I graded 50 IELTS essays last month, 7 mistakes that keep bands stuck at 6.5 (plus fixes + a free calibration mock)

TL;DR: Here are the 7 most common Writing mistakes I see (Academic & GT), with quick fixes and mini examples. At the end there’s a simple 7-point pre-submit checklist you can copy. If you want to test it under exam timing with instant band estimates + analytics, there’s a free mock for this subreddit (soft CTA at the bottom).

1) Vague, non-predictive thesis (Task 2)

Problem: Intros that restate the prompt without forecasting the two body ideas → weak Task Response.
Fix: Write a thesis that predicts your paragraph topics.

Bad: “There are advantages and disadvantages to remote work.”
Better: “While remote work reduces commuting and boosts autonomy, it also risks isolation and weaker team learning.”

2) Paragraphs that list, not argue

Problem: Body paragraphs stack examples without a clear claim → reason → evidence → link.
Fix: Start with a one-idea claim; prove it with one strong example; finish with a link to the question.

Claim: “Autonomy improves output because people match tasks to energy peaks.”
Evidence: “In a 6-month trial, my team moved deep work to mornings and cut error rates by a third.”
Link: “Therefore, productivity gains can outweigh coordination costs.”

3) Cohesion crutches (“moreover/furthermore” spam)

Problem: Over-relying on a few discourse markers makes writing robotic and band-limiting.
Fix: Vary cohesion: pronoun reference, repetition with variation, cause–effect verbs, contrastive clauses.

Instead of: “Furthermore, furthermore…”
Try: “This shift,” “As a result,” “By contrast,” “In practice,” “Consequently,” or restructure the sentence.

4) Data language too imprecise (Academic Task 1)

Problem: Writing “the numbers are high/low” without comparative phrasing or trend language.
Fix: Use comparatives + approximators + trend verbs.

“Car ownership roughly doubled from about 30% in 2000 to nearly 60% in 2020, overtaking bicycle use after 2010.”

5) GT letters: tone mismatches and formulaic openings

Problem: Formal letters with casual tone (“Hey there”), or memorised templates that don’t address bullet points.
Fix: Match register + satisfy all bullets with clear signposting.

Formal open/close: “Dear Sir or Madam, … / Yours faithfully,”
Semi-formal: “Dear Ms Patel, … / Kind regards,”
Bullet signpost: “Firstly, I am writing to request a replacement… Secondly, I would appreciate confirmation…”

6) Lexical vagueness: abstract nouns without precise carriers

Problem: “There are many issues in society” → low lexical resource.
Fix: Replace vague carriers (things, issues, aspects) with domain-specific nouns/verbs.

“Traffic congestion increases commute times and particulate emissions, not just problems in cities.”

7) Timing drift: starving Task 2 (the heavier weight)

Problem: Spending 25–30 mins on Task 1/Letter → rushed Task 2.
Fix: Use a 7 / 33 / 20 split (plan/write/review) for Task 2 and 3 / 17 / 5 for Task 1/Letter. Set mid-paragraph checkpoints (e.g., finish Body 1 by minute 18).

Mini “Before/After” (Task 2 sentence)

Before: “Technology has many good and bad impacts on people.”
After: “While automation lowers prices and expands access, it can also displace routine jobs, especially in logistics and retail.”