IELTS Writing: criteria, practice and sample answers

The Writing test lasts 60 minutes and has two tasks. Both must be done, and Task 2 carries more weight in the marking than Task 1. Examiners assess each task on four criteria, weighted equally.

These pages take the four criteria one at a time, with weak and better examples of each, so that you know what an examiner is looking for before you write. Then come practice questions of our own for Task 2, three complete sample essays with comments on each criterion, practice for Academic Task 1 with data tables, and letter practice for General Training Task 1. Work through a criterion page, then write a timed answer, then compare it with a sample. Writing improves only by writing and checking.

Timed practice

Use the practice timer, which has the official times for the two writing tasks built in.

Independent practice site. IELTS Practice is not connected with, approved by or endorsed by the British Council, IDP IELTS or Cambridge University Press & Assessment, who jointly own IELTS. The practice tasks and sample answers here are our own; they are not official test questions, and we do not award bands. Facts about the test were read on ielts.org on 12 November 2026. For registration, fees, dates and official sample tests, go to ielts.org.