# IELTS_Writing_Band5to7_Guide

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IELTS Academic Writing
 Task 1 & Task 2 — Band 5→7 Upgrade Guide
 Spelling · Grammar · Vocabulary · Cohesion · Model essays · Rewrite exercises
How to use this guide
This guide targets the four error categories identified in your feedback, in order of impact on your
score.
Section 1 — Common Errors (both tasks)
Spelling table with memory tricks. Grammar error pairs (wrong → right). Subject-verb agreement
rules.
Section 2 — Task 2 (Essay)
Paragraph structure template. Vocabulary upgrade table (A1 → B2). Band 5 vs Band 7 paragraph
pairs with analysis. Rewrite exercises.
Section 3 — Task 1 (Data Description)
Structure template. Language for describing data. Full model essay (Band 7). Error analysis of
your submission. Rewrite exercises.
Section 4 — Linking Words
Three-tier upgrade table: Band 5 → Band 7 → Band 8 connectors for every function.


IELTS Academic Writing  ·  2
Task 1 & Task 2 — Band 5→7 Upgrade Guide
0
1
Common Errors — Spelling, Grammar & Agreement
1A Spelling Errors from Your Submissions
TIP
The fastest win: fix these 17 words. They appear in your transcripts multiple times. Each one costs you marks
in Lexical Resource AND Grammatical Range. Read each row aloud — word, correct spelling, trick.
 Mistake
 Correct
 Memory trick
goverment
government
goVERNment — the VERN is in the middle
beleive
believe
beLIEve — there's a LIE inside
terrerist
terrorist
terrorIST — double R, then IST
surviallance
surveillance
survEIllance — EI not AI
aprehension
apprehension
apPREhension — double P
acesing
accessing
acCESSing — double C, double S
embeded
embedded
emBEDded — double D, like 'bed'
scatterd
scattered
scatterED — past tense needs -ED
thightly
tightly
tIGHTly — no TH, just T
approchest
approaches
approACHes — no silent E in stem
secuirty
security
securITY — I before T
activites
activities
activiTIES — plural of activity
belive
believe
beLIEve — the LIE rule again
privcy
privacy
privACY — ends in ACY
lenght
length
leNGTH — NG then TH, no swap
dollas
dollars
dollARS — AR not A
brenched
branched
brANched — A not E
1B Grammar Error Pairs — Wrong → Right
TIP
Each pair shows the exact error and the exact correction. Read both lines aloud. The wrong version must
sound wrong before the right version will stick.


IELTS Academic Writing  ·  3
Task 1 & Task 2 — Band 5→7 Upgrade Guide
✗ Some people thinks that...
✓ Some people think that... — plural subject needs plural verb (no -s)
✗ It is a invasion of privacy
✓ It is AN invasion — vowel sound after 'a' requires 'an'
✗ Should not be allow
✓ Should not be allowED — passive requires past participle
✗ Every person have
✓ Every person HAS — 'every' is singular; always takes singular verb
✗ Goverment have access
✓ The government HAS access — singular institution, singular verb
✗ I'm support the latter
✓ I SUPPORT the latter — present simple, not continuous, for opinions
✗ I recently start using
✓ I recently STARTED — past simple for completed past action
✗ Data shows / datas
✓ The data SHOW / data (no plural) — 'data' is plural in academic English
✗ The evidence points
✓ The evidence POINTS — 'evidence' is uncountable, no plural
✗ Divided in 19 lines
✓ Divided INTO 19 lines — INTO for partition, not IN
✗ Paris Metro fall short
✓ Paris Metro FALLS short — third-person singular needs -s
✗ The prices does not show
✓ The prices DO not show — plural subject needs plural auxiliary
1C Subject-Verb Agreement — Quick Reference


IELTS Academic Writing  ·  4
Task 1 & Task 2 — Band 5→7 Upgrade Guide
 Subject type
 Examples
 Verb rule
Singular
always
government, evidence, data
(academic), information, research
takes → HAS / IS / WAS
Plural always
people, authorities, studies, findings,
statistics
take → HAVE / ARE / WERE
Tricky: 'every'
every person, each country, everyone
→ singular: EVERY person HAS
Tricky: 'none'
none of the cities, neither option
→ singular: NONE of them HAS
Collective
nouns
government, committee, society,
media (variable)
→ usually singular in academic English


IELTS Academic Writing  ·  5
Task 1 & Task 2 — Band 5→7 Upgrade Guide
0
2
Task 2 — Discussion Essay
2A Essay Structure Template
 Paragraph
 Word
count
 What to include
Introduction
40–50
words
Paraphrase the question (1 sentence) → State both views briefly (1 sentence)
→ Give your thesis (1 sentence). NEVER copy the question word for word.
NEVER write 'This essay will discuss both views'.
Body ¶1 —
View A
80–100
words
Topic sentence (the first view) → Explanation → Evidence / example → Link to
next paragraph. Each paragraph covers ONE idea with full development.
Body ¶2 —
View B
80–100
words
Topic sentence (the second view) → Explanation → Evidence / example →
Concede if needed.
Conclusion
50–60
words
Restate your position (not copy it) → Summarise key reasons (1 sentence each
side) → Optional: recommendation or implication. Never introduce new ideas.
2B Vocabulary Upgrade — Task 2 (Security & Privacy)
 Word / phrase
 (A1–A2)
 Upgrade (B2–C1)
 Example in context
check / look at
monitor / scrutinise
'The government should scrutinise communications only under
judicial warrant.'
bad for society
detrimental to social
cohesion
'Mass surveillance is detrimental to the trust citizens place in state
institutions.'
very important
paramount /
indispensable
'Judicial oversight is paramount when state powers encroach on
fundamental rights.'
stop crime
deter criminal activity /
mitigate security
threats
'Targeted data access can mitigate specific security threats without
blanket surveillance.'
hide something
conceal illicit activity
'The 'nothing to hide' argument conflates privacy with the
concealment of illicit activity.'
privacy right
fundamental right /
civil liberty
'Privacy is enshrined as a fundamental right in most democratic
constitutions.'
misuse power
abuse of authority /
overreach
'Without safeguards, surveillance powers are prone to abuse of
authority.'
good balance
proportionate
equilibrium
'A proportionate equilibrium between security and liberty is
achievable through robust legislation.'


IELTS Academic Writing  ·  6
Task 1 & Task 2 — Band 5→7 Upgrade Guide
 Word / phrase
 (A1–A2)
 Upgrade (B2–C1)
 Example in context
make rules
enact legislation /
establish a regulatory
framework
'Governments should enact legislation that constrains the
conditions under which data may be accessed.'
normal people
law-abiding citizens
'Indiscriminate surveillance disproportionately burdens
law-abiding citizens.'
2C Introduction — Band 5 vs Band 7
Prompt: Governments should have access to mobile phone records for safety reasons.
 ✗ BAND 5
Some people thinks that goverments should have the power to check peoples mobile phones for
secuirty reason. Others feel that it is a invasion of privacy and should not be allow. This essay will
discuss both views and give my opinion.
 ✓ BAND 7
The question of whether state authorities should be granted access to citizens' private
communications sits at the intersection of two legitimate but competing values: collective security
and individual freedom. While surveillance advocates argue that monitoring is an indispensable tool
for preventing serious crime, critics maintain that unchecked access constitutes a fundamental
violation of civil liberties. I contend that targeted, judicially authorised access is both defensible and
necessary, but blanket surveillance is not.
ANALYSIS
· The Band 5 intro copies the question, states the obvious, and announces the essay structure — three things
that waste words and signal formulaic writing.
· The Band 7 intro paraphrases the tension ('intersection of two competing values'), names both positions
without listing them, and gives a nuanced thesis ('targeted... is defensible; blanket... is not').
· Key upgrade: replace 'this essay will discuss' with your actual thesis statement.
2D Body Paragraphs — Band 5 vs Band 7
Security argument — Body paragraph
 ✗ BAND 5


IELTS Academic Writing  ·  7
Task 1 & Task 2 — Band 5→7 Upgrade Guide
On the one hand, some people think that if goverment have access to peoples phone record and
messages, it will make the country safer. For example, terrerist and criminals use phones to plan
illegal activites. If goverment can see their messages, they can stop bad things before they happen.
Also, this can help police to find evidence against criminals. So, it is important to let goverment
check phone records for the safety of everyone.
 ✓ BAND 7
Proponents of state surveillance argue that access to private communications is an indispensable
instrument for preventing serious harm. Criminal networks and terrorist cells coordinate primarily
through digital platforms, and intelligence services have demonstrated repeatedly that intercepted
messages have enabled the disruption of planned attacks before they are carried out. The United
Kingdom's Investigatory Powers Act, for instance, operates under a framework of judicial warrants
specifically designed to prevent abuse while permitting targeted access. From this perspective, the
temporary encroachment on privacy is a proportionate trade-off for the significant reduction in
security risk.
ANALYSIS
· Band 5 problem: 'stop bad things' — vague A1 language. Band 7 uses 'disrupt planned attacks before they are
carried out'.
· Band 5 problem: 'Also, So' as connectors — Band 7 uses 'From this perspective' to signal the conclusion of
the argument.
· Band 7 adds a specific example (Investigatory Powers Act) — even an invented but plausible one scores
higher than a vague reference.
· Band 7 uses passive: 'intercepted messages have enabled the disruption' — more formal register.
Privacy argument — Body paragraph
 ✗ BAND 5
On the other hand, many people belive that checking mobile phone messages is not fair because it is
private. Every person have personal conversation with family and friends. If goverment read all
messages, people will feel uncomfortable and not free to talk. Also, some think that goverments can
misuse this power to spy on normal citizens, not only criminals. In some countries, leaders use this
to control people and stop free speech. Therefore, privacy is important and should be protected.
 ✓ BAND 7


IELTS Academic Writing  ·  8
Task 1 & Task 2 — Band 5→7 Upgrade Guide
Opponents, however, contend that permitting state access to private communications creates
conditions that are inherently susceptible to abuse of authority. Privacy is not merely a preference
but a constitutionally protected right in most democratic systems, and its erosion carries
consequences that extend beyond the individual. Historical precedent is instructive: surveillance
powers introduced under security justifications have been systematically misused to monitor
political dissidents, journalists, and civil society organisations, as documented in revelations
concerning intelligence programmes in multiple countries. Once a government acquires the legal
authority to monitor its citizens, the structural safeguards preventing that authority from expanding
are frequently inadequate.
ANALYSIS
· Band 5: 'not fair because it is private' — circular reasoning with A1 vocabulary.
· Band 7: 'inherently susceptible to abuse of authority' — names the precise mechanism, not the conclusion.
· Band 7 uses 'Historical precedent is instructive' — this is Band 8 phrase signalling analytical confidence.
· Band 7 avoids 'Also' and 'Therefore' — uses 'however' and longer argument chains instead.
2E Conclusion — Band 5 vs Band 7
 ✗ BAND 5
In conclusion, the privacy vs security issue is center in the same topic 'safety', but with different
approchest to that. I think we need to focus on this theme, not in distrusting our peers.
 ✓ BAND 7
In conclusion, neither absolute surveillance nor absolute privacy represents a viable position. The
security case for targeted data access is genuine, but it depends entirely on the existence of
independent judicial oversight, transparent legal frameworks, and meaningful accountability
mechanisms. Where those conditions are met, limited access can be justified; where they are absent,
surveillance invariably expands beyond its stated purpose. The challenge for democratic
governments is not choosing between safety and freedom but constructing the institutional
architecture that allows both to coexist.
ANALYSIS
· Band 5 problem: 'center in the same topic' — grammatically broken sentence.
· Band 5 problem: introduces vague new idea ('distrusting our peers') that wasn't in the essay.


IELTS Academic Writing  ·  9
Task 1 & Task 2 — Band 5→7 Upgrade Guide
· Band 7 restates the thesis with new phrasing ('neither absolute... represents a viable position').
· Band 7 conclusion adds a condition: 'Where those conditions are met... where they are absent' — conditional
structure shows sophisticated analysis.
· The last sentence is a policy implication — acceptable in the conclusion, stronger than summary alone.
2F Rewrite Exercises — Task 2
TIP
Try writing your own version before reading the model answer. Cover the green box, write your rewrite, then
compare.
Rewrite this sentence at Band 7 register:
 ✗ ORIGINAL
Bad people use phones to plan bad things so the government should check them.
 ✓ MODEL
Criminal networks routinely exploit encrypted communications to coordinate illegal activity, which
provides a rationale for targeted state monitoring under appropriate judicial safeguards.
Rewrite this sentence at Band 7 register:
 ✗ ORIGINAL
Privacy is very important and people don't want others to see their messages.
 ✓ MODEL
Privacy constitutes a fundamental civil liberty, and citizens have a reasonable expectation that their
personal communications will not be subject to unauthorised scrutiny.
Fix the grammar errors in this sentence:
 ✗ ORIGINAL
The government have a duty to protect it's citizens and some people thinks surveillance is the best
approach.
 ✓ MODEL


IELTS Academic Writing  ·  10
Task 1 & Task 2 — Band 5→7 Upgrade Guide
The government HAS a duty to protect ITS citizens, and some people think surveillance is the most
effective approach.
Rewrite this conclusion at Band 7 level:
 ✗ ORIGINAL
In conclusion, both sides have good points. Security is important but so is privacy. We need a
balance.
 ✓ MODEL
In conclusion, while the security imperative is genuine, it does not justify unrestricted access to
private communications. A proportionate framework — one that requires judicial authorisation,
operates under transparent legislation, and includes independent oversight — represents the most
defensible reconciliation of these competing interests.


IELTS Academic Writing  ·  11
Task 1 & Task 2 — Band 5→7 Upgrade Guide
0
3
Task 1 — Data Description
3A Task 1 Structure Template
 Paragraph
 Word
count
 What to include
Introduction
20–25
words
Paraphrase what the table/graph shows in ONE sentence. No data here.
Formula: 'The table compares [WHAT] across [HOW MANY] [UNITS/CITIES] in
terms of [CATEGORIES].'
Overview
30–40
words
State the two or three most striking patterns WITHOUT quoting specific figures.
This is the most important paragraph for Task Achievement. Never skip it.
Detail ¶1
60–70
words
Report the most significant data group with figures. Make comparisons. Don't
list every number — select the most relevant and compare them.
Detail ¶2
60–70
words
Report the second group of data. Include an outlier or exception if there is one.
3B Vocabulary Upgrade — Task 1 Data Language
 Word / phrase
 (A1–A2)
 Upgrade (B2–C1)
 Example in context
shows
illustrates / presents /
outlines
'The table illustrates the key characteristics of six major metro
systems.'
goes up
increases / rises /
climbs
'The total length rises sharply from 140 miles in Mexico City to 659
in New York.'
goes down
decreases / falls /
declines
'Annual journeys fall below 2 billion in four of the six cities
surveyed.'
the biggest
the highest / the
greatest / the largest
'New York records the greatest total network length at 659 miles.'
the cheapest
the lowest / the most
affordable
'At just $0.23, Mexico City Metro offers the lowest single-fare ticket
price.'
very expensive
notably more
expensive /
substantially higher
'London fares are substantially higher than those in any other city
in the dataset.'
a lot of people
a considerable volume
of passengers /
significant ridership
'Beijing and Tokyo attract a considerable volume of annual
passengers.'
compared to
in contrast to / relative
to
'In contrast to London's $7.30 fare, Mexico City charges just
$0.23.'


IELTS Academic Writing  ·  12
Task 1 & Task 2 — Band 5→7 Upgrade Guide
 Word / phrase
 (A1–A2)
 Upgrade (B2–C1)
 Example in context
shows no pattern
no discernible
correlation
'There is no discernible correlation between network length and
ticket price.'
about / around
approximately /
roughly / in the region
of
'Tokyo's network spans approximately 155 miles across 13 lines.'
3C How to Write the Overview
TIP
The overview is the most important paragraph in Task 1. It signals to the examiner that you can interpret data,
not just copy numbers. Write it BEFORE the detail paragraphs. State the main trend WITHOUT figures.
 Overview opener
 Register
Overall,
Standard opener — acceptable but common
In general,
Slightly more varied than 'overall'
What is immediately apparent is
that
More analytical — signals you can interpret, not just describe
The most striking feature is that
Draws attention to the key trend — Band 7+
Several patterns emerge from
the data:
Sets up a multi-point overview — useful for complex tables
3D Phrases for Reporting Data
 Phrase
 Example
Comparing...
Comparing New York and London, the former has a far larger network (659 vs 249 miles)...
In contrast,
In contrast, London charges $7.30 per journey — more than 30 times the Mexico City fare.
At the other extreme,
At the other extreme, Mexico City Metro offers the lowest fare at just $0.23.
This is followed by
This is followed by Beijing, with 357 miles across 19 lines.
Notably,
Notably, there is no clear relationship between network length and ticket price.
The figures range
from... to...
The figures range from 0.23 dollars in Mexico City to 7.30 in London.
X accounts for /
records
Beijing records the highest ridership at 3.6 billion annual journeys.
X stands at
Beijing's total length stands at 357 miles, divided across 19 lines.


IELTS Academic Writing  ·  13
Task 1 & Task 2 — Band 5→7 Upgrade Guide
3E Your Submission — Error Analysis
 ✗ YOUR
SUBMISSION
The table compares the subway characteristics in six main urban areas across the world. At glance,
the data shows that the distances, routes, journeys and prices of the tickets are quite different. The
length of the metros shows a tendency to be in between 300 amd 100 miles total divided in 10 to 16
lines; there are two outliers in this trend; the NYC subways is the longest of them all with a length of
659 miles, divided across 24 lines, followed by the Beijing subway with 357 miles of tracks, divided
in 19 lines. The prices and the length does not show any relationship with the lenght, as the data
shows that the more expensive ticket is the London tube, with an astonishing price of 7.30 US
dollars, running only 249 miles, compare with the NYC subway that cost only 2.50 US dollars. The
cheapest one is the Mexico City Metro, with a price as low as 0.23 US dollas, running across 140
miles divided between 12 lines. In conclusion, the different metro systems shows to be quite
different across the world, traversing different distances, at different lines and prices.
ERROR
EXPLANATION
Missing overview
paragraph
The essay goes straight from introduction to data. An overview is mandatory for
Band 6+.
'At glance' → 'At a glance'
Missing article — very common error; learn this phrase as a fixed chunk.
'The length does not
show'
Wrong subject-verb: 'the prices AND the length' is plural → DO not show.
'Divided in 19 lines'
Wrong preposition: divided INTO — partition always uses INTO.
'300 amd 100 miles'
Typo ('and' misspelled) + wrong range (should be 100 to 300, stated backwards).
'Running across 140
miles'
'Running across' suggests crossing a space. Use 'spanning 140 miles' or 'covering
140 miles'.
'Shows to be' in
conclusion
'Shows to be' is not idiomatic. Use 'are' or 'prove to be'.
No comparisons in
conclusion
The conclusion should not just restate. For Task 1 it is optional — better to use that
space in the detail paragraphs.
3F Model Answer — Band 7 (Same Table)
 ✓ BAND 7 (~200
 words)


IELTS Academic Writing  ·  14
Task 1 & Task 2 — Band 5→7 Upgrade Guide
The table compares key characteristics of metro systems in six cities — New York, London, Tokyo,
Paris, Mexico City, and Beijing — across four dimensions: number of lines, total network length,
annual passenger journeys, and single-ticket price. Overall, New York and Beijing emerge as the
two largest systems by network size, while London stands out as by far the most expensive in terms
of fare. Notably, there is no discernible correlation between network length and ticket price. In terms
of physical scale, New York records the greatest total length at 659 miles across 24 lines, followed
by Beijing at 357 miles with 19 lines. The remaining four cities cluster more closely together, with
total lengths ranging from approximately 124 miles (Tokyo) to 249 miles (London), all operating
between 11 and 16 lines. Regarding annual ridership, the Asian systems dominate: Beijing leads
with 3.6 billion journeys per year, with Tokyo close behind at 3.1 billion. The four remaining cities
each record under 2 billion annual passengers. Ticket prices, meanwhile, vary most dramatically:
London's single fare of $7.30 is roughly 32 times that of Mexico City's $0.23 — the lowest in the
dataset — while the other four cities fall within the range of $1.17 to $2.50.
3G Rewrite Exercises — Task 1
Rewrite this introduction at Band 7:
 ✗ ORIGINAL
The table compares the subway characteristics in six main urban areas across the world.
 ✓ MODEL
The table compares four key attributes of metro systems in six major cities — New York, London,
Tokyo, Paris, Mexico City, and Beijing — namely the number of lines, total network length, annual
ridership, and single-ticket price.
Write an overview for the metro table:
 ✗ ORIGINAL
[No overview was written]
 ✓ MODEL
Overall, New York and Beijing stand out as the largest systems by physical scale, while London
records the highest ticket price by a considerable margin. There is no clear relationship between
network size and fare cost.


IELTS Academic Writing  ·  15
Task 1 & Task 2 — Band 5→7 Upgrade Guide
Fix the grammar and vocabulary in this sentence:
 ✗ ORIGINAL
The prices and the length does not show any relationship with the lenght.
 ✓ MODEL
The price of a single ticket and the total network length show no discernible correlation.
Rewrite this comparison at Band 7:
 ✗ ORIGINAL
The most expensive ticket is the London tube with 7.30 US dollars compare with the NYC subway
that cost only 2.50 US dollars.
 ✓ MODEL
London charges the highest fare at $7.30 per journey, which is almost three times the New York
City rate of $2.50.


IELTS Academic Writing  ·  16
Task 1 & Task 2 — Band 5→7 Upgrade Guide
0
4
Linking Words — Band 5 → Band 8 Upgrade
TIP
Per writing session: choose ONE phrase from the Band 7 column and ONE from Band 8. Use them
deliberately. After two weeks of rotation, every phrase will feel natural. The Band 5 column shows what to
STOP using — not because they are wrong, but because they signal limited range.
 Function
 Band 5 (avoid)
 Band 7 (use)
 Band 8 (target)
Adding
Also, And
Furthermore,
Moreover
What is more, In
addition to this
Contrasting
But, However
Nevertheless,
Conversely
That said, By contrast,
Notwithstanding this
Conceding
Even if
Although, Even
though
Whilst acknowledging
that, Conceding that
Giving reason
Because
Due to, Owing to
Given that, In light of
the fact that
Giving result
So
As a result, Therefore
Consequently, It
follows that
Exemplifying
For example
For instance, To
illustrate
A case in point is, This
is evidenced by
Concluding
In conclusion
To summarise, In
summary
Taken together, these
considerations suggest
that
Sequencing
(T1)
Then, Next
Subsequently,
Following this
This is followed by,
Turning to
Comparing
(T1)
Compared to
In contrast to,
Relative to
Whereas X records..., Y
demonstrates...
Self-check before submitting any writing task
Task 2
■ Introduction paraphrases the question — does NOT copy it
■ Introduction ends with your thesis (not 'this essay will discuss')
■ Each body paragraph has ONE main idea, fully developed
■ At least one specific example per body paragraph
■ Conclusion restates thesis with new phrasing — no new ideas
■ At least 2 different linking words per paragraph
■ No spelling errors from the Section 1 table
■ Every 'government' has a double-n (goVERNment)


IELTS Academic Writing  ·  17
Task 1 & Task 2 — Band 5→7 Upgrade Guide
■ No subject-verb errors: 'people think' not 'people thinks'
■ Word count: 250–290 words (not 200, not 400)
Task 1
■ Introduction paraphrases — does NOT copy the question
■ Overview paragraph written BEFORE detail paragraphs
■ Overview contains NO specific figures
■ At least one direct comparison between two data points
■ Outliers or exceptions noted if present
■ Data reported accurately — re-check numbers against original
■ No 'In conclusion' in Task 1 (optional and often wastes words)
■ Subject-verb agreement: 'the data show' not 'the data shows'
■ Prepositions: 'divided INTO' not 'divided in'
■ Word count: 160–180 words