Writing · 9 min read
IELTS Writing Band Descriptors: What Examiners Assess
IELTS Writing is assessed against four criteria: task achievement or task response, coherence and cohesion, lexical resource, and grammatical range and accuracy. Understanding these criteria helps you review an essay systematically instead of focusing only on grammar. This guide explains what each area covers and how to turn feedback into a focused rewrite.
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Writing criteria and accuracy review
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The four IELTS Writing assessment criteria
Official IELTS guidance lists task achievement for Task 1 or task response for Task 2, coherence and cohesion, lexical resource, and grammatical range and accuracy.
A useful review should address all four. Strong vocabulary cannot compensate for an answer that does not address the task.
Task achievement and task response
This criterion evaluates how accurately, appropriately and relevantly you answer the requirements. Task 1 requires coverage of the visual information, while Task 2 requires a developed response to the stated position, argument or problem.
Before rewriting sentences, check whether your main ideas actually answer every part of the prompt.
Coherence and cohesion
Coherence concerns the logical organisation and progression of ideas. Cohesion concerns how sentences and paragraphs connect through referencing, conjunctions and other devices.
More linking words do not automatically improve the score. Each paragraph needs a clear purpose, and connections should sound natural.
Lexical resource
Lexical resource evaluates the range, accuracy and appropriateness of vocabulary. Precision matters more than replacing every common word with a rare synonym.
Build vocabulary by topic and collocation, then check whether each expression fits the exact meaning and grammatical pattern.
Grammatical range and accuracy
This criterion considers both the variety of structures and how accurately they are controlled. Complex sentences help only when they remain clear.
During review, group errors by pattern such as articles, agreement, tense, punctuation or sentence boundaries. Rewrite several examples of the largest pattern.
How to use AI Writing feedback responsibly
AI feedback can identify patterns, suggest clearer organisation and provide a practice band estimate. It should be used as a learning tool, not as an official IELTS result.
Compare the feedback with the official descriptors, decide which evidence is valid and rewrite the answer yourself.
A four-step essay review
First, underline the task requirements. Second, write one sentence describing the purpose of each paragraph. Third, list repeated vocabulary and grammar problems. Fourth, rewrite the weakest paragraph while preserving your own argument.
This turns broad feedback into a repeatable improvement cycle.
IELTS questions answered
What are the four IELTS Writing assessment criteria?
They are task achievement or task response, coherence and cohesion, lexical resource, and grammatical range and accuracy.
Are all IELTS Writing criteria equally important?
The four criteria are used together to assess writing. Review all four because advanced vocabulary cannot compensate for an answer that does not address the task.
Can AI give an official IELTS Writing band?
No. AI feedback and band estimates are learning aids. Compare them with the official descriptors and use them to guide your own rewrite.
Official sources
Format and scoring claims in this guide were checked against these primary sources.
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