10 Grammar rules to follow for securing high band score in IELTS

High band scores for the IELTS examination can only be accomplished through not just good vocabulary or thoughts; it takes exact grammar. Regardless of whether you are targeting Band 7 and above, preciseness and range of grammar in the writing and speaking part are important. 

Developing a few important rules can make your sentences better structured, more convincing, and consistent with the IELTS test-takers’ expectations. Below are also ten grammar rules which can be used to improve your writing and speaking skills with confidence and accuracy.

Is subject verb agreement all that big a deal?

Absolutely. One of the simplest but yet the most important parts of English grammar is subject-verb agreement. Such mistakes as “He goes to school” instead of “He goes to school” can reduce your score at once. Ensure that singular subjects have singular verbs and also ensure that plural subjects have the plural verbs.

Use consistent verb tenses

A change in tenses is confusing to the reader or the listener. For instance “I studied hard and am getting good grades”should be changed to “I studied hard and got good grades”. Be consistent in each paragraph or response unless the chronology requires a switch of tenses.

Create complex and compound sentences.

Simple sentences can only limit your grammar range. Attempt to join together the concepts using such conjunctions as although, because, while or however. For example, “Although it was raining, we went out”explains contrast and fluency better than two short sentences.

What is the relevance of punctuation in grammar?

Punctuation is not just a cosmetic of writing; it helps organize your ideas in an open structure. Comma, period, and apostrophe keep the reader from misreading. There are instances where punctuation is not used appropriately thus resulting into run-on sentences or sentence fragments.

Use modal verbs correctly

Modal verbs such as can, could, should, and must get misused. They assist one to state possibility, ability or necessity. A sentence such as ‘Students should practice often to improve’ is grammatically correct and clear in the choice of opinion.

Avoid run-on sentences

IELTS writing has to be concise and properly organized. Running on sentences, that is, where several ideas are connected with no proper punctuation or connectors, tends to dilute readability. Never forget to put the right punctuation or linking words between independent clauses.

Use articles accurately

The correct application of “a”, “an” and “the” is one of the most prevailing difficulties facing the IELTS takers. For instance, “I bought a book” is non-specific while “I read the book” is specific. Articles serve a very subtle yet important role of conveying meaning.

What is the reason why you should pay attention to prepositions?

Prepositions tend to confuse the non native speakers. Such expressions as “interested in”, “good at”, “rely on”, etc have to be memorized along with their proper usage. Mistakes in prepositions can slightly modify the meaning and lose the efficiency of expression.

Don’t forget subject-pronoun consistency

When you use pronouns, constrain them to fit right with appropriate subjects. For instance, “Everyone must bring their ID” – a quote very commonly used, but technically inconsistent. The formal one is “Everyone must bring his or her ID”, but modern usage is getting a little looser.

Use passive voice where appropriate

Although the active voice is usually clearer, the passive one is appropriate for formal or academic writing. For instance, “The data was analyzed by the researchers” contains the formal tone adoptive for IELTS Writing Task 2.

Conclusion

Not only grammar skills will help you avoid mistakes, but they will also help you to be more articulate with conveying more complicated ideas. Grammar contributes in terms of your Writing and Speaking results to 25% in the IELTS test. If you use these ten rules with care, you will improve the likelihood of your performing with greater fluency, accuracy, and coherence. Regular practice whilst being aware of good grammar makes it a habit to enhance your accomplishments in the exam and life in general.