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IELTS Academic Writing Task 2 is the most heavily weighted part of the Writing test. Understanding exactly what is required — and how your response is assessed — is the essential first step towards achieving Band 7 or above.
In Task 2, you are given a statement, question, or prompt on a general academic topic. You must write an essay of at least 250 words in response. You have approximately 40 minutes to plan, write, and review your essay.
Important: Task 2 contributes twice as much to your Writing score as Task 1. If you are running short on time, it is better to write a strong Task 2 and a shorter Task 1 than the reverse.
Every IELTS Writing response is scored on four criteria, each contributing equally to your band score:
This criterion assesses whether you have fully addressed all parts of the question. The examiner checks:
Task Response: Band Descriptors Summary
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════
Band 9 Fully addresses all parts; position is clear
throughout; ideas are fully extended and
well supported
Band 7 Addresses all parts; clear position throughout;
main ideas extended and supported but may
over-generalise occasionally
Band 5 Addresses the task only partially; position is
not always clear; ideas are limited or
insufficiently developed
Band 7+ tip: Read the question three times before you start planning. Underline every part of the question. Many candidates lose marks simply because they answer only part of the question.
This criterion evaluates how well your ideas are organised and linked together:
A common mistake is to overuse linking words ("Furthermore", "Moreover", "In addition") without genuine logical connection between ideas. Examiners penalise this.
This assesses your vocabulary range and accuracy:
Band 7+ tip: You do not need obscure or exotic vocabulary. The examiner wants to see that you can express complex ideas precisely and that you can paraphrase — using different words to express the same idea in different parts of your essay.
This evaluates your sentence structures and grammatical precision:
Grammar at Different Bands
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════
Band 5 Limited range of structures; frequent errors
Band 6 Mix of simple and complex; errors occur but
meaning is generally clear
Band 7 Variety of complex structures; frequent
error-free sentences; good control of grammar
Band 8 Wide range of structures; majority of sentences
are error-free; occasional slips only
With only 40 minutes, you need a clear plan:
| Phase | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| Planning | 5 minutes | Analyse the question, brainstorm ideas, create an outline |
| Writing | 30 minutes | Write introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion |
| Reviewing | 5 minutes | Check for grammatical errors, spelling, and task response |
Many candidates skip planning to save time, but this is counterproductive. Without a plan:
Band 7+ tip: Spend 5 minutes planning. Write down your thesis statement, your 2-3 main ideas, and one supporting point for each. This blueprint will make the writing phase faster and more focused.
The minimum is 250 words. Writing fewer than 250 words will result in a penalty under Task Response. However, there is no upper limit.
Most successful Band 7+ essays are between 270 and 320 words. Writing significantly more than this is unnecessary and risks:
Practical advice: In practice, aim for 4-5 paragraphs totalling around 280 words. This gives you enough space to develop your ideas without overextending.
There are five main types of Task 2 question. Each requires a slightly different approach:
We will cover each of these in dedicated lessons later in this course.
Avoid these common mistakes that prevent candidates from reaching Band 7: