Lesson Introduction
Part 1
In this short lesson, we will briefly go over both IELTS Writing Tasks.
Before we begin, please note there are two different versions of IELTS Writing Task 1:
- General Training
- Academic
The version you take depends on your purpose for taking the test. The IELTS Writing section contains two tasks—Task 1 and Task 2. While Task 1 differs between the General and Academic versions, Task 2 is the same for everyone.
You will have a total of 60 minutes to complete both tasks. It is recommended that you spend approximately 20 minutes on Task 1 and 40 minutes on Task 2. This is because Task 2 is more challenging and is worth more points toward your final band score.
IELTS Writing Band Scoring
As mentioned earlier, the two writing tasks are weighted differently in scoring, but they are both assessed using the same IELTS Band Scale (from 0 to 9). Although the official formula is not public, it is widely understood that Task 2 is worth about twice as much as Task 1.
Here’s an example of how your writing score might be calculated:
If you receive a Band 8 for Task 1 and a Band 4 for Task 2, the approximate total would be calculated as follows:
(8 + (4 × 2)) ÷ 3 = 5.3 ≈ Band 5
This is not an official formula, but it provides a reasonable estimate of your final IELTS Writing Band Score.
Now let’s take a closer look at the official scoring rubric used for both tasks.
The scoring criteria for both Writing Tasks include the following four areas:
- Task Achievement – Did you fully answer the question and develop your ideas clearly?
- Coherence and Cohesion – Is your writing logically organized and easy to follow, with appropriate linking devices?
- Lexical Resource – Did you use a wide range of vocabulary naturally and accurately in a formal tone?
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy – Did you use a variety of sentence structures correctly, such as the passive voice, conditionals, and perfect tenses?
Now that we’ve covered the basics, it’s time to explore each task type in more detail. Let’s get started!
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