How long is the IELTS Writing test?
Quick answer
The IELTS Writing test lasts 60 minutes for two tasks. IELTS.org suggests about 20 minutes for Task 1, where you write at least 150 words, and about 40 minutes for Task 2, where you write at least 250 words. Both tasks are compulsory, and Task 2 contributes twice as much as Task 1 to the Writing score.
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Sixty minutes sounds generous until you divide it. It has to cover planning, writing and checking for two different tasks.
The 60 minutes and the split
IELTS.org gives the Writing time as 60 minutes for two tasks, both compulsory. It suggests about 20 minutes for Task 1 and about 40 minutes for Task 2. These are suggestions: the clock is one clock, and IELTS does not stop you at 20 minutes.
The word minimums
Task 1 requires at least 150 words and Task 2 at least 250 words. IELTS.org states the requirement as writing at least 150 words in about 20 minutes and at least 250 words in about 40 minutes. It also says both tasks need full sentences, not notes or bullet points.
In Academic Writing, Task 1 asks you to describe visual information in your own words, such as a graph, table, chart or diagram, and Task 2 gives you a point of view, argument or problem to discuss. In General Training, Task 1 is a letter written in response to an everyday situation, and Task 2 is a discursive essay.
Why the split follows the marks
IELTS.org states that Task 2 contributes twice as much as Task 1 to the Writing score. That is why the suggested timings are 20 and 40 rather than equal halves. Both tasks are assessed on the same broad areas: task achievement (Task 1) or task response (Task 2), coherence and cohesion, lexical resource, and grammatical range and accuracy.
On computer
The length does not change. IDP states that 60 minutes are given for Writing on computer, that you can start with either task, and that your answers are saved automatically.
What is not published
IELTS.org sets minimums, not a maximum. It says you will not be penalised for writing more, and warns that an answer that is too short may not show enough to award higher bands, but it states no numerical penalty. Aim comfortably above the minimum, and do not stretch a Task 1 answer to fill 20 minutes if it is finished sooner.
Practising the hour
Time both tasks together on a full paper at least a few times before the test. Writing 250 words in 40 minutes in a quiet room is one thing; doing it after finishing Task 1 is another.
What this means for your score
Because Task 2 counts twice as much as Task 1, the suggested 20 and 40 minutes follow the weighting. Running Task 1 well past 20 minutes takes time from the task that carries the larger share of your Writing band.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to spend exactly 20 and 40 minutes?
No. IELTS.org gives the timings as a suggestion within 60 minutes in total for both tasks. Task 2 contributes twice as much as Task 1, which is why the suggested split gives it twice the time.
Are 150 and 250 words a minimum or a target?
Minimums. IELTS.org states "at least" 150 words for Task 1 and "at least" 250 for Task 2, and warns that a short answer may not give enough evidence to award higher bands. It also says you will not be penalised for writing more, though a long Task 1 leaves less time for Task 2.
Is the Writing test the same length for Academic and General Training?
Yes. Both are 60 minutes for two tasks with the same word minimums. What changes is Task 1, which is a description of a graph, table, chart or diagram in Academic and a letter in General Training.
Is the time the same on computer?
Yes. IDP gives 60 minutes for Writing on computer, where you type your answers and the screen displays the number of words you have typed. The suggested 20 and 40 minutes apply in the same way.
Sources
- IELTS Academic: Writing test format — IELTS.org
- IELTS General Training: Writing test format — IELTS.org
- How computer-delivered IELTS works — IDP IELTS
Last verified 30 Sep 2026
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