The two tasks
You have 60 minutes for two tasks, and Task 2 counts for more, so plan about 20 minutes for Task 1 and 40 for Task 2.
- Academic Task 1: describe a chart, table, process or map in at least 150 words. You report and compare the data; you do not give opinions or reasons.
- General Training Task 1: write a letter of at least 150 words, which may be formal, semi-formal or informal.
- Task 2 (both modules): an essay of at least 250 words responding to an opinion, discussion, problem-solution, advantages-disadvantages or two-part question.
The four criteria
Every task is marked on four criteria, each worth a quarter of the score:
- Task Achievement (Task 1) / Task Response (Task 2): do you answer every part of the question with a clear position and relevant, developed ideas?
- Coherence and Cohesion: are your paragraphs logical, and do linking words help rather than clutter?
- Lexical Resource: is your vocabulary precise and varied, with accurate word choice and spelling?
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy: do you use a mix of sentence structures with few errors?
Common habits among Dhaka students
These are patterns teachers see often among students who learned English through the Bangladeshi school system. They are habits, not weaknesses, and they can all be changed.
Memorised compositions
Many students prepared for SSC and HSC by learning paragraphs and compositions by heart: "Traffic Jam", "Digital Bangladesh", "The Importance of Education". In IELTS, memorised blocks usually show. They rarely fit the exact question, and examiners are trained to spot them. Learn ideas and structures, not whole paragraphs.
Formal letter formulas
School application letters often use phrases such as "I beg to state that", "with due respect" or "Yours obediently". In a General Training letter these sound out of date. "I am writing to…" and "Yours faithfully" or "Yours sincerely" are what examiners expect.
Long, general introductions
Opening with "From the dawn of civilisation, education has been the backbone of a nation" uses time and words without answering anything. Two sentences are enough: paraphrase the question and state your position.
Phrases that sound natural locally
Some expressions common in Bangladeshi English are not standard in international English, for example "in this regard" used at the start of every paragraph, "it is to be noted that", "nowadays" in every introduction, or "discuss about". Each one is a small Lexical Resource issue that adds up.
Translating from Bangla
Writing long sentences in Bangla in your head and translating them often produces run-on sentences joined with "and" or "so". Shorter, clearer sentences with a few well-chosen complex structures score better.
A practical IELTS Writing practice routine
- Write one Task 2 essay at least three times a week, timed at 40 minutes.
- Write one Task 1 every other day: a chart for Academic, a letter for General Training.
- Read your feedback on each criterion and rewrite the weakest paragraph.
- Keep a list of your repeated errors, such as articles ("the"), subject-verb agreement or plural forms, and check for them before you submit.
If you live in Uttara and study in Mohakhali, or work in Motijheel and live in Mirpur, the evening is usually your best writing time. Write on a laptop if you are taking the computer-delivered test, so typing speed is not a surprise.
If English spelling on a keyboard slows you down, turn off autocorrect while you practise. The real test has no spellchecker, so you need to see your own errors. Read your essay once at the end, looking only for articles, plurals and verb endings, which are the most common slips for Bengali speakers because Bangla handles them differently.
How IELTS Learning helps
Our IELTS Writing practice tools are built around the same four criteria examiners use.
- 104 Writing prompts covering Academic charts, tables, processes and maps, General Training letters and every essay type.
- AI-estimated bands for all four criteria, with feedback that tells you what to change, usually within minutes.
- Study Notes with strategy chapters for each task type, and English Improvement for grammar and vocabulary.
- Book a Teacher: about 20 minutes 1-to-1 with an IELTS teacher, from $5, to go through an essay in detail. AI feedback is fast; a teacher can explain why a band is stuck.
Full Access is $12 for 2 months. You can register free to try the sample test, which includes a Writing section. Many UK and Canadian universities ask for a minimum Writing band as well as an overall score, often 6.0 or 6.5, so check your course page for the exact figure.