IELTS writing band score calculator: how your score is worked out
How the IELTS Writing band score is calculated: the four criteria, Task 1 vs Task 2 weighting, rounding rules, and worked examples.
By English Grader study guides · AI-assisted educational content · Official sources linked below
The short answer
Each task gets four criterion scores; Task 2 counts twice as much as Task 1, and the result is rounded to the nearest half band.
Four criteria per task
Each task is scored on four criteria from 0 to 9. The task score is the average of those four.
Example
Task 2: TR 6, CC 7, LR 6, GRA 6 → average 6.25.
Task 2 is worth double
Task 2 carries twice the weight of Task 1, so a strong essay can lift a weaker report — but not the other way round.
Worked example
Task 1 = 6.0, Task 2 = 6.5 → (6.0 + 6.5 × 2) ÷ 3 ≈ 6.33 → reported as Band 6.5 after rounding to the nearest half band.
Use the calculation to plan
Find your lowest criterion and work on it first; raising one criterion by a full band moves the task score by a quarter band.
Related guide: Band 6 to 7 improvement plan
Put this into practice
Submit a Writing answer and see an estimated score for each criterion.
Guest AI tries are limited to one use per feature per day. Sign in for saved progress. AI feedback and band estimates are practice guidance, not official IELTS results.
Official sources and further reading
Practice examples and study routines are illustrative advice, not official band-scored answers or predictions of exam questions.