How IELTS Writing Is Graded (with Examples)

Scoring well in the IELTS Writing section isn’t just about writing a lot or using big words. Examiners follow very specific criteria when grading your tasks. If you know what they’re looking for, you can focus your preparation more strategically.

Let’s break down how IELTS Writing is graded and look at examples that illustrate what each band level looks like.

IELTS Writing Band Descriptors Overview

IELTS examiners grade Writing Task 1 and Task 2 using four criteria, each worth 25% of your total score:

Criterion	What It Means
Task Achievement (TA) / Task Response (TR)	How fully you answer the question
Coherence and Cohesion (CC)	Logical flow, paragraphing, and use of linking devices
Lexical Resource (LR)	Vocabulary range, appropriateness, and accuracy
Grammatical Range and Accuracy (GRA)	Sentence variety and correct grammar use

Each criterion is scored on a band scale from 0 to 9, and the final band score is the average of all four.

What Each Band Score Looks Like (With Examples)

Let’s take a closer look at what writing at different band levels looks like for Task 2.

🎯 Band 9

• Task Response: Fully addresses all parts of the prompt with clear position and well-developed ideas.
• Coherence and Cohesion: Seamlessly organized with sophisticated linking.
• Lexical Resource: Wide range of vocabulary used naturally and precisely.
• Grammar: Variety of structures with high accuracy.

Example:

Governments should spend more money on public services than on arts.
This essay fully argues why public services should be prioritized, with nuanced examples and a clear conclusion.

⚠️ Band 6

• Task Response: Addresses the question, but some ideas lack development or clarity.
• Coherence and Cohesion: Logical structure but may have unclear progression.
• Lexical Resource: Adequate vocabulary with some errors or repetition.
• Grammar: Mix of simple and complex sentences; some errors persist.

Example:

I believe government should give money to hospitals and schools because they are important. Art is good too but not as useful.
The argument is valid but lacks elaboration and uses basic language.

❌ Band 5

• Task Response: Incomplete answer; ideas may be irrelevant or unclear.
• Coherence and Cohesion: Lacks clear structure; poor paragraphing.
• Lexical Resource: Limited vocabulary and frequent word choice errors.
• Grammar: Frequent grammatical mistakes and limited sentence variety.

Example:

Government give art money, but not good. School need money. Hospital need money. Art not help people.
Hard to follow and lacks argument development.

Tips to Improve in Each Criterion

1. Task Achievement / Task Response

• Answer all parts of the question.
• Stay on topic and avoid memorized templates.
• Support every idea with specific examples.

2. Coherence and Cohesion

• Use clear paragraphs: introduction, body, and conclusion.
• Link ideas using phrases like "In contrast," "Moreover," "As a result."
• Avoid overusing linking words.

3. Lexical Resource

• Use precise and varied vocabulary.
• Avoid repetition and learn synonyms.
• Don’t force fancy words—use naturally.

4. Grammatical Range and Accuracy

• Practice complex sentences: conditional, relative clauses, passive.
• Aim for fewer errors, not just variety.
• Review tenses, articles, and subject-verb agreement.

📝 Practice Prompts to Self-Assess

Try these prompts and then evaluate your writing based on the four criteria:

• Some people believe that unpaid community service should be a compulsory part of high school programs. Do you agree or disagree?
• In many countries, plastic containers have become more common. What are the advantages and disadvantages?

Use a checklist or self-band estimation to get an idea of your current level.

🎯 Ready to Boost Your Band Score?

Practice with realistic, examiner-style mock exams for both Academic and General IELTS at 👉 ieltsexam.ai/ielts-mock-tests

Get instant AI feedback, scoring, and sample answers for Writing Task 1 & 2!