IELTS Writing has two tasks, and the examiner marks each one on four equally weighted criteria. Task 2 counts twice as much as Task 1, so the essay largely decides your Writing band. Below, based on ielts.org and the official public band descriptors (May 2023 update): what each criterion checks, how the band is formed, what separates 6 from 7, the word-count rules and the mistakes that cost marks.
Four criteria, equal weight
Each task is assessed on its own. ielts.org: the criteria are weighted equally and the task score is their average. The criteria are the same for Academic and General Training; only Task 1 differs (a visual or a letter).
- Task Achievement (Task 1) / Task Response (Task 2) - how fully the task is done: in Task 1 the key features and an overview (in General Training all three bullet points, a clear purpose and the right tone), in Task 2 every part of the question and a clear position.
- Coherence and Cohesion - the order of ideas, paragraphing, linking words and reference (it, this, such).
- Lexical Resource - range and precision of vocabulary, collocation, spelling and word formation.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy - variety of structures, how many sentences are error-free, punctuation.
How the Writing band is formed
The examiner gives each task a band on all four criteria, and the task score is their average. The two tasks are then combined: according to ielts.org, Task 2 contributes twice as much as Task 1 to the Writing score.
The exact rounding is not published, so the sum below is an estimate only: (Task 1 + 2 × Task 2) / 3.
| Task 1 | Task 2 | Estimate | Writing lands near |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7.0 | 6.0 | (7 + 12) / 3 ≈ 6.33 | 6.0 - 6.5 |
| 6.0 | 7.0 | (6 + 14) / 3 ≈ 6.67 | 6.5 - 7.0 |
| 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
- The takeaway: a strong essay can carry a weaker Task 1, but not the other way round. Split your time the same way: ielts.org suggests about 20 minutes for Task 1 and 40 for Task 2.
- Your Writing band counts in the overall score equally with the other three skills: overall is the average of the four bands, rounded to the nearest half band.
Band 6 vs band 7 on each criterion
The official rule: to get a band, a script must fully fit the positive features of that band’s descriptor, and the negative features printed in bold limit the rating. A summary of the public band descriptors:
| Criterion | Band 6 | Band 7 |
|---|---|---|
| Task Response (Task 2) | The main parts are addressed, some more fully than others; there is a relevant position, but conclusions may be unclear or repetitive; some ideas are underdeveloped | The main parts are appropriately addressed; a clear, developed position; main ideas are extended and supported (there may be over-generalising) |
| Task Achievement (Task 1, Academic) | A relevant overview is attempted; key features are adequately highlighted and supported with figures | A clear overview; data appropriately categorised; main trends or differences identified |
| Coherence and Cohesion | A clear overall progression; linking can be faulty or mechanical; paragraphing is not always logical | Logical organisation and clear progression throughout; linking and reference used flexibly; paragraphing supports coherence |
| Lexical Resource | Vocabulary is adequate for the task and meaning is clear, but range or precision is limited; spelling errors do not block communication | Enough range for some flexibility and precision; some less common items; awareness of style and collocation; only a few spelling errors |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | A mix of simple and complex sentences with limited flexibility; complex structures are less accurate | A variety of complex structures with some flexibility and accuracy; frequent error-free sentences; grammar and punctuation well controlled |
- In practice: band 7 needs every feature of the criterion. A clear position with an underdeveloped second idea can keep Task Response at 6.
- Big words alone do not raise the band: the band 6 descriptor notes that a “risk-taker” uses a wider range but with more errors.
- How to build each task is covered in separate guides: /en/articles/ielts-writing-task-1 and /en/articles/ielts-writing-task-2.
Word counts and the mistakes that cost marks
- Task 1 needs at least 150 words, Task 2 at least 250. ielts.org gives no fixed deduction, but a short answer may not give enough evidence for the higher bands; the low-band descriptors name “significantly underlength” answers.
- A response of 20 words or fewer is rated band 1.
- Writing more is not penalised, but a very long Task 2 leaves no time to check and tends to drift off the question.
- Any text copied from the question (copied rubric) is discounted.
- Writing that does not relate to the topic is penalised; a response wholly unrelated to the prompt is band 1.
- The answer must be connected text: notes or bullet points cost marks.
- Memorised phrases and formulaic language pull Lexical Resource down; a proven fully memorised answer is band 0. Plagiarism is severely penalised.
How to get feedback and use it
- Self-check: compare your script with the public band descriptors on ielts.org one criterion at a time, not by overall impression.
- One criterion at a time: pick your lowest and fix only that in your next 3-4 essays.
- Log your word count and time: how many words and minutes each task took.
- On Trylab, AI scores Writing on the four official criteria: a band and a comment for each. The free plan includes 1 AI score; after that it is part of the Pro plan.
- An AI score is an estimate, not an official result: it is most useful for showing your weakest criterion.
- Write Writing together with Listening and Reading under real timing, then work out your overall band on /en/ielts/band-calculator.
Frequently asked questions
- What if I write 140 words in Task 1? There is no fixed deduction, but a short answer gives too little evidence for a high band - write more than 150.
- Are Academic and General Training Writing assessed differently? The criteria are the same; only Task 1 differs: a graph, table, process or map in Academic, a letter in General Training.
- How long should Task 2 take? ielts.org suggests about 40 minutes, Task 1 about 20. Writing lasts 60 minutes in total.
- How much does one weak criterion cost? The task score is the average of four criteria: with one at 5 and the rest at 7, the task comes out at about 6.5.
