How many mistakes can you make for band 7 in IELTS Writing?

Grammar at band 6: 'errors in grammar and punctuation occur, but rarely impede communication', and complex structures are less accurate than simple ones. At band 8: 'the majority of sentences are error-free' and errors are 'occasional, non-systematic' with minimal impact (descriptors).

ielts.org's key assessment criteria say Grammatical Range and Accuracy assesses 'the density and communicative effect of grammatical errors', and Lexical Resource does the same for spelling and word formation. So two essays with the same number of slips can score differently if one set blocks meaning.

Accuracy alone does not give band 7. Range matters too: band 7 grammar needs 'a variety of complex structures' used with some flexibility, and band 7 vocabulary needs 'some ability to use less common and/or idiomatic items'. A short, error-free essay of simple sentences does not fit that.

The descriptors note that 'a script must fully fit the positive features of the descriptor at a particular level' (ielts.org). Read all four criteria in our Writing band descriptors guide.