You finish an essay. Now you want to know one thing. What band would it get?
A lot of free tools will give you a number. Fewer tell you why. The best ones score each of the four criteria, point to the sentences that cost you marks, and show you what a stronger answer looks like.
We compared the IELTS Writing checkers people use most. This is what each one does.
Disclosure: we make IELTS Studio, one of the checkers below. Everything we say about the others comes from their own websites, which we read on 20 October 2026. If a site does not say something, we write “not stated”. We do not guess.
The short version
- IELTS Studio scores all four criteria, marks your own sentences and shows a sample essay. It also gives you ideas when you are stuck.
- OneIELTS has a free Task 1 and Task 2 checker for Academic and General Training.
- LexiBot gives free weekly credits and a low-cost unlimited plan.
- IELTS AI Evaluator has a free demo for Task 2 and Academic Task 1, with no sign-up.
- Engnovate gives two free checks a month.
- Cathoven checks Writing on its paid plan only.
How we checked
We read each checker’s own Writing page, pricing page and help pages. We did not use review sites or other lists. Checkers are ranked by how much useful feedback they give, then by how much you can check for free.
What to look for in an IELTS Writing checker
- A band for each criterion. One overall number tells you very little. You need to know if it is Task Response or Grammar that holds you back.
- Feedback tied to the band descriptors. Examiners mark with the official descriptors. Good feedback uses the same language, so you know what a higher band needs.
- Notes on your own sentences. “Use better vocabulary” is not much help. “This word is wrong here, try this one” is.
- A strong answer to compare with. A sample essay on the same question shows you the gap. Reading it next to yours is one of the fastest ways to improve.
- Both tasks, both tests. Task 1 counts for a third of your Writing band. Make sure the checker covers charts, maps and processes, and letters if you take General Training.
The best IELTS Writing checkers
1. IELTS Studio
Write Task 1 or Task 2 in a timed test screen, just like the computer test. Then get a band for each of the four criteria. The feedback follows the official band descriptors. It also marks your own sentences, so you can see exactly what to change and why.
You also get a sample essay for the same question. Put it next to yours and the gap is easy to see.
A few things set it apart:
- Idea Bank. Not sure what to write? Open it inside the test. It gives you ideas with reasons and examples, plus phrases you can save.
- Every Task 1 type. Academic charts, tables, maps and process diagrams, and General Training letters.
- Private essays. Your writing stays in your account. It is not used to train AI.
- Track your weak spots. Your dashboard shows which criteria hold you back over time.
There is also a quick free writing checker: paste in any question and your answer, and get a band in seconds.
Free plan: one Writing check with AI feedback every week. No card needed. Paid plan: USD 9.99 for a month of unlimited checks. You pay once, and it never renews.
Suitable for: anyone who wants to know not just their band, but how to raise it. Check your writing free.
2. OneIELTS
OneIELTS has a free checker for Task 1 and Task 2, in Academic and General Training. It gives an instant band and says it marks against the published criteria. You can upload your question as an image or PDF. A paid plan adds more detailed feedback.
Suitable for: a quick free score, especially if your question is a photo or a PDF.
3. LexiBot
LexiBot checks Task 1 and Task 2 for grammar, vocabulary, task achievement and coherence. A free account gets credits that reset every week. Its unlimited plan starts at USD 2 a month, paid once, with no automatic renewal.
Suitable for: frequent checks on a very small budget.
4. IELTS AI Evaluator
Paste your essay and get a band for each criterion in seconds. The free demo covers Task 2 and Academic Task 1, and you do not need to sign up. The site also has Reading and Listening practice.
Suitable for: a fast check with no account. It does not cover General Training letters.
5. Engnovate
Engnovate checks Task 1 and Task 2 and can also write sample essays for you. The free plan includes two checks a month. Keeping checked answers private is a paid feature. Paid plans are one-time, from USD 16.99 a month at full price.
Suitable for: an occasional check. Not ideal if you want regular feedback or private answers for free.
6. Cathoven
Cathoven scores Writing on the official criteria as part of Premium. It also has a text rewriter that upgrades your sentences. Premium starts at USD 21 a week.
Suitable for: someone happy to pay weekly for a study plan and a tutor bot.
How they compare
| Checker | Four criteria | Notes on your sentences | Sample essay | Task 1 letters | Free allowance | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Studio | Yes, by band descriptors | Yes | Yes, plus Idea Bank | Yes | 1 check a week | USD 9.99, paid once |
| OneIELTS | Yes | Not stated | Not stated | Yes | Free checker | Paid plan, price not stated |
| LexiBot | Yes | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Weekly credits | From USD 2 a month |
| IELTS AI Evaluator | Yes | Not stated | Not stated | No | Free demo | Not stated |
| Engnovate | Yes | Not stated | Essay generator | Yes | 2 checks a month | From USD 16.99 a month |
| Cathoven | Yes | Not stated | Not stated | Yes | Writing is paid | From USD 21 a week |
“Not stated” means the site does not say. It does not mean the feature is missing.
Try a real IELTS Studio review
This is a live demo, not a screenshot. Click it, then scroll through the whole review. It is for a Task 2 essay that answered a “discuss both views” question about competition and cooperation.
The essay scored 6.0 on all four criteria. Then the review explains why.
- What went well. A clear introduction, body and conclusion. A position that stays the same all the way through. Good use of linking words like “because” and “so that”.
- What to fix first. Stop writing one-sentence paragraphs. Use specific examples, not general lines about “students” or “employees”. Learn the difference between “affect” and “effect”. Use a wider range of linking devices.
Now keep scrolling. This is the part most checkers do not have. Your essay is shown in full, with numbered notes on the exact sentences that cost marks. Each note is tagged with its criterion:
- “can broken relationships” is flagged as a verb form error, under Grammar.
- “a bad affect on people’s health” is flagged as awkward phrasing, under Vocabulary.
- “Nowadays, many people have different opinions about this topic” is flagged as a padding phrase. It uses words without saying anything.
- “both are good” is flagged under Task Response. The position is not clear enough.
You can filter the notes by criterion. Then switch between three tabs: your original essay, an improved version of it, and a sample answer to the same question.
This is the screen you write in. It has a timer, a word count and the task beside your answer, just like the computer test. Try it.
Which one is right for you?
| Your situation | Start with | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You want to know exactly what to fix | IELTS Studio | It marks your own sentences on each criterion |
| You get stuck on ideas | IELTS Studio | The Idea Bank gives ideas, examples and phrases |
| You want to compare with a strong answer | IELTS Studio | Each question comes with a sample essay |
| Your question is a photo or a PDF | OneIELTS | It accepts image and PDF uploads |
| You check many essays on a tiny budget | LexiBot | Unlimited checks from USD 2 a month |
| You want a check with no account | IELTS AI Evaluator | Its free demo needs no sign-up |
How to get more from any checker
- Write under time. Give Task 2 forty minutes. A checker can only judge what you would really write on the day.
- Fix your lowest criterion first. One band up there lifts your overall score most. See how IELTS Writing is scored.
- Rewrite, then check again. The same essay, improved, teaches you more than a new one.
- Read the sample essay. Notice how it plans its paragraphs. Our Task 2 guide shows the common question types.
More comparisons: best Speaking practice websites, best free mock tests and best IELTS prep apps. See also the best Listening practice websites and best Reading practice websites.
Ready to see your band? Check your writing free and get feedback on all four criteria today.
Sources
- IELTS Writing band descriptors The four criteria every checker on this page says it scores: Task Achievement or Task Response, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range and Accuracy.
- IELTS Academic Writing format Task 1 and Task 2, their word counts and how much each task counts.
Last reviewed October 20, 2026. See our editorial policy for how guides are checked and corrected.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best IELTS Writing checker?
- For most people, IELTS Studio. It scores Task 1 and Task 2 on all four criteria, marks your own sentences, shows a sample essay and gives one free check every week. OneIELTS and LexiBot are good free extras.
- Is there a free IELTS Writing checker?
- Yes. IELTS Studio gives one free check with AI feedback every week. OneIELTS and IELTS AI Evaluator offer free checks, LexiBot gives free credits each week, and Engnovate gives two free checks a month.
- Can an AI checker grade IELTS Task 1 letters?
- Some can. IELTS Studio, OneIELTS and Engnovate check General Training letters as well as Academic reports. IELTS AI Evaluator covers Academic Task 1 and Task 2 only.
- Do IELTS Writing checkers keep my essay private?
- It depends on the site. IELTS Studio keeps essays private on every plan and does not use them to train AI. Engnovate keeps checked answers private only on its paid plan.