How to Jump from Band 6.5 to 7.0 in IELTS Writing
That 0.5 difference changes everything. It is the difference between visa rejection and "Welcome to Canada/Australia/UK".
Here is the mathematical breakdown of how to get that 0.5 boost.
The 4 Criteria Hack
You need to improve just one or two areas to push your average up.
1. Task Response (The Easiest Fix)
- Band 6.5: Addresses all parts but some parts covered less fully.
- Band 7.0: Addresses all parts equally.
- Fix: Count your sentences. If passing "Paragraph A" is 3 sentences and "Paragraph B" is 8 sentences, you are unbalanced. Even it out.
2. Coherence & Cohesion (The "Flow" Fix)
- Band 6.5: Uses cohesive devices (firstly, secondly) mechanically.
- Band 7.0: Uses them naturally.
- Fix: Use "Reference Words". Instead of saying "The government" again, say "This authority" or "They". This links sentences without boring "First/Second" structures.
3. Lexical Resource (The "Collocation" Fix)
Don't learn "big words". Learn "word partners".
- Mixed: "make a crime" -> Wrong
- Band 7: "commit a crime" -> Right
- Mixed: "big problem" -> Band 6
- Band 7: "pressing issue" -> Band 7
Your 7-Day Challenge
- Day 1-2: Rewrite introductions. Make them under 40 words.
- Day 3-4: Practice referencing (This/That/These) in body paragraphs.
- Day 5-6: Learn 10 topic-specific collocations for "Environment" and "Education".
- Day 7: Write a full mock test.
Want to know if your cohesive devices are natural?
Our AI Examiner checks your "Linking Words" score instantly.