Written byFizza Butool ZaidiIELTS teacher for 10+ years, PTE for 5Updated 30 October 2026
The seven videos
All are on the ielts.org Writing resources page, each with a transcript.
| Video | What it covers |
|---|---|
| General introduction to IELTS Writing | The two tasks and the marking criteria |
| Task achievement, Task 1 Academic | Selecting key features, detail, format, an overview and accurate reporting |
| Task achievement, Task 1 General Training | Covering the bullet points, the purpose of the letter, format and tone |
| Task response, Task 2 | Format, a clear opening and position, and a logical conclusion |
| Coherence and cohesion | Paragraphing, sequencing, substitution, referencing and linking devices |
| Lexical resource | Range, precision, appropriacy and accuracy, spelling and word formation |
| Grammatical range and accuracy | Sentence forms, grammatical errors and punctuation |
Key marking facts from the series
Examiners award a score on four criteria. Each task is assessed independently, the criteria are weighted equally, and the task score is the average; Task 2 carries more weight than Task 1 (ielts.org).
The introduction video says Writing lasts one hour. Task 1 needs at least 150 words and is best kept to about 20 minutes; Task 2 needs at least 250 words and about 40 minutes. Task 1 is worth a third of the Writing mark and Task 2 two thirds.
The Academic Task 1 video says your answer must be written in full: no sub-headings, bullet points, greeting, name, diagrams or tables.
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Supporting documents
The same page links two PDFs: the key assessment criteria (4 pages) and how examiners assess the Writing section (9 pages) (ielts.org). The band-by-band wording is in our IELTS Writing band descriptors guide.
Frequently asked questions
How many official IELTS Writing videos are there?+
Seven on the ielts.org Writing resources page: an introduction, two Task 1 videos, a Task 2 video and three on the remaining criteria.
Are the IELTS Writing videos free?+
Yes. They are on ielts.org with transcripts.
Which IELTS Writing task is worth more?+
Task 2. ielts.org says it is worth two thirds of the Writing mark and Task 1 one third.
Can I use bullet points in Academic Task 1?+
No. The official video says the response must be written in full, with no bullet points or sub-headings.
Keep reading
Related
- IELTS Writing band descriptors
- IELTS Writing Task 2 band descriptors
- IELTS Writing test format
- Write & Improve for IELTS
- All 3112 guides
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