IELTS Writing Band 6, with samples.

Task Response

At 6: Answers the main parts of the question, some more fully than others. The position is relevant, but some ideas are not developed enough.

For a 7: Covers the main parts of the question and holds a clear position; ideas are developed, if sometimes in general terms.

Coherence and Cohesion

At 6: Clear overall order, but the linking can feel mechanical, and it is not always clear what a word like "this" refers to.

For a 7: A logical order with clear progress from idea to idea; the linking words vary, though some are used too much or too little.

Lexical Resource

At 6: Words are good enough for the task. Less common words are tried, with some mistakes, and spelling errors do not stop the reader.

For a 7: Enough range to be precise and flexible, with some less common words and a few slips in word choice or spelling.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

At 6: A mix of simple and complex sentences. The complex ones have more errors, but the meaning is rarely unclear.

For a 7: Many complex sentences, a good share of them with no errors, and grammar and punctuation generally under control.

In Task 1 the first criterion is Task Achievement. At 6: Covers the task with an overview, but some key points or details may be missing, unclear or not quite right. For a 7: Covers what the task asks: a clear overview, or every bullet point answered, with key points that could go a little further.