Introduction
You’re not careless. You proofread. You’ve improved a lot.
But your score still hits the ceiling — and you don’t know why.
That’s because some of the most damaging IELTS writing mistakes are invisible to you… but instantly clear to the examiner.
This page exposes those blind spots — and helps you fix them.
The Mistakes You Don’t See (But Examiners Do)
1. Half-Answered Questions
You write a strong essay — but it doesn’t fully address both parts of the prompt.
❌ Mistake: You focus only on advantages when the question asks for both pros and cons.
✅ Fix: Use a planning system to ensure every part of the question is addressed.
2. Vague or Overgeneralized Language
You say things like:
“Technology is good.” or “There are many problems in society.”
To you, it sounds clear. To the examiner, it’s Band 6 language.
✅ Fix: Be precise and specific.
Example:
“Automation has improved factory efficiency by reducing human error.”
3. Logical Gaps Between Sentences
Your sentences don’t connect — even if the grammar is fine.
The result: low scores for coherence and cohesion.
✅ Fix: Use cause-effect links and parallel logic.
Example:
“Many students drop out of university. This is often due to financial stress.” ← tight connection.
4. Forced or Fake Examples
Band 6 writers often invent examples that sound unnatural or unclear.
✅ Fix: Use a realistic case, not “For example, China’s economy is growing.”
Better:
“For example, in 2021, Taiwan introduced a policy allowing university students to defer tuition.”
5. Overuse of the Same Grammar
If every sentence starts with “This is because…” or “There are…” — the examiner notices.
✅ Fix: Vary sentence openings:
- Despite this,…
- A case in point is…
- This leads many to argue that…
Grammar Tip: Don’t Repeat the Subject
Bad:
“Technology helps society. Technology is useful in education.”
Good:
“Technology helps society. In education, it is particularly useful for remote learning.”
Use pronoun referencing and sentence variation.
5 Vocabulary Fixes
- Broad (adj.) – too general
Bad: “There are broad effects.”
Better: “There are wide-ranging effects on employment.” - Justify (v.) – give reasons for
“The government must justify its decision to raise taxes.” - Implement (v.) – to carry out
“Schools should implement policies to reduce student stress.” - Imply (v.) – suggest without saying
“The essay implies that money is more important than job satisfaction.” - Consistent (adj.) – reliable and steady
“Band 7 writing is consistent in tone, structure, and logic.”
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Footer CTA
You’re not bad at writing.
You’re just making mistakes you haven’t been trained to see — but the examiner has.
Download the Invisible Mistakes Fixer Checklist and level up your writing clarity now.
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IELTS 5 to 6 