IELTS Writing Tip

Manage Time Pressure in IELTS Writing

An unfinished Task 2 is one of the most expensive mistakes in IELTS Writing — a strong essay that stops three sentences early can cost a whole band. The fix is a fixed plan you rehearse until it's automatic, so the clock stops being a threat.

In short

60 minutes total: ~20 on Task 1, ~40 on Task 2 — Task 2 is worth more, so guard its time.
Plan 3–5 minutes before writing; it prevents the mid-essay stalls that actually waste time.
Leave 2–3 minutes per task to check — fixing small errors is the cheapest mark you'll find.

The minute-by-minute plan

You have 60 minutes for both tasks and the clock is the only thing in the room working against you. Give each phase a fixed slot and practise to it, so on test day you're running a routine, not improvising.

Time	Phase	What you're doing
0–2	Task 1 plan	Pick the 3–4 key features / overview
2–18	Task 1 write	150+ words: overview, then grouped detail
18–20	Task 1 check	Scan for verb tense, number accuracy
20–25	Task 2 plan	Decide position + two developed ideas
25–57	Task 2 write	250+ words: intro, 2 body, conclusion
57–60	Task 2 check	Articles, agreement, spelling, full stops

Three habits that save minutes

Don't over-write the introduction. Two sentences — paraphrase the question, state your position — is enough. Long introductions eat the time your body paragraphs need.

Watch the word count, not the page. Going well over 250 words rarely raises your band and often costs you checking time. Aim for 260–280 and stop.

If you fall behind, shorten the conclusion, never a body paragraph. An undeveloped argument hurts your band far more than a one-line conclusion does.

Next: Use feedback to improve · Handle unfamiliar topics · All IELTS writing tips

Frequently Asked Questions

How should I split my 60 minutes in IELTS Writing?

Spend about 20 minutes on Task 1 and 40 minutes on Task 2, because Task 2 is worth roughly twice as much. Within each task, plan for a few minutes, write for most of the time, and leave two to three minutes at the end to check.

Should I do Task 1 or Task 2 first?

Most candidates do Task 1 first because it appears first, but doing Task 2 first is a valid strategy: it carries more marks, so finishing it while you are freshest protects your most valuable score. Whichever you choose, keep strictly to the time split so neither task is left unfinished.

Is it worth planning, or should I just start writing?

Plan. Three to five minutes deciding your position and your two main ideas saves more time than it costs, because you stop mid-essay far less often. Unplanned essays drift off-topic and contradict themselves, which costs marks on Task Response and Coherence.

Train under real timing

Write a timed Task 1 and Task 2 and have both marked against the four criteria, so you know where time pressure is actually costing you marks.

See IELTS correction