How to Improve Your Grammar for IELTS?

Grammar is one of the most crucial aspects of the IELTS exam. Whether it is the writing and speaking tasks or even indirectly in the reading and listening modules, a strong grasp of grammar can make a big difference in your band score. Many candidates lose marks not because of poor ideas but because of repeated grammar errors. If you want to achieve an IELTS band 7 or higher, you should learn how to improve your grammar for IELTS.

Therefore, in this blog, we will explore practical strategies on how to improve IELTS grammar, with clear explanations and examples.

Role of Grammar in IELTS Modules

Improving your grammar for the IELTS exam is imperative if you want to maximize your overall IELTS band score. However, grammar plays specific roles in each module of the exam, and to improve your grammar knowledge, you need to master these specific areas. 

In the table below, you will find the key areas to focus on for each module, their importance, and a quick way to boost your grammar score.

Strategies on How to Improve Your Grammar for IELTS

Most candidates feel that by memorizing endless grammar rules, they will be able to master it. However, they forget that the focus of using it for the IELTS exam lies on the effective application of grammar to ensure your ideas are communicated both accurately and understandably. 

Therefore, we will go through some tips on how to improve your grammar for IELTS.

• Understand the IELTS Grammar Requirements

The IELTS exam doesn’t test grammar separately, but it plays a significant role in IELTS Writing and Speaking band descriptors. You are assessed on grammatical range (variety of structures you use) and grammatical accuracy (how correctly you use them). For example, using complex sentences like conditionals, relative clauses, and passive voice can showcase your range. At the same time, you must avoid frequent mistakes in tenses, articles, and prepositions to maintain accuracy.

• Master the Use of Tenses

Tense errors are one of the most common problems for IELTS candidates. To score well, you should be comfortable switching between past, present, and future tenses depending on the context. For example, in IELTS Speaking Part 2, you often need to talk about past experiences, while IELTS Writing Task 2 may require predictions about the future. Practicing tense usage with real IELTS topics helps build confidence and prevents common mistakes like tense inconsistency.

• Adverbial Phrases Should be Used

Adverbial phrases are a simple approach to avoid utilising basic sentences in your essay. They can be introduced at the beginning of a sentence. Adverbial phrases provide details such as when, who, how, and why. These adverbial phrases can also be quite thorough, ensuring that the meaning of your sentence is clearly understood.

• Learn Sentence Variety (Simple, Compound, Complex)

Examiners reward candidates who can write and speak in a range of sentence types. Overusing simple sentences can make your response sound flat, while only writing long sentences may lead to confusion. A good balance of simple, compound, and complex sentences creates fluency and shows your grammatical range. For example, instead of saying “I like sports. I play football,” you could say, “I like sports, and football is my favorite because it helps me stay fit.”

• Pay Attention to Articles and Prepositions

Articles (a, an, the) and prepositions (in, on, at, by, with) are small words that make a big difference. Many IELTS candidates struggle with them, especially if their first language doesn’t use them in the same way. For instance, saying “I went to school in bus” instead of “I went to school by bus” can lower your score. Regular practice, noticing patterns, and reading IELTS model essays will help you master these tricky areas.

• Create a Decent Blend of Active and Passive Voices 

The excessive usage of active or passive voice in an essay suggests a lack of linguistic flexibility in the candidates. As a result, you must know when to say, “Aman prepared that delicious spaghetti and meatballs.” and “This spaghetti and meatballs were prepared by Aman..” A remarkable blend of voices must always be present. But remember not to overthink anything and just go with the flow; you only have limited time.

• Master Subject-Verb Agreement

Subject-verb agreement is another area where candidates often lose marks. Remember that singular subjects take singular verbs, and plural subjects take plural verbs. For example, “He goes to the library every day” is correct, while “He go to the library every day” is not. While this may seem simple, errors often creep in with longer, more complex sentences.

• Practice Paraphrasing with Grammatical Accuracy

In both Speaking and Writing, you are expected to avoid repetition and paraphrase effectively. However, paraphrasing requires correct grammar. For instance, if the question is “Some people think reading books is better than watching TV,” you could rephrase it as “Many argue that reading books provides more benefits than television.” This not only shows vocabulary range but also demonstrates your grammatical control.

To sum up, the key to improving grammar for the IELTS test lies not in rote memorization of grammatical rules, but rather in consistent practice and their practical application within genuine IELTS settings. By focusing on tenses, sentence variety, and accuracy, you can significantly boost your writing and speaking band scores. So, start small - practice 10 minutes of grammar daily, analyze sample answers, and keep track of your mistakes. With consistent practice, you can move from Band 6 to Band 7+ in IELTS grammar performance.

Useful Links:

• 5 Reasons To Study Grammar For IELTS
• How Do I Prepare My Grammar for the IELTS Examination?
• Grammar For IELTS: Connecting Words And Subject-Verb Agreement
• Grammar For IELTS material : A, An, The (Part 1)
• Advanced Grammar for IELTS: Word Order and Verb Patterns