Task 2 marking criteria

1.

Marking criteria
IELTS writing task 2

2.

Marking criteria
1. Task response - 25%
2. Coherence and cohesion - 25%
3. Lexical resource (Vocabulary) - 25%
4. Grammatical range and accuracy - 25%

3.

Task response (answer to the IELTS essay question, ideas and how you develop them)
Band score 5
Band score 6
Band score 7
Band score 8
Does not completely
address the task. May
follow the general topic
but not the specific issue
in the essay question.
There is a position but it
is not always clear. Any
opinion given is unclear.
Possibly no conclusion.
Main ideas are not
developed.
Some irrelevant details.
Addresses the task - both
the topic and the issue are
addressed.
Presents a relevant
position. Any opinion
given is clear.
There is a conclusion. It
may be repetitive and
unclear.
Main ideas are relevant.
Ideas are not developed
enough.
Addresses all parts of the
task. All issues in the
question are answered.
Present the clear position
throughout the essay. Any
opinion given is
supported in all
paragraphs in the essay.
Main ideas are relevant.
Ideas are developed but
there may be a lack of
focus with supporting
ideas or
overgeneralization. .
Sufficiently addresses all
parts of the task. All
issues in the essay
question are answered
well.
Presents the clear
position throughout the
essay. Any opinion given
is supported in all
paragraphs in the essay.
Main ideas are relevant.
Ideas are developed,
extended and well
supported.

4.

5.

6.

More people want to have a child at a later age
than in the past.
Why is that? Do the disadvantages of this
development outweigh the advantages?

7.

Your score will increase if you
- pay attention to all issues in the essay question,
- write about the issues rather than just the general
topic,
- answer the essay question with relevant main points,
- plan your supporting points so they don’t go off the
topic,
- write over 250 words

8.

Coherence and cohesion (organization, paragraphs, linking devices)
Band score 5
Band score 6
Band score 7
Band score 8
There is some
organization but may not
use paragraphs.
Uses linking devices but
with mistakes or
inappropriate use.
May be repetitive due to
lack of referencing.
Organized information
coherently.
Uses paragraphs but
always logically.
Uses linking devices
effectively but there may
be errors in linking
between and within
sentence.
Uses referencing but not
always clearly.
Logically organises
information.
Good paragraphing.
Has one central topic for
each paragraph.
Uses a range of linking
devices.
May over or under use
linking devices.
Good referencing.
Information and ideas are
organised logically.
Paragraphing is sufficient
and organised properly.
Manages all aspects of
linking and cohesion.
No problems with
referencing.

9.

1 idea - 1 par - 5 (3 - main body)
2 ideas - 1 par - 4 (2 - main
body)
1 sen - IDEA
expl
expl
1 sen - NO IDEAS introduction
1 idea
expl
2 idea
expl
1. opinion essay - do you agree
or disagree?
2. is it a positive or a negative
development?
1. advantages and
disadvantages / outweigh
2. discussion essay - discuss
both sides and give your
own opinion
3. causes and solutions

10.

Your score will increase if you
- have either four or five paragraphs but not more and not less
(that means you should have either two or three body
paragraphs),
- have just one central topic in each body paragraph,
- organise your ideas logically,
- use a range of linking words,
- avoid errors in linking words.

11.

Lexical resource (vocabulary, paraphrasing, spelling)
Band score 5
Band score 6
Band score 7
Band score 8
Minimal range of the
vocabulary for the task.
Frequent errors with
spelling or word
formation.
Problems cause difficulty
for the reader.
Adequate range of the
vocabulary for the task.
Uses some less common
words but with errors.
Some errors in spelling
and word formation.
Communication is clear.
A sufficient range of
vocabulary for some
precision.
Uses less common words.
Some awareness of style
and collocations.
Occasional errors in
spelling or word choice.
A wide range of
vocabulary for precise
meaning.
Skillfully uses less
common words.
Rare errors in spelling or
word formation.

12.

Your score will increase if you
- pay attention to collocations (which verbs matches which
noun),
- paraphrase carefully to avoid errors,
- use a range of words appropriate for the topic,
- spell words correctly,
- avoid making errors (errors will lower your score),
- avoid using informal language.

13.

Grammatical range and accuracy (sentence structures, tenses, control of grammar)
Band score 5
Band score 6
Band score 7
Band score 8
Limited range of sentence
structures.
Tries to use complex
sentences with limited
success.
Frequent errors in
grammar.
Errors in punctuation.
Problems cause difficulty
for the reader.
Uses both simple and
complex sentence
structures.
Some errors in grammar.
Some errors in
punctuation.
Communication is clear.
Uses a variety of complex
sentence structures.
Many error free
sentences.
Good control over
grammar.
Occasional errors in
grammar or punctuation.
Uses a wide range of
complex structures.
Most sentences are free of
errors.

14.

Your score will increase if you
-
use different grammar tenses (conditionals, perfect tenses, passive
voice, past, future),
pay attention to word order in your sentences,
use a range of sentence structures,
use the correct punctuation (full stops and commas),
avoid errors in grammar (errors will lower your score),
common grammar errors - articles, plural nouns, uncountable
nouns, word order.