Formulate a clear, committed thesis statement that directly answers the prompt.
Explain clear position for opinion/discussion/problem prompts.
Imagine listening to a politician who constantly changes their mind. First, they say fast food should be banned, then they say it is actually great. You would stop taking them seriously.
The IELTS examiner feels the same way. To score a Band 7 or higher in Task Response, your essay must have a clear position from the introduction to the conclusion.
Examiner Secret: A Band 6 essay might state an opinion, but it gets lost, confusing, or changes in the middle. A Band 7 essay stands firm the whole time.
Visual scale of agreement.

Mapping your stance before writing helps ensure you don't contradict yourself mid-essay.
Interactive scale of agreement.
Best for most B1–B2 students. Clear, easy to defend, and less likely to contradict itself.
Good for a nuanced answer, but only when each paragraph has a very clear role.
Works for complex topics, but it is harder because you must sound balanced, not undecided.
Never safe. “Both sides have pros and cons” without a stance does not answer the prompt.
Learner completes thesis statements for different prompts.
When writing an IELTS essay, your thesis statement must present a clear and definitive . Prompt 1: 'Some believe that university education should be free for everyone.' A weak thesis might just say 'I will discuss both sides,' but a strong thesis states: 'I strongly that higher education should be fully funded by the state because it promotes equal .' Prompt 2: 'Technology has made children less creative.' Instead of sitting on the fence, a definitive position would be: 'This essay completely with the statement, as digital tools actually provide new platforms for artistic .' Prompt 3: 'Fast food should be taxed at a higher rate to reduce obesity.' To score well in Task Response, you must make your stance obvious: 'I that implementing a higher tax on junk food is a necessary to combat the rising health crisis.' By using these clear structures, the examiner knows exactly what your main will be before reading the body paragraphs.
Learner writes a thesis; AI checks clarity and task fit.
Ensure you clearly answer the 'to what extent' part of the prompt.
Where does your statement sit on the Position Scale?