People often ask me about the grammar score in IELTS writing. For example, here's a typical question:
What exactly are examiners looking for in terms of “grammatical range and accuracy”? Are there any specific tenses or types of sentence that should be included in the essay?
Here's my answer:
The main thing is to reduce the number of mistakes that you make. An essay that contains no mistakes is likely to get a 9 for grammar, regardless of the types of sentence that it may or may not contain.
There is nothing in the scoring criteria about including specific tenses or sentence constructions. If there is a nice mix of long and short sentences in your essay, you'll meet the grammar requirements. Remember: as soon as you write a "long" sentence you are naturally going to use connectives (linking words), which will make the sentence 'compound' or 'complex'. So, don't think too much about the grammar - just aim to reduce the number of mistakes that you make, and try to include a few longer sentences.
Thank you so much Simon with recent tips. It's really useful to me.
Posted by: Elsa.hvn | March 15, 2017 at 10:37
Thanks Simon! Your site is helping me bigtime! God bless you.
Posted by: Charley | March 15, 2017 at 11:52
Simon is the BEST ielts tutor in the world. Thank you Simon.
Posted by: L | March 15, 2017 at 17:35
More government money should be invested in science rather than other subjects in order to country development and progress. What extent do you agree or disagree?
Posted by: Aung Myat Min | March 17, 2017 at 14:40
Yesterday I got this task in my exam: "Professionals like doctors, nurses and teachers have a greater contribution in a society and should be paid more than sports and entertainment professionals. To what extent do you agree or disagree?"
I would like to request Simon to start discussion about this task in his next lesson leading to writing a full essay.
Posted by: MK KSA | March 19, 2017 at 05:34
Dear Simon,
As one of my 2017's targets is to improve my English writing, I have started with this plan from Feb. and found out it is not actually easy at all. I was recommended this site and I found it so useful. I have started with the writing task about throwing things.
Thank you very much for your work and advises here in this blog.
Wish you all the best.
Hai Anh
Posted by: Hai Anh | March 22, 2017 at 01:12
Hi Simon,
Thanks a lot you are brilliant
Firstly,I am facing a problem ,which is in (Cambridge 10- reading-test 1 - Q40)
All teachers say that it is suggested to put the word as it is written in the passage and the answer is COMMUNICATING whereas I could not find it like the same form I only found the verb form or ending with (tion)
Secondly, should I write (the) before some words in the listening test ,because I always write the word but without (the)
Posted by: Zakarya | March 22, 2017 at 12:40