IELTS Writing: Expressing Your Opinion

IELTS Writing Task 2 Tips: Expressing Your Opinion

IELTS Writing Task 2 Tips: Expressing Your Opinion: In this blog, we will examine the techniques for conveying your viewpoint in an IELTS essay. You will discover whether you can utilize “I” or “my” in your essay, in addition to getting advice for writing task 2. Additionally, the lesson will instruct you on how to adopt an appropriate writing style to convey your opinions effectively.

Today, we will address three questions as follows:-

Do I need to give my opinion?

Can I use “I” or “my”

How can I express my opinion?

Do I need to give my opinion?

This answer is very easy; Read the instructions. It is important to note that the IELTS test provides very clear instructions for the essay section, which makes it quite easy to understand what is expected of you. For instance, if the prompt asks whether you agree or disagree with a certain statement, it is explicitly asking for your opinion. Therefore, in such cases, it’s crucial that you provide a clear and concise response to the question. To reiterate, if the essay prompt is asking for your opinion, then you should definitely express your viewpoint.

Can I use “I” or “my”

When the instructions require you to give your opinion, there is only one proper way to do so: by using phrases like “I think” or “In my opinion”. Therefore, for an opinion essay, using “I” or “my” to express your opinion is essential, as the examiner will look for that. Nevertheless, if the instructions do not call for your opinion, refrain from using them.

How can I express my opinion?

We have observed various ways in which students attempt to express their opinion, however, not all of them are effective. As a result, let us analyze the different methods utilized by students and recommend those that are effective.

“To My Mind”

“I reckon”

“I suppose”

“In my belief”

“In my view”

“In my opinion”

“I think/I believe”

“As far as I am concerned”

“From my perspective”

“If you ask me, I think”

From our experience, we have noticed that students frequently utilize a wide range of vocabulary in their writing. However, it’s worth noting that not all words are appropriate for academic writing since some might be considered informal, unsuitable, or even incorrect. Hence, it’s essential to exercise caution when selecting the words to incorporate in your essay. You should only use a few selected words that are suitable for academic writing.

Let’s look at those that are informal

“I reckon” – this is completely informal and should only be used for speaking

“I suppose” – this can also be used for speaking

You can utilize the above words when speaking for IELTS, but they are not suitable for writing.

“From my perspective”- this is also considered by many people to be informal and not appropriate for an essay for IELTS

“If you ask me” – very informal but very nice for speaking

Let’s now look at those that are wrong

“In my belief”- This is wrong and we should not use it at all, you should say “In my view”

“As far as I am concerned” – It is not suitable and represents an incorrect writing style for a serious essay.

“To my mind” – Avoid using the phrase as it is incorrect.

Let’s look at the correct statements

“In my opinion”

“I think/I believe”

“In my view”

You can also use “I agree” or “I disagree”.  Normally, which one should I choose? “In my opinion,” “I think,” and “I believe” are simple, accurate, and always academic statements.

Moreover, it’s crucial to observe that using these specific methods to begin your thesis statement can help the examiner quickly and easily identify your perspective. Furthermore, these techniques are appropriate for IELTS examinations.

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