IELTS Writing Task 1 and 2: Every Band 7 Question Type Explained

One of the biggest reasons candidates plateau below Band 7 in Writing is not a lack of English ability, it is not recognising which specific question type they are facing and applying the wrong structure to it. Task 1 and Task 2 each contain several distinct question types, and each one rewards a slightly different approach. This guide walks through every major type in both tasks and explains exactly what a Band 7 response needs to include.

Task 1 Academic Question Types

Academic Task 1 presents visual data and asks you to summarise it in at least 150 words. The main types are line graphs, bar charts, pie charts, tables, maps, and process diagrams, and occasionally a combination of two chart types together. For any chart showing change over time, such as line or bar graphs, a Band 7 response identifies the overall trend first, then groups data logically rather than describing every single point in order, and uses a genuine range of trend and comparison language. For maps and process diagrams, the key skill is sequencing: use clear time or spatial connectors and avoid switching tenses inconsistently, since process diagrams are typically described in present simple or passive voice throughout.

Task 1 General Training Question Types

General Training Task 1 asks you to write a letter, and the three main types are formal, semi-formal, and informal letters, depending on your relationship with the recipient. A Band 7 letter response correctly identifies the tone required, covers all bullet points given in the prompt with appropriate detail, and uses an appropriate opening and closing for that tone, for example a formal letter to a company should never use casual contractions or a chatty sign-off, while an informal letter to a friend that reads like a business letter will also lose marks for tone.

Letter Type	Typical Recipient	Tone Signal
Formal	Company, unknown official, landlord	"Dear Sir/Madam," full sentences, no contractions
Semi-formal	Neighbour, acquaintance, colleague	Polite but warmer, some contractions acceptable
Informal	Close friend, family member	Casual language, contractions, personal tone

Task 2 Question Types

Task 2 essay prompts generally fall into five recurring categories: opinion essays (agree or disagree), discussion essays (discuss both views), advantages and disadvantages essays, problem and solution essays, and two-part question essays. Each type expects a different paragraph structure. An opinion essay needs a clear, consistent stance stated in the introduction and maintained throughout, never sitting on the fence. A discussion essay needs balanced coverage of both views before you give your own opinion, usually in the conclusion or a dedicated final body paragraph. Problem and solution essays need genuinely distinct problems paired with genuinely relevant solutions, not vague restatements of the problem. Two-part questions require you to give roughly equal attention to both parts of the question, since ignoring or under-developing one part is one of the most common reasons candidates lose marks on Task Response.

What Band 7 Actually Requires

Across both tasks, Band 7 requires four things working together: full and relevant coverage of the task with a clear position or summary, logical organisation with clear progression between ideas, a sufficient range of vocabulary used naturally and mostly accurately, and a mix of simple and complex grammatical structures with only occasional errors that do not impede communication. Missing any one of these four areas, even if the other three are strong, will generally cap your overall band for that task.