What the examiner is looking for
Your essay is assessed on four criteria, each worth 25%. In discussion essays, the most common failure is Task Response — either not discussing both views properly, or failing to give a clear personal opinion.
The three rules that separate Band 6 from Band 8
Rule 1: Both views must be presented fairly. You cannot dismiss one view in a sentence and spend four sentences on the other. Even the view you disagree with deserves a proper paragraph with genuine reasoning behind it.
Rule 2: Your opinion must be clear. "Both sides have valid points" is not an opinion. The examiner asked which view you support — you must answer. State your position in the introduction and confirm it in the conclusion.
Rule 3: Discuss the view you disagree with first. This creates a natural flow: present the weaker argument, then the stronger one, then conclude with your position. The view you agree with gets the last word before the conclusion.
The most common mistake I see is students who write an opinion essay when the question asks for a discussion. If the question says "Discuss both views," you cannot spend both body paragraphs arguing for the same side. One paragraph per view — no exceptions.
How to recognise this question type
Discussion essays always present two opposing views and ask you to discuss them. The instruction always includes the word "discuss" — look at the orange text:
If the question says "To what extent do you agree or disagree?" — that is an Opinion essay. You argue for one side only. A Discussion essay requires you to present both sides before giving your opinion. The structures are fundamentally different.
Now let us write one — step by step
Below is an IELTS-style discussion question. We are going to write a complete Band 8 essay on it, one paragraph at a time.
Identify the two views. Decide which one you support. Then find one strong reason for each view. Remember: present the view you disagree with first, the view you agree with second.
Introduce the debate in your own words. Then indicate which view you lean towards. You do not need to explain your reasons yet — just signal your position.
There is an ongoing debate about whether schools should encourage a competitive spirit in children or focus on teaching them to work together. While competition has its merits, I believe that cooperation is a more valuable skill for children to develop, as it prepares them for the collaborative nature of modern work and life.
Present this view as a legitimate perspective held by real people. Use phrases like "Those who support this view argue that..." Do not dismiss it or use sarcastic language. After presenting it fairly, you can add one sentence noting its limitation.
Those who advocate for competition in education argue that it motivates children to work harder and strive for excellence. In competitive environments, students are pushed to improve their performance in order to stand out, which can lead to higher academic achievement and a stronger work ethic. Competitive sports and academic contests, for example, often produce students who are more resilient and goal-oriented. However, an excessive focus on competition can also create anxiety and discourage students who do not perform well, leading some children to disengage from learning altogether.
The first three sentences present the view fairly. The final sentence notes a limitation — this signals to the examiner that you are evaluating, not just describing.
This is the view you support. Develop it fully with explanation and a specific example. This paragraph should feel slightly stronger and more convincing than the first.
On the other hand, teaching children to cooperate equips them with skills that are arguably more relevant to adult life. In most workplaces, success depends not on outperforming colleagues but on working effectively as part of a team. When children learn to listen to others, share ideas, and resolve disagreements constructively, they develop emotional intelligence that serves them in every area of life. In many schools across South Korea, for instance, group projects have been shown to improve not only academic results but also students' social confidence and communication ability. These are skills that competition alone cannot develop.
Restate your opinion clearly. Summarise why. Do not introduce new ideas.
In conclusion, while competition can motivate some children, I believe cooperation is a more important skill for schools to prioritise. The ability to work with others is essential in nearly every aspect of adult life, and schools that emphasise collaboration prepare their students more effectively for the world beyond the classroom.
The difference this makes
"Some people think competition is good. Other people think cooperation is good. Both have advantages. Competition helps students work hard. Cooperation helps students work together. In conclusion, both views have merit and it depends on the situation."
"While competition can motivate children to strive for excellence, cooperation equips them with skills that are arguably more relevant to adult life. I believe schools should prioritise collaboration, as the ability to work with others is essential in nearly every aspect of modern work."
The complete essay — all together
There is an ongoing debate about whether schools should encourage a competitive spirit in children or focus on teaching them to work together. While competition has its merits, I believe that cooperation is a more valuable skill for children to develop, as it prepares them for the collaborative nature of modern work and life.
Those who advocate for competition in education argue that it motivates children to work harder and strive for excellence. In competitive environments, students are pushed to improve their performance in order to stand out, which can lead to higher academic achievement and a stronger work ethic. Competitive sports and academic contests, for example, often produce students who are more resilient and goal-oriented. However, an excessive focus on competition can also create anxiety and discourage students who do not perform well, leading some children to disengage from learning altogether.
On the other hand, teaching children to cooperate equips them with skills that are arguably more relevant to adult life. In most workplaces, success depends not on outperforming colleagues but on working effectively as part of a team. When children learn to listen to others, share ideas, and resolve disagreements constructively, they develop emotional intelligence that serves them in every area of life. In many schools across South Korea, for instance, group projects have been shown to improve not only academic results but also students' social confidence and communication ability. These are skills that competition alone cannot develop.
In conclusion, while competition can motivate some children, I believe cooperation is a more important skill for schools to prioritise. The ability to work with others is essential in nearly every aspect of adult life, and schools that emphasise collaboration prepare their students more effectively for the world beyond the classroom.
Notice the balance. Both views get a proper paragraph with genuine reasoning. But the cooperation paragraph is slightly longer and more developed — it has a specific example from South Korea and a stronger closing sentence. This subtle difference in depth signals your preference to the examiner without you having to write "I think" in every sentence.
Frequently asked questions
In an opinion essay, the question asks "Do you agree or disagree?" and you argue for one side throughout. In a discussion essay, the question says "Discuss both views and give your own opinion" — you must present both perspectives fairly before stating which one you support. The key difference is structure: an opinion essay has two body paragraphs supporting the same position, while a discussion essay gives one body paragraph to each opposing view.
You should give your opinion in both the introduction and the conclusion. In the introduction, briefly indicate which view you lean towards after presenting the topic. In the conclusion, restate your position clearly. Some students also weave their opinion into the body paragraphs — for example, when discussing the view they disagree with, they might add a sentence acknowledging its limitations. The examiner must be able to identify your position clearly by the end of the essay.
Yes. The question asks you to "give your own opinion," which means you must take a clear position. You cannot conclude with "both views have merit" and leave it at that — this is the most common mistake in discussion essays and it directly lowers your Task Response score. You can acknowledge that both sides have valid points, but your conclusion must make clear which view you believe is stronger and why.
Discuss the view you disagree with first, then the view you agree with second. This creates a natural progression towards your conclusion — you present the weaker argument, then the stronger one, and your conclusion flows logically from the second body paragraph. This structure also gives the view you support the "last word" before the conclusion, which makes your position feel more convincing.
Present it as a legitimate perspective held by real people, with genuine reasons behind it. Use phrases like "Those who support this view argue that..." or "Proponents of this approach believe that..." followed by their actual reasoning. Do not use dismissive language or straw man arguments. The examiner wants to see that you can understand and articulate different perspectives — not just your own. After presenting the view fairly, you can add a sentence noting its limitations before moving to the next paragraph.