IELTS Writing is marked on four criteria, each scored from 0 to 9. Your final band is the average of these four scores, rounded to the nearest 0.5. That means every criterion matters equally — and a weakness in one area drags down the whole score.

This guide focuses on Task 2 (the 250-word essay), but the same principles apply to Task 1 with some differences noted at the end.

The Four Criteria at a Glance

| Criterion | What It Measures | |-----------|------------------| | Task Response | Did you answer the question? Do you have a clear position? | | Coherence & Cohesion | Is your essay logically organised? Do ideas flow? | | Lexical Resource | Is your vocabulary varied and accurate? | | Grammatical Range & Accuracy | Do you use different sentence structures with few errors? |

Task Response: Answering the Actual Question

This is where many candidates lose marks without realising it. Examiners don't just check whether you wrote about the topic — they check whether you addressed all parts of the prompt and maintained a clear position throughout.

Band 5 vs Band 7

| | Band 5 | Band 7 | |---|--------|--------| | Position | Expresses a view but it may be unclear or contradictory | Presents a clear, consistent position throughout | | Ideas | Some relevant ideas, but limited development | Well-developed ideas with supporting examples | | Task coverage | Partially addresses the prompt | Addresses all parts of the task | | Conclusions | May be repetitive or missing | Draws a clear conclusion from the argument |

How to Improve

1. Read the prompt twice. Underline every part you need to address. If it says "discuss both views and give your opinion", you need all three.
2. State your position early. Don't leave the examiner guessing until the conclusion.
3. Develop each point. A single sentence isn't enough. Explain why, give an example, then link it back to your argument.
4. Don't contradict yourself. If you agree with one side, your body paragraphs shouldn't argue the opposite without acknowledging the shift.

Coherence & Cohesion: Making It Flow

This criterion is about structure and readability. Can the examiner follow your argument without re-reading sentences?

Band 5 vs Band 7

| | Band 5 | Band 7 | |---|--------|--------| | Paragraphing | May not paragraph clearly or logically | Each paragraph has a clear central idea | | Linking | Uses basic connectors (and, but, because) | Uses a range of cohesive devices appropriately | | Progression | Ideas sometimes jump around | Logical progression within and between paragraphs | | Referencing | May overuse pronouns or repeat nouns awkwardly | Uses referencing and substitution effectively |

How to Improve

1. One idea per paragraph. Start each body paragraph with a topic sentence.
2. Don't overuse transition words. Writing "Furthermore" at the start of every sentence actually hurts your score. Use linking devices only when they genuinely connect ideas.
3. Read your essay aloud (or in your head). If you stumble, the examiner will too.
4. Vary your connectors. If you've used "however" three times, try "that said", "on the other hand", or restructure the sentence so no connector is needed.

EssayHero's Transition Words reference can help you find alternatives when you're stuck on the same connectors.

Lexical Resource: Beyond "Very Good" and "Very Bad"

Vocabulary range is about more than knowing difficult words. Examiners look for accurate use, natural collocation, and the ability to paraphrase rather than repeat the same phrases.

Band 5 vs Band 7

| | Band 5 | Band 7 | |---|--------|--------| | Range | Limited vocabulary, frequent repetition | Sufficient range for flexible, precise expression | | Accuracy | Noticeable errors in word choice | Occasional errors in less common words only | | Collocation | May produce awkward combinations | Generally uses collocations naturally | | Paraphrase | Repeats prompt language | Paraphrases effectively and avoids repetition |

How to Improve

1. Don't use words you're not sure about. An inaccurate "sophisticated" word scores lower than a correct simple one.
2. Learn collocations, not just individual words. It's "make a decision" not "do a decision", "heavy rain" not "strong rain".
3. Paraphrase the question in your introduction. If the prompt says "increasing number of people", you might write "a growing proportion of the population".
4. Replace vague words with specific ones. Instead of "good", try "beneficial", "effective", or "worthwhile" — whichever fits the context.

The Vocabulary Expansion tool can help you practise finding precise alternatives for overused words.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy: Sentence Variety Matters

This criterion rewards variety as much as accuracy. Using only simple sentences accurately will cap your score. Examiners want to see that you can handle complex structures — even if a few minor errors slip in.

Band 5 vs Band 7

| | Band 5 | Band 7 | |---|--------|--------| | Sentence types | Mostly simple and compound sentences | Mix of simple, compound, and complex sentences | | Accuracy | Frequent errors, some causing difficulty | Good control with few errors, mostly in complex structures | | Punctuation | May misuse commas or produce run-ons | Generally accurate punctuation | | Structures | Limited range of clause types | Uses relative clauses, conditionals, passive voice appropriately |

How to Improve

1. Mix sentence lengths. A short sentence after a long one creates rhythm and clarity.
2. Use complex sentences with purpose. "Although some people argue that..." or "The reason this matters is that..." show grammatical range.
3. Don't avoid structures you find difficult. Practise conditionals, relative clauses, and passive constructions until they feel natural.
4. Proofread for your known weaknesses. If you always mix up tenses, check every verb before finishing.

The Rewrite Assistant lets you experiment with restructuring your sentences and see how different constructions compare.

What Separates Each Band Range

| Band | What's Typical | |------|----------------| | 4-5 | Addresses the task but with limited development. Basic vocabulary and grammar. Communication is possible but effortful for the reader. | | 5.5-6 | Reasonable attempt at all parts of the task. Some good vocabulary and sentence variety, but inconsistency holds the score back. | | 6.5-7 | Clear position, well-developed arguments. Good range of vocabulary and grammar with occasional errors. The essay reads smoothly. | | 7.5-8+ | Sophisticated response with nuanced ideas. Rare errors, and only in ambitious structures. A pleasure to read. |

The jump from Band 5 to 6 usually requires better task coverage and more consistent paragraphing.

The jump from Band 6 to 7 requires precision — more accurate vocabulary, fewer grammatical slips, and ideas that are genuinely developed rather than just stated.

A Note on Task 1

Task 1 uses Task Achievement instead of Task Response. The core difference: you're assessed on how well you summarise, compare, or describe data — not on giving your opinion. Task 1 also has a lower minimum word count (150 words vs 250 for Task 2). But the other three criteria work the same way.

Using EssayHero to Improve

When you analyse an essay with EssayHero, you get a band estimate for each of the four criteria. This tells you exactly where to focus. If your Lexical Resource is consistently a band lower than your other scores, that's where your practice time should go.

You'll also see paragraph-by-paragraph feedback aligned to each criterion, specific suggestions for improvement, and corrections with explanations. Over time, patterns will emerge — and that's when real improvement happens.

This guide is based on the publicly available IELTS Writing Task 2 band descriptors.