IELTS Writing band descriptors: what the four criteria mean from 5 to 8 (2026)

To understand why your Writing is a 6.5 you need to know what the examiner counts. They give a separate score on four criteria, and the public band descriptors describe what each criterion means at each band. This guide opens those descriptions up in plain language, shows the typical cause of a 6.5 on each criterion, and gives a way to raise each one on its own.

How the score is built

Each task (Task 1 and Task 2) gets a separate score on four criteria; the average of the four is the task score. Then the two tasks are combined, Task 2 with double weight. The practical consequence: a 5 on one criterion with 7s on the rest drags the task to 6.5, and a weak criterion in Task 2 affects the Writing band most.

The four criteria in one table

Band 8 on any criterion means "few errors, full control"; band 5 means "a partial answer, limited vocabulary, frequent errors".

Task Achievement / Task Response: where most marks go

This criterion measures the task, not your language. It is the most common reason for sticking at 6.5, because beautiful language does not rescue it:

• A part of the question is missing: "discuss both views and give your opinion" asks for three things; two are written.
• The position shifts: agreeing in the introduction, "both have a point" in the conclusion.
• An idea is undeveloped: a claim with no explanation and no example.
• No overview in Task 1, or one stuffed with figures.
• Too few words: under 250 (T2) or 150 (T1).
• Template and memorised material: no answer to the specific words of the question.

To raise it: split the question into its parts before writing and give each part a line in the plan; in every body paragraph, claim + explanation + concrete example.

Coherence & Cohesion: a linker is not a counter

The typical picture at 6 is the line-up "Firstly… Secondly… Moreover… In conclusion": linkers present, logic absent. For a 7 the linker must connect ideas: "This is because", "As a result", "By contrast", "Such a policy". Reference words (this approach, these measures, it) are worth more than a mechanical linker. One central idea per paragraph; two ideas in one paragraph lower Coherence.

Lexical Resource: precision, collocation, register

A 7 needs "flexible and precise" vocabulary and "some less common items with collocation". Typical causes of a 6: forced synonyms ("paramount" everywhere), collocation errors ("make a research"), a register slip ("kids" in an essay), spelling mistakes. To raise it: 20 to 30 precise collocations per topic, as shown in the vocabulary guide; two or three less common but well-placed words per essay are enough.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy: range and error-free sentences

Two things together: varied structures (complex sentences, conditionals, passives, relative clauses) and error-free sentences. At 6 the range is there but errors are frequent; at 7 "most sentences are error-free". For AZ and RU speakers the three most expensive errors are articles, tense (Present Perfect against Past Simple) and word order or prepositions; the first-language mistakes guide gives a fix for each. To raise it: spend the last 5 minutes only on articles and tenses; one error-free complex sentence beats three "beautiful" ones with errors.

A practical checklist (after every essay)

1. Is every part of the question answered? Is the position the same throughout?
2. Does every paragraph have one idea and a concrete example?
3. Do the linkers connect ideas or count them?
4. Is each of the three "difficult" words in its place?
5. Articles, tenses, word order checked?
6. Word count: T2 ≥ 250, T1 ≥ 150?

Next step

To apply these criteria to Task 2 there is the Writing Task 2 strategy; to Task 1, the Academic Task 1 guide. Our essay checker gives a practice estimate of your essay on the four criteria; how the score becomes an overall band is in the band system.