IELTS Grammar

About Grammatical Range & Accuracy

You needn’t always use complicated grammar to reach a high band score in speaking and writing. It is far better to use a range of structures that are suitable for the message you are trying to communicate, while keeping your sentences accurate (this is more difficult under exam pressure).

On this page, you’ll learn what examiners look for when marking grammar, which errors limit your band score, and some of the fastest ways to improve. You can also explore our free resources, including our grammar courses with key lessons on clauses and noun phrases.

What examiners look for in IELTS Grammar

Grammar (Grammatical Range and Accuracy) is directly assessed in the writing and speaking tests. If you are aiming for a Band 7+, you need to show a flexible range of sentence structures and keep errors low. As a rough guide, Band 7 writing often needs around 50% or more error-free sentences.

This means a high-band student needs to be…

accurate: producing error-free sentences regularly
flexible: using a mix of simple and complex structures
controlled: often, but not always, using complex grammar correctly
clear: choosing structures that make your meaning easy to follow

For a deeper understanding, visit our self-study courses.

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Four words to describe high-band grammar: accurate, flexible, controlled, clear

Common grammar mistakes that limit your band score

Here are common issues we see in IELTS Writing and Speaking, even among high-band students.

Article errors: a / an / the used incorrectly or missing
Agreement and tense: inconsistent verb tenses or subject–verb agreement
Sentence fragments: missing a clear subject/verb structure
Run-on sentences: joining ideas without correct punctuation or linking
Clause control: weak handling of relative/dependent clauses

The fastest improvement comes from identifying the errors you make consistently, learning the core rules, and finally practising them in the exact sentence types you need for Task 1, Task 2, and speaking answers.

Start with our Key Grammar Course

How to Improve Grammar Efficiently

We suggest you focus on grammar that appears constantly in IELTS: sentence structure, clauses, and ways to add detail without making errors. This means that you should have a good understanding of dependent clauses and complex noun phrases before going into the test. Aim to…

build reliable sentence structures: simple, compound, and complex sentences
control clauses: especially relative and dependent clauses
add detail safely: use complex noun phrases instead of long risky sentences
reduce errors under pressure: practise timed writing + speaking drills

Our free grammar courses will teach you foundational IELTS grammar.

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The most effective ways to improve IELTS Grammar

Option 1 – Self-study

Learn the structures you need for Band 7+ in your own time, including sentence types, clauses, passive/active forms, and noun phrase building.

View Grammar Courses

IELTS grammar lessons displayed on a screen

Option 2 – One-to-One Classes

One-to-one lessons are best if your grammar score is limited by repeated errors or you struggle to use complex structures accurately. One of our tutors can diagnose your main issues and give you targeted drills for writing and speaking.

View One-to-One Options