Improve Your Grammar for IELTS: Academic and General Tips

Overview

Have you ever wondered why grammar is so important in IELTS? This is because grammar is the foundation upon which the examiner assesses your accuracy and grasp of the language. This is why today's blog post includes some grammar-improvement advice.

The blog contains thorough information about the criteria for the IELTS academic and general exams. It also covers the crucial grammatical elements that must be studied prior to taking the exam and are important for receiving a good band score. As an IELTS candidate, you should be aware of the marking standards and the framework on which the examiner evaluates you. So, let’s start with the blog!

Table of Contents

Overview
Why Should You Work On Your Grammar?
Important Grammar Topics
Marking for IELTS Basic Grammar
Tips to Improve Grammar for IELTS
Conclusion
FAQs

Why Should You Work On Your Grammar?

A significant portion of how we speak, read, and comprehend language is because of grammar. Although there isn't a dedicated grammar for the IELTS exam, you still need to know the basics in order to do well in the Writing and Speaking portions. Grammar knowledge is equally crucial for the Listening and Reading sections.

Grammar for IELTS Academic

The IELTS Academic exam assesses your level of English proficiency and its suitability for an academic setting. Because academic writing typically uses more formal language than common English, it's critical that you grasp the fundamentals of academic writing.

Some tips for grammar in academic writing:

Make sure you know when and how to employ the passive and active voices. Although the active voice is more condensed, professional writing occasionally calls for the passive voice.
In academic writing, punctuation needs to be done correctly. Ensure you know when and how to use apostrophes, colons, semicolons, parentheses, and other punctuation.
In academic papers, it can be crucial to convey what has happened effectively, what is going to happen, and what might happen by using the appropriate verb tenses for the sentences.

Grammar for IELTS General

The General Training IELTS exam evaluates your English language skills in real-world situations. This test's tasks will replicate social and professional settings.

Some tips for everyday grammar:

Although sentence structure might be challenging to learn, having a variety of organic sentence forms can greatly improve your ability to come off as fluent in the language.
For ordinary communication, you must comprehend the proper sequence of words in a phrase.
Keep an eye out for idioms, which are phrases that people frequently use in casual conversation. Examples are "Get the ball rolling" and "Touch base."

Important Grammar Topics

Your language abilities will be much improved, and you will do better on the IELTS test if you get familiar with these grammar topics and practice using them in different situations. To succeed on the IELTS exam, review the following grammar topics:

Grammar Topics	Usage
Verb Tenses	Understand the proper use of present, past and future tense and apply them strategically with perfect and continuous tenses as well.
Articles	You should know when which article is to be used and in different contexts as well. The articles are ‘a’, ‘an’, and ‘the’.
Nouns and Pronouns	Learn the kinds of nouns and pronouns that will make their application and identification easier.
Adjectives and Adverbs	Know how to use different descriptive words and words that modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs; this will help you write more creatively.
Prepositions	Understand the correct usage of prepositions in various sentence structures.
Modals	Familiarise yourself with modal verbs like can, could, may, might, will, would, shall, should, must, etc.
Conditionals	Learn about different conditional sentence structures, such as zero, first, second, and third conditionals.
Reported Speech	Understand how to report what someone else has said.
Relative Clauses	Know how to create and use relative clauses to provide additional information about a noun.
Passive Voice	Learn how to construct passive sentences and when to use them.
Gerunds and Infinitives	Know the rules for using gerunds (verbs ending in -ing) and infinitives (to + base form of the verb).
Sentence Structure	Practice constructing sentences with different types of clauses and phrases.

Marking for IELTS Basic Grammar

In this section, we have a list of all the descriptors on behalf of which the examiners examine a student for their writing and speaking. There are separate criterias for both writing and speaking, those are:

Descriptor for Writing Band

The writing bit of the IELTS exam is marked based on these four criterias:

Task Achievement (this is how nicely you have covered the content that was asked for).
Coherence and Cohesion (they will check the flow and layout of the overall text).
Lexical Resource (spelling and vocabulary).
Grammatical Range and Accuracy (how well you have structured your sentences with proper use of grammar).

Below is the table of assessments for each band with respect to grammar:

Band Score	Grammar Range and Accuracy
9	Within the work's parameters, various structures are employed with complete control and flexibility. Grammar and punctuation are used correctly throughout. Small mistakes are quite uncommon and barely affect communication.
8	Within the parameters of the work, a variety of structures are employed with accuracy and flexibility. Most of the phrases are devoid of errors, and punctuation is used correctly. While occasionally made, non-systematic mistakes and inaccuracies barely affect communication.
7	There is some flexibility and precision in the employment of a range of sophisticated structures. Sentences devoid of errors are common, and grammar and punctuation are usually under control. There could be occasional grammatical faults, but they don't stop people from communicating.
6	Although there is some flexibility, a combination of basic and complicated sentence forms is employed. The degree of precision used to identify examples of simpler structures is not the same for examples of more complex structures. Grammar and punctuation mistakes happen, but they seldom make communication difficult.
5	The variety of constructions is narrow and often monotonous. Simple sentences yield the most accuracy, even while complicated sentences are attempted, they are typically flawed. There might be a lot of grammatical problems, which could be challenging for the reader. The punctuation could be off.
4	There is virtually little variety in the structures employed. Simple sentences are the norm, and subordinate clauses are uncommon. Certain structures are generated correctly; however, there are often grammatical mistakes that might obscure the content. Often, punctuation is incorrect or insufficient.
3	Although sentence structures are tried, most mistakes are in syntax and punctuation (with the exception of sentences that are memorised or copied directly from the input material). The majority of the message is obscured by this. Length might not be enough to demonstrate sentence form control.
2	Sentence shapes are barely noticeable, if at all (save in phrases that are committed to memory).
1	Responses with 20 words or less get a Band 1 rating. There's no obvious rateable language.

Descriptor for Speaking Band

The criterias for the speaking section are:

Fluency and coherence (how well the examiner is able to understand the meaning of what you are saying).
Lexical resource (proper use of language and idioms and phrases).
Grammatical range and accuracy (the formation of sentences).
Pronunciation (how well it is understood, whatever you are speaking).

The grammatical accuracy is examined on these bases for each band, which is shown in the table below:

Band Score	Grammar range and accuracy
9	Structures are always correct and precise, with the exception of the "mistakes" inherent in native speaker speaking.
8	Numerous structures are used with flexibility. Most of the sentences are devoid of errors. There are sporadic inappropriate remarks and non-systematic mistakes. A few simple mistakes can still exist.
7	A variety of flexible constructions are in use. Sentences devoid of errors are common. Despite occasional mistakes, both basic and complex language is employed well. A few fundamental mistakes still exist.
6	Generates a range of limitedly flexible structures and a combination of short and complex sentence patterns. Even while mistakes happen a lot in complicated institutions, they hardly ever make communication difficult.
5	Simple sentence structures provide an appropriate level of accuracy control. Although attempts are made to create complex structures, their range is restricted; they almost always contain faults, and they may require reformulation.
4	You are able to create simple sentences and make some error-free brief responses. Overall, turns are brief, structures are repetitive, and mistakes are common; subordinate clauses are uncommon.
3	The grammatical faults are numerous, with the exception of seemingly memorised statements, despite attempts at basic sentence patterns.
2	There is no basic sentence formation.
1	There is no proper use of language apart from the memorised one.

Tips to Improve Grammar for IELTS

In this section, we provide certain tips that will improve your grammar skills. It takes time and practice to do so. It is advised to make a plan and stay dedicated to your studies. We are certain that with tips and consistency, you will be able to score a good band score in your IELTS exam. Here are the tips to be followed:

Practice Regularly

Practice consistently to become fluent and adhere to grammatical rules. Participate in speaking, listening, reading, and writing exercises every day.

Learn Grammar Rules

Determine your areas of weakness and research certain grammatical principles. Concentrate on the areas where you frequently make mistakes and work to improve.

Use Reliable Resources

Use grammar books and the online resources on our website to learn grammar rules and exercises. You can also consult our experts at Prepare IELTS Exam.

Review your Mistakes

Every time you make a mistake, consider why it happened and analyse it. Learning from mistakes can make progress easier.

Vary in Sentence Structuring

Try out several phrase forms to demonstrate your command of the language. Make proper use of basic, compound, and complex phrases.

Practice Essay Writing

You will learn how to apply grammatical principles in context by writing essays. Organise your thoughts and make sure they are expressed in a clear, cohesive manner.

Engage in Conversations

To get better at grammar, practice speaking with native speakers or other students. As a result, you'll feel more confident throughout the speaking exam.

Proofread what you have Written

Before submitting your written comments, always proofread them for grammatical mistakes. This should help you identify any errors you may have made.

Widen your Vocabulary

Having a large vocabulary can help you with your grammar. Acquire new vocabulary and utilise it properly in your writing and speech.

Listen to English

To become familiar with the sounds and rhythms of genuine English, watch movies or TV episodes in the language and listen to podcasts.

Take Mock Tests

In order to replicate the exam environment, take full-length mock IELTS examinations. As a result, you'll feel more at ease with the schedule and format of the test.

Conclusion

Gaining proficiency in grammar for IELTS is necessary to perform well on the IELTS exam. You may become a better and more accurate communicator by setting aside time to practise and become familiar with the norms and rules of the English language. You may improve your grammar by using tools like practice exams, online courses, and grammar exercises. You may face the IELTS exam with confidence and get the band score you want with regular preparation and dedication. Additionally, you may visit our official website, Prepare IELTS Exam, to learn more about the IELTS exam.

We hope you enjoyed reading the blog. If you want to learn everything you need to know about the IELTS score to study abroad in your desired country, we recommend you sign up for our IELTS courses designed by our experts. Please contact Prepare IELTS exam (PI) expert counsellors for further guidance. Our team of education experts is dedicated to assisting you in the best possible way for the IELTS exam. You can also get a one-on-one counselling session online via our platform. Contact us at info@prepareieltsexam.com or call us at +91 9773398388.

FAQs

Yes, there are four criteria on which the examiner examines the grammar for each section.

You should focus on basic grammar topics like prepositions, articles, nouns, pronouns, adjectives, modals, and adverbs. Apart from these, there are elementary grammar topics that will help you prepare better for your exams.

There are four marking criterias for writing bands, those are: Task Achievement Coherence and Cohesion Lexical Resource Grammatical Range and Accuracy

The marking criteria for the speaking band are as follows: Fluency and coherence Lexical resource Grammatical range and accuracy Pronunciation

Yes, grammar is very important to ace the IELTS exam as it will help you have a vast vocabulary along with better sentence formation, speaking and much more. In totality, with the help of grammar, you will be able to score better and explain things to the examiner in a nicer way, which will distinguish you from other candidates.