Rohan from Bhopal spent 32 minutes perfecting his bar-chart description. That left 28 minutes for Task 2, and he finished his essay at 231 words.

Plan about 20 minutes for Task 1 and about 40 for Task 2, because Task 2 needs more words and counts twice as much. Good time management means stopping Task 1 on time, even when it is not perfect.

The 60-Minute Split: What IELTS Says and What We Suggest

The Writing test gives you 60 minutes for both tasks. IELTS suggests about 20 minutes for Task 1 and about 40 for Task 2, but its FAQ says how you divide the hour is your choice.

For the timings of all four skills, see our exam pattern guide.

Comparing Task 1 and Task 2 Requirements

Requirement Task 1 Task 2
Minimum words At least 150 At least 250
Suggested time About 20 minutes About 40 minutes
Weight in Writing score One third Two thirds
Our time plan (advice) 3 plan, 15 write, 2 check 5 plan, 30 write, 5 check

The last row is our advice, not an IELTS rule. Planning first lets you settle your structure before you write, and the final minutes are for fixing small slips rather than rewriting. Our guide to planning a Task 2 essay covers the five-minute plan.

Should You Tackle Task 2 First?

At the time of writing, IDP IELTS, one of the IELTS partners, says on its pages about IELTS on computer that you can start with either task.

If you start with Task 2, you protect the task that counts more. If you start with Task 1, you settle in with the shorter task. Either way, choose your order before test day, practise it, and keep to the same time split.

How to Stop Task 1 on Time

The IELTS website warns that a longer Task 1 answer may mean less time for Task 2, so trying to report each figure is a risk. In Academic Task 1, the instructions ask you to select and report the main features. Our guide to describing graphs and charts shows how to choose them.

Set a checkpoint at the 10-minute mark: your introduction and overview should be done, with two short detail paragraphs still to write. Start your final check at 18 minutes and move on to Task 2 at 20. For a General Training letter, give each bullet point a short paragraph and keep to the same marks.

Both IELTS on computer and the Writing on Paper option show a clock on screen. Work out your 10-minute, 18-minute and 20-minute marks before you begin, so you are not doing sums under pressure.

Incorrect: Spending half an hour polishing Task 1 to include every detail.

Correct: Move to Task 2 at the 20-minute mark, even if Task 1 could still be improved, because the essay carries double weight.

What Running Short of Time Actually Costs

IELTS says that if an answer is too short, there may not be enough evidence of the language features needed to award higher bands. Rohan’s 231 words fell below the 250-word minimum for Task 2.

Rushing can also cut the conclusion. IELTS guidance says an essay without an introduction and conclusion may be penalised under Task Response and Coherence and Cohesion. Our guide to word count rules covers the minimum and how short answers are treated.

Tip

Time your next three Task 1 answers and note which part runs long: planning, the overview or the detail paragraphs.

Key Takeaways

  • IELTS suggests about 20 minutes for Task 1 and about 40 for Task 2.
  • Task 2 contributes twice as much as Task 1 to the Writing score.
  • IDP IELTS says you can start with either task.
  • The 3-15-2 and 5-30-5 plans are our advice, not IELTS rules.
  • A short answer may not show enough language for higher bands.

The bottom line: Decide your Task 1 stopping time before test day, so the clock ends it instead of your perfectionism.