What are the word limits for IELTS Writing?

Task 1 asks you to write at least 150 words; Task 2 asks you to write at least 250 words. There is no maximum word limit for IELTS writing. The only two things which limit your word count are:

• Time
• Relevance

In Task 1, you have 20 minutes to read the question, plan your answer and write a letter (IELTS General Training) or a report (IELTS Academic Training). Writing 200 words for Task 1 would be fine if you can do it in this time, and all your points are relevant to the question.

In Task 2, you have 40 minutes to read the question, plan your answer and write an essay. It is strongly recommended that you spend 5-10 minutes planning so as to make sure you write fully developed points which are relevant to the question, and show good linking and structure. Writing 300 words would still be fine as long as it's relevant.

Instead of writing a lot, it's better to plan more, and give yourself a couple of minutes at the end to check your spelling, grammar and punctuation. You will not get extra marks for writing more words; you will get extra marks for good, accurate use of language, and a well-constructed piece of writing that addresses each question in full.

If you need to learn more about what to write, or how to approach each task type, use our courses for Writing found in the Study area on the side bar menu.

See also: How do I study on this site?