IELTS Writing Task 2 Technology Topics: Questions & Ideas
Technology prompts show up constantly in Task 2 — social media, AI and jobs, screen time, remote work, data privacy, online shopping, smartphones in school. When we mark these scripts, the weak ones usually do not fail because the student “knows nothing about tech.” They fail because every body could fit any topic: Technology is very useful in modern society with no mechanism, no actor, and no answer to who benefits or who should manage the risk.
Use this page as a topic bank: pick a question, outline in five minutes, write under time, then score. Precise collocations (data privacy, digital literacy, remote collaboration) beat vague technology is good/bad. Related theme banks: education topics · environment topics. Full Task 2 map: complete guide.
Last updated: July 31, 2026
On this page (question types, 15 prompts, vocabulary, sample outline, practice, FAQ)
Common technology question types
Task 2 is not one format. Technology prompts still fall into the usual five groups: opinion, discussion, advantages/disadvantages, problem–solution, and two-part. Identify the type before you plan — wrong template is a fast Task Response leak.
| Type | Example stem |
|---|---|
| Opinion | Has social media done more harm than good? |
| Discuss both views | Some believe AI will create jobs; others fear mass unemployment. |
| Advantages/disadvantages | Do the benefits of remote work outweigh the drawbacks? |
| Causes + solutions | Why is screen addiction rising among teenagers, and how can it be reduced? |
| Two-part | How has technology changed family life? Is this a positive development? |
Watch for scope: personal life, workplace, education, or government regulation — answer the scope the prompt actually sets. For openings by type, see introduction paragraph examples. Structures: Task 2 structure & format.
I notice students get stuck when they treat every technology essay as “agree that phones change everything.” One timed draft on AI and jobs never named which roles or what skills might replace them — so TR stayed thin even with tidy Furthermore scaffolding. After the outline forced routine tasks displaced against new demand for oversight and digital skills, the lean finally answered the prompt instead of recycling technology is developing rapidly.
15 practice questions
- Some people think artificial intelligence will replace many human jobs. To what extent do you agree?
- Social media brings people together; others say it increases loneliness. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
- Children spend too much time on screens. What problems does this cause and what solutions can you suggest?
- Remote working will become the normal way of working. Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
- Governments should regulate big technology companies more strictly. Do you agree or disagree?
- Online shopping is replacing traditional retail. Is this a positive or negative development?
- Some believe space exploration is a waste of money; others say it drives innovation. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
- Digital technology has made people less patient. To what extent do you agree?
- Should schools ban smartphones during lessons?
- Automation improves productivity but may widen inequality. What can governments do to address this?
- Online education is as effective as face-to-face learning. Do you agree or disagree?
- Personal data is collected by apps and websites every day. What are the risks and how can individuals protect themselves?
- Video calls have reduced the need for business travel. Do the benefits outweigh the environmental and social costs of less travel — or is something lost?
- Some argue that computer games encourage violence. To what extent do you agree?
- Technology makes it easier to work from anywhere, which weakens local communities. Do you agree or disagree?
Practice method: Choose one → five-minute outline → full timed essay → free essay checker. If Task Response is soft, check whether every part of the question got real space before you chase fancier nouns.
Vocabulary and collocations
Digital life
- digital literacy / online platforms
- screen time / sedentary habits
- cyberbullying / online harassment
- information overload
Work and economy
- automation / labour displacement
- remote collaboration tools
- gig economy platforms
- productivity gains
Privacy and security
- data privacy concerns
- cybersecurity threats
- consent and data collection
- surveillance technology
Innovation and society
- technological innovation
- bridge the digital divide
- artificial intelligence applications
- ethical guidelines for AI
Useful verbs
- streamline workflows
- erode privacy
- displace routine jobs
- widen / narrow inequality
Band 6 trap → clearer wording
- technology is useful → technology streamlines communication / improves efficiency
- phones are bad for children → excessive screen time may harm concentration and sleep
- AI takes jobs → automation may displace routine roles while creating demand for new skills
Use new words only where they fit. Forced “advanced” vocabulary still lowers the score. Online learning vocabulary often overlaps with the education topics bank — reuse it when the prompt is really about schools or courses.
Sample outline
Question: Children spend too much time on screens. What problems does this cause and what solutions can you suggest?
This is problem–solution — both halves required. You do not need I agree.
Map: Excess screen time harms physical health and study habits; solutions need parental limits plus school guidance.
Body 1 — Problems
- Reduced outdoor activity → fitness / sleep issues
- Distraction during homework
- Social comparison on social media
Body 2 — Solutions
- Device-free routines at home
- Schools teach digital literacy and self-regulation
- Age-appropriate content controls
Conclusion: Shared responsibility — families and schools — no new big idea.
Turn the outline into a full essay with structure templates. Check criteria against the band descriptors guide.
How to practise these prompts
Two or three scored essays beat seven unmarked ones. Between full essays, keep short mixed work in the same sitting — outline who acts, swap vague tech words, rewrite one thin body — rather than a “vocab week” then an “essay week.” That habit matches Personalized Practice: Practices 1–15 mix drills; Practices 16–20 are timed essays; Practices 1–2 are free.
A simple loop for this bank:
- Pick question #1 or #3 (high-frequency themes)
- Write about 40 minutes, aim 280+ words
- Score TR / CC / LR / GRA on the free checker
- If TR is under 7, confirm you covered all parts (e.g. problems and solutions, or both views + opinion)
- Rewrite the weakest paragraph once — then rescore
Also useful: 20-practice study plan · another theme bank: environment topics.
Questions students ask
Do I need technical knowledge for technology essays?
No. Stay at a general educated level — privacy, jobs, education, health. From the scripts I mark, fake product names and invented statistics usually look worse than a clear everyday mechanism.
Can technology essays reuse education vocabulary?
Yes — online learning, digital literacy, and assessment often overlap. See education topics when the prompt is really about schools or courses.
Is “technology” always a positive/negative essay?
Not always. Many prompts are discuss-both-views, causes/solutions, or two-part questions. I notice students paste This is a positive development onto every stem; identify the type first, then decide whether you even need that line.
What if my technology essay sounds modern but scores low on TR?
I notice that pattern when the lean is vague (technology is changing our lives) and the bodies never answer the exact demand — jobs vs skills, harm vs loneliness, problems vs solutions. Go back to the question stem, underline every part, then rebuild the outline before polishing vocabulary.
After you check your score
Most free tools stop at another band estimate. EssayGradeWise adds criterion drills inside a 20-practice plan (TR, CC, LR, GRA) so you practise the weak spot — not another full essay at random.
- Free IELTS essay checker — no login for score-only
- Try Practices 1–2 free
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