Learn how IELTS band descriptors work for Writing and Speaking. Discover what examiners look for and how to improve your score with practical tips.

Introduction 

If you’ve ever wondered why you scored 6.5 in Writing or 7.0 in Speaking despite doing your best, you’re not alone. The answer lies in one of the most misunderstood aspects of the test: the IELTS Band Descriptors. 

This blog breaks down the official IELTS assessment criteria used by examiners in both Writing and Speaking, so you can prepare smarter, not harder. 

IELTS Writing Band Descriptors – Task 1 & Task 2 

Writing is assessed using 4 key criteria, each contributing 25% to your total writing band score: 

1. Task Achievement (Task 1) / Task Response (Task 2) 

• What it means: Did you answer the question completely and appropriately? 

• Tips to improve: 

• Address all parts of the question. 

• Use relevant examples and explanations. 

• Stay on-topic throughout. 

2. Coherence and Cohesion 

• What it means: Is your writing logical and easy to follow? 

• Tips to improve: 

• Use clear paragraphing (Intro – Body – Conclusion). 

• Connect ideas with linkers like however, moreover, in contrast. 

• Avoid repetition and overuse of transitions. 

3. Lexical Resource (Vocabulary) 

• What it means: Range and accuracy of your vocabulary. 

• Tips to improve: 

• Use topic-specific words. 

• Avoid repeating the same words—use synonyms. 

• Be careful with collocations and word forms. 

4. Grammatical Range and Accuracy 

• What it means: Variety and correctness of sentence structures. 

• Tips to improve: 

• Use both simple and complex sentence types. 

• Limit grammar mistakes (subject-verb agreement, tenses, articles). 

• Proofread your writing before submission. 

IELTS Speaking Band Descriptors 

Like writing, speaking is also marked on 4 criteria (25% each): 

1. Fluency and Coherence 

• What it means: Your ability to speak smoothly and logically. 

• Tips to improve: 

• Avoid long pauses and fillers (uh, um). 

• Practice answer structures (e.g., opinion → reason → example). 

• Speak at a natural pace. 

2. Lexical Resource 

• What it means: Vocabulary range and appropriateness. 

• Tips to improve: 

• Use idioms and expressions naturally (e.g., “a blessing in disguise”). 

• Avoid overusing basic words (good, bad, very). 

• Learn topic-related vocabulary. 

3. Grammatical Range and Accuracy 

• What it means: Use of a variety of sentence structures without frequent errors. 

• Tips to improve: 

• Use past, present, and future tenses accurately. 

• Include conditionals and modals where appropriate. 

• Practice self-correction. 

4. Pronunciation 

• What it means: Clarity, stress, intonation, and rhythm. 

• Tips to improve: 

• Record yourself speaking and listen back. 

• Use rising and falling intonation. 

• Practice word stress and sentence rhythm. 

Band Descriptor Table (Simplified Overview) 

Band Score	Writing Example	Speaking Example
9	Fully developed ideas, no errors, high-level vocab	Speaks fluently with rich vocabulary and perfect pronunciation
8	Minor errors, well-organized, wide grammar range	Slight hesitations, mostly accurate and expressive
7	Some errors, good structure and vocabulary	Speaks clearly but occasional errors and repetition
6	Limited range, frequent grammar issues	Hesitations, repetition, simple sentences mostly

How to Use the Band Descriptors to Your Advantage 

1. Self-check your writing/speaking using the 4 criteria. 

2. Get expert feedback to understand your mistakes. 

3. Use band descriptors as a checklist before submitting practice tasks. 

4. Track your improvement by grading your own speaking or writing samples. 

Want to know more about How IELTS Bands work?  

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Final Thoughts 

Understanding the IELTS band descriptors is like getting a cheat code to crack the test. When you know exactly what the examiner is looking for, you can stop guessing and start improving. 

🔔 Bookmark this blog, review the 4 key criteria regularly, and practice with purpose. 

Ready to Score Higher? 

📘 Join our full IELTS course with detailed Band 9 examples, video lessons, and expert feedback. 

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