What Is Write & Improve and How Does It Help You Improve English Writing?
Write & Improve is a free writing practice tool developed by the University of Cambridge. You choose a task, write your response in English, submit it, and receive an automatic result linked to the CEFR (the international standard for describing language ability) plus feedback on where your writing may need improvement. You can then revise and check again. It suits learners at any level who want regular writing practice with instant feedback, and it is especially relevant if you are preparing for IELTS or B2 First, since dedicated test-zone versions exist for those exams.
What you get from the tool
The site describes a simple loop built around four actions:
- Choose a task — pick from hundreds of tasks at all levels, or create your own writing prompt.
- Write and submit — write your response in English and submit it.
- Get a result and feedback — your writing receives a result linked to the CEFR, plus automatic feedback on where it may need improvement.
- Revise and re-check — make changes based on the feedback and check again to improve your writing.
The value is in that last step. A single score tells you roughly where you stand; the feedback plus a re-check is what turns a writing exercise into actual improvement, because you see whether your edits moved the result.
Free use vs. creating a profile
The site distinguishes two ways to use it:
| Without registering | With a profile | |
|---|---|---|
| Access the free tool | Yes | Yes |
| Save your work | Not described | Yes |
| Try more writing tasks | Not described | Yes |
The page states you can "use the free tool without registering or create a profile to save your work and try more writing tasks." So if you only want to try one piece of writing, you can start immediately. If you plan to practise regularly, a profile is the option that preserves your work and opens up more tasks.
Where exam practice fits in
Write & Improve is offered in several versions, which matters if you have a specific goal:
- Write & Improve (Free) — general writing practice at all levels.
- Write & Improve +Test Zone IELTS — practice aimed at IELTS writing.
- Write & Improve +Test Zone B2 First — practice aimed at the B2 First exam.
- Write & Improve +Class View — for teachers and organisations.
If your goal is exam preparation, the test-zone versions are the relevant ones; if your goal is general improvement, the free tool covers that. Note that the page does not state pricing for the test-zone or class versions, so treat those as separate offerings to check on the site rather than assuming they are free.
How to get the most out of a session
- Write to the task, not around it. The result is linked to the CEFR, so a response that answers the prompt fully gives you a more meaningful signal than a short, off-topic one.
- Read the feedback as a to-do list. The feedback points to where your writing may need improvement — treat each point as something to fix in a revision, not just information.
- Always re-check after revising. The improvement loop only works if you submit the revised version and compare.
- Use your own prompts when you need to. If you are working on a specific kind of writing (an email, an argument, a description), creating your own task lets you practise that directly.
- Create a profile if you are practising over time. Saving your work lets you look back and see progress across sessions.
A practical example
Suppose you are preparing for IELTS and want to work on essay writing. You open the IELTS test-zone version, choose an essay task, and write your response. You submit it and get a CEFR-linked result plus feedback flagging, say, that parts of your argument are underdeveloped. You rewrite those paragraphs, submit again, and compare the new result to the old one. That comparison — not the first score — is what tells you whether your revision actually helped.
Quick answers
Is it free? The site describes Write & Improve as a FREE tool, and says you can use the free tool without registering.
Do I need an account? No, for basic use. A profile is for saving work and trying more tasks.
What does the result mean? It is linked to the CEFR, the international standard for describing language ability.
Can it help with IELTS or B2 First? Yes — there are dedicated test-zone versions for IELTS and for B2 First.
What do I need to use it? The site notes that JavaScript is required for certain functions and interactions, so enable JavaScript in your browser for the best experience.