Writing
What counts as a word, what does not, and how much you should actually write. With a practice exercise.
The word count in IELTS writing is at least 150 words for Task 1 and at least 250 for Task 2. Going under is penalised. What surprises candidates is how IELTS counts, because several things you would call two words count as one.
There is no upper limit, but there is a sensible one. Aim for about 180 on Task 1 and 280 on Task 2. Writing much more gives the examiner more chances to see an error, and it takes time you do not have.
How it is counted
Six rules that catch people out.
It's, don't and can't each count as a single word. They are also wrong in formal writing, so write them out in full and gain a word each time.
Writing some one instead of someone gives you one word, not two, and risks a vocabulary penalty as well.
Writing 25 or twenty five both count as one word. Spelling numbers out does not expand your count.
Well-known, twenty-first. One word for counting purposes, however many parts it has.
Anything lifted directly from the question is excluded. Paraphrase the question rather than repeating it.
A, an and the each count as a word, unlike in reading answers where you should leave them out.
Method
Six practical points about length.
At least 150 is the requirement. About 180 gives you a safety margin without eating into Task 2 time.
At least 250 is the requirement. Around 280 is comfortable, complete, and short enough to check.
Task Achievement or Task Response is capped for a short answer, however good the writing is.
More words means more errors visible to the examiner, and long answers usually signal poor planning rather than range.
Count the words on one line of your normal writing, then count lines instead of words. It takes seconds rather than minutes.
Computer-delivered IELTS displays a live word count, so this becomes a non-issue. On paper you have to estimate.
Practice
How many words would IELTS count in each sentence?
It's believed that some one who has studied the course will be twenty five times more likely to pass the exam.
It looks like more, but IELTS counts nineteen words here.
The reason is that contractions count as one, split words count as one, and numbers count as one regardless of how they are written.
1How many words does IELTS count in the sentence above?
19. It's counts as one rather than two, and some one counts as one rather than two, as does twenty five.
2You rewrite it's as it is. What happens to the count?
It goes up by one. Writing contractions in full gains you a word each time and is also correct for formal writing, so there is no reason to use them.
3You change twenty five to 25. What happens to the count?
It stays the same. A number counts as one word whether written in figures or in words, so spelling numbers out does not expand your answer.
4What is the minimum for Task 2?
250 words. Task 1 is at least 150. Writing under either minimum is penalised under Task Achievement or Task Response.
5Is it better to write 400 words or 280 for Task 2?
280. There is no upper limit, but a longer answer gives the examiner more chances to see mistakes and usually means less time to check it.
Most candidates either write far too little or far too much, and both cost marks for different reasons. Knowing your own natural length takes practice under real timing.
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Word count is the one part of the writing test with a definite right answer. The other three criteria are judged by a person.
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At least 150 words for Task 1 and at least 250 for Task 2. Aiming for about 180 and 280 gives you a margin without wasting time.
One. It's counts as a single word, so writing it in full as it is gains you a word and is also correct for formal writing.
Yes, as one word each, whether you write 25 or twenty five. Spelling numbers out does not increase your count.
You are penalised under Task Achievement or Task Response, and the penalty applies however good the rest of the writing is.
No, but writing much more than the minimum is rarely helpful. A longer answer shows the examiner more errors and leaves you less time to check it.
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