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Grammar plays a crucial role in your IELTS Writing score. Even if your ideas are strong, frequent grammar mistakes can lower your band score significantly. To achieve a Band 7 or higher, you need to use a range of grammatical structures accurately.
In this guide, we’ll explore the most common grammar mistakes in IELTS Writing and how you can fix them.
Grammar is part of the Grammatical Range and Accuracy criterion. Examiners look for:
Even small mistakes can affect your final band score.
This happens when the subject and verb don’t match.
🔴 Incorrect:
People is becoming more interested in technology.
🟢 Correct:
People are becoming more interested in technology.
Tip: Always check if your subject is singular or plural.
Using the wrong tense can confuse the meaning.
🔴 Incorrect:
Last year, many students go abroad.
🟢 Correct:
Last year, many students went abroad.
Tip: Use the past tense for past events and the present tense for general facts.
Articles are often misused or forgotten.
🔴 Incorrect:
She wants to study in university.
🟢 Correct:
She wants to study at a university.
Tip: Practice when to use a/an (general) and the (specific).
Long sentences without proper punctuation cause confusion.
🔴 Incorrect:
Students study hard they want to pass the exam.
🟢 Correct:
Students study hard because they want to pass the exam.
Tip: Use conjunctions (because, although, and) to connect ideas properly.
Prepositions are tricky but important.
🔴 Incorrect:
He is good in English.
🟢 Correct:
He is good at English.
Tip: Learn common preposition combinations.
Mixing singular and plural forms incorrectly.
🔴 Incorrect:
Many student prefer online learning.
🟢 Correct:
Many students prefer online learning.
Tip: Check nouns carefully, especially after “many,” “few,” “several.”
Incomplete sentences without a subject or verb.
🔴 Incorrect:
Because it is important in education.
🟢 Correct:
This is important because it supports education.
Tip: Every sentence must be complete.
Using only short, basic sentences can lower your score.
🔴 Example:
Education is important. It helps people. It improves jobs.
🟢 Better:
Education is important because it helps people gain knowledge and improve job opportunities.
Tip: Use complex sentences to show range.
✔ Practice writing daily
✔ Review your mistakes carefully
✔ Use grammar checking tools
✔ Learn from band 7–9 sample answers
✔ Focus on accuracy first, then complexity
Avoiding common grammar mistakes can significantly improve your IELTS Writing score. Focus on accuracy, practice regularly, and build confidence with proper sentence structures.
Remember:
Clear grammar = Clear ideas = Higher band score