IELTS Writing: two tasks, and why one is worth twice the other

IELTS Writing gives you 60 minutes for two tasks, and they are not equal: Task 2 is worth twice Task 1 and is meant to take twice as long. The recommended split is 20 minutes on Task 1 and 40 on Task 2, and ignoring it is the most expensive single decision available in this paper.

What each task asks

	Task 1 Academic	Task 1 General Training	Task 2 (both)
You write	A report on a visual	A letter	An essay
Minimum words	150	150	250
Suggested time	20 minutes	20 minutes	40 minutes
Share of the band	One third	One third	Two thirds
Register	Impersonal and factual	Set by the prompt	Formal, but your own argument

Writing fewer than the minimum is penalised, and the count is of words actually written — a plan left on the page is not part of it. Going over is not penalised in itself, but on a 40-minute task it usually costs accuracy somewhere else.

The four criteria

Criterion	Task 1	Task 2
First criterion	Task Achievement — did you report it accurately and completely	Task Response — did you answer the question that was asked
Coherence and Cohesion	Paragraphing and linking	Paragraphing, linking, and the shape of the argument
Lexical Resource	Range and precision of vocabulary	Range and precision of vocabulary
Grammatical Range and Accuracy	Variety of structures and their accuracy	Variety of structures and their accuracy

Each is a quarter of that task's mark. The commonest ceiling is the first one: an essay written in excellent English that answers a question slightly different from the one on the paper cannot reach the higher bands, however good the English is.

Every Writing question type

Task 1 Academic Report a chart, table, process or map Bar charts Compare quantities across categories Line graphs Describe change over time Pie charts Describe proportions of a whole Tables Select from raw figures Process diagrams Describe how something is made or happens Maps Describe how a place changed Task 1 General Training A letter, in the register the prompt sets Task 2 essays The 250-word essay, worth two thirds Opinion essays To what extent do you agree? Discussion essays Discuss both views and give your opinion Advantages & disadvantages Weigh the benefits and drawbacks Problem & solution Causes, problems, and what to do Two-part questions Two direct questions in one prompt How Writing is marked The four criteria, and the usual ceiling

IELTS Writing — FAQs

3 questions

How long should I spend on each task?

Twenty minutes on Task 1 and forty on Task 2. Task 2 carries twice the marks, so time taken from it is taken from the larger share.

Is there a penalty for writing too few words?

Yes. Under 150 on Task 1 or under 250 on Task 2 is penalised directly.

Which task should I write first?

Either. Many candidates do Task 2 first to guarantee the larger mark gets its full time, and that is a legitimate strategy.

Writing on the other exams

TOEFL iBT ~12 items in ~23 minutes, three task types Duolingo English Test Three writing items, one unscored but read

Sources

Written from the test board's own published material and checked on 1 October 2026.