How Is IELTS Writing Assessed? (From an IELTS Examiner’s View)

By Harpreet Kaur | IELTS Master Trainer | 22+ Years Experience

Many students preparing for IELTS focus only on vocabulary and grammar. But very few truly understand how IELTS Writing is assessed from an examiner’s perspective.

If you want Band 7 or above, you must think like an examiner.

Let’s break down exactly how IELTS Writing is evaluated.

The 4 Official Band Criteria

IELTS Writing (Task 1 & Task 2) is assessed on four equally weighted criteria:

1️⃣ Task Response (Task Achievement for Task 1)2️⃣ Coherence and Cohesion3️⃣ Lexical Resource4️⃣ Grammatical Range and Accuracy

Each criterion carries 25% weight.

1️⃣ Task Response – The Most Important Factor

Examiners first check:

• Did you answer the question fully?

• Is your position clear?

• Are ideas developed properly?

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Common reasons students lose marks:

❌ Partially answering the question❌ Writing off-topic content❌ Weak idea development

Even strong grammar cannot compensate for poor task response.

2️⃣ Coherence and Cohesion

This refers to structure and logical flow.

Examiners look for:

✔ Clear paragraphing✔ Logical progression of ideas✔ Effective linking words✔ Smooth transitions

Too many connectors can reduce natural flow. Balance is key.

3️⃣ Lexical Resource (Vocabulary)

Examiners evaluate:

• Range of vocabulary

• Accuracy of word usage

• Collocations

• Ability to paraphrase

Using complex words incorrectly lowers your band.

Natural, accurate vocabulary scores higher than memorised phrases.

4️⃣ Grammatical Range and Accuracy

This includes:

• Sentence variety

• Complex sentence usage

• Error frequency

• Clarity of expression

Band 7+ requires good control of complex sentences — but not perfection.

Repeated grammar mistakes reduce your score significantly.

Examiner’s Real Expectations

From an examiner’s viewpoint:

✔ Clear position✔ Logical structure✔ Well-developed ideas✔ Accurate grammar✔ Natural vocabulary

Examiners do not reward:

❌ Memorised essays❌ Overcomplicated language❌ Irrelevant examples❌ Length without clarity

Quality always beats quantity.

Why Many Students Stay at Band 6.5

Most Band 6.5 essays:

• Have decent ideas

• Show basic structure

• Contain noticeable grammar errors

• Lack depth in argument

To move to Band 7+, improvement must be consistent across all four criteria.

Final Thoughts

Understanding how IELTS Writing is assessed gives you a major advantage. When you write with the examiner’s criteria in mind, your band score improves naturally.

If you are preparing in Vikaspuri or nearby areas and want your writing evaluated according to official band descriptors, professional feedback can help you identify exact improvement areas.

🎯 Book your free IELTS writing assessment today and understand your real band level.