IELTS Grammar: Syllabus, Topics, Tips & Strategy

 

Importance of IELTS Grammar

As per the IELTS Speaking and Writing Band Descriptors, ‘grammatical range and accuracy’ affects 25% of your score. However, grammar, in general, is extremely important for all the sections of the IELTS exam, be it Speaking, Writing, Listening, or Reading.

Even though grammar comprises 25% of your score in the Speaking and Writing sections, grammatical errors can bring down your score on the ‘coherence and cohesion’ and ‘lexical resource’ criteria of the IELTS Writing exam as well. If the sentences have too many grammatical errors, the examiner will have difficulty understanding the meaning, thereby reducing your overall score.

The table given below has been taken from IELTS band descriptors and provides information about the scoring criteria of the IELTS Writing section, with respect to grammar:

IELTS Writing Band Scores
Band	Grammatical Range and Accuracy
9	Wide range of structures with full flexibility and accuracy Rare minor errors
8	Wide range of structures Majority of sentences are error-free Very occasional errors
7	Variety of complex sentences Frequent error-free sentences Good control over grammar and punctuation Few errors
6	Mix of simple and complex sentences Some errors in grammar and punctuation Rarely reduce communication
5	Limited range of structures Attempts complex sentences but these are less accurate than simple sentences Frequent grammatical errors and faulty punctuation Errors can cause some difficulty for the reader
4	Very limited range of structures with rare use of subordinate clauses Some structures are accurate but errors are more
3	Attempts sentence creation but errors change their meaning
2	Can only use memorised sentences
1	Cannot use sentence forms at all

The table given below has been taken from IELTS band descriptors and provides information about the scoring criteria of the IELTS Speaking section, with respect to grammar:

IELTS Speaking Band Scores
Band	Grammatical Range and Accuracy
9	Full, natural, and appropriate sentences Consistent accurate sentences with rare mistakes
8	Wide range of sentence structures Majority of sentences are error-free
7	Range of complex sentence structures with some flexibility Frequent error-free sentences with some grammatical mistakes
6	Simple and complex sentences, but with limited flexibility Frequent mistakes in complex sentences with rare problems in comprehension
5	Basic sentences with average accuracy Limited range of complex sentences with errors that may cause problems in comprehension
4	Basic sentences with rare subordinate clauses Frequent errors lead to comprehension problems
3	Memorised sentences
2	Cannot speak basic sentences

IELTS Grammar Syllabus

There is no prescribed IELTS grammar syllabus. Grammar, as a subject, cuts across all the sections of the IELTS exam. However, there are certain IELTS grammar topics that you should be thorough with. Go through the topics below to ace your IELTS grammar preparation.

• Sentence Structure: Nouns, Pronouns, Adjectives, Verbs, Adverbs, Tenses, Prepositions, Conjunction, etc.
• Subject-Verb Agreement
• Pronoun Agreement
• Modifiers
• Parallelism
• Idioms
• Passive Voice
• Metaphor, Simile and Figures of Speech

Remember, the IELTS syllabus and topics are general guidelines. The actual test may present you with unexpected themes or variations on familiar subjects. The key lies in developing strong core skills across all four sections of the IELTS exam. The ways to sharpen your different English language skills are given below. 

• Active Listening: Hone your focus, grasp key points, and identify details even in unfamiliar contexts.
• Critical Reading: Go beyond comprehension; analyze, interpret, and draw conclusions from the information presented.
• Effective Writing: Express yourself clearly, concisely, and grammatically accurately, adapting your style to the specific task.
• Confident Speaking: Articulate your thoughts fluently, naturally, and coherently, demonstrating a diverse vocabulary and strong grammar.

Also Read:

• Best Resources for IELTS Preparation
• Present Tense
• Present Perfect Continuous Tense
• Present Perfect Tense

Books to Refer for IELTS Grammar 2024 

We have mentioned a comprehensive list of resources for IELTS preparation in the above-mentioned link. However, if you want to devote more time to grammar, we are mentioning some of the best resources below:

• Cambridge English: Grammar For IELTS

This book has almost all the grammar rules along with practice questions. It is published by Cambridge, which adds to its authenticity.

• English Grammar in Use by Raymond Murphy:

This book is ideal for those who prefer self-study. It contains easy-to-understand explanations along with practice exercises.

• Oxford Practice Grammar:

This book is suitable for intermediate users. It has sufficient practice exercises that will help you sharpen your skills.

• Collins Grammar for IELTS:

This book is for advanced users and contains good explanations and practice exercises.

• Manhattan GMAT Sentence Correction:

GMAT? Yes! The content of this book is structured in a way that will help you understand grammar right from scratch. The language is interesting and the examples are very clear. If you have sufficient time on your hands, you can opt for this book. You will not regret this choice.

IELTS Grammar Preparation Tips

• The tables given in the "Importance of IELTS exam" section mention ‘Grammatical Range and Accuracy’ as scoring criteria. Let us break this down into two components to get more clarity:
  • Range: It refers to sentence structures, complexity, and tenses.
  • Accuracy: It refers to the construction of error-free sentences.
  • You must strike a balance between the two. Too much focus on the complexity of sentences might bring your accuracy down, and too much focus on accuracy might bring your range down.
• You must focus on answering the questions rather than getting obsessed with putting in too many different sentence structures.
• Do not try to memorise the content of the books that we have mentioned above. Learn how to apply the content in your daily life conversations and on your mock tests.
• Not all of your sentences have to be complex. You must focus on accuracy and answering the questions. The construction of complex sentences is a skill that you develop over the entire length of your preparation.
• Focus more on your weak areas. You will get knowledge of your weak areas after you have taken a diagnostic test or a mock test. Try to be as specific as you can, and by specificity, we mean that you should be able to pinpoint the area where you are lagging behind, e.g. nouns, tenses, subject-verb agreement, etc.
• Practice a lot of questions, using the books that we have mentioned. Simply learning the grammar rules will not help you, unless you practice their application.
• Consider joining an IELTS preparation course. This can provide you with structured guidance, personalised feedback, and valuable insights from experienced instructors. Look for courses tailored to your specific band score goals and preferred learning style.
• Connect with other IELTS test-takers. You can join online forums, study groups, and social media communities that offer a platform to interact with fellow test-takers to share experiences, ask questions, and motivate each other.
• Stay updated and familiarise yourself with the latest news and trends related to the IELTS test. Check the official website and reliable resource websites for any updates or changes to the syllabus, format, or scoring criteria.
• Time management is crucial for success in all parts of the IELTS test. Practice timing yourself under exam conditions during your preparation, and develop strategies to allocate your time wisely to different sections of the exam during the actual test.

Common Mistakes Made in Grammar for IELTS 

Despite having a strong core in grammar, students often make grammatical mistakes in the IELTS test across different sections. Here are some common grammatical mistakes that students make while taking the IELTS test:

1. Subject-verb agreement: This is one of the most common mistakes that students make during the IELTS exam. Make sure that your subject and verb agree in number (singular or plural). For example, "I go to school every day." is correct, but "We goes to school every day." is incorrect.
2. Tense consistency: Make sure that all of your verbs are in the same tense. For example, "I studied English for two years, and now I am studying French" is correct, but "I studied English for two years, and now I study French" is incorrect.
3. Articles (a/an/the): Make sure you use the correct article before a noun. Use "a" or "an" before a singular countable noun, use "the" before a singular uncountable noun or a plural noun, and don't use an article before a non-countable noun. For example, "I have a cat" is correct, but "I have the cat" is incorrect if you are talking about cats in general.
4. Prepositions: Prepositions are words like "in," "on," "at," "to," "from," and "of." They can be tricky to use because there are often many different prepositions that can be used with the same verb. For example, you can say "I went to the store" or "I went at the store," but you cannot say "I went in the store."
5. Countable and uncountable nouns: Some nouns are countable, which means you can count them (for example, apples, books, chairs), and some nouns are uncountable, which means you cannot count them (for example, air, water, knowledge). Make sure you use the correct verb with countable and uncountable nouns. For example, you can say "There are two apples on the table" (countable noun), but you cannot say "There are two air on the table" (uncountable noun).
6. Punctuation: Punctuation can be tricky, but it is important to use it correctly because it can affect the meaning of your sentence. For example, "I went to the store, and I bought milk, eggs, and bread" is correct, but "I went to the store and I bought milk eggs and bread" is incorrect because the commas are missing.
7. Spelling: Make sure you spell all of your words correctly. If you are not sure how to spell a word, you can use a dictionary or spell checker.
8. Word order: The word order in a sentence can be different in English than in other languages. For example, in English, we say "I went to the store," but in Spanish, we say "Fui a la tienda." Make sure you learn the correct word order in English.
9. Contractions: Contractions are words that are formed by combining two words together. For example, "I am" becomes "I'm" and "they are" becomes "they're." Contractions are often used in spoken English, but they are not as common in written English. You should avoid using contractions in the IELTS writing test.
10. Idioms: Idioms are expressions that have a different meaning than the literal meaning of the words. For example, "It's raining cats and dogs" doesn't mean that it's actually raining animals, but rather that it's raining very heavily. While understanding and using idioms in spoken English can be impressive, it's best to avoid them in the IELTS test as they can confuse the examiner and potentially detract from your band score.

These are just a few of the most common grammatical mistakes that students make on the IELTS test. By being aware of these mistakes and practising your English regularly, you can improve your grammar and ensure that you achieve your desired band score.

How to Avoid Making Mistakes in IELTS Grammar

Below are some tips to avoid IELTS grammar mistakes.

• Read practice tests and sample essays: Seeing how other students have used grammar in their writing can help you identify areas where you need to improve.
• Get feedback on your writing: Ask a friend, teacher, or tutor to review your writing and provide you with feedback on your grammar.
• Use a grammar checker: While not perfect, a grammar checker can help you identify some of the most common mistakes.
• Focus on accuracy over fluency: It's more important to make sure your grammar is correct than to speak or write quickly.
• Don't panic!: Everyone makes mistakes. If you do make a mistake, don't worry about it. Just focus on continuing to communicate effectively.

This was all about the IELTS grammar syllabus, IELTS grammar topics, common mistakes in grammar for IELTS and ways to avoid making those mistakes. Check out our page IELTS Exam 2024 to get a complete overview of the exam.