Many IELTS candidates leave the Writing test knowing something went wrong—but not knowing what. The ideas felt reasonable, the grammar seemed “mostly fine,” and the task was completed on time. Yet the score comes back at Band 6 or 6.5.
In most cases, the problem is not language ability, but a small number of recurring structural and strategic errors that examiners penalise very consistently.
Below are the most common writing mistakes that quietly pull scores down, especially for candidates targeting Band 7.
1. Writing Too Little (Even When the Ideas Are Good)
One of the fastest ways to cap your score is under-length writing.
- Task 1 must be at least 150 words
- Task 2 must be at least 250 words
Candidates often underestimate how much a Band-7 response requires. A short essay signals:
- Limited idea development
- Weak task response
- Insufficient support
Examiners do not reward “efficiency.” A strong Band-7 essay typically develops each main idea with context, explanation, and example, not just a single point.
If your essay looks visibly shorter than what you practiced with, it is already at risk.
Simple Rule: WRITE DOUBLE THE WORD COUNT!
2. Missing Topic Sentences in Body Paragraphs
This is one of the most damaging—but fixable—errors.
A topic sentence tells the examiner what the paragraph is about before the example appears. Many Band-6 essays jump straight into examples without setting context.
This causes two problems:
- The paragraph feels unfocused
- The examiner has to infer your argument
For example, writing:
“Many athletes succeed because of training and discipline…”
without first stating why this supports your position weakens coherence.
At Band 7, examiners expect:
- A clear topic sentence
- Followed by explanation
- Then example(s)
Without this structure, even good examples lose impact.
3. Jumping Straight to Examples
Examples are not arguments. They support arguments.
A common Band-6 pattern looks like this:
- Introduction
- Example
- Another example
- Brief conclusion
What’s missing is idea development.
Examples should illustrate a claim, not replace it. When an essay relies too heavily on examples, it feels descriptive rather than analytical—something examiners associate with lower bands.
Before every example, ask:
“What idea is this example proving?”
If the answer isn’t clearly stated in a sentence above it, the paragraph is weak.
4. Weak or Unclear Thesis Statements
The thesis statement is the backbone of Task 2. Many candidates paraphrase the question but fail to take a clear position or outline their response.
Common issues include:
- Agreeing and disagreeing at the same time
- Being intentionally vague
- Not previewing main ideas
A Band-7 thesis should:
- Clearly answer the question
- Indicate the direction of the essay
- Stay consistent with body paragraphs
If the examiner cannot easily predict your paragraph structure from the introduction, coherence is already compromised.
5. Poor Time Management (and No Real Planning)
Finishing “just in time” is not a success—it is a warning sign.
Candidates who spend only 1–2 minutes planning often struggle with:
- Paragraph focus
- Logical progression
- Repetition or irrelevant ideas
A practical structure is:
- ~5 minutes outlining
- ~10 minutes per body paragraph
- Remaining time for introduction, conclusion, and quick checks
Planning is not wasted time. It reduces hesitation while writing and prevents mid-paragraph idea breakdowns—the same issue that lowers Speaking scores.
6. Grammar Errors That Repeat
Band-7 writing allows errors. What it does not allow is systematic error.
Common examples include:
- Article misuse (a / the / no article)
- Subject-verb agreement
- Inconsistent plural forms
One or two mistakes are fine. Repeating the same error throughout the essay signals that the rule is not controlled.
Examiners notice patterns quickly. Repeated errors reduce confidence in grammatical range and accuracy—even if the rest of the sentence is clear.
7. Over-Reliance on Proofreading
Proofreading helps—but it does not fix structure.
Candidates often believe that checking grammar at the end will significantly raise their score. In reality, proofreading may:
- Remove small grammar slips
- Improve clarity slightly
But it will not fix:
- Missing topic sentences
- Weak task response
- Poor paragraph development
If the essay structure is weak, proofreading cannot rescue it.
8. Repeating the Question Without Progressing the Argument
It is normal—and expected—to restate the topic in:
- The introduction
- Body paragraph topic sentences
- The conclusion
However, repetition without development feels circular.
High-band essays reuse keywords, not entire ideas. Each paragraph should move the argument forward, not restate it.
Think in terms of:
- Thesis → topic sentences → conclusion
- Linked by shared keywords, not copied sentences
This creates coherence without redundancy.
The Pattern Behind Most Band-6 Essays
Most lower-band essays are not “bad.” They are unfinished.
They show:
- Good ideas
- Reasonable language
- But weak organisation and development
Band 7 is less about intelligence or vocabulary and more about discipline in structure.
When candidates fix structure, timing, and paragraph control, the language often rises naturally with it.