The IELTS Academic Writing test measures how well you organise ideas, use academic language, analyse visuals, and respond to complex questions. Most students get stuck at Band 6.0–6.5 because they focus only on vocabulary and
grammar.
To reach Band 7+, you must write according to the official band descriptors—the exact criteria examiners use.
This guide explains the test, breaks down what examiners look for, and gives research-driven, practical IELTS Writing tips that directly target Band 7 performance.
Both tasks are marked using four criteria:
A true Band 7 strategy must directly target these four descriptors—not generic “use better vocabulary”.
You have 60 minutes and must complete:
Task 1 (150+ words)
You describe, compare, or summarise visual information such as:
● Line graphs
● Bar charts
● Pie charts
● Tables
● Maps
● Processes
Worth 1/3 of your total writing score.
Task 2 (250+ words)
You write a formal essay based on a question about topics such as education, health, society, environment, or
technology.
Worth 2/3 of your total writing score—this is where your band score is decided.
The recording status box displays a countdown until the microphone opens. You have 30-40 seconds to prepare, depending on the length of the passage. You hear a short tone. After the tone, start speaking immediately. Do not start speaking before the microphone opens because your voice will not be recorded.
You should speak clearly. There is no need to rush.
Finish speaking before the progress bar reaches the end. The word “Recording” changes to “Completed”.
You are only able to record your response once.
The audio begins to plays automatically. When the audio finishes, the microphone opens and the recording status box shows “Recording”. Speak into the microphone immediately (there is no short tone) and repeat exactly what you heard.
You should speak clearly. There is no need to rush.
Finish speaking before the progress bar reaches the end. The word “Recording” changes to “Completed”.
You are not able to replay the audio. You are only able to record your response once.
The recording status box displays a countdown until the microphone opens. You have 25 seconds to study the image and prepare your response. You hear a short tone. After the tone, start speaking immediately. Do not start speaking before the microphone opens because your voice will not be recorded.
You should speak clearly. There is no need to rush.
Finish speaking before the progress bar reaches the end. The word “Recording” changes to “Completed”.
You are only able to record your response once.
The audio begins to play automatically. You may also see an image related to the audio. After the audio finishes, you have 10 seconds to prepare.
The recording status box displays a countdown until the microphone opens. You hear a short tone. After the tone, start speaking immediately. Do not start speaking before the microphone opens because your voice will not be recorded.
You should speak clearly. There is no need to rush.
Finish speaking before the progress bar reaches the end. The word “Recording” changes to “Completed”.
You are only able to record your response once.
The audio begins to play automatically. You may also see an image.
When the audio finishes, the microphone opens and the recording status box shows “Recording”. Speak into the microphone immediately (there is no short tone) and answer the question with one or a few words.
You should speak clearly. There is no need to rush.
Finish speaking before the progress bar reaches the end. The word “Recording” changes to “Completed”.
You are not able to replay the audio. You are only able to record your response once.
(Task Response + Coherence & Cohesion)
Since Task 2 carries more marks, start with it.
But don’t jump into writing immediately — use a 7-minute Band 7 planning routine:
• Step 1 — Decode the Question (1–2 minutes)
Underline:
● The topic
● The instruction (e.g., "to what extent", "discuss both views", "advantages/disadvantages")
● The requirements (many students fail Task Response because they miss a sub-question)
• Step 2 — Generate 3–4 Ideas and Delete Weak Ones (3 minutes)
A Band 7 idea must:
● Be specific
● Be explainable
● Have one clear example
Delete ideas that are general or repetitive.
• Step 3 — Create a Two-Paragraph Map (2 minutes)
● BP1 → Your strongest point + explanation + example
● BP2 → Second strongest point + explanation + example
This planning style ensures your essay is relevant, focused, and logically organised — exactly what Band 7 requires.
(Coherence & Cohesion)
A Band 7+ essay needs a logical, predictable structure:
Task 2 Structure (Band 7 Model)
1. Introduction
○ Paraphrase the topic
○ Give your clear position (if required)
2. Body Paragraph 1
○ Topic sentence (main idea)
○ Explanation
○ Example
○ Link to question
3. Body Paragraph 2
○ Second idea
○ Explanation
○ Example
○ Link back to your position
4. Conclusion
○ Summarise your main points
○ Restate your stance
This structure shows "clear progression of ideas," which is a requirement in the band descriptors.
(Task Achievement)
A Band 7 Task 1 response includes a clear overview, which summarises:
● The main trend(s)
● The biggest and smallest values
● Any striking change or pattern
Use this simple 3-line overview formula:
1. A general trend
2. The highest vs lowest figures
3. One notable feature
Then add specific numbers in the body paragraphs.
Avoid generic “high vocabulary”. Instead, use precise, academic expressions linked to common IELTS themes
(education, technology, environment, health, society).
Example: Technology & Education
● Collocations: digital literacy, online learning platforms, technology-enhanced classrooms
● Verbs: facilitate, accelerate, expand
● Phrases: “This development has transformed the way students access information.”
Topic-based vocabulary ranks better for SEO and aligns directly with exam trends.
Grammar mistakes lower your score instantly. Focus on:
● Missing articles (a/an/the)
● Subject–verb agreement
● Plural forms
● Basic punctuation
● Repeated vocabulary
A clean, error-controlled script boosts Grammatical Accuracy.
Instead of rewriting the same idea repeatedly, develop it and move forward. Band 7 essays show:
● Clear ideas
● Logical explanation
● No repetition
If you get stuck, apply the “Move On” rule:
“Explain your idea once, give an example, and move on. Do not repeat the same idea in different
words.”
(Grammatical Range & Accuracy)
A Band 7 essay requires a mix of sentence types, not over-complicated writing.
Use this rule:
“In each paragraph, include only ONE complex sentence and keep the rest clear and simple.”
Grammar upgrades you can use once per paragraph:
● A relative clause (which, that, who)
● A contrast clause (although, whereas, while)
● A conditional (If governments invested more…)
This increases grammatical range without increasing errors.
