The Task Response Criterion is one of the four official scoring criteria used to assess Writing Task Two in the IELTS exam.
It measures how well you answer the question, develop your ideas, and present a clear position throughout the essay.
In simple terms: Did you fully do what the task asked you to do?
Where It Applies
Task Response is used for:
- IELTS Academic Writing Task Two
- IELTS General Training Writing Task Two
(For Writing Task One, a related criterion called Task Achievement is used.)
The Four Writing Task Two Criteria
Your essay is scored using:
- Task Response
- Coherence and Cohesion
- Lexical Resource
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Each criterion contributes to your Writing band score.
What Task Response Measures
Examiners look at whether you:
- Answer all parts of the question
- Present a clear opinion or position
- Develop main ideas sufficiently
- Support ideas with explanations or examples
- Stay relevant throughout the essay
Example
Question
Some people think public transport should be free.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Strong Task Response
- Discusses both views
- Gives clear opinion
- Supports ideas with examples
- Answers all parts of the task
Weak Task Response
- Only discusses one side
- Opinion unclear
- Repeats ideas without development
- Ignores part of the prompt
Band Score Impact
Higher Bands Usually Show:
- Fully addresses the task
- Clear and consistent position
- Well-developed arguments
- Relevant examples
Lower Bands Usually Show:
- Partial response
- Unclear position
- Limited idea development
- Off-topic content
Common Problems Candidates Face
Misreading the Question
Writing the wrong essay type.
No Clear Opinion
Especially in opinion or discussion essays.
Superficial Ideas
Claims without explanation.
Ignoring One Part
Common in two-part questions.
Memorized Content
Generic paragraphs that do not answer the prompt.
High-Scoring Strategies
Analyze the Prompt First
Know exactly what is being asked.
Underline Keywords
Focus on topic + task instruction.
Make a Clear Thesis
Your position should be obvious.
Develop Each Paragraph
Use explanation + example.
Stay Relevant
Every sentence should help answer the question.
Example of Better Development
Weak
Pollution is a problem. Governments should act.
Strong
Pollution harms public health by increasing respiratory illness, so governments should invest in cleaner transport systems such as electric buses.
Useful Self-Check Questions
Before finishing, ask:
- Did I answer every part of the question?
- Is my opinion clear?
- Did I explain my ideas enough?
- Did I stay on topic?
Task Response vs Task Achievement
Task Response
Used for Writing Task Two essays.
Task Achievement
Used for Writing Task One reports/letters.
Both measure task fulfillment, but for different task types.
Quick Tips
- Strong ideas matter more than fancy vocabulary.
- One clear opinion is better than a confused balanced answer.
- Depth beats listing many weak points.
- Relevance is essential.
Why Strong Candidates Perform Well
Top scorers understand that writing “more words” is not enough—they directly answer the exact question with clear, developed arguments.
