Grammar is assessed in both IELTS Writing and Speaking under the criterion Grammatical Range and Accuracy - worth 25% of each score. You do not need perfect grammar to score Band 7. But you do need to demonstrate a range of structures used accurately. This guide covers which structures matter, which mistakes cost marks, and how to practise effectively. Grammar is also scored in Speaking - see our IELTS Speaking module guide. Pair this with our IELTS Vocabulary guide to build lexical resource alongside grammar.
Grammar at a glance
Grammatical Range and Accuracy is worth a quarter of your Writing and Speaking band score - see the official IELTS scoring criteria.
Using complex grammar incorrectly is worse than using simple grammar correctly. A mangled conditional scores lower than a clean simple sentence. Aim to expand your range gradually using structures you can control - not to impress with structures you cannot.
How grammar is scored in IELTS
Examiners assess two things under Grammatical Range and Accuracy: range - how many different structures you use - and accuracy - how few errors you make. Band 9 allows for only very occasional slips. Band 7 requires frequent error-free sentences and a variety of complex structures. Band 5 relies heavily on simple sentences with some complex attempts that contain errors.
Limited range of structures. Errors are frequent and sometimes impede communication. Mostly simple sentences with occasional complex attempts.
Variety of complex structures used with general accuracy. Some errors occur but they rarely reduce communication. Error-free sentences are frequent.
The 7 structures that matter most
Complex sentences with subordinate clauses
Using although, whereas, because, since, unless, while, despite the fact that. These combine ideas and signal grammatical range immediately to examiners.
Relative clauses
Defining (who, which, that) and non-defining (with commas) clauses. Non-defining clauses - "Australia, which introduced mandatory voting in 1924, has consistently high turnout" - are a clear Band 7+ signal.
Passive voice
Essential for academic register in Writing Task 1 (processes) and Task 2. "It has been argued that..." / "The results were measured using..." Used purposefully, not randomly.
Conditional structures
All four forms. Second and third conditionals are highest value. "If the policy had been implemented earlier, the outcome would have been different" demonstrates past perfect and modal perfect together.
Perfect tenses
Present perfect for trends up to present ("Emissions have increased since 2000"). Past perfect for narrative and third conditionals ("The population had already begun to decline before..."). Frequently misused by candidates whose first languages lack these distinctions.
Nominalisations
Turning verbs into nouns for academic register. "The government decided to invest" becomes "The government's decision to invest." Varies sentence structure and demonstrates sophistication.
Modal verbs
Can, could, may, might, should, would, must, ought to - for degrees of certainty and nuanced argument. "Governments should arguably prioritise climate policy, though the economic implications must also be considered."
Common mistakes that cost marks
| Error type | Common example | Correct form |
|---|---|---|
| Subject-verb agreement | "The number of students are increasing" | "The number of students is increasing" |
| Article errors (a/an/the) | "The government should invest in the education" | "The government should invest in education" |
| Tense inconsistency | "The revolution began and changes the way people work" | Pick one tense and stay consistent |
| Wrong preposition | "Depend of", "good in", "interested on" | "Depend on", "good at", "interested in" |
| Dangling modifier | "Having studied the data, the conclusion was clear" | "Having studied the data, I found the conclusion clear" |
Grammar for Writing: Task 1 vs Task 2
Describing data and processes
- Comparative and superlative forms
- Trend language with accurate tense ("rose sharply", "had peaked by")
- Passive voice for processes ("raw materials are transported to...")
- Present perfect for current trends
Argument and discussion
- Conditionals for cause and effect
- Concessive clauses ("While it is true that...")
- Relative clauses to add evidence efficiently
- Formal register throughout - no contractions
How to improve your IELTS grammar
Error analysis first
Identify your recurring error types from marked writing - don't study grammar generically
Sentence transformation
Take a simple sentence and rewrite it using 3 different complex structures
Timed writing with feedback
Write Task 2 essays under exam conditions and get them marked for grammar errors specifically
Record and review Speaking
Record yourself on Part 2 and 3 questions, listen back specifically for grammar errors
Targeted work on specific error types (articles, tense consistency, subject-verb agreement) can show measurable improvement in 4-8 weeks. Fundamental grammar gaps - candidates at Band 5 or below - typically take 3-6 months. The key is targeted practice based on your own error patterns, not working through a grammar book cover to cover.
The grammar upgrade ladder: the same idea at band 5, 6 and 7
Most guides list grammar structures. It helps more to see the same idea written at three levels. This shows how range and accuracy lift your band. Read each row from left to right.
| The idea | Band 5 version | Band 6 version | Band 7 version |
|---|---|---|---|
| More people study abroad now | More people study abroad. They want better jobs. | More people study abroad because they want better jobs. | The number of people studying abroad has risen sharply, mainly because a foreign degree improves their job prospects. |
| Technology changed how we work | Technology is useful. It changed our work. | Technology has changed how we work, and it saves time. | While technology has made work faster, it has also blurred the line between work and home life. |
| You talk about your city in Speaking | I like my city. It is big. | I like my city because it has many parks and good food. | What I enjoy most about my city is that it keeps changing, so there is always something new to do. |
Aim to reach the band 7 version, but keep it accurate. A correct band 6 sentence scores better than a band 7 sentence the examiner cannot follow. Build your range slowly, one structure at a time.
Grammar errors that follow your first language
Many grammar errors come from your first language. A rule that feels right to you may not exist in English. When you know your common pattern, you can check for it every time you write or speak. This table covers the patterns we see most often in our main reader groups.
| If your first language is | Watch for this error | Quick fix |
|---|---|---|
| Hindi or Urdu | Missing or extra "the" and "a", because these words do not exist in your language | Use "a" or "an" for one new thing. Use "the" for a specific thing both people know. Use no article for general plural or uncountable nouns. |
| Bengali | Dropped articles and wrong prepositions | Learn the same article rules above. Learn prepositions in fixed pairs, like "depend on", "good at" and "interested in". |
| Yoruba or Igbo | Plural "s" left off, and article slips | Add "s" to a countable noun when there is more than one. Check for an article before each noun. |
| Tagalog | "He" and "she" mixed up, and missing verb endings | Your language uses one word for he and she, so pause and check the gender. Add "s" to a present-tense verb after he, she or it, as in "she works". |
| Any first language | Translating word for word from your language | Plan the idea in English. Do not build the sentence in your language first and then translate it. |
Pick the one row that matches you. For 2 weeks, check only for that error when you proofread. Fixing one repeated error often lifts your accuracy more than learning a new structure.
How grammar is judged in Speaking and Writing
Grammar is 25% of your score in both Writing and Speaking. But examiners treat your errors differently in each. Knowing the difference saves you marks.
Accuracy is visible
- Your errors stay on the page, so the examiner sees every one
- Aim for accurate complex sentences, not long ones
- Use a formal style, with no contractions like "don't" or "it's"
- Keep 2 minutes at the end to check for your common error
Some slips are normal
- Small spoken errors are expected, even at band 7
- Self-correction is fine and shows control, so fix a slip and move on
- Contractions are natural in speech, so use them
- Show range in Part 3 with tenses and conditionals, like "if more people walked, cities would be cleaner"
Do not aim for zero errors when you speak. Aim to keep going, stay clear, and show a range of structures. In Writing, slow down and check your work.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need perfect grammar to score Band 7 in IELTS Writing?
No. Band 7 in Grammatical Range and Accuracy requires a variety of complex structures with frequent error-free sentences and only a few errors that rarely reduce communication. Perfect grammar is Band 9. Focus on using a range of structures correctly rather than aiming for zero errors while sticking to simple sentences.
Is grammar tested in IELTS Reading and Listening?
Not directly. Grammar is formally assessed only in Writing (25% of Writing score) and Speaking (25% of Speaking score). However, poor grammar comprehension can affect Reading if you struggle to parse complex sentences in academic passages.
Should I memorise grammar templates for IELTS Writing?
Memorised templates are risky. Examiners can identify them, and a template misapplied to a question it does not fit can actively reduce your score. Learn how structures work so you can deploy them flexibly. Learn the mechanism, not the script.
What is the difference between grammatical range and accuracy?
Range is how many different grammatical structures you use. Accuracy is how few errors you make. Both are assessed together under one criterion. A variety of structures used correctly is the ideal. High range with many errors scores lower than moderate range with high accuracy.