IELTS Writing practice, with the answers explained
13 prompts across Task 1 and Task 2, each with a full model answer at the top of the band and notes on exactly why it scores on each of the four criteria. Write your own answer against the clock first, and the workspace will check the things that are measurable before you compare.
It is free, there is no account, and nothing you write is uploaded.
How IELTS writing is marked
Four criteria, each worth a quarter of your writing band. Knowing which one you are losing marks on is most of the work, because the four need completely different fixes.
- Task Response
- Did you answer the question that was asked, cover every part of it, and hold a clear position throughout? This is where an off-topic but fluent essay collapses.
- Coherence and Cohesion
- Is it organised into paragraphs with one idea each, and can the reader follow how the sentences connect? Linking words help, but overusing them is its own penalty.
- Lexical Resource
- Range and accuracy of vocabulary. Repeating one content word throughout is the clearest sign of a narrow range, and a rare word used wrongly costs more than a common word used well.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy
- A mix of structures, used correctly. A correct simple sentence beats an ambitious broken one, which is why very long sentences are risky under time pressure.
Task 1 Academic
Academic · 20 minutes · at least 150 words
Describe a chart, table, diagram or process in your own words. You report what the data shows and compare the significant figures. You are never asked for your opinion.
Household energy use by source, 1990 to 2020
An IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 line graph answer with a band 9 model, showing how to write the overview, group the data and select the significant figures rather than listing every number.
Read moreUniversity enrolment by field of study, 2000 and 2020
An IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 bar chart comparing university enrolment across five fields of study in two years, with a band 9 model answer, a plan, and notes on how it meets each marking criterion.
Read moreThe process of recycling plastic bottles
An IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 process diagram showing how plastic bottles are recycled into new products, with a band 9 model answer, a plan, and notes on how it meets each marking criterion, including the passive and sequencing language a process needs.
Read moreTask 1 General Training
General Training · 20 minutes · at least 150 words
Write a letter in response to a situation. The prompt gives you three bullet points and all three must be covered. Tone is set by who you are writing to.
Letter of complaint about a faulty appliance
An IELTS General Training Writing Task 1 complaint letter with a band 9 model answer, covering register, the three bullet points, and the openings and sign-offs that must match.
Read moreA letter to your manager requesting time off for a family event
An IELTS General Training Writing Task 1 semi-formal letter requesting leave from a manager, with a band 9 model answer, a plan, and notes on how it meets each marking criterion, including tone and the coverage of all three bullet points.
Read moreTask 2
Both modules · 40 minutes · at least 250 words
Write an essay responding to an argument or problem. Task 2 is worth twice the marks of Task 1 on both modules, so it is where preparation time pays back most.
Should university education be free for all students?
A full IELTS Writing Task 2 opinion essay on free university education, with a band 9 model answer, the plan behind it, and notes on why it scores on each of the four criteria.
Read moreDo the advantages of working from home outweigh the disadvantages?
An IELTS Writing Task 2 advantages and disadvantages essay on remote work, with a band 9 model answer, a plan, and notes explaining how it meets each marking criterion.
Read moreWhat problems does plastic waste cause, and how can they be solved?
An IELTS Writing Task 2 problem and solution essay on plastic waste, with a band 9 model answer, the plan behind it, and criterion by criterion notes on why it scores.
Read moreDoes technology make children less creative?
An IELTS Writing Task 2 opinion essay on whether technology reduces creativity in children, with a band 9 model answer, a plan, and notes on how it meets each marking criterion.
Read moreIs it better to grow up in a city or in the countryside?
An IELTS Writing Task 2 discussion essay on whether children are better off growing up in a city or in the countryside, with a band 9 model answer, a plan, and notes on each marking criterion.
Read moreWhat problems does traffic congestion cause, and how can they be solved?
An IELTS Writing Task 2 problem and solution essay on traffic congestion in large cities, with a band 9 model answer, a plan, and notes on how it meets each marking criterion.
Read moreWhy has international tourism grown, and is it a positive development?
An IELTS Writing Task 2 two-part question essay on the growth of international tourism and whether it is positive, with a band 9 model answer, a plan, and notes on each marking criterion.
Read moreShould young people learn a practical trade instead of going to university?
An IELTS Writing Task 2 advantages and disadvantages essay on whether school leavers should learn a trade rather than attend university, with a band 9 model answer, a plan, and notes on how it meets each marking criterion.
Read moreWhat the instant report can and cannot tell you
Length against the official minimum is exact. Paragraph count, cohesive devices, repeated words, lexical variety and sentence length are all counted from your own text, and they are reliable proxies for three of the four criteria.
Grammatical accuracy is not checked, and no band score is given. Detecting a real grammar error needs a reader, and a tool that flagged correct sentences as wrong would teach you to write worse. Compare your answer against the annotated model instead, which is what the notes on every prompt are for.
IELTS writing questions
Is the IELTS writing practice on TestUstad free?
Yes. Every prompt, every model answer and the timed workspace are free and need no account. The workspace runs in your browser, so there is no limit on how many times you can use it.
Does this give me a band score?
No, and nothing that scores your essay automatically should be trusted to. The report counts what can be counted: whether you met the word minimum, how you paragraphed, which cohesive devices you used, which words you repeated and how long your sentences run. A band score needs a reader who can judge whether your grammar is accurate and whether you actually answered the question.
How many words should I write?
At least 150 for Task 1 and at least 250 for Task 2. Writing under the minimum is penalised before your English is considered at all. Aim slightly over, around 170 to 200 for Task 1 and 270 to 310 for Task 2, which leaves room to develop a point without eating your checking time.
Is Task 1 or Task 2 more important?
Task 2 carries twice the marks of Task 1 on both the Academic and General Training modules. If you have limited preparation time, spend it on Task 2. Candidates often do the opposite because Task 1 feels harder.
Is my essay saved or sent anywhere?
No. The workspace keeps a draft in your own browser so a locked phone does not cost you your work, and that draft never leaves your device. We do not store, read or upload anything you write.
Preparing for the rest of the test? IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training have the full paper pattern, and the comparison guide covers choosing between IELTS, TOEFL and PTE.