Written by David S. Wills · August 19, 2018
In the IELTS writing exam, as with other forms of academic English, people often feel as though they need to provide a balanced answer. The reason for this is simple: a balanced answer shows a greater degree of thinking. For example, if I asked you, “Do you think capital punishment is a good thing or bad thing?” you may want to talk about both sides of the argument, before stating your opinion. Likewise, if I asked whether school uniforms are good, you might also talk about the pros and cons of school uniforms before giving your preference. This shows that, even though you believe one side to be correct, you are capable of understanding and articulating the other side.
In the IELTS writing task 2, you are sometimes given a question that ends like this:
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
It is clear that you must discuss both views. You cannot simply discuss one view or just state your opinion.
However, there is another question type that is a little trickier, and which divides opinion:
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
In this case, should you provide a balanced answer or just argue one side of the issue? Keep reading to find out. 🙂
Can I have strong opinion?
When the question asks, “to what extent do you agree or disagree?” you can absolutely have a strong opinion! You can say things like:
- I completely agree…
- I wholeheartedly agree…