Two tasks, 60 minutes
Task 1 needs at least 150 words. In Academic, you describe a chart, table, process diagram or map. In General Training, you write a letter (formal, semi-formal or informal) about an everyday situation.
Task 2 needs at least 250 words: an essay giving your opinion, discussing two views, analysing a problem and solution, or weighing advantages and disadvantages. Task 2 counts for more of your Writing band than Task 1, so most students spend about 20 minutes on Task 1 and 40 on Task 2.
How examiners mark your writing
Both tasks are marked on four equally weighted criteria:
- Task Achievement (Task 1) or Task Response (Task 2): did you answer the actual question fully, with a clear overview or position?
- Coherence and Cohesion: is it logically organised, with clear paragraphs and natural linking?
- Lexical Resource: range and accuracy of vocabulary, including collocation and spelling.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy: a mix of sentence structures, used with control.
A common surprise is that impressive vocabulary cannot rescue an essay that only half answers the question.
Common mistakes we see from Nepali students
These are not criticisms; they are habits picked up from school exam systems and everyday Nepali English that IELTS examiners happen to penalise.
Memorised openings and templates
Lines like "In this modern era of science and technology..." or "This is a burning issue nowadays" appear in thousands of scripts. Examiners recognise memorised language and do not credit it. Write a short introduction that paraphrases the actual question and gives your position.
Over-long introductions and conclusions
Some students spend 80 words introducing and 60 words concluding, leaving thin body paragraphs. Keep the introduction to two or three sentences and put your effort into developed body paragraphs with examples.
Local usages that look like errors
Everyday South Asian English includes phrases that are perfectly understood in Pokhara but read as mistakes in IELTS: "discuss about", "return back", "cope up with", "today itself", "do the needful", "he is having a car". Learn the standard forms: "discuss", "return", "cope with", "today", "he has a car".
Articles and plurals
Because Nepali has no direct equivalent of "a" and "the", articles are often dropped or overused. Plural endings disappear too ("many student"). These small errors are frequent enough to hold Grammatical Range and Accuracy at 6.
Task 1 without an overview
In Academic Task 1, many students list every number but never say what the main trends are. Without a clear overview, Task Achievement rarely goes above 5 or 6. Start your second paragraph with "Overall," and state the two or three biggest features before giving any figures.
Writing as you speak
Phrases such as "I think so", "and all", "like that" or "etc. etc." are natural in conversation but too informal for an essay. Finish the idea in full instead of trailing off.
Writing in Pokhara: who needs what
- University applicants from Pokhara University, Prithvi Narayan Campus and the city's +2 colleges usually take Academic, so practise describing graphs and processes, not just essays.
- Nurses and health workers often need high Writing bands for registration abroad. Check the exact requirement with the regulator, as it is frequently higher than for university entry.
- Hospitality and trekking staff taking General Training already write emails to guests. Task 1 letters reward the same clear, polite tone, but in a more structured form with all three bullet points covered.
How AI feedback and teachers help
IELTS Learning has 104 Writing prompts covering Academic charts, tables, processes and maps, General Training letters and every Task 2 essay type. When you submit, you receive an AI-estimated band for each of the four criteria, with comments on what pulled the score down. Because the feedback arrives straight away, you can rewrite the same essay that evening and see what changes.
AI estimates are a guide, not an official score. When you want a human eye, Book a Teacher gives you a 1-to-1 online session of about 20 minutes, from $5. Bring a recent Task 2 essay and ask specific questions: "Is my position clear?", "Why is my Coherence only 6?"
A simple weekly Writing routine
- Two Task 2 essays a week, timed at 40 minutes.
- One Task 1 (chart or letter, depending on your track), timed at 20 minutes.
- One rewrite of your weakest essay using the feedback.
- Ten new collocations from your reading, added to your flashcards.
Your IELTS Writing practice can start free: create an account, try the sample mock's Writing section, and read our weekly tips on the blog. Full Access is $12 for 2 months.