IELTS Writing Task 2 checklist for self-study: 12 checks before you submit
A practical IELTS Writing Task 2 checklist covering task response, structure, vocabulary and grammar—use it to review every practice essay before getting it scored.
By English Grader study guides · AI-assisted educational content · Official sources linked below
The short answer
Most Band 6 essays fail on checklist basics—answering both parts, clear paragraphing, accurate sentences—not on lack of advanced vocabulary.
Task response checks
Before anything else, confirm you actually answered the question.
- Did I address every part of the question?
- Is my position clear in the introduction?
- Does every paragraph support that position?
- Did I write at least 250 words?
Related guide: How many words do you need?
Structure checks
Examiners should be able to follow your argument without effort.
- Four or five clear paragraphs
- One idea per paragraph with a topic sentence
- Linking phrases used naturally, not mechanically
- A conclusion that matches the introduction
Related guide: Writing strong topic sentences
Language checks
Accuracy beats ambition at Band 7.
- Subject-verb agreement in every sentence
- Articles (a/an/the) checked
- No informal words or contractions
- Vocabulary repeated? Swap in synonyms
Related guide: The most common grammar mistakes
Final step
After your self-review, get the essay scored to confirm your checks are catching the right problems.
Get your essay scored →Put this into practice
Run your essay through the checklist, then get a band estimate with criterion feedback.
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.