What the Writing test asks for
You have 60 minutes for two tasks.
- Task 1 (at least 150 words): in Academic, you describe a chart, table, process diagram or map. In General Training, you write a letter, which may be formal, semi-formal or informal.
- Task 2 (at least 250 words): an essay in response to a point of view, argument or problem. Task 2 carries more weight than Task 1, so plan to spend about 40 minutes on it.
Both tasks are marked on four criteria:
- Task Achievement (Task 1) or Task Response (Task 2): did you answer the question fully and clearly?
- Coherence and Cohesion: is your writing logically organised, with clear paragraphs and linking?
- Lexical Resource: how wide and accurate is your vocabulary?
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy: how varied and correct are your sentences?
Common mistakes we see from Riyadh candidates
Riyadh's IELTS candidates come from very different language backgrounds, and each group tends to have its own patterns. These are tendencies, not rules, but you may recognise yourself in some of them.
Arabic-speaking writers
- Very long sentences joined by "and". Arabic prose allows long chains of clauses; in English this often reads as run-on sentences. Break ideas into shorter sentences and vary your linking words.
- Punctuation. Commas are sometimes used where English needs a full stop. Check every sentence that is longer than two lines.
- Articles. "The" is often added where English does not use it ("The education is important") or dropped where it is needed.
- Capital letters. Because Arabic has no capitals, names, countries and the start of sentences sometimes slip. It is a quick fix that examiners notice.
- Spelling of vowels, such as "advertisment" or "enviroment", especially when typing quickly on the computer test.
Expatriate writers from South Asia and the Philippines
- Local business English. Phrases common in offices across the region, such as "kindly revert", "do the needful" or "prepone", are not standard in IELTS letters and essays.
- Over-formal tone in informal letters. A General Training letter to a friend should sound friendly, not like an email to HR.
Almost everyone
- Memorised phrases. Lines such as "In this contemporary era, it is a debatable issue" are easy for examiners to spot and add nothing. Memorised language can lower your score.
- Over-long introductions. Two sentences are enough: paraphrase the question and give your position.
- Not answering every part. If the question asks "Why?" and "What can be done?", both need a full paragraph.
- Task 1 opinions. Academic Task 1 should describe and compare the data, not explain why it happened.
A reliable Task 2 structure
- Introduction (2 sentences): paraphrase and position.
- Body paragraph 1: one main idea, explained and supported with an example.
- Body paragraph 2: a second main idea, or the other side if the question asks for both views.
- Conclusion (1–2 sentences): restate your position clearly.
Examples from life in Saudi Arabia, such as the growth of public transport in Riyadh, remote working or rising university enrolment, are perfectly acceptable, as long as they support your argument rather than replacing it.
How AI feedback helps
IELTS Learning has 104 Writing prompts covering every Academic Task 1 type, General Training letters and all common essay types. When you submit a response, you receive an AI-estimated band for each of the four criteria, with comments on what to improve.
This is useful because it shows you where the problem actually is. Many students assume they need more advanced vocabulary when their real weakness is Task Response or paragraphing. Rewrite the same essay after feedback; the second draft teaches more than a new topic does.
When to book a teacher
AI feedback is fast and available at any hour, but a human teacher can explain why a paragraph does not work and how to think differently. Our Book a Teacher sessions are about 20 minutes, online, from $5. The best way to use one is to bring an essay you have already revised once after AI feedback.
Build a weekly Writing habit
Students and professionals in Riyadh who improve fastest usually write:
- two Task 1 responses a week (20 minutes each);
- two Task 2 essays a week (40 minutes each), one on a weekday evening and one at the weekend;
- one rewrite of their weakest essay.
Use the IELTS tips blog for model structures and the practice area for timed tasks. Full Access is $12 for 2 months: start here.