IELTS Word Counter
Paste your IELTS Writing Task 1 or Task 2 essay and instantly see the word, sentence, and paragraph count — plus estimated reading and speaking time. Free, private, and nothing you type leaves your browser.
IELTS minimums:
IELTS Tip
Aim for 150+ words for Task 1 and 250+ words for Task 2. There is no upper limit, but quality is more important than quantity.
IELTS Writing word count rules
IELTS sets minimum lengths for both writing tasks: at least 150 words for Task 1 (the report or letter) and at least 250 words for Task 2 (the essay). Falling short is penalised through the Task Achievement / Task Response criterion, because an under-length answer cannot fully cover the task — and that criterion caps how high your Writing band can go.
There is no upper limit, but longer is not better. Every extra sentence is another chance for grammar mistakes and off-topic drift, and it steals time from planning and proofreading. Most band-7+ answers land around 160–190 words for Task 1 and 260–290 words for Task 2: comfortably over the minimum, with time left to check the work.
What counts as a word in IELTS?
- Hyphenated words (well-known, state-of-the-art) count as one word.
- Contractions (don't, it's) count as one word — though contractions are best avoided in formal writing.
- Numbers and percentages written as figures (2026, 75%) count as one word each.
- Articles and prepositions (a, the, of) all count — every word on the page counts toward the total.
Frequently asked questions
How many words do I need in IELTS Writing Task 1 and Task 2?+
Task 1 requires a minimum of 150 words and Task 2 requires a minimum of 250 words. There is no official maximum, but going far over the minimum leaves less time for planning and checking. A comfortable range is roughly 160–190 words for Task 1 and 260–290 words for Task 2.
What happens if my IELTS essay is under the word limit?+
Writing under the minimum word count is penalised through the Task Achievement (Task 1) or Task Response (Task 2) criterion — an under-length answer cannot fully address the task, which caps that criterion score and drags down your Writing band.
Do hyphenated words and contractions count as one word in IELTS?+
Yes. A hyphenated word like "well-known" counts as one word, and a contraction like "don't" counts as one word. Numbers written as figures (like 2026 or 75%) also count as one word each. Note that contractions should generally be avoided in formal IELTS writing anyway.
Do examiners actually count every word in my IELTS essay?+
Examiners are trained to estimate length quickly and will count precisely when an answer looks close to or below the minimum. On the computer-delivered IELTS, a live word count is shown on screen as you type.
Is there a penalty for writing too many words in IELTS?+
There is no direct penalty for exceeding the minimum. However, very long answers tend to include more errors, weaker organisation, and off-topic material — all of which can lower your band scores indirectly. Aim for quality within a controlled length rather than maximum quantity.
Length is the easy part — how good is the essay?
Get your IELTS essays evaluated by AI against the official band descriptors, with sentence-level feedback and an estimated band score. The free plan needs no card.