IELTS Writing: how it is marked, and 101 questions with model answers
Both tasks explained, the four marking criteria in plain language, and free model answers at several band levels for every question in our banks.
The two tasks
| Task 1 (Academic) | Task 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| What you do | Describe a chart, table, map or process | Write an argument essay on a given statement |
| Minimum length | 150 words | 250 words |
| Suggested time | 20 minutes | 40 minutes |
| Share of your Writing band | One third | Two thirds |
Because Task 2 is worth twice as much, a candidate who is short of time should always protect Task 2 — yet the most common exam-day mistake is spending 30 minutes on Task 1 and rushing the essay.
The four marking criteria
Each is worth 25% of your Writing score, and your band is the average of the four. This is why a single weak criterion is expensive: it cannot be compensated for by being excellent elsewhere.
Task Response (Task 2) / Task Achievement (Task 1)
Whether you answered the actual question asked, took a clear position and developed your ideas.
Where marks go: The most commonly capped criterion. Answering a nearby question rather than the one on the paper — or never stating your own view in a discussion essay — holds this at Band 5 or 6 no matter how good the English is.
Coherence and Cohesion
Whether the reader can follow the argument: paragraphing, the order of ideas, and how sentences connect.
Where marks go: Overusing connectors is penalised as heavily as using none. At Band 8 the links come mostly from referencing and the order of the ideas, not from 'Firstly / Secondly / Moreover' at the start of every sentence.
Lexical Resource
The range and accuracy of your vocabulary, including collocation and word formation.
Where marks go: Rare words used slightly wrongly score lower than common words used precisely. Memorised 'high-level' phrases dropped into an essay are visible to examiners and do not raise this band.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
The variety of sentence structures you control, and how many errors reach the reader.
Where marks go: Band 7 needs a majority of error-free sentences. Writing only simple sentences accurately caps this at Band 6 — range and accuracy are marked together, not separately.
Practise by task
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Task 2
60 essay questions with Band 6–9 model answers
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Task 1 Academic
41 charts with model reports and the original visuals
Common questions
Does going over the word count help?
No. There are no extra marks for length, and long answers usually lose accuracy, which costs you under Grammatical Range and Accuracy. Aim for roughly 280–300 words on Task 2 and 170–190 on Task 1.
Am I penalised for going under 250 words?
Yes, automatically, under Task Response — and examiners count. Being 20 words short costs more than any vocabulary choice you could make in those 20 words.
Can I use "I" in IELTS Writing?
In Task 2, yes — opinion questions ask for your view and you have to state it. In Task 1 Academic there is nothing to give an opinion about, so first person is not needed.
Do examiners check whether my examples are true?
No. IELTS assesses your English, not your general knowledge. A clear hypothetical example is safer than an invented statistic, which tends to produce awkward grammar.