Priyanka from Vadodara wrote 290 fluent words on the importance of sport. The question asked whether more sports facilities would improve public health, and what other measures might work. Not answering every part of the question limits Task Response.

Before you plan, break the question into three parts: the broad topic, the specific focus (the words that narrow it), and the instruction (what you must do). Missing the focus or any part of the instruction leaves the question partly unanswered, even when the writing is fluent.

Practice question: Some people say that the best way to improve public health is to increase the number of sports facilities. Others believe this would have little effect and that other measures are needed. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

The Three-Part Breakdown: Topic, Focus, Instruction

Before generating ideas, break the question into three elements:

Part In the practice question What it means for your essay
Topic Public health Health of the whole population, not personal fitness
Focus “best way”, “sports facilities”, “other measures” Judge facilities and suggest other measures
Instruction Discuss both views and give your own opinion Two views fairly, plus your own position

An essay of 250 words praising exercise, without judging whether facilities are the best tool or proposing other measures, leaves parts of the question unanswered. For details on balancing two viewpoints, read the guide to discuss both views essays.

Words That Narrow the Topic

Focus words turn a broad subject into a specific debate. Watch for these narrowing triggers and note them on your plan:

  • “Best way” or “Only way”: Judge whether the proposal is better than the alternatives, not merely whether it is useful.
  • “Rather than” or “More than”: Weigh both options against each other instead of describing one in isolation.
  • “In developing countries”: Keep your ideas and examples within that group of countries.
  • “For young people”: Aim your arguments at young people, not the general public.
  • “In the future”: Write about what is likely to happen, not only what has happened.

The 60-Second Analysis Routine

Spend the first minute of your 5-minute plan on three quick questions:

  1. What is the broad subject? (e.g. public health)
  2. Which specific words narrow this subject? (e.g. “best way”, “sports facilities”, “other measures”)
  3. How many things must I do? (e.g. judge facilities, suggest other measures, give an opinion = 3). Count them on your fingers.

These sixty seconds make it more likely that the ideas in your 5-minute plan answer the question.

Off-Target vs On-Target Topic Sentences

Two pairs for the practice question:

Incorrect: Sport is very important for everyone because it keeps us fit.

Correct: Building more sports facilities would improve public health only if people actually used them.

The improved sentence judges whether facilities improve public health, instead of praising sport in general.

Incorrect: Sports centres are the best answer, so governments should build one in every town.

Correct: Other measures, such as healthier school meals and cleaner air, could also improve public health.

Give at least one concrete alternative, because the question asks for other measures.

Aligning Your Analysis With Essay Types

Every instruction line signals a specific essay structure. If the question asks for a discussion of both views, presenting only your own viewpoint leaves a part unanswered, which is typical of Band 6 Task Response. If it asks whether advantages outweigh disadvantages, you must judge which side is stronger. The guide to the 5 essay types matches each instruction to its structure.

Tip

On your plan, write each focus word from the question and tick it off when a topic sentence covers it.

Try It

Practice question: Some people think governments should spend money on railways rather than roads. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Task: break the question into Topic, Focus, and Instruction.

Show sample answer
  • Topic: Government spending on transport.
  • Focus: “Railways rather than roads” — the words “rather than” create a direct comparison where funding one mode reduces investment in the other.
  • Instruction: “To what extent do you agree or disagree” — take a clear position defending railways, roads, or a balanced allocation between both.

Key Takeaways

  • Divide every question into broad topic, narrowing focus, and instruction.
  • Note restriction words like “best way”, “rather than”, or demographic limits.
  • Count the number of things you must do before brainstorming ideas.
  • Write topic sentences that address the narrow focus, not just the general theme.

The bottom line: A fluent essay that misses the focus leaves part of the question unanswered: spend your first minute identifying the topic, the focus and the instruction.