Essay Writing Exercises
Good essays are built, not just written. Plan and write an essay one step at a time, fix weak paragraphs, and learn what every sentence in a strong essay is for.
Practise
Which level is right for me?
| Level | Essay length | What is expected |
|---|---|---|
| O/L | About 180 words | A clear opinion or both sides of a topic, in four short paragraphs, with simple, accurate language and a reason and an example for each point. |
| A/L General English | About 250 words | A developed argument that weighs both sides and reaches a judgement, in a formal register, with more precise vocabulary and linking. |
| IELTS | At least 250 words | Every part of the question answered, a clear position throughout, and a wide range of vocabulary and grammar. |
How to use these exercises
Start with the model essays
See the job every sentence does: background, thesis, topic sentence, explanation, example and conclusion.
Practise the parts
Choose the best thesis and topic sentences, then practise ordering a paragraph and choosing linking words.
Fix weak paragraphs
Rewrite a paragraph with a real problem, check it, and compare it with a model.
Build a whole essay
Plan and write an essay step by step, then send it to Writing Practice for a final check and a printout for your teacher.
About the checks
Is the feedback produced by artificial intelligence?
No. The checks are rules written by RCF English. They look for things a computer can find reliably: whether a thesis states a position, whether a paragraph has an example, whether words are repeated, whether a conclusion adds new ideas, and so on.
They cannot judge how good your ideas are or correct every grammar mistake. Always compare your writing with the model, and ask a teacher to mark your finished essay.
Is my work saved?
Your essay builder work is saved in this browser only, so you can come back to it on the same device. Nothing is sent to RCF English.
Are the IELTS questions real?
No. They are original questions written by RCF English in the style of IELTS Writing Task 2. They are not official IELTS material.
More writing help
Writing Practice
Check a finished essay, letter or report, and print it for your teacher.
O/L essay writing guide
Essay types, the five-paragraph shape and a correction checklist.
IELTS model essays
Ten full Task 2 essays with notes on why they work.