Writing an essay in English exams: structure and model essay

Essays in English exams: requirements compared

All major English exams include an argumentative text, but length and time differ: IELTS Academic Task 2 requires at least 250 words in about 40 minutes, Cambridge B2 First 140 to 190 words and C1 Advanced 220 to 260. TOEFL iBT gives you 10 minutes, and the Pearson essay needs at least 100 words in up to 10 minutes.

The basic idea is the same everywhere: you take a position on a question and justify your view. The length and the time available, however, vary considerably.

In IELTS, Task 2 carries twice the weight of Task 1, and answers in bullet points are marked down. It pays to train essay writing systematically, ideally as part of structured exam preparation with feedback.

How is an essay marked in English exams?

Exam essays are assessed in four areas: task completion, text type and reader awareness, organisation and linking, and language. IELTS uses criteria such as Task Response and Coherence and Cohesion; Cambridge awards 0 to 5 marks per criterion. Perfect grammar therefore earns at most a quarter of the marks, and a complete answer counts just as much.

The criteria differ in detail but cover the same four areas:

Sources: IELTS Writing on ielts.org, B2 First handbook for teachers. In Cambridge exams each criterion is marked from 0 to 5.

This leads to an important insight: perfect grammar alone earns at most a quarter of the marks. Answering the question fully and writing a logically organised text matter at least as much. Many learners put their energy into rare vocabulary and lose marks because part of the question goes unanswered.

Reading the question correctly

• To what extent do you agree or disagree? A clear position, stating how far you agree.
• Discuss both views and give your own opinion. Present both sides, then your own view.
• What are the causes … and what solutions …? Two sub-questions; answer both.
• Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages? Weigh them up and decide clearly.

Essay structure in English: introduction, main body, conclusion

An English exam essay consists of an introduction of two to three sentences that paraphrases the question and states your position, two to three body paragraphs following the PEEL pattern (Point, Explain, Example, Link), and a two-sentence conclusion with no new arguments. For IELTS Task 2, plan 40 minutes for this, including proofreading.

Introduction (2 to 3 sentences)

1. Set the context and paraphrase the task; do not copy it.
2. State your position or outline the structure.

Main body (2 to 3 paragraphs)

Each paragraph follows the same pattern, easy to remember as PEEL:

• Point: the main idea in the first sentence (topic sentence).
• Explain: the reasoning.
• Example: a concrete example, ideally from work or everyday life.
• Link: connect back to the question.

Conclusion (2 sentences)

Sum up your position without introducing new arguments. A good conclusion answers the question once more in different words.

Timing for 40 minutes (IELTS Task 2)

For shorter formats such as Cambridge B2 First or the Pearson essay, shorten each phase accordingly; the order stays the same.

Useful phrases and linking words for English essays

For your essay you need phrases for the introduction, your position, adding points, contrast, examples, consequences, qualifying and concluding, such as In my view, Furthermore, However, For instance, As a result and On balance. Use two or three linking expressions per paragraph deliberately and write formally, which means no contractions.

Less is more

Examiners notice immediately when linking words are mechanically placed at the start of every sentence. Two or three well-placed connectors per paragraph, plus reference words such as this trend, such measures or these figures, sound more natural and score better under Coherence and Cohesion or Organisation. If you build arguments with conditions, the structures you need are covered in conditional sentences in English (in German).

Writing formally

• No contractions: do not rather than don’t.
• Avoid overusing informal expressions such as a lot of; prefer a considerable number of or many.
• Your personal opinion is allowed (I believe), but support it objectively.

Model essay in English with commentary

The following model essay on whether companies should pay for their employees’ language training is around 200 words long. It paraphrases the task, states its position in the introduction, deals with each view in its own paragraph with a topic sentence, reasoning and an example, and answers the question clearly in the conclusion. A shorter B2-level essay follows.

Task: Some people think that companies should pay for their employees’ language training. Others believe that employees should be responsible for it themselves. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

In an increasingly international job market, language skills have become a key qualification. While some argue that employers should fund language training, others feel that this is a personal investment. In my view, the responsibility should largely lie with the company, although employees also have a role to play.

Those who believe employees should pay for training point out that language skills benefit the individual throughout their career. A sales manager who learns English, for instance, can take this skill to their next employer. From this perspective, it seems reasonable that the person who gains most should also cover the cost.

On the other hand, companies often require specific language skills to remain competitive. If a firm expands into new markets, its staff must be able to negotiate, write reports and handle complaints in another language. Training that is tailored to these tasks directly improves performance, which means the employer benefits immediately. Moreover, offering such courses can help companies attract and retain qualified staff.

In conclusion, although language skills are certainly valuable for employees personally, I believe that companies should bear most of the cost, since they define the requirements and profit from the results. Employees, in turn, should contribute their time and commitment.

Why this essay works

• Introduction: paraphrases the question and states the position by the third sentence.
• Main body: one paragraph per view, each with a topic sentence, reasoning and an example.
• Cohesion: From this perspective, On the other hand, Moreover and In conclusion provide structure without being intrusive.
• Conclusion: answers the question clearly and picks up the qualification from the introduction.

Adapting the length to the exam

The model essay is around 200 words. For C1 Advanced (220 to 260 words) and especially for IELTS Task 2 (at least 250 words), it should be extended, ideally with a second concrete example rather than repetition. A possible addition to the third paragraph:

A logistics company that trains its dispatchers in English, for example, can resolve delivery problems with international partners directly instead of relying on a small number of bilingual colleagues. This not only saves time but also reduces costly misunderstandings.

Short essay at B2 level

Cambridge B2 First allows only 140 to 190 words. Here is a compact example for the question Is it better to study alone or in a group? with the notes “concentration”, “motivation” and a point of your own:

Whether we study alone or with others has a real impact on how much we learn. Both options have clear benefits.

Studying alone usually makes it easier to concentrate. There are fewer distractions, and you can work at your own pace, which is particularly useful before an exam.

However, a group can be very motivating. When you have agreed to meet friends at the library, you are less likely to put off your work. Group members can also explain difficult points to each other.

A further point is cost. Study groups are free, and sharing books or notes can save money.

In my opinion, the best solution is a combination of both: studying alone to learn new material and meeting a group to revise and test each other.

The text covers all three points, gives a clear opinion and stays within B2 using simple but correct structures.

Common essay mistakes, especially among German speakers

Learners, and German speakers in particular, tend to make these mistakes in English essays: a comma before that, an article in general statements such as the most people, plurals of uncountable nouns such as informations, the simple past instead of the present perfect with since, false friends such as actually for “currently”, and overlong sentences.

More pitfalls are described in false friends and typical mistakes of German speakers (in German). For tenses with since and for, see since or for? (in German).

Mini exercise

Correct this sentence: Since many years the governments are investing more money in the education, what is a positive development.

Answer: For many years, governments have been investing more money in education, which is a positive development. (for instead of since, present perfect continuous, no article with general governments and education, which instead of what.)

Essay training: how to improve before your exam

The most effective approach is one timed essay a week with thorough feedback. Add a personal list of your mistakes, analyse model essays rather than memorising them, build topic vocabulary with 15 collocations per topic, and practise in the exam format, on a computer or by hand. AI tools can flag errors but cannot replace marking against the official criteria.

1. One timed essay a week: quality over quantity. One text with thorough feedback is better than five without any.
2. Keep a personal list of mistakes: write your five most frequent mistakes on a card and check for them specifically when proofreading.
3. Analyse model essays, don’t memorise them: highlight topic sentences and linking words, then apply the structure to new topics.
4. Build topic vocabulary: education, the environment, technology, work and health come up often. Note 15 collocations per topic.
5. Practise by hand or on a computer, depending on the exam format: if you will be tested on a computer, practise that way too.

AI as a training partner?

Tools such as ChatGPT can suggest model phrases and highlight mistakes. However, they do not replace marking against the official criteria, and they tend to rewrite texts rather than letting learners correct themselves. Our article on learning English with AI explains how to use them sensibly.

Feedback from professionals

In our preparation for IELTS, Cambridge and TOEFL, teachers mark your essays against the official criteria and show you which changes will have the biggest effect on your result. For general writing practice, our English courses online are a good fit; professional writing is covered in our business English courses. Exam-specific advice is available in our guides to IELTS preparation, Cambridge B2 First and Cambridge C1 Advanced.

Sources

1. ielts.org: ielts academic format writing
2. cambridgeenglish.org: format
3. cambridgeenglish.org: format
4. cambridgeenglish.org: 167791 b2 first handbook
5. fr.ets.org: toefl ibt lesson plan writing
6. pearson.com: PEIC CBT public specification

Frequently asked questions