ielts essay thesis statement

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Writing a Thesis Statement in IELTS

The thesis statement is an essential part of an essay introduction, and it is very important that you know where to put it and how to write it.

Getting it wrong could very likely reduce your IELTS score as it could affect the coherency of your essay and if it's an opinion essay, it may mean that your opinion is not clear. 

They are a crucial part of  writing an introduction .

If you prefer you can also watch this video lesson about thesis statements for IELTS:

Undertanding Thesis Statements

What is a thesis statement.

Very basically, it tells the person reading your essay  what will be in it . It may also  give your opinion  if the question asks you for this.

It is the last sentence of your introduction.

Don't get it mixed up with the  topic of your essay  - this is usually at the beginning of your introduction.

How do I write a thesis statement?

In order to make it effective, you must have first identified the task of the essay. If you are unsure about this, check out this lesson on  identifying the task .

The task is  what you have to do , and is usually at the  end of the rubric . For example, look at this IELTS essay question:

As global trade increases, many goods including those we use on a daily basis are produced in other countries and transported long distances.

Do the benefits of this trend *outweigh the drawbacks?

What you have to do (the task) is explain whether you think, overall, an increase in the production of goods in other countries and their subsequent transportation over long distances is more advantageous or disadvantageous .

So your essay is obviously going to be discussing the advantages and disadvantages of this issue, and this is what needs to be made clear in your thesis statement.

It is also an opinion essay as it is asking you to make a decision on whether you think there are more advantages or disadvantages. So you need to make this clear as well.

Here is an example introduction, with the thesis in bold:

Due to the increase in global trade, many of the goods that we consume every day are made in a different country and then transported over a long distance in order to reach us.  In my opinion, this trend has more disadvantages than advantages .

You would then go on to write about the advantages and disadvantages of global trade ( focusing more on the disadvantages as you think there are more of these).

*Just a quick note on the word ' outweigh '. This word often confuses students and they end up writing a thesis statement opinion that contradicts what they write in the essay.

The simple answer - don't use the word! It is just asking you if there are more advantages than disadvantages. So just state what you think in the thesis without using the word, as in the example.

Thesis Statements for Different Essay Types

We will now look at how thesis statements can vary with different question types. However, you should not try to learn set phrases or sentences to fit certain essays.

There are some broad types of essay question that are common to see, but they can all vary slightly.

The golden rule is to always read the question very carefully ( never rush this as you may not fully answer the question ) and work out what you have to do.

Your thesis statement will then follow on from this, depending on what you have decided you need to write about in order to answer the question.

So below are some suggestions of what you could do for certain common kinds of essay question, but this is not to say these are right and other ways are wrong. There are numerous ways to write good thesis statements and these are just possibilities.

Writing about Two Opinions

Some questions ask you specifically to discuss two opinions and to give your opinion .

Some people think that young children should be allowed to do paid work, while others think that this should be illegal.

Discuss both opinions and give your opinion.

There are various ways you could choose to write an introduction and thesis for this.

You could begin by paraphrasing the two opinions, then stating in the thesis what you will do:

Some people believe that it is acceptable for young children to undertake jobs that they are paid for, whereas others believe that this is wrong and should be illegal.  This essay will discuss both sides of the issue.

This is quite simplistic but it makes it very clear what you are going to do.

You will obviously need to give your opinion as well in the essay, but stating this in the thesis ("This essay will discuss both sides of the issue and then give my opinion") sounds awkward so it is better without it.

Another possible way to do it is by having a sentence to introduce the topic first, and then paraphrasing the two opinions to make them your thesis:

At present, more and more young children are becoming involved in paid work.  Whilst some people are of the opinion that this is an entirely acceptable practice, others believe that this is completely wrong and should be made illegal.

This is fine as your thesis will match with your essay - you go on to discuss the first opinion and then the second one.

Or of course you could modify this slightly to include your opinion:

At present, more and more young children are becoming involved in paid work.  Whilst some people are of the opinion that this is an entirely acceptable practice,  I believe  that this is completely wrong and should be made illegal.

As long as you go on to discuss both sides of the argument, this is fine.

Agreeing or Disagreeing

Another type of question is when you are asked to agree or disagree with one opinion.

Currently there is a trend towards the use of alternative forms of medicine. However, at best these methods are ineffective, and at worst they may be dangerous.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

For this type of question, you need to state what your opinion is in the thesis statement.

Although you could feasibly do this in the conclusion, I think it is better to do it first so it is clear to someone reading the essay what your opinion is upfront. It is not wrong though to put it in the conclusion - this is your choice.

Your thesis statement here will depend on whether you agree, disagree, or partly agree. Here are some examples of each:

A thesis statement that agrees with the opinion :

Alternative medicine is not new. It is accepted that it pre-dates conventional medicine and it is still used by many people all over the world.  However, I strongly believe that this form of medicine does not work and is possibly a danger to those using it.

A thesis statement that disagrees with the opinion :

Alternative medicine is not new. It is accepted that it pre-dates conventional medicine and it is still used by many people all over the world.  I am unconvinced that it is dangerous, and feel that both alternative and conventional medicine can be useful.

A thesis statement that partly agrees with the opinion :

Alternative medicine is not new. It is accepted that it pre-dates conventional medicine and it is still used by many people all over the world.  I agree that for certain conditions this type of medicine is ineffective and could even be dangerous, but for some illnesses it is a good alternative choice.

These examples illustrate why it is important to ananlyze the question carefully and brainstorm your ideas first so you have a clear idea of what you will be writing and what your opinion is.

Other Essays

Some other essays may not ask you for your opinion specifically, but may ask you to discuss, for example, problems and solutions , causes and effects , advantages and disadvantages .

If you are asked to do this, then you should just clearly state that you will be discussing these two things in your essay. Here are some examples:

Problems and solutions:

Overpopulation of urban areas has led to numerous problems.

Identify one or two serious ones and suggest ways that governments and individuals can tackle these problems.

Sample thesis in bold:

Many countries of the world are currently experiencing problems caused by rapidly growing populations in urban areas. It  is critical to understand what these issues are and how both governments and individuals can overcome them.

Causes and Effects:

The percentage of overweight children in western society has increased by almost 20% in the last ten years.

Discuss the causes and effects of this disturbing trend.

Over the last ten years, Western societies have seen close to a 20% rise in the number of children who are overweight.  It is important to understand not only why this is happening but also the consequences of this worrying trend.

Advantages and Disadvantages

In order to solve traffic problems, governments should tax private car owners heavily and use the money to improve public transportation.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of such a solution?

Traffic congestion in many cities around the world is severe. One possible solution to this problem is to impose heavy taxes on car drivers and use this money to make public transport better.   These measures would have both benefits and drawbacks.

This lesson has provided you with some broad guidance on writing a thesis statement for different types of essay.

It is important to stress again though that questions can vary so you must always analyze if carefully and identify exactly what you need to do and what should therefore be in your thesis statement.

Remember, a thesis statement is just telling the reader what the focus of your essay is and giving your opinion if necessary.

Follow this link to see some examples of IELTS essay questions .

More Task 2 IELTS Lessons:

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Using Substitution in IELTS to Improve Writing Coherency

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Improve Coherence and Cohesion in IELTS Writing

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Opinion Essay Introduction: The Thesis Statement

In an IELTS opinion essay for writing task 2, your introduction has a Background Statement and a Thesis Statement. You should aim for between 40 to 50 words for the length of your essay introduction. While the background statement introduces the topics, the thesis statement is your answer to the task given by IELTS. It should introduce the main points and show the direction your essay will take. Below are two possible introductions with different thesis statements for the following IELTS task.

IELTS Task 2 The increase in the amount of traffic is responsible for growing problems in many large cities and this has resulted in more traffic congestion, particularly at rush hour. What measures could be taken to deal with this problem?

IELTS Essay Introductions – Comparing Thesis Statements

The introductions below have different thesis statements. Which one do you think is the best?

1. The growth in the quantity of traffic in most major cities has led to problems of congestion in the peak travel hours. There are a number of solutions to this issue which I will discuss in this essay.

2. The growth in the quantity of traffic in most major cities has led to problems of congestion in the peak travel hours. This can be solved by having a traffic free zone and improving the public transportation system offered to the public.

Click below:

Number 2 is the best introduction because the thesis statement is more specific and directly related to the topic. 

Explanation:

• Introduction 1 contains what is called a “generic” thesis statement. This means it is a learned phrase which the writer has memorised to use for all solution essays. This is the type of sentence that isn’t useful for your score. All your sentences need to be relevant to the specific topic you have been given. This is a very common sentence that is taught by teachers who do not fully understand IELTS marking. Students like it because it’s easy to learn and easy to use – but it doesn’t help your score. 
• Introduction 2 provides a clear, relevant thesis statement. It introduces the main points clearly. This allows the reader to know what is about to be explained in the body paragraphs. It provides coherence for the whole essay. This will help your score.

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU:

• IELTS Opinion Essay Model Answer 
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• ALL FREE MODEL ESSAYS AND TIPS FOR WRITING TASK 2

RECOMMENDED VIDEO:

This is an old video but it is good and still relevant over a decade later. Please watch to learn:

HOW TO WRITE AN INTRODUCTION FOR IELTS WRITING TASK 1

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What is contained in the conclusion of an IELTS essay? Thank you.

A conclusion contains a summary of the main points which is usually stated in just one sentence, maximum two. It is also possible to add a final comment, but I wouldn’t recommend doing that for any essay that requires you to give an opinion. You can find free information about structure and paragraphing as well as linking words, model essays and more tips on this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/ . You can find advanced training in my store: https://elizabethferguson.podia.com/

What if I fail to write the thesis statement in the introduction of task 2? All others parts were okay, I guess. Thank you!

There would be a lack of coherence in your essay and a problem with Task Response. I do not mean there is an automatic penalty, but rather it would impact your score. Your thesis statement is your answer which helps the reader understand the body paragraphs.

I don’t think the first example is not good. I’ll say it’s just normal, but as long as you fully expand the “solutions” in depth in the body paragraphs, that’s totally fine. The second one is clearly better in language. However, if we have, say, 4 or even more solutions to it, it would be impossible to include them all in the introduction. If I were about to do this, I might rewrite the first example, but with a more specific and personalised sentence to state my answer, instead of something that can be put everywhere.

I’ve just edited the page above to provide more explanation in the answer. Have a read.

Hello Liz! I hope you are doing great! I appreciate your hard work, patience and dedication so much! I have purchased your advanced lessons and I am a bit confused about the use of “we” in the task 2 essays. You said in your discussion essay explanations that only in case of ” as people we do not live …” we can use this pronoun. My question is can I use ‘we’ in sentences like- ” …the food we intake…” or “exercise helps keep our body….” ? I am trying to follow your lessons as closely as possible, and I found them very helpful! Thank you so much for everything you are doing for us! God bless you! Regards, Mouli

There are no rules that state we cannot use “we”. It is not a pronoun that is often used in IELTS essays, but there are times when we can use it. Your examples are fine. Just remember, most IELTS essays are about people in general, not “we”. For example, “We should all do more exercise” is better written “People should do more exercise.”

Hi, Liz! Do you give private lessons on writing essays? Thank you.

I only offer my Advanced Video Lessons: https://elizabethferguson.podia.com/

To what extend do you agree or disagree? I completely agree with this ideology. Before mustering the end point, I will shed light on my views in the following paragraphs.

Is it correct?

It sounds like you have memorised sentences to use in your essay. IELTS do not accept memorised language.

Liz, love your website. I have a question with respect to thesis statement. Is it okay to pose a question as a thesis statement.

For a question on bringing tablets and computers to schools, I framed my thesis statement this way: …”Do students gain or benefit from these resources?” Is this correct?

Your thesis statement is your answer. You should not write it as a question. It is best to avoid writing questions in your essay. Present statements, supporting points, ideas – not questions.

Hi Liz Could I give specific solutions in the introduction? I think it should be put in the body paragraph

It is fine to introduce your main ideas in the thesis statement and then put details and examples in the body paragraphs.

I agree that the second introduction is better. However,I have a question which is what is the difference between an introduction and a conclusion. You said that the second introduction is better because it sums up the main points. But, this is what a conclusion is supposed to do. Please clarify my confusion dear teacher.

The introduction introduces the reader to the issues in the question and presents your answer. The conclusion summarises your ideas – it restates your opinion.

Exactly, this is what I am trying to say. If we already summarize our main points in the introductory paragraph, what would we write in our conclusion? This is my question.

You have introduced your ideas in the introduction and summarised them in the conclusion. They are the same ideas – introduced and concluded.

Hi Liz, I like your teaching standard and methods. I have written introduction something different, could you please let me know anything is wrong except not included the opinion.

Many large cities have big problem of growing amount of traffic during a peak travel hours due to hight traffic congestion.

Thanks in advance Nishi

traffic congestion is a serious concern in metropolis, which is due to the increase in traffic flow especially in peak timings. in my opinion, improving public transportation facilities as well as having traffic free zones would eradicate this issue.

hi MS.liz back ground and thesis statement are only for opinion essay or applicable all types of essay in task 2 ?? please let me know

thanks in advance

All types. You can see my model essays on this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/or you can purchase my writing task 2 lessons: https://elizabethferguson.podia.com/

Liz could you give me some good introduction sentences to start with in the opinion essay

There are no sentences which you can learn for a high score. Any sentences you learn to put in your essay will lower your score. You should start by paraphrasing the statement given – that’s all. Then add your thesis statement and your introduction is complete. See this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/

Dear Madam,

Can I write all advantages in one body paragraph and all disadvantages in one body paragraph.

Sure you can for an advs/disadvs essay. It’s a logical way to organise ideas into body paragraphs.

Anne says: April 5, 2017 at 7:53 pm

Hi Liz I wanna ask a question. In this essay question: Some people think that the best way to reduce crimes is to apply longer prison sentences, while other people think that there are better methods of doing so.Discuss both points of view and give your opinion.

Can I write :

Some people believe that the most effective method towards reduction of crime rate is to lengthen prison sentences while others think that mandatory, unpaid community work would be better. In my opinion, capital crimes should attract longer prison sentences while minor offenders should be rehabilitated.

Now the question did not state what other people think, it just stated” while others think that there are better methods of doing so”. Is it OK for me to insert what I think that “other people” thought so that I can use and develop it in the body paragraph. Or should I just leave it and add all my points in my thesis Statement.

Thanks..looking forward to getting a reply from you.

Always paraphrase the background directly from the statement given. The actual views of others should be explained in your body paragraph. In your intro just mention “while others do not agree and believe in other solutions”.

Liz I am bit confused about advantages and disadvantages essays.do I need to put advantage and disadvantages separately or just like option essay in a paragarph.??????

See my model essays: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/

Hi Liz, I have been attempted IELTS more than 6 times. Each time I get the required overall score which is 7.5. However I don’t get the required score for the individual modules(which is 7). For instance if I get a score 8 in listening, 7.5 in reading and 7.5 in speaking, i get only 6.5 in writing. At the same time , in the next attempt i get a 7.5 in writing with a reading score of 6.5. this continues to happen in each attempts i make. Any one of the module will be scored 6.5 each time (even I got a 6.5 in listening when i had all my modules markred 7.5. This make me depressed . Please help me . thank you

This means that you have the ability to hit band 7.5 in all sections but fail to do so repeatedly. This is can be due to your understanding of the requirements of the band scores. You may produce a band 7.5 essay in one test without realising why but then fail on your technique when you write the next test. Also tests have an element of luck involved. Your performance may vary depending on the topics and questions given. I suggest you review your reading skills: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-reading-tips-how-can-i-improve-my-score/ . Make a list of all errors you make in reading practice – why you made the error, the trap used and the paraphrasing used. Then review your understanding of the writing requirements. Don’t just look at the requirements for the score you want, read all band score requirements to learn why your score goes up or down: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-1-band-scores/ and also: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2-band-scores-5-to-8/ . Also consider getting one or more of my advanced writing task 2 lessons so see where you are going right and where you are going wrong: http://subscriptions.viddler.com/IELTSLizStore

Some people think that the government spend money on public service rather that wasting money on the arts .to what extend do you agree ? Allocating state funds for arts considered to be unfair for many , so according to them state funds should used used for the betterment of the public services. In my opinion , major share of public funds should necessarily be used for the basic requirement for the people such as health care system and public transport , but minimal support from state would help for the conservation of arts and culture for the future . Firstly, spending huge amount of state revenue on arts adversely affect on service sectors , mainly based on health . Recently , there is a tremendous growth in number of people who rely on hospital for both acute and chronic illness .lf the government fail to cope up with the public needs ,that lead to the deterioration of health of a society as a whole . Consequently , this would worsen the standard of health delivering services of the country. Another point to consider before investing public funds on arts is , it can weaken transportation system of the country . Whether the country developed or developing ,popularity of the public transport always remains the same , most citizen rely on public transport for their daily commuting . In such cases scarcity of enough funding would cause ineffective services . Moreover many solitary agencies will take over from government , which can result service users to pay exorbitant ticket prices . This would certainly become unaffordable and that weaken the infrastructure of the specific country . Finally , role of art and museums on prosperity of country’s culture is undeniable,so that sufficient contribution on conservation of those arts are worthwhile . More precisely , museums and art galleries are valuables that handed over by our ancestors , so it’s our turn to give adequate protection and also hand that over to our future generation . For that, little aid from state would be better off for the protection of those valuables. In conclusion , investing state funds on art is not feasible because government has got various other sectors to consider . However , offering financial aid for art is applicable for its protection and promotion .

Can you please tell me band score as well ,thank you

https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-band-scores/

Sorry I don’t comment on writing.

Liz your teaching system is very good.

HELLO LIZ I HAVE A QUESTION CAN WE WRITE “THE RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF TRAFFIC AND ITS PROBLEM IS A FREQUENT TOPIC OF DISCUSSION ” IN THE START OF THE INTRODUCTION…..

Sorry I don’t comment on writing. Liz

Is “has lead” correct?

No, it should be “led”. All the best Liz

hello mam! kindly tell me about different discourse markers one can use in speaking? thanks

They are listed on the speaking page under “linking devices for speaking”. All the best Liz

thanks alot! 🙂

hello mam, is this thesis is right ? in the following text , I will ponder upon the entire articulates verdiction on it

Hi Liz, Thank you for all the stuff you’ve been doing so far because I find them really helpful in order to achieve a great band score on the IELTS test. I have a question here. I know that the introduction 2 is way better. But I’m afraid that if I write my introduction in that way which gives the two main solutions then I probably won’t be able to paraphrase these two in the beginnings of each of my body paragraphs and also my conclusion. As a matter of fact, this might lower my score in terms of lexical resource because I run out of vocabulary. Am I right ?

You can repeat words in IELTS and still get a high score. Paraphrasing skills should be demonstrated but that doesn’t mean you change the words all the time. English has a limited number of words in the language so it is normal that some words are repeated. Aim for accuracy at all times. Liz

Hi Liz, Is it necessary to include all my solutions in the introduction part? I’m afraid that I can not expand the two ideas of having a traffic free zone and improving the public transportation system enough, so in order to reach 250 words, I may include more small solutions which take one or two sentences each. But if I include them in the introduction, it seems tedious. How can I do in this case? Thank you very much!

I don’t really understand what you mean. Each body paragraph should contain one solution and each body paragraph should be equally developed. You can’t put one solution in one body paragraph and then two solutions in the next body paragraph. Your paragraphs must be planned properly and your solutions must be explained clearly. All the best Liz

I get it! I was just afraid that I have no enough descriptions for one solution a while back so I hoped to achieve 250 words by adding more solutions which seems not working now. I will try to focus one solution with more actual examples. Thanks a lot !!!

Your task is to answer the question and the question is about language not tourism. Don’t get distracted because there is extra information given by IELTS. You must identify what the issues are that you are responding to. This essay is easy because there’s a direct question for you to answer. All the best Liz

OK! I know what to do. Thank you!

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Your Guide to Thesis Statements for All 5 Types of IELTS Essays

• October 06, 2022

Getting the exact IELTS band score you need for your dream program can be challenging, especially when it comes to the writing section. However, by learning effective writing skills, you will be sure to improve and get the score that you need.

For writing task 2, one of the most important skills for a high band score is thesis statement writing.

Read the post to learn more about thesis statements or skip to the section that most interests you.

Why do I need to write a thesis statement?

According to the British Council, the rubric for IELTS Writing Task 2 is made of four sections: Task Response,        Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resources, and Grammatical Range and Accuracy.

The second section, Coherence and Cohesion, is all about how effectively you can arrange information and connect your ideas. In short, this part assesses your essay structure.

If you want to show your teacher or test grader that you have great essay structure, learn to write a clear and strong thesis statement.

When an instructor or grader sees a good thesis statement, it signals that the essay writer knows what they are doing. It shows that the essay will be constructed of thoughtful points that are carefully connected, hopefully with transition phrases and other tools that create cohesion and readability.

In other words, a good thesis creates a good first impression.

What is a thesis statement?

An entire book could be written about the thesis statement, but it can be summarized as follows: one or two sentences that summarize the main points of the essay.

One way to think of a thesis statement is as a kind of preview or summary. Consider the last time you discovered a new show on Netflix or another streaming service.

There is probably a good chance that you picked that show for a few reasons: the cover image looked cool, the trailer seemed interesting, and the summary paragraph made the show sound enticing.

A thesis statement is like that preview paragraph on Netflix. Just like Netflix tells us what a show is about, the thesis statement tells us what an essay is about.

How do I write a thesis statement?

Before we discuss thesis statement writing, let’s quickly review the basic structure of IELTS essays.

As mentioned in our last post about IELTS Writing Task 2 , IELTS essays generally have four paragraphs:

• One introduction paragraph.
• Two body paragraphs.
• One conclusion paragraph.

The body paragraphs should each focus on one main point or idea. The thesis, which should be part of the intro paragraph, combines these two main points into a single sentence.

For example, if your essay is about reasons why Toronto is a great place to live, then your thesis will summarize the two main reasons like this:

Toronto is a great place to live because of job availability and endless options for leisure activities.

For the above topic, the first body paragraph will focus on job availability, and the second body paragraph will focus on leisure activities.

How can I write a thesis if I don’t know what my main points are?

The answer is that you don’t.

Contrary to popular belief, you should not write your introduction first . Instead, start with the body paragraphs, then go back and write your introduction. This allows you to figure out what your main points are before combining them into a thesis statement.

If you write your thesis statement first, then you might have to change it later if you get a better idea when you’re writing your body paragraphs.

This technique is much easier to use if you are doing a computer-based test, but if you are doing a paper-based test, you can simply leave the top 1/3 rd of the page empty so that you can add your intro later.

Another option is to create a basic outline of your essay before you start writing. This way, you will have an idea of what your main points are before you start writing, and you can focus on using correct language, rather than worrying about your ideas.

Whatever technique you choose, remember that you have only 40 minutes (sometimes less if you spent a lot of time on Writing Task 1), so you better work quickly!

Can you show me an example?

Review the sample below. The highlights show how the thesis statement summarizes the main ideas from the two body paragraphs. Green shows the main idea of Body Paragraph 1, and yellow shows the main idea of Body Paragraph 2.

Question: Many people feel that cars contribute to global warming. Do you think this is true?

Introduction: Driving a car is a normal part of the day-to-day life of most people. However, in the last several years, many are considering alternative transportation options due to fears that driving contributes to global warming. It is true that using cars is a contributing factor due to CO 2 emissions and overreliance on vehicles.

Body Paragraph 1: CO 2 emissions have an obvious impact on climate change. It has been proven that CO 2 and other greenhouse gases have a warming effect on the earth’s atmosphere. What’s more, about 80% of all greenhouse gas emissions are from CO 2 , meaning that any reduction in CO 2 emissions would be good for the environment.

Body Paragraph 2: Most people use vehicles more often than they need them. It is okay to use vehicles for long trips or to transport large amounts of heavy equipment or goods, but it does not make sense to drive a car to the corner store when you can work there instead. To reduce CO 2 emissions, the population must use alternative means of transportation, such as bicycles and public transit.

Should my thesis statement be different for every essay type?

As discussed in our previous IELTS Writing Post , Writing Task 2 has five types of essays. Even though there are five types of essays, the method for writing a thesis statement is always the same. The thesis statement must always summarize the main points of the essay, no matter the type of essay.

Look at the chart below to notice the similarities between the thesis statements of different types of essays.

How do I practice?

One way to practice thesis statement writing is to find a list of IELTS Writing Task 2 questions, such as those on IELTS Liz . After you have a good list of questions, follow these four steps:

• Look at the first question on the list.
• Time yourself for two minutes.
• Write a thesis statement as fast as you can.
• After two minutes, move to the next question and repeat the process, even if you are not done.

If you follow these steps, eventually, you will become comfortable with writing thesis statements quickly, which is required for a real IELTS test.

For more information about language requirements for our programs, visit the language requirements page . If you have further questions, email [email protected]

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