Knowing the right word count for each section can help you structure your answers effectively and maximize your score. Let’s find out the word count guidelines for the IELTS Writing tasks.
Minimum Word Count for IELTS Writing Task 1
While Academic Task 1 involves describing visual information, in the General Training Writing Task 1, you need to write a letter. However, for both these tasks, you’ll have to write at least 150 words.
Minimum Word Count for IELTS Writing Task 2
Writing Task 2, common to both Academic and General Training modules, requires you to write a minimum of 250 words. This task involves writing an essay.
Since the minimum word count is 150 and 250 for Task 1 and Task 2, respectively, you can write 30 – 40 words above the count to get a good band score.
This equates to 170-190 words in IELTS Writing Task 1 and 270-290 words in IELTS Writing Task 2.
Importance of Meeting the Word Count
Meeting the minimum word count is crucial for avoiding penalties. Writing fewer than the required words can result in a lower score for Task Achievement or Response, as it indicates insufficient development of your ideas.
If you need detailed information about how to keep track of the word count in the IELTS Writing exam, click this link below.