How to Improve Your IELTS Writing Score

No IELTS owner publishes a route from one Writing band to the next.

The public band descriptors describe each criterion at each band, with one table for each task source: ielts.org.

The steps below come from comparing those rows, one pair of bands at a time. Each step gives the move for each criterion, then links the guide that covers it in full.

Start here: find your weakest criterion

Take one of your Task 2 essays. Read it against the descriptor rows for one criterion at a time, starting with the band you think you are at. How IELTS Writing is marked explains each criterion.

A teacher who knows the descriptors can tell you which row fits your writing.

Each task is marked on four criteria. They are weighted equally, and the score on the task is their average source: ielts.org. Task 2 counts twice as much as Task 1 in your Writing score source: ielts.org.

A weak criterion therefore costs you more in Task 2 than in Task 1. A task score of 6.5 can come from criteria at 6, 6, 7 and 7. Two criteria already sit at band 7, and the other two are your target.

1. 9Expert user
2. 8Very good user
3. 7Good userThis guide
4. 6Competent user
5. 5Modest user
6. 4Limited user
7. 3Extremely limited user
8. 2Intermittent user
9. 1Non-user
10. 0Did not attempt the test

Half bands such as 6.5 sit on the short ticks between the rungs.

Source: ielts.org, IELTS scoring in detail

Task 1 is marked on task achievement, and Task 2 on task response. The other three criteria mark both tasks source: ielts.org.

Which criteria mark Writing Task 1, Writing Task 2 and Speaking

Criterion	Writing		Speaking
	Task 1	Task 2
Task Achievement	assessed	not assessed	not assessed
Task Response	not assessed	assessed	not assessed
Coherence and Cohesion	assessed	assessed	not assessed
Fluency and Coherence	not assessed	not assessed	assessed
Lexical Resource	assessed	assessed	assessed
Grammatical Range and Accuracy	assessed	assessed	assessed
Pronunciation	not assessed	not assessed	assessed

Each task is marked on four criteria of equal weight. Lexical Resource and Grammatical Range and Accuracy mark all three.

Sources: ielts.org, Writing band descriptors; Speaking band descriptors; IELTS scoring in detail

If the problem is your overall band, the plan for 6.5 shows how to find the section that holds it down.

Band 5 to band 6: finish the task

Band 5 does part of the task. Band 6 does all of it, in an order the reader can follow.

In Task 2, at band 5 the main parts of the prompt are "incompletely addressed". At band 6 they "are addressed (though some may be more fully covered than others)" source: ielts.org. Discussing only one of two things a question asks for limits you to band 5 source: ielts.org.

Mark each thing the question asks for before you plan. How to structure Task 2 shows how.

In Academic Task 1, band 5 may "focus on details (without referring to the bigger picture)". At band 6, "a relevant overview is attempted". In the letter, the purpose "may be unclear at times" at band 5, and "is generally clear" at band 6 source: ielts.org. For band 6 or higher, you need to cover each bullet point source: ielts.org.

Write the overview, or the letter's purpose, before any detail. The Task 1 guide and letter guide show where each goes.

For coherence and cohesion, at band 5 "the sentences are not fluently linked to each other". At band 6, "there is a clear overall progression" source: ielts.org.

Give each paragraph one main idea, in a logical order. The coherence and cohesion guide shows how.

Frequent grammar errors that cause some difficulty for the reader can limit your grammar score to band 5. Noticeable spelling and word formation errors that cause some difficulty can do the same to lexical resource source: ielts.org. At band 6, vocabulary is "generally adequate and appropriate for the task". Grammar uses "a mix of simple and complex sentence forms" source: ielts.org.

Fix the errors that stop the reader before you add new words or structures. The lexical resource and grammar guides show how to find them.

Band 6 to band 7: develop each idea and make fewer errors

Band 7 does what band 6 does, more clearly and accurately. Band 6 vs 6.5 vs 7 sets the two rows side by side.

In Task 2, band 6 conclusions "may be unclear, unjustified or repetitive", and some ideas "may be insufficiently developed". At band 7, the position is "clear and developed", and main ideas are "extended and supported" source: ielts.org.

Keep fewer ideas, and take each one further. The task response guide shows one paragraph written both ways.

In Academic Task 1, band 7 "presents a clear overview, the data are appropriately categorised, and main trends or differences are identified". In the letter, band 7 "presents a clear purpose" source: ielts.org.

Each Task 1 guide shows this step: charts and tables, maps, process diagrams and the letter.

At band 6, cohesion "may be faulty or mechanical". At band 7, "a range of cohesive devices including reference and substitution is used flexibly" source: ielts.org.

Reference points back with a word such as "it". Substitution uses a word such as "one" in place of a noun. The coherence and cohesion guide shows reference in an example.

Band 6 vocabulary may show "a lack of precision in word choice". At band 7, "an awareness of style and collocation is evident" source: ielts.org. Aim for the exact word, and the word pair a reader expects. The lexical resource guide explains collocation.

At band 6, complex structures are less accurate than simple ones. At band 7, "error-free sentences are frequent" source: ielts.org. For band 7 and above, you also need complex structures, such as passive forms, modal verbs and comparatives source: ielts.org.

Add structures only as fast as you can write them correctly. The grammar guide shows the difference in a short passage.

Band 7 to band 8: fix the errors you repeat

Band 8 asks for the same things as band 7, with fewer lapses and fewer errors.

In Task 2, band 7 may show "a tendency to over-generalise". At band 8, "ideas are relevant, well extended and supported" source: ielts.org. Check each general claim, and give it a reason or a case that makes it specific.

In Academic Task 1, band 7 key features "could be more fully or more appropriately illustrated or extended". At band 8, they are "skilfully selected, and clearly presented, highlighted and illustrated". In the letter, band 8 needs "all bullet points" to be "clearly presented, and appropriately illustrated or extended" source: ielts.org. In Task 1, paragraphs are only important for bands 8 and 9 source: ielts.org.

Support each key feature or bullet point with the detail that proves it, and let your paragraphs show your groups.

At band 7, cohesion has "some inaccuracies or some over/under use". At band 8, "cohesion is well managed", and "paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately" source: ielts.org. The coherence and cohesion guide shows how to give each paragraph one clear topic.

Band 7 vocabulary shows "some ability to use less common and/or idiomatic items". Band 8 shows "skilful use of uncommon and/or idiomatic items when appropriate" source: ielts.org. The words "when appropriate" matter. A rare word in the wrong place does not help.

At band 7, "a few errors in grammar may persist". At band 8, "the majority of sentences are error-free", and errors are "occasional, non-systematic" source: ielts.org.

In plain words, a systematic error is one you make again and again. Read your last few essays for errors you repeat, because one rule learned can remove a whole pattern. The grammar guide shows how to check for your own errors.

One error, made three times

Here is a short passage written for this page. Its error is a simple one on purpose, so the pattern is easy to see.

Many company^{note 1} now let staff work from home on some days. Workers save the time they used to spend on travel. However, some manager^{note 2} worry that staff do less when nobody can see them. In my view, both group^{note 3} are partly right, and the answer depends on the job.

1. At band 8, errors are "occasional, non-systematic" source: ielts.org. "Many company" drops the plural ending after "many". On its own, it could be a slip.
2. At band 7, "a few errors in grammar may persist" source: ielts.org. In plain words, a few errors may remain at band 7. Here the same kind of error comes back after "some", while the rest of the passage is correct. Note 3 shows why a repeat matters.
3. The difference between systematic and non-systematic errors is important for band 8 source: ielts.org. A third time, after "both", makes the pattern clear. The writer has one rule to learn, not three separate mistakes.

What this plan cannot do

No plan can promise a band or a date. This one tells you where to look first, and the guides it links show the detail. The band score calculator shows what a new Writing band does to your overall score.

The band wording comes from the public Writing band descriptors on ielts.org (updated May 2023). The equal weight of the criteria comes from its Writing test resources page. So do the points on band 5 limits, bullet points, paragraphs, complex structures and systematic errors. The double weight of Task 2 comes from the Academic Writing format page. The point on accuracy comes from the British Council's Academic Writing preparation page. All were last checked on 3 October 2026. The example passage was written for this page and is not from any test.

Frequently asked questions

Should I work on Task 1 or Task 2 first?

Task 2, in most cases. It counts twice as much as Task 1 in your Writing score source: ielts.org.

The same gain is worth more in Task 2. Still fix Task 1 first if it has no overview, or if your letter misses a bullet point.

For band 6 or higher, you need to cover each bullet point source: ielts.org. In Academic Task 1, the band 6 row for task achievement says "a relevant overview is attempted" source: ielts.org.

Do I need rare words and long sentences for band 7?

Not on their own.

At band 7, there is "some ability to use less common and/or idiomatic items" source: ielts.org. Accuracy is just as important as variety source: British Council.

A less common word helps only when it is the right word. A long sentence helps only when it is correct.

How long does it take to go up one band?

This plan gives no time, because none can be promised to one person. How long to prepare for IELTS reports the figures the IELTS owners publish, and what the time depends on.