IELTS Academic Writing
Complete IELTS Academic Writing Guide (Task 1 & Task 2)
Everything you need to know about IELTS Academic Writing: structure, scoring criteria, strategy, model frameworks, common mistakes, and a clear roadmap to move from Band 5.5 to Band 7.
What Is IELTS Academic Writing?
IELTS Academic Writing is a 60-minute test that evaluates your ability to communicate ideas clearly, organize information logically, and demonstrate control over vocabulary and grammar in formal written English.
It consists of two tasks:
- Task 1 (20 minutes recommended): Describe visual information (minimum 150 words)
- Task 2 (40 minutes recommended): Write an academic essay (minimum 250 words)
Task 2 carries more weight in the final score, meaning weak essay performance can significantly reduce your overall Writing band.
Examiners assess your writing across four equally weighted criteria:
- Task Response
- Coherence & Cohesion
- Lexical Resource
- Grammatical Range & Accuracy
Understanding how these criteria work is essential if your goal is to move beyond Band 5.5 and reach Band 7.
Detailed IELTS Writing Band Descriptors Guide →How IELTS Writing Is Scored
Each assessment criterion contributes 25% to your total Writing band score.
Task Response
- Did you fully answer the question?
- Did you address all parts?
- Are your ideas clearly developed?
Coherence & Cohesion
- Logical paragraph organization
- Clear topic sentences
- Effective linking devices
- Smooth progression of ideas
Lexical Resource
- Accurate vocabulary usage
- Appropriate academic tone
- Avoidance of repetition
Grammatical Range & Accuracy
- Variety of sentence structures
- Correct tense usage
- Limited grammatical errors
Improving only one area (for example vocabulary) rarely increases your band significantly. Balanced development across all four criteria is necessary.
How IELTS Writing Is Evaluated (Complete Breakdown) →Visual scoring diagram showing the four criteria contributing equally to the final band score.
IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 (Data Report)
Task 1 requires you to describe visual information objectively. You are not expected to give personal opinions. Instead, you must identify key features and present comparisons clearly.
Common Task 1 Question Types
- Line graphs (trends over time)
- Bar charts (category comparisons)
- Pie charts (proportions)
- Tables (data sets)
- Process diagrams (stages)
- Maps (changes over time)
Ideal Band 7 Structure for Task 1
- Introduction: Paraphrase the question
- Overview: Summarize key trends
- Body Paragraph 1: Compare major features
- Body Paragraph 2: Present additional comparisons
Why the Overview Is Critical
The overview is the most important sentence in Task 1. Without it, your Task Achievement score cannot exceed Band 5.
Band 7 overviews clearly summarize trends:
“Overall, sales increased steadily over the period.”
“In general, urban populations rose while rural figures declined.”
Band 5.5 responses often list numbers without identifying overall patterns.
Useful Language for Comparisons
- By contrast
- Similarly
- Whereas
- Compared to
- Experienced a sharp rise
- Remained relatively stable
Annotated Task 1 response with overview highlighted and comparison phrases marked.
IELTS Academic Writing Task 2 (Essay)
Task 2 requires you to write a formal academic essay. This task evaluates argument development, clarity of position, and logical progression.
Common Essay Types
- Opinion (Agree/Disagree)
- Discussion (Discuss both views)
- Problem/Solution
- Advantages/Disadvantages
- Double Question
Universal Band 7 Structure
- Introduction: Paraphrase the question + clear thesis statement
- Body Paragraph 1: Topic sentence + explanation + example
- Body Paragraph 2: Second main idea + explanation + example
- Conclusion: Restate position + summarize arguments
Band 5.5
“Many people think this is good and some think it is bad.”
Band 7
“While some individuals argue that this development offers economic benefits, others contend that it may result in long-term social disadvantages.”
The Band 7 version demonstrates clarity, complexity, and formal tone.
IELTS Writing Task 2 Structure Template →Side-by-side comparison of Band 5.5 and Band 7 paragraph structure.
Essential Linking Words for Band 7
Coherence & Cohesion accounts for 25% of your score. Linking words must be used naturally and accurately.
For Addition
Furthermore, In addition, Moreover, Additionally
For Contrast
However, On the other hand, In contrast, Whereas
For Cause and Effect
As a result, Consequently, Therefore, Thus
For Examples
For instance, For example, To illustrate
Overusing connectors can reduce natural flow. Quality matters more than quantity.
Best Linking Words for IELTS Writing (With Examples) →Grammar Patterns That Increase Your Band Score
Band 7 writers demonstrate controlled sentence variety.
Complex Sentences
“Although many people work hard, they do not always earn sufficient income.”
Relative Clauses
“Students who practice consistently tend to achieve higher scores.”
Conditional Structures
“If governments invested more in education, literacy rates would improve significantly.”
Passive Voice (Used Appropriately)
“The data is illustrated in the graph below.”
Complexity should remain clear and accurate. Overcomplication leads to errors.
Common Grammar Mistakes in IELTS Writing →Why Most Students Stay at Band 5.5
Students often:
- Practice without structured feedback
- Memorize templates without understanding structure
- Repeat the same grammar errors
- Write without reviewing mistakes
Improvement requires analysis and correction, not just repetition.
How to Improve IELTS Writing from 5.5 to 7 →Upload Your Essay & Get Instant Band ScoreTime Management Strategy (60 Minutes)
First 5 Minutes
- Analyze the question
- Plan your structure
- Identify key ideas
Task 1 (20 Minutes)
- 3–5 minutes planning
- 12–15 minutes writing
- 2–3 minutes reviewing
Task 2 (40 Minutes)
- 5 minutes planning
- 30 minutes writing
- 5 minutes reviewing
Effective time management improves coherence and reduces careless errors.
IELTS Writing Time Management Strategy →Step-by-Step Plan to Move from Band 5.5 to Band 7
Weeks 1–2: Structure Mastery
- Learn Task 1 overview writing
- Practice thesis statements
- Build paragraph templates
Weeks 3–4: Idea Development
- Expand explanations
- Improve logical progression
- Strengthen examples
Weeks 5–6: Accuracy Refinement
- Identify grammar patterns
- Rewrite corrected essays
- Practice timed responses
Consistent correction leads to measurable improvement.
6-Week IELTS Writing Study Plan →Common IELTS Writing Myths
Advanced Insight: How Examiners Think
Examiners reward clarity and control, not perfection.
A Band 7 writer:
- Maintains a clear position
- Develops ideas logically
- Demonstrates sentence variety
- Makes only occasional minor errors
They expect consistent competence, not flawless language.
What IELTS Examiners Look For in Band 7 Essays →Practice with Structured AI-Based Feedback
Traditional preparation lacks instant correction and progress tracking.
With structured evaluation, you can:
- Receive band estimates instantly
- See criterion-by-criterion breakdown
- Identify sentence-level weaknesses
- Track progress over time
Frequently Asked Questions
How many words should Task 2 be?
At least 250 words.
Is Band 5.5 a bad score?
It indicates partial development and noticeable language issues, but improvement is achievable.
How long does it take to move from 5.5 to 7?
With focused correction, 4–8 weeks is realistic.
Is Academic Writing harder than General?
Academic Task 1 requires analytical reporting, which some candidates find more challenging.
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