Common IELTS Writing Task 2 Topics | Generated by AI
Question: What are the common topics for IELTS essays?
Answer:
The IELTS Writing Task 2 (essay) covers a predictable range of broad topics. While exact questions change, the themes repeat very frequently across years (including 2025–2026). Examiners and recent test reports show these categories appear most often.
Here are the most common IELTS essay topic categories (in rough order of frequency):
-
Education
(by far the most common topic)
Examples: online vs traditional learning, university education for all, teaching methods, discipline in schools, role of teachers, subjects taught at school, exams vs continuous assessment -
Environment
(very frequent, especially in recent years)
Examples: climate change, pollution, renewable energy, protecting animals/plants, individual vs government responsibility, plastic waste, urban green spaces -
Technology
(increasingly common due to AI, social media, etc.)
Examples: impact of the internet/social media, artificial intelligence, automation/robots replacing jobs, screen time for children, online shopping vs traditional shopping -
Health
Examples: obesity and fast food, exercise and elderly people, public healthcare vs private, mental health awareness, alternative medicine, smoking bans -
Society & Social Issues
Examples: aging population, gender equality, helping poor countries, gap between rich & poor, urbanization, work-life balance, importance of traditions vs modernization -
Work & Economy
Examples: remote working, job satisfaction vs high salary, retirement age, small vs large businesses, globalization effects on local jobs -
Crime & Punishment
Examples: causes of crime, prison vs education/rehabilitation, death penalty, juvenile crime, preventing crime -
Government & Spending
Examples: government funding for art/roads/space exploration vs healthcare/education, censorship, national defense spending -
Family & Children
Examples: parents’ role in education/behavior, single-parent families, discipline methods, children using mobile phones, importance of family time -
Media, Advertising & Communication
Examples: influence of advertising, news & violence, reality TV, importance of international news, face-to-face vs online communication -
Travel & Tourism
Examples: international tourism benefits & problems, low-cost airlines, cultural exchange through travel -
Other recurring topics (less frequent but still appear regularly):
- Art & Creativity
- Sports & Exercise
- Food & Diet
- Transport & Traffic
- Animal Rights
- Space Exploration
Tips for preparation:
- You do not need to prepare every possible topic — mastering 8–10 main categories is usually enough.
- Learn topic-specific vocabulary for each area.
- Practice all five main essay types with these topics:
- Opinion (Agree/Disagree)
- Discussion (Discuss both views)
- Advantages & Disadvantages
- Problem & Solution / Causes & Solutions
- Two-part / Direct Questions
Recent exams (2025–2026) show increased focus on technology (especially AI), mental health, sustainability/environment, and online education/work. Practicing essays on these high-frequency themes significantly improves your chances of getting a familiar topic on test day.
References:
- ieltsliz.com/common-essay-topics-for-ielts
- ieltsliz.com/100-ielts-essay-questions
- ieltsmaterial.com/recent-ielts-topics-in-writing-task-2
- Recent topic reports from writing9.com and examword.com (2025–2026 actual questions)