How IELTS Writing is marked: the four criteria, band by band (2026)

Both tasks must be completed within 60 minutes, and IELTS weights the second one double. What each task asks for depends on the version of the test you sit.

Task 1

In IELTS Academic, Task 1 asks you to describe some visual information in your own words: a graph, table, chart or diagram. You need at least 150 words, and IELTS advises about 20 minutes. In General Training, Task 1 is a letter responding to a situation, with three bullet points telling you what to include, written in a personal, semi-formal or formal style depending on who you are writing to. You do not need to write any addresses at the top.

Task 2

Task 2 is the same kind of task in both versions: you are given a point of view, an argument or a problem to discuss, and you write at least 250 words in about 40 minutes. Both tasks must be connected text in full sentences, and IELTS is explicit about three penalties: answers written as notes or bullet points are penalised, writing that does not relate to the topic is penalised, and plagiarised writing is severely penalised.

Why the weighting changes how you spend the hour

IELTS states that Task 2 contributes twice as much as Task 1 to the Writing score, and it draws the practical conclusion itself: a longer Task 1 answer may mean that you have less time to spend on Task 2. Put numbers on it. With Task 1 at 6 and Task 2 at 7, the weighted figure is (6 + 7 + 7) ÷ 3, which is 6.67. Swap them, Task 1 at 7 and Task 2 at 6, and it is 6.33. The same two bands end up a third of a band apart. IELTS does not publish the rounding step that turns this figure into the Writing band on your Test Report Form, so the example stops at the arithmetic, but the direction is not in doubt: minutes taken from Task 2 are the expensive ones.

On paper or on screen

IELTS says Writing on Paper is planned to be available from mid-2026 in selected countries as an option for IELTS on computer: the tasks appear on screen and you handwrite your answers on an answer sheet. The task types, scoring and time allocation are the same either way, and the option is not available for IELTS for UKVI.

Twenty minutes and 150 words for Task 1, forty minutes and 250 words for Task 2, and two thirds of the band in the second.

Task response asks one thing: did you answer this question, fully, with a position you develop? IELTS describes the criterion as how accurately, appropriately and relevantly your response covers the task requirements, and in Task 2 it includes how well you develop your argument, giving evidence and examples that may come from your own experience. Task 1's version of the criterion, task achievement, is at the end of this section.

What separates 6 from 7

In the public band descriptors, a band 7 response addresses the main parts of the prompt appropriately, presents a clear and developed position, and extends and supports its main ideas, though it may over-generalise or lose some focus in its support. At band 6 the main parts are addressed, but some more fully than others; the position is relevant, but the conclusions drawn may be unclear, unjustified or repetitive; and some main ideas are underdeveloped or unclear, with support that is less relevant or inadequate.

What that means on the page

• Count the parts of the question. "Why is this happening, and is it a positive or negative development?" has two parts. Answering the first in three paragraphs and the second in one sentence is exactly the "some more fully than others" of band 6.
• Say what you think early, and keep saying it. A conclusion that arrives at a view the body never argued is one way to write the unclear or unjustified conclusion band 6 describes.
• Extend every main idea. Give the claim, the reason for it, and an example or a consequence. "Technology makes people lazy" is the kind of over-generalisation the band 7 descriptor warns about; "food delivery apps mean that many people in large cities rarely cook" is a claim an example can support.
• Paraphrase the question instead of copying it. The descriptors say any copied rubric must be discounted, so sentences lifted from the prompt do nothing for you.

An example

Take the prompt: "Some people think that cities should ban private cars from their centres. To what extent do you agree or disagree?" An introduction that copies it, "Some people think that cities should ban private cars from their centres, and this essay will discuss this," has no position and almost no words of its own. Compare: "Closing a city centre to private cars makes the streets where people walk and shop quieter and cleaner, and I largely agree with it, provided buses and trams can carry the people the cars used to." The second states a position, limits it, and tells the reader what the body will argue.

Task achievement in Task 1

For Academic Task 1, IELTS notes that all the information you require is given in the graph, chart, table or diagram, and the band 7 descriptor asks for a clear overview in which the main trends or differences are identified. For General Training, task achievement is how well your letter achieves its purpose, and the descriptors look for all three bullet points covered, a clear purpose, and a tone that suits the reader.

Answer every part, take a position, extend each idea, and write your own introduction.

Coherence is whether your ideas come in an order a reader can follow; cohesion is the language that ties them together. IELTS says the criterion assesses how clear and fluent your writing is, and how you organise ideas and information, including a logical order and a range of cohesive devices, such as linking words, pronouns and conjunctions, used appropriately.

What separates 6 from 7

In the band descriptors, band 7 organises information and ideas logically with a clear progression throughout, uses a range of cohesive devices including reference and substitution flexibly, though with some inaccuracy or some over- or under-use, and generally uses paragraphing effectively. At band 6 there is still a clear overall progression, but cohesion within or between sentences may be faulty or mechanical through misuse, overuse or omission; reference and substitution may lack flexibility or clarity and cause repetition; and paragraphing may not always be logical.

Mechanical linking

"Mechanical" is the word to notice. A linking word at the start of every sentence (firstly, moreover, furthermore, in addition, on the other hand) does not make writing cohesive. It is the overuse the band 6 descriptor names. Linking words are only one kind of cohesive device, and the two the band 7 descriptor singles out are reference and substitution.

Reference and substitution

Reference points back to something already said: it, they, this, these, such. Substitution replaces a word or phrase so you do not repeat it: one, ones, do so. Compare three ways of saying the same thing:

• "Public transport is cheaper than driving. Public transport also produces less pollution than driving." The noun is repeated.
• "Public transport is cheaper than driving, and it produces less pollution." Reference does the work.
• "Some cities have already closed their centres to cars, and others plan to do so." Substitution does the work.

Check that every "this" and "it" points at something the reader can find. A "this" that could mean either of two things is the unclear reference the band 6 descriptor describes.

Paragraphs

Give each paragraph one main idea, state it early, and use the sentences after it to develop that idea. A long chain of clauses joined by "and" reads as one idea running on. English essays usually start a new sentence instead, or use a linker that says what the relationship is: because, although, which, so that.

A clear order, one idea per paragraph, and reference and substitution doing the work that repeated nouns and stacked linkers do badly.

Lexical resource is your vocabulary: how much of it you use, and how accurately and appropriately you use it. That is IELTS's own definition of the criterion, and the descriptors weigh precision alongside range.

What separates 6 from 7

At band 7 in the descriptors, the vocabulary allows some flexibility and precision, includes some less common or idiomatic items, and shows an awareness of style and collocation, though some choices are inappropriate; there are only a few errors in spelling or word formation. At band 6 the resource is generally adequate and the meaning is generally clear, in spite of a rather restricted range or a lack of precision in word choice. The descriptors also note that a writer who takes risks will show a wider range, with more inaccuracy or inappropriacy.

Collocation

Collocations are the words English puts together, and they are one place where a word-for-word translation shows. These pairs are all standard English:

• heavy rain, not strong rain
• make a mistake, not do a mistake
• do research, not make a research (research is uncountable, so "a research" is wrong as well)
• commit a crime, not do a crime

When you are not sure of a pair, the plainer word you know is right is the safer choice than an impressive one you are guessing at. The band 7 description asks for precision and an awareness of collocation, and a rare word used wrongly shows neither.

Memorised phrases

The descriptors name memorised language directly. At band 4 they list inappropriate use of lexical chunks, such as memorised phrases and formulaic language, and band 0 is used, among other cases, where there is proof that an answer has been totally memorised. An opening line learned by heart shows the examiner a line you learned, not the range you can bring to this question.

Spelling and word formation

Word formation means using the right form of a word: economic (to do with the economy) and economical (not wasteful), benefit and beneficial, develop and development. Spelling counts in this criterion too. Arabic script usually leaves short vowels unwritten, so English words that differ only in a vowel, such as bed and bad, then and than, or live and leave, are worth a second look when you check.

Style

IELTS asks for an academic or semi-formal, neutral style in both Academic tasks and a semi-formal, neutral essay in General Training Task 2, while a General Training letter takes the tone that suits its reader. The band 7 descriptor rewards an awareness of style. Text-message spellings and slang work against it; plain, precise words do not.

Precise words used correctly, collocations checked, and your own phrasing rather than a memorised one.

This criterion is two things at once: the range of grammar you have used, and how accurately and appropriately you have used it.

What separates 6 from 7

At band 7 in the descriptors, a variety of complex structures is used with some flexibility and accuracy, grammar and punctuation are generally well controlled, and error-free sentences are frequent. At band 6 there is a mix of simple and complex sentence forms but limited flexibility, the complex structures are not as accurate as the simple ones, and errors in grammar and punctuation occur but rarely get in the way of meaning. Further down, at band 4, subordinate clauses are rare and simple sentences predominate.

Range you can control

Range comes mostly from subordinate clauses: because, although, which, if, when, so that. The band 6 point about complex structures being less accurate than simple ones is the trap, because complexity you cannot yet control adds errors as well as range. Write the complex sentences you can get right, and when you check, count how many of your sentences have no error at all, because frequent error-free sentences are part of the band 7 description.

Four places where Arabic and English grammar differ

These are differences between the two languages, not faults of the people who speak one of them, and each one produces a kind of error the descriptors count.

• Articles. Arabic marks a definite noun with «ال» and has no word for "a" or "an". English needs one before a singular countable noun: "She is a doctor," not "She is doctor." English also leaves the article out where Arabic keeps «ال» for a general idea: «التعليم مهم» is "Education is important," not "The education is important."
• The verb "be". An Arabic nominal sentence needs no verb in the present tense: «الطقس حار». English does: "The weather is hot," not "The weather hot."
• Relative clauses. Arabic repeats the noun as a pronoun inside the clause: «الكتاب الذي قرأته». English does not: "the book that I read," not "the book that I read it."
• Sentence boundaries and capitals. Arabic script has no upper- and lower-case letters, and English needs one at the start of every sentence and on names, days, months, languages and nationalities: Riyadh, Monday, September, English, Jordanian. In English a comma cannot join two complete sentences either: "Cars pollute the air, they also cause noise" needs a full stop, a semicolon or "and".

Complex sentences you can get right, articles and "be" where English needs them, and one full stop per sentence.

Four criteria, weighted equally, make a task score; two tasks, with Task 2 counted twice, make the Writing band; and Writing then joins the other three skills in your overall band.

From criteria to overall band

IELTS's scoring page says each task is assessed independently, the criteria are weighted equally, and the score on the task is their average. Writing is reported, like every section, in whole or half bands on the 0 to 9 scale. The overall band is the average of the four section bands rounded to the nearest half band: an average ending in .25 rounds up to the next half band, and one ending in .75 rounds up to the next whole band. Our band score calculator applies that rule to any four bands.

Who marks it

Writing is assessed by certificated IELTS examiners, whether you type your answers or handwrite them. IDP adds that examiners must hold a relevant teaching qualification and have extensive teaching experience. On computer, IELTS says notes you make in the note-taking tool are not seen by the examiner, so the plan never earns marks; the connected answer does.

How consistent the marking is

IELTS's test statistics report three things about the examiner-marked sections. Examiners are retrained and recertified every two years. A Writing or Speaking score markedly different from the same test taker's Listening and Reading scores is automatically re-marked. And comparing original and re-marked Writing performances from 2024 to 2025 gave an inter-rater reliability coefficient of 0.92, which IELTS publishes as its measure of how consistently different examiners mark the same writing.

Equal criteria, a double-weight essay, human examiners, and a re-mark built in when Writing sits far from your other skills.

Liguastic marks Task 2 on the four criteria this guide describes, and it says plainly where it stops.

Writing on Liguastic

You write a Task 2 answer and hand it in. It comes back scored on four criteria in half bands, with up to six corrections that quote your exact words, give a better version and a one-line reason, and one next focus rather than a list of everything. You can rewrite it, and the second draft comes back compared with the first: which flagged problems you resolved and which are still there. Corrections go to a notebook you can re-read. Exam Day runs the reading mock and a timed essay under the clock with no pausing and returns one combined estimate. See writing feedback and how scoring works.

Where it stops

• Practice writing is Task 2 only. Task 1 appears once, in the placement paper, so neither Academic charts nor General Training letters are practised after it.
• Every band is an estimate from our own grader. No examining body has reviewed a single number, and there is nowhere to submit one: the band an institution reads comes from your test centre. Liguastic has no affiliation with IELTS.
• Our AI marks the essays. The corrections and the bands come from our grader, not from anyone IELTS certifies.

A new account starts with a free placement check and no card, and the plan is written from what it measures. See pricing and the refund terms.

Four criteria, half bands, your own words quoted back, and no claim to be anything IELTS issued.

Every rule on this page was read on 22 September 2026, on IELTS's own pages and on the IELTS pages that IDP and the British Council publish. The band descriptors are paraphrased rather than reproduced; the full text is one click away in each section.

IELTS

• IELTS Academic: Writing test format: the two tasks, word minimums and timings, the four criteria, the penalties, notes that the examiner does not see, and Task 2 contributing twice as much as Task 1
• IELTS General Training: Writing test format: the letter task, its three bullet points and its style
• IELTS scoring in detail: criteria weighted equally, the task score as their average, and the overall band rounding rule
• Test statistics: examiner recertification, automatic re-marking, and the Writing inter-rater reliability of 0.92 for 2024 to 2025
• Updates to IELTS Writing test delivery mode: Writing on Paper, its planned availability, and its exclusion from IELTS for UKVI
• IELTS Writing test preparation resources: the exam body's own practice material

IDP IELTS and British Council IELTS

• IDP IELTS, IELTS Writing band scores: the public band descriptors for Task 1 and Task 2, bands 0 to 9, and examiner qualifications
• British Council IELTS, how is IELTS assessed?: whole and half bands, and Task 2 worth twice as much as Task 1

Liguastic sources

• Writing feedback: what comes back on a Task 2 essay and in what form
• How scoring works: what is measured, what is not, and where the method is weaker
• IELTS band score calculator: the overall-band rounding rule IELTS publishes
• About: the promises the site holds itself to

Method

1. Read the exam body's own pages. Blogs, videos and forum threads were not used.
2. Paraphrase the band descriptors and link the full text, rather than reproduce them.
3. Write the example sentences for this page, and check each grammar point against standard English usage.
4. Check every claim about Liguastic against the product rather than its marketing, and re-read every source on each refresh.

What this page could not verify: IELTS does not publish how the weighted task scores are rounded to the Writing band, which is why the example in the first section stops at the arithmetic. The notes on Arabic grammar describe the two languages; they are not a measurement of any group of test takers. If anything here is wrong or has changed, write to hello@liguastic.com and we will check it and correct the page.

IELTS® is a registered trademark of its owners. Liguastic is not affiliated with or endorsed by them.