IELTS Guide
How Your IELTS Writing Band Score Is Calculated
Four criteria, two tasks, one band — here is exactly how examiners mark your writing and where most test-takers lose points.
5 min read · Updated April 2025
Your IELTS Writing band score is the average of two tasks — Task 1 (worth one third) and Task 2 (worth two thirds). Each task is scored on four criteria, each weighted equally.
The Four Assessment Criteria
| Criterion | What It Measures | Common Mistakes |
|---|---|---|
| Task Achievement (Task 2) / Task Response (Task 1) | Did you fully answer the question? | Going off-topic, not stating a clear position |
| Coherence and Cohesion | Is the response logically organised and easy to follow? | Overusing linking words, weak paragraph structure |
| Lexical Resource | Range and accuracy of vocabulary | Repeating the same words, awkward collocations |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | Variety and correctness of sentence structures | Only simple sentences, consistent errors |
Task 1 vs Task 2 Weighting
Task 1 in Academic IELTS asks you to describe a graph, chart, table, or diagram. In General Training, it asks for a letter (formal, semi-formal, or informal). Task 2 in both versions is an academic-style essay responding to a view or argument.
What Each Band Looks Like
| Band | Task 2 Description |
|---|---|
| Band 9 | Fully addresses task with sophisticated argument, varied vocabulary, near-perfect grammar |
| Band 8 | Well-developed argument, wide range, minor errors only |
| Band 7 | Clear position, logically organised, some flexibility in vocabulary and grammar |
| Band 6 | Addresses main points, some irrelevance, limited range, recurring errors |
| Band 5 | Partially addresses task, formulaic language, frequent errors |
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Estimate my IELTS Writing band →Frequently Asked Questions
Does word count affect my IELTS Writing score?
Writing fewer than 250 words for Task 2 (or fewer than 150 for Task 1) is penalised under Task Achievement. There is no penalty for writing more, but quality matters far more than length. Most high-scoring responses are 260–310 words for Task 2.
Can I improve my IELTS Writing score by 1 band in 4 weeks?
At the 6.0–6.5 level, moving up by 0.5 bands in 4 weeks is realistic with focused practice and targeted feedback. Moving from 6.0 to 7.0 usually takes 8–16 weeks of consistent work.
Is Coherence or Task Achievement more important?
They are equally weighted. However, Task Achievement is often the most direct way to lose marks — if your essay does not directly address the question, all four criteria suffer. Address the task first, then focus on structure.