IELTS essay introduction and conclusion: what to write, with before-and-after examples

The introduction and conclusion are the shortest paragraphs in an IELTS Task 2 essay, but they do a lot of work. The introduction tells the examiner what question you are answering and what your answer is. The conclusion confirms that answer. If either one is vague, the whole essay looks less clear, even when the body paragraphs are good.

This guide to the IELTS essay introduction and conclusion shows exactly what each paragraph needs, how to paraphrase the question without copying it, a position statement for each essay type, and several original before-and-after rewrites. If you are not sure which essay type you have, start with our guide to IELTS essay types, then come back here.

Why the introduction and conclusion matter for your band

Task 2 is at least 250 words in about 40 minutes, and it counts twice as much as Task 1. The first criterion, Task Response, is largely about your position. The official band descriptors (Task 2, updated May 2023) put it like this:

• Band 7: “A clear and developed position is presented.”
• Band 6: “A position is presented that is directly relevant to the prompt, although the conclusions drawn may be unclear, unjustified or repetitive.”
• Band 5: “The writer expresses a position, but the development is not always clear.”

Notice the word clear. A reader should know your answer after your introduction and should find the same answer in your conclusion. A position that appears only in the last paragraph, or changes halfway through, is one of the most common reasons essays stay at band 6. Our page on the Writing band descriptors explains the other criteria.

What an IELTS introduction must do

A good Task 2 introduction usually has two or three sentences and does two jobs.

That is all. You do not need a hook, a quotation, a definition or a general statement about the modern world. The examiner is looking for an answer to the question, so get to it quickly.

Step 1: Paraphrase the question, don't copy it

Copied words do not show your language ability. The band descriptors say that at band 1 “any copied rubric must be discounted”, and at band 4 Lexical Resource mentions inappropriate use of “memorised phrases, formulaic language and/or language from the input material”. So rewrite the statement in your own words, using the techniques in our paraphrasing guide: synonyms, a change of word form, a new sentence structure.

Example question (original, written for practice): Some people think that young people should be required to do unpaid community work in their free time. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Step 2: Write a position statement for your essay type

The second sentence is where many essays succeed or fail. It must answer the exact instruction. The table below shows a clear position statement for each common essay type, using original practice questions.

In each weak version the examiner still does not know your answer. In each clear version, the reader could predict the body paragraphs. That predictability is a strength in Task 2. For full structures, see the model answers: an opinion essay, a discussion essay, an advantages and disadvantages essay, a problem and solution essay and a two-part essay.

Is "This essay will discuss…" acceptable?

An outline sentence is fine when it also states your answer, as in the problem and solution example above. On its own, This essay will discuss the advantages and disadvantages answers nothing. If the question asks for your opinion or a judgement (outweigh, to what extent, positive or negative), give it in the introduction.

How long should an IELTS introduction be?

There is no official length for paragraphs. As a practical guide, two or three sentences of roughly 40–60 words leaves you enough words and time for two well-developed body paragraphs. An introduction of 100 words or more usually means you have started arguing too early, or have written a general background that the question did not ask for.

Time matters too. Many candidates find that spending more than five minutes on the introduction leaves the final body paragraph rushed. Plan your body paragraphs first, then write the introduction, so your position matches what you are about to argue.

Before and after: three introductions rewritten

1. The memorised opener

Question (original): Some people believe that museums should be free for everyone. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Before: Nowadays, with the rapid development of society, the issue of whether museums should be free has become a hot topic. This essay will discuss this controversial issue and give my opinion.

After: Whether visitors should pay to enter museums is a question many cities face as cultural budgets shrink. I strongly agree that entry should be free, because museums are educational resources that should not depend on the ability to pay.

Why it is better: the generic opener could start any essay, and give my opinion is not an opinion. The rewrite is specific to this question and states a clear position with a reason.

2. The missing half

Question (original): Fewer people are learning to cook at home. Why is this? What can be done to change it?

Before: Cooking skills are declining in many households. This is mainly because people work long hours and ready meals are cheap.

After: Home cooking is becoming a lost skill in many households. This is largely due to long working hours and cheap ready meals, and it could be reversed by teaching practical cookery in schools and making fresh ingredients more affordable.

Why it is better: the question has two parts. The original introduction answers only the first, which is a warning sign that the essay may do the same.

What an IELTS conclusion must do

A Task 2 conclusion has one main job: restate your answer to the question, in new words, and briefly summarise the main reasons. Remember the band 6 wording: conclusions that are “unclear, unjustified or repetitive”. Your conclusion should be the opposite: clear, supported by what you wrote, and not a copy of your introduction.

1. Signal it: In conclusion, To conclude or Overall is enough. One signpost, not three.
2. Restate your position in different words from the introduction.
3. Summarise the main reasons from your body paragraphs in one sentence.
4. Optional: a short final thought that follows from your argument, such as a recommendation or a condition (provided that…). It must not introduce a new argument.

Two or three sentences, roughly 30–50 words, is usually plenty. Never leave the essay without a conclusion: if time is running out, one clear sentence restating your position is far better than nothing.

Before and after: conclusions rewritten

1. The copied introduction

Introduction: I strongly agree that entry should be free, because museums are educational resources that should not depend on the ability to pay.

Weak conclusion: In conclusion, I strongly agree that entry should be free, because museums are educational resources that should not depend on the ability to pay.

Better: To conclude, charging for museum entry excludes the very families who could benefit most, and public funding is a fair price for open access to culture and history. Free admission should therefore remain the norm.

2. The new idea

Weak: In conclusion, volunteering is good for teenagers. Also, schools should give them less homework so they have more time.

Better: In conclusion, although compulsory schemes risk resentment, I believe regular volunteering benefits teenagers by building confidence and practical skills, and it strengthens the communities they live in.

Homework was never discussed in the body paragraphs, so the weak version adds an unsupported claim at the very end. If an idea is worth making, it belongs in a body paragraph.

3. The changed position

Introduction said: the advantages of online degrees are outweighed by the disadvantages.

Weak conclusion: Overall, online degrees have many benefits and are a good option for everyone.

Better: Overall, while online degrees offer valuable flexibility, particularly for working adults, their lack of hands-on training and campus life means that the drawbacks outweigh the benefits for most young students.

The weak conclusion contradicts the introduction, which makes the position unclear. Check this in your final two minutes: read your introduction, then your conclusion, and make sure they say the same thing in different words.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Memorised templates such as In this day and age… or This is a controversial issue which has sparked debate…. They add words but no meaning, and the descriptors specifically mention memorised and formulaic language.
• Copying the question with one or two words changed.
• No position, or a position that only appears in the conclusion.
• Answering only half of a two-part, discussion or problem and solution question.
• Changing your mind between the introduction and conclusion.
• A new idea or example in the conclusion that was not developed in the body.
• Stacked connectors (In conclusion, to sum up, overall…). One signpost is enough; our linking and cohesion page covers better options.
• Overly cautious hedging, such as It is possible that maybe some people might perhaps…. Hedging has a place, but your position should be firm.

Useful language for partial positions

You do not have to agree or disagree completely. A balanced position is fine as long as it is clear. These frames, built on concession and contrast, help:

• Although X has some benefits, I largely disagree that…
• While I accept that X, I believe that Y is more important because…
• I agree with this view only to a limited extent: X is true for…, but not for…
• On balance, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, provided that…

A ten-minute practice drill

1. Choose three questions from our Task 2 topics list.
2. For each, identify the essay type and underline every part of the instruction.
3. Write an introduction in under three minutes: one paraphrase sentence, one position sentence.
4. Write a matching two-sentence conclusion without looking at the introduction.
5. Compare them. Same position? Different words? Every part of the question answered?

How many sentences should an IELTS essay introduction have?

Two or three is usually enough: one sentence that paraphrases the question and one that gives your position or answer. A third sentence can briefly preview your main reasons. There is no official rule on paragraph length.

Should I give my opinion in the introduction?

If the question asks for your opinion or a judgement, yes. The band 7 Task Response descriptor asks for a clear and developed position, and stating it early makes the whole essay easier to follow. For a two-part question that asks why something happens, state your main reason instead.

Can I use a memorised introduction?

It is risky. The official descriptors mention memorised phrases and formulaic language as features of lower bands, and a template rarely fits the exact question. Learn flexible sentence frames instead and fill them with words that match your question.

Can I add a new idea in the conclusion?

No. A conclusion should restate and summarise what you have already argued. A short recommendation that follows logically from your body paragraphs is fine, but a new argument or example is better placed in the body.

What if I run out of time before the conclusion?

Write one clear sentence that restates your position. An essay with a short conclusion is clearer than one that stops in the middle of a body paragraph. Leave about two minutes at the end for this.