IELTS Writing Word Counter

words ·

paragraphs (aim for 4–5)(aim for 3–4)

sentences

Want a band score for your writing? Every Skillora mock test marks Writing on the four official criteria, with a comment on each.

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How many words should an IELTS Writing answer be?+

At least 150 words for Task 1 and at least 250 words for Task 2. There is no upper limit, but most strong answers are 170–200 words for Task 1 and 270–320 words for Task 2. Writing much more takes time away from checking.

What happens if I write fewer words than required?+

You lose marks for Task Achievement or Task Response, because the examiner judges that the task has not been fully covered. Writing under the limit usually caps that criterion.

How are words counted in IELTS?+

Every word you write counts, including small words such as "a" and "the". Numbers written as digits count as one word, and hyphenated or contracted words such as "well-known" and "don't" count as one word.

How long should I spend on each task?+

About 20 minutes on Task 1 and 40 minutes on Task 2. Task 2 is worth twice as much as Task 1.