IELTS WRITING — 10 RULES FOR BAND 8–9
1. Don’t copy the question wording
❌ DON’T:
The number of people using public transport increased between 2010 and 2020.
✅ DO:
The number of public-transport users rose considerably over the decade.
Use paraphrasing, not word-for-word repetition.
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2. Don’t give your opinion in an IELTS Academic Task 1
❌ DON’T:
I think it is good that the number of university graduates increased.
✅ DO:
The number of university graduates increased substantially during the period shown.
Task 1 requires reporting and comparing data, not personal opinions.
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3. Don’t write a conclusion in Task 1
❌ DON’T:
Overall, I believe the changes were positive.
✅ DO:
Overall, the most noticeable change was the substantial increase in the proportion of residents using public transport.
Task 1 needs an overview, not a personal conclusion.
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4. Don’t describe every number separately
❌ DON’T:
In 2010, A was 20%. In 2011, it was 22%. In 2012, it was 25%. In 2013, it was 27%.
✅ DO:
The figure for A rose steadily from 20% to 27% over the period.
Group information into trends, similarities and contrasts.
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5. Don’t use memorised “Band 9” vocabulary incorrectly
❌ DON’T:
The graph illuminates the number of people who travelled by bus.
✅ DO:
The graph illustrates the number of people who travelled by bus.
Fancy vocabulary is useless if the collocation is unnatural.
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6. Don’t start every sentence with “This”
❌ DON’T:
The government introduced a new policy. This was beneficial. This helped people. This reduced costs.
✅ DO:
The government introduced a new policy, which reduced household expenses and improved access to essential services.
Use relative clauses, participle clauses and varied sentence structures.
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7. Don’t write one huge paragraph
❌ DON’T:
One 180-word body paragraph containing four different arguments.
✅ DO:
Body 1: Main idea → explanation → example
Body 2: Main idea → explanation → example
Clear paragraphing improves coherence and progression.
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8. Don’t use informal language in Task 2
❌ DON’T:
Kids nowadays spend way too much time on their phones.
✅ DO:
Young people nowadays tend to spend excessive amounts of time using mobile devices.
Avoid conversational expressions such as:
kids, a lot of, stuff, things, way too, get, really big
Choose vocabulary appropriate for an academic argument.
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9. Don’t give an example without explaining it
❌ DON’T:
Public transport should be improved. For example, Singapore has an extensive metro system.
✅ DO:
Public transport should be improved because it can reduce dependence on private vehicles. For example, Singapore’s extensive metro network enables commuters to travel efficiently without relying heavily on cars, thereby reducing congestion.
Remember:
POINT → EXPLANATION → EXAMPLE → RESULT
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10. Don’t sacrifice accuracy for complexity
❌ DON’T:
Had governments implemented sustainable transportation policies, citizens would be encouraged using public transport, which consequently reducing pollution.
✅ DO:
Had governments implemented sustainable transportation policies, more citizens might have been encouraged to use public transport, thereby reducing pollution.
A Band 8–9 essay needs complex sentences that are accurate, not complicated sentences full of grammatical errors.
BAND 8–9 CHECKLIST
Before submitting, check:
Paraphrasing ✓
Clear overview ✓
Relevant comparisons ✓
Developed ideas ✓
Specific examples ✓
Cohesive paragraphs ✓
Academic tone ✓
Varied grammar ✓
Accurate vocabulary ✓
No careless errors ✓
The goal is not to sound complicated. The goal is to sound precise, natural and controlled.
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