Band 7 vs Band 8: What Actually Changes in IELTS Writing

Band 7 is considered a "good user" of English. Band 8 is a "very good user." That half-band difference represents significantly higher proficiency—and significantly harder to achieve.

Many students plateau at Band 7 and struggle to understand what more they need to do. The answer isn't writing more or studying harder—it's writing differently.

This guide breaks down exactly what changes between Band 7 and Band 8 across all four marking criteria.

The Key Differences: Overview

The shift from Band 7 to Band 8 is about moving from "good control" to "skillful control"—from competent to polished.

Task Response: From Clear to Fully Developed

Band 7 Requirement

• Addresses all parts of the task
• Presents a clear position throughout
• Presents, extends, and supports main ideas, but there may be a tendency to over-generalize or support may lack focus

Band 8 Requirement

• Sufficiently addresses all parts of the task
• Presents a well-developed response to the question with relevant, extended, and supported ideas

The Difference in Practice

Band 7 paragraph:

Many people believe technology improves education. Students can access information quickly through the internet. Online resources help students learn at their own pace. Therefore, technology has clear benefits for education.

Band 8 paragraph:

Technology has substantially improved educational outcomes in several measurable ways. Students who previously had limited access to quality educational materials can now access the same resources as those in well-funded schools—Khan Academy, for instance, provides free university-level instruction to anyone with internet access. Furthermore, adaptive learning platforms can identify individual student weaknesses and provide targeted practice, something impossible in traditional classrooms of thirty students. These developments have begun to narrow educational inequality, particularly in developing nations.

What changed:

• More specific examples (Khan Academy)
• Deeper development (explains HOW technology helps)
• More nuanced reasoning (addresses inequality)
• No over-generalization

How to Improve

1. Add specific examples—not just "for example" but named examples
2. Explain the mechanism—WHY does your point lead to your conclusion?
3. Consider implications—what are the consequences?
4. Avoid sweeping statements—qualify claims appropriately

Coherence & Cohesion: From Logical to Seamless

Band 7 Requirement

• Logically organizes information and ideas with clear progression
• Uses a range of cohesive devices appropriately although there may be some under-/over-use

Band 8 Requirement

• Sequences information and ideas logically
• Manages all aspects of cohesion well
• Uses paragraphing sufficiently and appropriately

The Difference in Practice

Band 7 linking:

Firstly, technology improves efficiency. Furthermore, it enables global communication. Moreover, it creates new job opportunities. However, there are some disadvantages.

Band 8 linking:

Technology's impact on efficiency is perhaps most visible in manufacturing, where automation has multiplied output while reducing costs. This efficiency gain extends to communication—what once required weeks of mail delivery now happens instantaneously across continents. The resulting economic transformation has created entirely new industries, though this shift has not been without challenges.

What changed:

• Fewer mechanical connectors (Firstly, Furthermore, Moreover)
• Ideas flow through meaning, not just linking words
• Each sentence builds on the previous one naturally
• Transitions are embedded in the content

How to Improve

1. Reduce formulaic connectors—don't start every sentence with a linking word
2. Use reference and substitution—"this development," "such changes"
3. Let ideas connect through content—each sentence should logically lead to the next
4. Vary your methods—mix explicit connectors with implicit connections

Lexical Resource: From Sufficient to Skillful

Band 7 Requirement

• Uses a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow some flexibility and precision
• Uses less common lexical items with some awareness of style and collocation
• May produce occasional errors in word choice, spelling, and/or word formation

Band 8 Requirement

• Uses a wide range of vocabulary fluently and flexibly to convey precise meanings
• Skillfully uses uncommon lexical items with occasional inaccuracies in word choice and collocation
• Produces rare errors in spelling and/or word formation

The Difference in Practice

Band 7 vocabulary:

The problem of pollution is very serious. Many cities have bad air quality. This affects people's health badly. Governments should make strict rules.

Band 8 vocabulary:

Urban air pollution has reached critical levels in many metropolitan areas. Particulate matter concentrations frequently exceed WHO guidelines, contributing to respiratory illnesses and premature mortality. Regulatory intervention—through emissions standards and traffic restrictions—has proven effective in cities that have implemented such measures.

What changed:

• More precise vocabulary (particulate matter vs. bad air)
• Technical terms used correctly (concentrations, regulatory intervention)
• Collocations are accurate (premature mortality, emissions standards)
• Vocabulary conveys exact meaning, not just general meaning

How to Improve

1. Learn precise vocabulary—not just synonyms, but words with specific meanings
2. Study collocations—words that naturally go together
3. Read academic sources—The Economist, academic journals, quality newspapers
4. Practice using new vocabulary—but only when you're confident of correct usage

Grammar: From Frequent Error-Free to Mostly Error-Free

Band 7 Requirement

• Uses a variety of complex structures
• Produces frequent error-free sentences
• Has good control of grammar and punctuation but may make a few errors

Band 8 Requirement

• Uses a wide range of structures
• The majority of sentences are error-free
• Makes only very occasional errors or inappropriacies

The Difference in Practice

Band 7 grammar:

Although many people think technology is beneficial, there are some concerns. If we rely too heavily on technology, we might lose important skills. The government should therefore ensure that traditional skills are still taught in schools.

Band 8 grammar:

While technology's benefits are widely acknowledged, concerns persist about its potential to erode fundamental competencies. Were society to become entirely dependent on automated systems, the skills that enabled their creation might atrophy within a generation. Educational policy must therefore balance technological integration with the preservation of foundational knowledge—a challenge that few governments have adequately addressed.

What changed:

• More varied structures (inverted conditional "Were society to...")
• More sophisticated subordination
• Participial phrases and nominalizations
• Virtually no errors despite complex structures

How to Improve

1. Expand your range—learn structures beyond simple complex sentences
2. Practice advanced structures—inversion, participle clauses, cleft sentences
3. Prioritize accuracy—only use structures you can use correctly
4. Eliminate basic errors—articles, subject-verb agreement, tenses

Common Patterns Holding Students at Band 7

Pattern 1: Mechanical Linking Words

Over-reliance on "Firstly... Secondly... Furthermore... However..." signals Band 7. Examiners see this as formulaic rather than skillful.

Solution: Vary your cohesive devices. Use pronouns, synonyms, and logical flow—not just connectors.

Pattern 2: General Vocabulary

Using "good/bad," "many people," "nowadays" throughout your essay limits vocabulary range.

Solution: Be specific. Instead of "many countries," try "industrialized nations." Instead of "good," try "beneficial/advantageous/effective."

Pattern 3: Safe Grammar

Playing it safe with simple and basic complex sentences shows limited range.

Solution: Include a few sophisticated structures: passive reporting ("It is widely believed..."), conditionals, relative clauses with prepositions, participle phrases.

Pattern 4: Surface-Level Development

Stating ideas without fully exploring them suggests under-development.

Solution: For each main point, add: example + explanation + implication.

Realistic Expectations

Moving from Band 7 to Band 8 is harder than moving from Band 6 to Band 7. The changes required are subtle:

• Not more words, but better words
• Not more linking, but smoother linking
• Not more ideas, but deeper development
• Not more complex grammar, but more accurate complex grammar

Most students need 3-6 months of focused practice to move from Band 7 to Band 8.

Key Takeaways

1. Task Response: Develop ideas fully with specific examples and clear reasoning
2. Coherence: Move beyond formulaic connectors to natural flow
3. Vocabulary: Use precise, less common words accurately
4. Grammar: Use varied structures with near-perfect accuracy
5. Overall: The shift is from competent to polished—quality over quantity

Stuck at Band 7? BandWriteCoach identifies exactly which criteria are holding you back and provides targeted practice to help you reach Band 8.