A 6.5 in IELTS Writing is rarely a grammar problem. It is usually an essay that answers a slightly different question, paragraphs that do not develop, or a Task 1 report written like an essay. The band descriptors say exactly what band 7 needs, and most candidates never read them.
- Writing is marked on four equally weighted criteria
- Task 2 is worth twice as much as Task 1, so plan your time accordingly
- Band 7 needs a clear position, developed paragraphs and a range of accurate structures
- The fastest improvement comes from marked feedback against the criteria
How writing is marked
Each task is assessed on four criteria, each carrying a quarter of the marks. Task 2 counts for twice as much as Task 1 in the final writing band, and you need at least 150 words for Task 1 and 250 for Task 2.
| Criterion | What it rewards |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement or Task Response | Answering the actual question fully, with a clear position in Task 2 and an accurate overview in Task 1 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | Logical organisation, one main idea per paragraph, and linking that is accurate rather than mechanical |
| Lexical Resource | A range of vocabulary used precisely, including less common words, with few errors |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | A mix of simple and complex sentences, with most sentences free of errors |
The four most common reasons for a 6.5
- Answering a neighbouring question. An essay about the advantages of technology in education, when the question asked whether its advantages outweigh its disadvantages, cannot reach band 7 for task response.
- Paragraphs that list rather than develop. Three ideas mentioned briefly score lower than two ideas explained with a reason and an example.
- Mechanical linking. Starting every sentence with "Moreover" or "Furthermore" is noticed, and does not count as cohesion.
- Task 1 written as an essay. Task 1 needs an overview of the main trends, selected comparisons and figures, not an introduction and opinions.
Changes that move the band
- Spend five minutes planning Task 2: underline every part of the question and decide your position before writing
- State that position in the introduction and keep it consistent to the conclusion
- Write two body paragraphs, each with one idea, a reason and a specific example
- In Task 1, write the overview first, then select the most significant data rather than describing everything
- Do Task 2 first in the exam, spending about 40 minutes on it and 20 on Task 1
Why self-study stalls
Most candidates cannot see their own task response problem, because the essay reads well to the person who wrote it. The quickest route past 6.5 is having each essay marked against the four criteria by someone who knows the descriptors, with one specific change to make in the next attempt. Two or three rounds of that usually does more than a month of writing alone.
Want your essays marked against the descriptors?
Every response comes back with a band per criterion and one specific change for the next attempt.