What grammar do you need for IELTS?
IELTS does not test grammar directly through separate grammar questions. However, grammar is one of the four assessment criteria in both IELTS Writing and IELTS Speaking. Candidates who make frequent grammatical mistakes may struggle to get Band 7 or higher, even if their ideas and vocabulary are strong.
To achieve Band 6–7, you should be able to:
- Use a range of simple and complex sentence structures.
- Control common tenses accurately.
- Use articles, prepositions and pronouns correctly.
- Link ideas with appropriate cohesive devices.
- Make only occasional grammatical errors that do not affect meaning.
When you are preparing for IELTS, focus first on verb tenses, complex sentences, conditionals, linking words, subject-verb agreement and accurate sentence structure. These grammar areas are particularly important for achieving Band 6–7 in both IELTS Writing and IELTS Speaking.
This guide brings together all of my IELTS grammar lessons in one place, covering the grammar topics most useful for IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training candidates.
The most important grammar areas for IELTS Band 7
If you are aiming for Band 6.5–7, focus on:
Essential
- Present Simple
- Past Simple
- Present Perfect
- Present Continuous
- Future forms
- Relative clauses
- Linking words
- Articles a/the/zero
- Quantifiers
- Comparatives and superlatives
Important
- Passive voice
- Modals
- Complex sentences
- Conditionals
Advanced
- Inversion
- Emphasis structures
- Participle clauses
- Nominalisation
How to improve your IELTS Grammar
Learning grammar isn’t just about memorising rules. We learn it more effectively when we see it, hear it and use it regularly.
For IELTS candidates, the goal is not perfect grammar. To get Band 6–7, you need to use a range of grammatical structures accurately enough that mistakes do not affect communication.
Here are the most effective ways to improve your IELTS grammar:
Study grammar in context. Learn grammar through reading, listening, speaking and writing rather than memorising isolated rules. Understanding how a structure is used in real language makes it easier to use accurately yourself.
Use IELTS-specific materials. Practise with resources designed for IELTS Writing and Speaking so that you learn grammar that is directly relevant to the test.
Focus on your own mistakes. Keep a record of recurring errors, particularly with articles, prepositions, sentence structure and verb forms. Correcting the same mistake repeatedly is often more effective than learning new grammar rules.
Write regularly. Regular writing practice helps turn passive knowledge into active skill. Review your work carefully and seek feedback from a teacher or trusted language tool.
Read widely. Reading exposes you to accurate grammar in context. Pay attention to sentence structure, word choice and how ideas are connected.
Speak and get feedback. Grammar knowledge is only useful if you can apply it in real communication. Regular speaking practice helps you notice which structures you can use confidently and which need more work.
Review and revisit. Grammar develops gradually over time. Returning to familiar structures repeatedly is often more effective than constantly studying new ones.
Don’t become obsessed with grammar. Even strong English speakers make grammatical mistakes. In IELTS, clear communication and accurate use of common structures are more important than trying to produce unnecessarily complex sentences.
See also:
IELTS Grammar Lessons
Most of the lessons below are FREE.
Those with the asterix* are in the Resource Library.
1. Tenses
Past, Present and Future
- Present Simple for IELTS (free)
- Past Simple for IELTS (free)
- Present Perfect for IELTS (free)
- Present Continuous for IELTS (free)
- Past Continuous
- Future Tenses
- Past Perfect in Task 1*
- Will or going to?*
- Making predictions*
- Tenses in Task 2 (Background Statement)
Conditionals: Zero, First, Second, Third, Mixed
2. Numbers
AGREEMENT: singular/plural verbs
3. Prepositions
4. VERBS
ACTIVE and PASSIVE
MODALS
- Modals for guessing (Present Tense)
- Modals of deduction* (Past Tense)
VERB PATTERNS
EMPHASIS
5. Linking words
Contrast – Whereas, However
Concession – Although*, Despite and In spite of*
Reason – Due to, because of
Result – Consequently, As a result, Therefore
Purpose – In order to, so as to
Addition – As well as
Cohesion and Coherence
6. Adjectives
- Comparisons (Academic Task 1)
- Comparisons (one-syllable adjectives)
- The more…the more*
- -ed/-ing endings
- Gradable/Non-gradable – extreme adjectives
- Nouns as adjectives*
- Compound adjectives
- Order of adjectives
7. Adverbs
- Manner – slightly, steadily (Task 1 graphs)
- Time – when, how long, how often
- Place – location, direction, distance
- Probability – definitely, possibly, maybe, probably
- Intensifying adverbs
9. Dummy 'it'
- It’s easy.
- It is vs there is
- I’d appreciate it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is grammar important in IELTS?
Yes. Grammar is assessed in both IELTS Writing and IELTS Speaking through the “Grammatical Range and Accuracy” criterion. Strong grammar helps candidates communicate clearly and achieve higher band scores.
Can I get Band 7 with grammar mistakes?
Yes. Band 7 candidates still make occasional errors. The key is that errors should not reduce clarity or occur too frequently.
What grammar topics are most important for IELTS Writing?
The most important grammar areas include verb tenses, sentence structure, conditionals, linking words, articles and subject-verb agreement.
Do I need advanced grammar for IELTS?
No. Accurate use of common grammar structures is more important than using complicated structures incorrectly.
How can I improve my grammar for IELTS?
Study grammar in context, write regularly, get feedback, review common errors and practise using grammar in speaking and writing tasks.
IELTS Grammar in Reading and Listening
While grammar may not be directly assessed in the Reading and Listening sections of the IELTS exam, having a good command of grammar is still essential for understanding written and spoken language effectively.
In the Reading Test, understanding grammatical structures can help you to understand complex sentences and the overall meaning of the passage.
Similarly, in the Listening Test, being able to identify grammatical patterns and structures can help you understand spoken language more effectively.
By improving your grammar skills, you can improve your overall performance in the reading and listening parts of the IELTS exam.
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About Fiona
Fiona is an IELTS trainer, ex-examiner and course creator based in the UK. She has a Master’s in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (Distinction) and over 35 years of teaching experience. She has helped thousands of IELTS candidates develop the language and exam skills needed to achieve their target scores.
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