How to Improve Your IELTS Writing to get from 7 to 9 (Examples Included)

1. The first step is to stop goggling things like,"ielts writing band 7" or "ielts writing band 9" or "ielts writing band 8" to find sample answers.

Not because you shouldn`t want to get score band 7 or higher, but because most of the stuff you`re going to find by doing that can misguide you.

Samples available online say they are band 8 or band 9, when in fact they are not!

Then, how do you find out what actually a band 9 answer looks like?

Stay with me. I`ll show you where to find them.

2. Don`t pay anything for simple and proven instruction on how to achieve this goals quick. Like: Achieve band 7+ in 3 hours!

Here`s why?

"There is no royal road to Geometry"- Euclid said in 323 BC (Greek Mathematician)

Translation: “Stop chasing before shortcut track to improve your IELTS writing. Give Time To Improve.”

3. Focus on grammar and punctuation.

Because, “One of the main problem for people stuck at band 6 or 6.5 in writing is fail to write error free sentence”.

Click on the link below where I`ve l shed more lights on this issue:

You can never write error-free sentence with poor knowledge of grammar and punctuation.

So true..

That`s why - you may never score anything above 6.5.

On this regard, may I suggest you to obsessively specialize in grammar and punctuation.

Easier said than done, worth more than you might think.

4. Build a regular habit of practice IELTS writing that increases your skill day by day.

5. This is not a “Do nothing and earn million” game of casino. The more you read..the more you practice..the more you learn..the more your writing gets closer to band 7 or up.

Let me tell you the truth..

• Addresses all the task points very naturally and expand each of them
• The massage is easy to follow and ideas are logically sequenced
• All aspects of cohesion are managed
• A wide range of vocabulary is fluently used to convey precise meanings. Or “A wide range of grammatical structures accurately used with full flexibility and control
• Punctuation and grammar with no errors.

And finally when you know where to improve..my “Insider" Guide Book will help you to fill those skill gaps.  

So, your amazing new journey begins right now...

How to Improve IELTS Writing Score from 6 to 7

I tell you, this is 267 words long answer. I guess, the candidate could think he/she wrote it very well.

But, the examiner marked it with Band 6 and commented as follows:

The candidate addresses all parts of the prompt, although there is some misunderstanding of the term shared freely. Ideas relating to each sector mentioned in the prompt are presented, yet there is not much development of these, especially of sharing ideas in the business world. There is a clear overall progression, with the candidate's own opinion presented at the end, but there are some errors in the use of cohesive devices. Lexis is mainly appropriate for the task, though there are some errors in word choice [actual | releases] and spelling [government | limite|  theme | loose]. There is a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, with a fair degree of accuracy: errors in grammatical control seldom prevent meaning from coming through.

Do you read it all?  It`s important that you read this.

You may ask why?

Because:

By reading this sample and comment, you can discover:

IELTS Band 6 Essay Writing Criteria

Don't believe me?

Let me do this for you and see if we can learn something by doing this.

Here I explain you the strong points of this sample answer from the examiner`s point of view:

(1) Address all parts of the prompt

Remember, the first characteristics of a good IELTS writing is task achievement

It means you need to address every points of the question.

Read below the question again:

Some people believe that it is good to share as much information as possible in scientific research, business and the academic world. Others believe that some information is too important or too valuable to be shared freely.

Now, here`s what I want you do.

I want you to have a quick glance over the “underlined “words of the statement.

Here are the underlined words (in case if you miss them to read):

• Information is good to share 
• Too valuable to be shared freely
• In scientific research, business and the academic world.

(2) Some Errors in the Use of Cohesive Devices

Look:

A good paragraph is composed of several sentences which link together well. Similarly, a well written IELTS essay is composed of several paragraphs which connect clearly to each other.

The use of cohesive devices (e.g., therefore, however and in conclusion) is considered one of the best ways to ensure these characteristics. In fact:



For instant, the candidate uses a lot of such devices or linkers like:  On the other hand....for example...it is obviously that....to sum up.

But, many of those linkers were not used in the right way to give the composition a pretty awful look.
When I say “not in the right way”; I think you need further explanation.

I give you few examples to explain it.

You see, the first sentence of the body paragraph (second paragraph) was:

“For example, practically all scientists are glade to share information within ordinary people or other scientist.”

What it is, then, using a linker like “for example” looks award in this case.

How about starting with the phrase-“to begin with”:

“To begin with, practically all scientists are glade to share information within ordinary people or other scientist.”

It`s better..right?

A transition phrase at the start of the paragraph (e.g., this said, having looked at) and/or a transition sentence at the end can help integrate the overall text.

(3) Errors in Word Choice, Spelling and Grammar

The answer had errors in word choice, spelling, cohesive device and gammar but it did not prevent reader to understand the text/complex sentence with fair accuracy. Menawhile, main points are relevant and clear but supporting examples are underdeveloped.

That`s enough discussion about band 6 IELTS task-2 answers.

In a nutshell,

IELTS band 6 essay writing criterias are:

• Present ideas (may be underdeveloped) to cover all parts of the question
• Clear overall progression by paragraphing 
• Faulty but effective use of cohesive devices.
• Adequate wording with some inaccuracy and spelling errors

Just four points...

If you can write a 250 words essay that addresses all parts of the question, then you can expect a band 6.

In the meanwhile, you need fair accuracy in grammar, spelling, punctuation so that the examiner can understand what you try to say in your essay.

Now that you know the week points of a band 6 response, you know:

How to Improve IELTS Writing Score from 6 to 7?

The answer is by simply developing ideas more elaborately, appropriate using of cohesive devices and avoiding spelling and grammar mistakes will do so.

Next, let`s drive in to scrutinize a band 7 answer written by a candidate in his original IELTS test.

Band 7 IELTS Writing Task-2 Demassified

Here is a reprint version from Cambridge IELTS 11 –Test 3 : 

Many may say, and I agree that today`s society has almost erased all its borders an soon will become limitless in what concerns for both work and pleasure. Therefore, if this is to happen, then learning a new language is necessary.

Now a days , learning a new language for the purpose of working in other countries seems to become more and more popular. Adults in need of money, or, why not, recognition are trying to pursue their happiness away form home. Also, the hey days of employers looking only for capable people have gone. It seems that today`s employers are looking not only for multi-skilled employees, but want people who know more than their mother tongue. Sooner or later, those who omitted learning more are prone to become jobless.

However, to my mind, a new language shouldn’t be learned just for travelling or working in a foreign country. A foreign language should and will allow us to understand more about the world itself, and maybe our ancestors` ways of thinking and acting. Needless to say, knowing another language will help us when it comes to understanding the human race, because language is the first poem of a country.

All of this being said, I believe that learning a different language should be not only for satisfying our physical needs, like money, but also our moral needs, because never before has such a big thirst for knowledge been displayed.

The examiner graded this answer with Band 7 and commented as follows:

All parts of the prompt are addressed and a clear position is presented throughout the response. Main ideas are extended and supported. Ideas are logically organised and there is a clear progression throughout the response. A range of cohesive devices is used flexibly, while each paragraph has a clear central topic which is developed. The lexical resource is sufficient to allow some flexibility and precision and although there are a few spelling errors, these do not detract from the overall clarity of the response. A variety of complex structures is used with some flexibility and accuracy. Grammar and punctuation are well controlled and error-free sentences are frequent.

IELTS Band 7 Essay Writing Criteria

Here`s the list  :

(1) All parts of the prompt need to be addressed

That`s why everyone say look before you leap…aka look carefully what the question ask to write about –before start writing.

The question says:

Some people say that the only reason for learning a foreign language is in order to travel to or work in a foreign country. Others say that these are not the only reasons why someone should learn a foreign language.  Discuss both these views and give your own opinion. 

In short, the task to cover following points:

• Only reason to learn a foreign language is to benefit one`s travel and overseas job (First View).
• But, there may be other reasons beside travel or job (Second View).

And, asked to cover following points in the answer:

01. Discuss both views
02. Give own opinion.

And., this is how the candidate cover above two points:

The candidate discussed first view in the second paragraph.

Let`s see how..

The last point of the question asked to discuss own (candidates) point of view about the issues of the task. The candidate addresses it in the concluding paragraph by saying “I believe that.”..:

Here you can notice:

• The second sentence starts with “A foreign langue”; which is a repetition of the subject (a new language) of the first sentence. This style is called lexical cohesion in academic writing.
• The last sentence starts with linking word as “needless to say “to maintain an overall progression of the paragraph.

Facts that Prevent a Band 7 Answers to be a Band 8 One

Read this question and answer from Cambridge IELTS student book 9- test 2:

Here`s what examiner said after scored it with a band 8:


Here`s the breakdown of good points of the essay:

(1) Addresses all parts of the prompt sufficiently

Notice the word “sufficiently”- this is the first time you see this word.

Whereas, you see something like: All parts of the prompt are addressed- without the word `sufficiently`.

Remember in our band 7 example, the candidate merely explain a particular part of the task which was “People learn language for travelling. Although the answer merely touch this point in the second paragraph-the whole discussion was focused on only `new language learning for job` purposes.

In a band 8 answer, you`ll not see this-the answer would not miss to explain various point of the task.

Let`s see how our example band 8 answer touch and explain every point of the task.

The task had two points:

01. High school students should involve in volunteer community services
02. The volunteer engagement of students should made compulsory by the school authority

And this is how the candidate touch these points in body paragraphs of  the essay:

Also, the answer developed these points with relevant, extended and supported ideas. Notice, how the answer explain the necessity of compulsory charitable works by saying:

• It will be an asset on the CV that in turn increase the employability.
• Student`s will be more practical about earning and spending money.

(2) Ideas are logically ordered and cohesion is well managed

• Use of “repetition” as lexical cohesion: The use of common noun `activities ` in the last sentence of the paragraph- in place of the phrase `charity work`- to make it cohesive with the first sentence of the  paragraph: 

• Use of “conjunction” as cohesive device (not only...but also) to logically order ideas:

(4) Wide range of vocabulary with uncommon lexis to convey precise meaning

But, as it is one step behind from band 9, there are some pitfalls:

(1) Some ideas are not fully extended

(2) Minor errors in lexis & grammar

Here the candidate made some error:

• Lexical inappropriacies:

Somewhere along the essay the candidate wrote:

“After-school clubs are no longer that popular and students mostly go home and sit in front of the TV, browse internet or play video games.”

This would be better if it was written as:

“After-school clubs are no longer that popular, compel most students to go home and sit in front of the TV, browse internet or play video games.”

• Error with Parallelism 

The candidate wrote:

“Skills gained through compulsory work will not only be an asset on their CV but also increase their employability.”

The correct one would be:

“Skills gained through compulsory work will not only be an asset on their CV but also will increase their employability.”

After this analysis of the pros and cons of a live band 8 answer, we`ve come to the gist:

What Makes a Perfect Band 9 IELTS Task-2 Answer?

Here is an example of Band 9 IELTS Task -2 essay:

Here are the Factors that make it a band 9 IELTS essay:

(1) The candidate take a very clear thesis statement in introduction by taking the stand against the product globalization. The thesis was as below:

"I strongly believe that this modern development is largely detrimental to culture and tradition worldwide."

(2) Well supported the thesis in next 3 body paragraphs. The thesis-global spread of same product is detrimental- was expanded with following topics in three supporting paragraphs  :

• Culture get lost
• Local Job loss
• Tourism marooned

(3) Provided real world examples to support the main topics of paragraphs. Like in the first body paragraph the topic was:

“A country`s history, language and ethos are all inextricably bound up in its manufactures artifacts.”

This topic was well supported with some real world examples by saying:

“What would a Japanese tea ceremony be without its specially crafted teapot or a Fijian kava ritual without its bowl made from a certain type of tree bark?”

(4) The main topic of body paragraphs are well supported with proper reasoning. For instance, in the third body paragraph,  it was said that tourism can be stranded due to same product availability all over the world, and this topic was well supported with reasoning like visitors would fed up by not finding local souvenirs.

(5) It is a must to state the opposite view and then refute it immediately in order to achieve a high score in a opinion based essay. The candidate did not forget this and it eventually brings the essay a band 9 score. You can see it in the last paragraph of the essay :

Opposite view: “Some may argue that all people are entitled to have access to the same products,”
Refute: “but I say the local objects suit local conditions best, and that faceless uniformity worldwide is an unwelcome and dreary prospect.”

(6) Although you can see that the candidate use only one (“finally”- in 4th paragraph) linking word in the whole essay; the cohesion and coherence was achieved in such a way that it attracts no attention. To do this the candidate used a range of cohesive devices and organizational patters.

(7) Sentences varied in length and complexity.

(8) A very high command over language by contextual use of sophisticated phrases like:

• inextricably bound up
•  relentless advance of 
• the sad disappearance of
• manifestations of

(9) Finally the use of some less common words (terms) very effectively like:

• bland (instead of ordinary)
• oust (instead of expel)
• dreary (instead of dull)