Video summary

how to finish writing task 2 quickly and have time for error-checking / discuss both views

Main summary

Key takeaways

Educational

Main ideas / lessons

  • Time management for IELTS Writing Task 2: Don’t spend the full 40 minutes writing. Reserve a few minutes at the end for error checking and minor improvements.
  • Higher scoring requires frequent error-free sentences: Focus on avoiding common mistakes (spelling, grammar, article/preposition use, subject–verb agreement).
  • Computer-based testing is faster and more efficient: Typing avoids erasing/re-writing time lost on paper.
  • Preparation and practice improve speed/accuracy: Practice typing essays on the same keyboard style used in the exam room to reduce spelling mistakes and increase typing speed.
  • Use a structured planning method before writing: Spend about 5 minutes planning (especially the two body paragraphs) so writing is faster and requires fewer rewrites.
  • Plan both views/paragraphs, not just the first: In a discussion essay, you must both discuss and explain your stance; your opinion can change while planning, so both paragraphs must be ready before writing.
  • Paragraph efficiency through “topic sentence + relevant development + disagreement/agree” logic: Each body paragraph should have a topic sentence that can be expanded with relevant ideas and examples.
  • Write body paragraphs first; introduction and conclusion last: This ensures quality in the main argument and preserves time for checking.
  • Speed up introduction/conclusion by reducing paraphrasing: Use templates/skeleton sentences, and repeat key words (“main ideas”) to improve coherence.
  • Checking strategy: After finishing, check both tasks (typically Task 2 first, then Task 1) with a focus on grammar rather than spelling.

Detailed methodology / step-by-step instructions (as presented)

A) Before writing: exam strategy + tools

1) Reserve time for checking

  • Aim to finish writing early enough to leave a few minutes (e.g., 3–4 minutes) for error checking.

2) Choose computer-based test

  • Prefer computer-based testing because paper-based changes waste time using an eraser.

3) Keyboard practice (speed + fewer spelling errors)

  • Use the same/very similar exam keyboard at home.
  • Practice typing essays and note misspellings; this improves both speed and accuracy.

B) Writing a Task 2 discussion essay in <40 minutes (their workflow)

1) Read the question carefully (highlight important words)

  • Read the prompt and highlight key words.
  • Example of “tricky wording”:
    • It’s not enough to discuss “international news” in general.
    • You must discuss international news as one of the subjects (i.e., as a regularly taught subject with classes/regular exposure).

2) Planning phase (~5 minutes total)

  • Plan the two body paragraphs first (approximately 5 minutes), in your head.
  • For each body paragraph, apply the same method:

Body paragraph planning method (repeat for Paragraph 1 and Paragraph 2):

  1. Step 1: Create a topic sentence that directly answers the question
    • It must match why that view exists (not a generic lead-in).
  2. Step 2: Ensure the topic sentence can be developed
    • If the first idea you think of is hard to expand, or the development is irrelevant, discard it and choose a better topic sentence.
    • Ensure development is relevant to the exact focus (e.g., “as a subject,” not just “benefits of news”).
  3. Step 3: Add the “why” part
    • For Paragraph 1: plan why you disagree with the first view (keep the discussion aligned to the essay’s main idea—here, “careers”).
    • For Paragraph 2: plan why you agree with the second view (keep it aligned to the corresponding main idea—here, “greatness” / inspiration).
  4. Step 4: Minimal typing of your plan
    • On the computer, type only keywords (e.g., “careers” for one paragraph) rather than a full plan.

3) Writing phase (key sequencing and chunking)

  • Write Body Paragraph 1 and Body Paragraph 2 first
    • This is the “key” for leaving time to check the essay.
  • Use a “chunk-by-chunk” writing approach:
    • For each body paragraph:
      • Think through the topic sentence and write it.
      • Think through the explanation/development and write it.
      • Think through the agree/disagree part and write it.
  • Manage sentence planning for speed:
    • When practicing, experiment:
      • Planning one sentence at a time vs. planning two sentences together (depending on what flows best for you).
    • The speaker’s preference:
      • Pre-think the entire explanation part to reduce rewrites.

4) Introduction and conclusion (fast writing)

  • After finishing the body paragraphs, write the introduction and conclusion quickly (target ~6–7 minutes total for both).
  • Avoid heavy paraphrasing that repeats the question wording and both main ideas multiple times.
  • Use “fast templates” for the background:
    • Provide a simple background sentence.
    • Then state your opinion.
  • Repeat the main keywords
    • Use repeated key terms from your body paragraphs (example keywords: “careers” and “greatness”).
    • Repetition improves coherence and cohesion and saves time.

Fast introduction structure (example logic):

  • Simple background sentence using a noun phrase or clause template.
  • State the main idea you support (one of the two body ideas is acceptable).
  • State your opinion (e.g., “therefore should be made compulsory / should be included”).

Fast conclusion structure (example logic):

  • Summarize by repeating both main ideas.
  • Reuse keywords for speed and coherence.
  • Optionally vary less important wording with synonyms.

C) After writing: checking strategy + ordering with Task 1

1) Do not check Task 2 immediately

  • The speaker then writes Task 1 next to force Task 1 completion on time.

2) Target time allocation (example)

  • Plan Body Paragraphs: ~5 minutes
  • Write Body Paragraphs: ~25 minutes
  • Then Introduction + Conclusion: ~6–7 minutes
  • Aim to leave ~5 minutes total to check both Task 1 and Task 2.

3) What to check

  • Focus on likely issues:
    • Grammar/accuracy: singular/plural, pronouns, subject–verb agreement, articles, prepositions.
    • Over/under repetition of words; ensure consistency (and adjust wording like “international news” → “global news” → “worldwide news” when needed).
    • Clarity references: make “this/these” refer clearly to the correct noun.
  • The speaker notes:
    • They are not great at spotting spelling errors on screen (but expects there won’t be many due to typing practice), so grammar is the priority.

Example concepts used in the video (to illustrate the method)

  • Prompt theme:
    • Discuss both views: whether secondary students should study international news.
  • Key distinction emphasized:
    • The essay must address international news “as one of their subjects.”
  • Two paragraph “main ideas” used in the speaker’s approach:
    • View 1 (disagree) → disadvantage related to careers (e.g., it doesn’t teach job skills needed for future careers; “only” news consumption).
    • View 2 (agree) → benefit related to inspiration / greatness (regular exposure inspires students to pursue future goals).

Speakers / sources featured

  • Speaker: “Lilie” (the video author/teacher; also referred to as “Hello everyone. Lilie here.”)
  • Referenced sources/channels (not necessarily featured as speakers):
    • Wall Street Journal (recommended for news channels on YouTube/Spotify)
    • YouTube / Spotify (used by the speaker to consume news)
    • Example interview/figure mentioned: Jeff Bezos (mentioned as a celebrity whose interviews/news were watched)
    • Example companies/figures mentioned: Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, OpenAI (as examples in the essay ideas)
  • Product/brand mentioned: Dell keyboard (used/compared to the exam-room keyboard; not a “source” in the citation sense)

Original video