IELTS Writing Test: Tasks, Scoring & How to Improve

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IELTS Writing Section: Format, Scoring, and How to Improve

The IELTS Writing section gives you 60 minutes to complete two tasks, and the second one counts for more than the first. Many students lose marks not because their English is weak, but because they run out of time, drift off the topic, or write the same words again and again. If you are new to the exam, our guide to how IELTS compares with TOEFL and Duolingo is a good place to start. Below is a clear explanation of the IELTS writing test format, how it is scored, and how to improve.

What the IELTS Writing Section Tests

The IELTS writing test lasts 60 minutes and has two tasks. You must complete both. The tasks depend on which version of the test you take.

IELTS Academic Writing

Task 1 asks you to describe, summarize, or explain visual information, such as a graph, table, chart, or diagram, in your own words. You write at least 150 words in about 20 minutes.
Task 2 asks you to write an essay in response to a point of view, argument, or problem. You write at least 250 words in about 40 minutes.

IELTS General Training Writing

Task 1 is a letter of at least 150 words, also in about 20 minutes. It may be personal, semi-formal, or formal.
Task 2 is a discursive essay of at least 250 words in about 40 minutes.

Task 2 contributes twice as much as Task 1 to your Writing score. That is why the 40-minute essay deserves most of your attention.

You will not be penalized for writing more than the minimum. But a very long Task 1 can leave you too little time for Task 2, and an answer that is too short may not show enough language for a higher band.

How the Writing Section Is Scored

Unlike Reading and Listening, Writing has no raw score out of 40. Trained examiners mark each response against four criteria, and each one counts for 25 percent:

The four IELTS Writing criteria (25% each)

Task Achievement / Response
Does the answer meet the task?

Coherence and Cohesion
Are ideas organized and linked?

Lexical Resource
Range and accuracy of vocabulary

Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Variety and accuracy of sentences

How the two tasks count toward your Writing band

Task 2 · essay

Task 1 · report or letter

Task 2 contributes twice as much as Task 1, so the bars show roughly two-thirds and one-third.

Task 1 is marked on Task Achievement, and Task 2 is marked on Task Response. Examiners use band descriptors for each criterion to decide your band. Your Writing band is then one of four. The overall IELTS score is the average of all four section bands, rounded to the nearest half or whole band. Not sure which score you need? Our guide to what counts as a good IELTS score explains how schools use your results.

Common IELTS Writing Mistakes That Hold Scores Back

Mistake

Writing about the general topic instead of answering the exact IELTS writing question in the prompt.

Fix

Underline the keywords, read the prompt twice, and commit to a clear position that answers it.

Mistake

Using memorized openers and stock phrases that examiners can easily recognize.

Fix

Write in your own words and respond directly to the question in front of you.

Mistake

Spending too long on Task 1 and leaving too little time for the more valuable Task 2.

Fix

Aim for about 20 minutes on Task 1 and 40 on Task 2, and practice stopping on time.

Mistake

Repeating the same words, or copying the wording of the prompt.

Fix

Paraphrase naturally, and keep a small set of alternative words you can use correctly.

Mistake

Writing until the last second and leaving easy errors in spelling, tense, and articles.

Fix

Reserve the last two to three minutes to proofread, and keep your tone formal with no contractions.

IELTS Writing Practice: How to Raise Your Score

Learn the four criteria and mark your own writing

Write one timed answer, mark it against Task Response, Coherence, Vocabulary, and Grammar, and note where you lose the most.

Fix one error at a time

Pick your most frequent mistake, such as articles or repetition, and focus only on it in your next essay.

Plan before you write

Spend a few minutes choosing your position and main points. A clear plan keeps you on the question and makes your ideas easier to follow.

Use clear, accurate language

Simple words used correctly score better than rare words used wrongly. Split long sentences when they become tangled.

Do timed IELTS writing practice

Practice both tasks in one 60-minute sitting, using a range of IELTS writing subjects, and get to know what 150 and 250 words look like so you do not need to keep counting.

Writing vs. the Other IELTS Sections

Here is how the IELTS writing test compares with the other three sections. The whole exam takes 2 hours and 45 minutes. If you are also weighing the TOEFL, see how our TOEFL Writing section guide compares.

Section	What It Tests	Format	Time
Listening	Understanding conversations and monologues	4 sections, 40 questions, audio played once	~30 min
Reading	Finding information, understanding main ideas and opinions	Academic: 3 passages. General Training: 5–6 texts. 40 questions	60 min
Writing	Report or letter writing, and an essay	2 tasks (150 and 250 words minimum)	60 min
Speaking	Spoken fluency, from introductions to discussion	3 parts, face to face	11–14 min

Explore the other IELTS sections

Next Steps to Improve Your Writing

Writing improves fastest with feedback on real essays. If you want one-on-one guidance on planning, vocabulary, and timing before test day, ISAL’s IELTS Test Prep program is designed to help.

IELTS Test Prep Program Contact Us

Sources

British Council. "Writing." Take IELTS, takeielts.britishcouncil.org/take-ielts/prepare/free-ielts-english-practice-tests/writing.

British Council. "IELTS Assessment Criteria & Band Score Descriptors." Take IELTS, takeielts.britishcouncil.org/results/how-is-ielts-assessed.

British Council. "Your Guide to the IELTS Test Format and Structure." Take IELTS, takeielts.britishcouncil.org/take-ielts/test-format.

IELTS.org. "IELTS General Training Format: Writing." IELTS, ielts.org/take-a-test/test-types/ielts-general-training-test/ielts-general-training-format-writing.

"12 Common IELTS Writing Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)." Global English, www.global-english.com/blog/common-ielts-writing-mistakes/.