IELTS Writing band descriptors, explained
Updated 2026-10-20
IELTS Writing is marked on four criteria for each task. Task 1 is scored for Task Achievement and Task 2 for Task Response, and both tasks are also scored for Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range and Accuracy. A band 7 script answers the question clearly, organises its ideas logically and uses a range of accurate language. A band 8 script does the same with more precision and control.
The four criteria, task by task
- Task Achievement (Task 1) asks whether you describe the key features of the chart, map or process, include a clear overview, and report figures accurately. In General Training letters, it asks whether you cover every bullet point and use a tone that suits the reader.
- Task Response (Task 2) asks whether you answer every part of the question, state a clear position where one is asked for, and develop each main idea with explanation and an example.
- Coherence and Cohesion asks whether the writing is organised into logical paragraphs, and whether linking devices show the relationships between ideas without being overused or mechanical.
- Lexical Resource asks whether you use a range of vocabulary with accurate word partnerships and spelling, and whether each word fits its context.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy asks whether you use a range of sentence structures, and whether errors are rare and do not blur the meaning.
Task 2 carries more weight than Task 1, so improving your essay usually moves your overall Writing score further than improving your report. Both tasks are scored on the same four criteria, but the first criterion asks different things of each.
What band 6, 7 and 8 look like
The table gives one example for each band and criterion. The examples are written for teaching. The Task 2 rows use the prompt some people think governments should spend more on public transport than on roads, and the Task 1 row uses a line chart of household spending over time. For a complete model on a similar prompt, see the public transport usage essay.
| Criterion | Band 6 | Band 7 | Band 8 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Task Response (Task 2) | "I agree because public transport is better for environment." | "I largely agree, because a reliable bus network gives people a realistic alternative to driving." | "I largely agree, though the argument only holds if services are frequent enough to replace the car for ordinary journeys, not just for people who have no car." |
| Coherence and Cohesion | "Firstly, it is cheap. Also, it is good for environment. Finally, roads are expensive." | "Firstly, a reliable network gives people a realistic alternative to driving. As a result, fewer cars enter city centres." | "The key benefit is behavioural: once commuters trust the timetable, the car stops being the default, and the savings build over time." |
| Lexical Resource | "Public transport is very good for the environment and it is very important." | "Public transport cuts emissions and eases congestion, especially in dense urban areas." | "Investment in rail and bus services relieves congestion without the environmental cost of new motorways." |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | "If the government will invest more in buses, people will use them more." | "If governments invested more in buses, more people would leave their cars at home." | "Had governments invested consistently in bus frequency over the past decade, many current congestion problems would be far less severe." |
| Task Achievement (Task 1, Academic) | "The chart shows spending on food and transport from 2000 to 2020. Food went up and transport went down." | "Overall, food spending rose steadily, while transport spending fell after 2010." | "Overall, the two categories moved in opposite directions: food spending rose steadily across the period, whereas transport spending peaked around 2010 and then declined." |
Band 6 sentences are understandable but flat. The band 7 sentences add a reason, a qualification or a precise word. The band 8 sentences do the same with more exact control of grammar and vocabulary. The Task 1 band 6 answer describes the data in order but gives no overview, which is the main reason Task Achievement stays low.
Why many scripts stop at 6.5
Most candidates who reach band 6 in Writing are held back by the same few problems. A score of 6.5 is common when the content is adequate but one or two issues are never fixed. Check your own script for these.
- Ideas listed but not developed. Each main point needs a reason and an example. A sentence that only states an opinion does not earn full Task Response credit.
- No clear overview in Task 1. Describing each figure in turn, without summarising the main trend, usually limits Task Achievement.
- An unclear position in Task 2. If you agree in the introduction and then argue both sides in the body, the reader cannot tell what you think.
- Memorised phrases. Stock openings such as "In today's world" add little and often sound out of place. Use language that answers the specific prompt.
- Overused linking words. Starting every sentence with "Firstly", "Moreover" or "In addition" makes the writing sound mechanical, and it does not show logical relationships.
- Frequent errors in complex sentences. Complex structures are credited only when they are mostly accurate. Simple, correct sentences score better than complex ones with frequent errors.
- Too short. Task 1 needs at least 150 words and Task 2 at least 250. Writing below the minimum is penalised, and a short script usually leaves ideas underdeveloped.
Where to practise next
For full band 8 models, read the band 8 Task 2 essay gallery and the band 8 Task 1 sample answers. If your introductions and conclusions are weak, the guide to introductions and conclusions covers that in detail. To plan a move from band 6 to 7, see the band 6 to 7 route.
Timed writing matters as much as the content of your answer. IELTS A offers practice tests for all four skills, so you can write under the same time limits you will face in the test.