IELTS test information

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IELTS Writing Test

The IELTS Writing test is the 3rd part of the exam. It lasts 60 minutes and consists of 2 different tasks. The test format is different for Academic IELTS and General Training:

You are assessed on 4 different criteria: task achievement; coherence & cohesion; lexical resource; grammatical range & accuracy. You are awarded a band score between 1-9 and you can see here how the different criteria is assessed for Task 1 and Task 2.

Bands can be divided into half scores, so if the examiner decides you are between band 7 and band 8, you will be awarded 7.5.

Academic IELTS

Task Length Time limit Task description
1 150 (minimum) 20 mins A report describing visual information presented in a bar chart, table, graph, diagram or map (see examples)
2 250 (minimum) 40 mins An essay presenting a logical argument and opinion related to a topic of general interest (see examples)

General IELTS

Task Length Time limit Task description
1 150 (minimum) 20 mins A formal/informal letter asking for / giving information or explaining / complaining about a problem (see examples)
2 250 (minimum) 40 mins An essay presenting a logical argument and opinion related to a topic of general interest (see examples)

If you need professional feedback on your IELTS writing skills before your test, sign up for our IELTS writing course

It is fundamental to have your writing tests corrected and assessed by professional teachers like Jenny and Nigel. They know how the test works and they can give you some excellent tips to improve your skills. I really recommend their courses, which helped me to get my 7.5 overall band score (7.5 listening, 9 reading, 7 speaking and writing).

Rosa, Italy

Our experienced team of online IELTS trainers have helped hundreds of IELTS candidates worldwide, like Rosa, to improve their IELTS writing score and they're waiting to help you too!

Frequently asked questions

Is the IELTS test completed in one day?

The Listening, Reading and Writing components of the test are always completed immediately after each other and in that order.

What can I bring into the examination room?

Only pens, pencils and erasers. Mobile phones must be switched off and placed with personal belongings in area designated by the test supervisor. You also need to bring the same identification documents that you provided when you registered for the IELTS test, as they will be checked by the test administrator and the speaking examiner and must match the information on your application form.

Does it matter if I take longer than 20 minutes to complete Task 1?

No, but 20 minutes is the recommended time that you should allow. If you use more time then you may not have enough time to complete Task 2 successfully.

Will I lose marks if I don’t write the minimum number of words?

Yes, you will be penalised because it is not possible to complete the task effectively in fewer words than the minimum requirement. However, you will not be penalised for writing more so you should aim to write just over the minimum for each task.

Will I be given extra paper to make notes on?

No, so you should use the question paper to plan your answer before you start writing on your answer sheet.

What happens if I run out of paper?

You can ask the exam supervisor to supply more paper if necessary.

How is the Writing test assessed?

The writing tasks are assessed according to the following 4 criteria; task achievement/response; coherence and cohesion; lexical resource; grammatical range and accuracy. There are separate band score descriptors for Task 1 questions and Task 2 questions.

Will I be penalised for spelling mistakes?

Yes. Accurate spelling is part of the grammatical range and accuracy criteria, so it’s a good idea to check your answer for spelling mistakes when you’ve finished writing.

Does Task 1 carry the same marks as Task 2?

No. Task 2 contributes twice as much as Task 1 to the overall writing score.

What can I do to get a high band score in the IELTS writing test?

Preparation and practice are the keys to getting a good band score. We recommend that you take one of our tutored IELTS writing courses so that you can get your writing tasks assessed by an IELTS expert before taking your test.

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