Hi, I’m Sarah Thompson, an IELTS tutor and examiner with over twenty years of teaching experience.
One of the most common reasons candidates lose marks is not their writing ability — but poor Time Management for the Test. You might have excellent ideas and grammar, but if you don’t finish both tasks on time, your score will suffer.
In this lesson, I’ll show you exactly how to manage your 60 minutes effectively in both Academic and General Training Writing tests, with practical tips, common pitfalls, and sample timing plans.
The IELTS Writing test lasts 60 minutes, divided into two tasks:
Task | Minimum Word Count | Weighting | Recommended Time |
Task 1 | 150 words | 33% | 20 minutes |
Task 2 | 250 words | 67% | 40 minutes |
Task 2 carries twice as many marks, so managing your time around that ratio is essential. Spending too long on Task 1 often causes rushed essays, incomplete conclusions, or unedited grammar errors in Task 2 — all of which reduce your band score.
🕒 Step 1: Plan (5 minutes total)
Take a moment at the start to analyse both tasks and outline your main ideas.
For Task 2 especially, spend 3–5 minutes identifying the question type (Opinion, Discussion, Advantages–Disadvantages, etc.) and writing a short essay plan.
✍️ Step 2: Write (50 minutes total)
Allocate:
Stick to your plan. If you’re halfway through Task 1 at minute 18, it’s time to move on — even if you’re not fully satisfied.
🔍 Step 3: Review (5 minutes total)
Always keep at least two to three minutes to check for:
This quick review can be the difference between Band 6.5 and Band 7.5.
Task 1 (Reports & Charts)
Tip: Avoid over-describing small details. You only need to summarise main trends and key comparisons, not every data point.
Task 2 (Essay)
Tip: Write your conclusion before time runs out — even if it’s one sentence. A missing conclusion lowers your Task Response score.
Task 1 (Letter)
Task 2 (Essay)
Tip: Always complete all three bullet points in the letter task; missing one part automatically reduces Task Achievement.
Many candidates worry they’re too slow. The good news? Writing speed improves with technique, not stress.
Strategies to Write Faster:
Band 8 Tip: Your essay doesn’t need to be long — it needs to be complete, coherent, and error-free. A 270-word essay written clearly scores higher than a messy 350-word essay.
Mistake | Effect on Score | Fix |
Spending 30 minutes on Task 1 | No time for Task 2 | Strictly stop at 20 minutes |
Writing too slowly | Incomplete essay | Practise timed sessions weekly |
No planning | Unorganised structure | Always plan at least 3 minutes |
No proofreading | Missed grammar errors | Save last 5 minutes to review |
Obsessing over vocabulary | Time loss | Use simple but accurate words |
Band 8 Tip: Remember — writing less but better always beats writing more but unfinished.
Minute | Task | Activity |
0–5 | Planning | Analyse both tasks |
5–25 | Task 1 | Write and check |
25–30 | Planning | Outline Task 2 ideas |
30–55 | Task 2 | Write essay |
55–60 | Review | Check grammar & structure |
Practise following this schedule until it becomes second nature.
Try this at home:
Set a 60-minute timer and complete one Task 1 and one Task 2 under exam conditions.
After finishing, note:
Keep adjusting your timing until you find a rhythm that works consistently.
Before your next practice test, ask yourself:
Calm control always beats rushed writing.
Time management is the hidden key to IELTS Writing success. By practising structured timing and disciplined transitions between tasks, you’ll ensure that both answers meet requirements confidently.
Next, explore Common IELTS Writing Mistakes to identify and fix frequent errors that lower your score.
You can also return to the IELTS Writing Overview: Format, Scoring & Key Skills page for the full learning pathway.
For verified exam timing rules, visit IELTS.org.
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