What the examiner is looking for
The one rule you cannot break
Answer both questions. It sounds obvious, but this is the number one reason students lose marks on two-part questions. They get excited about the first question, write too much, and then rush through the second — or skip it entirely. Treat each question as worth 50% of your essay.
I tell all my students the same thing: underline both questions before you start writing. After you finish your essay, check that each question has its own body paragraph. If one paragraph is twice as long as the other, you have a problem. Equal depth for both questions — that is the strategy.
How to recognise this question type
Two-part questions always end with two separate questions. Look for two question marks:
The third example looks like a problem-solution question — and structurally it is similar. The difference is that two-part questions can ask any combination of questions, not just problems and solutions. "Why" + "Is it positive?" is a common pattern that does not fit the problem-solution format at all.
Now let us write one — step by step
Underline or circle each question separately. For each one, write down 2–3 points. Make sure you have enough material for a full paragraph on each question.
The shift from traditional retail to online shopping has accelerated rapidly in recent years, with an increasing number of consumers choosing to make purchases through websites and mobile applications. This essay will explore the reasons behind this trend and evaluate whether it represents a positive or negative development for society.
The first question asks "why?" — give two or three specific reasons with explanation.
The primary reason people prefer online shopping is convenience. Consumers can browse thousands of products from their homes at any time of day, compare prices instantly, and receive deliveries within days or even hours. This is particularly appealing to working professionals and parents who have limited time for traditional shopping trips. A second important factor is price. Online retailers typically offer lower prices than physical stores because they have significantly lower overhead costs — no rent for premium high-street locations, fewer staff, and automated warehouses. In many Middle Eastern and Central Asian countries, where international brands are not widely available locally, online platforms also provide access to products that would otherwise require expensive overseas trips.
The second question asks for your evaluation. Take a clear position — is this mostly positive or mostly negative? You can acknowledge both sides, but your view must be clear.
Overall, I believe this shift is largely positive, though it does carry some drawbacks. Online shopping has made consumer goods more accessible and affordable for people in all income brackets and geographic locations. It has also driven innovation in logistics and delivery services, creating new employment opportunities. However, the decline of physical retail has led to job losses in traditional shops and contributed to the emptying of high streets in many towns. On balance, the benefits of greater convenience, wider choice, and lower prices outweigh the negative effects, provided that governments support workers displaced by the transition.
In conclusion, the rise of online shopping is driven primarily by convenience and cost advantages. While the decline of traditional retail presents challenges for some workers and communities, the overall impact is positive, offering consumers greater access to products at lower prices than ever before.
The conclusion addresses both questions in two sentences — one for the reasons, one for the evaluation. Clean, balanced, complete.
The difference this makes
"Many people shop online because it is convenient. They can buy things from home. Online shopping is also cheaper. You can compare prices. I think online shopping is good because it saves time. In conclusion, online shopping is very popular and convenient."
"The primary reasons are convenience and lower prices. Overall, I believe this shift is largely positive — it has made goods more accessible and affordable. However, governments must support workers displaced by the decline of physical retail."
The complete essay — all together
The shift from traditional retail to online shopping has accelerated rapidly in recent years, with an increasing number of consumers choosing to make purchases through websites and mobile applications. This essay will explore the reasons behind this trend and evaluate whether it represents a positive or negative development for society.
The primary reason people prefer online shopping is convenience. Consumers can browse thousands of products from their homes at any time of day, compare prices instantly, and receive deliveries within days or even hours. This is particularly appealing to working professionals and parents who have limited time for traditional shopping trips. A second important factor is price. Online retailers typically offer lower prices than physical stores because they have significantly lower overhead costs — no rent for premium high-street locations, fewer staff, and automated warehouses. In many Middle Eastern and Central Asian countries, where international brands are not widely available locally, online platforms also provide access to products that would otherwise require expensive overseas trips.
Overall, I believe this shift is largely positive, though it does carry some drawbacks. Online shopping has made consumer goods more accessible and affordable for people in all income brackets and geographic locations. It has also driven innovation in logistics and delivery services, creating new employment opportunities. However, the decline of physical retail has led to job losses in traditional shops and contributed to the emptying of high streets in many towns. On balance, the benefits of greater convenience, wider choice, and lower prices outweigh the negative effects, provided that governments support workers displaced by the transition.
In conclusion, the rise of online shopping is driven primarily by convenience and cost advantages. While the decline of traditional retail presents challenges for some workers and communities, the overall impact is positive, offering consumers greater access to products at lower prices than ever before.
Frequently asked questions
Look for two separate questions at the end of the prompt. They are usually written as two distinct sentences, each ending with a question mark. Common patterns include: "Why is this happening? Is this a positive or negative development?", "What are the reasons for this? What effect does it have?" If you see two question marks, it is almost certainly a two-part question.
Your Task Response score will drop significantly — potentially to Band 5 or below, regardless of your language quality. The examiner treats each question as a required component. Answering only one question is like answering only half the exam.
Yes, roughly equal. Each question should get its own fully developed body paragraph. If one paragraph is noticeably shorter or less developed than the other, the examiner may consider your response to that question insufficient. Aim for similar paragraph lengths — both with a topic sentence, explanation, and at least one specific example.
No. A problem-solution essay specifically asks about problems and solutions. A two-part question can ask any combination of two distinct questions — reasons and effects, causes and opinions, descriptions and evaluations. The key difference is that in a two-part question, the two questions may be completely different in nature. Always read the specific questions rather than assuming it fits a familiar pattern.