AI Writing Checker
Paste an essay or letter and get a band with the four-criteria breakdown — Task Response, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy. Academic Task 1 charts can be uploaded.
OpenIELTS Writing Practice
Write, get marked on the four official criteria, and see exactly which one is holding your band down. Task 1 and Task 2, a full timed mock, model answers at two bands, and a guided path through every Task 2 essay type.
In short
IELTS Writing is two tasks in 60 minutes: Task 1 (150+ words — a chart for Academic, a letter for General Training) and Task 2 (250+ words, an essay). Both are marked on four equally weighted criteria, and Task 2 counts twice as much as Task 1 toward your Writing band. The fastest way to move that band is to find out which criterion is costing you, which is what everything on this page is for.
60
Minutes
for both tasks
150
Words min.
Task 1
250
Words min.
Task 2
2×
Task 2 weight
vs Task 1
Where to practise
Band 8 Writing Trainer
One guided path per Task 2 essay type: what the type is, its traps, the paragraph blueprint, an annotated model essay, and marking on the paragraph you write.
OpenFull timed Writing mock
Both tasks, 60 minutes, one sitting — the only way to find out whether your Task 2 survives after Task 1 has taken twenty minutes of your attention.
OpenTask 2 sample answers
Band 9 and Band 6.5 answers to the same prompt, side by side, so the difference is visible rather than described.
OpenTask 1 guide
Academic charts and General Training letters: what each type asks for, the overview sentence, and the structures that score.
OpenHow Writing is marked
The four criteria in plain English, what each band descriptor actually rewards, and where most essays lose half a band.
OpenTask 2 by essay type
Task Response is assessed against the instruction, not the topic, so the essay type decides whether your answer counts. Each path below teaches one type and marks what you write against its checklist.
Opinion — Agree or DisagreeDiscussion — Both Views + Your OpinionAdvantages & DisadvantagesProblem & SolutionTwo-Part (Direct) QuestionsPositive or Negative Development
Read first
- IELTS Writing: the complete A–Z guide
- Essay length rules and penalties
- Task 2 topics library
- Task 2 topic forecast for this window
Common questions
How long do you get for IELTS Writing?
60 minutes in total for both tasks, with no separate timing enforced between them. The recommended split is 20 minutes on Task 1 and 40 on Task 2, because Task 2 carries twice the weight in your Writing band. Candidates who overrun on Task 1 lose marks on the task that matters more.
How many words does IELTS Writing require?
At least 150 words for Task 1 and at least 250 for Task 2. Under-length responses are penalised, so treat the minimums as floors rather than targets — most band 7+ answers run somewhat over. There is no upper limit, but a long essay is only an advantage if the quality holds.
How is IELTS Writing marked?
Each task is assessed on four criteria of equal weight: Task Achievement or Task Response, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range and Accuracy. The two tasks are then combined with Task 2 weighted twice as heavily as Task 1 to give your Writing band.
Can I practise IELTS Writing for free?
Yes. The Writing Checker returns a free band estimate on the essay you submit, the sample-answer library and every guide here are fully open, and the Task 2 topic library is free to work from. The full four-criteria report and the trainer marking are Pro features.
What is the difference between Academic and General Training Writing?
Task 1 differs: Academic asks you to describe a chart, graph, table, map or process, while General Training asks for a letter. Task 2 is an essay in both, marked to the same criteria, though General Training prompts are usually phrased slightly more concretely.