IELTS - Writing Assessment Criteria for Task 1
2023

Q: What are the criteria for Writing tasks 1 and 2 in IELTS?

Task 2 is scored in the same way as Task 1, except in the place of Task Achievement, Task Response is used.

Q: What are the goals of Writing Assessment Task 1?

The Writing Task is included to assess your ability to distinguish the main features, describe data, recognise trends and facts and ability to describe a process.

Q: Who checks IELTS Writing?

IELTS Writing Task is assessed by examiners who are trained and certified by British Council, IDP-IELTS Australia or IELTS USA.

Q: How can I get band 8 in IELTS Writing Task?

Answer both questions Utilise your paraphrasing skill efficiently. Use common vocabulary naturally. Give an overview and explain key points in Task 1. Answer Task 2 clearly and extensively.

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IELTS - Writing Assessment Criteria for Task 1

IELTS - International English Language Testing System

Attending the IELTS exam can be your life-changing decision, since the exam opens doors to quite a lot of rewards or benefits that boost your professional and personal chances of having a successful life. From getting admitted to your favourite university to securing that lucrative job, clearing the IELTS exam by exhibiting a top-notch performance goes a long way for you.

IELTS has two categories: Academic and General, where the category Academic is for your university admission, and General is for your career and immigration purposes. So sitting for the first time for your university admission helps you to be more prepared for the next attempt for your career purpose.

As we all know, IELTS is an English Language proficiency exam that tests the competency of the test takers in the English language. Proving your competency and skill in the exam is vital to enjoy its rewards. Today let us explore more about the writing section of the IELTS exam and how the IELTS examiners assess the section.

We have covered the answer format and explained each point clearly for students to understand. Besides, each criteria is also explained clearly for students to understand its importance. Finally, the score calculation is given to know how the task is scored.

Writing Assessment Criteria for Task 1

Task 1 is about presenting the visual information given in the form of an essay in 150 words. The visual information can be in the form of a graph or a chart giving information about people or things.

Completing the Task 1 can be tricky or difficult, if you are not prepared for it.

To give an appropriate answer for the Task 1, follow the below steps.

Introduce the graph/chart.
Give an overview or your understanding of the chart/graph.
Spot the main features and describe them.
Provide a precise and short conclusion.

Introduce the Graph/Chart

To introduce them in an enticing manner, write your understanding of the information in a descriptive way. Meaning describe the information in a presentable and clear way. At AECC, we provide comprehensive training for students on how to perform in each task, giving them essential inputs to score a high band in the task.

Give an Overview

An overview is the general description of the information without including the details. Your overview should be to the point and should stay informative as well. You can score well in the Task 1 by writing suitable and proper explanations under each heading.

Describe the Main features

This is where you should show your proficiency in attention to detail. Look at the stats given and explain them without any glitch. If you find any similarity and difference between the information, highlight them as well. Overall, this section is all about presenting the core information in an understandable manner.

Provide a Precise and Short Conclusion

Providing a conclusion may not be necessary, but giving one allows you to express your opinions and final thoughts on the given information. Through conclusion you can provide your own thoughts of understanding about the topic and give an analysis or perfect ending to it.

Criteria

You might be clear about how to present the given information through an essay. Now moving to the scoring, your writing skill will be assessed on the four standard criteria. They are:-

Task Achievement
Coherence and Cohesion.
Lexical Resource (Vocabulary)
Grammatical Range and Accuracy

Task Achievement

Through this 1st criterion, the examiner will understand how far you have comprehended the given information and your ability to transform the information into a neat and descriptive essay.

Coherence and Cohesion

Coherence directly implies the regularity in your sentence structure and the sentences that come after it. Cohesion is nothing but the whole meaningful information that should be presented through your essay.

Lexical Resource

Lexical Resource mean the words or the vocabulary you use in your writing. It is often a misconception that you have to use complex and difficult words to score a high band. But it is not the fact. Using simple and apt words to describe a situation is more sufficient to put forth a good performance.

IELTS Task 1 Writing Band Descriptors

The Band and its meaning for each criterion are given below for students’ reference.

Band	Task Achievement	Coherence and Cohesion	Lexical Resource	Grammatical Range and Accuracy
9	Satisfies all the requirements of the task and presents a fully developed response	Skillful in paraphrasing and using cohesion	Ability to use a wide range of vocabulary in a natural and sophisticated way.	Perfect grammatical usage with complete flexibility and accuracy.
8	Sufficient in fulfilling the task requirements and properly highlighting and illustrating the key features.	Presents information with coherence and logic.	Have the ability to use a wide range of vocabulary fluently and flexibly.	Accuracy in the usage of grammar.
7	Presents a precise overview of the central theme but could be more descriptive.	Clear presentation of information and cohesive ideas still over/under usage	Ability to use a sufficient range of vocabulary with occasional errors in spelling and word formation control.	Has good grammar and punctuation.
6	Can present the information in a clear way, but inconsistencies and irrelevancy in tone exist.	There is an overall progression with the presentation of information and ideas coherently.	Adequate vocabulary usage with occasional errors in word choice, spelling and word formation.	Can use simple and complex sentences with some errors in grammar and punctuation.
5	Can address the task purpose but need to describe the given information clearly. Need more time to focus on details.	Can present information with some organisation but needs more progression and accuracy.	Uses vocabulary, which is adequate for the task but makes spelling and word formation errors.	Only fair usage of grammar with frequent errors.
4	Tried to attempt the task but didn’t touch key features. Also, there is inaccuracy and irrelevancy in the presentation.	Presented information is not cohesive.	Usage of only basic vocabulary and limited control of word formation.	Only limited usage of proper grammar and also frequent grammatical errors.
3	Unable to address the task's purpose and presents information inaccurately.	No proper organisation of ideas and very limited coherency.	Only limited usage of vocabulary with too many errors altering the message.	Attempted sentence formation but frequent errors in grammar and punctuation, changing the meaning of the information.
2	Answer is barely related to the task given.	Little to no control over presenting the information in a coherent way.	Extremely limited usage of vocabulary with too many errors spoiling the message.	Tried to attempt sentence formation, but frequent grammar errors distort the message.
1	Answer doesn’t completely match the task given.	The answer doesn’t deliver any message.	Usage of only a few isolated words.	Cannot use grammar.
0	Did not attend the exam/ did not attend the task/ written a memorised response.

Example of Writing Task 1 Score Calculated

Let’s see how task 1 is scored. For instance, if you have scored,

Band 8 in Task Achievement
Band 9 in Coherence and Cohesion
Band 8 in Grammar
Band 7 in Vocabulary

Total Socre for IELTS Writing Task 1 - 8+9+8+7 = 32/4 = 8.

To calculate your score, add all the scores and divide them by 4.

Is IELTS your preferred English Language proficiency exam to study abroad? Then, you are in the right hands. We at AECC conduct IELTS classes for study-abroad aspirants through experienced and expert English Langauge trainers.

Our IELTS program is conducted at an affordable cost. Enrol in our next IELTS batch to score a high band in your IELTS exam. To know more about the program, reach out to us now.

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FAQs About IELTS - Writing Assessment Criteria for Task 1

What are the 4 criteria for IELTS Writing?

Task Achievement, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource and Grammatical Range and Accuracy are the four criteria for scoring the IELTS Writing Task 1.

What are the criteria for Writing tasks 1 and 2 in IELTS?

What are the goals of Writing Assessment Task 1?

Who checks IELTS Writing?

How can I get band 8 in IELTS Writing Task?

IELTS - Writing Assessment Criteria for Task 12023