IELTS Writing Task 2 band 8: the moves from 7 to 8, criterion by criterion

The same four criteria, done more fully and consistently. Band 8 ideas are well extended rather than over-generalised, lapses in coherence are occasional rather than a few, vocabulary conveys precise meanings, and most sentences are error-free.

No method guarantees a band. Work on your weakest criterion first, because the task score is the average of four equally weighted criteria. For most band 7 writers that means fuller development of each idea and removing one repeated error type.

There is no official structure. Clear paragraphs with one central idea each help coherence, but a memorised template does not: the band 4 Lexical Resource descriptor lists memorised phrases and formulaic language as inappropriate, and an answer proved to be totally memorised can be given band 0.

Precise vocabulary, not simply rare words. The band 8 descriptor asks for a wide resource used to convey precise meanings, with uncommon or idiomatic items used skilfully when appropriate.

The descriptors set no number. At band 8 the majority of sentences are error-free and remaining errors are occasional and non-systematic, so a mistake that repeats throughout the essay is the bigger problem.

You must write at least 250 words. ielts.org says you are not penalised for writing more, but a very long answer may leave no time for checking, and some ideas may stop being directly relevant.