I need to improve IELTS Writing. I keep practising essays.
Online English TutorIELTS Academic · Writing
IELTS Academic Writing: what are you actually being asked to do?
If you are practising “IELTS Writing” without separating Task 1 from Task 2, you can spend hours improving the wrong thing. The two tasks have different jobs, different minimum lengths and different weight in the final Writing score.
The useful answer first
IELTS Academic Writing is 60 minutes and contains two tasks. In Task 1, you describe visual information in your own words, with at least 150 words and roughly 20 minutes recommended. In Task 2, you respond to a point of view, argument or problem in at least 250 words, with roughly 40 minutes recommended. Task 2 carries more weight in the Writing score.
Know the task before you practise it
“I am bad at IELTS Writing” is too vague to teach.
This page uses the current IELTS Academic format and published Writing criteria. The practice examples are QuickTalk Tutor examples, not official IELTS questions.
That tells me nothing about Task 1. A learner can write a strong opinion essay and still lose Task Achievement in Task 1 because the overview is missing, the main features are not selected, or the response reports every number without organising the visual.
My Task 2 ideas are usually clear, but in Academic Task 1 I list details and struggle to identify the two main features for the overview.
Now we have a teachable problem. It is not “Writing”. It is selection and overview in Academic Task 1.
Write two separate sentences: “In Task 1, I usually lose control when…” and “In Task 2, I usually lose control when…”. Do not use the word grammar unless you can show the actual grammar pattern.
Do you know the task but not the blocker?
Build My Roadmap for high-level direction. Use the Diagnostic when the same Writing result keeps repeating and you cannot identify why. Use the Fit Call if you first want to know whether QTT is suitable.
Task 1 and Task 2 are not the same writing problem.
Academic Task 1 gives you visual information such as a graph, table, chart or diagram. Your job is not to explain your opinion. You select and report the important information accurately, organise it and make the main features clear.
Task 2 gives you a point of view, argument or problem. Here the job changes: you must respond to the exact question, make your position clear where required, develop relevant ideas and support them.
Both tasks are assessed for Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range and Accuracy. Task 1 uses Task Achievement; Task 2 uses Task Response.
Do not carry an essay habit into Task 1, and do not carry a chart-description habit into Task 2.
60-minute realityTask 1: at least 150 words, about 20 minutes. Task 2: at least 250 words, about 40 minutes. Task 2 carries more weight.
See what “good Writing” means
The four criteria are not four vocabulary lists.
Use the criterion names to inspect your own work. Do not turn them into slogans.
Task Achievement / Task Response
Did you do the job the task set? In Task 1, did you select and report the main information with a clear overview where appropriate? In Task 2, did you answer the question and develop relevant ideas?
Coherence and Cohesion
Can the reader follow the organisation and progression of ideas without fighting through disconnected sentences or mechanical linking words?
Lexical Resource
Are the words accurate and appropriate for the meaning? “Advanced” vocabulary that is unnatural or imprecise does not automatically strengthen the response.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Can you use a useful range of structures accurately enough to communicate the message, especially when time pressure increases?
Do this now
Run a two-task audit.
- Complete one Academic Task 1 under realistic timing.
- Complete one Task 2 under realistic timing.
- Mark only the problems that actually appear in each script.
- Circle the one issue that repeats and test it again on a fresh task.
What I would not do
I would not give you fifty “Band 8 words” before I know whether the real problem is relevance, overview, paragraph logic, sentence control or time pressure.
Check yourself
Can you explain IELTS Academic Writing without guessing?
Tick only what you can explain in your own words.
TRY IT
Teach it back in 30 seconds.
Say what Task 1 is, what Task 2 is, the minimum word counts, the rough time split and the four marking criteria.
Official sources
Check the format at IELTS, then use your own scripts to decide what to teach.
Sources and accuracy boundary
QuickTalk Tutor provides preparation and coaching. Practice examples on this page are not official IELTS test material and do not guarantee a band score.