IELTS Writing Band Descriptors good IELTS Writing Rubric is a table detailing the scoring criteria IELTS Writing. This is the tool that the examiner uses to grade your writing. To achieve a high score in this section, you need to understand the grading criteria and have an effective test-taking strategy. ETEST English for Study Abroad will provide you with detailed information about 4 IELTS Writing scoring criteria Latest 2025, including assessment and strategies to score high in each criterion.

Before going into the IELTS Writing scoring criteria, you need to clearly understand IELTS score scale In the IELTS Writing test, this is an important part to help you prepare a review plan. IELTS Writing Practice effectively and orient yourself towards your goals in the IELTS Writing test.
4 IELTS Writing Scoring Criteria – IELTS Writing Band Descriptors
When marking the IELTS Writing test, the examiner will evaluate your writing from band 1-9 based on 4 main IELTS Writing scoring criteria, Each criterion accounts for 25% total points. Each of these criteria contributes an important part to your final score.
- Task Achievement (Correctly answer the given questions)
- Coherence and Cohesion
- Lexical Resource
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy.
For example, to get a high score on the criterion Task Achievement, you need to make sure that your essay fully and accurately answers the question. Meanwhile, to achieve a high score in the criterion Lexical Resource, you need to use a wide range of vocabulary accurately and precisely to express your ideas.
ETEST English for Study Abroad will help you understand each better. IELTS Writing scoring criteria and how to get a high score in IELTS Writing test.
Criterion 1: Task Achievement – TA (Correctly answer the given question) – 25%
Task Achievement is the criteria for assessing your ability to meet the requirements of the IELTS Writing test. The examiner will consider whether you understand the question clearly, develop the main ideas fully and complete all the assigned tasks. This criterion accounts for 25% of the total score of the article. IELTS Writing Task 2 and is one of the most important criteria.
- Get high score: The essay fully meets all the requirements of the question. You have clearly understood the nature of the question, developed the main ideas fully and in detail, and completed all the tasks excellently.
- Loss of points: The essay is off-topic, does not answer the question, ignores important requirements of the assignment, or does not complete all tasks.

How to score high for this criterion?
- Read the question carefully: Take time to read the question carefully and underline important keywords.
- Outline: Before writing, make a brief outline to organize your ideas logically.
- Answer to the point: Focus only on information directly related to the question.
- Use conjunctions: Use linking words to connect ideas and ensure coherent writing.
- Diverse sentence structures: Use different sentence structures to make your writing richer.
- Check the article again: Once finished, proofread your writing to make sure there are no grammar or spelling errors.
Example of an IELTS Writing Task 2 question and how to answer it to get a high score for the Task Achievement criterion:
Question: Some people believe that it is important to protect the environment, while others think that economic growth is more important. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
How to answer:
- Understand the topic: The question asks you to discuss two opposing views on environmental protection and economic growth and give your personal opinion.
- Answer all the requirements: You need to present both views and give arguments for each. Then you give your personal view and explain why you choose that view.
- Support your views with evidence: You can use real-life examples, statistics, or scientific studies to support your point.
For example:
- View 1: Environmental protection is very important because it ensures the survival of humans and other living beings.
- View 2: Economic growth is necessary to create jobs and improve the quality of life.
- Personal opinion: I believe that environmental protection and economic growth can go hand in hand. We need to find a balance between the two.
Criterion 2: Coherence and Cohesion – CC (Coherence and Cohesion) – 25%
Coherence and Cohesion is a criterion to evaluate the ability to present ideas coherently, clearly and closely linked in the writing. It accounts for 25% of the total score of IELTS Writing Task 2, showing the importance of this factor.
- Get high score: The article has a tight logical structure, paragraphs are arranged in a reasonable order, sentences are coherently linked by connecting words and appropriate rhetorical devices.
- Loss of points: The article lacks logic, ideas jump around, are not in order, sentences are disjointed, and lack connection.

Factors that help score high for Coherence and Cohesion:
- Make a detailed outline: Before writing, create a detailed outline to organize your ideas logically.
- Use conjunctions: Conjunctions such as however, moreover, furthermore, in addition, on the other hand,… help connect sentences and paragraphs tightly.
- Use of pronouns: Instead of repeating nouns over and over, use pronouns like he, she, it, they, etc.
- Use transitional sentences: Transition sentences help move between ideas smoothly.
- Diversify sentence structure: Use different sentence structures to avoid monotony.
- Check the article again: Once you're done, read your writing again to make sure your ideas are presented in a coherent and connected way.
Criterion 3: Lexical Resource – LR (Vocabulary) – 25%
Lexical Resource is a criterion to assess your ability to use vocabulary in writing. It accounts for 25% total score of IELTS Writing Task 2, showing the importance of using rich and accurate vocabulary.

Factors evaluated in Lexical Resource:
- Vocabulary diversity: How many different words do you use? Do you use both colloquial and academic vocabulary?
- Vocabulary accuracy: Are you using the right words and putting them in the right context?
- Flexibility in vocabulary use: Do you use synonyms, antonyms, and phrases to avoid repetition and express ideas precisely?
- Contextual: Is the vocabulary you use appropriate to the topic and style of the article?
Factors that help score high for Lexical Resource:
- Expand your vocabulary: Read books, newspapers, magazines in English, learn new words by topic, use dictionaries,...
- Learn the collocations: Collocations are phrases that often go together. Using collocations makes your writing sound more natural and precise.
- Use synonyms and antonyms: This helps you avoid word repetition and makes your writing more varied.
- Use academic vocabulary: Academic vocabulary will help your writing become more professional.
- Pay attention to context: Select IELTS vocabulary appropriate to each specific context.
For example:
Topic: Some people believe that technology has made our lives easier, while others think that it has created more problems. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
- High scoring articles: The article uses a variety of vocabulary such as “convenience”, “efficiency”, “privacy concerns”, “cybercrime”,… and uses collocations such as “make life easier”, “raise concerns about”,…
- The article lost points: The article uses only a few simple words and repeats words like “good”, “bad”, “problem”,…
Criterion 4: Grammatical Range and Accuracy – GRA (Grammarly Range and Accuracy) – (25%)
Judging criteria Grammatical Range and Accuracy – The GRA in IELTS Writing will assess the level of grammatical accuracy and variety. The examiner will look at whether you use complex grammatical structures accurately and flexibly using different tenses, sentence forms and grammatical structures.
- Get high score: Your writing uses accurate and varied grammar, demonstrating a command of a wide range of complex grammatical structures. You make few grammatical errors and use a wide range of tenses, sentence forms and grammatical structures flexibly.
- Loss of points: The article contains many basic and intermediate grammatical errors, uses monotonous grammar, and lacks variety in sentence structures.

Factors assessed in GRA:
- Variety of grammatical structures: How many different types of grammar structures do you use? Do you use both simple and complex structures?
- Grammatical accuracy: Do you use the correct tenses, verbs, prepositions, clauses, etc.?
- Flexibility in grammar usage: Can you use a variety of grammatical structures flexibly to express your ideas accurately and with variety?
Factors that help achieve a high score for GRA:
- Master basic grammar structures: Tenses, sentence types, clauses,…
- Practice using complex grammar structures: Conditional sentences, passive sentences, relative clauses,...
- Check for grammar errors: Use grammar checking tools or have someone else check your writing to help you spot and correct errors.
- Read more English documents: Reading books, newspapers and magazines in English helps you become familiar with different grammar structures and how to use them.
- Write regularly: Writing a diary, writing essays, etc. helps you practice your grammar skills.
For example:
Topic: In many countries, the number of older people is increasing. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this trend?
Bài viết có GRA cao:
The aging population presents both challenges and opportunities for societies worldwide. On the one hand, the growing number of elderly individuals places a significant strain on healthcare systems and pension plans. Moreover, as the workforce ages, there may be a shortage of skilled labor, potentially hindering economic growth. On the other hand, older individuals often possess a wealth of experience and knowledge that can be invaluable to their communities. Additionally, they may have more free time to volunteer and contribute to society in other ways.
Phân tích:
- Sử dụng các cấu trúc phức tạp: Câu điều kiện (On the one hand, … On the other hand,…), câu có động từ kép (places a significant strain on),…
- Sử dụng từ vựng đa dạng: Các từ như “strain”, “hindering”, “invaluable”, “contribute” làm cho bài viết trở nên phong phú hơn.
Bài viết có GRA thấp:
Old people are increasing. This is bad because we need to pay more money for them. But they can help us.
Phân tích:
- Cấu trúc câu đơn giản: Bài viết chỉ sử dụng các câu đơn giản, thiếu sự đa dạng.
- Ít sử dụng từ vựng: Bài viết sử dụng từ vựng hạn chế và lặp lại.
Qua các ví dụ trên, bạn có thể thấy rằng:
- Một bài viết có GRA cao sẽ sử dụng đa dạng các cấu trúc ngữ pháp, từ vựng phong phú và chính xác, và các ý được trình bày một cách mạch lạc, logic.
- Một bài viết có GRA thấp sẽ mắc nhiều lỗi ngữ pháp, sử dụng cấu trúc câu đơn giản, từ vựng hạn chế và các ý không được kết nối chặt chẽ.
Detailed score description table for Writing Task 1 and Writing Task 2
Bạn có thể tham khảo bảng mô chi tiết tả điểm cho Writing Task 1 và Writing Task 2 dưới đây:

Note:
Trong thang điểm IELTS mới, tiêu chí đánh giá Task Achievement đã được đổi tên thành Task Response. Sự thay đổi này nhấn mạnh tầm quan trọng của việc người viết phải hiểu rõ yêu cầu của đề bài và đưa ra câu trả lời một cách trực tiếp và mạch lạc.
Để đạt được band điểm cao hơn trong tiêu chí Coherence and Cohesion, các luận điểm của bạn cần được trình bày một cách logic, mạch lạc và được kết nối với nhau một cách tự nhiên. Bạn có thể sử dụng các từ nối, câu nối và các cấu trúc câu phức tạp để làm điều này.

Trên con đường chinh phục kỳ thi IELTS, việc hiểu rõ 4 IELTS Writing scoring criteria là một yếu tố không thể thiếu. Điều này giúp thí sinh định hình được chiến lược viết bài hiệu quả và tối ưu hóa điểm số của mình. Tiêu chí chấm điểm trong IELTS Writing thường bao gồm một số yếu tố như sự phát triển ý, cấu trúc và tổ chức ý, ngữ pháp và từ vựng, cũng như sự chính xác và sự đa dạng trong sử dụng ngôn ngữ.
Để đạt được kết quả tốt nhất trong IELTS test, việc ôn thi tại ETEST English for Study Abroad là một lựa chọn đáng cân nhắc. Chúng tôi không chỉ cung cấp các course IELTS test preparation chất lượng mà còn có đội ngũ giáo viên giàu kinh nghiệm và phương pháp giảng dạy hiệu quả.
Bên cạnh đó, việc learn IELTS tại môi trường chuyên nghiệp và được trang bị đầy đủ IELTS Writing materials ôn thi sẽ giúp thí sinh nắm vững kiến thức và kỹ năng cần thiết để đạt được điểm số mong muốn trong kỳ thi IELTS! Khi tham gia các khóa học IELTS tại ETEST, học viên được cung cấp đầy đủ hệ thống IELTS materials học tập với lộ trình chặt chẽ dưới sự hỗ trợ và theo sát của đội ngũ giảng viên giúp đạt được hiệu quả học tập tối ưu ở cả 4 kỹ năng, đạt được kết quả như mong muốn.




References:
- IELTS Writing band descriptors – IDP IELTS: https://ielts.idp.com/vietnam/prepare/article-ielts-writing-band-descriptors
- Writing Band Descriptors – IELTS.org: https://takeielts.britishcouncil.org/sites/default/files/ielts_writing_band_descriptors.pdf
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