How many words do I need for IELTS Writing Task 1 and Task 2?

Task 1 requires a minimum of 150 words in 20 minutes. Task 2 requires a minimum of 250 words in 40 minutes. Writing under the minimum results in an automatic band score penalty.

What is a good words-per-minute pace for IELTS writing?

For Task 2, aim for at least 7–8 words per minute to reach 250+ words while leaving time for planning and review. For Task 1, 9–10 wpm is comfortable to hit 150+ words.

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IELTS Writing Timer
& Word Counter

Practice under real exam conditions. Live word count, paced countdown timer, and words-per-minute tracking — for both Task 1 (20 min / 150 words) and Task 2 (40 min / 250 words).

40:00remaining

Word Count

0250 min350

Words / min

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Target: ≥7 wpm

Projected total

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At current pace

Your Essay

0 words

Tip: Paste a previous essay to count words, or type live under timed conditions for realistic exam practice.

Exam Time Targets

2 minTask 1 planning— Identify trends / key data
15 minTask 1 writing— 150–180 words
3 minTask 1 review— Check grammar & facts
5 minTask 2 planning— Outline 4 paragraphs
32 minTask 2 writing— 270–320 words
3 minTask 2 review— Fix errors, check conclusion

Word Count by Band

Band 9T1: 175–220T2: 280–320
Band 7–8T1: 160–180T2: 265–300
Band 6T1: 155–170T2: 255–280
Band 5T1: 150–160T2: 250–260
Under minT1: <150T2: <250

Word counts alone don't determine band — but they're a strong indicator of idea development.

Practice with AI Feedback

Timed writing practice is step one. Get instant AI scoring on Task Response, Coherence, Vocabulary, and Grammar — our AI examiner gives band-accurate feedback in seconds.

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