Recent IELTS Writing Questions (2026): What Test-Takers Actually Saw — and How to Practice Them Effectively
- Feb 5
- 5 min read
Quick 2026 snapshot — format, timing & scoring context
Test structure: two writing tasks (Task 1 — 150 words, Task 2 — 250 words) for both Academic and General Training modules. Time split recommendation remains ~20 minutes for Task 1 and ~40 minutes for Task 2.
Scoring: Writing is assessed on four criteria — Task Achievement/Response, Coherence & Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range & Accuracy. Aim for consistent quality across these to move from band 6 → 7+.
Performance trends (2024–2026): global average bands cluster around 6.0–6.5; writing often runs slightly below Listening/Reading averages, making focused writing practice high-leverage.
What “recent” questions look like — real examples (Jan–Feb 2026)
Several trusted sites collate candidate-reported questions and official sample items. Below are representative recent prompts (paraphrased for practice) drawn from January–February 2026 reports and verified practice pages:
Recent Academic Task 1 (examples)
A line chart showing university enrolment numbers in three countries between 2000–2020 — summarise trends and compare peaks.
A bar chart comparing use of different energy sources in two regions in 2020.
A table showing average weekly hours spent on leisure activities by age group.
Recent General Training Task 1 (letters)
Write a letter to a landlord complaining about repeated heating failures and requesting a timetable for repairs.
Write to a friend describing a festival you recently attended and inviting them next year.
Recent Task 2 essays (Academic & GT) — sampled themes seen in early 2026
Governments should prioritise spending on public transport rather than on new roads. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Some people believe children should be taught coding in primary school. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages.
Many companies use social media to advertise. Is this positive or negative for society?These are representative of the recurring topics and exact question styles reported by candidates in 2026. For live-updated lists of reported recent IELTS writing questions, trusted practice hubs publish collected prompts and model answers.
Common topic clusters in recent IELTS Writing Questions (and why they recur)
Across 2024–2026, the same policy and society themes keep appearing — useful because you can build reusable idea banks:
Education & Skills (online learning, curriculum changes, early coding)
Technology & Work (remote work, automation, social media)
Environment & Energy (renewables, pollution control, transport emissions)
Health & Public Policy (mental health, public vs private healthcare)
Urban Life & Infrastructure (housing, transport, smart cities)
Culture & Globalisation (tourism, cultural preservation)
Focusing on these clusters gives you adaptable examples for most Task 2 prompts.
How to turn recent questions into high-band answers — practical method
Classify quickly (30–60 seconds): Identify question type — opinion, discussion, problem/solution, two-part. Write a one-line thesis.
Outline (2–4 minutes): Plan intro, two body paragraphs (each with one main idea + example), and conclusion. Jot quick bullet points.
Use topical evidence: For “recent” questions, short, plausible facts or trends (e.g., “remote work rose after 2020 and many firms still allow hybrid schedules”) add authority — don’t invent precise statistics.
Work on lexical clusters: For each topic cluster create 8–12 collocations (e.g., renewable energy deployment, curriculum reform, digital literacy). Swap them into practice essays.
Timed practice → review with band descriptors: Write Task 2 in 40 minutes, self-mark using official band descriptors to identify weak criteria.
Sample answer structure for a recent Task 2 question
Prompt: Governments should prioritise spending on public transport rather than on new roads. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Intro: Paraphrase + state position (agree strongly).
Body 1: Public transport reduces congestion & emissions; example: city-level investments in metros lowered commuter times and improved air quality.
Body 2: Roads improve rural access and business logistics; targeted road projects are important but should not preclude transport investments.
Conclusion: Balanced recommendation — prioritise public transport for urban centres while planning strategic road upgrades for rural connectivity.
Practice converting each recent question into this four-paragraph template.
A 2-week plan to master recent IELTS Writing Questions
Week 1 — Topic bank & Task 1
Day 1: Collect 20 recent Task 2 questions (use reputable lists) and classify by type.
Day 2: Build vocab banks for 3 clusters (education, environment, technology).
Day 3: Practice 2 Task 1 charts (Academic) — summarise trends in 150 words.
Day 4: Timed Task 2 essay + self-assess.
Day 5: Review band descriptor weaknesses; drill grammar or cohesion.
Day 6–7: Repeat with different topics.
Week 2 — Mock tests & feedback
Day 8: Full timed writing section (Task 1 + Task 2).
Day 9: Get one essay peer/tutor-reviewed or compare to a band 8 sample.
Day 10–12: Work on vocabulary and Task 2 variations.
Day 13: Final mock; Day 14: rest and light revision.
Where to find trustworthy recent IELTS writing questions (use these sources)
Official practice tests — British Council’s free practice materials are the best baseline.
Verified candidate reports & curated feeds — sites such as Preptical publish monthly collations of reported questions with examiner notes (check date stamps).
IDP / IELTS-authoritative guidance — for topic clusters and writing strategies, IDP’s prep pages are reliable.
Tip: Prefer sites that add examiner commentary or banded sample answers, not anonymous prediction lists.
Common mistakes with recent IELTS Writing Questions — and fixes
Mistake: Writing off-topic — Fix: re-read the prompt in Task 1/2 and underline the exact instruction before writing.
Mistake: Over-generalisation (no examples) — Fix: include a short, relevant example — personal, local, or global.
Mistake: Poor time management — Fix: practice strict 20/40 minute splits and track word counts.
Mistake: Overuse of memorised essays — Fix: use templates but adapt content to the prompt; examiners can spot memorised content.
FAQ — Recent IELTS Writing Questions
Q1: Where can I see genuine recent IELTS writing questions from 2026?
A1: Check official practice tests from the British Council and IDP for verified samples; for candidate-reported recent questions, curated sites (which publish date-stamped collations and examiner notes) are useful — always cross-check with official guidance.
Q2: Are recent IELTS writing questions predictable?A2: Themes are predictable (education, environment, technology), but exact wording varies. Practise question types and topic clusters rather than memorising exact prompts.
Q3: Should I use statistics when writing about recent topics?
A3: Use short, plausible trends rather than invented precise numbers unless you can cite a reliable source. Exaggerated or fabricated stats can weaken credibility.
Final checklist before your test (based on recent exam patterns)
Have 12–15 Task 2 outlines across core topic clusters.
Drill 6 Task 1 chart types (bar, line, pie, table, map, process).
Practice typing essays if taking computer-delivered IELTS.
Do a final week of full timed practice using recent questions from reputable 2026 lists.
Call to Action — resources & next steps
Ready to practise with real, recent prompts? Start here :
British Council — Free IELTS practice tests and writing tasks: https://takeielts.britishcouncil.org/.
IDP — Common topics, sample answers and official guidance: https://ielts.idp.com/prepare.
Preptical — Monthly lists of recently reported 2026 writing questions with banded sample answers: https://ielts.preptical.com/writing/ielts-writing-questions-2026/.