Yes — Task 2 contributes more to your overall Writing band, so always finish it. Never spend so long on Task 1 that Task 2 suffers.
IELTS Writing
You have 60 minutes for two tasks. Spend about 20 minutes on Task 1 (at least 150 words) and 40 minutes on Task 2 (at least 250 words). Task 2 is worth more of your Writing band, so protect its time.
The four marking criteria (each 25%)
| Criterion | What examiners reward |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Response | Fully answering the question, with a clear position and developed ideas. |
| Coherence & Cohesion | Logical paragraphing and smooth linking without overusing connectors. |
| Lexical Resource | A range of accurate, natural vocabulary and collocations (not memorised “big words”). |
| Grammatical Range & Accuracy | A mix of simple and complex sentences with few errors. |
Common mistakes that cap your band
- Not answering all parts of the question (instant Task Response penalty).
- Writing under the word count (150 / 250) — a direct deduction.
- Memorised phrases and templates examiners recognise.
- One long paragraph with no clear structure.
- Copying words from the question instead of paraphrasing.
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