IELTS Writing Band Descriptors: A Plain English Guide for Candidates

The official IELTS Writing Band Descriptors are the documents that examiners use to assess your responses — but they are written in academic language that many candidates find difficult to interpret practically. This guide translates the descriptors for Bands 5 through 8 across all four criteria into plain English with practical examples, showing you exactly what each band looks like in real writing.

1Task Achievement/Response: Bands 5–8

Band 5 — addresses the task only partially; the format may be inappropriate in places; recounts details mechanically. In plain English: you answer part of the question but miss something, or describe data without analysis. Band 6 — addresses all parts of the task but some parts more fully than others; presents and adequately highlights key features but details may be irrelevant. In plain English: you cover everything but some parts are thin; your overview exists but may not be clearly separated. Band 7 — covers requirements; highlights key features; could be more fully extended. In plain English: you cover all main features with clear overview, though more detail or comparison would be possible. Band 8 — covers all requirements sufficiently; presents, highlights, and illustrates key features with a clear purpose. In plain English: comprehensive, analytical, and purposeful — everything the examiner needs is there.

2Coherence and Cohesion: Bands 5–8

Band 5 — presents information with some organisation but may lack overall progression; uses some basic cohesive devices but these may be inaccurate or repetitive. In plain English: paragraphs exist but flow is inconsistent; you use 'however' and 'furthermore' but perhaps in the wrong places or too repetitively. Band 6 — arranges information coherently; uses cohesive devices effectively but cohesion within and/or between sentences may be faulty or mechanical. In plain English: structure is clear but cohesive devices sometimes feel forced or overused. Band 7 — logically organises; clear progression throughout; uses a range of cohesive devices appropriately though there may be some under-/over-use. Band 8 — sequences logically; manages ALL aspects of cohesion well; uses paragraphing sufficiently and appropriately.

3Lexical Resource: Bands 5–8

Band 5 — uses a limited range of vocabulary; vocabulary may be inadequately or inaccurately used, though simple vocabulary is generally accurate. In plain English: basic, repetitive vocabulary; errors in word choice are common; safe choices throughout. Band 6 — uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task; attempts to use less common vocabulary but with some inaccuracy; makes some errors in spelling/word formation. In plain English: you try to use advanced vocabulary but sometimes choose the wrong word or wrong collocation. Band 7 — sufficient range with flexibility and precision; uses less common items with awareness of style and collocation; occasional errors in word choice, spelling, word formation. Band 8 — wide vocabulary resource readily and flexibly; skilfully uses uncommon lexical items; rare errors in spelling/word formation.

4Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Bands 5–8

Band 5 — uses only a limited range of structures; attempts complex sentences but these tend to be less accurate than simple sentences; makes frequent grammatical errors that may cause difficulty for the reader. In plain English: mostly simple sentences; complex sentences usually contain errors; grammar problems sometimes make meaning unclear. Band 6 — uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms; makes some errors in grammar and punctuation but they rarely reduce communication. In plain English: you can write complex sentences but still make errors; structure works but precision is inconsistent. Band 7 — uses a variety of complex structures; produces frequent error-free sentences; has good control of grammar and punctuation but may make a few errors. Band 8 — uses a wide range of structures; majority of sentences are error-free; makes only occasional errors or inappropriacies.