IELTS · Guide 9 · 5 min read

IELTS Writing band descriptors explained in plain words

What IELTS Writing examiners look for: Task Achievement and Response, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range and Accuracy.

How Writing is marked

Each Writing task is marked against four criteria, and each criterion counts for a quarter of the score for that task. Task 2 then counts twice as much as Task 1 in your final Writing band.

The official descriptors are published on ielts.org. This page explains, in our own words, what each criterion is about and what tends to separate the middle bands from the higher ones. It is a study aid, not a replacement for the official wording.

Task Achievement (Task 1)

This asks: did you do what the task asked?

For Academic Task 1, that means presenting the key features of the visual accurately, with a clear overview of the main trends or differences, and supporting it with relevant figures. For General Training Task 1, it means covering all three points in the letter, making the purpose clear and using a tone that suits the reader.

• Lower bands: key features missing or misreported, no overview, or a letter that misses a point or confuses its purpose.
• Middle bands: the task is addressed, but the overview is unclear or details are listed rather than selected.
• Higher bands: a clear overview, well-chosen details, accurate figures; or a letter that covers every point fully with a consistent, suitable tone.

Task Response (Task 2)

This asks: did you answer the question you were set, fully and with a clear position?

• Lower bands: the answer drifts off the topic, or the position is unclear or missing.
• Middle bands: the question is answered, but some parts get less attention, or ideas are stated more than developed.
• Higher bands: every part of the question is covered, the position is clear throughout, and the main ideas are extended and well supported.

Exam tip: writing under the minimum word count, or copying large parts of the question, pulls this score down. So does answering a question that is close to, but not the same as, the one on the page.

Coherence and Cohesion

This asks: is your writing easy to follow?

Coherence is about the logic of the whole piece: ideas in a sensible order, one main idea per paragraph, and a clear line of argument. Cohesion is about the links between sentences and ideas: linking words, pronouns that refer back clearly, and words that avoid repetition.

• Lower bands: ideas jump around, paragraphs are missing or random, and linking words are rare or wrong.
• Middle bands: the organisation is clear overall, but linking words are overused or mechanical, such as "Firstly ... Secondly ... Moreover ..." at the start of every sentence.
• Higher bands: paragraphs are well judged, and linking feels natural rather than forced. The reader rarely notices it.

An invented example of cohesion done well: "Many cities have introduced cycle lanes. These have reduced traffic in some areas, although the effect varies widely." The pronoun and the contrast word do the linking without drawing attention.

Lexical Resource

This asks: how wide and accurate is your vocabulary?

The examiner looks at range, precision, natural word combinations, and spelling and word formation.

• Lower bands: a limited range, frequent repetition, and errors that make meaning unclear.
• Middle bands: enough range to discuss the topic, some less common words, but noticeable errors in word choice or spelling.
• Higher bands: a wide range used precisely and naturally, including less common words and natural combinations such as "a heavy reliance on" or "widen access", with only rare slips.

Using rare words for their own sake does not help if they are used wrongly. Precision matters more than difficulty.

Exam tip: learn words in the phrases they usually appear in. "Make a decision" and "do research" are correct; "do a decision" and "make research" are not.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

This asks: how varied and how correct is your grammar?

Range means using a mix of structures: simple and complex sentences, relative clauses, conditionals, passives and different tenses where they fit. Accuracy means how many sentences are free of errors.

• Lower bands: mostly simple sentences with frequent errors; punctuation is weak.
• Middle bands: a mix of simple and complex sentences, with errors that are noticeable but rarely block meaning.
• Higher bands: a wide range of structures, with most sentences free of error and only occasional slips.

The balance matters. A script of short, correct sentences shows accuracy but little range. A script full of ambitious sentences with frequent errors shows range but poor accuracy.

Putting it together

Because each criterion counts equally, a weakness in one area holds back the whole task, however strong the others. Use your practice essays to find your weakest criterion and work on that first.

Key points

1. Each task is marked on four equal criteria.
2. Task 1 uses Task Achievement; Task 2 uses Task Response.
3. Coherence is the logic of the whole; cohesion is the links between parts.
4. Vocabulary is judged on precision and natural use, not just difficulty.
5. Grammar is judged on both range and accuracy.
6. Check the official descriptors on ielts.org for the exact wording.

See the other guides on the IELTS hub.