What makes a strong IELTS Writing answer

The four criteria the examiner marks, the habits that hold a score back, and a routine for using feedback.

The first page of the IELTS Writing guide PDF

What's in the guide

6 pages in 5 parts. Find the part you need, then turn to its page.

The four criteria
Task response, coherence and cohesion, vocabulary and grammar, with examples.
Page 2
More practice isn't always better
Three habits that keep a Writing score where it is.
Page 3
What stronger writing looks like
Two paragraphs on the same question, and why the second is better.
Page 4
Vocabulary and grammar
Pick the right word, not the hardest one, and use complex sentences when they help.
Page 5
Using feedback
A four-step routine that turns corrections into better writing.
Page 5

Tips from the guide

Understand the task before you write. A fluent, well-organised essay still loses marks if it doesn't answer the question.
Learn words that go together, such as “pose a challenge” and “draw a conclusion”, and use them when they fit.
Rewriting one essay carefully can teach you more than writing several new ones you never check.

Two answers to one question

“Some people believe that universities should focus on preparing students for employment, while others argue that universities should prioritise academic knowledge. Discuss both views and give your opinion.”

From page 4 of the guide.

Example A: limited development
The paragraph
“Universities should prepare students for jobs because employment is very important. Students need skills, and universities should teach these skills. This can help students find good jobs in the future.”
The idea is relevant, but it stays general. It says employment is important again and again, without saying which skills students need or how a university could teach them.
Example B: more developed
The paragraph
“One argument for employment-focused university education is that graduates are increasingly expected to apply their knowledge in professional settings. By incorporating internships and industry-based projects into degree programmes, universities can help students develop practical skills while gaining experience relevant to their future careers.”
It names what employers expect, says how universities could respond and links that to a benefit for graduates. The longer words aren't what make it better. The reasoning is.

Practise IELTS Writing IELTS Writing Task 2 IELTS Writing band descriptors

More IELTS guides

常见问题

What are the IELTS Writing criteria?

Four, each worth the same: task achievement in Task 1 or task response in Task 2, coherence and cohesion, lexical resource, and grammatical range and accuracy.

Will writing more essays raise my score?

Not on its own. If you repeat the same mistakes, more essays turn them into habits. Find the main problem, rewrite the essay after feedback, then check whether the problem comes back in the next one.

Is the guide for Academic or General Training?

It's written for IELTS Academic Writing, and most of the advice works for General Training too.

Is the PDF free?

Yes. Enter your email and it downloads at once. Your email also opens a free Leap English Pathways account, where you can practise IELTS and get a band for every reading and listening test. Every PDF on this site is open to that account. Pro adds feedback on every speaking and writing answer.