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Get startedThe Writing paper sinks more IELTS candidates than any other section. It is not because their English is weak. It is because nobody showed them what a strong answer actually looks like.
That is what this guide fixes. You will see the exact prompt shapes that come up, worked through the way a high-scoring writer would handle them. Seeing a model answer beats reading a rule, every time.
Below are 30 worked examples across both tasks: charts, letters, essays, common themes and the marking criteria behind them all. Each one shows the moves that lift a script from a band 6 into band 7 territory.
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Writing Task 1 in IELTS: Examples of Academic Charts and Graphs
For the Academic paper, Task 1 hands you a visual and asks you to describe it in your own words. You get a chart, graph, table or diagram, and IELTS asks for at least 150 words in about 20 minutes. So what does a strong answer really look like? And how much of the data are you supposed to include? These first ielts writing task 1 examples show the shapes that appear most often, and how to open, group and compare the way examiners reward.
A Bar Chart Comparing Countries
Bar charts are the most common Task 1 prompt, and they reward clear grouping over raw detail. A good answer paraphrases the title, then gives a one-sentence overview of the two or three biggest patterns before any figures appear. Say the chart compares coffee consumption across five countries; you might note that two nations dominate while the rest sit close together near the bottom. Only then do you support each claim with selected numbers, using comparative language such as "far higher than" or "roughly double". The habit to break is listing every value in order. Examiners want you to select and compare, not transcribe the whole picture back to them.
A Line Graph Showing Trends Over Time
Line graphs are about movement, so the language of change carries the answer. Strong scripts describe rises, falls, peaks and plateaus rather than reading off point after point. If a graph tracks tourist numbers over 20 years, group the story into phases: a steady climb, a sharp dip, then a recovery. Verbs and adverbs do the heavy lifting here, so "rose sharply", "fell gradually" and "levelled off" show range without padding. Always anchor the biggest changes to their dates, and round long numbers sensibly. A clear trend told in three phases scores better than a flat list of every single year on the axis.
A Pie Chart Breaking Down Percentages
Pie charts test whether you can handle proportion without repeating the word "percent" in every line. The overview should name the largest and smallest slices, then the answer groups the rest into meaningful chunks. When two pie charts appear side by side, the real task is comparison across time or category, not two separate descriptions. Useful phrasing includes "accounted for", "made up" and "a fifth of the total", which keeps the language varied. Fractions often read more naturally than exact figures, so "just under a quarter" beats "24.3 percent" for flow. The trap is describing each chart in isolation when the marks live in the comparison between them.
A Table of Mixed Data
Tables look intimidating because they hold more numbers than any other prompt, so selection matters most here. You cannot describe every cell, and you are not meant to. Scan for the highest and lowest values, the clearest patterns and any figure that breaks the trend, then build the overview around those. A table of household spending across several cities, for instance, might reveal one category that stays high everywhere and one that swings wildly. Group your body paragraphs by pattern, not by row order. The skill on show is judgement: knowing which numbers tell the story and letting the rest stay in the table where they belong.
A Map Showing Changes to a Town
Map questions ask you to describe how a place changed between two points in time, so location language replaces number language. Strong answers lean on compass directions, prepositions and the passive voice: "a car park was built in the north", "the forest to the east was replaced by housing". Give an overview of the overall shift first, such as a quiet rural area becoming a developed suburb, before working through the specific changes. Order your description logically, moving across the map in one consistent direction. The common slip is jumping around at random, which forces the examiner to work hard to follow you and quietly costs coherence marks.
A Process Diagram of How Something Is Made
Process diagrams show stages, so the answer runs in sequence from start to finish. Here the language of order does the work: "first", "next", "once this is complete", "finally". The passive voice suits most manufacturing or natural processes, because the focus sits on the action rather than who performs it. If a diagram shows how glass is recycled, your overview states how many stages there are and where the process begins and ends. Then each body paragraph walks through a logical cluster of steps. Skipping a stage or reversing the order breaks the whole description, so trace the arrows carefully before you write a single word.
Writing Task 1 in IELTS: Examples of Letters for General Training
General Training swaps the chart for a letter. You are given a situation and three bullet points to cover, and the same 150-word minimum applies. What tone should the letter take? And do the bullet points really need equal space? These ielts writing task 1 sample letters cover the registers that come up most, from strict formal to relaxed and friendly, so you can match the tone to the reader every time.
A Formal Letter of Complaint
Complaint letters need a firm but polite tone, and a clear structure holds them together. Open with the reason for writing, give the background in the body, then state exactly what you want done. If your new laptop arrived damaged, the three moves are simple: explain what you ordered, describe the fault, and request a replacement or refund. Keep the language controlled rather than angry, because a calm complaint reads as more credible and scores better on tone. Use formal openers and closers, and address an unnamed reader as "Dear Sir or Madam". The bullet points are your checklist, so covering all three fully matters more than any single flourish of vocabulary.
A Semi-Formal Request to a Manager
A request to someone you know but must still respect sits in the semi-formal register. Think of asking a manager for time off or a course you would like to attend. The tone is warm yet professional, so you can use the reader's name while keeping the phrasing courteous. State the request early, give your reasons in the body, and make the specific ask easy to say yes to. Phrases such as "I would be grateful if" and "please let me know" carry the right level of politeness. The balance to strike is confidence without pushiness; you are asking, not demanding, and the letter should still respect the reader's authority to decide.
An Informal Letter to a Friend
Informal letters relax the rules, and that freedom trips people up more than strict formats do. Writing to a friend who is visiting your city, you can use contractions, exclamation marks and casual openers like "Hi" or "Hey". The register drops, but the structure stays: cover all three bullet points and keep the paragraphs organised. Warmth is the point, so questions, small jokes and personal detail all fit naturally here. Just avoid slipping into text-message spelling, which reads as careless rather than friendly. The examiner still wants a full, coherent letter; the informal tone is a choice you control, not an excuse to abandon planning or paragraphs.
A Job Application Letter
Application letters are formal and purposeful, and they reward a confident, focused pitch. Open by naming the role and where you saw it, use the body to match your skills to the job, then close by inviting the next step. Keep claims specific: "three years managing a small team" says more than "good with people". The same clear, professional tone helps well beyond the exam, especially when you are getting hired in a new country where a strong written pitch opens doors. Cover every bullet point, stay concise, and finish with a polite call to action such as requesting an interview. Enthusiasm and precision together make the letter land.
A Letter of Apology and Explanation
Apology letters combine a clear sorry with a reasonable explanation, and the order matters. Lead with the apology so the reader knows your intent, then explain what happened without making excuses, and offer to put things right. If you missed an important meeting, you might apologise, explain the genuine reason briefly, and propose a way to catch up. The register depends on the reader, so an apology to a landlord stays formal while one to a friend loosens up. Sincerity carries the tone, and over-explaining weakens it. Cover the three bullet points, keep the length balanced, and let the offer to fix the problem do the real repair work.
A Thank-You Letter After Help
Thank-you letters look easy, yet many scripts stay thin because the writer runs out of things to say. The fix is specificity: name exactly what the person did, explain why it mattered, and say what you plan to do next. Thanking a colleague who covered your shifts during an illness, you can describe the help, its impact on you, and how you hope to return the favour. The tone is warm and can be formal or semi-formal depending on the relationship. Genuine detail fills the word count naturally, so you never pad. A specific, heartfelt thank-you always outscores a vague one that could have been sent to anybody.
IELTS Writing Task 2 Topics: Opinion and Argument Essays
Task 2 is the same essay on both papers, and it is worth twice the marks of Task 1. IELTS asks for at least 250 words in 40 minutes, in response to a prompt. The first question every candidate asks is: which essay type is this? Getting that wrong sinks the whole answer. These six ielts writing task 2 topics cover the exact question formats you will meet, and the essay structure each one demands.
An Agree or Disagree Opinion Essay
Opinion essays ask how far you agree with a statement, and your position must be clear from the introduction onward. Pick one stance and hold it; sitting on the fence confuses the examiner and weakens your line of argument. A prompt claiming that university should be free for everyone needs a paraphrase, a clear opinion, and two body paragraphs that each defend one supporting reason with an example. The conclusion restates your view without adding anything new. The strongest scripts commit fully to a side while still acknowledging the topic has depth. Vague hedging costs you on task response, because the examiner cannot reward a position they cannot find on the page.
A Discuss Both Views Essay
These prompts ask you to discuss two opposing views and then give your own, so balance is everything. Dedicate one body paragraph to each side, presenting the reasoning fairly before you judge it. A question on whether children learn better at home or at school needs both cases explained properly, not one built up so the other can be knocked down. Your opinion appears in the introduction and again in the conclusion, so the reader always knows where you stand. The common error is discussing only one view or forgetting to give your own. Cover both sides with equal care, then land your position clearly at the end.
An Advantages and Disadvantages Essay
Advantages and disadvantages essays test whether you can weigh a situation evenly, so plan your points before you write. One body paragraph handles the benefits, the other the drawbacks, and each should hold at least two developed ideas. Take a prompt on people working from home; the upsides might include flexibility and saved commuting time, while the downsides cover isolation and blurred boundaries. Read the task carefully, because some versions also ask whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, which then demands a clear verdict. Skipping that final judgement when it is requested caps your task response score. Balanced coverage plus a direct answer to the exact question wins the marks.
A Problem and Solution Essay
Problem and solution essays, sometimes called cause and solution, ask you to explain an issue and propose realistic fixes. Structure is simple once you spot the type: one paragraph on the problems or causes, one on workable solutions. A prompt about traffic congestion in cities might identify overreliance on cars, then propose better public transport and congestion charging. Each solution should link back logically to the problem it addresses, because random suggestions read as disconnected. Keep the ideas practical and developed rather than listing five shallow fixes. The examiner rewards a clear cause traced to a matching, well-explained solution far more than a scattergun list of everything you could think of.
A Two-Part Question Essay
Two-part questions, also called direct questions, ask two things in one prompt, and both need a full answer. A typical example asks why a problem exists and what can be done about it, giving you a natural paragraph for each part. Read the prompt twice and underline both questions, because missing the second one is the most common way candidates lose marks here. There is no need to argue a single position across the whole essay; instead you answer each question clearly and support it with examples. The structure almost writes itself once you separate the two parts. Answer both fully and evenly, and the coherence takes care of itself.
A Positive or Negative Development Essay
These prompts describe a trend and ask whether it is a positive or negative development, which is really an opinion essay in disguise. State your view early and defend it consistently, just as you would with agree or disagree. A question on the rise of globalisation, for example, might argue that it is largely positive because of shared knowledge and trade, while honestly noting one downside. Many of these themes overlap with the local language and cultural adjustment you meet after moving abroad, which gives you real examples to draw on. Commit to a stance, support it with two developed reasons, and avoid the trap of describing the trend without ever judging it.
IELTS Writing Task 2 Topics: Common Themes You Should Practise
The prompts change, but the themes rotate through a short, predictable list. Prepare ideas and vocabulary for each one, and no topic can catch you cold. What subjects come up most? And is it worth memorising essays in advance? The honest answer is no; memorised scripts are easy to spot and marked down. Instead, these ielts writing task 2 topics show the recurring themes so you can build flexible ideas that adapt to any wording.
An Education and Schooling Question
Education is one of the most frequent Task 2 themes, covering everything from exam pressure to online learning. Build a bank of flexible ideas: the purpose of school, the role of technology in classrooms, the balance between academic and practical skills. A prompt might ask whether students learn more from teachers or from independent study, so you want examples ready for both. Useful vocabulary here includes "curriculum", "critical thinking" and "vocational training", used naturally rather than forced. Practising your own language ability through wide reading gives you both the ideas and the phrasing. Prepare the theme, not a fixed essay, and you can answer whatever angle appears.
An Environment and Climate Question
Environmental prompts ask about pollution, conservation, climate change and individual versus government responsibility. The recurring debate is who should act: individuals, corporations or the state, so prepare a balanced view rather than a one-sided rant. A question on whether recycling makes a real difference rewards nuance: helpful, but small compared with industrial change. Stock your vocabulary with terms like "carbon emissions", "renewable energy" and "sustainable", and deploy them where they fit. Real examples strengthen these essays, so a specific policy or habit beats a vague appeal to "saving the planet". Keep the tone measured and analytical, because environmental questions reward reasoned argument over emotion, and examiners notice the difference immediately.
A Technology and Society Question
Technology questions span social media, automation, screen time and how the internet reshapes daily life. The common angle asks whether a technological change is positive or negative, so a balanced, opinionated answer works best. Consider a prompt on whether smartphones bring people together or push them apart; the strongest scripts admit both effects before committing to a view. Vocabulary such as "digital communication", "automation" and "online privacy" fits naturally when the topic calls for it. Ground your points in recognisable examples rather than science-fiction speculation. Technology themes reward writers who show they understand the trade-offs, so weigh the convenience against the cost and land a clear, defensible position.
A Health and Lifestyle Question
Health prompts cover diet, exercise, public healthcare, stress and the choices behind a long life. A frequent version asks whether individuals or governments should be responsible for public health, which invites a balanced discussion. Prepare examples around prevention, education and access, and keep the vocabulary specific: "sedentary lifestyle", "preventive care", "mental wellbeing". A question on whether fast food should be taxed rewards a clear stance backed by reasoning about behaviour and cost. Avoid slipping into personal anecdote as your only evidence, because Task 2 wants ideas that apply broadly. Treat health as a theme with several angles, and you can shape a strong answer whatever the exact prompt asks.
A Work and Career Question
Work themes include job satisfaction, remote work, career changes and the balance between salary and passion. A typical prompt asks whether people should stay in one career for life or switch freely, which suits a discuss-both-views structure. Build ideas around stability, skills, motivation and the changing job market, and support them with realistic examples. Vocabulary such as "work-life balance", "job security" and "professional development" reads well when used sparingly. These questions often overlap with study-abroad decisions, where a student visa or a work permit shapes the career path you can take. Prepare the theme broadly, and any specific angle on work becomes a plan you already half-have.
A Government and Public Money Question
Government prompts ask how the state should spend limited money: on health, education, the arts, space exploration or public transport. The recurring format asks you to argue for one priority over another, so a clear, defended choice is essential. A question on whether governments should fund the arts or focus on essentials rewards a stance that still respects the other side. Vocabulary like "public spending", "taxpayer", "infrastructure" and "priorities" fits these essays naturally. Keep your reasoning practical and your examples concrete, because vague talk of "helping society" scores poorly. Decide your priority, justify it with two solid reasons, and acknowledge the trade-off you accept by choosing it.
Writing Band Descriptors in IELTS: What Examiners Reward
Every script is marked against four criteria, each worth a quarter of your Writing score. If you know what each one measures, you can aim your practice precisely instead of hoping. What exactly are examiners looking for? And why do two answers of similar length land on different bands? The public IELTS writing band descriptors answer both questions, and these final examples break down each criterion so you can self-assess like a marker.
The Task Achievement Descriptor
Task achievement, called task response in Task 2, measures whether you answered the exact question fully. For Task 1, it checks that you covered the key features and, in Academic, included a clear overview. For Task 2, it asks whether you addressed every part of the prompt and held a clear position. As IELTS explains in its published criteria, this is where off-topic or half-answered essays lose the most. The fix is disciplined reading: underline what the prompt asks, then check your plan covers all of it. A brilliant essay that answers the wrong question still fails here, so accuracy of response comes before any clever vocabulary.
The Coherence and Cohesion Descriptor
Coherence and cohesion measure how logically your ideas flow and connect. Coherence is the overall organisation: clear paragraphs, one central idea each, in a sensible order. Cohesion is the linking within and between them, using referencing and connectors so the reader never gets lost. The trap is overusing linking words; "firstly", "moreover", "in addition" stacked mechanically read as forced and can lower the score. Strong scripts link ideas naturally through pronouns, repeated key nouns and logical order, not just signposts. Aim for writing a reader glides through without rereading. Well-organised paragraphs with smooth, unforced connections score far higher than a script bolted together with a connector at the start of every sentence.
The Lexical Resource Descriptor
Lexical resource is your range and accuracy of vocabulary, and it rewards precision over showing off. Examiners look for less common words used correctly, natural collocations and the ability to paraphrase without changing meaning. Memorising long, rare words and dropping them in wrongly hurts more than it helps, because an error in an ambitious word is still an error. The stronger strategy is flexible, accurate vocabulary that fits the topic, with occasional higher-level words used well. Spelling counts here too, so careless slips chip away at the band. Build this criterion by reading widely and noting how words actually combine, then use that range naturally rather than forcing every fancy term you know.
The Grammatical Range and Accuracy Descriptor
This criterion checks whether you use a variety of sentence structures and how many mistakes you make. Range means mixing simple, compound and complex sentences rather than writing everything the same way. Accuracy means most sentences stay error-free, with mistakes that rarely block understanding. A common misconception is that long, complicated sentences automatically score higher; a tangled sentence full of errors scores worse than a clear one. The best approach is controlled variety: reach for complex structures you can handle accurately, and keep simpler sentences clean. Leaving a few minutes to proofread catches the small article, tense and agreement slips that quietly drag this score down more than any single big error does.
The Gap Between Band 6 and Band 7
The jump from band 6 to band 7 is where most candidates stall, and the difference is consistency, not talent. A band 6 script answers the question but with lapses: an unclear overview, some clunky linking, vocabulary that slips, or grammar errors that appear too often. A band 7 script does the same tasks more reliably, with a clear position, logical flow, flexible vocabulary and frequent error-free sentences. The band you need often depends on your course or visa requirement, so check it early and aim half a band above for safety. Closing this gap is less about learning new tricks and more about doing the basics accurately, every single time.
The Self-Editing Checklist Before Submitting
The last few minutes of each task are where earned marks get protected, so build a quick self-check habit. Confirm you answered every part of the prompt and hit the word count, since short answers are penalised automatically. Scan for repeated grammar slips: articles, verb tenses and subject-verb agreement top the list. Check that each paragraph holds one clear idea and links smoothly to the next. Read for any word you used but were not sure about, and swap it for one you trust. This routine mirrors what a marker does with your script, so running it yourself catches the small, avoidable losses that separate the band you got from the band you wanted.
Conclusion
Strong IELTS writing is a pattern-recognition skill more than a talent. Once you can name the prompt type, whether it is a bar chart, a complaint letter, a discuss-both-views essay or a positive development question, you already know the structure the examiner expects. The 30 examples here give you that map across both tasks, plus the marking criteria that decide every score.
Now the work is repetition. Write to the shapes above, mark your own answers against the four descriptors, and target your weakest criterion first. Do that consistently and the band you need stops feeling like luck.
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FAQ
How many words should IELTS Writing Task 1 and Task 2 be?
Task 1 needs at least 150 words and Task 2 at least 250 words. Writing under these limits is penalised, so aim slightly above each one. Spend around 20 minutes on Task 1 and 40 on Task 2, since Task 2 carries twice the marks.
What is the difference between Academic and General Training Writing?
Task 1 differs between the two. Academic candidates describe a chart, graph, map or process, while General Training candidates write a letter. Task 2 is an essay on both papers and is marked the same way, using the same four band descriptors for every candidate.
Which Task 2 essay type is the most common?
Opinion essays that ask how far you agree or disagree appear very often, along with discuss-both-views and advantages-and-disadvantages prompts. Rather than betting on one type, prepare the structure for each, because the exact format is only clear once you read the question carefully.
How are IELTS writing band descriptors used to mark my answer?
Each task is scored against four criteria: task achievement, coherence and cohesion, lexical resource, and grammatical range and accuracy. Every criterion carries equal weight, and your final Writing band is the average across both tasks, so a weakness in one area pulls the whole score down.
How can I improve my IELTS writing score quickly?
Identify your lowest of the four criteria and focus there first. Write full answers under timed conditions, then mark them against the descriptors as an examiner would. Feedback on Writing is hard to give yourself accurately, which is why a structured preparation course with expert marking often speeds up progress most.