Introduction
You’re fluent. You’ve studied the tips. You’ve written dozens of essays.
But your score keeps coming back: 6.5. Again.
This page explains exactly why that happens — and how to fix it.
No myths. No fake Band 9 phrases. Just the real system behind IELTS Task 2 scoring.
Explore more:
- [Common Grammar Mistakes That Kill Your Band Score]
- [Band 7 Essay Templates That Actually Work]
- [Why Your Ideas Aren’t Scoring — Even if Your English Is Good]
The Truth: Why You’re Stuck at 6.5
Here’s what IELTS examiners are trained to look for — and what most students miss.
1. You Don’t Fully Answer the Task
Maybe you write well — but your examples don’t match your ideas, or your opinion isn’t clear.
The examiner calls this a partial response. That locks you at 6.5.
2. You Sound Like a Template
Phrases like “In the modern era” or “This essay will discuss” scream “memorized.”
If your writing lacks a clear, original thesis, you lose points for coherence and cohesion.
3. You Don’t Show Sentence Control
Not mistakes — control. IELTS wants to see you use grammar for clarity, not just accuracy.
That means:
- Mixed sentence types (simple, complex, conditional)
- Clear connectors (cause, contrast, result)
- No mechanical repetition
4. You Write to Fill Space, Not to Communicate
You’re aiming for 250 words — but the ideas feel padded.
Examiners notice when your paragraph says nothing new.
The Fix: 5 Steps to Break Through
Step 1: Write a Thesis With Logic
Use this:
This essay will argue that [position] because [reason 1] and [reason 2].
It shows you understand the task and have a logical plan.
Step 2: Plan Before You Write
Don’t freestyle. Create a 2-point argument structure, match examples to reasons, and stick to it.
Step 3: Use Grammar to Score
Learn 3 high-control structures:
- Cause-effect: “This is mainly due to…”
- Relative clauses: “Students who lack guidance often…”
- Tags: “They study hard, don’t they?”
Step 4: Cut Weak Openers
Never use: “Some people think,” “Nowadays,” “There are many reasons…”
Use: “Many argue that… because…” or “This essay will argue that…”
Step 5: Get Real Feedback
You cannot see your own blind spots. A trained teacher or system will.
Band 7–9 Checklist
- Clear thesis statement
- Direct answer to the question
- Paragraphs with one idea each
- Precision vocab (not just “academic” words)
- Flexible grammar use
- Real logic, not memorized phrasing
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Internal links:
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If you’re serious about getting Band 7 or higher, it starts with understanding why you’re stuck.
Download the free Band 7 Writing Toolkit, use the thesis system, and stop repeating the same mistakes.
[Download the Band 7+ Toolkit Now]
IELTS 5 to 6 