Beyond the individual tasks
One hour. Two tasks. One shared strategy.
Task 1 and Task 2 each have their own question types and structures, covered elsewhere in this section. This page covers what applies across both — most importantly, how to divide your time between them.
The single most important decision
Consider starting with Task 2, not Task 1
Task 2 contributes roughly twice as much to your Writing band as Task 1. Many strong writers use this to guide how they open the hour: working on Task 2 while their mind is freshest, so that if time runs short anywhere, it costs them the smaller portion of their mark rather than the larger one.
Recommended: 40 minutes
Task 2 — Two-Thirds of the Mark
A discursive essay of at least 250 words. Because it carries the greater weight, it’s worth protecting this time even if Task 1 has to be worked more efficiently as a result.
Recommended: 20 minutes
Task 1 — One-Third of the Mark
A visual report of at least 150 words. Shorter and more formulaic than Task 2, which is part of why it can be managed in less time without losing quality.
A note on order
There’s no single correct order — only a correct priority.
Some candidates prefer to complete Task 1 first to “clear it out of the way.” That’s a reasonable approach too, as long as a strict time limit is respected. What matters most isn’t which task you start with, but that Task 2 never gets shortchanged because Task 1 ran over — since losing time there costs you against the larger share of your mark.
Habits worth building
What strengthens both tasks equally
Read the Question Twice
Once for the general topic, once to identify exactly what you’re being asked to do. Misreading the task is one of the most common ways marks are lost in both tasks.
Plan Before You Write
A short plan — even a minute or two — clarifies your structure before you commit to full sentences, and tends to save more time than it costs.
Leave Time to Check
A brief final read-through catches missing words, copied numbers, and obvious grammar slips — small errors that are easy to fix if you notice them.
Ready for the next step?
See how these priorities are actually scored.
Understanding the official band descriptors shows exactly what examiners reward in each task, and why protecting Task 2’s time matters as much as it does.