We all use ChatGPT to write these days, but sometimes that just isn’t an option.
Of course you’re are keen to improve your English writing skills, but often find yourself staring at a blank page, so you reach for your favourite AI tool. But AI writing is easy to spot, and it lacks the human touch: the poetic journey that a real person can take you on. And, of course, if you are preparing for an exam, relying on ChatGPT just isn’t an option.
If you’re keen to improve your writing skills, you’re going to love what we’ve got lined up this month.
November is all about helping you write with confidence; whether you’re preparing for the IELTS Academic Writing exam or simply want to polish your English for work, study, or everyday communication, you’ve come to the right place.
Before we talk about how the new IELTS Academic Writing Course can help you, let’s take a few minutes to actually look inside the IELTS Writing exam. If you’re planning to take the test soon, or even if you’re just curious about what it involves, this short walkthrough will give you a clear idea of what to expect and how you might plan your answer.
IELTS Task 2: How to Plan Your Answer
Imagine this: it’s exam day. You’ve completed the Listening, Reading, and Speaking sections, and you’ve just finished Task 1 of the Writing exam: describing charts, tables, or diagrams. You take a moment to breathe, check the clock, and turn the page to Task 2.
This is the essay question, the one worth twice as many marks as Task 1, and often the part candidates find most challenging. But with a clear plan, you can approach it with confidence.
Here’s an example of a real IELTS Writing Task 2 question:
“Some people believe that unpaid community service should be a compulsory part of high-school education. To what extent do you agree or disagree?”
Take a moment and think about what your first reaction to that question would be. Would you jump straight into writing your opinion? Or would you pause to plan what you’re going to say?
Planning is the step that most candidates skip, but it’s the single most effective way to improve your band score. So, let’s go through the planning process together.
Step 1: Understand the question type
This is an opinion question. It’s asking for your personal viewpoint, not just facts or examples. So your job is to state clearly whether you agree, disagree, or partly agree with the statement.
Step 2: Brainstorm ideas quickly
Take about two minutes to jot down your thoughts. For example:
- Agree: Volunteering teaches responsibility and teamwork; helps young people understand social issues.
- Disagree: It should be voluntary, not forced; students already have heavy workloads.
At this stage, don’t worry about grammar or structure; you’re just collecting ideas and planning the essay to come.
Step 3: Choose your position
Pick one side that you can develop more easily. Let’s say you partly agree: that volunteering is valuable, but it shouldn’t be mandatory.
That’s a balanced opinion, and examiners like that. It shows flexibility of thought and good language control.
Step 4: Create a clear structure
Now, outline your essay. You’ll need four paragraphs:
- Introduction – paraphrase the question and state your position.
- Body Paragraph 1 – explain why community service is beneficial (e.g., life skills, empathy, teamwork).
- Body Paragraph 2 – explain why it shouldn’t be compulsory (e.g., fairness, motivation, time pressure).
- Conclusion – restate your opinion clearly.
That’s it. Four short paragraphs, each with a clear purpose.
Step 5: Think about linking words
To make your writing cohesive, use connectors such as however, on the other hand, as a result, and in addition.
These small words make your ideas flow naturally, and they’re a major factor in your ‘Coherence and Cohesion’ score (that’s one of the four marking criteria in the IELTS Writing exam).
Step 6: Manage your time
You have about 40 minutes for this task, so spend 5 minutes planning, 30 minutes writing, and 5 minutes reading and reviewing afterwards.
In those final minutes, check for small grammar errors, punctuation, or repeated vocabulary that you can swap out. A few quick corrections can make the difference between Band 6.5 and Band 7.
And that’s it: a simple, step-by-step plan for IELTS Writing Task 2.
If you found this helpful, imagine following an approach like this for different IELTS Writing tasks every day. In our IELTS Academic Writing Challenge, we take one writing skill at a time. For example, how to paraphrase, use linking words, or structure complex ideas.
Every day throughout November, we’ll share a short video lesson packed with practical tips, model examples, and clear explanations to help you master IELTS Writing step-by-step over 30 days.
You’ll learn everything: from analysing Task 1 questions to structuring strong essays, improving coherence, and managing your time effectively. Each mini-lesson is designed to help you build confidence and consistency… and it’s completely free!
Get Even More with the Intrepid English Academy
For you lucky people who are already members of the Intrepid English Academy, the IELTS Academic Writing Course also launches today. Academy members get exclusive access to the full 30-day course, which includes daily lessons, quizzes, and weekly writing tasks. Plus downloadable resources and bonus materials that go deeper into each topic.
Members can also book lessons with an Intrepid English teacher to receive personalised feedback on their writing. Your teacher will guide you on structure, vocabulary, and tone and help you make measurable progress.
If you’re not a member yet, you can book a £1 trial lesson to discuss your goals, receive a personalised study plan, and explore how the Academy can help you achieve those goals.
Not Preparing for IELTS?
Even if you’re not planning to take the IELTS exam, this course will still help you improve your English writing skills. Every video lesson covers essential writing techniques that are useful in professional and academic settings.
You’ll learn how to:
- Plan and structure your ideas clearly
- Use linking words to connect your thoughts naturally
- Choose precise, professional vocabulary
- Avoid common grammar mistakes
- Write persuasively for essays, reports, or business communication
- Edit and proofread your work with confidence
These are the same skills that make a difference in emails, presentations, and workplace writing, not just in exams. Keep an eye out for our upcoming blog post on Linking Words, which will help you improve coherence in all kinds of writing.
And If Writing Isn’t Your Cup of Tea…
Don’t worry we’ve got plenty more coming up for you this month. New episodes of the Intrepid English Podcast will be dropping soon, and we’ll continue to share short videos and blog posts to help you expand your vocabulary, strengthen your grammar, and speak with confidence.
Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube for regular updates and free learning content throughout November.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Whether you’re preparing for IELTS or improving your writing for work and life or just want to improve your conversation skills, this is your moment to make real progress. Join the daily lessons on YouTube starting tomorrow, or take it further with the Intrepid English Academy and see what personalised learning can do for you.
Book your £1 trial lesson and let’s create your English success plan together.
Let’s make November the month you master English writing and take one step closer to being the confident communicator you want to be.