IELTS Academic Writing - Sample Candidate Writing Responses and Examiner Comments - Task 1 & Task 2 with Band Scores

Sep 30, 2026

Uploaded by moss~

A comprehensive guide to IELTS Writing performance for the Academic module, explaining how both Task 1 and Task 2 are assessed independently. It details the marking criteria at the 9-band level, including Task Achievement/Response, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range and Accuracy. The material includes candidate response samples for Task 1 with an accompanying examiner comment and band score, plus guidance on common requirements such as full connected text and evidence-based development for Task 2.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages5

Reading Time13 min

AccessFree to download

IELTS Writing Assessment Criteria

Academic and General Training Tasks

Task 1 Criteria

Task 1 Academic Overview

Task 2 Criteria

Marking Process and Band Scores

Sample Task 1 Response With Examiner Comment

Chart Summary (1990 vs 2010)

Examiner Comment (Band 6)

Sample Candidate Writing Responses and Examiner Comments Both the Academic and General Training Writing Modules consist of two tasks, Task 1 and Task 2. Each task is assessed independently. The assessment of Task 2 carries more weight in marking than Task 1. Detailed performance descriptors have been developed which describe written performance at the 9 IELTS bands. These descriptors apply to both the Academic and General Training Modules. Task 1 responses are assessed on the following criteria: • Task Achievement • Coherence and Cohesion • Lexical Resource • Grammatical Range and Accuracy Task 2 responses are assessed on the following criteria: • Task Response • Coherence and Cohesion • Lexical Resource • Grammatical Range and Accuracy Candidates should note that responses will be penalised if they are a) partly or wholly plagiarised, b) not written as full, connected text (e.g. using bullet points in any part of the response, or note form, is not appropriate) . Task 1 Task Achievement This criterion assesses how fully, appropriately, accurately and relevantly the response fulfils the requirements set out in the task, using the minimum of 150 words. Task 1 Academic is a writing task which has a defined input and a largely predictable output. It is basically an information-transfer task which relates narrowly to the factual content of a diagram, graph, table, chart, map or other visual input, not to speculative explanations that lie outside the given data. Coherence and Cohesion This criterion is concerned with the overall organisation and logical development of the message: how the response organises and links information, ideas and language. Coherence refers to the linking of ideas through logical sequencing, while cohesion refers to the varied and appropriate use of cohesive devices (e.g. logical connectors, conjunctions and pronouns) to assist in making clear the relationships between and within sentences. Lexical Resource This criterion refers to the range of vocabulary the candidate has used and the accuracy and appropriacy of that use in terms of the specific task. Grammatical Range and Accuracy This criterion refers to the range and accurate use of the candidate’s grammatical resource within the candidate’s writing at sentence level. Task 2 Task Response Both the Academic and General Training Writing Task 2 require the candidates to formulate and develop a position in relation to a given prompt in the form of a question or statement, using a minimum of 250 words. Ideas should be supported by evidence, and examples may be drawn from a candidates’ own experience. The other criteria for Task 2 are the same as for Task 1 (Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy) . Writing responses are marked by trained and certificated IELTS examiners. Scores may be reported as whole bands or half bands. Below you will find candidates’ responses to the two tasks in the sample Academic Writing test. There are two responses for each task. Each response has been awarded a band score and is accompanied by an examiner comment on the candidate’s performance for that task. The examiners’ guidelines for marking the Writing scripts are very detailed. There are many different ways a candidate may achieve a particular band score. The candidates’ answers that follow should not be regarded as definitive examples of any particular band score. Please refer to the publicly available IELTS Writing Key Criteria on our website. The chart gives you information on how children travelled to and from school in the years 1990 and 2010. The modes of transport were by car, walking, cycling, walking and by bus and by bus only. A striking feature in this chart is that the number of children who travelled by car has increased from 1990 to 2010. In 1990 the most number of trips per year by children were by walking. However in 2010 it reduced to up to 6 million

FAQs

How are IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 and Task 2 marked?

Task 1 and Task 2 are assessed independently. Task 2 carries more weight than Task 1 in the overall marking.

What criteria are used to assess Task 1 responses?

Task 1 is assessed on Task Achievement, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range and Accuracy.

What is required for Task 2 responses?

Task 2 requires candidates to formulate and develop a position in response to a prompt, using at least 250 words, with ideas supported by evidence.

Sep 30, 2026

Uploaded by moss~