How IELTS Writing is marked: the 4 criteria, explained honestly
Your IELTS Writing score isn't one vague impression. It comes from four separate criteria, each scored 0–9 and weighted equally. Understand them and you stop guessing about why you got the band you did.
1. Task Response (Task 2) / Task Achievement (Task 1)
Did you answer the whole question, with a clear position and developed, relevant ideas? In Task 1, did you select the key features and report the data accurately? Missing a part of the prompt caps this criterion fast.
2. Coherence & Cohesion
Is your writing logically organised, with clear paragraphs (one main idea each) and natural linking? Mechanical "Firstly… Moreover… In conclusion" bolted on doesn't lift this — genuine flow does.
3. Lexical Resource (vocabulary)
Range and accuracy. Band 7 wants some less-common words used correctly and naturally — not impressive words used wrongly, which count as errors.
4. Grammatical Range & Accuracy
A variety of sentence structures and frequent error-free sentences. Recurring small slips (articles, prepositions, agreement) are what usually hold strong writers at Band 6.
How the final band is worked out
The four criteria are averaged (and rounded to the nearest half band). Task 2 counts roughly twice as much as Task 1 toward your overall Writing band. So a single weak criterion drags everything down — which is why knowing which one is costing you matters so much.