IELTS Writing: Five Tips From Examiners That Actually Lift Your Band
May 9, 2026 · 6 min · IELTS writing · IELTS prep · english test
Band 7+ on IELTS Writing is achievable for most students. The gap between band 6 and band 7 is usually narrower than test-takers expect. Five things make the difference.
1. Vary your sentence structure
Examiners count complex sentences. A complex sentence has at least one subordinate clause.
Simple: "I went to the shop. It was closed."
Complex: "When I arrived at the shop, it was already closed."
Aim for one complex sentence per paragraph.
2. Use precise vocabulary
"Big" and "important" are weak. "Substantial" and "significant" are stronger.
Don't memorise a list of fancy words. Pick five words you'll use in any essay (substantial, significant, advocate, undermine, sustainable) and use them naturally.
3. Answer the question, not a related question
The single most common reason for band-6 scores is partial answer. If the prompt has two parts, address both. Underline the prompt before you write.
4. Have a clear position from sentence one
For Task 2, examiners want to see a clear opinion immediately. Don't sit on the fence for three paragraphs.
5. Proofread the last 30 seconds
Spelling, articles ("a" vs "the"), and subject-verb agreement add up. Five small errors can drop a band.
What examiners count
- Task achievement (did you fully address the prompt?)
- Coherence and cohesion (linking words, paragraph structure)
- Lexical resource (vocabulary range)
- Grammatical range and accuracy
Each is 25% of your score. Most students focus on vocabulary and ignore the other three.
Words to avoid
"In a nutshell", "in a nutshell", "every coin has two sides", "as the saying goes" — examiners have heard these a thousand times. They don't lift your band. Original phrasing in plain English does.