Your IELTS Writing score is not a single judgment -- it is the average of four separate criteria. Understanding exactly what examiners assess at each band level is the fastest way to identify your weaknesses and focus your preparation where it matters most.
Every IELTS Writing response is assessed on four criteria, each equally weighted and scored from Band 0 to Band 9:
1. Task Response (TR)
Did you answer the question fully and develop your ideas?
2. Coherence and Cohesion (CC)
Is your essay well-organized with logical flow?
3. Lexical Resource (LR)
Do you use a wide range of vocabulary accurately?
4. Grammatical Range and Accuracy (GRA)
Do you use varied grammar structures correctly?
Your final Writing band score is the average of these four scores, rounded to the nearest half band. For example, if you score TR: 7, CC: 7, LR: 6, GRA: 7, your average is 6.75, which rounds up to Band 7.0.
This means improving your weakest criterion by even half a band can raise your overall score. Let us break down each criterion so you know exactly what to target.
Task Response measures whether you answered the question fully, developed your ideas with relevant supporting details, and maintained a clear position throughout the essay.
Band 9: Fully addresses all parts of the task. Presents a fully developed position with relevant, extended, and well-supported ideas.
Band 7: Addresses all parts of the task. Presents a clear position throughout with well-extended and supported main ideas. May occasionally over-generalize or lack focus.
Band 6: Addresses all parts of the task, although some parts may be more fully covered than others. Presents a relevant position but conclusions may be unclear or repetitive.
Band 5: Addresses the task only partially. The format may be inappropriate in places. Position is not always clear, and ideas may be limited or insufficiently developed.
Coherence means your ideas flow logically from one to the next. Cohesion refers to the linguistic tools you use to connect those ideas -- topic sentences, linking words, pronouns, and referencing.
Band 9: Uses cohesion in such a way that it attracts no attention. Skillful paragraphing throughout.
Band 7: Logically organizes information and ideas. Clear progression throughout. Uses a range of cohesive devices appropriately, although there may be some under- or over-use.
Band 6: Arranges information coherently. Uses cohesive devices effectively, but cohesion within and between sentences may be faulty or mechanical. May not always use referencing clearly.
Band 5: Presents information with some organization but may lack overall progression. Makes inadequate, inaccurate, or over-use of cohesive devices. May be repetitive due to lack of referencing.
See how your essay scores across all four band descriptors instantly.
Grade My EssayLexical Resource measures the range, accuracy, and appropriateness of your vocabulary. It is not about using the most complex words possible -- it is about using the right words in the right context.
Band 9: Uses a wide range of vocabulary with very natural and sophisticated control of lexical features. Rare minor errors occur as "slips."
Band 7: Uses a sufficient range of vocabulary to show flexibility and precision. Uses less common lexical items with some awareness of style and collocation. May produce occasional errors in word choice, spelling, and word formation.
Band 6: Uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task. Attempts to use less common vocabulary but with some inaccuracy. Makes some errors in spelling and word formation but they do not impede communication.
Band 5: Uses a limited range of vocabulary but it is minimally adequate for the task. May make noticeable errors in spelling and word formation that may cause some difficulty for the reader.
Band 5-6 Vocabulary
"Pollution is very bad for the environment. The government should do something about this problem."
Band 7+ Vocabulary
"Industrial emissions pose a significant threat to environmental sustainability. Policymakers should implement stricter regulations to curb pollution levels."
This criterion assesses the variety of sentence structures you use and how accurately you use them. The key word is "range" -- examiners want to see a mix of simple, compound, and complex sentences, not just one type.
Band 9: Uses a wide range of structures with full flexibility and accuracy. Rare minor errors occur as "slips."
Band 7: Uses a variety of complex structures. Produces frequent error-free sentences. Has good control of grammar and punctuation, but may make a few errors.
Band 6: Uses a mix of simple and complex sentences. Makes some errors in grammar and punctuation, but they rarely reduce communication.
Band 5: Uses only a limited range of structures. Attempts complex sentences but these tend to be less accurate than simple sentences. Frequent grammatical errors may cause some difficulty for the reader.
To reach Band 7+, you should demonstrate at least 4-5 of these structure types throughout your essay:
Using complex vocabulary incorrectly actually lowers your LR score. A well-used simple word scores higher than a misused advanced one. Focus on accuracy and appropriateness, not complexity for its own sake.
Examiners are trained to detect memorized responses. If your answer does not directly address the specific question asked, your Task Response score will be capped at Band 4 or below, regardless of how impressive your language is.
There is no reward for writing 400+ words. In fact, longer essays have more opportunities for errors. Aim for 270-300 words for Task 2 and 170-190 words for Task 1. Quality always outweighs quantity.
Band 7 explicitly allows "a few errors." The descriptor states "produces frequent error-free sentences" -- not all sentences. What matters is demonstrating a range of structures and getting most of them right.
Overusing cohesive devices ("Furthermore, moreover, in addition, also") is a sign of Band 5-6, not Band 7+. At higher bands, cohesion should feel natural and not draw attention to itself. Use linking words where they serve a genuine logical purpose.
The four IELTS Writing band descriptors are Task Response (TR), Coherence and Cohesion (CC), Lexical Resource (LR), and Grammatical Range and Accuracy (GRA). Each criterion is scored independently from Band 0 to Band 9, and your overall Writing band score is the average of these four scores.
Your IELTS Writing score is the average of four equally weighted criteria. Each criterion is scored on a scale of 0-9. The four scores are averaged, and the result is rounded to the nearest half band. For example, scores of 7, 7, 6, 7 average to 6.75, which rounds up to 7.0.
The main differences are: Band 7 requires a clear position throughout with well-supported ideas (vs. adequate but sometimes unclear in Band 6), logical paragraphing with skillful use of cohesive devices (vs. adequate but mechanical), sufficient vocabulary with awareness of collocation (vs. adequate but with more errors), and a variety of complex structures with frequent error-free sentences (vs. some complex structures with frequent errors).
Yes, you typically receive different scores for each of the four criteria. It is very common for test-takers to score higher in some areas than others. Identifying your weakest criterion is key to targeted improvement. IELTS-GPT scores your essay on all four criteria so you can see exactly where to focus.
Learn the proven 4-paragraph structure that scores Band 7+ in Coherence and Cohesion.
Read guide →10 actionable tips to improve your writing band score for both Task 1 and Task 2.
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