By English Test Coach · Updated
Task 2 · updated 21 October 2026
How to find out what band your Task 2 essay would get before the exam
Short answer: write the essay under exam conditions (40 minutes, at least 250 words, no dictionary), then get it assessed against the four public IELTS Writing criteria: by yourself with the band descriptors, by a teacher, or by an AI checker that scores each criterion. Do this for several essays, not one, and read the estimate as a range.
Disclosure: we make an IELTS writing checker, one of the options below. No method gives an official band before test day; only an IELTS examiner can.
Step 1: write it like the real test
An estimate is only as good as the essay you give it. Use a question you have not seen, set a 40-minute timer, write by hand or type with spell-check off, and stop when the time ends. If you finish early, use the time to check that your answer covers every part of the question. Need a question? Pick one from the Task 2 topics, or take a full timed writing mock test.
Step 2: know what the examiner marks
Task 2 is marked on four criteria of equal weight:
| Criterion | The question it answers |
|---|---|
| Task response | Did you answer every part of the question with a clear, developed position? |
| Coherence and cohesion | Does each paragraph have one job, and do the ideas move forward logically? |
| Lexical resource | Is your word choice precise, natural and suitable in formality? |
| Grammatical range and accuracy | Do you use a mix of structures, and how often do errors get in the way? |
Your Writing band combines Task 1 and Task 2, and Task 2 counts for twice as much. Our band descriptors in plain English show what separates bands 5 to 8 on each criterion.
Step 3: choose how to get it assessed
| Method | Cost | How reliable | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mark it yourself with the descriptors | Free | Low at first: most people are generous with their own Task response | Learning what examiners look for |
| A study partner | Free | Varies with their level | Spotting unclear arguments |
| A teacher who knows the IELTS criteria | Per essay or per course | High, if they know the criteria well | A final check close to the test |
| An AI checker that scores each criterion | Free to a low monthly price | Depends on the tool: ask for its published accuracy | Checking every practice essay quickly |
If you use an AI checker, look for one that scores all four criteria separately, quotes your essay as evidence and publishes how close its estimates are to official bands. Ours, for example, was within one band of the official score for 24 of 27 published responses, and it scores band 8 writing low (see the test).
Step 4: read the number as a range
One essay is one sample. Check three or four essays on different question types and look at the pattern: if Lexical resource is lowest every time, that is your target, whatever the overall number says. If your goal depends on half a band, add a human review near test day. To see what your Writing band does to your overall score, use the band score calculator.
Step 5: fix one criterion, then check again
Pick the weakest criterion and practise one specific change, for example a clear position in both the introduction and the conclusion. Write a new essay and compare the estimate. That loop moves scores more than writing many essays without feedback. Stuck on the same number? Read stuck at band 6: how to find what to fix next.
Which tool should I use?
That is the next question most candidates ask. We compared the options:
Estimate your Task 2 band free
Your first check needs no sign-up. The result is a practice estimate, not an official IELTS score.