10 Common IELTS Writing Mistakes That Lower Your Score

Examiners see the same mistakes over and over again. Avoiding these 10 common errors is the easiest way to instantly improve your band score, sometimes by a full 0.5-1.0 bands.

1. Not Fully Answering the Question

If the question asks "Discuss both views and give your opinion", and you only discuss one view, you are capped at Band 5.0 for Task Response—no matter how well you write.

Quick Fix

Before you start writing, underline the key instruction words: "discuss BOTH views", "to what EXTENT", "advantages and DISADVANTAGES". Make sure every part is addressed.

2. Using Memorized/Template Answers

Examiners are trained to spot memorized phrases like "It is irrefutable that...", "Every coin has two sides", or "Last but not least". These clichés scream "memorized" and hurt your score for both Task Response and Coherence.

Avoid These Overused Phrases:

❌ "In this modern era..."
❌ "It goes without saying that..."
❌ "At the end of the day..."
❌ "Each and every..."

Solution: Use natural academic language. Instead of clichés, use specific vocabulary related to the topic.

3. Incorrect Word Count

Under 150/250 words: Automatic penalty. Cannot score above Band 5.0.
Way over word count (Task 1: 200+, Task 2: 300+): No direct penalty, BUT you run out of time to check for errors and may include irrelevant information. Aim for 170-190 (Task 1) and 270-290 (Task 2).

4. Poor Paragraphing

If you write one giant block of text with no paragraph breaks, your Coherence & Cohesion score will drop to Band 5.0 instantly.

Correct Structure

Task 1: 4 paragraphs (Intro, Overview, Body 1, Body 2)
Task 2: 4 paragraphs (Intro, Body 1, Body 2, Conclusion)

Each body paragraph should have ONE central idea with explanation and example.

5. Informal Language

IELTS Academic is formal. Using informal language costs marks. Here's what to avoid:

❌ Avoid

Contractions: don't, can't, won't
Slang: kids, stuff, lots of
Phrasal verbs: get, put up with
Idioms: piece of cake, raining cats and dogs
Vague language: thing, nice, good

✓ Use

Full forms: do not, cannot, will not
Formal: children, items/materials, many
Formal verbs: obtain, tolerate
Direct language
Precise words: issue, beneficial, effective

6. Giving Personal Examples (In Task 2)

"For example, my uncle Bob lost his job due to automation..." ❌

"For example, recent statistics show that automation has caused unemployment in manufacturing sectors..." ✅

Task 2 is an academic essay. Use general examples, statistics, or hypothetical scenarios—not personal anecdotes.

7. Repeating the Same Words

Using "increase" 5 times in one essay shows limited vocabulary. Use synonyms:

increase → rise, grow, climb, surge, escalate
important → significant, crucial, vital, essential, paramount
people → individuals, citizens, the public, society

8. Spelling Errors

Commonly misspelled words in IELTS:

environment (not enviroment)
government (not goverment)
necessary (not neccessary)
accommodation (double c, double m)
receive (i before e)
separate (not seperate)

9. No Clear Thesis Statement

For opinion essays, you MUST state your opinion clearly in the introduction. Vague statements like "I will discuss both sides" (when the question asks for your opinion) will hurt your Task Response score.

10. Writing Off-Topic

Stick to the question. If the question is about "online education", don't write about "technology in general". Examiners deduct marks for irrelevant content.

Frequently Asked Questions

Not necessarily. Band 7 allows occasional errors. However, repeated spelling mistakes or errors that cause confusion will lower your score.

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