The IELTS Test

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) assesses the English language proficiency of people who want to study or work in English-speaking environments. It provides a fair, accurate and relevant assessment of language skills, based on a well-established standard, and covers the full range of proficiency levels, from non-user to expert user.

There are two types of IELTS writing tests. Test takers can choose either the Academic or General Training test. The Academic test 5 different task types ( charts, graphs, tables, maps and processes), while the General Training includes a letter that can be written in three different tones (formal, semi-formal and informal). 

IELTS results are reported on a 9-band scale designed to be simple and easy to understand. This scale has remained consistent and has been used all around the world for the past three decades.

IELTS is the world’s most popular high stakes English language test, with over 3 million tests taken last year. Thousands of organisations in over 140 countries recognise and use IELTS for selection purposes. The test is offered at over 1,200 test locations worldwide.

Writing scores

When marking the Writing section of the test, examiners use detailed assessment criteria which describe written performance at each of the 9 IELTS bands.

Writing: Examiners award a band score for each of four criterion areas: Task Achievement (for Task 1), Task Response (for Task 2), Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource and Grammatical Range and Accuracy. The four criteria are equally weighted.

IELTS Writing Test Options

You may have the option to choose between taking the IELTS Writing test on paper or on a computer. This choice may vary depending on your location.

To help you decide which format is best for you, read this article from…

This version maintains the core information while making it more concise and student-friendly.

IELTS Writing Test: Two Tasks

The IELTS Writing test has two parts. You have 60 minutes to complete both tasks:

  • Task 1: You’ll have 20 minutes to complete this task.
  • Task 2: You’ll have 40 minutes to complete this task (it’s worth twice as much as Task 1).

Important Note: You’ll write your answers on paper for the paper-based test, but you’ll type them on a computer for the computer-delivered test.

Practice Tips:

  • Time Management: Practice writing or typing your responses within the time limits.
  • Computer-Delivered Test: If you’re taking the computer-delivered test, practice typing your responses with spellcheck and grammar check disabled to simulate real test conditions.

IELTS Writing Test: Task Examples

  • See Examples: You can find examples of computer-delivered Writing tasks here: [Link to Task 1] and [Link to Task 2]
  • Important Reminders:
    • Complete both tasks within the time limit.
    • Task 2 is worth twice as much as Task 1.
    • The computer will show you how much time is left.
  • Task Topics:
    • Academic: Focus on topics relevant to university studies.
    • General Training: Focus on topics relevant to everyday life and migration.

Understanding IELTS Writing Prompts

To do well in the IELTS Writing test, it’s crucial to understand the instructions for each task carefully.

  • Different Task Types: There are different types of questions for Academic and General Training Writing.
  • Accurate Interpretation: Understanding the instructions correctly is essential for a good score.
  • Focus of this Unit: This unit will help you learn how to interpret the instructions for both Academic and General Training Writing Task 1.
  • Helpful Tip: Keep a notebook to write down your observations and interpretations of different task types.