How the examiner scores you
Before you fix a mistake, it helps to know what is being marked. You get a band from 0 to 9. Each task is marked on four things, and each one counts the same amount (25%):
- Task Achievement (Task 1) / Task Response (Task 2) — did you fully answer the question and cover every part?
- Coherence and Cohesion — is it well organised, with clear paragraphs and smooth links?
- Lexical Resource — do you use a good range of words, correctly?
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy — do you use different sentence types with few mistakes?
Because the four are equally weighted, you cannot win by being strong in one and weak in the rest. Most mistakes below hurt one or two of these areas. If you are new to the test, start with the full IELTS Writing guide.
The mistakes (and the fix for each)
Read the table, then work on one fix at a time. Do not try to change everything at once.
| Mistake | Why it lowers your band | What to do instead |
|---|---|---|
| Not answering all parts of the question | Task Response drops fast if you miss a part or write about the general topic. This is the most common way to lose marks. | Read the task twice. Underline each part it asks. Make sure your answer covers every one. |
| Writing under the word count | Under 150 words in Task 1 or 250 in Task 2 costs marks under Task Achievement and Task Response. | Learn to hit the minimum with time to spare. Aim a little over: about 160–190 for Task 1, 260–290 for Task 2. |
| No clear paragraphs (one wall of text) | One long block is hard to follow, so Coherence and Cohesion drops. The examiner can miss your ideas. | Use one paragraph per idea, with a line of space between them. A clear shape helps the reader and your score. |
| Memorised phrases and templates | Examiners spot pre-learned sentences, and they rarely fit the exact question. They can lower your score, not raise it. | Learn ideas and useful words, not whole paragraphs. Write sentences that answer this question, in your own words. |
| Giving your opinion in Academic Task 1 | Academic Task 1 asks you to describe a visual, not judge it. Your opinion is off-task, so Task Achievement falls. | Only report what the visual shows — the main trends, the biggest numbers, and how things compare. Save opinions for Task 2. |
| No clear overview in Task 1 | Task 1 needs a sentence that sums up the main trends. Without it, Task Achievement stays low. | Add one or two sentences that give the big picture — the highest point, the overall change — before the details. |
| Repeating the exact words of the question | Copying the prompt word for word shows a narrow range, so Lexical Resource suffers and copied words are not counted. | Paraphrase the question in your own words. Swap some words for close ones and change the sentence shape a little. |
| Overusing linking words | Stuffing in "Firstly", "Moreover", "In addition" everywhere feels forced and hurts, not helps, Coherence and Cohesion. | Use linking words only where they add meaning. Smooth links inside sentences matter more than a label on every line. |
| Too many long, complex sentences | Long sentences that break grammar lower Grammatical Range and Accuracy. Simple and correct beats complex and wrong. | Mix short and long sentences. Only build a longer one when you can keep it correct. Accuracy comes first. |
| Informal tone and contractions | Slang, "don't"/"can't", and a chatty voice do not fit an academic essay, which weakens Lexical Resource. | Write full forms (do not, cannot) and a neutral, formal tone. Keep it serious and clear. |
| Spending too long on Task 1 | If Task 1 eats your time, Task 2 is rushed — and Task 2 is worth about twice as much, so the loss is big. | Cap Task 1 at about 20 minutes. Protect the 40 minutes Task 2 needs, because it carries more of your band. |
The three habits that fix the most
If the table feels like a lot, focus on three habits. They quietly fix many of the mistakes above at once.
1. Plan before you write. Spend three to five minutes reading the question twice and noting one idea per paragraph. This one habit cures the biggest mistake — missing part of the question — and it stops the wall-of-text problem, because you already know your paragraphs. For a full method, see our IELTS Writing Task 2 guide.
2. Choose simple and correct over long and wrong. A short sentence with no mistakes scores better than a long one that breaks. Write words you control, use full forms, and only stretch a sentence when you can keep it accurate. This protects your grammar and vocabulary marks at the same time.
3. Watch the clock. Give Task 1 about 20 minutes and Task 2 about 40. Task 2 is worth more, so it deserves more time. Leaving two or three minutes at the end to check for missing parts and small slips often lifts your band.
How to catch your own mistakes
Most of these mistakes are hard to notice while you are writing. The fix is to check your work against a short list, or to get feedback that points to the exact problem.
- Re-read the question, then your answer. Did you cover every part? Did you paraphrase instead of copy?
- Count your words and check the time. Are you over the minimum, and did Task 2 get its 40 minutes?
- Check your paragraphs. One idea each, with a clear break between them, and an overview in Task 1?
- Read one long sentence back. Is it still correct? If not, split it into two shorter, correct ones.
Doing this by eye is useful, but it is easy to miss your own patterns. Aflo reads a real answer and shows where each of the four criteria scored and what to fix — see how the scoring works.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common IELTS Writing mistake?
Not answering every part of the question. Writing about the general topic instead of the exact task lowers your Task Achievement or Task Response score. Read the task twice and cover each part it asks.
Do I lose marks for writing under the word count?
Yes. Task 1 needs at least 150 words and Task 2 at least 250. Writing fewer can lower your band, so learn to reach the minimum comfortably with a little to spare.
Should I give my opinion in Academic Task 1?
No. Academic Task 1 asks you to describe a graph, chart, table, diagram or process — only report what it shows, including a clear overview. Save your opinion for the Task 2 essay.
Are complex sentences better than simple ones in IELTS Writing?
Only when they stay correct. A short sentence with no mistakes scores better than a long one that breaks. Mix sentence types, but put accuracy first — simple and correct beats complex and wrong.
How much time should I spend on each task?
About 20 minutes on Task 1 and about 40 minutes on Task 2. Task 2 counts about twice as much toward your band, so do not let a neat Task 1 eat the time your essay needs.