Two to four examiners evaluate your IELTS Writing test to ensure accuracy and fairness in scoring. The assessment criteria remain consistent for both General Training and Academic tests.
Writing Task 1 assesses your response based on your task achievement, coherence and cohesion, lexical resource, and grammatical range and accuracy. Similarly, Writing Task 2 follows the same criteria, except that task response replaces task achievement.
Each band score reflects the level of performance across these four criteria. For a detailed breakdown of how examiners assess writing, you can refer to the IELTS Writing public band descriptors available online.
How IELTS writing band is scored
Writing Task 1
Band 9
Task achievement
All the requirements of the task are fully and appropriately satisfied. There may be extremely rare lapses in content.
Coherence and cohesion
The message can be followed effortlessly. Cohesion is used in such a way that it very rarely attracts attention. Any lapses in coherence or cohesion are minimal. Paragraphing is skillfully managed.
Lexical resource
flexibility and precise use are evident within the scope of the task. A wide range of vocabulary is used accurately and appropriately with very natural and sophisticated control of lexical features. Minor errors in spelling and word formation are extremely rare and have minimal impact on communication.
Grammatical range and accuracy
A wide range of structures within the scope of the task is used with full flexibility and control. Punctuation and grammar are used appropriately throughout. Minor errors are extremely rare and have minimal impact on communication.
Band 8
Task achievement
response covers all the requirements of the task appropriately, relevantly, and sufficiently. (Academic) Key features are skilfully selected, and presented, highlighted, and illustrated. (General Training) All bullet points are presented and appropriately illustrated or extended. There may be occasional omissions or lapses in content.
Coherence and cohesion
The message can be followed with ease. Information and ideas are logically sequenced, and cohesion is well managed. Occasional lapses in coherence or cohesion may occur. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately.
Lexical resource
A wide resource is fluently and flexibly used to convey precise meanings within the scope of the task. There is a skillful use of uncommon and/or idiomatic items when appropriate, despite occasional inaccuracies in word choice and collocation.
Occasional errors in spelling and/or word formation may occur but have minimal impact on communication.
Grammatical range and accuracy
A wide range of structures within the scope of the task is flexibly and accurately used. The majority of sentences are error-free, and punctuation is well-managed. Occasional, non-systematic errors and inappropriacies occur but have minimal impact on communication.
Task achievement
The response covers the requirements of the task. The content is relevant and accurate – there may be a few omissions or lapses. The format is appropriate. (Academic) Key features that are selected are covered and highlighted but could be more fully or more appropriately illustrated or extended. (Academic) It presents a clear overview, the data are appropriately categorised, and the main trends or differences are identified. (General Training) All bullet points are covered and highlighted but could be more fully or more appropriately illustrated or extended. It presents a clear purpose. The tone is consistent and appropriate to the task. Any lapses are minimal.
Coherence and cohesion
Information and ideas are logically organised and there is a clear progression throughout the response. A few lapses may occur. A range of cohesive devices including reference and substitution is used flexibly but with some inaccuracies or some over/underuse.
Lexical resource
The resource is sufficient to allow some flexibility and precision. There is some ability to use less common and/or idiomatic items. An awareness of style and collocation is evident, though inappropriacies occur . There are only a few errors in spelling and/or word formation, and they do not detract from overall clarity.
Grammatical range and accuracy
A variety of complex structures is used with some flexibility and accuracy. Grammar and punctuation are generally well-controlled, and error-free sentences are frequent. A few errors in grammar may persist, but these do not impede communication
Band 6
Task achievement
The response focuses on the requirements of the task and an appropriate format is used. (Academic) Key features which are selected are covered and adequately highlighted. A relevant overview is attempted. Information is appropriately selected and supported using figures/data. (General Training) All bullet points are covered and adequately highlighted. The purpose is generally clear. There may be minor inconsistencies in tone.
Some irrelevant, inappropriate, or inaccurate information may occur in areas of detail or when illustrating or extending the main points. Some details may be missing (or excessive) and further extension or illustration may be needed.
Coherence and cohesion
Information and ideas are generally arranged coherently and there is a clear overall progression. Cohesive devices are used to some good effect but cohesion within and/or between sentences may be faulty or mechanical due to misuse, overuse, or omission. The use of reference and substitution may lack flexibility or clarity and result in some repetition or error.
Lexical resource
The resource is generally adequate and appropriate for the task. The meaning is generally clear in spite of a rather restricted range or a lack of precision in word choice. If the writer is a risk-taker, there will be a wider range of vocabulary used but higher degrees of inaccuracy or inappropriacy. There are some errors in spelling and/or word formation, but these do not impede communication.
Grammatical range and accuracy
A mix of simple and complex sentence forms is used but flexibility is limited. Examples of more complex structures are not marked by the same level of accuracy as in simple structures. Errors in grammar and punctuation occur but rarely impede communication.
Band 5
Task achievement
The response generally addresses the requirements of the task. The format may be inappropriate in some places.(Academic) Key features which are selected are not adequately covered. The recounting of detail is mainly mechanical. There may be no data to support the description.(General Training) All bullet points are presented but one or more may not be adequately covered. The purpose may be unclear at times. The tone may be variable and sometimes inappropriate. There may be a tendency to focus on details (without referring to the bigger picture). The inclusion of irrelevant, inappropriate or inaccurate material in key areas detracts from the task achievement. There is limited detail when extending and illustrating the main points
Coherence and cohesion
Organisation is evident but is not wholly logical and there may be a lack of overall progression. Nevertheless, there is a sense of underlying coherence to the response. The relationship of ideas can be followed but the sentences are not fluently linked to each other. There may be limited/overuse of cohesive devices with some inaccuracy. The writing may be repetitive due to inadequate and/or inaccurate use of references and substitution.
Lexical resource
The resource is limited but minimally adequate for the task. Simple vocabulary may be used accurately but the range does not permit much variation in expression .There may be frequent lapses in the appropriacy of word choice, and a lack of flexibility is apparent in frequent simplifications and/or repetitions. Errors in spelling and/or word formation may be noticeable and may cause some difficulty for the reader.
Grammatical range and accuracy
The range of structures is limited and rather repetitive. Although complex sentences are attempted, they tend to be faulty, and the greatest accuracy is achieved on simple sentences. Grammatical errors may be frequent and cause some difficulty for the reader. Punctuation may be faulty.
Writing Task 2:
Band 9
Task response
The prompt is appropriately addressed and explored in depth. A clear and fully developed position is presented which directly answers the question/s.Ideas are relevant, fully extended, and well-supported. Any lapses in content or support are extremely rare
Coherence and cohesion
The message can be followed effortlessly. Cohesion is used in such a way that it very rarely attracts attention. Any lapses in coherence or cohesion are minimal. Paragraphing is skilfully managed
Lexical resource
Full flexibility and precise use are widely evident. A wide range of vocabulary is used accurately and appropriately with very natural and sophisticated control of lexical features .Minor errors in spelling and word formation are extremely rare and have minimal impact on communication.
Grammatical range and accuracy
A wide range of structures is used with full flexibility and control. Punctuation and grammar are used appropriately throughout. Minor errors are extremely rare and have minimal impact on communication.
Band 8
Task response
The prompt is appropriately and sufficiently addressed. A clear and well-developed position is presented in response to the question/s.Ideas are relevant, well-extended, and supported. There may be occasional omissions or lapses in content.
Coherence and cohesion
The message can be followed with ease. Information and ideas are logically sequenced, and cohesion is well managed. Occasional lapses in coherence and cohesion may occur. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately.
Lexical resource
A wide resource is fluently and flexibly used to convey precise meanings. There is the skilful use of uncommon and/or idiomatic items when appropriate, despite occasional inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. Occasional errors in spelling and/or word formation may occur but have minimal impact on communication.
Grammatical range and accuracy
A wide range of structures is flexibly and accurately used. The majority of sentences are error-free, and punctuation is well-managed. Occasional, non-systematic errors and inappropriate occur but have minimal impact on communication
Band 7
Task response
The main parts of the prompt are appropriately addressed. A clear and developed position is presented. Main ideas are extended and supported but there may be a tendency to over-generalise or there may be a lack of focus and precision in supporting ideas/material.
Coherence and cohesion
Information and ideas are logically organised, and there is a clear progression throughout the response. (A few lapses may occur, but these are minor.)A range of cohesive devices including reference and substitution is used flexibly but with some inaccuracies or some over/underuse. Paragraphing is generally used effectively to support overall coherence, and the sequencing of ideas within a paragraph is generally logical.
Lexical resource
The resource is sufficient to allow some flexibility and precision. There is some ability to use less common and/or idiomatic items. An awareness of style and collocation is evident, though inappropriacies occur. There are only a few errors in spelling and/or word formation and they do not detract from overall clarity.
Grammatical range and accuracy
A variety of complex structures is used with some flexibility and accuracy. Grammar and punctuation are generally well-controlled, and error-free sentences are frequent. A few grammar errors may persist, but these do not impede communication.
Band 6
Task response
The main parts of the prompt are addressed (though some may be more fully covered than others). An appropriate format is used. A position is presented that is directly relevant to the prompt, although the conclusions drawn may be unclear, unjustified, or repetitive. Main ideas are relevant, but some may be insufficiently developed or may lack clarity, while some supporting arguments and evidence may be less relevant or inadequate.
Coherence and cohesion
Information and ideas are generally arranged coherently and there is a clear overall progression. Cohesive devices are used to some good effect but cohesion within and/or between sentences may be faulty or mechanical due to misuse, overuse, or omission. The use of reference and substitution may lack flexibility or clarity and result in some repetition or error. Paragraphing may not always be logical and/or the central topic may not always be clear.
Lexical resource
The resource is generally adequate and appropriate for the task. The meaning is generally clear in spite of a rather restricted range or a lack of precision in word choice.If the writer is a risk-taker, there will be a wider range of vocabulary used but higher degrees of inaccuracy or inappropriacy. There are some errors in spelling and/or word formation, but these do not impede communication.
Grammatical range and accuracy
A mix of simple and complex sentence forms is used but flexibility is limited. Examples of more complex structures are not marked by the same level of accuracy as in simple structures. Errors in grammar and punctuation occur but rarely impede communication
Band 5
Task response
The main parts of the prompt are incompletely addressed. The format may be inappropriate in some places. The writer expresses a position, but the development is not always clear. Some main ideas are put forward, but they are limited and are not sufficiently developed, and/or there may be irrelevant details. There may be some repetition.
Coherence and cohesion
Organisation is evident but is not wholly logical and there may be a lack of overall progression. Nevertheless, there is a sense of underlying coherence to the response. The relationship of ideas can be followed but the sentences are not fluently linked to each other. There may be limited/overuse of cohesive devices with some inaccuracy.
The writing may be repetitive due to inadequate and/or inaccurate use of references and substitution. Paragraphing may be insufficient or missing.
Lexical resource
The resource is limited but minimally adequate for the task. Simple vocabulary may be used accurately but the range does not permit much variation in expression
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