Grammar for IELTS and TOEFL Writing: English Grammar Guide

Mastering grammar is one of the most crucial steps toward achieving a high score in IELTS and TOEFL writing. These international English proficiency tests assess not only your vocabulary and coherence but also your grammatical range and accuracy. This guide explains the essential grammar rules, structures, and strategies that can help you write clear, precise, and academic English essays.

Understanding Grammar Requirements in IELTS and TOEFL

Both IELTS and TOEFL assess writing on similar grounds, although their formats differ. In IELTS, your grammar score contributes directly to the Grammatical Range and Accuracy band descriptor. In TOEFL, grammar influences the overall Language Use score.

You are evaluated on:

• Range – How varied your sentence structures are (simple, compound, complex)

• Accuracy – How correctly you use tenses, articles, prepositions, and subject-verb agreement

• Appropriateness – Whether your grammar fits academic writing style and tone

To achieve a band 7 or higher in IELTS or a score above 25 in TOEFL writing, you must show both complexity and control.

Sentence Structure and Variety

A key aspect of high-scoring essays is using a variety of sentence types. Examiners look for complex structures that are grammatically correct.

Simple Sentence

A simple sentence contains one independent clause.
Example: Technology improves communication.

Compound Sentence

Combines two independent clauses with conjunctions such as and, but, or, so, yet.
Example: Technology improves communication, but it can also cause distraction.

Complex Sentence

Includes one independent and one or more dependent clauses.
Example: Although technology improves communication, it can reduce face-to-face interaction.

Compound-Complex Sentence

Has at least two independent clauses and one dependent clause.
Example: Although technology improves communication, it also creates challenges, and people must balance both.

Tip: Use at least one or two complex sentences in each paragraph to demonstrate range.

Verb Tenses and Consistency

IELTS and TOEFL writing tasks often ask you to describe trends, discuss opinions, or analyze causes and effects. To do this effectively, use correct and consistent tenses.

Common Tense Uses

• Present Simple: For general truths or opinions.
  Example: Education plays a vital role in personal development.

• Past Simple: For completed actions or historical data.
  Example: In 1990, the population increased dramatically.

• Present Perfect: To connect past events to the present.
  Example: Many people have argued about the effects of social media.

• Future Forms: For predictions or recommendations.
  Example: This trend will likely continue in the coming years.

Common Mistake: Mixing tenses within a paragraph.
Incorrect: The number increased in 2010 and increases again in 2015.
Correct: The number increased in 2010 and increased again in 2015.

Articles and Determiners

Articles (a, an, the) are small but powerful. IELTS and TOEFL essays often lose marks because of article misuse.

Rules to Remember

• Use a/an for singular, non-specific nouns.
  Example: A student needs to plan carefully.

• Use the for specific nouns or shared knowledge.
  Example: The government should improve the education system.

• No article for general or uncountable nouns.
  Example: Students need guidance.

Tip: Check if the noun is specific or general before deciding which article to use.

Subject-Verb Agreement

Mistakes in subject-verb agreement are common and can reduce your score.

Basic Rules

• Singular subjects take singular verbs.
  Example: The teacher explains the lesson.

• Plural subjects take plural verbs.
  Example: The teachers explain the lesson.

• With phrases like as well as or together with, the verb agrees with the main subject.
  Example: The student, along with his friends, enjoys studying English.

Use of Passive Voice

Passive voice is common in academic writing and makes your writing sound formal.

Active: Scientists discovered a new element.
Passive: A new element was discovered by scientists.

Use the passive when:

• The actor is unknown or unimportant

• You want to emphasize the result, not the subject

Tip: Combine passive and active voice for balance.

Linking Words and Cohesive Devices

Cohesion helps your essay flow naturally. Linking words show relationships between ideas and improve clarity.

Common Linking Words

• Addition: moreover, furthermore, also

• Contrast: however, although, whereas

• Cause/Effect: because, therefore, as a result

• Examples: for instance, such as

• Conclusion: in conclusion, overall

Example: Many people prefer online education. However, traditional classrooms still offer more personal interaction.

Caution: Overusing connectors can make your writing sound mechanical.

Modal Verbs for Academic Tone

Modal verbs express possibility, necessity, or obligation — key to academic argumentation.

Common Modals

• Can / Could: ability or possibility
  Example: Governments could provide free healthcare.

• Should / Must: recommendation or obligation
  Example: Citizens should participate in environmental campaigns.

• May / Might: uncertainty or possibility
  Example: This policy might reduce unemployment.

Use modals to sound balanced and polite in essays.

Conditional Sentences

Conditionals show hypothetical or real situations and make writing more analytical.

Examples

• Zero Conditional: General truths
  If water reaches 100°C, it boils.

• First Conditional: Real future situations
  If students study hard, they will succeed.

• Second Conditional: Hypothetical present
  If I had more time, I would learn another language.

• Third Conditional: Unreal past
  If governments had invested earlier, pollution would have decreased.

Common Grammar Mistakes in IELTS and TOEFL Writing

1. Run-on sentences

2. Comma splices

3. Misused prepositions (discuss about, depend of)

4. Wrong word forms (develop vs. development)

5. Incorrect plurals (informations, advices)

6. Too many short, simple sentences

Tip: Always proofread and revise before submitting.

Strategies to Improve Grammar for IELTS and TOEFL

1. Rewrite simple sentences into complex ones.

2. Use grammar check tools only for feedback.

3. Read high-scoring essays to notice structures.

4. Keep a grammar journal for repeated mistakes.

5. Practice timed writing: 40 minutes (IELTS Task 2), 30 minutes (TOEFL Independent Task).

Final Thoughts

Excellent grammar in IELTS and TOEFL writing is about clarity, variety, and control—not perfection. Minor mistakes are acceptable if your meaning is clear and your range is wide. By mastering tense consistency, sentence complexity, and academic linking, you can write essays that sound professional and natural.

Balance complexity with accuracy, and your writing will stand out. Consistent practice and awareness of common grammar pitfalls will bring you closer to your target score.

FAQs

What does “AI-friendly” FAQ content mean for IELTS and TOEFL grammar?

AI-friendly FAQs present clear, concise, and structured answers that mirror how automated graders and writing assistants evaluate text: consistency, relevance, and evidence of control. For grammar, that means demonstrating accurate tense use, subject–verb agreement, article choice, modifier placement, and coherent sentence variety. Each answer here provides short rules, test-oriented examples, and actionable steps you can apply in timed tasks.

How is grammar scored differently in IELTS vs. TOEFL writing?

IELTS has an explicit “Grammatical Range and Accuracy” criterion. Examiners look for error frequency, variety (simple/compound/complex), and control. TOEFL integrates grammar into “Language Use” and “Delivery” (for integrated tasks), focusing on clarity, syntactic variety, and error impact on comprehension. Practically, both reward a balance of complexity and accuracy; frequent basic errors cap your score even if ideas are strong.

What sentence types should I include to show range without overcomplicating?

Use a healthy mix: simple sentences for emphasis, compound sentences to join related points, and complex sentences to show relationships (cause, concession, condition). One or two compound–complex sentences per essay can highlight range, but avoid chaining too many clauses. Prioritize clarity: if a long sentence becomes hard to read aloud, split it.

Which tense choices are safest for opinion and discussion essays?

Use present simple for general truths and claims (Education improves social mobility), present perfect to link past trends to now (Researchers have argued), and future/“be likely to” for predictions (the policy will likely reduce). When describing historical data or charts, stick to past simple for completed periods. Keep tense consistent within a paragraph unless meaning requires a shift.

How do I avoid common article errors (a, an, the) in academic writing?

Ask three questions: is the noun countable, singular, and specific? Use a/an for singular, non-specific countables (a policy), the for specific or previously mentioned items (the policy), and zero article for plural or uncountable generalizations (policies improve outcomes, education enhances equity). When naming unique entities (the government, the Internet in many contexts), prefer the.

What are the fastest fixes for subject–verb agreement mistakes under time pressure?

Identify the true subject (ignore prepositional phrases and interruptions), match singular/plural endings (data are in formal academic English, though data is appears in some modern usage), and beware of indeterminate pronouns (each, everyone → singular verbs). After drafting, skim only verbs: do they agree with their subjects?

Should I use passive voice in test essays?

Yes—sparingly and purposefully. Passive voice suits results, processes, and when the actor is unknown or unimportant (The policy was implemented in 2020). Mix with active voice to maintain energy and clarity. A paragraph composed entirely of passives often feels vague; aim for variety and precision.

Which cohesive devices improve flow without sounding mechanical?

Prioritize logical relationships over filler transitions. Use however, therefore, consequently, for instance, in contrast, as a result where they add clarity. Replace repetitive starters (Moreover every sentence) with pronoun reference, parallel structures, and strategic repetition of key terms. Cohesion should help the reader, not advertise your connector list.

How can I show modal control (should, must, might) while keeping an academic tone?

Use modals to calibrate certainty: should (recommendation), must (necessity), might/may (cautious possibility). Combine with hedging phrases (it appears that, evidence suggests, it is plausible that) to avoid overclaiming. This “calibrated stance” is valued by both tests.

What conditional forms are most useful for argumentation?

First conditional for realistic outcomes (If governments subsidize transport, emissions will fall), second conditional for hypotheticals (If cities invested more in cycling, congestion would decrease), and third conditional for counterfactual history (If regulators had acted earlier, the crisis might have been mitigated). Keep verb forms accurate: If + past simple → would + base; If + past perfect → would have + past participle.

How do I eliminate run-ons and comma splices quickly?

Check for two independent clauses joined only by a comma or nothing. Fix with a coordinating conjunction (, and/but/so), a semicolon (;) when ideas are closely related, or by making one clause dependent (Although…, …). In timed writing, prefer clean coordination to risky punctuation choices.

What are high-impact grammar upgrades that raise perceived proficiency?

(1) Precise parallelism (to reduce costs, to increase speed, and to improve safety), (2) controlled noun phrases (widely cited, peer-reviewed studies), (3) relative clauses (policies that target rural areas), (4) accurate prepositions with academic verbs (result in, invest in, rely on, contribute to), and (5) cautious hedging combined with evidence markers (the data indicate).

How can I proofread grammar effectively in 2–3 minutes?

Do a targeted sweep: (1) circle verbs and check agreement/tense, (2) scan article usage on first mention vs. subsequent mentions, (3) highlight long sentences and test them by reading aloud (quietly) to catch fragments/run-ons, (4) confirm logical connectors reflect the intended relationship, (5) ensure punctuation around subordinate clauses and nonessential phrases is consistent.

What grammar pitfalls are common in the Integrated (TOEFL) and Task 1 (IELTS) responses?

Integrated/Task 1 responses trigger tense shifts and reporting structures. Use reporting verbs + that-clause (The lecturer argues that…), and avoid copying source sentences verbatim. For visuals, maintain past simple for finished periods and present simple for ongoing states (The chart shows…, sales increased from 2015 to 2020). Keep prepositions with numbers accurate (by 10%, to 300 units, from 200 to 350).

How do I keep complex sentences accurate when I’m nervous?

Build them from reliable templates: concession (Although X, Y remains true), cause–effect (Because X, Y occurs), contrast (While X benefits A, Y disadvantages B). Add one dependent clause to a clear main clause; avoid stacking multiple subordinate clauses unless you have time to check punctuation and pronoun reference.

Is advanced vocabulary more important than flawless grammar?

Neither can compensate for major weaknesses in the other. A moderate range of precise, topic-appropriate vocabulary plus consistent grammar will outperform rare words wrapped in unstable structures. Aim for accurate collocations (pose a risk, address a challenge) and error-free sentences first, then sprinkle elevated lexis where it fits naturally.

How should I handle “data” and other troublesome nouns?

In formal registers, treat data as plural (the data are), though singular use appears in modern discourse. Uncountables like information, research, advice, evidence do not take plurals or a/an. Use partitives: a piece of advice, a body of research, a strand of evidence. For countable abstracts (hypothesis, outcome, variable), ensure articles and plural forms are correct.

What punctuation choices signal control to examiners?

Accurate commas around nonessential clauses (which-clauses), disciplined semicolon use to link closely related independent clauses, and colons to introduce explanations or lists. Avoid dash overuse. When uncertain, choose simpler punctuation and clearer coordination.

How can I practice grammar specifically for test conditions?

Create micro-drills: rewrite five simple sentences into complex forms; convert three active sentences to passive where appropriate; produce two conditional variants for one claim; summarize a short paragraph using reporting verbs; and describe a mini-chart from memory using past simple and comparison phrases. Time each drill (2–3 minutes) to build automaticity.

What does an examiner-friendly paragraph structure look like, grammatically?

Topic sentence (usually present simple), support with one complex sentence showing cause/concession, add evidence or example (past simple or present perfect), and finish with a concluding or implication sentence using a modal or cautious claim (may, might, is likely to). This pattern displays range without inviting errors.

Can minor grammar errors still get a high score?

Yes. Occasional, non-impeding slips are acceptable at higher bands/scores. What hurts is systematic error types (articles in every sentence, persistent agreement mistakes) or errors that obscure meaning. If you must choose, favor slightly simpler but accurate structures over risky complexity you cannot control under time pressure.

What final grammar checklist should I run before submitting?

• Tense consistency within paragraphs and tasks
• Subject–verb agreement, especially with complex subjects
• Article use on first vs. subsequent mentions
• Logical connectors that match relationships (contrast, cause, example)
• Run-on/comma splice scan; split if in doubt
• Precision in prepositions and numbers (by, to, from…to)
• Balanced voice (mostly active, strategic passive)
• At least one accurate complex sentence per paragraph

Apply this checklist in the last two minutes. It systematically removes the most frequent grammar penalties and helps you present controlled, exam-ready writing for both IELTS and TOEFL.

English Grammar Guide: Complete Rules, Examples, and Tips for All Levels