IELTS Writing Test: Everything You Need to Know
On the day of your IELTS exam, you’ll complete Listening, Reading, and Writing in one sitting. To succeed, it’s not just about strong English skills—you also need to know what to expect and practise every type of question.
The IELTS Writing test differs slightly between the Academic and General Training versions, but both include two writing tasks that must be completed in 60 minutes. Your score will depend on how well you organise ideas, use grammar and vocabulary, and write in the correct style.
Let’s break it down.
🔹 IELTS Writing Test Overview
- Total time: 60 minutes
- Two tasks: Task 1 and Task 2
- Marking weight: Task 2 is worth twice as many marks as Task 1
- Skills tested: Organising ideas, writing style, grammar, vocabulary
⚡ Time Management Tip: Spend 20 minutes on Task 1 and 40 minutes on Task 2.
📊 IELTS Academic Writing
Task 1: Describing Visual Information
You’ll need to write at least 150 words describing some form of data, such as a chart, graph, table, diagram, or process.
You may be asked to:
- Summarise trends
- Compare data points
- Explain how something works
- Describe the stages of a process
Style to use: Academic, semi-formal, and neutral. Imagine you’re writing for a lecturer or manager. No personal opinions—just describe what you see.
👉 Pro tip: Task 1 is shorter and carries fewer marks than Task 2, so don’t spend too long on it.
📍 Example lesson: Describing Main Features in Charts – IELTS Academic Task 1
📍 Podcast: How to Describe Statistics
Task 2: Essay Writing
In Task 2, you’ll write at least 250 words responding to a question about:
- A point of view
- An argument
- A problem or solution
You may be asked to:
- Present and justify an opinion
- Compare and contrast ideas
- Evaluate and challenge evidence or arguments
Style to use: Academic, formal, and neutral. Write in clear paragraphs with an introduction, body, and conclusion.
👉 Pro tip: This task is worth twice as many marks as Task 1, so plan carefully and give it more time.
📍 Example lesson: How to Get Band 7+ in IELTS Writing Task 2
✉️ IELTS General Training Writing
Task 1: Letter Writing
You’ll need to write at least 150 words in the form of a letter. The letter could be:
- Informal (to a friend)
- Semi-formal (to a colleague)
- Formal (to an employer, company, or authority)
Possible situations:
- Asking for or giving information
- Explaining a problem
- Making a complaint
- Expressing opinions, needs, or preferences
Style to use: Depends on the context (formal, semi-formal, or informal). Use the correct greetings and closings.
👉 Pro tip: Task 1 is worth only one-third of your marks, so keep it concise and clear.
📍 Example lessons:
- How to Write an Informal Letter – IELTS GT Task 1
- How to Write a Semi-formal Letter – IELTS GT Task 1
- How to Write a Formal Letter – IELTS GT Task 1
Task 2: Essay Writing
This is very similar to the Academic version. You’ll write at least 250 words on a topic of general interest. Tasks may involve:
- Presenting factual information
- Outlining a problem and solution
- Giving and justifying an opinion
- Evaluating ideas or arguments
Style to use: Semi-formal or formal. Essays should be structured into clear paragraphs.
👉 Pro tip: Spend 40 minutes here—it’s the most important part of your Writing test.
📍 Example lesson: How to Score Band 7+ in GT Writing Task 2