Tips

Scoring IELTS

The following scoring guidelines relate to the IELTS Writing Task 2.

Band 9

Task Achievement

fully addresses all parts of the task
presents a fully developed position in answer to the question with relevant, fully extended and well supported ideas

Coherence and Cohesion

uses cohesion in such a way that it attracts no attention
skilfully manages paragraphing

Lexical Resource

uses a wide range of vocabulary with very natural and sophisticated control of lexical features; rare minor errors occur only as ‘slips’

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

uses a wide range of structures with full flexibility and accuracy; rare minor errors occur only as ‘slips’

Band 8

Task Achievement

sufficiently addresses all parts of the task
presents a well-developed response to the question with relevant, extended and supported ideas

Coherence and Cohesion

sequences information and ideas
logically
manages all aspects of cohesion well
uses paragraphing sufficiently and appropriately

Lexical Resource

uses a wide range of vocabulary
fluently and flexibly to convey precise meanings
skilfully uses uncommon lexical items but there may be occasional inaccuracies in word choice and collocation
produces rare errors in spelling and/or word formation

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

uses a wide range of structures
the majority of sentences are error-free
makes only very occasional errors or inappropriacies

Band 7

Task Achievement

addresses all parts of the task
presents a clear position throughout the response
presents, extends and supports main ideas, but there may be a tendency to overgeneralise and/or supporting ideas may lack focus

Coherence and Cohesion

logically organises information and ideas; there is clear progression throughout
uses a range of cohesive devices appropriately although there may be some under-/over-use
presents a clear central topic within each paragraph

Lexical Resource

uses a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow some flexibility and precision
uses less common lexical items with some awareness of style and collocation
may produce occasional errors in word choice, spelling and/or word formation

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

uses a variety of complex structures
produces frequent error-free sentences
has good control of grammar and punctuation but may make a few errors

Band 6

Task Achievement

addresses all parts of the task although some parts may be more fully covered than others
presents a relevant position although the conclusions may become unclear or repetitive
presents relevant main ideas but some may be inadequately developed/unclear

Coherence and Cohesion

arranges information and ideas coherently and there is a clear overall progression
uses cohesive devices effectively, but cohesion within and/or between sentences may be faulty or mechanical
may not always use referencing clearly or appropriately
uses paragraphing, but not always logically

Lexical Resource

uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task
attempts to use less common vocabulary but with some inaccuracy
makes some errors in spelling and/or word formation, but they do not impede communication

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms
makes some errors in grammar and punctuation but they rarely reduce communication

Band 5

Task Achievement

addresses the task only partially; the format may be inappropriate in places
expresses a position but the development is not always clear and there may be no conclusions drawn
presents some main ideas but these are limited and not sufficiently developed; there may be irrelevant detail

Coherence and Cohesion

presents information with some organisation but there may be a lack of overall progression
makes inadequate, inaccurate or over use of cohesive devices
may be repetitive because of lack of referencing and substitution
may not write in paragraphs, or paragraphing may be inadequate

Lexical Resource

uses a limited range of vocabulary, but this is minimally adequate for the task
may make noticeable errors in spelling and/or word formation that may cause some difficulty for the reader

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

uses only a limited range of structures
attempts complex sentences but these tend to be less accurate than simple sentences
may make frequent grammatical errors and punctuation may be faulty; errors can cause some difficulty for the reader

Band 4

Task Achievement

responds to the task only in a minimal way or the answer is tangential; the format may be inappropriate
presents a position but this is unclear
presents some main ideas but these are difficult to identify and may be repetitive, irrelevant or not well supported

Coherence and Cohesion

presents information and ideas but these are not arranged coherently and there is no clear progression in the response
uses some basic cohesive devices but these may be inaccurate or repetitive
may not write in paragraphs or their use may be confusing

Lexical Resource

uses only basic vocabulary which may be used repetitively or which may be inappropriate for the task
has limited control of word formation and/or spelling; errors may cause strain for the reader

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

uses only a very limited range of structures with only rare use of subordinate clauses
some structures are accurate but errors predominate, and punctuation is often faulty

Band 3

Task Achievement

does not adequately address any part of the task
does not express a clear position
presents few ideas, which are largely undeveloped or irrelevant

Coherence and Cohesion

does not organise ideas logically
may use a very limited range of cohesive devices, and those used may not indicate a logical relationship between ideas

Lexical Resource

uses only a very limited range of words and expressions with very limited control of word formation and/or spelling
errors may severely distort the message

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

attempts sentence forms but errors in grammar and punctuation predominate and distort the meaning

Band 2

Task Achievement

barely responds to the task
does not express a position
may attempt to present one or two ideas but there is no development

Coherence and Cohesion

has very little control of organisational features

Lexical Resource

uses an extremely limited range of vocabulary; essentially no control of word formation and/or

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

cannot use sentence forms except in memorised phrases

Band 1

Task Achievement

answer is completely unrelated to the task

Coherence and Cohesion

fails to communicate any message

Lexical Resource

can only use a few isolated words

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

cannot use sentence forms at all

Band 0

does not attend
does not attempt the task in any way
writes a totally memorised response