes planning so neither side is neglected.

Trying to include rare or academic words (“ameliorate”, “ubiquitous”) often results in wrong collocations or awkward phrasing. Examiners penalise inaccuracy more than they reward complexity.

Fix: Use common academic words accurately: “improve” instead of “ameliorate”, “widespread” instead of “ubiquitous”. Learn 5–10 reliable collocations per common topic (e.g., “address a problem”, “have a negative impact”). Accurate simple language scores higher than inaccurate complex language.

A vague introduction (“There are advantages and disadvantages…”) does not show a clear position or purpose. This limits Task Response to Band 6.0 or below.

Fix: Paraphrase the question and state your position clearly in one sentence. Example: “While there are some benefits to online learning, I believe the drawbacks outweigh the advantages.” This gives the essay direction from the beginning.

Many paragraphs have one main point but no explanation or example. This makes the essay feel thin and limits both Coherence and Cohesion and Task Response.

Fix: Use a simple structure in every body paragraph: state the main idea, explain why it is true, give an example (real or hypothetical), and link back to the question. This ensures each point is fully developed without adding unnecessary length.

Candidates sometimes write very long sentences with too many clauses, which leads to grammar errors or unclear meaning. This lowers Grammatical Range and Accuracy.

Fix: Mix short and long sentences. Use complex structures accurately but sparingly. Example: “Although technology has improved communication, it can also reduce face-to-face interaction.” Keep most sentences 15–25 words — clarity is more important than complexity.

Final tip

Write one full Task 2 essay every day for two weeks. Check it against this list afterwards. Most candidates improve 0.5–1.0 band simply by fixing these six issues.