Free Resources ยท IELTS Writing

Curated IELTS Writing resources

These are the free resources I point my own students to. Used properly, they're enough for a lot of people to improve their Writing without me. That's genuinely what I want for you.

๐Ÿ“š How to use this page

Everything below is free and high quality. Start with the official band descriptors so you understand exactly how Writing is scored, then work through the trusted websites and video lessons, and use the free feedback tools to check your essays.

If you have the discipline and time to work through all of this yourself, do it. But if you'd rather learn how to study well, save time, and have someone reassess and steer you along the way, that's where I come in. More on that at the bottom of the page.

Start Here

Official IELTS sources

Always begin with the official material, it's the ground truth for format and scoring.

Official

IELTS.org Writing resources

The official site: free sample questions, the test format explained, and downloadable Writing band descriptors for both Academic and General Training.

Visit IELTS.org
Official ยท Free mock

British Council IELTS Ready

Sign up free for six official practice tests plus a familiarisation test. The best way to get a realistic starting band before your diagnostic with me.

Take a free mock test

Learn & Practise

Trusted free IELTS websites

Clear strategies and model answers from respected IELTS teachers.

Strategy & models

IELTS Liz

One of the most popular free IELTS sites. Sample answers, vocabulary, and easy-to-follow strategy guides from a UK-qualified teacher and former examiner.

Visit IELTS Liz
Daily lessons

IELTS Simon

Famous for simple, practical advice. Daily lessons, model essays and a "clarity over complexity" approach, exactly the mindset that lifts Writing bands.

Visit IELTS Simon
Samples & models

IELTS Mentor

A large library of sample questions and model answers for both Academic and General Training, with band descriptors and section-specific tips.

Visit IELTS Mentor
Model essays

British Council LearnEnglish

Free, well-structured writing lessons and colour-coded model texts from the British Council, great for seeing how a strong answer is built.

Visit LearnEnglish
Free feedback tool

Cambridge Write & Improve

A free tool from the University of Cambridge that instantly checks your writing against the CEFR and shows your progress over time. Brilliant for self-checking drafts.

Try Write & Improve
Band descriptors

Task 2 Band Descriptors

A plain-English breakdown of the four marking criteria for Writing Task 2. Understand these and you'll know exactly what the examiner is looking for.

Read the descriptors

Watch & Learn

Recommended video lessons

Two of the most trusted IELTS channels on YouTube.

IELTS Liz (YouTube)

2M+ subscribers and the #1 free IELTS channel. Her Writing Task 2 formula videos have helped thousands go from Band 6 to 7+. Open channel โ†’

E2 IELTS (YouTube)

A global IELTS prep leader with detailed Academic and General Training lessons, taught by experienced instructors. Open channel โ†’

Tip: to embed a specific video, replace the src with that video's "Embed" link from YouTube (Share โ†’ Embed).

Quick Wins

My top Writing tips

Small habits that consistently lift my students' Writing scores. None of them require a teacher, but they're easier to apply with feedback.

  1. Read the question twice and answer every part. Off-topic answers cap your Task Response band.
  2. Plan before you write. Spend 3 to 5 minutes mapping your ideas; planning is not optional, it is the difference between a 6 and a 7.
  3. Aim for clarity, not complexity. Examiners reward precise, well-linked ideas over long, tangled sentences.
  4. Learn the marking criteria and self-mark every practice essay against them.
  5. Practise deliberately, not just repeatedly. "Practice makes perfect" is only true if the practice is correct; sloppy practice just makes your mistakes permanent.
  6. Always write under timed conditions. Fluency under pressure is a skill you build by rehearsing it.
  7. Learn how to learn. Meta-learning, knowing how you study best and adjusting as you go, beats grinding the same method that is not working.
  8. Build in accountability. A mentor and a weekly check-in keep you honest and stop you drifting, which is where most self-study quietly fails.
  9. Get feedback on your real weaknesses. You cannot fix what you cannot see, and that is exactly where a coach saves you months.

Two Paths

Free resources, or a coach?

Both can work. The right choice depends on your time, your discipline, and how you learn best.

๐Ÿงญ Go it alone (free)

If you have the discipline, motivation and time to work steadily through everything above, you can absolutely improve on your own. Many learners do, and I'm glad to point you to the best material to make that happen.

Use the free resources

๐Ÿš€ Learn with a mentor

If time is short, or you'd rather learn how to learn, to study effectively, fix the right things, and prepare with a coach who reassesses and guides you, then working together will get you there faster. Not everyone works the same way, and that's exactly the point.

Book a Session With Me

Want a personalised path?

Send me a Writing essay from your real IELTS test or a mock, and I'll show you exactly which of these resources to focus on, and where a coach will save you the most time.

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