Writing Pattern
There are two versions of the IELTS writing test – Academic and General. IELTS Writing comprises two tasks.
Task 2 is the same for both tests, but Task 1 differs.
The table below shows the IELTS Writing Pattern for a better understanding:
| Duration | 60 minutes |
| Number of Tasks | 2 |
| Types | Academic & General |
Here is what the tasks look like
- Task 1: Summarise a visual or process (Academic test) or write a letter (General test).
- Task 2: Compose a complete essay (Same for Academic and General tests.)
You will be evaluated on whether your ideas are connected and flow together, your vocabulary and grammar usage, and whether you have met all the task requirements.
This table below a comprehensive understanding of the tasks in the IELTS Writing test:
| Types | Min. word count | Duration | Description |
| Task 1 (Academic) | 150 | 20 minutes | Describe the information in a graph or chart |
| Task 1 (General) | 150 | 20 minutes | Write a letter for a specific purpose |
| Task 2 (same on General and Academic) | 250 | 40 minutes | Talk about a social issue and give your opinion |
Writing Tasks
The Academic Writing test consists of two writing tasks of 150 words and 250 words.
Let's have a look at how the IELTS Writing format differs for both test types:
IELTS Writing Academic Test
In the IELTS Academic Writing test, it's important to maintain a formal writing style.
In Task 1, you will have a visual representation like a graph, table, chart, or diagram.
Your task will be to use your own words to describe, summarise, or explain the information presented. This could involve explaining data, outlining a process's steps, elucidating something's workings, or detailing an object or event.
In Task 2, you'll need to compose an essay in response to a given point of view, argument, or problem. It's advisable to select topics that genuinely interest you and are easy to comprehend.
You will be asked to write at least 150 words for Task 1 and at least 250 words for Task 2. A certificated IELTS examiner will mark your IELTS Writing test. Task 2 is worth twice as much as Task 1 in the IELTS Writing test.
IELTS Writing General Test
In the IELTS General Training Writing test, the topics chosen are generally of broad appeal and relevance.
In Task 1, you'll encounter a scenario and be required to compose a letter requesting information or explaining a particular situation. You have the flexibility to craft the letter in a personal, semi-formal, or formal style, depending on the context.
In Task 2, you'll be tasked with writing an essay in response to a given point of view, argument, or problem. Here, you have the leeway to adopt a somewhat personal style in your writing.
You will be asked to write at least 150 words for Task 1 and at least 250 words for Task 2. A certificated IELTS examiner will mark your IELTS Writing test. Task 2 is worth twice as much as Task 1 in the IELTS Writing test.
Writing Academic vs General
The IELTS Writing test has two versions: Academic and General Training. The Academic one is for you if you plan to go to college or work in professional places. The General Training one is for more general/ everyday situations.
Here's a quick look at IELTS General Writing and IELTS Academic Writing along with some similarities and some major differences:
Aspect | IELTS General Writing | IELTS Academic Writing |
| Purpose | General situations, for immigration, and everyday contexts | Academic purposes, for higher education and professional use |
| Task 1 | Letter writing, e.g., to a friend or a complaint letter | Graph, chart, or diagram description, summarising data |
| Task 2 | Essay writing, often about personal experiences or opinions | Essay writing, focusing on academic topics, argumentative |
| Topics | Everyday life, personal experiences, general issues | Academic subjects, research, analysis, and argumentation |
| Writing Style | Semi-formal, conversational | Formal, academic |
| Test Duration | 60 minutes | 60 minutes |
| Word Count (Task 1) | At least 150 words | At least 150 words |
| Word Count (Task 2) | At least 250 words | At least 250 words |
| Example Task 1 | Writing a letter to a friend inviting them to an event | Describing a bar chart showing the usage of smartphones in different age groups |
| Example Task 2 | Expressing your views on the advantages of online learning | Discussing the impacts of climate change on agriculture based on provided data |
Writing Band Scoring Criteria
The IELTS Writing section is scored on a scale of 1 to 9. Your IELTS Writing Task 1 and Task 2 scores are determined based on four key factors:
- Task achievement (for task 1) and task response (for task 2)
- Coherence and cohesion
- Lexical resource
- Grammatical range and accuracy.
The average score across all four criteria provides the IELTS score for Writing.
Let's have a detailed look at all four criteria:
1. Task Achievement (TA (Only Task 1)): This evaluates how effectively you address the given question or task. To enhance your TA score:
- Present information accurately.
- Ensure you cover all aspects of the task.
- Provide a clear overview of the content.
- Identify and emphasise key features supporting details with data (for Academic Task 1).
- Express a clear position and maintain a definite opinion (for Task 2 and General Task 1).
2. Coherence and Cohesion (CC): Coherence refers to the logical and smooth flow of ideas in your essay. Cohesion, on the other hand, assesses how well you use elements such as transition words, pronouns, and connectors in your essay. To boost your CC score:
- Organise your content into paragraphs logically.
- Make sure each paragraph revolves around a central idea.
- Use linking words (e.g., firstly, in contrast, thus, to summarise) to connect ideas smoothly.
3. Lexical Resource (LR): This measures the quality of your vocabulary. To improve your LR score:
- Utilise a wide range of vocabulary, incorporating less common words or phrases.
- Pay attention to correct spelling and word formation to avoid errors.
4. Grammatical Range (GR) and Accuracy: This criterion will also check if you know a variety of grammar structures and can use them correctly. To get a good score in this area:
- Employ various grammatical structures and tenses to showcase your versatility.
- Manage punctuation correctly to enhance clarity.
- Construct sentences without mistakes.
5. Task Response (TR) (Only Task 2): This Criterion assesses if you have good ideas, answer the question, wrap it up nicely, and explain your thoughts clearly. To get a good score in this area:
- Have good ideas. Think of things to say about the topic.
- Answer the question correctly and what you’ve been asked.
- Finish your essay correctly by summarising your ideas and giving a final thought.
- Explain your ideas well by giving enough examples and details to support your opinion.
How IELTS Writing Scores are Calculated
Your IELTS Writing test performance is assessed based on four criteria, each receiving a score ranging from 0 to 9 points.
To determine your total score for each task, these scores are averaged together. For instance, let's take Task 1 as an example with the following marks:
- Task Achievement: 6.0
- Coherence and Cohesion: 7.5
- Lexical Resource: 7.0
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy: 7.5
The score for IELTS Task 1 is calculated as follows:
(6.0 + 7.5 + 7.0 + 7.5) / 4 = 7.0.
Now, let’s take Task 2 as an example with the following marks:
- Task Response: 6.0
- Coherence and Cohesion: 7.5
- Lexical Resource: 7.0
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy: 7.5
The score for IELTS Task 2 is calculated as follows:
(6.0 + 7.5 + 7.0 + 7.5) / 4 = 7.0.
The Writing Task 2 carries twice the weight of Task 1, which means that if you receive a score of 7.5 for Task 2 and 7.0 for Task 1, the total score for the IELTS Writing Section is calculated as follows:
(7.5 * 2/3) + (7.0 * 1/3) = 7.5.
