Discuss Both Views Essays in IELTS: A Clear Approach

"Discuss both views and give your own opinion" is a very common IELTS Writing Task 2 instruction, and it asks you to do three things, not two. Many candidates write a good discussion of both sides but forget their own opinion, or give an opinion but treat one side too briefly. This guide explains a clear approach to discuss both views essays in IELTS, with a reliable structure and model paragraphs.

What the question asks

A typical question looks like this:

Some people think that children should start school at a very early age. Others believe they should not start formal education until they are older. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

There are three parts to answer:

1. Discuss view A (early start).
2. Discuss view B (later start).
3. Give your own opinion.

If any part is missing or very thin, your Task Response score will suffer.

How this differs from an opinion essay

In an agree/disagree essay, the focus is on your position from start to finish, and you may only briefly mention the other side. In a discussion essay, you must explain both views fairly — as if presenting each side's reasoning — and then make your own view clear. If you are not sure which type you are facing, compare this approach with our guide to opinion essays in IELTS Writing Task 2.

A reliable four-paragraph structure

1. Introduction: paraphrase both views and state your opinion briefly.
2. Body paragraph 1: explain the first view, with reasons and an example.
3. Body paragraph 2: explain the second view, with reasons and an example. You can signal agreement here if this is the view you support.
4. Conclusion: summarise both views and restate your opinion clearly.

Some writers prefer to give their opinion only in the conclusion. This can work, but stating it in the introduction as well makes your position clear from the start and helps coherence. Whatever you choose, be consistent.

For a wider view of paragraph organisation, see how to structure an IELTS Writing Task 2 essay.

Model introduction

People disagree about the best age for children to begin formal schooling. While some argue that an early start gives children an academic advantage, others believe young children benefit more from play and time at home. In my view, a later start is generally preferable, provided that children have access to good-quality early learning through play.

This paraphrases both views and gives a clear, slightly nuanced opinion.

Model body paragraph: the view you do not fully support

Those who favour an early start argue that young children learn remarkably quickly. Starting school at three or four, they claim, allows children to develop basic literacy and numeracy sooner, which may help them keep up later. In addition, early schooling can be practical for working parents, who may otherwise struggle to arrange childcare. From this perspective, formal education at a young age benefits both children and families.

Notice the language used to report a view you do not share: Those who favour ... argue that, they claim, From this perspective. This keeps your own position separate.

Model body paragraph: the view you support

On the other hand, many educators believe that young children learn best through play rather than structured lessons. Activities such as building, drawing and group games develop language, creativity and social skills, which form the foundation for later learning. I agree with this view, because pushing children into formal lessons too early may cause stress and reduce their enthusiasm for school.

Here the phrase I agree with this view links the discussion to your opinion.

Model conclusion

In conclusion, although an early start to schooling may offer some academic and practical benefits, I believe children gain more from beginning formal education a little later, as long as their early years include rich opportunities for play-based learning.

Useful language

Presenting views

• Some people argue that ...
• Supporters of this view point out that ...
• It is often claimed that ...

Contrasting

• On the other hand, ...
• By contrast, ...
• However, others maintain that ...

Giving your opinion

• In my view, ...
• I would argue that ...
• Personally, I side with those who ...

Use linking phrases accurately and without overloading every sentence. Precise vocabulary matters too; our IELTS vocabulary guide groups useful words by topic, including education.

Common mistakes

• No opinion anywhere in the essay.
• Unbalanced discussion: one body paragraph of eight lines and another of two.
• Opinion that changes between the introduction and the conclusion.
• Listing ideas without development: each view needs reasons and at least one example.
• Memorised introductions that do not paraphrase the actual views.

Our list of 10 common IELTS writing mistakes covers more general errors worth checking.

Next steps

Practise with three discussion questions this week. For each one, spend five minutes planning: note two reasons for each view and decide your opinion. Then write one full essay in 40 minutes, aiming for around 270–300 words, and check that all three parts of the question are answered.

To see how your essay performs alongside the rest of the Writing paper, take a free sample mock test.