IELTS- A quick overview of the “writing” section

Total Duration: 60 minutes
2 Tasks:

• Task 1 (150 words minimum)

               Academic: Describe a graph, chart, map, process, or diagram

 

               General Training: Write a letter (formal, semi-formal, or informal)

 

• Task 2 (250 words minimum)

                 Essay based on an opinion, problem, or argument

 

Weightage:

• Task 2 = 66% of your writing score
• Task 1 = 33%

The scoring criteria (each band is based on this)

1. Task Achievement (TA) / Task Response (TR)
   • Did you answer the question clearly and completely?
2. Coherence and Cohesion (CC)
   • Is your writing logically organized and easy to follow?
3. Lexical Resource (LR)
   • Range and accuracy of vocabulary
4. Grammatical Range and Accuracy (GRA)
   • Variety and accuracy of sentence structures

Common issues 

Problem	Why It happens	Quick fix
Weak Vocabulary	Limited range of words	Learn 5–10 academic words daily; use synonyms carefully
Short Answers	Fear of writing more	Practice expanding with examples and explanations
No Structure	Writing without planning	Always spend 5 minutes planning your answer
Grammar Mistakes	Confusion with tenses, sentence forms	Practice simple correct sentence structures daily
Off-topic Answers	Misunderstanding the question	Highlight keywords and paraphrase question first

Task 2: Essay structure for beginners

 Recommended Time: 40 minutes

Structure:

Paragraph	What to Write
Introduction (40–50 words)	Paraphrase the question + give your opinion (if needed)
Body Paragraph 1 (80–100 words)	Main idea #1 + explain + example
Body Paragraph 2 (80–100 words)	Main idea #2 + explain + example
Conclusion (30–40 words)	Restate your opinion + summarize main points

Tips:

• Use connectors: Firstly, Moreover, However, In conclusion
• Use examples: For example, According to a survey, A good example is…

Task 1 (Academic): How to describe a graph/chart

Recommended Time: 20 minutes

Structure:

Paragraph	What to Write
Introduction	Paraphrase the task
Overview	Main trends or key features (no data yet!)
Body 1	First group of data comparisons
Body 2	Second group or changes/trends over time

Tips:

• Focus on comparisons, not all data points
• Use verbs like: rose, fell, remained steady, peaked
• Use percentages, years, and ranges accurately

Task 1 (General): Letter Structure

Type	Opening	Tone
Formal	Dear Sir/Madam	Professional
Semi-formal	Dear Mr./Ms. [Name]	Polite
Informal	Dear [First Name]	Friendly

Structure:

1. Greeting
2. Opening line + purpose
3. 3 body paragraphs (each for one bullet point)
4. Closing line + sign off

Examples of sign offs:

• Formal: Yours faithfully, Yours sincerely
• Informal: Best regards, Take care

Practical tips to improve writing (for beginners)

1. Use templates
   • Learn sample phrases for each section: intro, body, conclusion
2. Daily writing practice (10–15 min)
   • Practice one question per day, focus on structure and clarity
3. Learn by example
   • Read Band 8–9 sample answers, analyze structure and vocabulary
4. Grammar first
   • Master simple tenses, subject-verb agreement, punctuation
5. Use apps & tools
   • Grammarly (basic version) and  Quillbot (for paraphrasing)

Need more help? Contact LEAP to ace your exam.

 

Mishal Iftikhar

Learning & Development Specialist

CEO at LEAP