In this section
The IELTS Writing test is 60 minutes long and contains two tasks worth different amounts toward your final score. Task 2 carries twice the weight of Task 1, so a strong essay matters more than a strong report or letter. You write both in the same sitting with no break, and the test differs slightly between Academic and General Training versions.
Writing at a glance
Most candidates leave Task 2 for last because it carries more marks. That is the right approach. Spending 20 minutes on Task 1 and 40 on Task 2 reflects the scoring split and gives enough time to plan, write and check the essay properly.
What examiners are grading
Writing is the only IELTS module marked by humans rather than computers. Two trained examiners independently score each response against four criteria, each worth 25% of your Writing band:
Task Achievement / Response
Did you fully answer the question, with relevant ideas and the right word count?
25% of bandCoherence & Cohesion
Is your writing logically organised with clear paragraphs and appropriate linking?
25% of bandLexical Resource
How wide, accurate and natural is your vocabulary in this response?
25% of bandGrammatical Range & Accuracy
Do you use a variety of grammatical structures correctly under exam pressure?
25% of bandA persistent myth among candidates is that fancy vocabulary will lift your band on its own. It will not. We see students score band 6 with sophisticated words because their task response is weak or their grammar collapses under the pressure of complex structures. The four criteria are weighted equally, neglect any one of them and your average drops. Our full guide to IELTS Writing band scores breaks down each criterion in depth.
If your two examiners disagree by more than half a band, a third examiner is brought in. This is why consistency matters, examiners look for evidence across the whole response, not just one impressive sentence.
Academic vs General Training, the key differences
The Writing test you take depends on why you are taking IELTS. Both versions share Task 2 (the essay), but Task 1 is very different.
Describe visual information
For university applicants and professional registration. Task 1 asks you to describe what you see in your own words, using objective language.
- Line graphs and bar charts
- Tables and pie charts
- Maps showing change over time
- Process or cycle diagrams
No opinions in Task 1. Phrases like "I think this is good" lose you marks.
Write a letter
For immigration, work visas and secondary education. Task 1 asks you to write a letter responding to a specific situation.
- Formal, to someone you don't know
- Semi-formal, known role, unknown person
- Informal, friends or family
Wrong tone is the most common reason General Training candidates lose half a band.
The mistakes we see most often
After teaching IELTS Writing for over a decade, certain mistakes appear in candidate responses again and again. These are the patterns that cost half-band scores most reliably.
Writing under the word count
Task 1 must be at least 150 words and Task 2 at least 250. Going under is automatically penalised. We have seen brilliant 230-word essays score band 5.5 when they would have scored band 7.5 at 260 words. Always finish a complete paragraph after you hit the minimum.
Copying the question word for word
Examiners discount any text copied directly from the question prompt when counting your words. If your introduction repeats the task statement verbatim, you might be 20 words below the minimum without realising. Paraphrase the question in your own words.
Memorised templates that don't fit the question
Memorised openings like "In this essay I will discuss the advantages and disadvantages" sometimes don't match what the question actually asks. If the question wants your opinion and you write a balanced discussion, your task response score suffers regardless of how polished your English is.
Cohesion devices used as decoration
Linking words like "moreover", "furthermore" and "in addition" lift your coherence score when used naturally. They tank it when overused. We see candidates start every sentence with a linker, which makes writing feel mechanical and lowers the band. Use linkers only where the logical connection requires one.
When time runs short, most candidates speed up their writing and skip planning. This nearly always lowers the band. Even three minutes of planning before Task 2 produces a more coherent, focused essay than 43 minutes of unplanned writing.
Band 5 vs Band 7, the same idea reworked
One of the clearest ways to understand what examiners look for is to see the same idea expressed at two different bands. Here is a sentence from a Task 2 essay on social media, written first at band 5 level and then reworked to band 7.
"Social media is a bad thing because people use it too much and they don't talk to their family. Also it is bad for their mental health and they get depressed."
"Excessive use of social media platforms has been linked to weakened family relationships, as users increasingly substitute online interaction for face-to-face conversation. This pattern of behaviour has also been associated with rising rates of depression among heavy users."
Notice that the band 7 version is not longer than the band 5 version. Length does not equal quality. Precision does. Our Task 2 model answers show several more examples of high-band writing with examiner commentary.
Choose your preparation path
Effective Writing preparation looks different at different starting bands. The path from 5.0 to 6.5 is not the same as the path from 6.5 to 7.5.
What to expect on test day
Receive booklets
Question and answer booklets given together at the start
Plan first
3-5 minutes of planning saves you time overall
Write both tasks
~20 minutes Task 1, then ~40 minutes on Task 2
Proofread
Leave 2-3 minutes for basic error checks at the end
Paper-based vs computer-based. Both formats are accepted equally by universities, employers and immigration authorities. Paper-based requires pencil writing on an answer booklet. Computer-based provides a basic word processor with word count, copy, paste and undo. We generally recommend computer-based for candidates who can type quickly, because editing is easier and word counts are automatic.
How long until results. Paper-based IELTS results are available 13 days after the test. Computer-based results come through in 3 to 5 days. The score report shows your band for each module separately plus your overall band score, which is the average rounded to the nearest half band.
Frequently asked questions
How long should I spend on Task 1 vs Task 2?
Spend approximately 20 minutes on Task 1 and 40 minutes on Task 2. This matches the scoring split, Task 2 contributes two-thirds of your Writing band, and gives enough time to plan, write and check the essay.
What happens if I write fewer than 150 or 250 words?
Under-length responses are penalised in the Task Achievement or Task Response criterion. The penalty is significant, typically half a band, and applies regardless of how well-written the response is.
Can I write more than 250 words for Task 2?
Yes, but be careful. Writing significantly more than 250 words is not directly penalised, but longer responses are harder to keep coherent. A focused 280-word essay typically scores better than a rambling 380-word essay.
Does handwriting affect my Writing score?
Only if the examiner cannot read it. Untidy handwriting that remains legible does not lower your band. On computer-delivered IELTS this is not a concern.
How is the overall Writing band calculated?
Your Task 1 and Task 2 bands are combined with Task 2 weighted twice as heavily. For example, Task 1 at band 6.0 and Task 2 at band 7.0 averages to band 6.5. Each task is itself the average of the four marking criteria.