The IELTS Academic Writing test is designed to assess your ability to:
- Describe visual information
- Present an argument or opinion
- Use academic-style English accurately and effectively
Total Time: 60 minutes
- Task 1: 20 minutes (150 words minimum)
- Task 2: 40 minutes (250 words minimum)
Task 1: Describing Visual Data
What you’ll see:
You’ll be given a visual (or visuals) such as:
- Bar chart
- Line graph
- Pie chart
- Table
- Diagram (process or map)
- Multiple visuals (combo of two or more types)
What you need to do:
- Summarize the information.
- Compare key trends.
- Highlight significant data.
- Report on the overall picture (no opinions).
Structure Suggestion:
- Introduction – Paraphrase the question.
- Overview – Key trends or overall description.
- Body Paragraphs – Detail and comparisons.
Task 2: Essay Writing
What you’ll get:
A question asking you to:
- Give an opinion
- Discuss a problem and its solution
- Compare advantages and disadvantages
- Present an argument
What you need to do:
- Write a formal academic essay.
- Clearly present your ideas.
- Support them with explanations and examples.
Structure Suggestion:
- Introduction – Paraphrase the question + thesis statement.
- Body Paragraph 1 – Main idea + example/support.
- Body Paragraph 2 – Second idea + example/support.
- (Optional) Body Paragraph 3 – If needed.
- Conclusion – Summarize and give a clear final opinion.
Scoring Criteria (Band Descriptors)
Each task is scored using 4 criteria (Band 0–9):
- Task Achievement (T1) / Task Response (T2)
- Coherence and Cohesion
- Lexical Resource (Vocabulary)
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Writing Tips for High Band Scores
Task 1 Tips:
- Don’t give opinions.
- Group information logically.
- Use comparison language (e.g., “in contrast,” “while,” “compared to”).
- Include overall trends.
Task 2 Tips:
- Plan before you write.
- Stay on topic.
- Use a range of vocabulary and grammar.
- Write clearly, avoid too much repetition.
- Always write more than 150/250 words.
