How the examiner assesses your Task 2 essay

It's important when you write your essay that you understand what the examiner is looking for. Some of you may think that vocabulary and grammar are the most important points to think about but they are not. The marks for these 2 areas make up only 50% of your answer.

The examiner marks you essay according to 4 categories - Content, Organisation/Structure, Vocabulary and Grammar. These 4 categories are worth 25% each.

In the table below you can see the important areas to think about in each category. If you click on these topics you will be able to find an explanation of what they mean.


Remember - your essay mark is only 60% of your overall IELTS writing result (the remaining 40% comes from your task 1 writing)

Content	Organisation	Vocabulary	Grammar
Answer task appropriately Have a clear view/opinion Have clear main and supporting ideas Introduce and conclude appropriately Minimum 250 words	Use linking words appropriately and accurately, within and between paragraphs Use a formal/academic style Write well structured and balanced paragraphs Logically organize ideas Use reference words appropriately and accurately	Choose the correct words for the topic Use the correct word form Use accurate collocations Use a variety of words Spell words correctly	Choose the correct tenses Use correct punctuation Use correct prepositions Use a variety of complex and simple structures

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