IELTS 5 to 6

How to Know If Your IELTS Essay Is Good Enough

Introduction

You’ve finished your Task 2 essay.
Now what?

Before you hit submit or turn the paper in, ask yourself this:
Is this essay really good enough for Band 7 or higher?

This lesson gives you a step-by-step checklist used by IELTS pros and examiners — so you know exactly what makes an essay “good enough.”

Related pages:

  • How to Structure IELTS Essays
  • IELTS Task 2 Band 7 Vocabulary Guide
  • Grammar for IELTS Essays: What You Actually Need
  • IELTS Writing Task 2 Band Descriptors Explained

Why This Lesson Matters

Many IELTS students don’t improve because they keep writing essays that feel good — but aren’t hitting the score criteria.

If you don’t know what Band 7 looks like, you’ll keep scoring 6.5 forever.

This page gives you the 5 tests that reveal the truth.

1. Clear and Direct Answer to the Question

What to check:

  • Have you answered all parts of the question?
  • Did you clearly take a position if it was required?

Example mistake:
You’re asked to discuss both views and give your opinion. You only write about one side.

Band danger: Task Response drops to 6.0.

Tip: Always include a thesis statement:
This essay will argue that [your opinion] because [reason 1] and [reason 2].

2. Logical Structure That Guides the Reader

What to check:

  • Each paragraph has one main idea
  • You use clear topic sentences
  • You have a logical flow from start to finish

Band danger: No clear progression = Band 6 for Coherence & Cohesion.

Fix it fast:

  • Introduction
  • Body 1 = First reason
  • Body 2 = Second reason
  • Conclusion = Restate + Summary + Final insight (optional)

3. Topic-Specific Vocabulary, Not Just “Fancy” Words

What to check:

  • Do you use precise terms related to the essay topic?
  • Are you avoiding vague words like “thing,” “good,” “bad,” or “a lot”?

Examples:
Weak: “A lot of people think education is good.”
Strong: “There is widespread agreement that quality education fosters upward social mobility.”

Band danger: Repetition or basic word choice = Band 6 Lexical Resource.

4. Grammatical Range with Accuracy

What to check:

  • Are you using a mix of sentence structures?
  • Are there more than 2 noticeable grammar errors?

Quick grammar goals:

  • Use at least one conditional
  • Use at least one relative clause
  • Use one passive construction if appropriate

Band danger: Only using simple structures = stuck at Band 6.

5. Idea Development and Explanation

What to check:

  • Do you explain every idea with reasons or examples?
  • Are you connecting the example clearly to your argument?

Bad example:
“Pollution is a problem. Factories cause it.”

Improved:
“Industrial pollution is a key driver of respiratory illness in urban centers. For instance, emissions from coal plants in Delhi have been linked to rising asthma rates among children.”

Band danger: Lists instead of development = Band 6 in Task Response.

Grammar Focus: Avoid Sentence Fragmentation

One of the most common errors is sentence fragments — incomplete sentences that hurt coherence.

Bad: “Because the government supports education.”
Fix: “This policy is effective because the government supports education.”

Vocabulary to Signal a Band 7 Essay

  1. Consequently – shows cause and effect
  2. Undeniably – strong tone for argument
  3. Undermines – academic verb for weakening
  4. A key contributor – smart way to show cause
  5. Viable solution – for problem-solution essays

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Final Checklist (Print This)

Use this just before or after writing your next essay:

  • Thesis is clear and answers the full question
  • Each paragraph focuses on one main idea
  • Every example supports the idea logically
  • You used advanced vocabulary accurately
  • You included grammar variety
  • You checked for errors in the last 2 minutes

Conclusion

Band 7 is not about perfection — it’s about control.
Control your ideas. Control your structure. Control your time.

Now you know exactly how to check if your essay is strong enough to hit that Band 7+ goal.