IELTS Writing Band Descriptors Explained – How To Understand The Scoring Criteria

Have you ever written an IELTS essay and thought it was great, but the score was low? Of course, that’s because the IELTS Writing test uses strict band descriptions to grade your writing in certain areas.

This post can help you:

Learn how to use the official IELTS Writing band descriptions
Find out what each band level means, especially levels 6 through 8
Explain how the inspectors rate Tasks 1 and 2
How to make your work better so it meets the requirements for a grade

Let’s talk about what IELTS test takers really want to see.

What Do the IELTS Writing Band Descriptors Mean?

Officially, band descriptors are what IELTS judges use to decide how to score a test. They are the same for both Task 1 and Task 2, but there are some differences between the tasks.

These four things are very important and each count for 25 percent of your score:

Task Completion (Task 1) / Task Answer (Task 2)
Sense and cohesion
Lexical Resource (Word List)

Range and accuracy of grammar

Each one gets a score between 0 and 9. The last band is the middle one of the four.

Criteria 1: Task Achievement (TA) – Task 1

Task Achievement checks to see if you:

Make a list of the most important parts of the graph, table, chart, or process
Don’t leave out any important parts of the job; cover them all
Do not give your view (Academic Task 1 is factual)

Type at least 150 words

Band 7: Includes all important parts

A clear picture

Effective comparisons of data
Small mistakes are okay

Band 8: The job is fully completed

Brings out all the important similarities and trends
Descriptions that are accurate and well-supported

Tip: Don’t list each number; instead, group them together and focus on the trends.

One of the criteria is a Task Response (TR) for Task 2.

Task Response checks to see if you:

Complete the whole writing question
Give your clear view (if asked)

Use appropriate examples to back up your claims
Type at least 250 words

Band 7: Takes care of the whole job

Position was clear the whole time
Backs up ideas, but there may be a mismatch

Band 8: Talks to all parts fully

Gives well-thought-out, useful ideas
No content that isn’t useful or repetition

Do not stray from the subject. Keep your answer to the question and back up every idea.

The second criterion is Coherence and Cohesion (CC).

This checks how well and clearly your ideas fit together.

What examiners look for:

Sentence arrangement that makes sense
Clear words with topics
Use of connecting words and devices that hold things together (for example, but, additionally)

Overall how the ideas flow and move forward

Band 7: Clear flow of ideas

Writing paragraphs makes sense

Utilises a variety of connecting tools; some mistakes are acceptable

Band 8: Ease of flow of thoughts

Use of cohesive devices with skill

Using paragraphs makes things clearer

Use of linked words like “moreover,” “in addition,” and “furthermore” in every sentence is not a good habit.

Third Criterion: Lexical Resource (LR)

This is about how big, correct, and suitable your vocabulary is.

Examiners look at:

Number of words used
Using words that aren’t used very often or that are academic

Spelling and making words
Ability to stay away from repetition

Band 7: The right words for the job

Sometimes mistakes with word choice or collocations
A sense of style and the ability to be flexible

Band 8: Lots of words to choose from

Words are rarely repeated
Uses uncommon words and sentences with skill

Tip: Be creative with how you use buzzwords and topic-specific words.

Fourth Requirement Is for Grammatical Range and Accuracy (GRA)

This tests how well you can use a range of grammar structures.

What examiners look for:

Types of sentence organisation (simple, compound, and complex)

Correct tense
Agreement of subject and word
How to use modals, conditionals, passive voice, and other words

Band 7: Uses a range of structures

Some mistakes, but the message is still the same
Generally correct

Band 8: A lot of different complicated structures

Mostly free of errors
Having control over grammar and phrasing

Don’t play it safe by using only simple words; show range by being accurate.

How to Figure Out Your IELTS Score

Let’s say these are your marks for Task 2:

Task Response: 8.0

Coherence and Cohesion: 7.0
Lexical Resource: 7.0
Grammar Range and Accuracy: 7.0

Score for the band as a whole:
8 + 7 + 7 + 7 ÷ 4 = 7.25 – Rounded down to 7.0

Tip: To get a Band 8, you need to get at least 7.5 on all of the categories.

The Band Comparison Table for Task 2 Is Shown Below

Band	Task Response	Coherence	Word List	Grammar
6	Does the job, but might leave out some details or stray off-topic	Some coherence, and too many basic links	Not very flexible, and some repeats	Small range, lots of mistakes
7	Gives all parts a clear place to go	Logical development with some errors in the cohesive device	Some unusual words and small mistakes	Good range with not many mistakes that can be seen
8	Fully develops useful ideas with strong backing	Smooth flow, and using paragraphs to make things clearer	Use of a lot of different collocations correctly	Large range with few mistakes

What You Can Do to Get Better at Each Band Descriptor

Answer to the task: Carefully look over the question and figure out what kind it is (opinion, talk, problem-solution)

Plan your essay before you start writing it
Give full examples for each idea
To make your writing more logical and smooth, use clear paragraphing (one idea per paragraph)

Switch between words, but don’t use too many
Use references (like “this trend” or “such changes”) to link ideas in a way that makes sense
Lexical Resource: Make word lists based on topics

Learn academic words that mean the same thing, like “important” → “crucial” and “significant”
To avoid repeating yourself, paraphrase
Grammar Range: Write in various tenses to improve your skills

Active and passive voice should both be used
When it makes sense, use conditionals, modals, and relative sentences

Sample Essay Snippet with Features That Get a Band 8 and Above

Prompt: Some people think that learning online is better than learning in a classroom. Should I agree or not

Band 8 Sample:
While traditional classrooms offer structure and the chance to connect with other students, I think that online education is more flexible and open to more people. Virtual learning systems, in particular, let students study at their own pace, which is great for people who have to work or take care of their families.

Task Response: The position is clear and stated
Coherence: The points fit together logically

Words used: “flexibility,” “accessibility,” “virtual platforms”
Grammar: Includes a complex sentence with “which is especially beneficial”

Resources to Help You Understand Band Descriptors

Resource	What It Gives You
IELTS.org	Band descriptions in PDF – the official version of writing scoring guides
IELTS Liz	Video descriptions of band scores in great detail
Cambridge IELTS	Example answers with feedback from the examiner
IELTS Advantage	Strategy tips based on band scores
IELTS David	List of high-scoring examples of essays

Mistakes You Often Make That Bring Down Your Band

Not giving a full answer → Leaving out the second part of a two-question writing

Word repetition → Using “important” five times when there are other words that mean the same thing
Linking words that are used too much → “Furthermore” and “moreover” are not needed in every line
Using templates too strictly → Your work sounds robotic

Grammar mistakes that change meaning → “Students was tired” instead of “Students were tired”

Thoughts for Now
The first thing you can do to improve your IELTS Writing score is to understand the band descriptions. You can work on your weaknesses and really improve if you match your practice with these scoring factors, especially Task Response, Coherence, Vocabulary, and Grammar.

Don’t forget that the IELTS isn’t just about writing well; it’s also about writing the way the tester wants you to.

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MD. JAHANGIR ALAM

About the AuthorWelcome to TechIELTS. I’m Md. Jahangir Alam, an experienced engineer with over 15 years in electrical and automation systems. Alongside my engineering career, I’ve developed a strong interest in English language learning and IELTS preparation.
I hold a Duolingo English Test score of 135 (IELTS 7.5 equivalent) and am currently pursuing an M.Sc. in Cyber Security from Royal Holloway, University of London. I use my technical background to create clear, structured IELTS learning materials for students and professionals.
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IELTS Writing Band Descriptors Explained – How to Understand the Scoring Criteria