IELTS Writing Task 2

Universal Basic Income: Weighing the Pros and Cons

An IELTS Writing Task 2 essay prompt. Plan a clear position, develop two supporting paragraphs, and conclude — then get AI feedback in about 45 seconds.

Task 2 · EssayAdvantage & DisadvantageHard

Start Writing Back to Question Bank

Estimated time

40 min

Credits

Recommended length

250+ words

Question Prompt

Review the prompt carefully before you open the timed writing workspace.

Some economists and social policy advocates argue that implementing a universal basic income (UBI)—a fixed sum paid to all citizens regardless of employment status—would alleviate poverty and reduce income inequality. Others maintain that UBI would be economically unsustainable and undermine the incentive to work. Do the advantages of a universal basic income outweigh the disadvantages?

How to Approach This Question

A quick, practical checklist for this specific task type.

1
Decode the task carefully: is it asking for an opinion, a discussion, a cause-and-effect, or a solution?
2
Plan four paragraphs (intro, two body, conclusion) before you start writing — 3 minutes of planning pays off.
3
Back every main idea with a concrete example (a fact, a statistic, or a realistic scenario).
4
Aim for 270–290 words in 40 minutes and leave 2–3 minutes to proofread tenses, subject-verb agreement, and articles.

Advantage & Disadvantage·Hard

Key Topic Vocabulary

Useful terms and concepts to weave into your answer for this prompt.

universal basic incomeUBIeconomic policypovertyincome inequalityfiscal sustainabilitysocial welfarework incentive

What You Get with PuanAI

Move from prompt review into scored practice without leaving the same workflow.

AI scoring in about 45 seconds

Submit one response and review criterion-level feedback right away.

Official IELTS criteria focus

Use TR, CC, LR, and GRA signals to understand what to improve next.

One-click start

Open the writing workspace from this page and continue straight into practice.