The IELTS Writing Task 2 is scored using four official Band Descriptors. These are:
Task Response
Coherence and Cohesion
Lexical Resource
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Each criterion contributes 25% to your overall Task 2 writing score.
Task Response measures how well you address the essay question. You must:
Answer all parts of the prompt.
Present a clear, relevant position.
Support your main ideas with evidence and explanations.
Avoid being off-topic or too general.
Identify the essay type accurately (e.g., opinion, discussion, problem-solution).
Create a focused thesis statement in your introduction.
Support each paragraph with specific examples.
Avoid repetition or vague generalizations.
Failing to answer part of the question.
Writing off-topic.
Giving an unclear opinion.
Presenting ideas without proper explanation.
Coherence and Cohesion measure how well your essay is organized and logically connected.
Coherence means your ideas are easy to understand and follow a logical sequence.
Cohesion refers to how your sentences and paragraphs are linked together using appropriate devices and transitions.
Use clear paragraphing: Each paragraph should express one main idea.
Use cohesive devices such as:
Adding: moreover, in addition, furthermore
Contrasting: however, on the other hand, whereas
Sequencing: firstly, secondly, finally
Use referencing words: this, these, such, it, they
Use repetition of key ideas (but not exact words) to maintain focus.
Overusing linking words.
Jumping between unrelated ideas.
Writing one long paragraph instead of multiple.
Using informal or incorrect transitions (e.g., “like” instead of “such as”).
Lexical Resource evaluates the range and accuracy of your vocabulary.
Use a varied vocabulary related to the topic.
Avoid repeating the same words—use synonyms and paraphrasing.
Use collocations: common word pairings like “solve a problem,” “take measures.”
Show understanding of nuance and tone by choosing precise words.
Instead of “big problem” → use “significant challenge”
Instead of “many people think” → use “it is widely believed that”
Instead of “help” → use “facilitate” or “support”
Repetition of basic vocabulary (e.g., “good,” “bad,” “thing”).
Using words incorrectly.
Misspellings.
Overuse of memorized phrases.
This criterion measures your ability to:
Use a variety of sentence structures.
Write with grammatical precision and minimal errors.
Use complex sentences (e.g., conditional sentences, relative clauses).
Mix sentence types:
Simple: “Education is important.”
Compound: “Education is important, and it opens many doors.”
Complex: “Although education is expensive, it provides long-term benefits.”
Use correct punctuation: commas, periods, semicolons.
Maintain subject-verb agreement.
Ensure tense consistency.
Complex sentence: “Although the government invests in public transport, traffic congestion remains a serious issue.”
Passive voice: “The proposal was rejected due to insufficient funding.”
Conditional: “If more people used bicycles, pollution levels would decrease.”
Run-on sentences.
Fragmented sentences.
Inconsistent tense usage.
Incorrect article usage (a/an/the).
| Band | Task Response | Coherence & Cohesion | Lexical Resource | Grammatical Range & Accuracy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Fully addresses all parts | Seamless cohesion, clear logic | Wide range, precise use | Full flexibility, rare errors |
| 8 | Covers all aspects, minor lapses | Logically sequenced, good links | Wide vocabulary, occasional errors | Range of structures, few errors |
| 7 | Addresses all parts, clear view | Organized, good linking | Variety, occasional inaccuracy | Complex forms, some errors |
| 6 | Partially addresses task | Ideas generally arranged logically | Adequate range, some repetition | Errors but meaning clear |
| 5 | Some parts missing or unclear | Lack of progression, weak links | Limited vocabulary, frequent errors | Frequent errors, limited range |
Each of the four criteria is scored from 0 to 9. The average of the four criteria forms your overall Writing Task 2 score.
Example:
If your scores are:
Task Response: 7
Coherence & Cohesion: 6
Lexical Resource: 7
Grammatical Range & Accuracy: 6
Then your final score is:
(7 + 6 + 7 + 6) / 4 = 6.5
Read the band descriptors on the official IELTS website.
Assess your current writing against the four criteria.
Work on one area at a time (e.g., first focus on improving vocabulary).
Use model essays to understand what a Band 9 looks like.
Get feedback from a qualified IELTS teacher or online platform.
A: Yes. Band 7 allows for some grammatical errors as long as they don’t reduce clarity and you show a range of structures.
A: No. All four criteria are equally important, each worth 25%.
A: Not necessarily. You should use precise and topic-appropriate vocabulary. Overly complex or obscure words may hurt clarity.
A: No. Writing more than required can increase grammar mistakes. Focus on quality over quantity.
✅ Task Response: Fully address the task and give clear opinions.
✅ Coherence & Cohesion: Organize ideas logically and link them smoothly.
✅ Lexical Resource: Use varied and accurate vocabulary.
✅ Grammatical Range & Accuracy: Write with control and a variety of sentence types.
By understanding and applying these four descriptors, you can improve your essay performance and achieve a higher IELTS band score.