IELTS Writing Task 2 Band Descriptors 2026 | Official Scoring Criteria
Understand exactly how IELTS examiners score Writing Task 2 essays. Official band descriptors for Task Response, Coherence, Vocabulary, and Grammar with examples.
How is IELTS Writing Task 2 scored?
IELTS Writing Task 2 is assessed on four equally weighted criteria, each scored from Band 1 to Band 9:
- Task Response (TR) — 25%
- Coherence and Cohesion (CC) — 25%
- Lexical Resource (LR) — 25%
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy (GRA) — 25%
Your Writing Task 2 band score is the average of these four criterion scores, rounded to the nearest half band. Task 2 contributes two-thirds of your total Writing score (Task 1 contributes one-third).
Task Response band descriptors
Task Response measures whether you fully address all parts of the question, present a clear position, and develop your ideas with relevant support.
| Band | What examiners look for |
|---|---|
| 9 | Fully addresses all parts of the task. Presents a fully developed position with relevant, extended, and well-supported ideas. |
| 8 | Sufficiently addresses all parts of the task. Presents a well-developed response with relevant, extended, and supported ideas. |
| 7 | Addresses all parts of the task. Presents a clear position throughout the response. Main ideas are extended and supported, though there may be a tendency to overgeneralise or lack focus. |
| 6 | Addresses all parts of the task, though some parts may be more fully covered than others. Presents a relevant position, but conclusions may be unclear or repetitive. Main ideas are relevant but may be inadequately developed or lack clarity. |
| 5 | Addresses the task only partially. The format may be inappropriate in places. A position is expressed but development is not always clear. Some main ideas are presented but are limited, and may not be directly relevant. |
How to improve Task Response
- Answer every part of the question. A question that asks "Do you agree or disagree?" requires a clear position. A question that asks "Discuss both views and give your opinion" requires you to cover both perspectives before giving your own.
- Develop each main idea with specific support. A Band 7 response extends ideas with explanations, examples, or consequences. A Band 6 response presents ideas but does not develop them sufficiently.
- Stay on topic throughout. Every paragraph should clearly relate back to the question. Tangential points or memorised "template paragraphs" that do not directly address the prompt will lower your TR score.
Coherence and Cohesion band descriptors
Coherence and Cohesion measures how well your essay is organised, whether your ideas flow logically, and how effectively you use paragraphing and linking devices.
| Band | What examiners look for |
|---|---|
| 9 | Uses cohesion in a way that attracts no attention. Skilfully manages paragraphing. |
| 8 | Sequences information and ideas logically. Manages all aspects of cohesion well. Uses paragraphing sufficiently and appropriately. |
| 7 | Logically organises information and ideas with clear progression throughout. Uses a range of cohesive devices appropriately, though with some under- or over-use. |
| 6 | Arranges information and ideas coherently with clear overall progression. Uses cohesive devices effectively but cohesion within or between sentences may be faulty or mechanical. May not always use referencing clearly or appropriately. |
| 5 | Presents information with some organisation but no overall progression. Uses cohesive devices inadequately, inaccurately, or repetitively. May be repetitive due to lack of referencing and substitution. |
How to improve Coherence and Cohesion
- Use clear paragraph structure. Each body paragraph should have one main idea, introduced in the first sentence. Band 7+ essays have a clear logical structure that a reader can follow without effort.
- Vary your cohesive devices. Do not rely solely on "Firstly, Secondly, Finally" or "Moreover, Furthermore, In addition." Use a range: "as a result," "this means that," "while," "despite this," "a key reason for this is."
- Use referencing and substitution. Instead of repeating "students" six times in a paragraph, use "they," "learners," "this group," or "those studying abroad." This is what examiners mean by cohesion.
Lexical Resource band descriptors
Lexical Resource measures the range and accuracy of your vocabulary, including your ability to use less common words and collocations naturally.
| Band | What examiners look for |
|---|---|
| 9 | Uses a wide range of vocabulary with very natural and sophisticated control of lexical features. Rare minor errors occur only as slips. |
| 8 | Uses a wide range of vocabulary fluently and flexibly. Skilfully uses uncommon lexical items with occasional inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. Rare errors in spelling and/or word formation. |
| 7 | Uses a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow some flexibility and precision. Uses less common lexical items with some awareness of style and collocation. May produce occasional errors in word choice, spelling, and/or word formation. |
| 6 | Uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task. Attempts to use less common vocabulary but with some inaccuracy. Makes some errors in spelling and/or word formation, but they do not impede communication. |
| 5 | Uses a limited range of vocabulary, but this is minimally adequate for the task. May make noticeable errors in spelling and/or word formation that may cause some difficulty for the reader. |
How to improve Lexical Resource
- Learn collocations, not isolated words. Examiners notice when you use natural word combinations: "pose a threat" (not "make a threat"), "draw a conclusion" (not "take a conclusion"), "raise awareness" (not "increase awareness").
- Use topic-specific vocabulary naturally. For an essay about education, words like "curriculum," "pedagogy," "academic attainment," and "vocational training" show lexical range — but only if used correctly and in context.
- Avoid memorised "band 7 word lists." Examiners can spot words that are inserted unnaturally. Using "ubiquitous" when "common" works better will hurt your score, not help it. Precision and naturalness matter more than complexity.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy band descriptors
Grammatical Range and Accuracy measures the variety and correctness of your sentence structures, including complex sentences, tense usage, and error frequency.
| Band | What examiners look for |
|---|---|
| 9 | Uses a wide range of structures with full flexibility and accuracy. Rare minor errors occur only as slips. |
| 8 | Uses a wide range of structures. The majority of sentences are error-free. Makes only very occasional errors or inappropriacies. |
| 7 | Uses a variety of complex structures. Produces frequent error-free sentences. Has good control of grammar and punctuation but may make a few errors. |
| 6 | Uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms. Makes some errors in grammar and punctuation but they rarely reduce communication. |
| 5 | Uses only a limited range of structures. Attempts complex sentences but these tend to be less accurate than simple sentences. May make frequent grammatical errors and punctuation may be faulty. |
How to improve Grammatical Range and Accuracy
- Master 5-6 complex structures and use them accurately. You do not need twenty different complex structures. Reliable use of conditionals, relative clauses, passive voice, cleft sentences, and participle clauses covers the range examiners expect at Band 7+.
- Prioritise accuracy over complexity. A sentence that is simple but correct scores better than a complex sentence with errors. Band 7 requires "frequent error-free sentences" — if most of your complex sentences contain errors, simplify them.
- Check your common error patterns. Most candidates have 2-3 recurring grammar mistakes (article errors, subject-verb agreement, tense shifts). Identify yours through practice essays and actively correct them.
Band 6 vs Band 7: the critical differences
The jump from Band 6 to Band 7 in Writing is the most common target for IELTS candidates. Here is what separates them:
| Criterion | Band 6 | Band 7 |
|---|---|---|
| Task Response | Addresses all parts, but some parts may be more fully covered. Position may be unclear. | Addresses all parts with a clear position throughout. Ideas are extended and supported. |
| Coherence | Clear overall progression but cohesion may be mechanical or faulty within sentences. | Clear progression throughout with appropriate use of cohesive devices. |
| Vocabulary | Adequate range. Attempts less common vocabulary with some inaccuracy. | Sufficient range for flexibility and precision. Uses less common items with awareness. |
| Grammar | Mix of simple and complex forms. Some errors but communication is maintained. | Variety of complex structures. Frequent error-free sentences. Good control. |
The key word for Band 7 is consistency. Band 6 candidates show the ability to use complex vocabulary and grammar in places, but not reliably. Band 7 candidates demonstrate these skills throughout the essay.
How to use band descriptors in your preparation
1. Score your own practice essays. After writing a timed essay, compare it against each criterion's descriptors. Be honest about where your writing falls. If your Task Response is Band 7 but your Grammar is Band 5, your overall Writing score will be pulled down.
2. Focus on your weakest criterion. There is no point improving your vocabulary from Band 7 to Band 8 if your Coherence is stuck at Band 5. Identify the criterion pulling your average down and target it specifically.
3. Use the band descriptors tool. Our interactive band descriptors tool lets you explore the full official criteria side by side, making it easy to compare what examiners expect at each level.
4. Get feedback aligned to criteria. When a teacher or AI tool reviews your essay, ask for feedback on each of the four criteria separately. General comments like "good essay" or "needs improvement" do not tell you where to focus.
5. Read Band 7+ sample essays critically. When reading model essays, do not just admire them — analyse why they score well on each criterion. What makes the Task Response clear? How are paragraphs structured? What vocabulary choices stand out?