IELTS Writing Tips: The Two Mistakes That Cost the Most Marks

Most IELTS Writing scores are limited less by grammar mistakes and more by two things: not directly answering the actual question asked, and repeating the same 3–4 linking words throughout the essay. Fix those two first — they move the score more than almost anything else.

Are You Answering the Exact Question Asked?

A well-written essay on the wrong angle of the question scores lower than a simpler essay that answers precisely what was asked. Before writing, underline the actual question — "discuss both views and give your opinion" requires a different structure than "to what extent do you agree."

Should You Explain Data in IELTS Writing Task 1?

A common Task 1 mistake is trying to explain *why* a trend happened — the task only asks you to describe *what* the data shows. Save your word count for accurate description and comparison.

The graph shows an increase probably because of economic growth.
→ The graph shows a steady increase from 2015 to 2020, followed by a slight decline.

Should You Keep One Position Throughout Task 2?

Switching your opinion halfway through the essay — agreeing in the introduction, then arguing against it in body paragraph two — costs marks for coherence, even when each paragraph is well written individually.

Should You Vary Your Linking Words?

Repeating "Moreover," "In addition," and "Furthermore" in every paragraph reads as mechanical rather than fluent. Vary structure instead of just swapping the connector word.

Should You Use Memorized Advanced Vocabulary?

Examiners are specifically trained to spot memorized phrases used slightly incorrectly — it costs more than it gains. A correct, simple word beats an impressive, misused one.

It is a double-edged sword that plays a pivotal role.
→ It has both clear benefits and real drawbacks.

Should You Leave Time to Check Your Writing?

The most common self-catchable errors are subject-verb agreement, missing articles ("a," "the"), and run-on sentences from missing punctuation. A 3-minute check at the end catches most of these before they cost marks.

How Do You Know If Your Writing Is Good Enough?

Self-editing catches surface errors, but only feedback against the actual IELTS band descriptors tells you whether your argument structure and vocabulary range are strong enough for your target band. Our free IELTS mock test scores your Writing this way, and our IELTS Preparation program builds on it directly.