IELTS Writing Task 2: what band 7 actually requires, criterion by criterion

Most candidates who are stuck at 6 or 6.5 in Writing have read a hundred tips and never read the one document that decides their score: the band descriptors. Examiners grade Task 2 on four criteria, each with its own band, and your Task 2 score is the average of the four. This article puts the four in plain words, then grades a full essay on each of them so you can see where a 6.5 becomes a 7.

The four criteria

Each criterion is worth the same. A 7 in one does not rescue a 5 in another; it averages with it.

Task Response (TR). Did you answer the question that was asked, all of it, with a position that is clear from the first paragraph to the last, and with ideas that are developed, not just named? Band 6 says the main ideas are relevant but some are not developed enough. Band 7 says they are extended and supported. That word, extended, is the whole difference: a reason followed by a consequence and an example, not a reason followed by the next reason.

Coherence and Cohesion (CC). Is the essay organised so that a reader can follow it without effort, and are the sentences connected? The trap here is the opposite of what most people expect. Band 6 describes cohesive devices used "mechanically". Band 7 describes them used well "although there may be some under- or over-use". An essay that opens every sentence with Firstly, Moreover, Furthermore, In addition is showing the examiner a band 6 habit — when linking words help and when they cost you unpacks exactly this trap.

Lexical Resource (LR). Do you have enough words for the topic, and do you use them precisely? Band 6 is "adequate", with errors that do not block meaning. Band 7 uses "less common" vocabulary with some awareness of style and collocation, with occasional errors. Repeating the question's words fifteen times is adequate. Choosing between discipline, field and subject because they mean slightly different things is a 7. Rarity by itself earns nothing here — why big words do not raise your Lexical Resource band works through the descriptors with rewrites.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy (GRA). Do you use a mix of simple and complex sentences, and are most of them error-free? Band 6 has a mix, with errors that rarely block meaning. Band 7 produces "frequent error-free sentences" and has good control of grammar and punctuation. Not perfect: frequent. The structures that count as variety, and the error-rate arithmetic behind "frequent", are in what Grammatical Range means at band 7.

The essay

The question was a standard discuss-both-views prompt: Some people think universities should only offer subjects that are useful for the future, such as science and technology. Others think universities should offer all subjects. Discuss both views and give your own opinion. This answer was written to be typical of a candidate who has practised a lot and still scores 6.5, within the 40-minute limit and the 250-word minimum, and then graded against the public descriptors.

In recent years, there has been a debate about whether universities should focus only on subjects which are useful for the future, like science and technology, or whether they should offer all kinds of subjects. This essay will discuss both views. In my opinion, both views have their advantages, but universities should offer a wide range of subjects.

On the one hand, some people believe that universities should concentrate on practical subjects. The main reason is that these subjects lead to jobs. For example, engineering and computer science graduates can find work easily and they receive high salaries, so the money that the government spends on education is not wasted. In addition, countries need more scientists and engineers to develop their economy, so it is logical to invest in these areas.

On the other hand, other people think that all subjects should be available. Firstly, subjects like history, art and philosophy are also important for society, because they help people to understand their culture and to think in a critical way. Secondly, not everyone has the ability or the interest to study science. If universities only offer scientific subjects, many students will not be able to study, which is not fair for them. Moreover, some students discover their real interest only after they start university, so it is better if they have many choices.

In conclusion, although practical subjects are important for the economy, I believe universities should offer all subjects, because society needs different kinds of knowledge and students should be able to choose what they want to study.

The grade, criterion by criterion

Task Response: 6. Both views are covered and the position is clear and consistent, which is why this is not a 5. It is not a 7 because the ideas are named rather than extended. Look at the second paragraph: "The main reason is that these subjects lead to jobs" is followed by an example that repeats the claim (graduates find work) rather than extending it. What follows from graduates finding work easily? Nothing in the essay says. The same happens with "they help people to understand their culture": true, undeveloped, next point. A band 7 answer takes fewer ideas further.

Coherence and Cohesion: 6. The paragraphing is right and every paragraph has one job. What holds it at 6 is the mechanical signposting: On the one hand, In addition, On the other hand, Firstly, Secondly, Moreover, In conclusion, plus the announcement "This essay will discuss both views", which tells the reader nothing the question did not. The essay is organised by connectors rather than by ideas that refer to each other. Notice that the third paragraph never mentions the second one; a band 7 essay would say something like "the humanities do not lead to a job as directly, but…", which connects the two sides without a device at all.

Lexical Resource: 6. The word subjects appears ten times. Important appears twice, interest twice, study three times. Nothing is wrong, but nothing is chosen either. There are also two small collocation errors: "not fair for them" should be "unfair to them", and "develop their economy" wants "grow" or "strengthen". Adequate, exactly as the descriptor says.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: 7. This is the essay's strength. There are conditionals ("If universities only offer…"), relative clauses ("the money that the government spends…"), concession ("although practical subjects are important…"), and the sentences are almost all error-free. The comma before which in "which is not fair for them" is correct. This is what "frequent error-free sentences" looks like.

Overall: 6 + 6 + 6 + 7 = 25, ÷ 4 = 6.25, so a 6.5 at best and a 6 on a strict day. Either way, three criteria stand between this essay and a 7, and they are the same three.

What a 7 changes

The essay does not need new ideas. It needs three of its existing sentences taken further and its connectors replaced by references.

Extending the jobs idea (TR). "The main reason is that these subjects lead to jobs" becomes: "The strongest argument is employability: an engineering graduate can usually find work within months, which means the public money spent on that degree returns to the economy as tax rather than being lost to unemployment." One reason, one consequence, one mechanism.

Connecting the two sides (CC). Replace "On the other hand, other people think that all subjects should be available" with: "The humanities cannot make the same promise of a quick job, yet that is not the only thing a university is for." The paragraph now answers the previous one instead of standing next to it.

Choosing words (LR). Swap the ten subjects for disciplines, fields, the humanities, the sciences, degrees where each is the precise word. Not for variety; because a reader can then tell which one you mean.

Make those three changes and nothing else, and the essay is a 7 on TR, CC and LR while GRA stays at 7. Same ideas, same length, same forty minutes.

How to use this

Do not write twenty new essays. Write one, get it graded criterion by criterion with the reasons — AI-graded Writing feedback makes that loop quick to repeat — fix only the criterion that scored lowest, and resubmit the same essay. When that criterion moves, move to the next. The band descriptors are a checklist of four things, and a checklist is worked through one item at a time.