How to Write an IELTS Writing Task 2 Introduction

Two sentences, done well — paraphrase, then a clear thesis

Every Task 2 introduction has exactly two jobs: show the examiner you understand the question, and tell them your position on it. This works for any essay type — see how it applies to a real agree/disagree question below.

✎ Watch it happen

✓ Job 1 — paraphrase the question

✓ Job 2 — state your position

That's it. Examples, reasons, extra detail — save those for the body.

traffic jams→congestion

free→fare-free

...and the sentence gets rebuilt around them, not just swapped word-for-word:

Question says "With traffic jams and pollution increasing every year…"

Paraphrase says "As congestion and pollution continue to worsen…"

Too vague There are advantages and disadvantages to this.

Clear position "…this measure alone would be insufficient without complementary policies…"

An examiner should be able to skip straight to your conclusion and already know where you stand.

Too long Background, definitions, extra examples, a mini-history of the topic…

Just right 2–3 sentences: one paraphrase, one thesis. Done.

The real question

"With traffic jams and pollution increasing every year in big cities, some people say that public transport should be free in big cities to help reduce these problems which are caused by cars. To what extent do you agree or disagree?"

A full example — paraphrase + thesis, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion

As urban congestion and air pollution continue to worsen, it has been suggested that eliminating public transport fares in cities would ease the problems caused by private vehicles. While removing fares would likely encourage some people to leave their cars at home, this measure alone would be insufficient without complementary policies to genuinely solve urban traffic and pollution.

There is a reasonable case for free public transport. Removing the cost barrier would make buses and trains a noticeably more attractive option for commuters who currently drive out of habit or convenience, encouraging a real shift away from private cars. Luxembourg, which became the first country to make all public transport free nationwide in 2020, was motivated partly by exactly this logic, hoping cheaper, easier access to buses and trams would ease its notoriously heavy road congestion. Free travel would also benefit lower-income residents disproportionately, since they spend a larger share of their income on transport costs.

However, removing fares alone does not address every cause of urban congestion and pollution. Many drivers choose cars for reasons unrelated to cost, such as convenience, comfort, or routes that public transport simply does not cover well, so scrapping fares does nothing to fix an inadequate network. There is also a funding problem: without fare revenue, governments must find money elsewhere, and a system that becomes overcrowded or unreliable due to reduced investment could end up discouraging the very shift it was meant to encourage.

In conclusion, while making public transport free could encourage some drivers to switch and would particularly help lower-income commuters, it is not, by itself, a complete solution to traffic and pollution in cities. A combination of free or cheaper transport with wider policies to discourage car use and improve network coverage would be far more likely to succeed.

paraphrase → thesis → first body paragraph → second body paragraph → conclusion, highlighted in order

DEB

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4 things to know about Task 2 introductions

What does a Task 2 introduction actually need to do?Paraphrase the question, then state your position — nothing else.
How do I paraphrase the question without just copying it?Swap the words AND rebuild the sentence structure.
What is a thesis statement, and what does mine actually need to say?Your direct answer — clear enough to stand alone.
How long should an introduction be?Two to three sentences. No more.

How to write a strong Task 2 introduction