MET Writing Task 2, the multiparagraph essay: structure, length and a timed plan

The essay is the part of MET Writing that depends most on a structure of your own. Michigan sets no word limit and no paragraph count, so the design is yours, and a common weakness under time pressure is one idea, repeated, in one block of text. This guide covers what Michigan publishes about the essay, a paragraph plan you can run on any prompt, a timed schedule, a worked essay and some practice prompts.

What does MET Writing Task 2 ask you to do?

Michigan's Writing Resource Pack describes Task 2 as writing a multiparagraph essay in response to a prompt, giving reasons and examples to support your ideas. The Test Taker Handbook calls it "Part 2: Multiparagraph essay". You have 45 minutes for the whole Writing section, which you can divide between the tasks however works best for you. Michigan's example prompt asks whether you would prefer an interesting job with low pay or a boring job with a high salary, and to give reasons to explain your answer.

Michigan also says that you are not evaluated on your opinions themselves. The focus is on how the ideas are communicated and the writing skills shown, so choose the side you can support best. For Task 1 and how the 45 minutes fit together, see Task 1, short responses and MET Writing, two tasks in 45 minutes.

Checked 15 and 16 October 2026 against Michigan's Writing Resource Pack, June 2026 and Test Taker Handbook. ScoreFluent is an independent practice platform and is not affiliated with Michigan Language Assessment.

How many words should the essay be?

Michigan says there is no word limit for either writing task, and to focus on developing your responses with plenty of supporting details, reasons and examples. As a guide, it adds, higher-level responses to the essay question typically have at least 250 words. Its example prompt repeats that note after the question. The digital test platform includes a word counter for Task 2, so you can check your length as you go.

Read that as a description, not a target to hit at any cost. The pack places the 250-word note straight after its advice to develop responses with supporting details, reasons and examples, and length follows from developing them. A padded essay reaches 250 words without adding supporting detail. If your counter is well below 250 when you reach your last paragraph, you probably need another developed reason, not more sentences saying the same thing.

What are raters looking for in the essay?

Trained raters score MET Writing on five criteria, each rated 0 to 4. The names are Michigan's. How each applies to the essay is our reading of the Writing Resource Pack.

• Task Completion. The essay must answer the question asked, with no unrelated information, and support ideas with reasons and explanations. Michigan suggests a clear thesis statement, then a body that explains why you think that way.
• Cohesion and Organization. Ideas should be connected and in a logical order. Michigan recommends one main idea per paragraph, a topic sentence, development with details and examples, and connectives. It also says to group related ideas and not to return to an earlier idea after moving on.
• Grammatical Accuracy. Control of simple and complex sentences, and whether errors get in the way of meaning.
• Vocabulary. Words that fit the topic and the context. Michigan suggests less common words only if you are sure they are right, and synonyms for words in the prompt.
• Mechanics. Sentence boundaries, punctuation and spelling, rated as their own criterion.

For how the ratings become a 0 to 80 section score, see how MET is scored.

Can you use a memorised essay template?

Michigan's advice is clear: do not use memorised responses. Its pack says responses should be directly relevant to and focused on the specific topic, and that memorising answers or phrases may take your writing off topic, with irrelevant information or words and phrases that do not suit the context.

The useful distinction is between a structure and a script. A structure is a paragraph plan you can fill with any topic. A script is a set of sentences you carry in and paste. Learn the structure and keep the sentences new each time.

How do you plan an essay when you have 45 minutes for the whole section?

Michigan gives no split, so decide one before test day. This schedule is ScoreFluent's suggestion, not a rule, and you should adjust it to your own speed:

• About 10 minutes for the three short responses in Task 1.
• About 30 minutes for the essay. About 4 minutes planning, about 22 writing, about 4 checking.
• About 5 minutes of margin for a read-through of both tasks.

Michigan recommends planning before you write, and suggests a mind map, bullet points or any method you like. A plan for a test needs only four lines:

1. My position, in one sentence.
2. Reason one, with an example.
3. Reason two, with an example.
4. The other side, and my answer to it.

Michigan suggests practising without a timer at first, then timing yourself.

What paragraph structure works for a 250-word essay?

Michigan's advice is to start with an introduction stating your opinion or preference, write a paragraph for each key idea, and finish with a brief conclusion. If the prompt has two parts, you can write a separate paragraph for each, for example why you prefer one option and why you would not prefer the other.

Here is a shape that fits about 250 words. The word counts are approximate and the plan is ours.

1. Introduction, about 35 words. Two or three sentences: restate the topic in your own words, give your position.
2. Body paragraph one, about 65 words. Topic sentence, explanation, example, a link back to your position.
3. Body paragraph two, about 65 words. A different reason, built the same way.
4. Body paragraph three, about 55 words. The other side and your answer to it. Michigan suggests writing about why others may disagree and how you would respond.
5. Conclusion, about 30 words. Sum up your opinion and how your examples support it. No new idea.

Different prompts reward slightly different paragraph jobs:

• "Is it better to X or Y?" Spend one body paragraph on why your choice wins, one on the best point for the other choice and why it falls short.
• "Should...?" (yes or no). Two reasons for your answer, then the strongest objection and your reply.
• "Would you rather A or B?" One paragraph on why you prefer A, one on why you would not choose B, as Michigan's job example suggests.

Michigan's connective functions link the paragraphs: introduce ("To begin with"), develop ("Additionally"), change direction ("However") and conclude ("In conclusion"). Vary them rather than repeating "also" and "but".

Worked example

Prompt from the ScoreFluent bank: Should shops be allowed to sell unhealthy food and drinks near schools? Give reasons to explain your answer, using examples.

The essay below was written by ScoreFluent to show the structure, at about 240 words. It is not a Michigan sample and has not been rated.

Shops near schools should not be allowed to sell unhealthy food and drinks. Children spend a large part of the day around school, and what is sold on their route affects what they choose to eat. I believe that a restriction would help both children and families.

The first reason is health. Sweets and fizzy drinks are cheap and easy to reach, so children often buy them on the way home. For example, a shop near my old school sold bags of sweets for a few coins, and many of my classmates bought them every afternoon. Over time, a habit like that can lead to tooth decay and weight gain.

The second reason is learning. Food with a lot of sugar can give children a short burst of energy, followed by tiredness. A pupil who is tired in the afternoon finds it harder to concentrate, so a healthier shop would also support the lessons that teachers are trying to deliver.

Some people argue that shops need to sell popular products to stay in business, and that parents should decide what their children eat. This is a fair point, because families do have responsibility. However, shops could still sell fruit, sandwiches and water, which children also buy. Parents also cannot watch every purchase, so the shop environment matters.

In conclusion, restricting unhealthy products near schools would protect children's health and help them learn, while shops could still earn a living by selling better choices.

What each part does: the introduction gives the position in the first sentence, each body paragraph has one main idea and one example, the fourth paragraph acknowledges the objection and answers it with "However", and the conclusion restates the position without a new idea. It also follows the prompt's instruction to use examples.

What mistakes cost marks in the essay?

• One long block of text. Michigan asks for a multiparagraph essay, and its A2-level sample is a single short paragraph. Break your ideas into paragraphs, one main idea each.
• One reason, stretched. Saying the same thing in three ways does not add supporting detail. Move to a second reason.
• Reasons without examples. "Exercise is healthy" is a claim. Michigan's advice is to add examples, anecdotes or personal experience.
• Drifting off the question. Michigan says not to include unrelated information. If a sentence does not support your position, cut it.
• A long, vague introduction. Three sentences about how important the topic is leave less time for reasons. State your position in sentence one or two.
• No proofreading time. Mechanics is its own criterion. Keep the last few minutes for sentence boundaries, spelling and tenses.

What practice prompts can you try for Task 2?

Practice items from the ScoreFluent bank (not real exam questions).

1. Is it better to grow up in a family with many children or with only one child? Give reasons to explain your answer.
2. Would you rather have a job with a lot of responsibility or a job with little stress? Give reasons to explain your answer.
3. Is it more important for a city to have good public transportation or good roads for cars? Give reasons to explain your answer.
4. Should shops be allowed to sell unhealthy food and drinks near schools? Give reasons to explain your answer, using examples.
5. Is it better to spend money on experiences, such as travel, or on things, such as clothes? Give reasons to explain your answer.

Prompts 1, 3 and 5 are "which is better" questions, prompt 2 is "would you rather" and prompt 4 is "should", so each calls for a different paragraph plan from the list above. The bank has no model answers, so the worked example (prompt 4) is ours. Our blog set MET Writing practice prompts has different essay prompts, about exercise and volunteering.

How do you practise Task 2 on your own?

Michigan recommends five stages: read and analyse sample essays, plan, write, edit and revise, then get feedback. For the samples, it suggests finding the thesis statement, the supporting details and the transition phrases. It also suggests leaving a draft for a day or more before editing it.

Add these ScoreFluent practice activities:

• Plan only. Write the four-line plan for ten prompts in a row, without writing the essay. It makes planning automatic.
• One paragraph, timed. Write a single body paragraph in four minutes: topic sentence, explanation, example, link.
• Cut test. Delete every sentence that does not support your position. If a paragraph collapses, it was not developed.

A checklist helps, but it is hard to rate your own writing. Start practising MET free and you get 40 free credits. Credits never expire and there is no subscription. The essay examiner report costs 10 credits. Results are practice estimates, not official MET scores. See pricing.

Back to Task 1, short responses, the Michigan English Test overview or the full list of MET task guides.