"I worked so hard on my essay, but my score won't go above 6.0..." "I thought I corrected my grammar mistakes, but my score is still low."
Many IELTS Writing test-takers find themselves wondering, "I don't know what I did wrong." In reality, stagnant scores are often not due to a lack of advanced vocabulary, but rather to unconscious mistakes that lead to penalties.
While IELTS uses a positive marking system, it also has a deductive aspect where points are readily subtracted for inappropriate expressions or rule violations. This means that reducing mistakes is often a faster way to improve your score than learning new vocabulary.
This article breaks down 10 common penalty-inducing mistakes that examiners look for first, complete with specific examples of what to do and what to avoid.
1. Mistakes in Task Response (Structure and Content)
These are fundamental errors that affect the core of your essay. If you feel "I can write in English, but my score is low," correcting these issues can dramatically improve your evaluation.
Mistake 1: Rote Memorization of Templates (Memorised Phrases)
Do you use long templates found online because you struggle with introductions? Examiners can spot these immediately, deem them "mechanical," and may exclude them from the assessment (they might not even count towards your word count).
- ❌ Mistake: "This essay will discuss both sides and give an opinion at the end."
- ⭕️ Correction: "Although online learning has certain benefits, I believe traditional classroom interaction is more significant because..."
[Analysis] Instead of using generic phrases, state your specific arguments and position on the topic in your own words from the very beginning.
Mistake 2: Unclear Position
In the Task 2 essay, your position (e.g., whether you agree, disagree, or are neutral) must be clear throughout. Vaguely concluding that "both sides have merit" is a classic reason for being stuck at Band 6.
- ❌ Mistake: "In conclusion, some people think X while others think Y. Both viewpoints have merit."
- ⭕️ Correction: "In conclusion, although X has merit, I firmly believe that Y is the better approach."
[Analysis] The examiner wants to know your opinion. Don't just summarize general views (e.g., "Some people say..."). Always clearly state your own position using phrases like "I believe...".
Mistake 3: Not Answering All Parts of the Question (Incomplete Response)
This happens when a question asks, for example, "Do you agree or disagree, and what are your reasons?" but the writer only provides the reasons without stating their position.
- Solution: Underline every instruction in the prompt (e.g., "discuss both views," "give your opinion"). As you write, check which instruction each paragraph is addressing.
2. Mistakes in Coherence & Cohesion (Flow and Word Choice)
Academic writing has strict conventions. Writing in a conversational tone is a sure way to lose points.
Mistake 4: Overuse of Linking Words
Always starting sentences with First, Second, Furthermore makes your writing sound unnatural and robotic.
- ❌ Mistake: "Firstly, the entertainment industry is lucrative. Secondly, it is popular. Furthermore, ..."
- ⭕️ Correction: "First of all, the entertainment industry is lucrative. Another significant reason is its popularity..."
[Analysis] Don't rely solely on basic linking words. Use a variety of cohesive devices, such as pronouns (This/That) or phrases like "Another significant reason is...," to connect your ideas more naturally.
Mistake 5: Using Informal Language and Slang
The IELTS essay is not an email to a friend. Casual expressions are unacceptable.
- ❌ Mistake: "Kids nowadays can easily get info from the internet. The results were so-so."
- ⭕️ Correction: "Children nowadays can easily obtain information from the internet. The results were mediocre."
[Analysis]
Choose formal vocabulary: Kids → Children, Guys → People, Get → Obtain/Receive, So-so → Average/Mediocre.
Mistake 6: Using Contractions
This is a fundamental rule, but it's crucial to follow it strictly if you are aiming for Band 7 or higher.
- ❌ Mistake: "It's clear that we can't solve this issue quickly."
- ⭕️ Correction: "It is clear that we cannot solve this issue quickly."
[Analysis]
Contractions like don't, can't, and it's are considered informal spoken language. Always write the full forms: do not, cannot, it is.
3. Mistakes in Lexical Resource & Grammar (Vocabulary and Grammar)
You don't need to use "difficult" words. What's vital is using the "right combinations" of words (collocations) and accurate grammar.
Mistake 7: Incorrect Collocations
This occurs when individual words are correct, but they are combined in an unnatural way.
- ❌ Mistake: "He did a crime." / "We must do an effort."
- ⭕️ Correction: "He committed a crime." / "We must make an effort."
[Analysis] A native speaker would never say "do a crime." The natural pairing (collocation) is "commit a crime." Using incorrect collocations makes your writing sound unnatural and will result in point deductions.
Mistake 8: Run-on Sentences and Comma Splices
This is the error of joining two complete sentences with only a comma. It is an extremely common mistake for learners.
- ❌ Mistake: "Cigarettes affect smokers' health, they also affect bystanders."
- ⭕️ Correction: "Cigarettes affect smokers' health. They also affect bystanders." (or "..., and they also...")
[Analysis] In English, you cannot connect two independent clauses with only a comma (this is called a comma splice). You must either separate them with a period or add a coordinating conjunction like 'and' or 'because'.
Mistake 9: Spelling Mistakes
Here are three of the most frequently misspelled words on the IELTS test. Getting these wrong is an unnecessary loss of points.
- Environment (not ❌ Enviroment): The 'n' is often forgotten.
- Government (not ❌ Goverment): The 'n' is also frequently missed here.
- Believe (not ❌ Beleive): The 'ie' order is commonly mixed up.
[Analysis] Even a single spelling error can lower your Lexical Resource score. Words like environment and government are used frequently in essays, so it's essential to learn how to spell them perfectly.
Mistake 10: Subject-Verb Agreement Errors
This is one of the most common careless mistakes: forgetting the third-person singular 's'.
- ❌ Mistake: "The government need to take action."
- ⭕️ Correction: "The government needs to take action."
[Analysis] It's easy to lose track of the subject in long sentences. When proofreading, always ask yourself: "Is the subject singular or plural? Does the verb need an 's'?"
4. The Art of Proofreading to Protect Your Score
Submitting your essay without proofreading is like trying to carry water in a leaky bucket. High-scoring candidates always dedicate the final three minutes to reviewing their work.
Your 3-Minute Proofreading Checklist:
- Task Achievement: Have I answered every part of the prompt?
- Style: Have I avoided contractions (e.g., can't) and informal language (e.g., kids)?
- Grammar: Is my subject-verb agreement, tense, and punctuation (especially commas) correct?
- Spelling: Are common words like Environment spelled correctly?
Conclusion: Reduce Mistakes to Raise Your Score
When it comes to improving your IELTS Writing score, avoiding mistakes is more important than trying to write something spectacular. The 10 points covered in this article are all issues that you can start fixing today simply by being aware of them.
Review your own essays to see if you are making any of these mistakes. If you find it difficult to spot your own errors or can't seem to break bad habits, we recommend getting professional feedback to receive objective corrections.
Prepare for IELTS Writing with ELT
At ELT, our native-speaking instructors, including former IELTS examiners who know the test inside and out, will provide sentence-by-sentence feedback on your essays based on the official scoring criteria. We offer specific guidance on where you're losing points and what you need to do to reach Band 7.0, helping you achieve your target score.
