Are you curious about how your IELTS Writing score is determined? Unlike the Listening and Reading sections, which have a raw score based on correct answers, the IELTS Writing test is graded by a certified examiner based on specific criteria. Understanding this process is key to improving your score. At Banglay IELTS, we help Bangladeshi students master these criteria with personalized feedback and strategies.
The Four Pillars of Your IELTS Writing Score
Your IELTS Writing response (both Task 1 and Task 2) is evaluated based on four equally weighted criteria, each contributing to 25% of your final score. An examiner gives you a band score from 0 to 9 for each of these criteria. The final score for each task is the average of these four scores.
- Task Achievement (for Task 1) / Task Response (for Task 2): This assesses how well you have answered the question. For Task 1, it’s about accurately reporting the key features of the data. For Task 2, it’s about addressing all parts of the prompt, presenting a clear position, and developing your ideas with relevant examples.
- Coherence & Cohesion: This criterion evaluates the logical flow and organization of your writing. It looks at how well you’ve used paragraphs, linking words, and references to make your ideas easy to follow.
- Lexical Resource: This is a measure of your vocabulary. It assesses your ability to use a wide range of words accurately and appropriately, including less common lexical items and collocations.
- Grammatical Range & Accuracy: This assesses your use of grammar. To score high, you need to use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures with few grammatical errors and correct punctuation.
Note: The score for Writing Task 2 is weighted more heavily (double the weight) than Task 1 when calculating your final Writing band score. The formula is approximately: (Task 1 score + Task 2 score x 2) ÷ 3.
Frequently Asked Questions about IELTS Writing Scores
Is there an official IELTS writing band score calculator?
No, there is no official calculator because a writing score is based on the subjective assessment of an examiner. Online calculators can only provide an estimate based on your self-assessed scores for each criterion, but they are not official.
Can I improve my score by using complex words?
Yes, using a wide range of vocabulary (Lexical Resource) is important. However, it’s more crucial to use words accurately and appropriately. Misusing a complex word can lower your score.
How is the overall IELTS Writing band score calculated?
The overall band score is calculated by first averaging the four marking criteria for each task. Then, the score for Task 2 (the essay) is given twice the weight of Task 1 (the report or letter). This weighted average is your final Writing band score.
Do spelling and punctuation matter in the Writing test?
Yes, absolutely. Spelling and punctuation are part of the Lexical Resource and Grammatical Range & Accuracy criteria. Frequent errors can significantly lower your score.
Can I get a 7.5 on the Writing test?
Yes, band scores are given in whole and half bands (e.g., 6.0, 6.5, 7.0, 7.5). If your calculated score averages out to a .25, it’s rounded up to the nearest half band, and if it’s a .75, it’s rounded up to the next whole band.
Boost Your IELTS Writing Score with Banglay IELTS
Understanding the marking criteria is the first step, but applying that knowledge is where the real challenge lies. At Banglay IELTS, founded by Rashed Hossain, we provide personalized feedback on your writing. Our expert instructors will analyze your essays and reports based on the four criteria and give you actionable advice to improve your score.
Whether you’re looking for top-tier Dhaka IELTS coaching, the best Chittagong IELTS preparation, or a reliable Sylhet study abroad consultancy, we are here to guide you toward achieving your dream score.
Contact Banglay IELTS today and master the art of IELTS writing!
This video from our YouTube channel explains the IELTS Writing Band Descriptors to help you understand what examiners are looking for.
Contact us today to get started.
Call Now: +8801329719513
Visit: https://banglayielts.com/