How often does urban life come up in IELTS Writing Task 2?

It's one of the most-tested themes. Examiners draw on it because it generates strong opinions while remaining accessible to candidates from any background. You can reasonably expect to encounter a urban life question in practice tests and on the real exam.

What question types should I expect on urban life?

All five Task 2 shapes are fair game: opinion (agree/disagree), discuss both views, problem-solution, two-part, and advantages-and-disadvantages. The same theme can appear in any of these shapes, so practise the same idea across multiple question types rather than memorising essays.

How specific do my examples need to be?

Specific enough to be falsifiable. "Many studies show X" is empty; "a 2019 OECD report on X found Y in Z country" is concrete. You don't need a real citation. Examiners reward the specificity of the claim, not the accuracy of the source. Naming a country, a year, or an industry counts.

Can I use the same vocabulary across all urban life essays?

Topic-specific lexis matters. Each of the 19 questions below hides a slightly different angle, and Band 7+ vocabulary depends on naming the precise mechanism: "carbon-intensive industries" beats "polluters", "screen-mediated communication" beats "talking online".

🏙️ Urban Life19 questionsReal reported + Cambridge

IELTS urban life
essay questions.

19 Task 2 questions on urban life. Click any question to open the full breakdown, examiner watch-outs, and a 40-minute mock.

About this theme

Urban planning, car dependency, public transport, housing, green space, rural depopulation, smart cities. Urban Life prompts test your ability to think about a city as a system. Strong essays connect one intervention (congestion charge, cycle lanes, height limits) to changes in behaviour, land value, or quality of life.

Task 2😷 Urban LifeProblem & solution🔥 Hot

IELTS urban lifeessay questions.

“Air quality in many major cities is dangerously poor. What are the causes, and what can be done?”

“In many countries around the world, rural people are moving to cities, so the population in the countryside is decreasing. Do you think this is a positive or a negative development?”

“Some argue cities should be designed for pedestrians, not cars. To what extent do you agree?”

“High-rise buildings are the only practical solution to urban housing shortages. To what extent do you agree?”

“Many cities are growing so large that they face serious infrastructure problems. What are the main causes, and what can be done?”

“Some argue that cities need more parks and green spaces, even if that means less housing. Do you agree or disagree?”

“City centres are unaffordable. The only fair fix is to limit luxury housing. To what extent do you agree?”

“Some cities are encouraging more 24-hour businesses and activities. Is this a positive or negative development?”

“Some cities are turning their centres into pedestrian-only zones. Is this a positive or negative development?”

“Some say historic buildings should be preserved at all costs; others argue cities need modern development. Discuss both views.”

“More young people are moving to cities, leaving rural areas with ageing populations. What are the causes, and what can be done?”

“Many city governments are spending more on public transport and less on roads. Is this a positive or negative trend?”

“In some countries, owning a home rather than renting one is very important for people. Why might this be the case? Do you think this is a positive or negative situation?”

“The maps show the centre of the town of Halton in 2000 and today.”

“The table shows the five most populous urban areas in the world and their annual growth rate in 2020.”

“The maps show the village of Stokeford in 1930 and today.”

“The table shows the share of daily commutes by mode of transport in three cities in 2020.”

“The line graph shows the percentage of population living in urban areas in four countries from 1990 to 2020.”

“The bar chart shows the percentage of population living in urban areas in six countries in 2010 and 2020.”

About urban life in IELTS

IELTS urban life
essay questions.