- The IELTS Writing test still runs for 60 minutes across two tasks, with a 150-word minimum for Task 1 and a 250-word minimum for Task 2
- IELTS One Skill Retake now lets you resit Writing on its own within 60 days of a computer-delivered test
- From mid-2026 IELTS is no longer offered as a paper-based test, although a Writing on Paper option is being introduced in selected markets
- IELTS results remain valid for two years.
What Is the IELTS Writing Test?
The IELTS Writing test lasts 60 minutes and contains two tasks. Task 1 asks for at least 150 words in about 20 minutes, and Task 2 asks for at least 250 words in about 40 minutes. Task 2 contributes twice as much as Task 1 to your Writing band score.
IELTS Writing measures how well you can build a response, organise your ideas and control a range of vocabulary and grammar. It is one of the four IELTS skills, alongside Listening, Reading and Speaking, and the whole test takes 2 hours and 45 minutes.
Both tasks are compulsory. You must write in full sentences on the answer sheet or in the on-screen answer box; notes and bullet points are not accepted. A longer Task 1 answer leaves less time for Task 2, which carries the heavier weighting.
| IELTS Writing 2026 | Task 1 | Task 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum length | 150 words | 250 words |
| Suggested time | No more than 20 minutes | No more than 40 minutes |
| Academic prompt | Graph, table, chart or diagram | Point of view, argument or problem |
| General Training prompt | Letter about a given situation | Essay on an opinion or problem |
| Weighting | One third of the Writing score | Two thirds of the Writing score |
How Do Academic and General Training Writing Differ?
Academic Task 1 asks you to describe a graph, table, chart or diagram in your own words. General Training Task 1 asks you to write a letter responding to a situation. Task 2 is an essay in both versions, though the Academic essay uses a more formal register.
In Academic Task 1 you may be asked to describe data, explain the stages of a process, say how something works, or describe an object or design. You select and report the main features and compare the data where it is relevant, without adding opinions.
In General Training Task 1 the letter may be personal, semi-formal or formal. Typical purposes include requesting information, explaining a situation, stating needs and preferences, or expressing an opinion or a complaint. The tone must match the person you are writing to.
In Task 2 you respond to a point of view, argument or problem with a discursive essay. You give and justify an opinion, discuss the issue, outline problems and possible solutions, and support your points with reasons and relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Complete IELTS Exam Guide 2026Read →Which Topics Come Up in IELTS Writing Task 2?
Task 1 gives you data or a situation, so topic lists apply mainly to Task 2. Common Task 2 themes include education, environment, technology, health, crime and punishment, government, media, work, tourism and family. You are never expected to hold specialist knowledge of any subject.
Task 2 topics are chosen to be of general interest, so any test taker starting undergraduate or postgraduate study, or applying for professional registration, can respond from everyday knowledge. The recurring themes below are a useful planning list rather than an official syllabus.
- Advertising, media and communication
- Animals, environment and global issues
- Art, culture and entertainment
- Business, money and work
- Children, family and education
- Crime and punishment, ethics and society
- Food, diet and health
- Government, housing and transport
- Language, reading and science
- Space, sport, technology, tourism and travel
How Is the IELTS Writing Test Scored?
Examiners score each task on four criteria: task achievement for Task 1 or task response for Task 2, coherence and cohesion, lexical resource, and grammatical range and accuracy. The four criteria are weighted equally and the task score is their average, with Task 2 carrying more weight overall.
Each task is assessed independently against the published band descriptors, which IELTS makes available in full along with the key assessment criteria that support them. Overall band averages ending in .25 are rounded up to the next half band and averages ending in .75 to the next whole band.
- Task achievement or task response: how completely and appropriately you answer the question set
- Coherence and cohesion: how logically the text is organised and how well ideas are linked
- Lexical resource: the range, precision and spelling of the vocabulary you use
- Grammatical range and accuracy: the variety of structures you attempt and how error-free they are
How Can You Improve Your IELTS Writing Score?
Answer every part of the question, write more than the minimum word count, and give Academic Task 1 a clear overview statement. Plan for a few minutes before writing, organise one idea per paragraph, use accurate linking words, and leave time to check grammar and spelling.
- Read the prompt twice and underline every part of the task so nothing is left unanswered.
- Spend two or three minutes planning; a paragraph plan is faster than rewriting later.
- Give each paragraph one central idea, supported by detail, data or an example.
- Add an overview sentence in Academic Task 1 stating the main trend or the biggest contrast.
- State your position clearly in Task 2 and keep it consistent to the conclusion.
- Use linking devices such as in contrast, as a result and overall, but do not overload the text with them.
- Vary your sentence structures and use less common vocabulary only where you are sure of the meaning.
- Track the clock yourself and move to Task 2 after about 20 minutes, since it is worth twice as much.
- Leave three or four minutes to check spelling, articles, tenses, punctuation and word forms.
Where Can You Practise IELTS Writing for Free?
The official IELTS website publishes free sample Writing tasks, model answers, the full band descriptors and the key assessment criteria used by examiners. Practise under a strict 60-minute limit, because Listening, Reading and Writing are sat back to back on the same day without breaks.
Timed practice matters more than the number of essays you write. Sit a complete Writing paper in one 60-minute block, then compare your answer against the band descriptors and the model responses to see which criterion is holding your score down.
If you practise on an online test, remember that each section is spread across several pages, so check that every question has been answered before you move on. Practising on computer is also sensible now that IELTS is moving to computer delivery.
Can You Retake Only the IELTS Writing Test?
Yes. IELTS One Skill Retake lets you resit a single section, including Writing, if your original test was taken on computer at a participating centre. You must book within 60 days of the original test, you get one retake per test, and results arrive in three to five days.
This corrects long-standing advice that a weak Writing band forces you to repeat all four skills. One Skill Retake covers both IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training, and you receive a new Test Report Form showing the updated score alongside your three original section scores.
The service is offered on computer in selected test centres and countries only, so paper tests taken before the switch to computer delivery are not eligible. Check with your test centre that it runs One Skill Retake before you book your original test.