How IELTS Writing Scoring Works
IELTS Writing uses four equally weighted criteria to evaluate both Task 1 and Task 2. Learn how scores are calculated, how rounding rules apply, and how our AI practice tool assists your preparation.
The Four Assessment Criteria
Each criterion accounts for exactly 25% of your task score. An examiner awards a band score from 0 to 9 for each of the four areas:
Task Response (Task 2) / Task Achievement (Task 1)
Evaluates how completely and relevantly you answer the prompt. In Task 2, this measures having a clear position throughout, sufficiently developing main ideas, and answering all prompt parts. In Task 1, it requires reporting key trends, providing an accurate overview, and supporting statements with data.
Coherence and Cohesion
Assesses the logical organization of ideas, progression of arguments across paragraphs, and the natural use of linking devices (cohesive devices, referencing, and substitution) without mechanical overuse.
Lexical Resource
Evaluates your range of vocabulary, precision in word choice, style, and control over spelling and word formation. Using natural academic collocations scores higher than memorizing awkward rare synonyms.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Assesses your ability to use a flexible variety of complex sentence structures accurately, with correct punctuation and minimal sentence-level errors that could impair communication.
Task Score Calculation vs. Official Exam Rounding
It is important to distinguish how an individual writing task is evaluated from how your overall IELTS test score is officially calculated.
1. Individual Task Practice Calculation (Our Evaluator)
For a single submitted task, the four criterion scores are averaged equally:
We round this arithmetic average to the nearest half or whole band using the standard IELTS half-band rounding thresholds (.25 rounds up to .50; .75 rounds up to 1.00; .125 rounds down to .00; .625 rounds down to .50).
2. Official IELTS Exam Scoring (Test-Wide)
On the official exam day, your overall IELTS score combines all four test sections: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. Within the official Writing test:
- Task 2 carries twice the weight of Task 1: Writing Score = (Task 1 × 1/3) + (Task 2 × 2/3).
- An individual practice task estimate does not represent a complete Writing section score.
- Official scores are only awarded under proctored exam conditions by certified British Council, IDP, or Cambridge test centers.
What Our AI Evaluator Does (and Its Limitations)
What It Provides
- • Instant, criterion-by-criterion diagnosis based on public descriptors.
- • Quotation of specific sentences from your essay showing why a score was awarded.
- • Concrete corrections distinguishing clear errors from optional style suggestions.
- • Three prioritized next steps to focus on during your next draft revision.
- • Re-evaluation of revised drafts to track iterative improvements.
Important Limitations
- • Practice estimate only: Not an official IELTS score and cannot guarantee exam performance.
- • Unseen Visuals: For Academic Task 1 without visual chart inputs, factual accuracy of data interpretation cannot be independently verified.
- • No Human Examiner Certification: No automated software replaces calibrated, accredited human examiners.
Official IELTS Assessment Resources
Review the public band descriptors directly from the official test makers.