Practice IELTS Writing Task 2

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IELTS Writing Task 2 Scoring Criteria

If you are aiming for a top band score in your IELTS Essay, understanding what the examiners are looking for is crucial. This is the official IELTS scoring criteria for IELTS Writing Task 2 covering everything from how well you present data to the flow of your writing, your vocabulary, and your grammar.

Band 9

Addresses and explores the prompt in depth with fully developed position, effortless coherence, wide range of accurate vocabulary, and rare minor grammatical errors.

Task Response
The prompt is appropriately addressed and explored in depth. A clear and fully developed position is presented which directly answers the question/s. Ideas are relevant, fully extended and well supported.
Coherence and Cohesion
The message can be followed effortlessly. Cohesion is used in such a way that it very rarely attracts attention. Any lapses in coherence or cohesion are minimal. Paragraphing is skilfully managed.
Lexical Resource
Full flexibility and precise use are widely evident. A wide range of vocabulary is used accurately and appropriately with very natural and sophisticated control of lexical features. Minor errors in spelling and word formation are extremely rare and have minimal impact on communication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A wide range of structures is used with full flexibility and control. Punctuation and grammar are used appropriately throughout. Minor errors are extremely rare and have minimal impact on communication.

Band 8

Appropriately and sufficiently addresses the prompt with well-developed position, logical sequencing, wide range of vocabulary, and occasional non-systematic errors.

Task Response
The prompt is appropriately and sufficiently addressed. A clear and well-developed position is presented in response to the question/s. Ideas are relevant, well extended and supported. There may be occasional omissions or lapses in content.
Coherence and Cohesion
The message can be followed with ease. Information and ideas are logically sequenced, and cohesion is well managed. Occasional lapses in coherence and cohesion may occur. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately.
Lexical Resource
A wide resource is fluently and flexibly used to convey precise meanings. There is skilful use of uncommon and/or idiomatic items when appropriate, despite occasional inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. Occasional errors in spelling and/or word formation may occur, but have minimal impact on communication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A wide range of structures is flexibly and accurately used. The majority of sentences are error-free, and punctuation is well managed. Occasional, non-systematic errors and inappropriacies occur, but have minimal impact on communication.

Band 7

Appropriately addresses the main parts of the prompt with clear position, logical organization, sufficient vocabulary, and generally well-controlled grammar.

Task Response
The main parts of the prompt are appropriately addressed. A clear and developed position is presented. Main ideas are extended and supported but there may be a tendency to over-generalise or there may be a lack of focus and precision in supporting ideas/material.
Coherence and Cohesion
Information and ideas are logically organised, and there is a clear progression throughout the response. A few lapses may occur, but these are minor. A range of cohesive devices including reference and substitution is used flexibly but with some inaccuracies or some over/under use.
Lexical Resource
The resource is sufficient to allow some flexibility and precision. There is some ability to use less common and/or idiomatic items. An awareness of style and collocation is evident, though inappropriacies occur. There are only a few errors in spelling and/or word formation and they do not detract from overall clarity.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A variety of complex structures is used with some flexibility and accuracy. Grammar and punctuation are generally well controlled, and error-free sentences are frequent. A few errors in grammar may persist, but these do not impede communication.

Band 6

Addresses main parts of the prompt with appropriate format, coherent organization, adequate vocabulary, and some grammatical errors that rarely impede communication.

Task Response
The main parts of the prompt are addressed (though some may be more fully covered than others). An appropriate format is used. A position is presented that is directly relevant to the prompt, although the conclusions drawn may be unclear, unjustified or repetitive.
Coherence and Cohesion
Information and ideas are generally arranged coherently and there is a clear overall progression. Cohesive devices are used to some good effect but cohesion within and/or between sentences may be faulty or mechanical due to misuse, overuse or omission.
Lexical Resource
The resource is generally adequate and appropriate for the task. The meaning is generally clear in spite of a rather restricted range or a lack of precision in word choice. If the writer is a risk-taker, there will be a wider range of vocabulary used but higher degrees of inaccuracy or inappropriacy. There are some errors in spelling and/or word formation, but these do not impede communication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A mix of simple and complex sentence forms is used but flexibility is limited. Examples of more complex structures are not marked by the same level of accuracy as in simple structures. Errors in grammar and punctuation occur, but rarely impede communication.

Band 5

Incompletely addresses main parts of the prompt with limited development, evident but not wholly logical organization, limited vocabulary, and frequent grammatical errors.

Task Response
The main parts of the prompt are incompletely addressed. The format may be inappropriate in places. The writer expresses a position, but the development is not always clear. Some main ideas are put forward, but they are limited and are not sufficiently developed and/or there may be irrelevant detail. There may be some repetition.
Coherence and Cohesion
Organisation is evident but is not wholly logical and there may be a lack of overall progression. Nevertheless, there is a sense of underlying coherence to the response. The relationship of ideas can be followed but the sentences are not fluently linked to each other. There may be limited/overuse of cohesive devices with some inaccuracy. The writing may be repetitive due to inadequate and/or inaccurate use of reference and substitution. Paragraphing may be inadequate or missing.
Lexical Resource
The resource is limited but minimally adequate for the task. Simple vocabulary may be used accurately but the range does not permit much variation in expression. There may be frequent lapses in the appropriacy of word choice and a lack of flexibility is apparent in frequent simplifications and/or repetitions. Errors in spelling and/or word formation may be noticeable and may cause some difficulty for the reader.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
The range of structures is limited and rather repetitive. Although complex sentences are attempted, they tend to be faulty, and the greatest accuracy is achieved on simple sentences. Grammatical errors may be frequent and cause some difficulty for the reader. Punctuation may be faulty.

Band 4

Minimally addresses or misunderstands the prompt with unclear position, poorly organized information, basic vocabulary, and frequent grammatical errors that may impede meaning.

Task Response
The prompt is tackled in a minimal way, or the answer is tangential, possibly due to some misunderstanding of the prompt. The format may be inappropriate. A position is discernible, but the reader has to read carefully to find it. Main ideas are difficult to identify and such ideas that are identifiable may lack relevance, clarity and/or support. Large parts of the response may be repetitive.
Coherence and Cohesion
Information and ideas are evident but not arranged coherently and there is no clear progression within the response. Relationships between ideas can be unclear and/or inadequately marked. There is some use of basic cohesive devices, which may be inaccurate or repetitive. There is inaccurate use or a lack of substitution or referencing. There may be no paragraphing and/or no clear main topic within paragraphs.
Lexical Resource
The resource is limited and inadequate for or unrelated to the task. Vocabulary is basic and may be used repetitively. There may be inappropriate use of lexical chunks (e.g. memorised phrases, formulaic language and/or language from the input material). Inappropriate word choice and/or errors in word formation and/or in spelling may impede meaning.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A very limited range of structures is used. Subordinate clauses are rare and simple sentences predominate. Some structures are produced accurately but grammatical errors are frequent and may impede meaning. Punctuation is often faulty or inadequate.

Band 3

Inadequately addresses or misunderstands the prompt with few relevant ideas, illogical organization, inadequate vocabulary, and frequent grammatical errors that prevent most meaning.

Task Response
No part of the prompt is adequately addressed, or the prompt has been misunderstood. No relevant position can be identified, and/or there is little direct response to the question/s. There are few ideas, and these may be irrelevant or insufficiently developed.
Coherence and Cohesion
There is no apparent logical organisation. Ideas are discernible but difficult to relate to each other. There is minimal use of sequencers or cohesive devices. Those used do not necessarily indicate a logical relationship between ideas. There is difficulty in identifying referencing. Any attempts at paragraphing are unhelpful.
Lexical Resource
The resource is inadequate (which may be due to the response being significantly underlength). Possible over-dependence on input material or memorised language. Control of word choice and/or spelling is very limited, and errors predominate. These errors may severely impede meaning.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Sentence forms are attempted, but errors in grammar and punctuation predominate (except in memorised phrases or those taken from the input material). This prevents most meaning from coming through. Length may be insufficient to provide evidence of control of sentence forms.

Band 2

Barely related to the prompt with no clear position, lack of organizational features, extremely limited vocabulary, and little to no evidence of sentence forms.

Task Response
The content is barely related to the prompt. No position can be identified. There may be glimpses of one or two ideas without development. There is little relevant message, or the entire response may be off-topic.
Coherence and Cohesion
There is little evidence of control of organisational features.
Lexical Resource
The resource is extremely limited with few recognisable strings, apart from memorised phrases. There is no apparent control of word formation and/or spelling.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
There is little or no evidence of sentence forms (except in memorised phrases).

Band 1

Wholly unrelated to the prompt with no coherent message, no use of organizational features, no apparent vocabulary, and no rateable language.

Task Response
Responses of 20 words or fewer are rated at Band 1. The content is wholly unrelated to the prompt. Any copied rubric must be discounted. Responses of 20 words or fewer are rated at Band 1. The writing fails to communicate any message and appears to be by a virtual non-writer.
Coherence and Cohesion
Responses of 20 words or fewer are rated at Band 1.
Lexical Resource
No resource is apparent, except for a few isolated words.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Responses of 20 words or fewer are rated at Band 1. No rateable language is evident.

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