In IELTS preparation circles, few topics generate as much confusion as the word count requirement in Writing Task 1 and Writing Task 2. Many candidates are repeatedly told that writing fewer than 150 words (Task 1) or 250 words (Task 2) will result in a penalty. Yet, the situation is more nuanced than many assume.

No Explicit Penalty—But Consequences Still Exist

There is no explicit marking penalty for writing under the required number of words. The IELTS Public Band Descriptors, used globally by certified examiners, do not contain a rule that deducts marks solely based on word count.

However, this does not mean that writing too few words is safe.

While examiners do not deduct marks numerically for being under the threshold, shorter responses almost always perform poorly across the four key marking criteria. In other words, the penalty is indirect, but unavoidable.

Why Short Responses Almost Always Score Lower

1. Task Achievement (Task 1) / Task Response (Task 2)

Short answers typically fail to:

• fully address all parts of the task
• develop ideas adequately
• present sufficient explanation, detail, or evidence
• reach a clear conclusion in Task 2

Because examiners evaluate outcomes—not word counts—a response that is missing key elements cannot achieve a high band.

2. Coherence and Cohesion

An essay or report with too few words often demonstrates:

• poor progression of ideas
• weak paragraph development
• limited use of cohesive devices
• abrupt or incomplete sections

This results in a lower score for Coherence and Cohesion.

3. Lexical Resource

Short texts offer fewer opportunities to:

• show vocabulary range
• use paraphrasing appropriately
• demonstrate topic-specific language

Less language = less evidence of ability, which lowers the Lexical Resource band.

4. Grammatical Range and Accuracy

With limited sentences, candidates cannot:

• display a variety of complex structures
• show accurate control across multiple forms
• demonstrate consistent grammatical accuracy

Consequently, the score for Grammatical Range and Accuracy suffers.

Why the Word Count Guidelines Matter

The recommended minimums—150 words for Task 1 and 250 words for Task 2—are not arbitrary. These numbers reflect the amount of language typically needed to produce:

• complete ideas
• supporting explanations
• clear arguments
• smooth development
• sufficient vocabulary and grammar range

A response with significantly fewer words simply cannot offer enough linguistic evidence to achieve higher bands.

Thus, while there is no rule that automatically penalises under-length writing, the structure of the scoring system means that writing too little almost always results in a lower overall band.

Practical Recommendations for Test-Takers

To meet the requirements comfortably without increasing the risk of errors, candidates should aim for:

• 160–180 words for Task 1
• 260–290 words for Task 2

This range allows enough space for development while keeping the writing focused and manageable under time pressure.

Exceeding 300+ words for Task 2 is not recommended, as overly long essays may lose coherence and introduce unnecessary errors.