IELTS Writing Task 2 Checker
Check your IELTS Writing Task 2 essay for word count, question coverage, thesis statement, paragraph balance, cohesive transitions, informal contractions, and clear revision priorities.
Question source
Select one of our 30 original practice questions or paste your own question. IELTS Writing Task 2 prompts are always written in English.
Higher Education Funding: STEM vs. Arts
“Governments should allocate significantly more university funding to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields than to arts and humanities courses because STEM graduates contribute more directly to national economic growth. To what extent do you agree or disagree?”
- •State a clear personal position on STEM vs. arts funding in the introduction
- •Provide developed reasons supporting your stance on economic vs. cultural value
- •Maintain a consistent opinion through the conclusion
Your essay draft
Write or paste your essay in English. Aim for at least 250 words to meet the official IELTS Writing Task 2 length requirement.
When AI feedback is unavailable, readiness checks run in your browser. Your essay and question are not submitted to an AI provider.
IELTS Writing Task 2 Format & Official Guidelines
In both IELTS Academic and General Training test formats, Writing Task 2 requires candidates to write a formal, discursive essay of at least 250 words in approximately 40 minutes. Task 2 contributes twice as much as Task 1 to your overall IELTS Writing score.
Ideal range: 260–290 words for fully developed arguments.
Recommended: 5m plan, 30m write, 5m proofread.
Task 2 contributes twice as much as Task 1 to the score.
The 4 Official IELTS Writing Assessment Criteria
Examiners evaluate Task 2 responses across four equally weighted criteria (25% each):
1Task Response (25%)
Directly addressing every part of the prompt, establishing a clear position throughout the response, and extending main arguments with relevant explanation and concrete support.
2Coherence and Cohesion (25%)
Sequencing information logically, managing paragraphing with a clear central topic in each paragraph, and employing a flexible variety of cohesive linking devices without mechanical overuse.
3Lexical Resource (25%)
Using a wide range of academic vocabulary with awareness of style and collocation, maintaining a formal register, and avoiding informal contractions or repetitive phrasing.
4Grammatical Range and Accuracy (25%)
Using a mix of complex structures (subordinating clauses, conditionals, relative clauses) with good control over punctuation, sentence boundaries, and grammatical accuracy.
Deterministic Diagnostics: Scope & Limitations
What This Tool Evaluates
- 250-word length threshold and reading time estimate
- Presence of thesis statement and concluding transition
- Question-type specific signals across all 6 structures
- Paragraph count (4–5 structure) and body balance
- Academic vocabulary items from the AWL list
- Informal contractions with formal replacements
- Cohesive discourse markers across 6 semantic categories
- Complex sentence ratios and run-on sentence boundaries
What Requires Human Examiner Review
- Nuanced logic, rhetorical persuasiveness, and argument validity
- Factual plausibility and contextual appropriateness
- Subtle collocation naturalness and idiomatic control
- Complex grammatical error density and meaning distortion
- Official IELTS examiner ratings and band certificates
40-Minute Step-by-Step Exam Strategy
Managing your 40 minutes efficiently is critical in IELTS Writing Task 2. Follow this recommended workflow:
Minutes 0–5: Prompt Deconstruction & Outline
Identify the core question requirements, determine your direct thesis position, and map out Body 1 and Body 2 main ideas with supporting examples using the strategy planner.
Minutes 5–35: Draft the 4-Paragraph Response (260–290 Words)
Write your Introduction (~45 words) → Body Paragraph 1 (~90 words) → Body Paragraph 2 (~90 words) → Conclusion (~45 words).
Minutes 35–40: Proofreading & Mechanical Corrections
Check subject-verb agreement, singular/plural noun endings, commas, article usage (a/an/the), and expand any informal contractions.
Official IELTS Format Sources & References
AdmissionArena aligns its practice tools with publicly documented IELTS test formats and assessment specifications from official testing authorities:
AdmissionArena is an independent study-abroad practice resource. It is not affiliated with, approved by, or endorsed by the IELTS Partners (The British Council, IELTS Australia Pty. Ltd., and Cambridge English, part of Cambridge University Press & Assessment). All practice questions in this tool are original materials created by AdmissionArena for independent educational practice.
Frequently Asked Questions (IELTS Writing Task 2)
What is the minimum word count for IELTS Writing Task 2 and how is it penalized?▼
The official requirement is at least 250 words. Writing fewer than 250 words incurs penalties under Task Response because ideas cannot be sufficiently developed. Most successful candidates write between 260 and 290 words to fully develop two main ideas within the 40-minute limit.
Is Task 2 identical in IELTS Academic and General Training?▼
Yes. Both the Academic and General Training test modules share the identical Task 2 essay format: a 40-minute time allocation, a 250-word minimum requirement, and assessment across the exact same four criteria (Task Response, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range and Accuracy).
What are the 4 official IELTS Writing Task 2 assessment criteria?▼
Examiners assess responses across four equally weighted criteria (25% each): 1) Task Response (directly answering all parts of the question with a clear position), 2) Coherence and Cohesion (logical paragraphing and smooth linking devices), 3) Lexical Resource (range and accuracy of academic vocabulary), and 4) Grammatical Range and Accuracy (mix of complex sentence structures and punctuation control).
What are the six common teaching question types in Task 2?▼
Task 2 practice questions generally fall into six practical teaching categories: 1) Opinion (Agree/Disagree), 2) Discuss Both Views and Give an Opinion, 3) Advantages and Disadvantages, 4) Advantages versus Disadvantages (Do advantages outweigh?), 5) Problems/Causes and Solutions, and 6) Two-Part or Direct Questions.
What are the main limitations of deterministic, automated essay checks?▼
Deterministic checks analyze observable linguistic patterns (word count, paragraph count, thesis markers, discourse transitions, informal contractions, and repetition). They cannot verify deep logical reasoning, real-world factual accuracy, nuanced rhetorical coherence, or replace human examiner assessment.
Are informal contractions permitted in Task 2 essays?▼
No. Informal contractions such as "don't", "can't", or "it's" should be avoided in formal IELTS essays. Always write the expanded forms ("do not", "cannot", "it is") to maintain an appropriate academic register.
How does Task 2 contribute to the overall IELTS Writing score?▼
According to official test specifications, Task 2 contributes twice as much as Task 1 to the overall IELTS Writing band score. Candidates should allocate approximately 40 minutes of their 60-minute test to Task 2.
Explore More IELTS & Study Abroad Tools
Continue your preparation with our complete suite of IELTS tools and admissions calculators.