雅思寫作考試有著明確的字數要求，Task 1至少150字，Task2至少250字。但許多雅思考生還是會有這樣的疑問，考官在評判雅思寫作考卷的時候，是怎樣統計字數的呢？標點符號算字數嗎？像‘and,’ ‘is,’ ‘that,’ ‘in,’ ‘a,’ ‘an’ ,‘the’這樣的單詞算字數嗎？如果字數不夠會扣分嗎？本文就將引用雅思考綱以及一些官方發布的材料來，并結合考生的疑問，分類解釋一下雅思考官評判字數的幾個標準。

　　一、雅思寫作的最低字數要求是什么？不到字數怎樣扣分？

　　答：Candidates must write at least 150 words for their Task 1 report or letter, and at least 250 words for their Task 2 essay. Answers under the minimum number of words are penalisedusing a sliding scale system. This means that the more an answer is under length, the greater the penalty is. Details of the level of the penalties are confidential.

　　二、照抄題目的部分算字數嗎

　　答：A group of words that have been copied straight from the exam paper are not included in the word count. For example, if the words “young people are often encouraged” are taken from the question paper without any change, five words are taken off the answer’s total word count. This may result in a marking penalty for an underlengthanswer.

　　三、那對題目文字進行微小的改動可以嗎？

　　答：Wording that has been taken from the question paper with only very small changes in the words, or in the word order, is not counted. The answer receives a marking penalty if the new total word count is now less than the minimum number of words for Task 1 or Task 2 answers.

　　四、既可以拼寫成一個單詞也可以拼寫為兩個單詞時，怎么算字數？

　　答：Words that can be written as one or two words, dependingon the dictionary used or general usage, are counted as they’re written on the answer sheet. For instance, “per cent” is counted as two words, but “percent” is only counted as one word.

　　五、兩個單詞誤拼寫為一個單詞，怎么算字數？

　　答：Compounds that are normally written as two words (e.g., “bus stop”) butwhich have been wrongly written as one word (“busstop”) count as only one word. Similarly, “eventhough” - the incorrect joining of the two words “even though” - is counted as one word. This acts as a marking penalty for the error by the candidate.

　　六、一個單詞誤拼寫為兩個單詞，怎么算字數？

　　答：Words that are normally written as one word but that have been written as two words count as only one word. For example, the examiner would count “draw backs” (written instead of the noun “drawbacks”) as only one word, not two words, because the candidate has made a mistake.

　　答：Numbers (currency, percentage, temperature, distance and weight) count as one word if they are written using numbers and symbols (e.g., “17,000,000,” “17m,” “$55” and “14%”). However, they count as two or more words if they’re written using numbers and words (e.g., “17 million,” “55 dollars” and “14 percent”).

　　八、有連字符或者縮寫的單詞怎樣統計字數？

　　答：Words that are hyphenated (e.g., “self-evident”) or contracted (e.g., “shouldn’t”) count as one word.

　　九、符號和縮寫怎樣統計字數？

　　Words that are written as a symbol(e.g., using “&” instead of the word “and”) or as an abbreviation (e.g., writing “i.e.” instead of “that is”) count as one word.

　　十、書信中的稱呼和結束語算字數嗎？

　　答：In General Training Task 1, the opening and closing phrases (e.g., “Dear Mr May” and “Yours sincerely”) and the candidate’s name at the end of the letter are not counted.

　　十一、日期怎么算字數？

　　答：Depending on the form. used, dates may count as one word (e.g., “29/1/2008”), two words (e.g., “January 2008” and “29th January”) or three words (e.g., “29th of January”).

　　十二、標題算字數嗎？

　　答：Titles or headings (at the top of letters or essays, and at the beginning of paragraphs) are not included as part of an answer’s word count.

　　十三、沒寫完的句子算字數嗎？

　　答：Words are counted whether they’re part of a whole sentence or an unfinished sentence (e.g., if the words are in an incomplete sentence at the very end of the answer).

　　十四、刪除掉的句子算字數嗎？

　　Words that have been crossedout aren’t counted.