Achieving a good IELTS band score needs more than having good ideas. It demands the candidate to have strong grammar skills for clarity and precision. For most individuals mastering grammar is crucial because the common grammar errors can pull down the score. The good news here is that you do not need to be an expert in grammar overnight to see some improvement.
In this blog, we’ll share some hacks to help you write more accurately and confidently, making it easier to learn English grammar and aim for a Band 7 or higher
Master Sentence Structures
One of the simplest ways to get clear and concise writing is to use a mix of sentence structure. IELTs writing tasks typically include the use of a combination of compound, simple and complex sentences to show a varied grammatical range.
Simple Sentences: Use these sentences when you want to express a single idea. Example: “Learning English grammar is essential.”
Compound Sentences: You can connect two distinct clauses in these sentences by using a specific conjunction. For instance: “I thoroughly studied grammar, and my writing got better.”
Complex Sentences: These sentences consist of an independent clause paired with one or more dependent clauses. For example: “Even though I found grammar difficult, I practiced every day to get better.”
Quick Hack: To demonstrate a higher level of grammatical proficiency, you should use linking words like because, although, while, and since to create complex sentences.
Focus on Tense Consistency
One usual mistake IELTS candidate commits is switching between tenses without the need. In the writing part, you need to ensure that the tenses are consistent all through the essay.
Present Tense: Use it for facts or generic statements. Example: “English grammar rules can be complex.”
Past Tense: Utilize this for events that have occurred in the past. For example: “I practiced writing daily last year.”
Future Tense: This tense is used for making predictions or discussing plans. For example: “I will keep improving my grammar skills.”
How to Learn Grammar Quickly Through Tenses: To master tenses, start by creating a table that outlines the main tenses along with examples. Practice by writing sentences for each tense. Additionally, reviewing this regularly will help you develop consistency in the IELTS writing section.
Use Active Voice Over Passive
Utilizing an active voice can enhance the dynamism and clarity of your writing. IELTS examiners appreciate straightforward responses and essays, and using active voice significantly contributes to that. For instance:
Active Voice: “I wrote the essay.”
Passive Voice: “The essay was written by me.”
While the passive voice has its place, overusing it in your writing might make it sound dull. When in doubt, you should aim for the active voice to keep your writing engaging and clear.
How to Correct Grammar Mistakes: Use grammar-checking tools to identify when you’ve used passive voice and learn how to rephrase these sentences in active voice.
Improve Your Prepositions and Articles
Articles (a, an, the) and prepositions (in, on, at, etc.) can be challenging, and many candidates find them confusing. Even advanced learners may struggle with these, but mastering them can greatly enhance your grammar.
Articles: A common mistake is using “a” instead of “the” or sometimes candidates omit articles entirely. Example: “I read the book yesterday” (correct), as opposed to “I read a book yesterday.”
Prepositions: Frequently errors often involve using “in” instead of “on” or “at”. Example: “She lives in London” (correct), rather than “She lives on London.”
How to Use English Grammar: You should dedicate your time to learn the article and preposition rule by writing the sentences and identifying the mistakes. Try to speak aloud to catch the errors you might not notice while writing.
Avoid Overuse of Common Words
Repetitively using the same words in IELTS Writing Task 2 can make your essay sound redundant. For example, instead of saying “important” repeatedly, try to use alternatives such as “vital”, “significant”, “crucial” or “essential”. This demonstrates a broader vocabulary range and can enhance your lexical resource score.
Quick Tip: Try to incorporate synonyms for the common words to avoid repetition but ensure they fit the context well. Avoid complicating your writing by using unfamiliar words just for the sake of variety.
Conclusion
Enhancing your grammar for the IELTS writing section doesn’t need to be daunting. By employing these quick grammar hacks – like mastering sentence structures, maintaining tense consistency, utilizing active voice and being mindful of prepositions, articles and punctuation–you will quickly elevate your IELTS writing score.
Want to boost your grammar skills even more quickly? Engramm offers expert-led English grammar courses that can help you learn grammar effectively, improve your writing, and prepare for your IELTS exam with confidence.
