Task 2 written live in 40 minutes

Now let's write a full Task 2 essay in real time. You'll see the 40 minutes split into planning, writing and checking, with my thinking at each stage. For a video, show a timer and narrate your choices as you write.

The task

"Some people believe that unpaid internships are a good way for young people to gain work experience. Others think they are unfair. Discuss both views and give your own opinion."

Minutes 0 to 5: Plan

Type: discussion, with my opinion. Three jobs: view 1, view 2, my opinion.

My position: Internships are valuable, but unpaid ones are unfair because only wealthier students can afford them. They should at least cover basic costs.

Body 1 (view 1: good experience):

Real skills, contacts, CV.
Example: a graduate who gets a job through an internship.

Body 2 (view 2: unfair):

Only students with family support can work for free; others are excluded.
Example: a student from a low-income family who must take a paid job instead.

Conclusion: agree they're useful, but they should be paid or at least cover costs.

Minutes 5 to 36: Write

Internships have become a common first step into many careers, but there is disagreement about whether unpaid positions are acceptable. While such placements can offer valuable experience, I believe they are unfair unless interns receive at least enough money to cover their basic costs.

Supporters of unpaid internships argue that they give young people something more valuable than a salary: real experience. Working in an office, a newsroom or a laboratory teaches practical skills that are rarely developed at university, such as meeting deadlines and communicating professionally. Interns can also build contacts and add relevant experience to their CVs. For many graduates, a successful internship leads directly to a paid job at the same organisation, which suggests that the short-term sacrifice can bring long-term rewards.

However, critics point out that not everyone can afford to work for free. Students from wealthier families can rely on their parents to pay for rent and travel while they gain experience, but those from low-income backgrounds often have to take paid work instead, even if it has nothing to do with their future career. As a result, unpaid internships can give an unfair advantage to those who are already privileged, and talented young people may be shut out of competitive fields simply because of their financial situation.

In conclusion, although internships provide genuinely useful experience, I agree with those who see unpaid positions as unfair. Employers who benefit from interns' work should pay them, or at least cover their essential expenses, so that opportunities depend on ability rather than family wealth.

(About 290 words.)

Minutes 36 to 40: Check

All three parts answered? View 1 (Body 1), view 2 (Body 2), opinion (intro and conclusion). Yes.
Position consistent? Useful but unfair, in both the introduction and the conclusion. Yes.
Top errors: articles, plurals, agreement. Fixed two small article errors.
Word count: about 290. Good.

What to notice

The plan took exactly 5 minutes and saved time later.
Each body paragraph explains one view fairly, with a realistic example.
The opinion is nuanced: internships useful, unpaid ones unfair. This is a band 7+ habit.
Only a few linkers: However, As a result, In conclusion. The rest is natural cohesion.

Try it yourself

Write your own answer to this question in 40 minutes, before reading the model. Then compare structure, position and examples.

Honest note

Your essay doesn't need to look like this one. Different ideas and a different position can score just as highly. What matters is the process: plan, write clearly, check.

Your task today

Write one full Task 2 with a strict 40-minute timer, using the same three stages.