The Complete Guide to IELTS Writing (2026)
Quick answer: IELTS Writing is a 60-minute test with two tasks. Task 1 (20 min, 150 words) describes data (Academic) or writes a letter (General Training). Task 2 (40 min, 250 words) is an essay. Each is graded on four criteria: Task Achievement, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range and Accuracy. Band 7 requires consistent fulfilment of every criterion at the band-7 descriptor level — the most common ceiling is band 6.5 due to under-developed paragraphs and limited grammar range.
This is the complete WitPrep pillar guide. It is updated for 2026 with the current IELTS format, fees, marking criteria, and best practices. Use the table of contents to jump to a section, or open the IELTS Writing coach to start practising the techniques described below. If you have not yet baselined your level, run the free free IELTS diagnostic first.
On this page
- How IELTS Writing is structured
- The four marking criteria explained
- Task 1 (Academic): describing data
- Task 1 (General Training): letter writing
- Task 2: essay structure for band 7+
- Common errors that cap candidates at band 6
- Lexical Resource: how to actually expand vocabulary
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy: complex structures that score
- Time management within the 60 minutes
- Band 7 vs band 8 vs band 9 strategy differences
- A 6-week study plan to lift Writing by one band
How IELTS Writing is structured
IELTS Writing runs for 60 minutes and contains two tasks. Task 1 is shorter — 150 words minimum, 20 minutes recommended. Task 2 is longer — 250 words minimum, 40 minutes recommended, and weighted twice as heavily in the final score.
For Academic candidates, Task 1 asks you to describe visual information — a chart, a graph, a table, a process diagram, or a map. The skill tested is selection and description, not opinion.
For General Training candidates, Task 1 asks you to write a letter — formal, semi-formal, or informal — with three bullet-pointed prompts to address. The skill tested is functional writing for a real-life purpose.
Task 2 is the same for both candidate types: a 250-word essay responding to a written prompt. The prompt usually states an opinion you must agree or disagree with, asks you to discuss two views, requires a problem-solution treatment, or asks for advantages and disadvantages.
Word count is enforced by the examiner. Under-length essays are penalised heavily — typically a half-band drop in Task Achievement. Over-length essays are not penalised but consume time you cannot recover.
Always do Task 2 first if you are short on time — it carries double weight. Most coaches teach Task 1 first because it is easier; both approaches are defensible.
The four marking criteria explained
Every IELTS Writing response is scored against exactly four criteria, each contributing 25% of the task band.
Task Achievement (Task 1) / Task Response (Task 2) — does your answer actually address the prompt? In Task 1 this means: did you describe what is asked, with appropriate selection of features? In Task 2 this means: did you take a clear position, develop it with reasons and examples, and address all parts of the prompt?
Coherence and Cohesion — is your writing logically organised, with clear paragraphing and effective use of cohesive devices? Cohesive devices are the linking words and phrases ("however", "in addition", "as a result") that signal relationships between ideas.
Lexical Resource — is your vocabulary varied, accurate, and appropriate to the topic and register? Band 7 requires "a wide range of vocabulary" and "some less common items". Repeating the same words is the cheapest way to cap your band at 6.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — do you use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, with errors that don't impede communication? Band 7 requires "a variety of complex structures" with "frequent error-free sentences".
Task 1 (Academic): describing data
Academic Task 1 asks you to write 150+ words describing visual information. The structure that scores highest is: introduction (paraphrase the prompt) + overview (identify 2–3 main trends or features) + 2 detail paragraphs (describe specific data points).
The overview is the single most band-affecting element. Without an overview, you cannot score above band 5 in Task Achievement. The overview should NOT include numbers — it should generalise.
Detail paragraphs use specific numbers, percentages, time references, and comparison vocabulary. The most useful comparison verbs: rose, climbed, surged, dipped, plummeted, plateaued, fluctuated, remained stable.
Avoid opinion. Academic Task 1 is descriptive only. Phrases like "This shows that the policy worked" lose marks for being interpretive.
- Use a tense consistent with the data (past tense for past data, future for projections)
- Group similar data — don't describe every line one at a time
- Use approximate language for numbers ("approximately", "just over", "slightly less than")
- Always include an overview paragraph as paragraph 2
Task 1 (General Training): letter writing
General Training Task 1 asks you to write a letter responding to a real-life situation. The prompt specifies the recipient and three bullet points the letter must cover.
Three registers are possible: formal (to a stranger you address by title), semi-formal (to someone you know in a professional capacity), informal (to a friend or family member). The prompt's recipient determines the register.
Formal openings: "Dear Sir or Madam," Closing: "Yours faithfully," — only when you do not know the name. "Dear Mr Smith," → "Yours sincerely," when you do.
Semi-formal openings: "Dear Mr Smith," Closing: "Best regards," or "Kind regards,".
Informal openings: "Dear Mike," or "Hi Mike," Closing: "Best wishes," or "Take care,".
All three bullet points must be addressed. Skipping one caps Task Achievement at band 5.
Task 2: essay structure for band 7+
The structure that consistently scores band 7+ on Task 2 is: introduction (paraphrase + thesis) + 2 body paragraphs (each one main idea, fully developed) + conclusion (restate thesis, summarise main points).
Introduction: 2–3 sentences. Sentence 1 paraphrases the prompt. Sentence 2 (and 3, if needed) states your position clearly.
Body paragraph: 5–7 sentences. Topic sentence (claim) + 2 sentences explaining the claim + 1–2 sentences with a specific example + 1 sentence linking back to the thesis.
Conclusion: 2–3 sentences. Restate your position in different words, summarise the two body-paragraph claims. Do NOT introduce new information.
Total: 250–280 words is the optimal range. Below 250 = penalty. Above 320 = wasted time.
Practise writing a complete 250-word essay in 40 minutes from a cold start. Most candidates underestimate how slow handwriting/typing is under exam pressure. Do at least 8 timed essays before test day.
Common errors that cap candidates at band 6
Error 1: under-length essays. Anything under 250 words on Task 2 is automatically capped at band 5 for Task Response.
Error 2: memorised templates. Examiners are trained to spot template language and penalise it as Lexical Resource (it shows you cannot generate vocabulary spontaneously).
Error 3: no clear position in Task 2. "It depends" is not a position. Even partly-agree positions need to be stated explicitly: "While I accept X, I largely agree with Y because...".
Error 4: every sentence the same length and structure. Band 7 requires range. Mix simple, compound, and complex sentences. Vary sentence openings.
Error 5: spelling and basic grammar errors that distract the reader. Band 7 allows occasional errors that don't impede communication, but recurring errors (subject-verb agreement, article use, irregular verbs) cap you at band 6.
Lexical Resource: how to actually expand vocabulary
Memorising long lists of "high-band" words is the wrong approach. Examiners penalise misused advanced vocabulary more than they reward correctly-used common vocabulary.
Instead, build collocations — pairs and groups of words that natively co-occur. "Make a decision" not "do a decision". "Heavy rain" not "strong rain". "Take into account" not "consider into".
Aim for 8–10 topic-specific lexical items per essay. If the topic is education, weave in: curriculum, syllabus, pedagogy, vocational, theoretical, formative assessment.
Avoid the over-used essay phrases ("In conclusion", "Last but not least", "Every coin has two sides"). They signal a memorised template and downgrade Lexical Resource.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: complex structures that score
Band 7 requires regular use of complex sentence structures. The five most useful for IELTS:
Conditional sentences: "If governments invested more in renewable energy, emissions would fall."
Relative clauses: "Workers who lack formal qualifications are often the first to be affected."
Cleft sentences: "What concerns me most is the long-term impact on children."
Passive voice: "Decisions are often made without consulting affected communities."
Reduced clauses: "Faced with rising costs, many small businesses have closed."
Use 4–6 of these per Task 2 essay. Do not force all five — over-engineering is more visible than absence.
Get every essay graded by the WitPrep Writing coach. It scores against the official band descriptors and tells you exactly which descriptor is dragging your overall band down.
Time management within the 60 minutes
20 minutes for Task 1, 40 minutes for Task 2 is the standard split. Within Task 2, allocate roughly: 5 minutes planning + 30 minutes writing + 5 minutes reviewing.
Plan before you write. Even a 3-minute outline (thesis + two body-paragraph claims + two examples) saves 10 minutes of writing-and-deleting later.
Do not transcribe a draft. There is no time. Write straight to final.
The last 5 minutes should be proofreading: count words, check spelling, check verb tenses, check articles. These five minutes lift roughly 30% of essays by half a band.
Band 7 vs band 8 vs band 9 strategy differences
Band 7 is achievable in 6–8 weeks of structured practice for most candidates already at band 6. The shift is mostly about Coherence (paragraphing, signposting) and Lexical Resource (collocations, less common vocabulary).
Band 8 requires near-error-free grammar and a flexible, varied lexis. It typically takes 3–6 months of practice from band 7. Daily writing is non-negotiable.
Band 9 requires native-speaker-level fluency and complete control. It is the score of professional writers. Pursue band 8 unless you specifically need 9 for a regulatory body (e.g., some medical councils).
The WitPrep Writing coach grades against band-9 descriptors — meaning it does not just say "this is band 6", it tells you which descriptor is missing for band 7.
A 6-week study plan to lift Writing by one band
Week 1 — diagnostic essay + Task 1 framework. Write one Academic Task 1 essay. Get it graded. Learn the introduction-overview-detail structure.
Week 2 — Task 1 mastery. Write 4 Task 1 essays under 20-minute timer. Focus on overview construction.
Week 3 — Task 2 framework. Write 3 Task 2 essays. Focus on thesis statements and body paragraph development.
Week 4 — Task 2 essay types. Write 4 Task 2 essays across the four prompt types (opinion, discussion, problem-solution, advantages-disadvantages).
Week 5 — full timed sets. Write 3 complete Writing tests (Task 1 + Task 2) under 60-minute timer. Detailed feedback after each.
Week 6 — taper + revision. Two more timed sets. Review your most common errors. Stop adding new techniques 5 days before test day.
The single biggest predictor of writing band gains is volume of graded writing. Aim for 12+ graded essays in 6 weeks. The WitPrep Writing coach grades unlimited essays at no per-essay cost on the standard plan.
Practice this skill with WitPrep
All of the strategy on this page only converts to band gains when you apply it under timed conditions with rubric-based feedback. Open the IELTS Writing coach to drill the exact question types covered above. The coach grades each attempt against the IELTS public band descriptors and tells you which descriptor is holding your band back. If you would prefer a structured 6-week run-up to test day, our IELTS study plan sequences these drills with reading and writing practice.
Every guide in this pillar
This pillar links to every WitPrep guide on this skill. Bookmark this page and come back to drill one sub-skill per practice session.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is IELTS Writing?
60 minutes total: 20 minutes recommended for Task 1, 40 minutes for Task 2. The split is recommended; you can allocate as you wish.
Is Task 2 worth more than Task 1?
Yes. Task 2 is weighted twice as heavily in the Writing band score. If short on time, finish Task 2 first.
What is the minimum word count?
150 words for Task 1, 250 words for Task 2. Below this is penalised in Task Achievement, typically half a band.
Are typed essays scored differently from handwritten?
No. The same band descriptors apply. Computer-delivered IELTS counts words automatically and shows the count on screen.
Should I memorise essay templates?
No. Examiners are trained to spot templates and penalise them in Lexical Resource. Memorise structures and vocabulary, not full sentences.
Can I use bullet points in Task 1 letters?
Generally no — letters should be prose. Bullet points are acceptable in semi-formal or informal letters only when listing items, never as the main structure.
How important is handwriting on paper-based tests?
Examiners must be able to read your writing. Illegible writing is marked as if absent. Practise neat, fast handwriting if you are taking paper-based.
What is the most common reason for being stuck at band 6.5?
Lexical Resource and Grammatical Range — specifically, repetitive vocabulary and over-reliance on simple sentence structures. The fix is varied complex structures and topic-specific collocations.
How we verify this content
Every fact on this page is sourced from primary IELTS publishers — IELTS.org, the British Council, IDP IELTS Australia, and Cambridge Assessment English. Our IELTS team re-checks these sources at least once per quarter. Where we cite institution-specific scores, we link to that institution's own admissions or visa page. If you spot anything out of date, please contact our editors.