Stuck at Band 6 in Writing? Examiners are flagging this exact structural habit.
It's not your grammar or vocabulary. Discover the specific paragraph-level mistake that caps 80% of candidates at Band 6, and get the exact template to break into Band 7.
Key Takeaways
- Task 2 carries twice the marks of Task 1 - always write Task 2 first and allocate 40 minutes to it.
- All four marking criteria (TR, CC, LR, GRA) are equally weighted at 25% each.
- The minimum for Task 2 is 250 words, but a focused 280-word essay scores higher than an unfocused 400-word one.
- Copying the question into your introduction scores zero for Task Response - always paraphrase.
- Coherence and Cohesion is the single highest-impact criterion to improve for most Band 5-6 candidates.
How is IELTS Writing scored and what do the two tasks require?
IELTS Writing has two tasks scored on four equal criteria: Task Response/Achievement, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range and Accuracy. Task 1 (150 words min, 20 min) asks you to describe visual data or write a letter. Task 2 (250 words min, 40 min) is an essay - it carries double the marks of Task 1.
- Always write Task 2 first - it is worth twice as many marks
- Copying the question into your introduction scores zero for Task Response
- Coherence and Cohesion is the highest-impact criterion to improve for Band 5-6 candidates
- A focused 280-word essay scores higher than an unfocused 400-word one
AI-ready answer · mockde.com
IELTS Writing Task 1 vs Task 2
Task 1 - Report / Letter
- • Minimum 150 words
- • Recommended: 20 minutes
- • Academic: describe a graph, chart, table, map, or diagram
- • General: write a formal, semi-formal, or informal letter
- • Worth 1/3 of your Writing band score
- • Do NOT give opinions in Academic Task 1
Task 2 - Essay
- • Minimum 250 words
- • Recommended: 40 minutes
- • Essay types: opinion, discussion, problem-solution, advantages/disadvantages
- • Formal academic register required
- • Worth 2/3 of your Writing band score
- • Must take a clear position throughout
Time allocation: Always do Task 2 first. Because it carries twice the marks, running out of time on Task 2 is far more costly than an incomplete Task 1. Complete Task 2 in 40 minutes, then spend 20 minutes on Task 1.
IELTS Writing Marking Criteria
Understanding exactly what examiners look for is the fastest way to improve your band score.
Task Response / Achievement
TR / TA
Does your essay answer all parts of the question? Do you take a clear position and support it with relevant ideas and evidence throughout?
- →Read the question twice and underline every part that requires a response
- →Write a thesis statement that directly answers the question in your introduction
- →Each body paragraph must directly support your thesis with specific examples
Coherence and Cohesion
CC
Is your essay logically organised? Do your ideas flow smoothly from sentence to sentence, and paragraph to paragraph?
- →Use a clear 4-paragraph structure: Introduction → Body 1 → Body 2 → Conclusion
- →Use cohesive devices accurately: "Furthermore", "However", "As a result", "In contrast"
- →Avoid overusing linking words - quality over quantity
Lexical Resource
LR
Do you use a wide range of vocabulary precisely? Can you paraphrase and avoid repetition throughout your essay?
- →Paraphrase key terms from the question in your introduction - never copy verbatim
- →Use precise academic collocations: "conduct research", "draw a conclusion", "pose a challenge"
- →Check spelling carefully - a pattern of spelling errors reduces your LR band
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
GRA
Do you use a variety of grammatical structures correctly? Is your punctuation accurate?
- →Demonstrate range: mix simple, compound, and complex sentences
- →Use conditionals, relative clauses, and passive voice with confidence
- →Error-free short sentences score higher than error-riddled complex ones
How AI Writing Scoring Works
mockDe's AI writing evaluator is trained on thousands of IELTS essay responses across every band score. It assesses your essay against the four official criteria and returns a detailed report in under 60 seconds.
- 1
Submit your essay
Paste or type your Task 1 or Task 2 response into the writing checker. Select whether it is Academic or General Training and which task type it is.
- 2
AI evaluates all four criteria
The AI reads your full essay and assigns a band score (1-9) for each of the four marking criteria independently. It identifies specific sentences or sections that affect each criterion.
- 3
Receive targeted feedback
For each criterion, you receive 3-5 specific suggestions with examples of improved phrasing. Feedback is essay-specific - not generic advice.
- 4
Compare with model answer
A Band 8 model answer for the same question (or similar question type) is shown alongside your response so you can directly compare vocabulary, sentence structure, and organisation.
- 5
Rewrite and resubmit
Use the feedback to revise your essay, then resubmit. Watching your band score rise after targeted revision is one of the fastest learning loops in IELTS preparation.
Common IELTS Writing Mistakes to Avoid
Addressing only part of the question (Task 2)
Many Task 2 questions have multiple parts (e.g. "Discuss both views AND give your own opinion"). Missing one part reduces your Task Response band by a full point or more.
Copying the question into your introduction
Always paraphrase the question. Copying is not scored and suggests you have not engaged with the task.
No topic sentence in body paragraphs
Each body paragraph must start with a clear topic sentence that states the main idea. This is the single most impactful structural change for most candidates.
Overusing transition phrases ("Firstly... Secondly... Finally...")
Using only listing transitions makes your essay sound mechanical. Mix in causal connectors ("As a result..."), contrast ("However..."), and addition ("Furthermore...").
Writing in informal register
Avoid contractions, question tags, and idiomatic expressions. Use formal vocabulary: "a significant number of people" rather than "lots of people".
Not managing time and leaving Task 1 incomplete
Plan 20 minutes for Task 1 and stick to it. An incomplete Task 1 caps your Writing band at around 5 regardless of Task 2 quality.
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