How to Develop Ideas in IELTS Essays (Stop Writing Generic Points)

Reading time: 13 minutes

"Your ideas are not developed enough."

If you've received this feedback on your IELTS essays, you're not alone. Underdeveloped ideas are one of the main reasons students get stuck at Band 5-6 for Task Response.

The problem isn't that students lack ideas - most can list several points for any topic. The problem is that listing points isn't developing them.

This guide shows you exactly what idea development means, why it matters for your score, and how to transform generic statements into Band 7+ arguments.

What Does "Developing Ideas" Actually Mean?

Look at the Band 7 descriptor for Task Response:

"Presents, extends and supports main ideas."

Three distinct requirements:

1. Present - State your main point
2. Extend - Explain WHY or HOW
3. Support - Give evidence, examples, or details

Most Band 5-6 essays only do the first one. They present points but don't extend or support them.

The Difference in Action

Undeveloped (Band 5-6):
"One advantage of public transport is that it reduces pollution. Another advantage is that it's cheaper. It's also more convenient."

Three points, zero development. The examiner has no idea WHY public transport reduces pollution, HOW it's cheaper, or in WHAT WAY it's convenient.

Developed (Band 7+):
"One significant advantage of public transport is its positive environmental impact. When commuters choose buses or trains instead of driving individual cars, the number of vehicles on the road decreases substantially. For example, a single bus carrying 50 passengers removes dozens of cars from the streets, dramatically reducing carbon emissions per person. This collective approach to transportation is essential for cities aiming to meet climate targets."

One point, fully developed. The examiner understands:

• WHAT the advantage is (environmental impact)
• WHY it works (fewer cars per passenger)
• HOW it happens (bus replaces dozens of cars)
• WHY it matters (climate targets)

The Explanation Chain

Good idea development follows a logical chain. Each sentence answers a question the reader might ask:

Statement: "Public transport reduces pollution."
Reader asks: How does it reduce pollution?

Explanation: "When commuters use buses instead of cars, fewer vehicles are on the road."
Reader asks: Why does that matter?

Extension: "A single bus can replace 40-50 individual cars during peak hours."
Reader asks: So what's the significance?

Significance: "This dramatically reduces per-capita carbon emissions."

Each sentence builds on the previous one, creating a chain of reasoning.

The PEEL Framework for Development

PEEL provides a reliable structure for developing ideas:

Point: State your main idea (topic sentence)
Evidence: Provide support (example, fact, or detail)
Explanation: Explain how/why the evidence matters
Link: Connect back to your argument or the question

PEEL Example

Topic: Should governments invest in space exploration?

Point: Government investment in space exploration drives technological innovation that benefits everyday life.

Evidence: Many technologies we use daily, including GPS navigation, weather forecasting systems, and memory foam mattresses, were originally developed for space programs.

Explanation: The extreme challenges of space travel require scientists to develop new solutions, and these solutions often have practical applications on Earth. Without the pressure of space missions, these innovations might never have emerged, or would have taken much longer to develop.

Link: Therefore, space investment provides value far beyond exploration itself - it accelerates progress across multiple industries.

Word count: 95 words for one fully developed idea.

Common Development Problems (and Solutions)

Problem 1: Listing Multiple Points Instead of Developing One

Undeveloped:
"There are many advantages of online education. It is flexible. It is cheaper. It is accessible. Students can learn at their own pace."

Four points, none developed. This might reach Band 5 for Task Response.

Solution: Choose your two strongest points and develop each one fully:

"One significant advantage of online education is its accessibility for students in remote areas. Traditional universities are concentrated in major cities, leaving rural students with limited options. Online learning removes this geographical barrier, allowing students anywhere with internet access to enrol in courses from prestigious institutions. A student in a small village in India can now earn a degree from a university in London without relocating, dramatically expanding educational opportunities."

Problem 2: Evidence That Doesn't Connect to the Point

Disconnected:
"Social media is harmful to young people. A study from Harvard University found that people check their phones 80 times per day."

How does checking phones 80 times prove harm to young people specifically? The connection is missing.

Solution: Explain the link:

"Social media is harmful to young people's mental health because it creates addictive checking behaviours. Research indicates that adolescents may check their social media accounts up to 100 times daily, seeking validation through likes and comments. Each time they find no new notifications, they experience a small disappointment, while positive feedback triggers dopamine responses. This reward-seeking cycle can lead to anxiety, as young people become dependent on external approval for their self-worth."

Problem 3: Saying What Without Explaining Why or How

Surface level:
"Exercise is good for mental health."

This is true but undeveloped. WHY is exercise good for mental health?

Developed:
"Regular physical exercise significantly improves mental health by triggering the release of endorphins, natural chemicals that reduce stress and promote feelings of wellbeing. When someone exercises, their brain produces these mood-enhancing substances, providing a natural alternative to pharmaceutical interventions. Additionally, exercise provides a structured activity that distracts from negative thought patterns, while the achievement of fitness goals builds self-confidence."

Problem 4: Too General/Vague

Vague:
"Many people have problems with technology."

What people? What problems? What technology?

Specific:
"Elderly users often struggle with smartphone interfaces because these devices assume familiarity with touchscreen gestures and visual icons. Someone who grew up with physical buttons and written labels may find it frustrating to navigate apps that rely on intuitive swiping motions. This creates a digital divide where older citizens are excluded from services increasingly delivered through mobile platforms."

The "So What?" Test

After writing each sentence, ask yourself: "So what? Why does this matter?"

Keep asking until you've reached the significance of your point.

Statement: "More people are working from home."
So what?

"They save time on commuting."
So what?

"They can use this time for family, exercise, or rest."
So what?

"This improves their work-life balance and overall wellbeing."

Now you have a developed idea:

"The shift to remote work has improved work-life balance for many employees by eliminating daily commutes. Time previously spent in traffic - often one to two hours daily - can now be dedicated to family activities, exercise, or rest. This reclaimed time reduces stress and allows workers to maintain healthier lifestyles, ultimately making them more productive during working hours."

How Many Points Do You Need?

For a 270-300 word essay:

• Introduction: 40-50 words
• Body paragraph 1: 1-2 developed points (80-100 words)
• Body paragraph 2: 1-2 developed points (80-100 words)
• Conclusion: 30-40 words

That's 2-4 main points total, each fully developed.

Key insight: Two well-developed points score higher than five undeveloped points.

The Band 6 descriptor mentions "ideas may be inadequately developed." The Band 7 descriptor requires you to "extend and support main ideas." Examiners are explicitly looking for development, not quantity.

Development Templates

Use these sentence starters to extend your ideas:

For Explaining Why

• "This is because..."
• "The reason for this is..."
• "This occurs due to..."
• "This happens when..."

For Explaining How

• "This works by..."
• "The mechanism is..."
• "In practice, this means..."
• "The way this operates is..."

For Adding Evidence

• "For example,..."
• "To illustrate,..."
• "A clear instance of this is..."
• "This can be seen in..."

For Showing Significance

• "As a result,..."
• "Consequently,..."
• "This matters because..."
• "The implication is..."
• "This leads to..."

For Connecting to the Question

• "Therefore,..."
• "This demonstrates that..."
• "This supports the view that..."
• "This is why..."

Practice: Develop These Ideas

Take each statement and develop it into a 4-5 sentence paragraph:

1. "Social media affects teenagers."
2. "Tourism has economic benefits."
3. "Education should be free."
4. "Technology changes how we communicate."

Example Development (Statement 1):

"Social media significantly impacts teenagers' self-perception, often negatively. Platforms like Instagram present carefully curated images that showcase only the best moments of people's lives, creating unrealistic standards for appearance and success. When teenagers compare their ordinary daily experiences to these idealised portrayals, they frequently feel inadequate, leading to decreased self-esteem and increased anxiety. This constant comparison culture is particularly damaging during adolescence, when young people are still forming their identities and are most vulnerable to peer influence."

Notice:

• The statement is made specific (self-perception, negatively)
• A concrete example is given (Instagram, curated images)
• The mechanism is explained (comparison leads to inadequacy)
• The significance is stated (damaging during identity formation)

Depth vs. Breadth

Think of your essay as drilling down, not spreading out:

Breadth (Band 5-6):

Point 1 -> Point 2 -> Point 3 -> Point 4 -> Point 5
(surface)  (surface)  (surface)  (surface)  (surface)

Depth (Band 7+):

Point 1           Point 2
   |                 |
Explanation      Explanation
   |                 |
Evidence         Evidence
   |                 |
Significance     Significance

The second approach demonstrates critical thinking, logical reasoning, and command of the topic - exactly what high band scores require.

From Ideas to Arguments

Ultimately, idea development isn't just about writing more - it's about thinking more deeply. When you develop an idea, you're constructing an argument that would convince a skeptical reader.

Ask yourself:

• If someone disagreed with my point, what would I say to convince them?
• What evidence would make this more believable?
• Why should the reader care about this?

Answer those questions in your essay, and you've developed your ideas.

Key Takeaways:

1. Present + Extend + Support = Developed ideas
2. Use the "So what?" test to check your development
3. Two developed points beat five undeveloped points
4. Evidence needs explanation - don't assume the connection is obvious
5. Be specific: who, what, where, how, why
6. Use the PEEL framework to structure developed paragraphs

Stop listing. Start developing. Your Task Response score will thank you.

Want to know if you're developing your ideas fully? We're currently in closed beta—join the waitlist to get early access to feedback on your argument development and depth.