IELTS Writing Band Descriptors Explained (TR, CC, LR, GRA)
Short answer: IELTS Writing Task 2 is scored on four equally weighted criteria — Task Response, Coherence & Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range & Accuracy — each marked using official public band descriptors from Band 1 to 9.
Last updated: June 17, 2026
Table of Contents
- Overview of the Four Criteria
- Task Response: Band 5–8
- Coherence & Cohesion: Band 5–8
- Lexical Resource: Band 5–8
- GRA: Band 5–8
- How Examiners Combine Scores
- Self-Assessment Guide
- FAQ
Examiners do not “feel” your level — they match your essay to descriptor statements. Understanding those statements is the fastest way to move from Band 6 to 7. This guide translates official language into plain English with examples.
Related: Task 2 complete guide | Band 6 to 7
Overview of the Four Criteria
| Criterion | Weight (Task 2) | Core question |
|---|---|---|
| Task Response (TR) | 25% | Did you answer all parts with developed ideas? |
| Coherence & Cohesion (CC) | 25% | Is the essay easy to follow paragraph by paragraph? |
| Lexical Resource (LR) | 25% | Is vocabulary range, precision, and spelling strong enough? |
| Grammatical Range & Accuracy (GRA) | 25% | Do you use varied structures with few errors? |
Task 1 uses Task Achievement instead of Task Response; CC, LR, GRA are the same in principle.
Task Response: Band 5 to 8 Compared
| Band | Descriptor in plain English |
|---|---|
| 5 | Partially addresses prompt; position unclear; main ideas limited |
| 6 | Addresses task but some parts more fully covered than others; relevant position |
| 7 | Addresses all parts; clear position; main ideas extended and supported |
| 8 | Fully and appropriately addresses all parts; ideas well developed |
Band 6 → 7 fix: Underline every question part; add one example per body paragraph.
Coherence & Cohesion: Band 5 to 8 Compared
| Band | Plain English |
|---|---|
| 5 | Some organisation but lacks overall progression |
| 6 | Generally coherent; cohesion may be faulty or mechanical |
| 7 | Clear progression; range of cohesive devices used flexibly |
| 8 | Skillful paragraphing; cohesion rarely attracts attention |
Band 6 → 7 fix: One idea per paragraph; vary linking (not only Furthermore).
Linking words guide: Task 2 linking words
Lexical Resource: Band 5 to 8 Compared
| Band | Plain English |
|---|---|
| 5 | Limited range; errors may cause difficulty |
| 6 | Adequate range; errors do not impede communication |
| 7 | Sufficient range and flexibility; less common items with awareness of style |
| 8 | Wide range; skilful use of uncommon items; rare errors |
Band 6 → 7 fix: Precise collocations over random “advanced” words.
Grammatical Range & Accuracy: Band 5 to 8 Compared
| Band | Plain English |
|---|---|
| 5 | Limited range; frequent errors |
| 6 | Mix of simple/complex; errors occur, rarely impede meaning |
| 7 | Variety of complex structures; frequent error-free sentences |
| 8 | Wide range; majority of sentences error-free |
Band 6 → 7 fix: Add relative clauses and conditionals naturally — one per paragraph is enough.
How Examiners Combine Sub-Scores
Examiners assign a band for each criterion, then average for Task 2. Examples:
| TR | CC | LR | GRA | Task 2 average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7.0 |
| 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6.5–7.0 |
| 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6.5 |
Rounding follows IELTS rules to nearest 0.5. Task Response and Cohesion most often block Band 7.
Self-Assessment Using Descriptors
For your last essay, rate honestly 5–8 on each criterion:
- TR: Did I answer every part?
- CC: Does each paragraph have one clear role?
- LR: Did I repeat good/important/people too often?
- GRA: Are most sentences error-free?
Lowest score = your next practice focus.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are descriptors the same worldwide?
Yes — public descriptors are global; examiners are trained to apply them consistently.
Can I see official descriptor PDFs?
IELTS publishes band descriptor documents; this guide paraphrases them for clarity.
Does Task 1 use the same bands?
Same scale (1–9), but Task Achievement replaces Task Response for Task 1.
Apply descriptors to your own writing — free AI scoring.
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