How to Improve Your IELTS Writing Task 2 Score
Writing Task 2 is worth 2/3 of your total Writing score, making it crucial for achieving your target Band score. Moving from Band 6 to Band 8+ requires understanding the assessment criteria and applying specific strategies. This guide will show you exactly how to improve.
Understanding the Band Descriptors
To improve, you must understand what examiners are looking for. Writing Task 2 is assessed on four criteria:
- Task Response: How well you address the question and develop your ideas
- Coherence and Cohesion: How logically your essay is organized and connected
- Lexical Resource: Your vocabulary range and accuracy
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Your grammar variety and correctness
Strategy 1: Master the Essay Structure
4-Paragraph Structure (Recommended for Band 7+)
- Introduction: Paraphrase the question + state your position + outline main points
- Body Paragraph 1: First main idea + explanation + example
- Body Paragraph 2: Second main idea + explanation + example
- Conclusion: Summarize main points + restate your position
Introduction Template
Question: Some people think that technology is making people less creative. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Introduction:
It is often argued that technological advancement is diminishing human creativity. While technology undoubtedly provides tools that can enhance creative expression, I believe it may also be reducing our capacity for original thought in certain ways.
Strategy 2: Develop Ideas Fully
Band 6 writers state their opinion but don't develop it. Band 8+ writers fully explain every idea with:
- Explanation: Why this point is relevant or true
- Example: Specific, real-world illustration
- Consequence: What happens as a result
Band 6 example: "Technology makes people less creative. People use apps instead of thinking."
Band 8 example: "Technology may indeed limit creativity when individuals become overly dependent on ready-made solutions. For instance, graphic design software provides templates that allow users to create professional-looking materials without understanding design principles. Consequently, while the output appears polished, the underlying creative process and problem-solving skills remain undeveloped."
Strategy 3: Use Advanced Vocabulary
Move beyond basic words to showcase your lexical resource:
- Instead of "good": beneficial, advantageous, valuable, significant
- Instead of "bad": detrimental, problematic, concerning, adverse
- Instead of "important": crucial, pivotal, fundamental, essential
- Instead of "think": believe, maintain, argue, contend
Strategy 4: Use Complex Grammar Structures
Demonstrate grammatical range with:
- Conditional sentences: "If governments invested more in education, the economy would benefit."
- Relative clauses: "Technology, which has transformed communication, also presents privacy concerns."
- Passive voice: "It is widely believed that..."
- Participle clauses: "Having considered both perspectives, I believe..."
- Inversion: "Not only does technology improve efficiency, but it also creates new opportunities."
Strategy 5: Perfect Your Coherence and Cohesion
Use linking words and phrases to connect ideas logically:
Adding ideas: Furthermore, Moreover, In addition, Additionally
Contrasting: However, Nevertheless, On the other hand, In contrast
Giving examples: For instance, For example, To illustrate, Specifically
Concluding: In conclusion, To sum up, Overall, In summary
Strategy 6: Address Both Sides (For Discussion Essays)
For "discuss both views" questions, you must:
- Present both perspectives fairly
- Give each side a full paragraph
- Provide clear examples for each
- Give your opinion in the conclusion
Strategy 7: Write Enough Words
Minimum: 250 words (but aim for 270-290 words for Band 8+)
Why more words help: More words allow you to develop ideas fully, use more varied vocabulary, and demonstrate grammatical range. However, quality matters more than quantity.
Strategy 8: Plan Before You Write
Spend 3-5 minutes planning:
- Identify the question type (opinion, discussion, problem-solution, etc.)
- Brainstorm 2-3 main ideas for each side (if applicable)
- Decide your position
- Choose examples
- Structure your paragraphs
Strategy 9: Avoid Common Mistakes
- Informal language: Avoid contractions (don't → do not), slang, or casual expressions
- Repetition: Don't repeat the same words or ideas
- Going off-topic: Stay focused on the question
- Memorized phrases: Examiners recognize generic phrases; be original
- Spelling errors: Proofread carefully, especially common words
Strategy 10: Practice with Feedback
Writing improvement requires practice, but you need feedback to identify specific weaknesses. BAND9AI's AI-powered Writing assessment provides detailed feedback on all four criteria, helping you understand exactly what to improve.
Sample Band 8 Essay Structure
Introduction (40-50 words):
Paraphrase + Position + Outline
Body 1 (80-100 words):
Topic sentence → Explanation → Example → Consequence
Body 2 (80-100 words):
Topic sentence → Explanation → Example → Consequence
Conclusion (30-40 words):
Summary + Restate position
Conclusion
Improving from Band 6 to Band 8+ in Writing Task 2 requires focused practice on structure, idea development, vocabulary, and grammar. Apply these strategies consistently, get regular feedback, and you'll see significant improvement. Learn more about our IDP-certified IELTS preparation platform and start your journey to Band 8+ today.
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