IELTS Writing Band Descriptors 2025, Key Assessment Criteria

IELTS Writing Band Descriptors: The Writing test is one of the important components of the IELTS test. The test has been broadly divided into two tasks for both IELTS Academic and General Training tests. Students can choose any of the two test forms depending on their purpose and goals. The IELTS Writing test is evaluated based on four key criteria: Task Achievement, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range and Accuracy. The overall IELTS band score is highly dependent on the performance of students in each test component. Therefore, achieving a high IELTS Writing band score is crucial for international students.

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IELTS Writing Band Descriptors 2025 Overview

Understanding the IELTS Writing Band Descriptors

• Task Achievement (Task Response for Task 2) : This criterion assesses how effectively candidates can address the task requirements and provide relevant information. The IELTS Academic Task 1 includes summarizing key data trends accurately whereas, the General Training Task 1 evaluates the clarity and appropriateness.
• Coherence and Cohesion : This criterion assesses how logically students can organize and connect information presented in the prompt. This criterion includes the use of linking words, paragraphing, and logical progression of ideas.
• Lexical Resource : This criterion assesses the range and accuracy of vocabulary used in answer writing. It also measures the ability of candidates to use appropriate words and expressions for different contexts.
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy : This criterion mainly focuses on the variety and correctness of grammatical structures.

IELTS Writing Band Descriptors Breakdown (2025)

Here's a breakdown of specific band performance across the criteria:

Task Achievement (Academic & General Training)

Coherence and Cohesion

Lexical Resource

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

How IELTS Band Score Calculated?

Tips to Improve Your IELTS Writing Band Score

• Try to address the question and provide relevant examples.
• Stay within the word limit and answer all parts of the task.
• Use linking words (e.g., "however," "therefore") effectively.
• Structure your writing into clear paragraphs with a logical flow.
• Learn synonyms and practice using a variety of words appropriately.
• Avoid repeating words and phrases frequently.
• Practice complex sentence structures without errors.
• Proofread your work to minimize mistakes.
• Allocate time wisely (20 minutes for Task 1 and 40 minutes for Task 2).
• Plan before writing to organize ideas effectively.

Common Mistakes That Lower IELTS Writing Band Scores

• Misinterpreting the question: Writing off-topic or misunderstanding the task requirements.
• Repetition: Overusing the same words or sentence structures.
• Poor time management: Spending too much time on one task and rushing the other.
• Lack of examples: Failing to support ideas with specific, relevant examples.
• Weak paragraph structure: Writing without clear topic sentences or logical flow.
• Incorrect use of linking words: Overuse or misuse of connectors like "however," "moreover," or "furthermore."
• Grammatical errors: Common issues include incorrect tenses, subject-verb agreement, and punctuation mistakes.