How Writing & Speaking are scored
IELTS marks Writing and Speaking on four equally-weighted criteria, each on the 9-band scale. Your score for the skill is the average of the four. Below is what each criterion means, what the key bands look like in plain terms, and exactly what earns a higher band — so you know precisely what to aim for.
The band descriptions here are paraphrased from the official public IELTS band descriptors. Our feedback applies these same criteria; it is an indicative guide for practice, not an official result.
Writing: the four criteria
Task Achievement / Task Response
How fully and accurately you answer the exact task set — covering every part of the question, developing your ideas, and (in Task 1) reporting the data correctly.
| Band | In plain terms |
|---|---|
| 5 | Addresses the task only partly; the format may be inappropriate, or key parts are missing or thin. |
| 6 | Addresses all parts of the task, though some points are more developed than others; a position is present but not always clear. |
| 7 | Covers all parts with a clear position throughout; main ideas are extended and supported, with only minor lapses. |
| 8 | Answers every part fully; ideas are well developed, relevant and well supported, with a fully clear and consistent position. |
What we look for
- ✓Answer the specific question asked — not a memorised essay on the general topic.
- ✓Cover every part of the prompt (both views AND your opinion, problem AND solution, etc.).
- ✓Task 2: a clear, consistent position stated in the introduction and held to the end.
- ✓Task 1: an overview sentence of the main trends, plus figures that are factually correct.
- ✓Meet the word count (150 / 250); under-length answers are penalised.
Coherence & Cohesion
How logically your writing is organised and how smoothly ideas connect — paragraphing, sequencing, and the linking of sentences and ideas.
| Band | In plain terms |
|---|---|
| 5 | Some organisation, but linking is mechanical or faulty; paragraphing may be missing or illogical. |
| 6 | Coherent overall with clear progression; cohesive devices are used but sometimes over- or under-used or inaccurate. |
| 7 | Logically organised with clear progression; a range of linking is used flexibly, with clear central topics in each paragraph. |
| 8 | Information and ideas are sequenced logically and managed skilfully; cohesion attracts no attention. |
What we look for
- ✓One clear central idea per paragraph, with a topic sentence.
- ✓A logical progression from introduction to conclusion.
- ✓Varied, accurate linking (however, whereas, as a result) rather than a repeated few.
- ✓Reference words (this, such, these) used to avoid clumsy repetition.
- ✓Do not overuse connectors — natural flow beats a linker in every sentence.
Lexical Resource
The range, precision and appropriacy of your vocabulary, including collocation, word formation and spelling.
| Band | In plain terms |
|---|---|
| 5 | A limited range; noticeable errors in word choice, spelling or formation that can strain the reader. |
| 6 | An adequate range for the task; some less common words attempted, with some errors that do not impede communication. |
| 7 | A sufficient range used flexibly and with precision; some less common items and collocation, with occasional errors. |
| 8 | A wide range used fluently and precisely; skilful use of uncommon items with rare, minor slips. |
What we look for
- ✓Precise word choice over "big" words used incorrectly.
- ✓Natural collocations (make a decision, a significant increase).
- ✓Topic-appropriate vocabulary, paraphrasing the prompt rather than copying it.
- ✓Accurate spelling and word forms (economy / economic / economically).
- ✓Avoid memorised phrases that do not fit the specific question.
Grammatical Range & Accuracy
The range of sentence structures you can control and how accurately you use them, including punctuation.
| Band | In plain terms |
|---|---|
| 5 | A limited range of structures; frequent errors that can cause difficulty for the reader. |
| 6 | A mix of simple and complex forms; errors occur but rarely reduce communication. |
| 7 | A variety of complex structures; the majority of sentences are error-free, with good control of grammar and punctuation. |
| 8 | A wide range of structures used flexibly and accurately; the vast majority of sentences are error-free. |
What we look for
- ✓A genuine mix of sentence types — not every sentence the same shape.
- ✓Complex sentences (relative clauses, conditionals) used accurately, not just attempted.
- ✓Control of tense, agreement and articles.
- ✓Accurate punctuation, including commas in complex sentences.
- ✓Accuracy first: a correct simple sentence beats a broken complex one.
Speaking: the four criteria
Fluency & Coherence
How smoothly and continuously you speak, and how logically you connect ideas — without long hesitation or excessive self-correction.
| Band | In plain terms |
|---|---|
| 5 | Keeps going but with noticeable pauses and repetition; may over-rely on simple links and lose coherence at times. |
| 6 | Willing to speak at length, though coherence may break with hesitation or repetition; a range of connectives, not always appropriately. |
| 7 | Speaks at length without much effort; some hesitation is content-related rather than language-related; connectives used flexibly. |
| 8 | Speaks fluently with only rare repetition or self-correction; topics developed coherently and appropriately. |
What we look for
- ✓Keep going — extend answers with reasons and examples instead of one-line replies.
- ✓Hesitate to think about the idea, not to search for the word.
- ✓Connect ideas naturally (the thing is, what I mean is, on top of that).
- ✓A steady speaking rate; do not race or trail off.
- ✓Self-correct sparingly — constant restarting lowers fluency.
Lexical Resource
The range and precision of your spoken vocabulary, including idiomatic language and paraphrase when you lack a word.
| Band | In plain terms |
|---|---|
| 5 | Manages to talk about familiar and unfamiliar topics but uses vocabulary with limited flexibility. |
| 6 | A wide enough range to discuss topics at length; meaning is clear despite some inappropriate choices. |
| 7 | Uses vocabulary flexibly, with some less common and idiomatic items and effective paraphrase. |
| 8 | A wide range used fluently to convey precise meaning, with skilful use of less common and idiomatic language. |
What we look for
- ✓Precise, topic-specific words rather than vague ones (stuff, things, nice).
- ✓Natural idiom used correctly — not forced in.
- ✓Paraphrase smoothly when a word escapes you, instead of stopping.
- ✓Collocations that sound natural to a fluent speaker.
Grammatical Range & Accuracy
The range of spoken structures you use and how accurately you use them across the interview.
| Band | In plain terms |
|---|---|
| 5 | Basic sentence forms with reasonable accuracy; complex structures are limited and often contain errors. |
| 6 | A mix of short and complex forms; frequent errors in complex structures, though these rarely impede meaning. |
| 7 | A range of structures used flexibly; frequent error-free sentences, with some persistent minor errors. |
| 8 | A wide range used flexibly; the majority of sentences are error-free, with only occasional slips. |
What we look for
- ✓Use a range of tenses naturally, especially when narrating and speculating.
- ✓Attempt complex structures (because…, if I had…, which means…) accurately.
- ✓Keep subject–verb agreement and articles under control while speaking.
- ✓Accuracy matters even in spontaneous speech — but do not sacrifice fluency for it.
Pronunciation
How clearly and naturally you are understood — individual sounds, word and sentence stress, rhythm and intonation. Accent is not penalised.
| Band | In plain terms |
|---|---|
| 5 | Shows some features of natural speech, but lapses in control mean effort is sometimes needed to understand. |
| 6 | A range of features with mixed control; generally understood, though mispronunciation reduces clarity at times. |
| 7 | A range of features used well; generally easy to understand, with only occasional lapses. |
| 8 | A wide range of features used with sustained control; easy to understand throughout; accent has little effect. |
What we look for
- ✓Clarity over "sounding native" — a clear accent is completely fine.
- ✓Word stress on the right syllable (comFORtable, phoTOGraphy).
- ✓Sentence stress and intonation that carry meaning, not a flat monotone.
- ✓Natural rhythm and chunking — pause at phrase boundaries, not mid-word.
- ✓Clear individual sounds, especially word endings.
Ready to put it into practice?
Take a full mock test, then get feedback on your Writing and Speaking against these exact criteria, with concrete points to improve.