IELTS Writing Task 2 Checklist: 15 Things to Check Before You Submit
Reading time: 10 minutes
The difference between your current band score and the next level up might be sitting in your final draft right now — errors you know how to fix but made in the rush of writing. A systematic 3-5 minute check before submitting catches the mistakes that cost the most marks.
This checklist is organised by the four IELTS scoring criteria so you know exactly what to look for and why it matters.
Task Response (Items 1-4)
Task Response is worth 25% of your score and is the criterion most damaged by careless errors. These four checks protect your Task Response mark.
1. Did I Answer the Actual Question?
Re-read the question prompt. Then re-read your essay's thesis statement and topic sentences. Do they match? The most common Task Response error is writing about a related topic instead of the specific question asked.
How to check: Cover your essay and write one sentence summarising what the question asks. Then read your introduction. If they do not match, you have a problem. At this stage, you cannot rewrite — but you can add a sentence to your conclusion that directly addresses the question.
2. Is My Position Clear Throughout?
For opinion essays, your position should be stated in the introduction and reinforced in every body paragraph. Examiners look for a consistent position, not a flip-flop.
How to check: Underline your thesis in the introduction and your topic sentences. Do they all point in the same direction? If a body paragraph seems to argue the opposite of your thesis, add a linking phrase to clarify: "While some argue X, this overlooks the fact that..."
3. Are My Ideas Developed, Not Just Listed?
Each body paragraph should contain one main idea with explanation, evidence or example, and consequence. A list of three undeveloped points scores lower than one fully developed argument.
How to check: For each body paragraph, ask: "Did I explain WHY this is true?" and "Did I give a specific example or consequence?" If you only stated a point without development, add one sentence of explanation. See our guide on developing ideas in IELTS essays for more depth.
4. Did I Meet the Minimum Word Count?
Essays under 250 words receive a Task Response penalty. You cannot score above Band 5 for Task Response if significantly under length.
How to check: Count the words in two average-length lines. Multiply by the total number of lines. If you are under 250, add another sentence of development to your longest body paragraph. For more on optimal length, see our word count guide.
Coherence and Cohesion (Items 5-8)
Coherence accounts for another 25%. These checks ensure your essay is logically organised and easy to follow.
5. Does Each Paragraph Have a Clear Topic Sentence?
The first sentence of each body paragraph should signal what that paragraph is about. If it does not, the examiner has to work to understand your structure — and that costs marks.
How to check: Read only the first sentence of each paragraph. Do they form a logical outline of your essay? If not, rewrite the opening sentence to state the paragraph's main point clearly.
6. Is My Essay in Clear Paragraphs?
Your essay should have 4-5 paragraphs: introduction, 2-3 body paragraphs, and conclusion. Each should be visually distinct (indented or with a blank line between them).
How to check: Glance at your essay. Can you see clear paragraph breaks? If you have written one long block of text, draw lines where paragraph breaks should go. On computer-based IELTS, press Enter to create the breaks.
7. Do Ideas Flow Logically Within Paragraphs?
Each sentence should connect to the one before it. Random idea jumps within a paragraph damage your Coherence score. For common coherence pitfalls, see our guide on the 5 most common coherence mistakes.
How to check: Read each paragraph and ask: "Does each sentence follow logically from the previous one?" If a sentence feels disconnected, add a brief linking phrase or move it to a more logical position.
8. Am I Overusing Linking Words?
"Moreover," "Furthermore," "In addition" in every sentence signals mechanical writing, not genuine coherence. Examiners explicitly note linking word overuse in Band 5-6 descriptors.
How to check: Circle every linking word in your essay. If you have more than 8-10, you are probably overusing them. Replace some with referencing (this, these, such) or simply delete them where the logical connection is already clear. Our linking words guide covers this in detail.
Lexical Resource (Items 9-11)
Vocabulary precision is the fastest way to signal higher band scores. These three checks target the most common vocabulary problems.
9. Have I Repeated Any Word More Than Twice in One Paragraph?
Word repetition is one of the clearest signals of limited vocabulary. The examiner is specifically looking for "adequate range" at Band 6 and "sufficient range" at Band 7.
How to check: Scan each paragraph for repeated content words (not grammar words like "the" or "is"). If you see "technology" three times in one paragraph, replace one instance with a synonym or restructure the sentence.
10. Have I Used Any Informal Language?
Slang, contractions, and casual expressions ("a lot of," "stuff," "kids," "gonna") lower your register and affect your Lexical Resource score.
How to check: Scan for contractions (don't, can't, it's) and replace with full forms. Replace "a lot of" with "numerous" or "a significant number of." Replace "kids" with "children" and "stuff" with "factors" or "issues."
11. Are My Spelling and Word Forms Correct?
Misspelling common academic words (goverment, enviroment, definately) is more damaging than misspelling unusual words because it suggests basic vocabulary weaknesses.
How to check: Scan for words you know you often misspell. Check that word forms match their grammatical function: "economy" (noun), "economic" (adjective), "economically" (adverb). A word used in the wrong form counts as a vocabulary error.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy (Items 12-15)
Grammar errors that occur frequently drag your score down more than occasional complex mistakes. Focus your check on high-frequency errors.
12. Subject-Verb Agreement
This is the single most common grammar error in IELTS essays. Plural subjects need plural verbs; singular subjects need singular verbs.
How to check: Find every verb in your essay and check its subject. Watch especially for: "The government needs" (not "need"), "People are" (not "is"), "Education plays" (not "play"). Errors after long phrases between subject and verb are especially common. See our grammar errors guide for more.
13. Article Usage (A/An/The)
Article errors are the second most common grammar mistake, particularly for speakers of languages without articles.
How to check: Read each noun and ask: does it need "a," "the," or no article? First mention of a countable noun usually needs "a/an." Specific or previously mentioned items need "the." General uncountable nouns (education, technology) usually need no article.
14. Verb Tense Consistency
Switching tenses randomly within a paragraph confuses the reader and counts as a grammar error.
How to check: Choose a tense for each paragraph and stick to it. If discussing a current issue, use present tense consistently. If describing a past event, use past tense. Only switch tenses when the time reference genuinely changes.
15. Sentence Variety
The Band 7 descriptor requires "a variety of complex structures." If every sentence follows the same pattern (Subject-Verb-Object), your Grammatical Range score is limited.
How to check: Glance at the beginnings of your sentences. If they all start with "It is" or "People," restructure one or two: start with an adverb ("Consequently,..."), a subordinate clause ("Although many believe..."), or a prepositional phrase ("In developing countries,..."). For techniques, see our time management guide.
The 3-Minute Speed Check
If you only have 3 minutes, check these five items — they catch the errors that cost the most marks:
- Re-read the question. Does your essay actually answer it?
- Check your conclusion exists. No conclusion = major Coherence penalty.
- Scan for repeated words. Replace obvious repetitions in the same paragraph.
- Check subject-verb agreement. Find 3-4 main verbs and verify they match their subjects.
- Count your words. Make sure you are above 250.
These five checks take less than three minutes and protect your score across all four criteria. For a more detailed proofreading approach, see our 5-minute proofreading checklist.
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