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IELTS Writing Task 2: ✍️ Everything You Need to Know

When helping students prepare for the IELTS test, one of the biggest fears is how to do well in IELTS Writing Task 2. 

IELTS Writing Task 2 is the second part of the writing test, where you are presented with a point of view, argument or problem and asked to write an essay in response. Your essay should be in a formal style, at least 250 words in length and you should aim to complete it in under 40 minutes. 

IELTS Writing Task 2: Everything You Need to Know

how to write band 8 essay in ielts

In this video, I’ll outline exactly what you must do to create an IELTS Writing Task 2 essay that could score a Band 7, 8 or 9.

It doesn’t matter if you’re new to IELTS or if you’ve failed the exam before – I’ve broken everything down into a simple 3-step process that anyone can use to improve their scores! Watch the video above to find out what they are.

5 Steps to a Band 7 in IELTS Writing Task 2

1. Understand the question.

You must understand the question before you attempt to answer it. This way, you’ll know exactly what the examiner is looking for. One of the biggest mistakes students make is not answering the question fully, which stops them from getting a score higher than a Band 5.

To analyse the question , you must first identify the question type, then identify the keywords in the question and finally identify the instructions words. This will help you understand exactly what the examiner wants you to do with the question.

2. Plan your answer.

The students who get the highest marks in Writing Task 2 always plan their answers for up to 10 minutes. Planning helps you organise your ideas and structure your essay before you write it, saving you time and helping you produce a clear and coherent essay.

3. Write an introduction.

The introduction should answer the question directly. This tells the examiner that you know what you are doing straight away and helps you write your main body paragraphs.

4. Write the main body paragraphs.

This is where you give the examiner more detail . You do this by stating your main points and supporting these with explanations and relevant examples.

5. Write a conclusion.

In your conclusion , you should provide a summary of what you already said in the rest of your essay.

how to write band 8 essay in ielts

4 Ways to Improve your Score in IELTS Writing Task 2

Many people know they need to improve their writing skills but don’t know how to do it. Here are 4 ways you can boost your score in Writing Task 2:

1. Understand the exam.

You must first understand what IELTS Writing Task 2 is, what you are expected to do and how to give the examiners what they want. This is the first stage and one that is often overlooked.

There are many online resources, often with conflicting and poor-quality information, so finding a reliable source of information is key.

2. Identify your weak areas.

If your car breaks down, you would try and identify which part caused the problem. If you get sick, your doctor will run tests to determine the exact cause of your symptoms.

IELTS Writing Task 2 is the same. We must first identify WHY you are not getting the score you need before we can help you improve.

However, be very careful! You wouldn’t ask the average man on the street for medical advice, so make sure you find someone who knows what they are doing and has the expertise to help you with this.

3. Fix the problems.

Now that we know what the problems are, we must fix them.

If your grammar needs work, fix those issues. If your vocabulary is lacking, work on fixing this issue.

Just as a good doctor can help you fix a medical problem, a good IELTS teacher can help you fix your specific issues.

4. Practice and get feedback.

Practice alone will not help you. It is an essential part of your preparation, but you must also get feedback on your work if you are really going to improve.

You wouldn’t try to teach yourself how to drive without an instructor, would you?

Find someone who will give you accurate and helpful feedback on your work. Otherwise, you will not be able to move to the last stage.

Now that you have understood what you need to do, identified the exact areas you need to work on, improved those areas, and received feedback on your work, you are now ready to get the IELTS Writing Task 2 score you deserve.

how to write band 8 essay in ielts

Writing Task 2 Structures 

I want to warn you about structures because they are not a magic wand that will help you automatically get a higher score. They WILL help you, but please realise that they are just a small part of your overall score.

These structures provide a sentence-by-sentence template for all the main Task 2 question types, making your job much easier on exam day.

  • Task 2 Essay Structures

Essential Writing Task 2 Skills 

how to write band 8 essay in ielts

No matter how good your English is, you must still learn IELTS writing skills before taking the Writing Task 2 test. These helpful guides will take you through each of these skills step-by-step:

  • How to Plan an Essay

Making a good plan actually saves you time when you write your essay. This guide will show you how to plan and write a clear essay every time.

  • How to Think of Relevant Ideas

This guide provides 5 different methods to help you quickly think of relevant ideas that are directly linked to the question.

  • How to Write a Complex Sentence

Complex sentences help you boost your score for grammar. They are actually very simple to write and are not complex at all.

  • How to Paraphrase

Paraphrasing is one of the essential IELTS skills for all parts of the IELTS test. You should paraphrase the question in the very first sentence of your essay to help boost your vocabulary score in Writing Task 2.

  • How to Write a Supporting Paragraph

Supporting paragraphs are the main body paragraphs and are the meat in the sandwich. This is where you provide the detail the examiner is looking for in the form of explanations and examples.

  • How to Write a Thesis Statement

A thesis statement tells the examiner your opinion. Many IELTS Writing Task 2 questions specifically ask for your opinion, and if you don’t write it clearly, you have not answered the question properly. This article shows you how, where and when to give your opinion.

How many words should I write?

Around 250 words? Exactly 250 words or over 250 words? How many words over? How do I know how many words I have? Will I lose marks if I write too many words? This article answers all those questions.

  • How to Understand and Analyse Any Question

A critical part of answering any question. This article shows you how to break down any Task 2 question and identify the keywords, micro-keywords and instruction words to help you answer the question effectively.

  • How to Write a Great Introduction

The introduction is the first thing the examiner reads; therefore, we must give them a good first impression. I share a very specific sentence-by-sentence structure in this article to help you write introductions quickly and effectively.

  • Task 2 Marking Criteria 

Do you know how Task 2 is marked? What is the difference between a Band 5 and a Band 8 answer? This article breaks down the marking criteria and explains it in simple language so you can give the IELTS examiners exactly what they want.

  • How to Write a Conclusion

A good conclusion should be a summary of your main points. The conclusion is the last thing the examiner reads, and if you can write a good one, you will leave them with a very good impression.

  • Using Examples

Each of your supporting paragraphs should have a specific example that supports and illustrates your main point. This is an essential skill to learn if you want to get one of the higher band scores.

  • Cohesive Devices

Cohesive devices (sometimes called linking words) are one of the most misunderstood and misused elements of writing. Therefore, you must learn how to use them and when to use them.

  • The Danger of Synonyms

While synonyms are very important, they can also really reduce your mark if used incorrectly.

  • Paragraphing and Editing

This article will show you how to make your writing as clear and as easy to read as possible. It will also advise you on whether to use a pen or pencil.

  • IELTS Writing Task 2: 8 Steps to Success

Read this blog now to access our 61-page Task 2 strategy.

  • IELTS Writing Tips

I have compiled these tips after years of teaching IELTS, and all of them have been approved by IELTS examiners.

  • Coherence and Cohesion

This is a video lesson that shows you in practical terms how to improve your coherence and cohesion score.

how to write band 8 essay in ielts

Writing Task 2 Common Topics 

how to write band 8 essay in ielts

Knowing the common topics can help you prepare for the test more efficiently. Here are the 10 most common topics over the last few years. Studying hard is great, but don’t forget to study smart.

The article below will show you the top 10 most common IELTS topics.

  • Most Common Task 2 Topics 

Full IELTS Writing Task 2 Practice Lessons 

how to write band 8 essay in ielts

Here are some lessons that I have used when teaching students about IELTS Writing Task 2. I have changed them so that you can easily learn from home. They are very long but contain all the necessary information combined with the skills above.

  • Agree or Disagree (Opinion) Lesson

In this lesson, we look at how to tackle an ‘agree or disagree’ question. Many people worry about whether to take one side of the other or discuss both sides. Additionally, people also worry about how to deal with ‘To what extent’ question types. We allay all of these fears in this lesson.

  • Discussion Essay Lesson

‘Discuss both views’ questions often confuse people because you are asked to do many things in one essay. As such, it is very important to remember that the question asks you to discuss BOTH views AND give YOUR opinion.

  • Problem and Solution Essay Lesson

These questions are much easier than you think. You probably discuss problems and solutions in your day-to-day life all the time. Keep it simple.

  • Advantages and Disadvantages Lesson 

There are a couple of different types of advantages and disadvantages questions. This lesson will show you how to answer them.

  • Writing Task 2 Exercise with Video

Writing is a skill, and just like any other skill, it is important to practice to improve.

  • From Band 6.5 to 8 Demo Lesson

This is my most comprehensive free lesson on IELTS Writing Task 2. We show you how we took one VIP student from Band 6.5 to an amazing 8.

Sample Answers

You must have some good examples to compare your writing and see if you are on the right track. Click the link below for lots of sample answers and over 100 questions.

Task 2 Sample Answers

  • Agree or Disagree Sample Essays
  • Task 2 Band 9 Sample Essay
  • Latest Real Task 2 Questions
  • Official Sample Test Questions
  • Cambridge Sample Questions
  • Free Practice Test
  • How To Use Task 2 Samples
  • Recent Confusing Questions
  • IELTS Writing Practice Guide

IELTS Writing Task 2 Essential Information

  • You must write an essay in response to a question.
  • You must write 250 words or more.
  • Task 2 is worth 2/3 of your total mark on the Writing test.
  • You should spend around 40 minutes on this part of the test.
  • General Training and Academic are essentially the same for Task 2. However, they are different for Task 1.
  • There are certain types of questions that you will be asked, for example, opinion, discussion etc. See below for more detail on these.
  • Task Achievement (25%)
  • Coherence and Cohesion (25%)
  • Lexical Resource (25%)
  • Grammatical Range and Accuracy (25%)

Grammar and Vocabulary

how to write band 8 essay in ielts

Grammar is one of the four things you will be marked on in the Writing Task 2 test. Finding out what your common grammar mistakes are and then fixing them is a very powerful way to boost your score in this area. Here are some common grammar mistakes I have found after making hundreds of tests.

  • Top 10 Grammar Mistakes

For most IELTS students, the problem is not grammar in general. In fact, it is usually just 1-2 problem areas. Therefore, when you fix these main weaknesses, you’ll be able to improve your grammar and your writing score dramatically.

  • Using Personal Pronouns

Hint- They aren’t as big of a deal as you think.

See the interactive tool below for the answers to the most commonly asked questions we receive about IELTS Writing Task 2: 

IELTS Writing Task 2 FAQs

How can i improve my writing.

You will find all the resources you need on our Writing Task 2 page. Click the link below:

Writing Task 2

We also have two Task 2 courses for those that need to improve their Task 2 skills and strategy. They are both based online and completely free of charge. Learn more about them below:

Task 2 5 Day Challenge

Task 2 Essay Builder

If you need serious help or personalised feedback, you should check out our VIP Course. There is a waiting list, but you can add your name here:

How can I get a Band 7, 8 or 9?

The answer to this question is different for every individual IELTS student, as it depends on a number of factors, including your work ethic, English skills and exam strategy. You'll find a guide to answering this question in this article

If you need serious help with improving your IELTS scores, you should check out our online writing course. There is a waiting list, but you can add your name by clicking the link below:

Can you correct my writing?

Please click the link below and it will give you all the information you need about our writing correction service:

Writing Correction Service

Do you have any sample answers?

Yes, you will find them at the link below:

Will using 'high level' or 'academic' words help me improve my score?

Probably not.

Read my recent article about IELTS vocabulary here:

5 Things You Need to Know about IELTS Vocabulary

Can I use idioms?

No, you should not write idioms for Task 2.

Can I use personal pronouns?

You should avoid using personal pronouns, but it is fine to use them when giving your personal opinion.

Do you write a conclusion for Task 2?

Yes, it is very difficult to get a good score in Task 2 if you haven't finished your essay with a conclusion. You will find an in-depth lesson on conclusions here:

How to Write an Effective Task 2 Conclusion

How many paragraphs should I write?

Most IELTS task 2 essays follow the same basic four paragraph structure:

  • Introduction
  • Supporting Paragraph 1
  • Supporting Paragraph 2

However, you can find more comprehensive help with structuring your Task 2 essays here:

5 Day Challenge

Do I need to plan my essay?

I would highly recommend planning your essay. A good plan acts like a map that guides you through the essay, ensuring that you give the examiner exactly what they need to award you the score you need. You can find help with planning your essays here: How to Plan an IELTS Essay

You must write at least 250 words in Writing Task 2.

I would suggest that you aim to write around 270-280 words in total. Aiming for 20-30 words more than the required amount makes you more likely to reach the word limit without setting an unrealistic goal.

Will I lose marks if I don't write enough words?

Yes, if you don't write the required number of words, you will lose marks in 'Task Achievement' for not answering the question fully. Read more here .

Can I use contractions?

No, should not use contractions when you are writing an academic essay.

how to write band 8 essay in ielts

Englishan

50+ IELTS Essay Samples for 8 Bands with PDF

IELTS Band 8 Sample Essay

Learn how IELTS helps improve English language skills & why language skills are important for success. Read our IELTS Essay Samples today!

In modern education, the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) helps check how well you speak and understand English. It’s important because English is a global language. IELTS tests your language skills, which are needed for school and work. This essay looks at different “IELTS Essay Samples” to show why language skills matter. You can learn how to use English well for success in your studies and job.

Table of Contents

Important Tips to Write IELTS Essay

  • Understand the Question : Grasp the topic and requirements.
  • Plan Your Ideas : Organize your thoughts before writing.
  • Clear Introduction : Start with a brief, focused introduction.
  • Use Examples : Support your points with specific examples.
  • Stay Focused : Stick to the topic and main argument.
  • Structured Paragraphs : Divide your essay into clear paragraphs.
  • Formal Language : Write in a formal, academic style.
  • Vocabulary and Grammar : Use varied vocabulary and correct grammar.
  • Transition Words : Connect ideas using transitional phrases.
  • Balanced Argument : Present both sides if required, then express your view.
  • Summarize in Conclusion : Recap main points in your conclusion.
  • Stay within Word Limit : Follow the recommended word count.
  • Proofread : Check for errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
  • Time Management : Allocate time for planning, writing, and editing.
  • Practice : Regularly write essays to improve your skills.

Types of IELTS Essays

  • Opinion Essay (Agree/Disagree)
  • Discussion Essay (Advantages/Disadvantages)
  • Problem-Solution Essay
  • Advantages and Disadvantages Essay
  • Direct Question Essay
  • Two-Part Question Essay
  • Cause and Effect Essay
  • Process Essay
  • Comparison Essay
  • Pie Chart/Bar Graph/Line Graph/Map Essay
  • Mixed Graph Essay
  • Double Question Essay
  • Opinion and Discussion Essay

To improve your understanding of writing IELTS essays, consider reading the IELTS Essay Samples below for a band score of 8.

IELTS Essay Samples Images

IELTS Essay Samples Band 8 PDF

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IELTS Practice Tests and Preparation Tips

Band 8 IELTS Essays

The task 2 of the writing module is always a discursive essay question. You are asked to write about a social issue. Different kinds of essay questions are asked. Some of these are:

  • Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of something
  • Express your views on a given topic
  • Say whether you agree or disagree with a given view
  • Outline the reasons for a problem and suggest some solutions
  • Take a side in an argument

The task rubric may contain one or more questions. Your essay must answer all the points in the rubric. Your arguments should be convincing and relevant to the question. It is essential to establish a logical and grammatical connection between different parts of the essay.

Here at ielts-practice.org we have a huge collection of band 8 IELTS essay samples submitted by our students. Click on the links below to read our band 8 essays. IELTS essay topics tend to repeat. It is, therefore, imperative that you practice writing essays on topics asked in recent IELTS exams. Latest essays appear first on this page. We are adding more essays to this page, so stay tuned.

Send us your IELTS writing samples for a free band score estimate or get a detailed analysis for a fee.

Band 8 IELTS essay samples

  • Some experts believe that it is better for children to begin learning a foreign language at primary schools
  • Some people believe the purpose of education should be helping the individual to become useful for society
  • In some countries, owning a home rather than renting one is considered important
  • Some people think that success in life comes from hard work and determination
  • In recent years more and more people are choosing to read eBooks rather than paper books
  • Some people say history is one of the most important school subjects
  • Nowadays many people complain that they have difficulties getting enough sleep
  • An increasing number of professionals leave their poorer countries to work in developed countries
  • Academic Writing Task 1
  • Agree Or Disagree
  • Band 7 essay samples
  • Band 8 Essay Samples
  • Band 8 letter samples
  • Band 9 IELTS Essays
  • Discuss Both Views
  • Grammar exercises
  • IELTS Writing
  • Learn English
  • OET Letters
  • Sample Essays
  • Sample Letters
  • Writing Tips

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how to write band 8 essay in ielts

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IELTS Band 8 Essays Samples: IELTS Writing Task Answers

  • Updated On December 12, 2023
  • Published In IELTS Preparation 💻

In order to score a band 8 in IELTS writing task 2, you need to craft an essay answering all the band 8 assessment criteria. Your final band score will depend on the two sections of writing task. The first IELTS band 8 essays academic writing task requires you to write a 150-word essay. The second IELTS writing task asks for a 250+ word essay.

Table of Contents

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IELTS Band 8 Essay Samples

Now that you have a clearer understanding of how to approach the IELTS band 8 essays, it can be helpful to go through some IELTS test essay samples.

Sample Essay 1

Popular events like the Football World Cup and other international sporting occasions are essential in easing international tension and safely releasing patriotic emotions. Sample answer: The whole world stops to watch international sporting events such as the Olympics every four years. The athletes participating put their best performance on display. Sporting events such as the Football World Cup and the Olympics have helped ease international tension, such as when powerful leaders were trying to control the world’s economy. The Olympic Games are a great example that highlights how sporting events can bring nations together, at least temporarily. Ancient History saw Greeks and Romans interrupting battles to participate in the games. Even now, athletes from Palestine and Israel forget their differences, compete peacefully and even embrace each other after an event. Moreover, these popular events can bring world attention to the terrible consequences of wars, putting pressure on leaders to try and reach agreements to end disputes. Similarly, international sporting events have offered benefits in some Global South nations which live in constant internal civil war. For example, Brazil suffers a high unemployment rate, hunger, crime, lack of education, poverty, and corruption. This can be embarrassing and lead to low self-esteem. However, during the Football World Cup festivities, the Brazilian squad, easily considered the best team in the world, invokes an amazing feeling of pride in their country’s people. Most individuals put aside their problems and worries, and even criminal activity decreases. Roads are painted in the national colours, people wear the Brazilian team shirts and buy national flags. In conclusion, popular sporting events play a decisive role in diminishing international tensions and invoking patriotic feelings.

Sample Essay 2

Many offenders commit more crimes after serving the first punishment. Why is this happening, and what measures can tackle this problem? Sample answer: We often see some criminals committing crimes even after being punished. Yes, there are several reasons for this alarming trend. However, some effective measures can be undertaken by governments to tackle this issue. There are two major reasons for re-offenders. Firstly, the prison system often makes the situation worse. Criminals put together in prison often become friends with one another. While they are locked up in prison, they might not be interested in prison activities or have much to do. They tend to exchange information about what they had done before being sent to prison. They might even plan crimes with other inmates. Secondly, offenders find it difficult to find other sources of income. In most cases, they are poor, uneducated, and lack the skills required for well-paying jobs. Also, a criminal record does not make it easy to find a job. Not many people are open to hiring an ex-convict. To solve this issue, governments must focus on the rehabilitation of criminals instead of meting out punishment. Above all, prisons should provide vocational training so that the inmates are prepared for life outside the prison. It should teach them vital practical skills such as computer programming, car maintenance, and graphic design. This allows them to find work opportunities based on certain knowledge and skills. Community service is another great alternative to reform offenders. Rather than being locked up in prison with other inmates, offenders can contribute to society and become useful to their local community. These activities also help to eliminate the negative influence that prisons can have. In conclusion, it is true that re-offenders pose an ongoing issue. However, it can be solved by focusing on their rehabilitation rather than punishment. You can check out more of our IELTS band 8 essay samples here . If you follow these tips and practise writing daily, you are sure to do well on your IELTS band 8 essays.

IELTS Writing Task- Step-by-step Guide

Apart from reading our tips and tricks on mastering the IELTS band 8 essays, do follow the advice given below:

Understand the prompt The ideas you present in the IELTS writing test essay must be directly relevant to the question. You must have specific answers and not generalised ones. The examiner must see your coherence in the answers. Ensure you express multiple ideas to support the question. Do not add in any irrelevant information or memorised content.

Address all parts of the questions You will need to answer all the parts of the question for IELTS band 8 essays. You must offer a clear position on all sides to show the examiner you understand the question. If you are asked for a plural, such as advantages, offer at least 2 advantages. It is imperative you do not write the essay in the first person. For example, avoid ‘I think.’ Let us look at some sample exam prompts.

  • To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
  • Do the disadvantages of tourism outweigh the advantages?
  • Why is this so? Give reasons for this and solutions?

1st part: Whether you are for or against the statement and why? 2nd part: Are there more advantages or disadvantages? 3rd part: What is the position, what has contributed to this position, and how can it be resolved?

Logically organise the essay with linking phrases Your ideas should be expressed in a precise order from introduction to conclusion. If asked to offer your views as well as opinions, you must start the essay with your opinion and then explain both views. You can reiterate your opinion before concluding the essay. It is vital that you use adverbial phrases as connectors rather than single basic linkers. Ensure you write separate paragraphs for the introduction, different ideas, and the conclusion. Do not underline anything or give any paragraph subheadings.

Have distinct paragraphs Organise your essay into clear parts by dividing it into paragraphs (space between the two paragraphs should be visible). Each paragraph must reflect a distinct idea and should be at least 2 sentences in length. Consider using the ‘PEEL’ method while writing the essay, that is: Point – introduce your topic Example – a supporting example Explain – how does this evidence support your opinion Link – transition to the next idea You should ideally have multiple paragraphs to demonstrate your ability to structure your ideas and thoughts. Let’s look at some relevant examples:

4 paragraphs: Introduction, Advantages, Disadvantages, Conclusion 5 paragraphs: Introduction, Reason for the situation, Second reason, Solutions, Conclusion  

Use appropriate vocabulary and correct spellings Your vocabulary should have some common words, that is, everyday words and phrases. Also, use uncommon terms such as idiomatic language. But use idioms only if you are familiar with the meaning and they fit the topic. Be careful in your choice of synonyms, as it must not change the idea you are representing. For example, there is little difference between a teenager and an adolescent. However, there is a huge difference between a toddler and a baby. Do not use contractions (can’t, don’t, won’t), and ensure all your spellings are correct.

Avoid memorised content or examples There are certain phrases and words you should avoid as it does nothing to demonstrate your writing ability. Examples of cliche writing include phrases like:

  • Old is gold
  • Love is blind
  • The grass is greener on the other side

Use complex sentence structures You must be able to demonstrate to the examiner that you can use different sentence structures. Use both simple and complex sentences. However, it should not be too long and convoluted. You must have a wide grammatical range and perfect punctuation; use capitalisation, commas, and full stops appropriately.

Follow this checklist Here is a checklist to ensure that your essay possesses all the necessary elements to guarantee a band 8.

  • Did you answer every part of the question appropriately?
  • Do all your ideas support the question?
  • Is your grammar correct?
  • Can the examiner follow your ideas easily, from the start to the end?
  • Is there a clear introduction and conclusion?
  • Did you use appropriate vocabulary and avoid cliches?
  • Did you fix spelling mistakes?
  • Did you use the correct form of the word (adverbs, nouns, adjectives, and verbs)?
  • Did you use simple and complex sentence structures?
  • Did you punctuate correctly?

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IELTS Band 8 Essays Samples: IELTS Writing Task Answers

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IELTS Band 8 Essays Samples: IELTS Writing Task Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

1. is the ielts writing task hard.

If you fully understand the test format and can organise your thoughts into grammatically correct and well-structured sentences, IELTS writing can be easy. Ensure you  practice  enough before the test.

2. What are the most common IELTS writing topics?

Some of the most common writing topics include health, environment, art, home, daily routine, etc. They are generally easy topics to write about.

3. What’s the difference between the General Training Writing module and the Academic Writing module?

The General Training version of IELTS requires a letter in Task 1. In the Academic version, Task 1 asks for a report on a diagram. In both versions, Task 2 requires a discursive essay.

Know more about IELTS

Get free speaking practice samples.

  • Describe a Skill That you can teach other people
  • Describe a Place you Visited Where the Air was Polluted
  • Describe a Famous Person that you are Interested in
  • Describe a Course That You Want to Learn
  • Describe a Person who Solved a Problem in Smart Way
  • Describe a Prize That You Received
  • Describe a Volunteering Experience You Have Had
  • Describe a Piece of Good News
  • Describe Something you Taught to Your Friend
  • Talk About an Interesting Old Person you Met Recently
  • Describe a Dinner you Really Enjoyed
  • Describe a Story or Novel That Was Interesting to You
  • Describe a Time When you Shared Something with Others
  • Describe a Toy you Liked in Childhood
  • Describe an Interesting Neighbour
  • Describe a Competition You Would Like to Take Part In
  • Describe an interesting activity that you remember enjoying most in your Primary School
  • Describe Your Childhood Friend
  • Describe an Object You Find Particularly Beautiful
  • Describe a Place Where you are Able to Relax
  • Describe a person you know who likes to talk a lot
  • Describe a place where you would like to go to relax
  • Describe a period when you were busy
  • Describe a long-term goal you would like to achieve
  • Describe a situation when you helped someone
  • Describe a job you would not like to do in the future
  • Describe a time when you used a map
  • Describe a skill that you learned in your childhood
  • Describe an unusual holiday you had
  • Describe an exciting activity that you experienced with someone else
  • Describe a person who is good at making people feel welcome in his/her home
  • Describe A Time You Successfully Did Something Difficult
  • Describe Something in Your Country That You Are Interested In
  • Describe a Beautiful City
  • Describe something you do regularly that helps you work and study better
  • Describe a photo that you took and are proud of
  • Describe a party that you enjoyed
  • Describe a useful object in your home that you can’t live without
  • Describe a good advertisement that you think is useful
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How to Get Band 8-9 in IELTS Writing Task 2

Person studying IELTS Writing Task 2 Band 9 Tips

Today, we’re going to look at how to get a band 8 in IELTS Writing Task 2, or even possibly a band 9. Because the second task is the same on both IELTS versions, this post also tells you how how to get 8 in IELTS General Writing Task 2, or higher. Read on for IELTS Writing Task 2 Band 9 tips, a discussion of the differences between 8 and 9, and general advice on how to get a top score on Task 2.

Top IELTS Band 9 Tips for Writing Task 2

Whether you need to get an IELTS Band 8 or Band 9 on Writing Task 2, I recommend aiming for a 9. If you want your best score, aim as high as possible! Here are my top Band 9 tips, listed in the order you should do them. (You could also think of these as steps to a winning score!)

1. Read the Question Carefully

Carefully read the whole question so that you can answer every part of it. This is an easy first step toward a top IELTS Writing Task 2 score, but it’s also an easy step to miss. And it’s so important! You can be an amazing writer and still get low marks on IELTS Writing Task 2 if you don’t properly read the question and address it fully.

2. Brainstorm Your Essay

Do some prewriting to lay a strong foundation for your essay. Brainstorm ideas, writing them down. Then, choose the ideas that will go in your essay and write a very short outline that shows the ideas in the order they’ll appear. As you do this, here are a few key tips to remember.

  • Your essay should generally have two body paragraphs, so you’ll want to select two key ideas that can serve as topics for these paragraphs.
  • In your notes, it’s helpful to have separate lines for each body paragraph.
  • Your brainstorming notes can be very simple, but they should be easy to translate into a fully written essay, complete with an introduction, conclusion, and body paragraphs with explanations and examples.

For tips on how to brainstorm, then translate your notes into a winning Task 2 essay pattern, see Magoosh’s guides to brainstorming for the second IELTS Writing task , structuring IELTS Writing Task 2 body paragraphs , and following an IELTS Task 2 essay template .

Get a higher IELTS score? Start your online IELTS prep today with Magoosh.

3. Vary Your Sentence Structure

Sentence structure is important. Sentences should demonstrate good grammar. Good grammar is varied. This tip isn’t fun to read.

The four sentences above demonstrate why you should have varied grammar. If your sentences vary in length and structure, they will be much more enjoyable to read, and they’ll showcase your fluency in English. This in turn will help you really impress the IELTS Writing scorers and get you top marks; see how that works? 🙂

In short, great grammar is key to getting an 8+ in either version of the IELTS. This is true if you are wondering how to get 8 in IELTS General Writing Task 2, or if you’re aiming for a full 9 in IELTS Writing Task 2 Academic!

4. Use Transitions

Variety of vocabulary is as important as variety of grammar. And, while it is important to vary your choice of words in general, the most important words you’ll choose are the transitions. Strong transitions don’t just connect ideas; they also make it very clear how the ideas in your Task 2 response are connected.

If you’d like to see examples of strong transitions and effective word use, Magoosh has you covered! Check out Rachel’s guide to IELTS Writing linking words , and Eliot’s post on the best vocabulary for IELTS Writing Task 2 .

5. Double-Check Your Work

Manage your time carefully and try to have about 5 minutes left after you initially write your essay. This should be enough time for you to go back, double check your work, and add little improvements for one last boost to your score in IELTS Writing Task 2.

How to Get Band 8+ in IELTS Writing: FAQs

So I’ve just walked you through ways to aim specifically for the very top band. But there are other pressing questions when it comes to getting a score in the 8-9 range. Let me give you the answers to a few of the questions I hear most often from students.

How do I avoid going off-topic in IELTS writing task 2?

If you write your IELTS Writing Task 2 off topic, even a little, it can significantly hurt your score, particularly in the area of Task Achievement on the official IELTS Writing Task 2 rubric (PDF) . The trick is to make sure you fully understand the question, addressing each part both fully and correctly . It may help to underline or otherwise note the key words in the question. You should also revisit the question during your brainstorming step, to make sure you are focused on the question’s true meaning.

How can I improve my Writing Task 2 in IELTS?

“How to improve IELTS Writing Task 2” really is a big-picture question. Whether you’re trying to learn how to get 8 in IELTS General Writing Task 2 or how to score high in the Academic IELTS, seek out as much information as possible. Magoosh’s Complete Guide to IELTS Writing Task 2 is a great place to start.

As you move forward from there, the next big thing you can do is practice, practice, PRACTICE. As you do this, don’t forget to look at sample top-scoring essays, emulating them in your own practice. Here at Magoosh, I’ve created a set of practice questions for each of the IELTS Writing Task 2 question types , complete with links to Band 9 model responses.

Why do I keep getting 6.5 in IELTS Writing?

If you’re asking this question, you may have reached the dreaded plateau : a point in your practice where you can’t seem to get any better than you already are. There are many possible reasons that your essays might stay at the 6.5 level. The trick is to identify the exact reasons you keep getting a 6.5. Maybe you need to improve your use of vocabulary, or grammar. Or perhaps you are consistently doing poorly in some other key aspect of this essay.

A careful reading of the official IELTS Writing Task 2 level descriptors PDF can help you isolate the reason or reasons that you are stuck at 6.5 But ideally, you should get essay feedback from a real person. In some cases, this means hiring a tutor or taking a course. But there are cheaper ways to do this, and even free ones.

  • For relatively low cost, you could try out the Magoosh IELTS essay scoring service !

But you could also consult with a classmate for free, or share your essay and ask for feedback free-of-charge in an online IELTS forum, such as the Reddit IELTS community .

Final Thoughts on How to get 8 in IELTS General Writing Task 2 or Academic Writing Task 2

I would like to reiterate that the very best way to get a top IELTS score for Writing Task 2 is to aim as high as possible. This is why I recommend aiming for a band 9, even if the score you actually need is lower. So keep IELTS Band 9 in mind as you do the following:

  • Avoid making your IELTS Writing Task 2 off topic
  • Brainstorm and structure your essay
  • Develop strong paragraphs and varied sentences
  • Make good use of transitions and other word choices
  • Manage your time well
  • Practice with examples
  • Seek out feedback

Also bear in mind, of course, that your Writing task 2 score is only half of your overall IELTS Writing score. Once you’ve tackled IELTS Writing Task 2, make sure you also pay attention to Task 1; Magoosh’s Complete Guide to Task 1 is a great place to start. There, we have some Task 1 tips to match these IELTS Writing Task 2 Band 9 tips.

David Recine

David is a Test Prep Expert for Magoosh TOEFL and IELTS. Additionally, he’s helped students with TOEIC, PET, FCE, BULATS, Eiken, SAT, ACT, GRE, and GMAT. David has a BS from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and an MA from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. His work at Magoosh has been cited in many scholarly articles , his Master’s Thesis is featured on the Reading with Pictures website, and he’s presented at the WITESOL (link to PDF) and NAFSA conferences. David has taught K-12 ESL in South Korea as well as undergraduate English and MBA-level business English at American universities. He has also trained English teachers in America, Italy, and Peru. Come join David and the Magoosh team on Youtube , Facebook , and Instagram , or connect with him via LinkedIn !

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2 responses to “How to Get Band 8-9 in IELTS Writing Task 2”

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Thanks for sharing ^^ really nice

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IELTS Band 8 Essays Samples: IELTS Writing Task Answers

Wondering where can you find IELTS band 8 essays samples Click here for tips on crafting good essays find latest examples for reference!

9/26/2023 2 min read

how to write band 8 essay in ielts

The International English Language Testing System, or IELTS, is prominent in international education and language proficiency assessment. For individuals aspiring to study, work, or immigrate to English-speaking countries, achieving a high score on the IELTS exam is often a critical requirement. One of the most challenging aspects of this test is the writing section, where candidates must demonstrate their ability to express themselves effectively in written English. In this article, we will explore IELTS Band 8 essay samples to provide valuable insights and guidance for those aiming to excel in the IELTS writing tasks.

Understanding IELTS Writing Task

Before delving into the Band 8 essay samples, let's look at the IELTS writing task to understand its structure and expectations. The IELTS writing section comprises two tasks: Task 1 and Task 2.

Task 1: The Descriptive Task

Task 1 of the IELTS writing exam describes visual information, such as charts, graphs, tables, or diagrams. Candidates must provide a summary of the given data clearly and organized. Achieving a high score in Task 1 involves effectively presenting key trends, comparisons, and significant details.

Task 2: The Essay Task

Task 2, often considered the more challenging part of the IELTS writing test, requires candidates to write an essay responding to a specific question or prompt. This essay should be well-structured, coherent, and contain well-developed arguments and ideas. Task 2 evaluates the candidate's ability to express opinions, provide evidence, and engage in critical thinking.

Importance of Achieving Band 8 in IELTS Writing

Securing a Band 8 score in IELTS writing is a significant achievement. It signifies a high level of English proficiency and is often required for admission to prestigious universities, professional accreditation, and immigration purposes. But what makes a Band 8 essay stand out? Let's explore the key characteristics.

High Level of Vocabulary

A Band 8 essay demonstrates a rich and varied vocabulary. Candidates use words accurately and appropriately, avoiding repetition and monotony. Synonyms and idiomatic expressions are skillfully incorporated to enhance the essay's depth and clarity.

Strong Grammar and Sentence Structure

Grammatical accuracy and sentence structure are crucial in achieving a Band 8 score. Candidates should showcase complex sentence structures, use a range of tenses effectively, and maintain coherence throughout the essay.

Clear and Coherent Arguments

A Band 8 essay presents arguments logically and coherently. Each paragraph is focused, and ideas flow smoothly from one to another. There is a clear introduction, body, and conclusion, with effective topic sentences and transitions.

Critical Thinking and Originality

High-scoring essays display critical thinking skills and originality. Candidates are expected to offer unique perspectives, avoid clichés, and provide well-reasoned arguments supported by evidence.

IELTS Band 8 Essays Samples

To illustrate what a Band 8 essay looks like, let's examine some sample essays. These essays cover various topics commonly encountered in the IELTS writing exam.

Sample Essay 1: "The Impact of Technology on Society"

In recent years, technology has transformed the way we live and work. This essay explores the profound impact of technology on society, examining its advantages and disadvantages. It offers a balanced perspective and provides compelling evidence to support the arguments.

Sample Essay 2: "Climate Change and Its Consequences"

Climate change is a pressing global issue. This essay delves into the causes and consequences of climate change, emphasizing the urgency of taking action. It presents a well-structured argument and suggests practical solutions.

To achieve a Band 8 score in IELTS writing, candidates must hone their language skills, embrace critical thinking, and practice consistently. The sample essays provided here serve as valuable guides, illustrating the characteristics of high-scoring essays. Remember that achieving Band 8 requires dedication and effort, but it is an attainable goal with the right approach.

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IELTS Writing Task 2: 8 steps towards a band 8

To achieve a band 8 in Writing Task 2, you will need to produce an essay that contains all the positive features contained in the band 8 writing assessment criteria. Let’s take a look at these in the table below.

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Using the  band descriptors  as a guide we are going to go through the 8 steps to get you on your way to a band 8 in Writing Task 2. We will start with the task response before moving through all the criteria to show you what an examiner will be looking for in your response. 

Step 1: Answer is relevant to the question

Answer what you have been asked in the question. Don’t produce an essay that is close to a topic you have previously prepared. Make sure your examples and ideas are relevant. If you generalise too much and are not specific enough this will affect how your ideas are presented to the examiner. 

Make sure your ideas are directly related to the question 

Use ideas and examples that you are familiar with, and that relate directly to the topic 

Extend your answer to include a number of ideas that will support the question. 

Don’t: 

Include irrelevant information

Over-generalise 

Produce a memorised essay 

Present ‘recent’ research or statistics related to the topic “At least 41% of all men…” 

Step 2: Answer all parts of the question

You must read the question carefully and decide how many parts are in it. You must answer all parts of the question to reach a band 6 or higher. 

Let’s look at some example IELTS question prompts and see how many parts are in each, and if you need to present your opinion. Remember, it is very important to present a clear position when answering the statement to show that you understand the question being asked and to keep that position clear throughout the essay. 

Read the question carefully and decide how many parts are in it 

Present your opinion and support it throughout the whole essay 

If asked to present both views, make sure each view is presented equally (similar paragraph length) 

Watch for plurals. If you are asked to give ‘advantages’, you must present a minimum of 2 

Watch for ‘and’. You may need to comment on more than one element 

Write more than 250 words. 

Ignore parts of the question 

Assume that your opinion is clear, use the first person to ensure the examiner knows it’s your opinion ‘I think’ 

Tell the examiner what you are going to say and what you have said 

Produce a short essay.

Step 3: Organise your essay logically, with clear progression using linking phrases

Ideas must be expressed and ordered clearly – starting with an introduction and moving through to a conclusion. 

If you are asked to present both views and your opinion, state your opinion at the beginning of the essay and then move on to present both views. You can then come back to your own opinion and then conclude the essay. This is a logical way to present these ideas. 

 Do: 

Use a range of linking words and phrases, but don’t overuse them 

Use adverbial phrases, rather than single basic linkers 

Use referencing and substitution to avoid repetition (this/them/the issue/the problem) 

Use punctuation to make your writing coherent 

Make sure your ideas are sequenced correctly 

Make sure your ideas are logical and easy to follow 

Use a separate paragraph for the introduction and the conclusion 

Use one paragraph for each idea or topic area. 

Overuse basic linking words like firstly (instead, try using ‘The first reason for/ The primary reason for this’) 

Start every sentence with a linker (Try to put it in the middle of a sentence. Eg. “Some people believe, however, that individuals must also take responsibility for the environment” or “I believe, on the other hand, that individuals do have a responsibility to…”) 

Use numbers, symbols or abbreviations (1, 2, etc, &, +) 

Use headings or subheadings 

Underline words or phrases 

Use one-sentence paragraphs 

Start every sentence with a linking device.

Step 4: Organise your essay into paragraphs

Use paragraphs to organise your essay into clear parts. Make sure each paragraph contains a clear and developed topic and has a minimum of two sentences. 

You can use the acronym “ PEEL ” when writing your essay: 

P oint – introduce your topic or topic sentence 

E xample – an example that supports your point 

E xplain – why this evidence supports your point 

L ink – transition to the next topic or paragraph 

You must use enough paragraphs to clearly show a structured response. This will show that you can organise and present your thoughts and ideas logically. 

 Here are some ideas on how many paragraphs you could include in an essay:

Use paragraphs 

Use linkers between and within your paragraphs 

Leave a space between each paragraph (a line) 

Use a paragraph for each topic 

Use an introduction and a conclusion. 

Use single-sentence paragraphs 

Use very long paragraphs that cover a whole page (paper test)

Step 5: Use less common vocabulary and spell it correctly

You will see in the band descriptors that a band 8 writer skilfully uses uncommon lexical items. When we learn a language, we use common and uncommon terms. Common terms are words and phrases we use everyday to refer to personal experience and daily habits. Uncommon terms are used when we discuss specific topics or when we use idiomatic language (phrasal verbs). 

Words that are old-fashioned and not used in everyday speech should not be used. If you choose a synonym, the meaning must be the same and must not alter the idea being presented. For example, adolescent/teenager have close meaning and can be used interchangeably, however, toddler/baby have quite different meanings. 

Collocation is also mentioned in band 8, and it is assumed that you know which words go together, and which words are suitable to use for different topics. 

If you are discussing child crime, you could use the term ‘minor’ as this is a legal term used to describe children under the age of 18. 

If you use phrasal verbs, make sure that you are using the correct preposition as it can change the meaning: 

throw  out/away = discard 

throw  up = vomit/get sick Idioms (cultural language) should only be used if you understand them completely and if they fit the topic you are discussing. 

Use precise word choices 

Use language that we use in everyday speech 

Use words that you understand 

Use words and phrases that are related to the topic 

Use collocation and phrasal verbs (words that go together naturally – environmental pollution | major issue | promising future) 

Don’t 

Make spelling mistakes 

Make typos 

Mix up American and British spelling (You should use one or the other) 

Use a word if you don’t understand it or cannot spell it. 

Use imprecise words like ‘stuff/thing’ 

Use slang like ‘gonna’ 

Use old-fashioned language [the masses| denizens | myopic view | Hitherto] 

Overuse synonyms, one is enough 

Use idioms/clichés 

Use contractions (can’t, doesn’t)

Step 6: Don’t use memorised language, phrases or examples

Don’t use any memorised language, phrases or examples throughout your essay. They are easy for examiners to spot and don’t demonstrate your ability to write fluently. 

Overused phrases, idioms, proverbs and clichés should also be avoided, again, they are often used when speaking. These include phrases like: 

The grass is always greener on the other side 

Love is blind 

Off the top of my head 

Old is gold 

A friend in need is a friend indeed 

Additionally, the following terms should not be used when writing as they are vague and do not address a task appropriately. You should always be using clear language and make appropriate word choices that will express your ideas clearly.

Step 7: Use a variety of complex sentence structures

At band 8 it is expected that you can use a wide range of structures accurately to present your ideas and opinion. Show the examiner that you can use a wide range of structures and make sure your sentences are error-free. 

It is important to use a mix of complex and simple sentences. But remember, your complex sentences should not be long and complicated. 

Your punctuation needs to be accurate, using capitalisation, commas and full stops correctly. 

The most common errors made can be found below:

Step 8: Checklist

Use the following checklist to make sure that your writing contains the positive features at a Band 8 

If you follow these 8 steps, you will be well on your way to a band 8 in Writing Task 2. 

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  • IELTS Band 8

How to Score IELTS Band 8

How to score IELTS band 8 and how long it will take are common questions from candidates planning to sit the test.

Fortunately most people don't need to get a band 8 because most universities accept students with 7.5s and under. But some people do need it.

One of the first things you need to understand when thinking about how to score an IELTS band 8 is the way a band 8 is graded. This is the official description from IELTS:

Very good user:

Has fully operational command of the language with only occasional unsystematic inaccuracies. Misunderstandings occur in unfamiliar situations. Handles complex detailed argumentation as well.

The key is 'fully operational command of the language' . So this means that you are able to use it very well in all situations , be it to do with speaking, writing, listening or reading. 

This means being almost fluent as mistakes or misunderstandings will only be made occasionally and in unfamiliar circumstances. 

When thinking about how to score IELTS band 8, you must also consider what kind of errors you make. You must  not make systematic errors for a band 8. This is to do with speaking and is when you have a particular problem with grammar that is repeated. 

Now we'll look at what is needed for each of the individual skills so you know more about how to score an IELTS band 8. 

How to Score IELTS Band 8 Writing

To do this in IELTS writing you will have to write a near perfect essay or graph / letter!

To know how to score IELTS band 8 we'll look at what you are marked on for each criteria, which are:

  • Task Response / Achievement

Coherence and Cohesion

Lexical resource.

  • Grammartical Range and Accuracy

It varies slightly between Task 1 and 2 but most the criteria are the same so they'll be discussed together. 

Task Response

  • Sufficiently addresses all parts of the ask
  • Presents a well-developed response to the question with relevant, extended and supported ideas

To score IELTS band 8 for  Task Response / Achievement , your response will have to fully answer  all  parts of the question.

Your ideas will have to be very well-developed and supported. If anything in your essay is unclear or not supported  well, you can't get a band 8.

The minimum word length for an essay is 250 words (150 for Task 1) and most instructors will tell you to write around 265 words as you will be short on time. This is right because most people don't need a band 8.

A band 8, though, will be a very good writer and will easily be able to go beyond this and may well do in order to end up with extended and supported ideas. 

  • Sequences information and ideas logically 
  • Manages all aspects of cohesion well
  • Uses paragraphing sufficiently and appropriately 

For  Coherence and Cohesion , your writing will also need to be very easy to read and  all  aspects of this will be managed well. So one single mistake with this and you can't get a band 8. 

A level of sophistication will also be expected. For instance, if you hold your essay together with lots of simple connectors such as 'firstly', 'secondly', 'thirdly', 'for example', 'for instance' you are less likely to get an 8.

These may be ok for a 6 and under, but a very good writer knows how to link ideas in a way that does not look noticeable or mechanical.

  • Uses a wide range of vocabulary fluently and flexibly to convey precise meanings
  • Skilfully uses uncommon lexical items but there may be occasional inaccuracies in word choice and collocation
  • Produces rare errors in spelling and/or word formation

When planning how to score IELTS band 8, you also have to think about your vocabulary as the examiner will expect to see a wide range of words that stand out as high-level. 

There will also be words that aren't used commonly in everyday language.

But there is no point in learning lots of high-level words unless you know how to use them without making errors because for an 8 candidate, mistakes will be vary rare

There may be just a few throughout the whole essay. And they will not be very noticeable errors either. Perhaps missing an article somewhere or misspelling an unusual word. 

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

  • Uses  a wide range of structures 
  • The majority  of sentences are error-free
  • Makes  only very occasional errors or inappropriacies  

Again, like with the vocabulary, a band 8 candidate makes just a few errors throughout the essay and these will be only minor errors, not ones that are very noticeable or confusing the reader in any way. 

There will also need to be a mix of interesting and complex grammar structures. 

We'll now move on to look at how to score IELTS band 8 in the speaking test. 

How to Score IELTS Band 8 Speaking

If you want to know how to score IELTS band 8 in the speaking test, again you need to be aware of what you are being graded on. These are:

Fluency and Coherence

  • Pronunciation  
  • Speaks fluently with only occasional repetition or self-correction
  • Hesitation is usually content-related and only rarely to search for language 
  • Develops topics coherently and appropriately

How often do you hesitate or stutter during your test? A band 8 may just do this a few times throughout the whole of their speaking test. 

And if they do, it's usually to do with thinking about what to say rather than struggling to know which word to use.

All questions will also be fully answered and related to the question. A band 8 won't go off-topic or get confused about what a question meant. 

  • Uses a wide vocabulary resource readily and flexibly to convey precise meaning
  • Uses less common and idiomatic vocabulary skilfully, with occasional inaccuracies
  • Uses paraphrase effectively as required

When thinking about how to score IELTS band 8, consider if you know exactly how to get across what you mean. 

A band 8 candidate can find exactly the right words to get their meaning across without any problem. They will use words that may be uncommon in your everyday speaking.

'Idiomatic language'  is important but that does not mean learned phrases like 'I was over the moon'. 

These are fine if used properly and these are included but it's more about collocations and the ability to know which words fit together without having to think about it. 

Again, only a few errors may be made throughout the test. 

  • Uses a wide range of structures flexibly
  • Produces a majority of error-free sentences with only very occasional inappropriacies or basic/non-systematic errors

A wide and interesting range of structures will be used, with few errors. An important factor is also the lack of systematic errors . These are errors where a candidate has a repeated type of grammar error they make. 

For example, let's say a candidate misses the 's' off third-person singular e.g. 'He start work at 9am'.

If a candidate did this once but got it correct every other time, this would be a one off error and non-systematic . 

But if the candidate does this regularly this is a systematic error and something the candidate clearly has a problem with, so they can't get a band 8 for their grammar. 

But either way, when planning on how to score IELTS band 8, grammar errors are rare. 

Pronunciation

  • Uses a wide range of pronunciation features
  • Sustains flexible use of features, with only occasional lapses
  • Is easy to understand throughout; L1 accent has minimal effect on intelligibility

A band 8 candidate will be understood throughout the test without any effort from the examiner. 

The key thing here is 'sustains' . That means the candidate will keep up their pronunciation features throughout the whole test. 

How to Score IELTS Band 8 Listening and Reading

The listening and reading tests both have 40 question. To score an IELTS band 8 you have to get at least 35 points in each. 

Here you can view the IELTS raw scores and what score will get what band. 

How long does it take to get IELTS band 8?

This is a bit like asking how long is a piece of string...When planning on how to score an IELTS band 8, it really depends on so many factors, but the main ones are how good your current level of English is and the time you have . 

I'm currently very good at English

If you are already very good at English and you do not need to really improve your skills in the four areas of writing, speaking, listening, and reading, it would be quite possible to prepare for the test quickly.

But even if you are very good at English, don't assume you will do well with no practice! You still want to leave yourself at least a few weeks to prepare as even high level candidates can get caught out with some of the tests 

There are lots of different types of essay questions and graphs / letters to learn and writing both of the tasks to a high level in one hour is difficult for many people. Also the reading test can be particularly difficult for anyone.

So to prepare, make sure you take as many practice tests as you can and practice writing under the timed conditions. 

I'm currently quite weak at English

If you want to score IELTS band 8 and you are quite weak at English then you have to accept that getting there could take a very long time. It could take a number of years if you are at a low level. 

As you will have seen from the band score descriptors above, a band 8 is nearly fluent and makes very few mistakes. 

Learning a language takes time, and that is what you are doing. Simply learning IELTS test skills and strategies, though an important part of the process, will not get you from a band 6 to a band 8 in a few months. 

You may also need to get a teacher in order to speed things up or join some kind of classes. A teacher will be needed to correct and advise on grammar. Though of course not possible for many, significant time spent in an English speaking country is ideal as that way you will pick the language up. 

Band 8 and 9 candidates have often been educated abroad, in English speaking schools, or spent time living abroad, which is why they are very good at the language. 

If you want to learn more about how to score IELTS band 8, you can also check out these tips on getting a band 8 from candidates who have achieved their goal. 

You can find them in the IELTS Band 8 and 9 Forum

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Transitional Phrases for Essays

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How to use brainstorming and planning to generate essay ideas.

Brainstorming and planning is a key step in developing your IELTS essay. This lesson has tips on how to coming up with ideas and organising them.

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You can use substitution in your IELTS essays in order to improve coherency and coherence.

Writing an IELTS Essay Conclusion

The IELTS essay conclusion is the final part of your IELTS essay. This lesson guides you on how to write a conclusion quickly but effectively.

Can you use Personal Pronouns in Essays for IELTS?

Learn how to use personal pronouns in essays for IELTS correctly. Can you use "I", "we" and "you"?

Improving Writing Coherence for IELTS essays

25% of the writing grade is on how you organise your essay so this lesson shows you how to improve your writing coherence.

The 3 Types of IELTS Opinion Essays in IELTS

IELTS opinion essays in IELTS can be placed into three types. This lesson explains the different types and how to analyse these essay questions.

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IELTS Writing Samples Band 8

Nowadays, more and more people decide to have children later in their life. do the advantages of thi̇s trend outweigh the disadvantages, all parents want the best opportunities for their children. there are some people who think that schools should teach children skills but other think having a range of subject is better for a children's future., some people think that environmental problems should be solved on a global scale while others believe it is better to deal with them nationally. discuss both views and give your own opinion., the technology development has affected social relationships from person to person. do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, living in a country where you have to speak a foreign language can cause serious social problems, as well as practical problems. to what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement, in many countries it is mandatory for school children to wear uniforms. do you think the advantages of this policy outweigh the disadvantages give reasons for your answer and include relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience., some people believe that teenagers should be required to do unpaid community work in their free time. this can benefit teenagers and the community as well. to what extent do you agree or disagree, some countries achieve international success by building specialized facilities to train top athletes instead of providing sports facilities that everyone can use. is it a positive or negative development, some people believe that culture will be ruined if it is used to earn tourism, but others consider that tourism is the only way pf protecting a culture. discuss both sides and give your own opinion., people attend college or university for many different reasons (for example, new experiences, career preparation, increased knowledge). why do you think people attend college or university use specific reasons and examples to support your answer., in a number of countries, some people think it is necessary to spend large sums of money on constructing new railway lines for very fast trains between cities. others believe the money should be spent on improving existing public transport. -> topic: traffic, transport discuss both these views and give your own opinion., in some countries university students live at home with their family while they study, whereas in other countries students attend university in another city. do you think the benefits of living away from home during university outweigh the disadvantages, countries often give money to poorer countries, but it does not solve poverty. therefore, developed countries should give other type of help to the poor countries rather than financial aid. to what extent do you agree, rich countries often give money to poorer countries, but it does not solve poverty. therefore, developed countries should give other types of help to the poor countries rather than financial aid. to what extent do you agree or disagree, in the future nobody will buy printed nespapers or books because they will be able to read everything they want online without paying. to what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement., in some countries owning a home rather than renting one is very important for people. why might be the case do you think this is a positive or negative situation, in some contries, owing a home rather than renting one is very important for people. why might this be the case do you think this is a positive or negative situation, wealthy nations should assist poorer countries with humanitarian relief during natural disasters. do you agree or disagree, the population of some countries includes a relatively large number of young adults, compared with the number of older people. why is that, does being famous have more advantages or more disadvantages.

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How To Write One-Side Essays in IELTS for 8+ Band

how to write band 8 essay in ielts

INTRODUCTION

One-Side Essays are one of the most common type of essays in IELTS Writing Task 2.

In this type of essay, you will be given a problem statement and you will be asked to state the causes and/or solutions for that particular problem.

What One-Side Essays really demand is an effective structure – a simple strategy to write an essay irrespective of what the topic is.

In this blog post, you will find everything you need to write effective One-Side Essays for 8+ Band in IELTS Writing.

  • Type of One-Side Essays
  • Writing Strategy That Always Works
  • Common Mistakes To Avoid

Section 1: Type of One-Side Essays

Problem/cause/solution.

All One-Side Essays can be categorized as Problem/Cause/Solution essays.

In this type of essays, a question statement is given, and you will be required to either discuss about the problems that are caused by something and present some solutions for it, or describe the causes behind the problem and present some solutions.

You will be required to write 250 words essay with solid structure that I will provide in the next section.

Let’s look into some of the examples :

  • The gap between rich and poor is growing. What problems does it create? What can be done to tackle them?
  • More and more people prefer to read e-books rather than the paper books. What are the reasons for this? What problems can this cause for libraries?

Section 2: Writing Strategy That Always Works

Structure of One-Side Essays differs from that of Two-Side Essays in how you plan the paragraphs.

This section is going to explain to you a structure that you can use to write a clear and a cohesive One-Side Essay for 8+ Band in IELTS Writing irrespective of what topic is given to you.

Structure: Always write 5 paragraphs, and divide them like this:

Introduction

First body paragraph.

  • Second Body Paragraph
  • Third Body Paragraph

Let’s break down each paragraph one-by-one for better understanding.

While writing an introduction, you will always do two things:

  • Paraphrase the topic
  • Lay the foundation for body paragraphs

While writing introduction for One-Side Essays, always lay the foundation for your body paragraphs, instead of writing a thesis like you do for Two-Sides Essays.

That is because the thesis is primarily used to choose between the two sides by giving your opinion.

In One-Side Essays, on the other hand, you are not required to choose a side.

Let’s take an example of a One-Side Essay for you to understand:

Car ownership has increased so rapidly over the past 30 years that many cities in the world are now one big traffic jam. How true do you think this statement is? What measures can government take to discourage people from using their cars?

A sample Introduction paragraph for this question statement can be this:

Most people would argue that car ownership has increased in recent years and it’s causing a range of problems particularly in built up areas. (Paraphrasing the topic)

I think there are a number of ways that government can aim to deal with this. (Laying the foundation)

Now let’s move onto the body paragraphs for the same topic.

When deciding how to divide your response between first, second, and third body paragraphs, choose the part of question statement for which you can write a lot on for two out of three questions.

For instance, when you look at the above sample topic, you see that the question is two-fold:

1 st Part : How true do you think this statement is?

2 nd Part: What measures can government take to discourage people from using their cars?

For this, the second part of the question is asking you for solutions, and it is easier for you to write as many solutions as you want to.

But the first part of the question statement is kind of difficult, because it is neither asking for causes, nor a list of problems or solutions.

So whenever it is easier to write a list of things (either problems or solutions), always choose two paragraphs for that and one paragraph for the other part of the question.

In this example , for first body paragraph, we are going to discuss the first part of question which is:

Q: How true do you think this statement is?

Let’s plan our first body paragraph:

  • Double the time during peak hours.

Now we are going to expand this reason to justify the statement:

Many big cities in the world have traffic problems but these problems vary.

For Example:

It is reasonably easy to drive around my city after 10am and before 5 p.m.

However, outside the hours you have to allow double the usual time to reach your destination.

In some cities, traffic is congested at all times and there is the continual Sound of car horns as people try to get wherever they want to go.

Second and Third Body Paragraph

For second and third body paragraphs, we are going to discuss the second part of question which is:

What measures can government take to discourage people from using their cars?

Nowadays young people lack an understanding of how to manage their finances after they finish high school.

Explain why they do not know how to manage money and how this can be changed.

Here’s how your planning for writing the second and third body paragraphs might look like:

  • Public transport use.
  • Discourage cars to enter city.
  • Run campaigns to encourage people to change behavior.

Let’s expand on these bullet points to write second and third body paragraphs:

One of the best approaches governments can take in busy cities is to encourage the use of public transport. This means that transport facilities have to be well-run and people must be able to afford them. Buses, trams and trains are good ways of getting people around. And if they’re cheap and reliable people will use them.  Another approach is to discourage people from actually entering the city by building car parks and shopping centers on the outskirts. Many cities around the world do this quite successfully and offer passengers bus transport into the centers if they need it.

I have expanded first to bullet points to write second body paragraph. For third body paragraph, I am going to expand third bullet point:

Governments can also run campaigns to encourage people to be less dependent on their cars. Apparently, a lot of contracts involve very short journeys to say the supermarket or local school. These are often unnecessary, but we automatically get in our cars without thinking right.

For writing a conclusion, you will always :

  • Repeat introduction in a paraphrased way.
  • Summarize the points.

Here’s an example of what the conclusion might look like:

Clearly it is unsustainable for cities to continue to function this way. Clearly it is unsustainable for cities to continue to function this way.

Section 3: Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • The most common mistake people in One-Side Essays is that they do not develop their thoughts by giving examples or details . The examiner does not just need a list of the number of problems or solutions, without any explanation. Instead, the examiner needs you to pick a couple of problems, causes, and solutions, and develop them with explanation, reasons, and examples. That will result in 8+ Band for you.
  • Another common mistake people do while writing One-Side Essay is to state problems and solutions that are not directly connected to the question statement . You need to keep your focus on question statement and avoid writing general statements about the overall topic. Try to be more specific and write ideas that you can relate back to the topic.
  • Lastly, many students can think of reasonably good ideas for problems, but they fail to offer effective solutions for that particular problem . An effective way to not fall in that trap is to try to think of problems with legitimate solutions together when you are planning your One-Side Essay.

Avoiding these common mistakes and constructing your essay using the tips and techniques that I have mentioned in this blog post will help you to get 8+ Band in IELTS Writing.

In my full course, Ultimate Guide to Hacking IELTS , I go deep into the strategies, hacks, and techniques to help you learn all 4 sections of IELTS in smart way to get 8+ Band.

You can access the course here:

how to write band 8 essay in ielts

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IELTS 8 Band Essay Samples : Complete Guide

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Updated on 27 June, 2023

Mrinal Mandal

Mrinal Mandal

Study abroad expert.

Mrinal Mandal

IELTS essay writing is the Task 2 of the writing section in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test. An IELTS essay is structured like all other essays – introduction, body, and conclusion. Essay writing is Task 2, which needs to be completed in 40 minutes, and the word count should be 250 words. However, there is no upper limit. 

For test-takers, practice is the key to writing a winning essay and scoring 8 band in the IELTS essay writing section. To be successful in IELTS task 2 it is necessary to follow effective writing techniques and practice. The IELTS 8 band essay samples we have curated in this article will help the aspirants prepare for writing task 2.

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In many countries in the world, young generations start leaving their parents' homes once they finish high school. They start living on their terms or share a house with friends or colleagues. Is this a positive or negative development? Give reasons for your answer.

In the present time, it is very common among the young generation to start living an independent life after graduating from school. The trend has more positive effects which outweigh the drawbacks, and the reasons will be discussed in detail.

Many youngsters have now started living on their own after graduating from high school and start living independently on their terms and conditions. The young people who start living on their own take up their responsibilities, including household chores, and maintain financial independence. Thus, instead of being childish and reliable to parents, they are motivated to become independent, learn new skills, and develop themselves. The younger generation starts earning from a very young age through various full-time and part-time job opportunities. 

Although it looks challenging for a person to leave behind the home where he/she has grown up, it actually becomes a valuable experience to become a responsible adult. Moreover, parents can also enjoy this time for themselves. Not only do they have a lot of financial flexibility, but they also can maintain their lifestyle and habits. For instance, the trend allows a lot of people to travel the world, which is impossible if their children want to stay with them even after completion of studies. 

Well, there are some challenges too. In some cases, under the influence of new housemates and friends, the young generation might get involved in petty crimes and drugs. 

In conclusion, even though there are negative consequences to this new practice in this society, I strongly believe that the advantages outweigh the drawbacks for both the child and their parents.

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Essay 2 

In the modern world, it is possible to shop, work and communicate with people via the internet and live without any face-to-face contact. Is it a positive or negative development?

The feasibility of communication, shopping, and remote working through the internet is eliminating the importance of face-to-face encounters. I strongly believe that the merits of this opportunity surely outweigh the demerits.

With the increased usage of the internet for shopping and communication, there is a decreased demand for transport. The decreased mode of transportation will result in less damaging gas emissions, which contributes towards a healthy and clean environment. Furthermore, when commuting time is reduced significantly, individuals get a lot of free time for themselves and their loved ones. If you don't have to travel to work or get your shopping done, you can devote those moments towards something better. Individuals can work, socialize, spend time with family or start working on their creativity. In the modern world, it is easy to communicate, work and shop without any in-person face-to-face connection.

Another key aspect of using the internet would be the development of new state-of-the-art digital and telecommunication applications. These modern technologies help individuals access the internet to send and receive content and media by clicking on some simple buttons. In contrast to the time when individuals communicated through handwritten letters that would take months to reach the destination. 

However, there are a few drawbacks to online communication that reduce human contact, interaction, and bond. Moreover, online communications have imposed a dire threat to mental health as socialization has been completely restricted. To recapitulate, the increasing usage of the internet brings huge benefits to individuals. It creates a sustainable environment and generates more free time for individuals. By taking the help of technological advancement, we can save time, create strong bonds with friends and family. I strongly believe this is a positive development for individuals, society, and the environment. 

Essay 3 

Marketing and promotion is the key to a successful business. To what extent do you agree?

Businesses usually have two most important functions, marketing, and innovation. Marketing is the key to a successful business. I strongly agree with this statement.

Through marketing, a particular brand can grab the attention of all its potential customers. In this age, unlimited brands and companies are trying to impress the same customer with the help of traditional and new-age media. In such an instant, without marketing, brands are not able to prove the credibility and quality of their products and services. Effective marketing keeps the brand at the top in the mind of the customers so that they can recall every time they need a particular service or product. Nowadays, with innovation, every brand has good products and services. What makes a difference is how you market the products and services to your potential customers. By contrast, brands that market products poorly cannot attain or grab the attention of customers, which means that products and services are left unsold.

Promoting services and products among potential segments is a vital part of marketing. There are various strategies for effective promotion to achieve the maximization of sales. Recruiting great marketers should be the number one priority to promote products and connect and engage with the segments. When the promotion of a product or service is done effectively, the customers can address their needs and requirements with the specific brand's products and services. That is how a brand can be successful with a huge customer base.

To conclude, I strongly believe that marketing and promotion are the two most essential key aspects behind the success of a particular brand. Without effective marketing strategies, it is not possible to grab customer attention and improve the scalability of the business.

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Essay 4 

People nowadays tend to have children at an older age. Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?

In the present time, individuals are participating in a race to earn more and live an opulent luxury life. It is very common for couples to have children at an older age. This is because they devote the maximum part of their 20's and mid 30's to building a good career. They pay priority and attention to fulfilling objectives and goals first. While there are several advantages to this ongoing trend, the disadvantages outweigh the advantages.

Individuals have personal reasons to get babies when they are in their 30s or 40s. One of the prominent reasons behind this is achieving financial independence. Parenthood is related to several responsibilities. Since the younger couples are unlikely to earn a handsome salary, they are not financially ready to welcome the new baby. Hence, they prefer having a child only when they are financially stable at a later stage of their life.

However, this ongoing trend has its disadvantages. The most prominent disadvantage is health problems. Giving birth to babies after the mid-30s can be troublesome. This is because the chance of fertility reduces in both men and women with the signs of aging which ultimately leads to personal problems. Many couples who start a family at a later stage of life eventually decide to adopt due to infertility. Also, it can be seen in many cases that babies conceived at a later stage in life always come with genetic problems. Hence, having babies at an older age is somewhat risky. 

To conclude, in my opinion, demerits always outweigh the advantages of having a child at a later stage of life. The risk of health problems, personal problems, and infertility is very serious.

Conclusion 

It is important to practice for the IELTS 8 band essay to get an overall good score in IELTS. Ace up your score by practicing essay writing about the above-mentioned samples!

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Comparing IELTS essay band 6.5 and band 8 for writing task 2

Home  »  IELTS academic task 2 » Comparing IELTS essay band 6.5 and band 8 for writing task 2

In this article, we will be looking at a few writing task 2 sample essays that got Band 8 , and others that got Band 6.5 in IELTS academic writing Task 2 in the IELTS exam .

We will look at the criteria, analyze their structures, and compare their differences to see why one was graded higher than the other.

What are the differences between the essays?

Let’s begin by looking at the examples of two separate essays - one that scored Band 6.5, and one that scored Band 8.

We will first analyze both introductions and then look at their first paragraphs.

IELTS writing task 2 sample one: essay’s introduction that scored band 6.5

Topic: More students are travelling abroad for further education. Do you believe the advantages of this experience are greater than the drawbacks associated with it?

Introduction: Since the last ten years, there are many more students who travel abroad to study to international universities. I will investigate the advantages and disadvantages on this pattern in this essay. Analysis: In this example, the writer develops the idea of the title that more students travel abroad to study.

There are four grammatical errors in the use of prepositions and tenses.

Moreover, the introduction is short, and the range of language is appropriate but basic. This paragraph deserves a score of 6.5.

IELTS writing task 2 sample two: essay’s introduction that scored band 8

Introduction: There have been an increasing number of students travelling internationally for further education in recent years. Whereas some people argue that studying abroad is a very positive experience, others suggest that there are several problems associated for it. I believe that the advantages of a study-abroad experience outweigh the drawbacks.

In this example, the candidate writes a more developed introduction and offers a reference to the pros and cons of studying abroad.

Apart from one preposition error, the use of complex grammar and tense are accurate.

The writer uses a linking word of contrast (Whereas) to introduce an adverbial clause appropriately.

Moreover, the paragraph is coherent and there is a wide variety of language. This type of writing merits a score of 8.

IELTS writing task 2 sample three: essay’s first paragraph that scored band 6.5

First paragraph: First of all, studying abroad is exciting and you can meet a lot of persons from other countries. You can find opportunities to study new subjects you are not finding at your home town university. Yet , you can be feeling lonely and feeling homesickness from time to time. As example , I have had this experience when I visited Japan for my study experience three years ago. Analysis: In this extract, the candidate attempts to present a topic sentence with examples. However, there are significant grammar and tense issues.

The writer uses Yet instead of the linking word of contrast However .

An example of studying abroad is provided, but it is not clear why this example is given, or what is shows in relation to the topic sentence.

Although this paragraph is understandable, the redundancy (use of feeling twice in line 3), lack of a conclusive example and inaccurate structure will limit the score to a 6.5.

IELTS writing task 2 sample four: essay’s first paragraph that scored band 8

First paragraph: First of all, a study-abroad trip offers the opportunity to experience education in a new culture. For example, the Erasmus program allows Spanish students to attend university in The United Kingdom. These students can develop English language skills of the country they are visiting. Furthermore, they can learn in a system that is different to that of their home country. This is a truly invaluable experience for any person wishing to enrich their education.

This paragraph offers a topic sentence. The writer then elaborates the topic further by giving a very specific example.

An appropriate linking word ( Furthermore ) develops the main idea. The employment of connectors is precise; the use of vocabulary is varied and appropriate.

To summarize, the essay that achieved the higher score had a cohesive structure, developed the answer with very specific examples, used connectors and maintained clear, complex grammar and use of language.

Conclusion of why one essay scored higher than the other

As you can see, using a more advanced vocabulary and more developed sentences will get you a higher score . Making sure to use the right linking words, and have a varied vocabulary will also increase your Band.

Overall, a candidate with a score of Band 8 or higher will address all parts of the writing task sufficiently, and in at least 250 words. The writer will create a well-developed response to the questions, followed by specific examples to support their ideas.

The candidate will use appropriate connectors to sequence points in a logical manner, and create paragraphs in a cohesive format.

When the structure is right, the use of the language is a little more advanced, and the thought process is thorough, getting a Band 8 or higher for an essay should not be a problem.

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how to write band 8 essay in ielts

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IELTS Essays – Band 8

IELTS Writing – Band 8 IELTS Sample Essays

IELTS Essay Samples of Band 8

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  • IELTS Essays - Band 8 , IELTS Writing Samples

IELTS Model Essay Samples Band 8, 2023

Here you can find IELTS Essay samples of Band 8 on many topics, written by students and graded by an IELTS teacher. Click on one of the topics below to jump to essays on that topic.

how to write band 8 essay in ielts

Celebrities Crime and Punishment Culture Education Environment Family and Children Food and Diet Global Issues Government and Laws Health Housing and Town Planning Media and Advertising Money Reading Society and Social Matters Sport and Exercise Technology Tourism Work Young People

Note: the task prompt of each essay appears when you hold the mouse over the link. Every essay is checked, marked, has comments and suggestions. Hold the mouse over to see suggested corrections. The teacher’s summary is at the bottom of each essay.

IELTS Model Essays on the Topic of Celebrities

Celebrities earn more money than politicians (reasons and solutions) – Sample essay 1

Celebrities can be poor role models for teenagers (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 2

IELTS Model Essays on the Topic of Crime and Punishment

Why criminals commit another offence after punishment – Sample essay 1

Crime rates are likely to decline due to the advancements in technology – Sample essay 2

If a child commits a crime, should the child or the parents be punished? – Sample essay 3

IELTS Model Essays on the Topic of Culture

In the past people wore their traditional clothes – Sample essay 1

Museums and art galleries should present only the national art (agree/disagree)- Sample essay 2

People should follow the customs and traditions of their new country (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 3

IELTS Model Essays on the Topic of Education

Computers instead of teachers – Sample essay 1

Will computers replace teachers? – Sample essay 2

Financial education at school – Sample essay 3

Schools should select students by their academic abilities (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 4

Unpaid community work should be mandatory in high school (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 5

Teachers are more responsible for social and intellectual development of students than parents (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 6

Education in financial management should be a mandatory component of the school program, agree/disagree (from Target Band 7 book) – Sample essay 7

What are the difficulties of learning a foreign language, and how to overcome them? – Sample essay 8

Many university students nowadays live away from home and their parents (advantages/disadvantages) – Sample essay 9

Part time courses are on the rise (advantages/disadvantages) – Sample essay 10

The purpose of education is to make individuals useful to society (discuss + opinion) – Sample essay 11

Use of computers and mobile phones to communicate has a negative impact on reading and writing skills (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 12

IELTS Model Essays on the Topic of Environment

Some people believe that preserving natural environment is crucial but make no effort to do so (reasons and solutions) – Sample essay 1

Who should be responsible for protecting the environment, individuals or the government? – Sample essay 2

The best way to solve environmental problems is to increase the price of fuel (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 3

In many countries, the number of animals and plants is declining (reasons and solutions) – Sample essay 4

Too much attention and resources are given to the protection of wild animals and birds (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 5

Some countries invest a significant amount of money in promoting the use of bicycles (reasons and effects) – Sample essay 6

Transportation of products and people is the main source of pollution (discuss + opinion) – Sample essay 7

IELTS Model Essays on the Topic of Family and Children

Children and rules – Sample essay 1

Children should be engaged in paid work (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 2

Children these days are suffering from obesity (reasons and solutions) – Sample essay 3

Should children grow up in the city or countryside (advantages/disadvantages)? – Sample essay 4

Nowadays families move to different countries for work and some think it has a negative effect on children (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 5

Childcare training courses should be mandatory for all parents (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 6

Some think that children should leave their family home early – Sample essay 7

Children today are spending more time watching TV than in the past, is it a positive or a negative change? – Sample essay 8

Excessive use of modern technologies is negatively affecting the reading and writing skills of children (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 9

Who should discipline the children, parents or the government? (discuss + opinion) – Sample essay 10

The role of parents in the future success of a person is more important than school (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 11

New parents should attend parenting classes to learn how to bring up their children well (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 12

People are spending more and more time away from their families (reasons and effects) – Sample essay 13

IELTS Model Essays on the Topic of Food and Diet

Dieting can change a person’s life for better or worse (from Target Band 7 book) – Sample essay 1

Nowadays people waste a lot of food (reasons and solutions) – Sample essay 2

Nowadays many people choose ready made food instead of cooking (advantages/disadvantages) – Sample essay 3

In many countries a lot of food is wasted (reasons and solutions) – Sample essay 4

Many people today are drinking sugar-based drinks (reasons and solutions) – Sample essay 5

Many people do not exercise enough and eat an unhealthy diet – Sample essay 6

IELTS Model Essays on the Topic of Global Issues

The good and bad of globalization – Sample essay 1

Rich countries should help the poor – Sample essay 2

The positive and negative sides of globalization – Sample essay 3

IELTS Model Essays on the Topic of Government and Laws

Some argue that governments should create nutrition and food choice laws to improve public health (discuss + opinion) – Sample essay 1

Many people believe that reducing speed limits is the best option for road safety improvement (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 2

Changing drivers age limits is the best way to reduce traffic accidents (from Target Band 7 book) – Sample essay 3

The education system is the only critical factor in the development of a country, agree/disagree (from Target Band 7 book) – Sample essay 4

Some people say that arts subjects are as essential as academic ones and should be part of school syllabus (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 5

Some believe the government should take care of retirees, while others think everyone should save for their own retirement (opinion) – Sample essay 6

Some people think that public health in a country can be improved by government making laws regarding nutritious food (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 7

Some people believe that countries should produce all the food necessary to feed their populations and import as little food as possible (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 8

IELTS Model Essays on the Topic of Health

Obesity is becoming common among children, give reasons and solutions (from Target Band 7 book) – Sample essay 1

Some people use the Internet to search for solutions to their medical problems, is this a positive or negative development? – Sample essay 2

IELTS Model Essays on the Topic of Housing and Town Planning

When new towns are planned, it is important to build more public parks or sports facilities than shopping centers (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 1

High-rise vs. low-rise buildings, which solution is better for a growing population? – Sample essay 2

Some say that new homes should be constructed in existing cities while others argue that new towns should be built (advantages/disadvantages) – Sample essay 3

IELTS Model Essays on the Topic of Media and Advertising

Advertising affects what people think is important and has a negative effect on their lives (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 1

Some people say that all popular TV entertainment programmes should aim to educate viewers about important social issues (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 2

Newspapers have a significant influence on people’s ideas and opinions (reasons and solutions) – Sample essay 3

Reading newspapers and watching TV news is a waste of time (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 4

IELTS Model Essays on the Topic of Money

Should people spend a lot on weddings and birthday parties? – Sample essay 1

Some people think it is better to make more money rather than have free time (discuss + opinion) – Sample essay 2

IELTS Model Essays on the Topic of Reading

People who read for pleasure develop their imagination more and acquire better language skills compared to people who prefer watching television (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 1

Public libraries should only provide books, not videos or DVD (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 2

IELTS Model Essays on the Topic of Society and Social Matters

Events bringing people together – Sample essay 1

Some people claim that it is acceptable to use animals in medical research (discuss) – Sample essay 2

Many museums charge for admission while others are free (advantages/disadvantages) – Sample essay 3

The proportion of older people is increasing (problems and solutions) – Sample essay 4

People should not work beyond the age of retirement (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 5

Nowadays more and more people want to live by themselves (reasons and solutions) – Sample essay 6

Nowadays that many women have full time jobs, it is logical to share the housework evenly between men and women (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 7

Many people support animal testing while others believe it isn’t appropriate (discuss) – Sample essay 8

Some people believe that women should be treated as equal to men when applying for a job with the police or the military (opinion) – Sample essay 9

In the modern world it is possible to shop, work and communicate via internet without face-to-face contact – Sample essay 10

Some think that hosting an international sporting event is beneficial for a country while others disagree (advantages/disadvantages) – Sample essay 11

Some people tend to buy products or get services instantly (reasons and effects) – Sample essay 12

Social media helps people to keep in touch with friends (advantages/disadvantages) – Sample essay 13

The main aim of advertising is to improve sales of products that people do not really need (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 14

IELTS Model Essays on the Topic of Sport and Exercise

Some people think that it is fine for professional athletes to misbehave on or off the field (opinion) – Sample essay 1

Despite the benefits of walking, very few people walk nowadays (reasons and solutions) – Sample essay 2

More and more people participate in extreme sports (reasons and solutions) – Sample essay 3

Some people argue that sports are essential (discuss) – Sample essay 4

Some people think that dangerous sports should be banned (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 5

IELTS Model Essays on the Topic of Technology

The development of technology causes traditional skills to die out (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 1

Some believe that modern technology is increasing the gap between the rich and poor (discuss) – Sample essay 2

IELTS Model Essays on the Topic of Tourism

Many believe international tourism is bad for their country (reasons and solutions) – Sample essay 1

IELTS Model Essays on the Topic of Work

Senior managers should have higher salaries than other employees (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 1

Should employers pay more attention to personal qualities rather than qualifications? – Sample essay 2

In many workplaces online communication has overtaken face to face meetings (advantages/disadvantages) – Sample essay 3

Many people try to achieve a work-life balance but fail (reasons and solutions) – Sample essay 4

People in senior positions should be compensated with significantly higher salaries (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 5

It is better to be unemployed than work in a job you dislike (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 6

IELTS Model Essays on the Topic of Young People

Some parents encourage young people to leave home while others think they should stay with the family – Sample essay 1

In many countries young people start living on their own after high school – Sample essay 2

Some think that young people should be free to choose any career they like – Sample essay 3

Young people are finding it harder to find permanent jobs (reasons and solutions) – Sample essay 4

Today’s young generation is facing many problems at school and at home (reasons and solutions) – Sample essay 5

Young people aren’t spending their weekends doing outdoor activities such as hiking or mountaineering (reasons and solutions) – Sample essay 6

Young people don’t communicate with older people as much as they used to (reasons and solutions) – Sample essay 7

Note: the essays were checked by an IELTS teacher, not an IELTS examiner or examiner trainer. All the band scores are approximate.

How To Write an IELTS Band 8 Essay

Essay samples are useful to get an idea what a Band 8 essay looks like, but how can YOU write a Band 8 essay? As you know, an IELTS essay is scored using 4 criteria:

1. Task Response 2. Coherence and Cohesion 3. Lexical Resource 4. Grammatical Range and Accuracy

Many test takers are unsure what is wrong with their essay, why they keep scoring Band 6.5 and how to take their writing to Band 8 level. Is that how you feel, too? Keep reading then, because we are just about to analyse a Band 6.5 essay and show you what to change in it, to get a Band 8 score in IELTS.

Colours show elements relating to each criterion that affect the Band Score of this sample IELTS essay. Hold mouse over highlighted words (or tap on mobile) to see the comments, suggestions and corrections.

IELTS Essay Analysed and Rewritten from Band 6.5 to Band 8

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge and experience.

IELTS Sample Essay – Task Response, Coherence and Cohesion and Lexical Resource Analysis

1. Task Response Analysis: This essay follows the task requirements quite well. Both points of view are discussed (in paragraphs 2 and 3) and the writer’s personal opinion is offered (in the introduction, paragraph 4 and the conclusion). The opinion is clear. The paragraph on money is not very well developed and not entirely clear. Approximate score for Task Response: Band 7.

2. Coherence and Cohesion Analysis: Most linking expressions are appropriate but two are not (see asterisk *). Coherence is concerned with the effectiveness of what the essay is trying to communicate. The essay is well structured – each paragraph announces its topic clearly [TS] and the introduction announces the opinion of the writer. Sometimes the ideas are not entirely clear inside the paragraphs (see NC). Also the writer has a tendency to be repetitive. Approximate score for Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.

3. Lexical Resource Analysis : The use of vocabulary seems quite reasonable but attempts to use a wider range are not always successful (see corrections above). Probably not quite good enough for a 7. Approximate score for Lexical Resource: Band 6 or 6.5.

The same IELTS Sample Essay – Grammatical Range and Accuracy Analysis

Certainly, money is an important part in our lives. It is hard for any persons to accept a partner which does not have money or at least a job to take care of future family . Hence, said “marry for money” (#5) also has its right in some extent .

However, love should be the root of any marriages . Firstly, it is because love is such a glue to connect two persons which have their own lives, become one. So, they can share each other’s the sadness , happiness to overcome any difficulties in daily lives . Moreover, love makes people growing up because they do not only have responsibility to themselves, but also to their partners as well. That is why marrying with love is always encouraged.

In my opinion, I think that both love and money is both necessary. Marriage relying on money would be rapidly disintegrated when unfortunately the money is run out . In contrary , marriage relying on love would sometimes come to end when they could not earn money to carry out family , such as paying bills, buying food, etc . Therefore, love and money should stand together in marriage even though their contribution could be unbalanced.

As we have seen, marriage without either money or love would come to an unhappy ending. So I believe that they both have their own contribution to a merry family.

4. Grammatical Range and Accuracy Analysis : Although the essay is quite easy to follow, it has too many grammatical errors in too many sentences to merit a 7 score (see corrections highlighted above). The range of grammatical constructions used seems quite good. Approximate score for Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6 or 6.5.

Improving the Sample Essay to Achieve an IELTS Band 7

The same essay now at around a Band 7 level might look something like this. Read it carefully and compare it with the original:

Certainly, money plays an important part in our lives. It is hard for any persons to accept a partner who does not have money or at least a job to take care of their future family. Hence, it is said, “marry for money” is right in some extent.

However, love should be the root of any marriage. Firstly, it is because love is such a strong bond between two persons who have their own lives, and become one. So, they can share each other’s sadness, happiness to overcome any difficulties in their daily lives. Moreover, love makes people grow up because they do not only have responsibility to themselves, but also to their partners as well. That is why marrying for love is always encouraged.

In my opinion, I think that love and money are both necessary. A marriage relying on money would rapidly disintegrate when unfortunately the money ran out. In contrary, a marriage relying on love would sometimes come to end when they could not earn money to carry out family duties such as paying bills, buying food, etc. Therefore, love and money should stand together in marriage even though their contribution could be unbalanced.

As we have seen, marriage without either money or love would come to an unhappy end. So I believe that they both make their own contribution to a merry family.

Improving the Sample Essay to Achieve an IELTS Band 8

To turn the Band 7 sample essay into a Band 8 one would require further improvement in range and accuracy of grammar, greater clarity and better connection of ideas, and a wider range of appropriate, higher level vocabulary.

So the same sample essay now at around a Band 8 level might look something like this. Once again, read it carefully and compare it with the original:

Clearly, love should be the foundation of any marriage. This is because firstly, love is such a strong bond between two persons, who have their own lives, yet become one. They can share each other’s sadness or happiness in order to overcome any difficulties in daily lives. Moreover, love fosters maturity because each member of a couple no longer has responsibility only for themselves, but also for their partner. These are just two, key reasons why marrying for love should always be encouraged.

In my opinion, love and money are equally necessary. A marriage relying solely on money might rapidly disintegrate in the unfortunate event of the money running out. Similarly, a marriage relying on love alone might sometimes come to an end if the couple could not earn enough money to manage their family’s obligations such as paying bills, or buying food. Therefore, love and money should stand together in marriage, even though their contribution might often be somewhat unequal.

To summarise, marriage without either money or love could come to an unfortunate end. For that reason, I would claim that they both make their own, vital contribution to the creation of a happy family.

If after reading these sample essays you are still missing something and can’t write at Band 8 level, don’t panic. We have a book that can help to improve your grammar and sentence formation, teach you how to connect your ideas better and give you a wide range of appropriate, higher level vocabulary. Go here to discover the “IELTS Success Formula” book .

IELTS essay, topic: The main aim of advertising is to improve sales of products that people do not really need (agree/disagree)

  • IELTS Essays - Band 8

IELTS Model Essay Sample Band 28 March 2024

This essay topic was seen in recent IELTS test in Pakistan .

Some people say that the main aim of advertising is to improve sales of products that people do not really need. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

The belief that advertising primarily seeks to increase the sales of non-essential products is one that merits considerable attention. I believe that while advertising does play a role in influencing consumer behaviour, its objectives are manifold and not solely confined to this aspect.

how to write band 8 essay in ielts

It is undeniably true that advertising uses persuasive techniques, like skilful storytelling or interesting visuals to make a product seem more appealing to customers. In essence, adverts are designed to make people believe that they need to buy a product to achieve a certain lifestyle or social status, and this strategy can indeed lead to an increased purchase of goods that are not strictly necessary for one’s well-being or happiness. In this sense, advertising can drive consumerism beyond our practical needs.

However, it is also crucial to acknowledge that advertising also serves informative purposes, as it introduces consumers to new products and innovations that can genuinely enhance their quality of life or offer solutions to their problems. For instance, advertising can play a pivotal role in raising awareness about energy-efficient appliances, health-related products, or educational services. Furthermore, advertising supports economic growth by helping businesses reach their target audiences, and it also facilitates healthy competition which is often the driving force behind product improvement.

In conclusion, while advertising does influence the purchase of non-essential products, its role is more complex than just boosting sales of such items. Advertising also contributes to both consumer awareness and economic growth, and therefore we cannot say that it solely encourages unnecessary consumption.

Teacher’s feedback:

Overall, your essay would get an IELTS Band 8 as it presents a well-reasoned argument, supported by examples and demonstrating a high level of coherence, lexical resource, and grammatical accuracy.

Task Response: Band 8 You addressed the task effectively and presented a nuanced view of the role of advertising. The essay states a clear position that acknowledges the complexity of advertising’s objectives beyond merely increasing sales of non-essential products. This is evident in the statement, “I believe that while advertising does play a role in influencing consumer behaviour, its objectives are manifold and not solely confined to this aspect.” The argument is developed with relevant examples, showing a good understanding of the topic.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 8 Your essay is well-organised, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Ideas are logically sequenced, and paragraphs are cohesively linked, allowing for a smooth flow of information. The transition from discussing the persuasive nature of advertising to its informative purposes is smoothly handled: “However, it is also crucial to acknowledge that advertising also serves informative purposes…” This transition effectively links the paragraphs and maintains the flow of the argument, demonstrating strong coherence and cohesion. The overall use of cohesive devices is effective, enhancing the overall clarity and coherence of the argument.

Lexical Resource: Band 8 You demonstrated a strong lexical resource, using a variety of vocabulary accurately and appropriately (“manifold objectives,” “persuasive techniques,” “energy-efficient appliances,” “facilitates healthy competition”). Your precise use of vocabulary enhances the clarity and persuasiveness of the argument.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 8 Your essay includes a wide range of grammatical structures used accurately and effectively, such as “advertising also serves informative purposes, as it introduces consumers to new products”. Complex sentences are handled well. Your grammatical proficiency supports the clear and articulate expression of ideas.

Submit your essay for correction and find out how to improve your Writing score.

Click here to see more IELTS essays of Band 8

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10 steps to writing high-scoring IELTS essays

Date Published

01 February 2023

  • This article was first published on IELTS.IDP.com

Whether you take the General Training or Academic IELTS test, the second writing task is writing an essay in response to a problem or argument. Here are 10 easy steps, with lots of tips, to guide you on how to write high-scoring essays.

How is the IELTS essay component marked?

Fairness and accuracy are critically important when marking IELTS writing tasks . Your essay will be marked by at least two experienced IELTS examiners on the following criteria:

  • Task response - Whether you answered the question fully and supported your answer well.
  • Coherence and cohesion - How well you linked your ideas together.
  • Lexical resource - Whether you used a wide range of vocabulary correctly and appropriately.
  • Grammatical range and accuracy - How many grammatical structures you used accurately and appropriately.

Each of these criteria is worth 25 percent of your total score for the essay writing task. Both of your writing tasks are used to calculate your overall writing band score.

How to write high-scoring essays in 10 easy steps

Step one: plan your time.

The Writing test (consisting of Writing tasks 1 and 2) takes approximately 60 minutes. Plan to spend around 20 minutes on your first task, and 40 minutes on your essay task. A sample plan for your time might be:

  • 5 to 10 minutes reading the essay question and planning your answer
  • 15 to 20 minutes writing your first draft
  • 10 minutes proofreading and editing your essay

How to write a good introduction

Step two: Read the question

While you may be anxious to jump straight into writing, make sure you take the time to carefully read the essay question. If you misunderstand the question, you risk writing an essay that does not address the issues properly which will lower your score.

Top 10 podcasts to help you improve your English

Step three: Highlight the issues to address

There will be multiple issues that you will need to address in your essay. Addressing each issue individually is key to achieving a high essay score. Highlight each individual issue that you will need to address.

The A to Z of IELTS: E is for Essays

Step four: Outline your response

Create an outline of how you will respond to the issues in your essay. This will serve as your ‘blueprint’ when you write your first draft. As a general rule your essay should have:

  • An introduction stating what you will talk about
  • Two or three body paragraphs , each addressing one issue or idea
  • A conclusion summing up what was discussed in the essay

Make sure you note which idea or issue you will address in each paragraph. Check that the issues you highlighted are all accounted for in your outline.

Step five: Expand on your ideas

Write some notes about any key points or ideas you’d like to include in each paragraph. When you’re writing your first draft, these notes will help to make sure you don’t forget any ideas you want to include.

Mind maps to build your vocabulary resource for IELTS

Step six: Plan how you will connect your ideas

Connecting your ideas clearly and correctly is critical to achieving a high essay score. Try to use a range of linking words to make your essay easy to read. You can use connecting devices and phrases to:

List connected ideas

  • ‘Firstly, secondly, thirdly’
  • ‘Furthermore’

Provide more information

Compare ideas.

  • ‘On the other hand’
  • ‘Alternatively’

Don’t fall into the trap of trying to put a linking word in every sentence. Essays will score higher when the writer uses linking words only where necessary and appropriate.

Step seven: Write your first draft

Now that you’ve planned your essay, it’s time to write your first draft. Follow the outline you’ve created and expand on the notes and ideas you included there.

  • Avoid informal language unless it is appropriate.
  • Avoid spelling and grammatical errors where possible.
  • Use a mix of sentence structures such as simple sentences, complex sentences and compound sentences.

How to boost your IELTS Writing score

Step eight: Proofread your essay

When you have completed the first draft of your essay, it’s important to proofread it. Read your essay from start to finish.

You can read it silently, but it may help to read it out loud if you can do so without disturbing others. Make a mental note or mark your paper anywhere that you may need to fix an issue.

How to access FREE official IELTS mock tests

Step nine: Edit your essay

Carefully go through the issues you noted while proofreading. Edit or rewrite these until they look and sound correct. Examples of issues and how to edit them may include:

  • The sentence is too long. A sentence is probably too long if you need to take a breath in the middle of reading it. Try splitting this up into smaller sentences.
  • A sentence sounds strange when you read it out loud. Try using different words or punctuation until it sounds right. It may need to be connected to another sentence.
  • The same word appears many times. Think about any other words you could use instead.

There is more than one main idea in each paragraph. Move any unrelated sentences to the correct paragraph. Each paragraph should address one issue only.

IELTS Writing: How to organise your responses

Step 10: Proofread your essay again

After your edits and before submitting your essay , give it one final proofread. Make sure you have:

  • Included all the points you highlighted in step three
  • Followed your outline from step four
  • Used good connecting words from step six
  • Fixed any errors or issues in step nine

IELTS Writing: 8 steps towards a band 8

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IELTS Essay Model Answer of Band 8

IELTS Essay Model Answer of Band 8

In writing, achieving a band score of 8 is a big deal. While many students find it so difficult to get even Band 7, Band 8 just appears to be a nightmare. It needs to be kept in mind that writing band score in IELTS is marked according to some parameters such as grammar, vocabulary, sentence connectors, task response etc. If one understands on how to write an essay keeping into account all these parameters, one can also achieve Band score 8.

Let us first see the band descriptors on the basis of which a person receives Band 8. In order to achieve Band score 8, you should be performing well according to the following parameters:

1. Task Achievement

  • You need to answer all the parts of essay
  • ​You need to explain and extend relevant ideas along with examples in the body paragraphs

2. Coherence and Cohesion

  • You can write all your ideas in sequence and logically in a flow
  • You should appropriately use cohesive devices such as moreover, on the other hand etc.
  • You should make paragraphs sufficiently according to the question

3. Lexical Resource

  • You should use a wide range of vocabulary (use different words) accurately and appropriately
  • You should be able to use words that are uncommon. However, band 8 scorer may be making mistakes occasionally in choice of word or combination of words.
  • The band 8 scorer may rarely have mistakes in spelling and/or formation of words

4. Grammatical Range and Accuracy

  • You should use wide range of structures while forming sentences
  • Most of the sentences you form should be free from grammar errors However, band 8 scorer may make grammar mistakes occasionally

Overall Band 8 Description

Following is the overall description of a candidate who scores Band 8. However, you may see the exact statements of Band 8 scorer at the back of your IELTS score card:

Band 8 candidate is described as “Very Good User” of English language

It means the candidate has full operational command of the language but he may occasionally make mistakes which are unsystematic or inappropriate in nature.

He may misunderstand in case of unfamiliar situations but is able to give detailed complex arguments.

With the increased use of computers, education is being delivered online without teachers. It is likely that there would be no role of teachers in providing education in the future.

Do you agree with this view.

Sample Answer:

It is not doubtful that with the introduction of computers, the process of delivering education has changed to a much greater extent. Though these digital devices have expedited the availability of data, they are not substitutes of learning process that happens by human interaction. In my opinion, it can be expected that role of teachers may change from classroom teacher to an online teacher, but complete disappearance of classroom sessions is not possible.

To commence with, acquisition of knowledge with computers involves fun and learning at the same time. Merely touching these digital devices is an activity full of enjoyment for a child. Apart from this, software interactivity and relaxing attitude while learning from computer contribute to grasping knowledge in an effective way. For example, the availability of digital books and other software tools used at higher educational level provides the student ever accessible source of detailed information that otherwise was impossible in the past.

On the other hand, though the increased complexity of intelligent software embedded in the digital material brings high quality education to the students, the need of human interactive sessions would always be present at least in the foreseeable future. For example, only a human teacher can help a student overcoming his shortcomings with individualised attention.  Therefore, expertise of a teacher in explaining the complexity and clarifying doubt can hardly be mimicked by the computer, no matter how much sophisticated the software is.

To conclude with, according to me, teachers who are the highly respected professionals in the society will continue to play the most important role in shaping the career as well as the character of the students so that they not only succeed in their life but become better human beings too.

(288 words)

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How to Write IELTS Essays to Score Band 9!

Planning to go study or work abroad? Aiming for excellent scores in your IELTS writing? Do you wish to get a band 9 score? Say no more because this is the article for you! Please go through this article to find writing tips, and applicants must get essay samples, which will help you get a band 9 in your IELTS essay. Taking the IELTS test is mandatory for studying or employment abroad, therefore it is essential that applicants get excellent scores in the writing section of the test.

Achieving a score of band 9 in the IELTS Writing requires a mastery of language and also knowledge of the assessment criteria and good writing strategies for the exam. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced applicant, going through this article will help you in turning your essay-writing skills from good to great!

Table of Content

IELTS Writing Section

1. writing – academic, 2. writing – general training.

  • IELTS Writing task 2: Essay Writing – Important tips for Band 9 score

Step 1: Understand the question/task

Step 2: structure your ideas, step 3: start with a captivating introduction, step 4: write focused paragraphs, step 5: display good vocabulary and language skills, step 6: conclude properly:, step 7: edit and revise your essay:, step 8: avoid being redundant:, step 9: more is not always the best, step 10: diligently practice time management, step 11: seek help from experienced tutors and high-quality prep materials, sample essays for ielts to achieve a band score of 9, sample 1: discussion essay, sample 2: problems and solutions essay, sample 3: advantages and disadvantages essay, how to write ielts essays- faqs, can we use formal idioms in ielts writing, what are 4 types of ielts essay, how to identify essay type, what is important in ielts writing, what is not allowed in ielts writing.

The most crucial part of test preparation for IELTS includes the writing section. The duration of test is 60 minutes and the writing section includes two parts- Academic and General Training, both of which have two tasks each. All of them are explained below for a better understanding of the candidates:

The Academic section of the Writing test includes two tasks, each covering topics of general relevance and suitability for individuals enrolling for undergraduate or postgraduate studies, or those seeking professional employment.

The General Training section of the Writing test also includes two tasks that focus on topics of general interest, which were made to assess candidates’ ability to communicate properly in common real-life situations.

IELTS Writing Task 2: Essay Writing – Important tips for Band 9 score

Given below is a step-by-step guide to the IELTS Essay writing task:

  • Grasp the keyword in the question to ensure a high score in essay writing.
  • Carefully read and comprehend the question before answering. Identify the type of essay they expect you to write.
  • Take note of any specific instructions like word limits, or key points to address.
  • Do not immediately start writing after reading the question and spend a few minutes generating ideas related to the question.
  • Clearly structure the outline of your essay in your mind which should include an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
  • Decide on your main focus points for each paragraph and organize your ideas logically.
  • A captivating opening that grabs the reader’s attention is always the best way to start your essay.
  • Always provide some context to your topic in the introduction.
  • The introduction should clearly state the main focus of your essay, which will be followed throughout in the your essay.
  • Start each paragraph with a sentence that focuses on the primary concept of the essay.
  • Support your ideas with relevant examples, facts, or evidence.
  • Make sure that the transitions between paragraphs are smooth and comprehensive.
  • Make sure to use an extensive range of vocabulary and grammatical structures.
  • Express your ideas precisely and accurately.
  • Use proverbs and phrases, if you can in relation to the topic.
  • Provide a concise summary of the key points focused in the whole essay.
  • Give a proper closing statement.
  • Leave the reader with a lasting impression or a thought-provoking question.
  • Allot some time in the end to re-read your essay to make sure there are no grammatical errors or spelling mistakes.
  • Make necessary revisions to improve overall quality of your essay.
  • Make sure your paragraphs are coherent and comprehensive.
  • Make sure your answers are not repetitive.
  • Avoid writing irrelevant information and unnecessarily repeating something. It will only make your writing too long and distract the examiner.
  • The idea that lengthy essays will get you more marks is not always true.
  • Ensure that you write approx. 300 words in task 2 as reading long answers can be frustrating for the examiner.
  • Writing lengthy essays will also leave you with less time to revise.
  • Make sure you have appropriate amount of time for each task.
  • Practice writing essays within the given time limit to develop speed and efficiency.
  • Keep track of your progress and adjust your writing speed accordingly.
  • Share your essays with a teacher or experienced tutors for feedback.
  • Identify areas that need improvement and work on enhancing those skills.
  • Practice writing essays regularly to refine your technique.

Follow these guidelines to practice your essay writing skills and boost your confidence!

Some sample essays are given below in order to help the candidates enhance their writing skills:

Related Articles English Essay Writing Tips, Examples, Format IELTS Academic Test Experience IELTS Exam Pattern 2024: Section-wise IELTS Exam Paper Pattern, Question Types IELTS Exam Syllabus 2024 (Section-Wise): Listening, Reading, Writing & Speaking

Writing is an important aspect of the IELTS exam. Getting excellent scores in essay writing will definitely improve the prospects of clearing the exam for the applicants. A good understanding of the English language and a proper grasp of grammar along with the knowledge of how the writing will be assessed in the exam are the key to scoring band 9 in essay writing. Diligently practicing with a timer, and seeking feedback from experienced tutor will greatly improve one writing skills and help boost their confidence, which are important for achieving excellent scores in essay writing.

Only use idioms when it is appropriate. Writing Task 1 Academic, Writing Task 2 and formal letters are not appropriate as they require a formal tone. Don’t overuse idioms in the Speaking test. Don’t use idioms you don’t understand.
Some of the essay types seen in IELTS exams are- 1. Opinion essays (Agree or Disagree) 2. Advantages and Disadvantages essays. 3. Discussion (Discuss Both Views) essays. 4. Problem and Solution essays
Argumentative and expository essays are focused on conveying information and making clear points, while narrative and descriptive essays are about exercising creativity and writing in an interesting way.
On all writing tasks, paragraphing is important. You will really limit your score if you don’t use paragraphs or don’t use them well. So, make sure when you are preparing for the exam , you must review and practice proper paragraphs. A few key ideas here are topic sentences, supporting ideas, and staying on topic.
Avoid using contractions in your sentences. Example, can’t, don’t, it’s etc. Slang words and colloquialisms should be avoided in the writing tasks. Do not use the same words repeatedly.

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how to write band 8 essay in ielts

IELTS Writing Task 2: 8 steps towards a band 8

In IELTS Writing Task 2, you will need to write an essay. Let our IELTS Experts walk you through 8 steps that can help you get a band 8. Take a closer look at the assessment criteria, how to structure your essay and common mistakes to avoid.

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To achieve a band 8 in IELTS  Writing Task 2 , you will need to produce an essay that contains all the positive features contained in the band 8 writing assessment criteria. Let's take a look at these in the table below.  

Using the band descriptors as a guide we are going to go through the 8 steps to get you on your way to a band 8 in Writing Task 2.  

We will start with the task response before moving through all the criteria to show you what an examiner will be looking for in your response.

Step 1: Answer is relevant to the question

Answer what you have been asked in the question. Don’t produce an essay that is close to a topic you have previously prepared. Make sure your examples and ideas are relevant. If you generalise too much and are not specific enough this will affect how your ideas are presented to the examiner.  

Make sure your ideas are directly related to the question  

Use ideas and examples that you are familiar with, and that relate directly to the topic 

Extend your answer to include a number of ideas that will support the question.  

Don't: 

Include irrelevant information  

Over-generalise  

Produce a memorised essay  

Present ‘recent’ research or statistics related to the topic “At least 41% of all men…”

Step 2: Answer all parts of the question

You must read the question carefully and decide how many parts are in it. You must answer all parts of the question to reach a band 6 or higher.  

Let’s look at some example IELTS question prompts and see how many parts are in each, if you need to present your opinion. Remember, it is very important to present a clear position when answering the statement to show that you understand the question being asked and to keep that position clear throughout the essay.

Read the question carefully and decide how many parts are in it 

Present your opinion and support it throughout the whole essay 

If asked to present both views, make sure each view is presented equally (similar paragraph length) 

Watch for plurals. If you are asked to give ‘advantages’, you must present a minimum of 2  

Watch for ‘and’. You may need to comment on more than one element  

Write more than 250 words.  

Don’t: 

Ignore parts of the question  

Assume that your opinion is clear, use the first person to ensure the examiner knows it’s your opinion ‘I think’  

Tell the examiner what you are going to say and what you have said  

Produce a short essay. 

Step 3: Organise your essay logically, with clear progression using linking phrases

Ideas must be expressed and ordered clearly - starting with an introduction and moving through to a conclusion. 

If you are asked to present both views and your opinion, state your opinion at the beginning of the essay and then move on to present both views. You can then come back to your own opinion and then conclude the essay. This is a logical way to present these ideas.  

Use a range of linking words and phrases, but don’t overuse them 

Use adverbial phrases, rather than single basic linkers 

Use referencing and substitution to avoid repetition (this/them/the issue/the problem)  

Use punctuation to make your writing coherent  

Make sure your ideas are sequenced correctly  

Make sure your ideas are logical and easy to follow  

Use a separate paragraph for the introduction and the conclusion   

Use one paragraph for each idea or topic area. 

Overuse basic linking words like firstly (instead, try using ‘The first reason for/ The primary reason for this’)  

Start every sentence with a linker (Try to put it in the middle of a sentence. E.g. “Some people believe, however, that individuals must also take responsibility for the environment” or “I believe, on the other hand, that individuals do have a responsibility to…”)  

Use numbers, symbols or abbreviations (1, 2, etc, &, +)  

Use headings or subheadings  

Underline words or phrases 

Use one-sentence paragraphs  

Start every sentence with a linking device. 

Step 4: Organise your essays into paragraphs

Use paragraphs to organise your essay into clear parts. Make sure each paragraph contains a clear and developed topic with a minimum of two sentences.  

You can use the acronym “PEEL” when writing your essay:  

Point – introduce your topic or topic sentence 

Example – an example that supports your point 

Explain – why this evidence supports your point 

Link – transition to the next topic or paragraph 

You must use enough paragraphs to clearly show a structured response. This will show that you can organise and present your thoughts and ideas logically.  

Here are some ideas on how many paragraphs you could include in an essay: 

Use paragraphs 

Use linkers between and within your paragraphs 

Leave a space between each paragraph (a line)  

Use a paragraph for each topic  

Use an introduction and a conclusion. 

Don't 

Use single-sentence paragraphs 

Use very long paragraphs that cover a whole page (IELTS on paper)

Step 5: Use less common vocabulary and spell it correctly

You will see in the band descriptors that a band 8 writer skillfully uses uncommon lexical items. When we learn a language, we use common and uncommon terms.  Common terms  are words and phrases we use every day to refer to personal experience and daily habits.  Uncommon terms  are used when we discuss specific topics or when we use idiomatic language (phrasal verbs).  

Words that are old-fashioned and not used in everyday speech should not be used. If you choose a synonym, the meaning must be the same and must not alter the idea being presented. For example, adolescent/teenager have close meaning and can be used interchangeably, however, toddler/baby have quite different meanings. 

Collocation is also mentioned in band 8, and it is assumed that you know which words go together, and which words are suitable to use for different topics.  

If you are discussing child crime, you could use the term ‘minor’ as this is a legal term used to describe children under the age of 18.  

If you use phrasal verbs, make sure that you are using the correct preposition as it can change the meaning:  

throw  out/away = discard  

throw up  = vomit/get sick  

Idioms (cultural language) should only be used if you understand them completely and if they fit the topic you are discussing.  

Use precise word choices  

Use language that we use in everyday speech  

Use words that you understand  

Use words and phrases that are related to the topic  

Use collocation and phrasal verbs (words that go together naturally – environmental pollution | major issue | promising future) 

Make spelling mistakes  

Make typos  

Mix up American and British spelling (You should use one or the other)  

Use a word if you don’t understand it or cannot spell it.  

Use imprecise words like ‘stuff/thing’  

Use slang like ‘gonna’  

Use old-fashioned language [the masses| denizens | myopic view | Hitherto]  

Overuse synonyms, one is enough 

Use idioms/clichés  

Use contractions (can’t, doesn’t)

Step 6: Don’t use memorised language, phrases or examples

Don’t use any memorised language, phrases or examples throughout your essay. They are easy for examiners to spot and don’t demonstrate your ability to write fluently.  

Overused phrases, idioms, proverbs and clichés should also be avoided, again, they are often used when speaking. These include phrases like:  

The grass is always greener on the other side  

Love is blind  

Off the top of my head  

Old is gold  

A friend in need is a friend indeed  

Additionally, the following terms should not be used when writing as they are vague and do not address a task appropriately. You should always be using clear language and make appropriate word choices that will express your ideas clearly. 

Step 7: Use a variety of complex sentence structures

At band 8 it is expected that you can use a wide range of structures accurately to present your ideas and opinion. Show the examiner that you can use a wide range of structures and make sure your sentences are error-free. 

It is important to use a mix of complex and simple sentences. But remember, your complex sentences should not be long and complicated.  

Your punctuation needs to be accurate, using capitalisation, commas and full stops correctly.  

The most common errors made can be found below:

Step 8: Checklist

Use the following checklist to make sure that your writing contains all the positive features at a band 8

If you follow these 8 steps, you will be well on your way to a band 8 in Writing Task 2. 

Is IELTS writing hard?

IELTS writing is not so hard if you have a thorough understanding of the test format and are able to organise your thoughts into grammatically-correct, well-structured sentences. Obviously it requires a fair amount of practice. To make it easy, IDP has launched IELTS Prepare where you can access a range of preparation materials: from practice tests, sample answers, videos and articles, all the way to expert assessments, online courses, webinars and more.

IELTS writing for beginners

Join our free IDP IELTS webinars that are designed to give you a sense of what to expect during the IELTS Writing test and guide you towards reaching a high band score:

Improve your understanding of the writing test format and questions

Identify key points

Make your answers relevant

Organize your answers in a more coherent manner

Share this article

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IMAGES

  1. 8 band essay writing template for IELTS

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  2. Writing Task 1 Academic

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  3. IELTS Essay Samples of Band 8

    how to write band 8 essay in ielts

  4. IELTS Writing Task 2: How to write band 8 essay

    how to write band 8 essay in ielts

  5. Ielts Essay Band 8

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  6. IELTS Writing Task 2 samples for a Band 8

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  1. IELTS Writing: Day 4 : Essay review and solutions with Nakul [day 1-10]

  2. IELTS Writing: Day 2 : Essay review and solutions with Nakul [day 1-10]

  3. IELTS Writing

  4. IELTS Writing: Day 9 : Essay review and solutions with Nakul [day 1-10]

  5. IELTS Writing

  6. Sentence Formation of 8 Band Task 2 just in 10 Minutes #ielts #youtube

COMMENTS

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    Topic: Health & Diet (Band 8) Some people believe that it is the responsibility of individuals to take care of their own health and diet. Others however believe that governments should make sure that their citizens have a healthy diet. Discuss both views and give your opinion. Nowadays an increasing number of people are becoming concerned about ...

  2. IELTS Essay Samples of Band 8

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  4. IELTS Writing Task 2: ️ Everything You Need to Know

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  5. 50+ IELTS Essay Samples for 8 Bands with PDF • Englishan

    Two-Part Question Essay. Cause and Effect Essay. Process Essay. Comparison Essay. Pie Chart/Bar Graph/Line Graph/Map Essay. Mixed Graph Essay. Double Question Essay. Opinion and Discussion Essay. To improve your understanding of writing IELTS essays, consider reading the IELTS Essay Samples below for a band score of 8.

  6. Band 8 IELTS Essays

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  7. IELTS Band 8 Essays Samples: IELTS Writing Task Answers

    In order to score a band 8 in IELTS writing task 2, you need to craft an essay answering all the band 8 assessment criteria. Your final band score will depend on the two sections of writing task. The first IELTS band 8 essays academic writing task requires you to write a 150-word essay. The second IELTS writing task asks for a 250+ word essay.

  8. How to Get Band 8-9 in IELTS Writing Task 2

    2. Brainstorm Your Essay. Do some prewriting to lay a strong foundation for your essay. Brainstorm ideas, writing them down. Then, choose the ideas that will go in your essay and write a very short outline that shows the ideas in the order they'll appear. As you do this, here are a few key tips to remember.

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    1) Introduction. You should keep your introduction for the IELTS essay short. Remember you only have 40 minutes to write the essay, and some of this time needs to be spent planning. Therefore, you need to be able to write your introduction fairly quickly so you can start writing your body paragraphs.

  10. IELTS Band 8 Essays Samples: IELTS Writing Task Answers

    To illustrate what a Band 8 essay looks like, let's examine some sample essays. These essays cover various topics commonly encountered in the IELTS writing exam. Sample Essay 1: "The Impact of Technology on Society". In recent years, technology has transformed the way we live and work.

  11. IELTS Writing task 2: 8 steps for a band 8

    Let our IELTS Experts walk you through 8 steps that can help you get a band 8. Take a closer look at the assessment criteria, how to structure your essay and common mistakes to avoid. To achieve a band 8 in IELTS Writing Task 2, you will need to produce an essay that contains all the positive features contained in the band 8 writing assessment ...

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    Step 4: Organise your essay into paragraphs. Use paragraphs to organise your essay into clear parts. Make sure each paragraph contains a clear and developed topic and has a minimum of two sentences. You can use the acronym " PEEL " when writing your essay: P oint - introduce your topic or topic sentence.

  13. IELTS Writing Task 2 Essay Guide

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  15. IELTS Writing Samples Band 8

    Due to the development of technology,some people argue that attending a live pageant is more satisfying than watching a similar occurrence on TV. The writer of this essay agrees with the statement because of realistic sensation and untried exposure. 8. band. In the future all cars, buses and trucks will be driverless.

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    This section is going to explain to you a structure that you can use to write a clear and a cohesive One-Side Essay for 8+ Band in IELTS Writing irrespective of what topic is given to you. Structure: Always write 5 paragraphs, and divide them like this: Introduction. First Body Paragraph. Second Body Paragraph.

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    Writing band 8 tips, what helped. I had been aiming for a 7.5 in writing as per some absurd requirement, and I took the test 3 times. Academic once and General twice. I am a native speaker so I don't know how much this helps. But being in a medical field, what I learned in school was deffo forgotten. I did the academic and my overall score ...

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