Page 1 of 1 IELTS Writing Band Descriptors: Task 2 (public version)

Band Task Response Coherence and Cohesion Lexical Resource Grammatical Range and Accuracy
9 ! fully addresses all parts of the task ! uses cohesion in such a way that it attracts no attention ! uses a wide range of vocabulary with very natural ! uses a wide range of structures with full flexibility
! presents a fully developed position in answer to the ! skilfully manages paragraphing and sophisticated control of lexical features; rare and accuracy; rare minor errors occur only as ‘slips’
question with relevant, fully extended and well minor errors occur only as ‘slips’
supported ideas
8 ! sufficiently addresses all parts of the task ! sequences information and ideas logically ! uses a wide range of vocabulary fluently and flexibly ! uses a wide range of structures
! presents a well-developed response to the question ! manages all aspects of cohesion well to convey precise meanings ! the majority of sentences are error-free
with relevant, extended and supported ideas ! uses paragraphing sufficiently and appropriately ! skilfully uses uncommon lexical items but there may ! makes only very occasional errors or inappropriacies
be occasional inaccuracies in word choice and
collocation
! produces rare errors in spelling and/or word
formation
7 ! addresses all parts of the task ! logically organises information and ideas; there is clear ! uses a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow some ! uses a variety of complex structures
! presents a clear position throughout the response progression throughout flexibility and precision ! produces frequent error-free sentences
! presents, extends and supports main ideas, but ! uses a range of cohesive devices appropriately ! uses less common lexical items with some ! has good control of grammar and punctuation but
there may be a tendency to over-generalise and/or although there may be some under-/over-use awareness of style and collocation may make a few errors
supporting ideas may lack focus ! presents a clear central topic within each paragraph ! may produce occasional errors in word choice,
spelling and/or word formation

6 ! addresses all parts of the task although some parts ! arranges information and ideas coherently and there is ! uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task ! uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms
may be more fully covered than others a clear overall progression ! attempts to use less common vocabulary but with ! makes some errors in grammar and punctuation but
! presents a relevant position although the ! uses cohesive devices effectively, but cohesion within some inaccuracy they rarely reduce communication
conclusions may become unclear or repetitive and/or between sentences may be faulty or mechanical ! makes some errors in spelling and/or word
! presents relevant main ideas but some may be ! may not always use referencing clearly or appropriately formation, but they do not impede communication
inadequately developed/unclear ! uses paragraphing, but not always logically
5 ! addresses the task only partially; the format may be ! presents information with some organisation but there ! uses a limited range of vocabulary, but this is ! uses only a limited range of structures
inappropriate in places may be a lack of overall progression minimally adequate for the task ! attempts complex sentences but these tend to be
! expresses a position but the development is not ! makes inadequate, inaccurate or over-use of cohesive ! may make noticeable errors in spelling and/or word less accurate than simple sentences
always clear and there may be no conclusions devices formation that may cause some difficulty for the ! may make frequent grammatical errors and
drawn ! may be repetitive because of lack of referencing and reader punctuation may be faulty; errors can cause some
! presents some main ideas but these are limited and substitution difficulty for the reader
not sufficiently developed; there may be irrelevant ! may not write in paragraphs, or paragraphing may be
detail inadequate
4 ! responds to the task only in a minimal way or the ! presents information and ideas but these are not ! uses only basic vocabulary which may be used ! uses only a very limited range of structures with only
answer is tangential; the format may be arranged coherently and there is no clear progression repetitively or which may be inappropriate for the rare use of subordinate clauses
inappropriate in the response task ! some structures are accurate but errors
! presents a position but this is unclear ! uses some basic cohesive devices but these may be ! has limited control of word formation and/or spelling; predominate, and punctuation is often faulty
! presents some main ideas but these are difficult to inaccurate or repetitive errors may cause strain for the reader
identify and may be repetitive, irrelevant or not well ! may not write in paragraphs or their use may be
supported confusing
3 ! does not adequately address any part of the task ! does not organise ideas logically ! uses only a very limited range of words and ! attempts sentence forms but errors in grammar and
! does not express a clear position ! may use a very limited range of cohesive devices, and expressions with very limited control of word punctuation predominate and distort the meaning
! presents few ideas, which are largely undeveloped those used may not indicate a logical relationship formation and/or spelling
or irrelevant between ideas ! errors may severely distort the message
2 ! barely responds to the task ! has very little control of organisational features ! uses an extremely limited range of vocabulary; ! cannot use sentence forms except in memorised
! does not express a position essentially no control of word formation and/or phrases
! may attempt to present one or two ideas but there is spelling
no development
1 ! answer is completely unrelated to the task ! fails to communicate any message ! can only use a few isolated words ! cannot use sentence forms at all
0 ! does not attend
! does not attempt the task in any way
! writes a totally memorised response