The Writing test will be assessed by trained examiners of IELTS. There are 2 tasks for the test takers to complete in the writing test. As IELTS Writing provides different tasks to test takers of Academic and General Training, the question types will be different. In this blog, band descriptors for IELTS Writing Task 1 are discussed for both test types.
The IELTS examiners assess the written test based on the guidelines IELTS provides, and IELTS Writing Task 1 is assessed based on these four factors:
- Task Achievement
- Coherence and Cohesion
- Lexical Resources
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy
IELTS Writing Task 1 Band Descriptors
Every IELTS test taker will be scored based on these factors, and each of them is discussed below:
Task Achievement:
Task Achievement simply means the test takers/ students’ ability to answer the questions properly and achieve the task requirements set. As there are different questions for IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training, the task achievement for both the questions will be different. One common task requirement for IELTS Writing Task 1 is that the test taker must write more than 150 words.
IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
For Academic Writing Task 1, the test takers are to describe and explain data, stages of the process, object, plan, design, or event of graphic/ pictorial information. The information can be Table, Chart, Process, Graph, or even Map.
The task achievement for Academic Writing Task 1 is if all key points are covered accurately and appropriately with a clear overview of their response and the word count. All of this should be managed in the response sufficiently and appropriately with clarity for a fully developed response for task achievement.
IELTS General Training Task 1
For General Training Writing Task 1, the test takers are to write a letter as a response to a situation, point of view, argument, or problem. The tone of the letter can be personal, semi-formal, or formal.
The task achievement for General Training Task 1 is if there is a clear purpose of the letter in the response with the tone chosen appropriately as per the purpose. The letter must elaborate on the bullet points given in the instructions and also must fulfill the word count for the letter to be fully developed covering the aspects of the task achievement.
Coherence and Cohesion
Coherence and cohesion mark the test takers simply for their ability to organize information, paragraphing, and the use of linking devices.
Coherence: Here, the examiner assesses the test takers’ ability to link ideas systematically, logically, and consistently.
Cohesion: Here, the examiner assesses the test taker’s ability to use words/ devices to link sentences together to portray a logical flow.
Based on the consistent, accurate, and appropriate use of both coherence and cohesion, the test taker will receive their scores.
Lexical Resources
For scores in Lexical Resources, the test taker must present their vocabulary and the accuracy of the words used. The test-takers will be assessed for their ability to use a range of words, paraphrasing, collocations, and spelling errors, consistently and accurately.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
For Grammatical Range and Accuracy, the test taker should present their ability to use different sentence forms that are grammatically correct with proper punctuation. The test taker must produce a variety of complex and compound sentences that are error-free with good punctuations in the sentence to receive scores here.
Here is an image provided by IELTS explaining the criteria for Writing Task 1 Band Descriptors.
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