IELTS Writing Scoring
How IELTS writing is scored
Four criteria. Each worth 25%. Task 2 counts twice as much as Task 1. Here is exactly what examiners measure — and what moves your band score up.
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Score calculation
How your band score is calculated
Four criteria assessed
Each examiner marks TA/TR, CC, LR, and GRA separately. Each criterion is worth exactly 25% of your writing score.
Each criterion scored 0–9
Scores can be whole bands (6, 7) or half bands (6.5, 7.5). Each criterion has its own official band descriptor document.
Four scores averaged
Your overall band for that task is the average of the four criteria, rounded to the nearest whole or half band.
Task 1 + Task 2 combined
Task 2 is worth twice as much as Task 1. The combined writing band is calculated as (Task 1 + Task 2 + Task 2) ÷ 3, rounded to the nearest 0.5.
Important
Task 2 is worth twice as much as Task 1. If your Task 1 is Band 6 and Task 2 is Band 7, your combined writing band is (6 + 7 + 7) ÷ 3 = 6.67 → Band 6.5 — not 6.5 straight from averaging. Focus the majority of your preparation time on Task 2.
The 4 criteria
What examiners assess in each criterion
Every IELTS writing task is marked on exactly these four criteria. Each is worth 25% of your band for that task.
Task 1
Task 1 calls this Task Achievement. Did you cover all the key features of the diagram or data? Did you write an overview? Did you avoid copying numbers without explaining trends?
Task 2
Task 2 calls this Task Response. Did you answer all parts of the question? Is your position clear and consistent? Are your ideas relevant and developed with specific support?
This criterion is often the biggest gap for Band 6 students — essays that are well-written but miss part of the question can be capped at Band 5 for TA regardless of grammar.
Task 1
Is information grouped logically? Does each paragraph cover one aspect of the data? Are paragraphs clearly organised so the reader can follow your description?
Task 2
Is the essay logically sequenced? Does each body paragraph have a clear central idea? Do linking words accurately reflect the relationship between ideas?
Overusing linking words ('Furthermore', 'Moreover', 'Additionally' in every sentence) actually lowers your CC score — it signals mechanical use, not genuine coherence.
Task 1
Do you use a range of vocabulary to describe trends and data? Do you avoid repeating the same words? Are collocations accurate (e.g. 'sharp increase', not 'big increase')?
Task 2
How wide is your vocabulary range? Do you avoid repeating the same nouns? Are word forms used correctly? Is the register consistently academic?
Band 7 LR requires 'sufficient range' with 'some errors in word choice'. Band 8 requires 'wide range' with 'rare errors'. The jump is about variety and accuracy together.
Task 1
Do you use a variety of sentence structures? Is grammar accurate? Do you use passive voice appropriately for Task 1 Academic descriptions?
Task 2
Do you use complex structures beyond simple Subject-Verb-Object sentences? Is punctuation correct? Do errors interfere with meaning?
Range matters as much as accuracy. A grammatically perfect essay using only simple sentences will not score above Band 6 for GRA.
Band descriptors
What each band level means
Expert
Fully operational command. Rare minor slips only.
Very Good
Fully operational with occasional inaccuracies. Handles complex language well.
Good
Operational with some inaccuracies. Mostly handles complex language.
Competent
Generally effective. Frequent inaccuracies and misunderstandings in complex situations.
Modest
Partial command. Basic competence but many errors. Limited vocabulary range.
Bands 1–4 are rarely seen in test conditions and are omitted here. Scores are reported in 0.5 increments (e.g. 6.5, 7.0, 7.5).
Practical implications
What this means for your preparation
Find your weakest criterion
One low criterion drags down your entire band. Identify which of the four is lowest and target it specifically — not general practice.
Prioritise Task 2
Task 2 is worth double. A Band 6.0 Task 2 costs you more than a Band 6.0 Task 1. Spend roughly two-thirds of your study time on Task 2.
Answer the full question
TA/TR is the criterion most often under-valued. Missing any part of the question can cap your TA at Band 5 regardless of your language level.
Range counts as much as accuracy
For both LR and GRA, variety matters. Correct but repetitive or simple writing is capped at Band 6. You need range to reach Band 7 and above.
FAQ
Common questions about IELTS scoring
How is the overall IELTS writing band score calculated?
Each task is scored on 4 criteria — Task Achievement/Response, Coherence & Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range & Accuracy. These are averaged to produce a band for each task. Your final writing band combines Task 1 and Task 2 with Task 2 weighted twice as heavily, then rounds to the nearest 0.5. For example: Task 1 = 6.0, Task 2 = 7.0 → (6.0 + 7.0 + 7.0) ÷ 3 = 6.67 → rounded to 6.5.
What are the 4 IELTS writing criteria?
Task Achievement (Task 1) or Task Response (Task 2) — whether you answered the question fully and developed ideas; Coherence & Cohesion — logical organisation and use of linking language; Lexical Resource — vocabulary range, accuracy, and appropriacy; Grammatical Range & Accuracy — variety of structures and grammatical correctness. Each criterion is worth 25% of your writing band score.
Is Task 2 worth more than Task 1?
Yes. Task 2 is worth twice as much as Task 1 in the overall writing band calculation. This means a weak Task 1 has less impact than a weak Task 2. Most preparation time should be focused on Task 2. However, submitting a poor Task 1 still lowers your band — it cannot be ignored.
Can I get a 7.5 in IELTS writing?
Yes. IELTS writing bands are reported in whole and half bands: 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 6.5, 7.0, 7.5, 8.0, 8.5, 9.0. A 7.5 means your averaged criteria scores rounded to 7.5. It is possible to score 7.5 overall even if individual criteria are not all 7.5 — for example, 8.0 + 7.5 + 7.5 + 7.0 = 7.5 average.
What is the difference between Band 6 and Band 7 writing?
At Band 6, you demonstrate general competence with noticeable inaccuracies and limited range. At Band 7, you handle complex language well with some errors that do not significantly impede communication. The key differences are: wider vocabulary with fewer repetitions (LR), a mix of complex sentence structures that mostly work (GRA), clearer paragraph organisation with accurate use of cohesive devices (CC), and full, developed responses to the question (TA/TR). Band 6 writers often address the question but leave ideas underdeveloped.
Does making grammar mistakes always lower your band score?
Not necessarily. The GRA criterion measures both range and accuracy. Occasional errors in complex structures are acceptable at Band 7. What matters is the overall picture: if errors are frequent and affect meaning, your score drops. If errors are rare and occur in ambitious structures, examiners see evidence of range. Simple, error-free sentences will not score above Band 6 for GRA because they demonstrate no range.
How do IELTS examiners mark the writing test?
IELTS examiners are trained and certified by British Council, IDP, or Cambridge. They use official band descriptor tables for each criterion to assign a score from 0 to 9. Scores are whole or half bands. Examiners are regularly monitored and calibrated to ensure consistent marking. In Academic IELTS, the same examiner typically marks both tasks. Candidates can request a remark (EOR — Enquiry on Results) if they believe their score is incorrect.
See exactly how your essay scores on each criterion
IELTS Memo scores your essay on all four criteria — the same ones examiners use — and tells you your single highest-priority fix.
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