Each IELTS Writing task is marked on four equally weighted criteria: Task achievement (Task 1) or Task response (Task 2), Coherence and cohesion, Lexical resource, and Grammatical range and accuracy, each from 0 to 9. The task score is the average of the four, and Task 2 counts more than Task 1. To move from band 6 to 7, the official descriptors ask for a clear, developed position, clear progression, some less common vocabulary and frequent error-free sentences.
From the ielts.org scoring page and public band descriptors, checked 15 October 2026. Sources.
How a Writing band is built
Task 1
TACCLRGRATask 2 counts more
Task responseCoherence and cohesionLexical resourceGrammatical range and accuracyThe same four criteria apply to both tasks. Only the first one changes its name: Task achievement for Task 1, Task response for Task 2. Each one is a quarter of the task score.
Did you answer the question you were given, fully and relevantly?
Can the reader follow your ideas from start to finish?
How wide and how precise is your vocabulary?
How varied and how accurate are your sentences?
Short paraphrases of the official public band descriptors. To get a band, your writing has to fit all the positive features of that band, so the lowest criterion often holds the task score down.
Band 7: the step most candidates are working onFull wording: Writing band descriptors (PDF)
Academic and General Training share Task 2 and differ in Task 1. The timings are a guide: you manage the 60 minutes yourself, so spend the larger part on the task that counts more.
Describe visual information in your own words: a graph, table, chart or diagram.
Tip: Band 7 needs a clear overview of the main trends or differences, not every number.
Write a letter about a given situation: personal, semi-formal or formal, covering three bullet points.
Tip: Cover all three bullet points, with a clear purpose and a consistent tone.
Write an essay in response to a point of view, argument or problem.
Tip: Answer every part of the question and hold one clear position from start to end.
An example we wrote for this page, with the kind of errors that keep Grammatical range and accuracy and Lexical resource at band 6. The layout follows the line-by-line review in IELTS with AI. Switch to Corrected to read the clean version.
Example Task 2 prompt: Some people think cars should be banned from city centres. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
In my opinion, banning cars from city centres have has1 many advantages. Firstly, the air become more cleaner becomes cleaner2 because there is less exhaust from traffic. For example example,3 in my city several street was several streets were4 closed to cars on sundays Sundays5 last year, and people could walk safety safely6. Secondly, shops in the centre can get more customers, so it is good for economy this benefits the local economy7.
A clear position and two relevant reasons. Most errors are agreement and word form, which hold back Grammatical range and accuracy.
Example written for this guide, not a real candidate answer and not an app result. The paragraph also leans on “Firstly” and “Secondly” only; band 6 calls that kind of linking mechanical, and band 7 asks for a wider range used flexibly.
CORRECTIONS · 7
The subject is “banning”, which is singular.
One comparative form only, and “the air” takes “becomes”.
Put a comma after an opening phrase like “For example”.
“Several” needs a plural noun and a plural verb.
Days of the week take a capital letter.
A word-form error: the verb “walk” needs the adverb.
More precise than “good for”, and “economy” needs “the”.
Write a Task 1 or Task 2 answer in the AI Practice tab and the app scores it on the four criteria, each from 0 to 9 in half bands, then averages them to the nearest half band.
AI scoring is part of Gold. Limits reset at midnight UTC. There is no free AI Writing score; free users get one AI Speaking try during setup.
The AI band is a practice estimate. Only the IELTS test gives an official result.
Each of the two tasks is marked on its own, on four criteria: Task achievement (Task 1) or Task response (Task 2), Coherence and cohesion, Lexical resource, and Grammatical range and accuracy. Each criterion gets a band from 0 to 9. The criteria are weighted equally and the task score is their average. Task 2 carries more weight than Task 1 in your Writing band.
Yes. ielts.org says the assessment of Task 2 carries more weight in marking than Task 1. It is also longer: at least 250 words in about 40 minutes, against at least 150 words in about 20 minutes for Task 1.
They are the first criterion of Task 1 and Task 2. Task achievement (Task 1) checks that you cover the key features of the visual information (Academic) or all three bullet points of the letter (General Training). Task response (Task 2) checks that you address every part of the prompt with a clear, developed position.
In the official descriptors, band 7 means: a clear and developed position (Task 2) or a clear overview (Academic Task 1); logical organisation with clear progression throughout; enough vocabulary for some flexibility and precision, with some less common words; and a variety of complex structures, with frequent error-free sentences.
ielts.org says a short answer may not give enough evidence of the language needed for the higher bands. The descriptors rate any response of 20 words or fewer at band 1. Aim for at least 150 words in Task 1 and at least 250 in Task 2.
An AI can estimate a band on the four criteria and point out errors, which is useful for practice. It is not an IELTS examiner, and no AI band is an official result. Use it to find your weakest criterion, then check again after you fix it.
No. AI Writing scores and the line-by-line review are part of Gold. Free users get one AI Speaking try during setup, plus the daily questions and study guides. Other apps and sites with free checks are compared in our best IELTS apps guide. Best IELTS apps →
With Gold, up to 3 AI Writing scores and 3 line-by-line reviews a day. The limits reset at midnight UTC, and a check that fails does not count.
Average your four section bands (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking) and round to the nearest half band: .25 rounds up to .5 and .75 rounds up to the next whole band. Our free band score calculator does this for you. Band score calculator →
Checked on 15 October 2026. Criterion names are quoted as ielts.org writes them; band wording is paraphrased.
IELTS with AI is an independent app, not affiliated with or endorsed by the IELTS test owners. AI band scores in the app are practice estimates.
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