What the Writing test asks
You have 60 minutes for two tasks.
- Task 1 needs at least 150 words. In Academic, you describe a graph, table, chart, process diagram or map. In General Training, you write a letter: formal, semi-formal or informal.
- Task 2 needs at least 250 words and is an essay responding to a point of view, argument or problem. It is the same type of task in both versions.
Task 2 counts for more of your Writing band than Task 1, so most teachers advise about 20 minutes on Task 1 and 40 on Task 2.
The four criteria
Both tasks are marked on four criteria, each worth a quarter of the task score:
- Task Achievement (Task 1) or Task Response (Task 2): did you answer the actual question fully, with a clear position and relevant support?
- Coherence and Cohesion: are your ideas organised logically, with clear paragraphs and natural linking?
- Lexical Resource: do you use a range of vocabulary accurately and appropriately?
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy: do you use a variety of sentence structures with few errors?
Knowing your score on each criterion separately is much more useful than a single overall number.
Common mistakes Indian students make
These patterns are very common across India, including among strong students in Chennai. None of them mean your English is poor. They are habits, and habits can change.
Memorised phrases
Opening lines such as "In this modern era of globalisation" or "This is a burning issue in today's society" are recognised immediately. They do not answer the question and examiners do not reward memorised language. Start with a direct paraphrase of the topic instead.
Introductions that are too long
A Task 2 introduction needs two or three sentences: paraphrase the question and state your position. Some students write 80 or 90 words of background, leaving too little time for the body paragraphs where the marks really are.
Indian-English usage
Some expressions are natural in Indian English but count as errors in IELTS:
- "revert back" (in an exam, simply say reply)
- "discuss about" (just discuss)
- "pass out of college" (use graduate)
- "do the needful", "kindly do the needful" in GT letters (say what you actually want done)
- "prepone" (use bring forward)
- "cousin brother", "cousin sister" (just cousin)
Overview missing from Academic Task 1
Many students describe every number in the chart but forget the overview: two or three sentences summarising the main trends. Without it, Task Achievement is often capped.
Not answering every part of the question
If the question asks "Why is this happening, and what can be done?", you need both causes and solutions. Answering only one half is the fastest way to lose Task Response marks.
IELTS Writing practice that fits Chennai routines
Writing is the one module you cannot really do on a crowded train or bus. It needs a desk and 40 to 60 quiet minutes. If you are a student at Loyola, Madras Christian College or one of the engineering colleges on the city's outskirts, an hour after dinner two or three times a week is enough to make steady progress. If you work in an IT park, early mornings before the commute are often quieter than evenings.
If you will sit the computer-delivered test, type your practice essays. If you will sit on paper, handwrite them first and count your words, then type them in for feedback.
How AI feedback and teacher sessions help
On IELTS Learning you choose from 104 prompts covering Academic charts, tables, processes and maps, GT letters and every Task 2 essay type. When you submit, you get:
- An AI-estimated band for each of the four criteria.
- Written feedback pointing to specific problems, such as an unclear position, missing overview or repeated vocabulary.
This lets you write often and spot patterns quickly. For a human view, Book a Teacher gives you a 1-to-1 online session, about 20 minutes, from ₹299. A good use of a session is to bring two essays you have already revised after AI feedback, so the teacher can focus on what is still holding you back.
The Study Notes for Writing explain essay structures, Task 1 overviews and letter formats, and the English Improvement section helps with grammar points such as articles and tense consistency that commonly affect Indian students.
Get started
Register free and read the Writing Study Notes first, then start your IELTS Writing practice with a Task 2 essay. Full Access at ₹999 for 2 months, one payment, unlocks every Writing prompt with AI feedback.