Discuss Both Views Essay Structure Band 7.5+

"Discuss both views and give your own opinion" contains two separate instructions, and Task Response checks both: did you develop each view fairly, and did you actually state an opinion? Many candidates do the first well and skip the second, which is the single most common way this essay type loses marks. This structure from IELTS AI Tutor by IELTSGRADER shows how to develop both sides without sitting on the fence.

This template belongs to the Task 2 essay types hub; for the general 4-paragraph mechanics, see best essay structure for IELTS Task 2.

In this guide

1. The unique practice prompt for this template
2. What "discuss both views" actually requires
3. The 4-paragraph discuss-both-views map
4. Developing View A and View B fairly
5. The fence-sitting trap
6. Mini sample: both bodies and the opinion
7. Try this yourself
8. Frequently asked questions

The unique practice prompt for this template

Prompt: Some people believe that online courses are just as effective as face-to-face classroom learning. Others think physical classroom attendance cannot be replaced. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Every example in this guide is built around this online-versus-classroom prompt so the structure is demonstrated on one coherent topic rather than assembled from unrelated fragments.

What "discuss both views" actually requires

Task Response for this type checks three things separately:

1. View A is developed, not just named, with a reason and an example.
2. View B is developed, not just named, with a reason and an example.
3. A personal opinion is clearly stated, either as its own short section or woven visibly into the introduction and conclusion.

Missing any one of the three caps Task Response even if the writing is fluent. A fair discussion that forgets the opinion is still an incomplete answer to the actual question asked.

The 4-paragraph discuss-both-views map

Paragraph	Job
Introduction	Paraphrase both views; preview that you will discuss both and give your opinion
Body 1	Develop View A with a reason and example — fairly, even if you disagree with it
Body 2	Develop View B with a reason and example, then state your opinion clearly
Conclusion	Restate your opinion in one or two sentences

Some candidates prefer a five-paragraph version where the opinion becomes its own short body 3; see when five paragraphs work better for when that extra paragraph earns its place.

Developing View A and View B fairly

"Fair" does not mean "equal length if you disagree" — it means each view gets a genuine reason and example, not a one-line summary. A common weak pattern gives View A three full sentences and View B a single dismissive clause; that imbalance signals the writer never seriously engaged with the side they will eventually reject.

Weak View B (dismissed, not developed):

Some people think classroom learning is better, but this is not really true anymore.

Stronger View B (developed, even though the writer will favour View A):

Others argue that physical classrooms remain essential because face-to-face interaction lets teachers notice confusion in real time and adjust their explanation immediately. In subjects requiring hands-on practice, such as laboratory science, an instructor's direct supervision can also catch safety or technique errors that a video feed would miss.

Fair development like this makes the writer's eventual opinion more credible, because it shows the decision was weighed, not assumed.

A useful test while planning: write one full sentence for each view before deciding your opinion. If either sentence is under ten words or simply restates the prompt's wording, that view is not developed yet, and the paragraph will read as dismissive rather than fair no matter how confident the following opinion sounds.

The fence-sitting trap

Fence-sitting happens when both bodies read like a balanced list and the conclusion still refuses to choose — phrases like "both views have merit" or "it depends on the person" with nothing more specific. The prompt asks for your opinion, and Task Response treats a missing opinion as a partial answer regardless of how well both views were described.

Fence-sitting conclusion (Band 6 pattern):

In conclusion, both online and classroom learning have advantages and disadvantages, and the best choice depends on the individual.

Committed conclusion (Band 7+ pattern):

In conclusion, while classroom learning offers valuable real-time support, I believe online courses now serve most independent adult learners equally well, provided the course includes structured feedback rather than only recorded lectures.

The second version still respects both views but leaves no doubt about the writer's actual position.

Fence-sitting is easy to fall into precisely because both-views essays reward fairness — writers sometimes over-correct and treat "fair" as "neutral forever." The fix is to keep fairness in the body paragraphs and save commitment for the sentence that states your opinion, usually in body 2 or the conclusion, so the two goals never compete inside the same sentence.

Mini sample: both bodies and the opinion

Body 1 (View A — online courses are just as effective):

Online courses can match classroom learning when they combine recorded content with active elements such as graded quizzes, discussion forums, and scheduled feedback from an instructor. A learner working through a well-designed online statistics course, for example, can pause and rewatch a difficult explanation as many times as needed, something a live lecture does not allow. This flexibility often produces stronger mastery of technical material than a single classroom pass.

Body 2 (View B plus opinion):

Others argue that physical classrooms remain essential because face-to-face interaction lets teachers notice confusion immediately and adjust on the spot, and hands-on subjects benefit from direct supervision that a screen cannot replicate. I accept this point for skills-based and lab-based learning, but for most theory-heavy subjects at university level, I believe a well-structured online course is just as effective, since the missing element — real-time adjustment — can be substituted with office-hours video calls and frequent low-stakes testing.

Try this yourself

Prompt: Some people think that the government should be responsible for people's health, while others believe individuals should take responsibility for their own health. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

1. Write one full sentence developing each view before you write anything else — if either sentence is under ten words, it is not developed yet.
2. Write the full 4-paragraph essay in 40 minutes, stating your opinion clearly in body 2 or a short body 3.
3. Run it through the Task 2 checker and confirm the feedback does not flag a missing or unclear opinion.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to give my own opinion in a discuss-both-views essay?

Yes. The instruction "give your own opinion" is a required part of the task, and Task Response marks it as a separate requirement from developing both views.

How much space should each view get?

Both views need genuine development — a reason plus an example each — but they do not need to be identical in length. It is fine to favour the view you ultimately agree with, as long as the opposing view is still fairly explained first.

Can I put my opinion only in the conclusion?

You can, but it is safer to make your lean visible earlier too, usually inside body 2, so the opinion feels supported rather than added at the last second. Introducing it only in the final sentence risks reading like an afterthought rather than a considered position built across the essay.

What is fence-sitting and why does it lose marks?

Fence-sitting is describing both sides without ever committing to a position, often ending with "it depends on the person." Since the prompt explicitly asks for your opinion, this leaves part of the task unanswered.

Is this the same as an advantages and disadvantages essay?

No. Advantages/disadvantages weighs the pros and cons of one thing; discuss-both-views compares two different opinions about a topic, and always requires your own view on top of describing them. See advantage disadvantage essay: 4-paragraph formula for the contrast, and use the Task 2 essay types hub if you are still unsure which type a specific prompt matches.

Next steps

Practise stating your opinion in one specific sentence before you plan the bodies — if you cannot write that sentence quickly, the essay is at risk of fence-sitting. Draft the practice prompt above, check it with the IELTS Task 2 checker, and compare this type against the other four in the Task 2 essay types hub.