Hi, I’m Sarah Thompson, IELTS Writing tutor and examiner.
When examiners mark your IELTS General Training Writing, two criteria weigh heavily — Grammatical Range & Accuracy and Lexical Resource.
This page focuses on improving both your grammar and vocabulary for Task 1 letters and Task 2 essays. You’ll learn the key grammar patterns, vocabulary types, and usage strategies that can take your writing from Band 6.5 to Band 8–9.
IELTS doesn’t reward complexity for its own sake — it rewards clarity, accuracy, and flexibility.
That means:
✅ Band 9 Tip: It’s better to use simple, error-free sentences than complicated ones full of mistakes.
Use a mix of sentence types:
Sentence Type | Example | Purpose |
Simple | Many people now prefer online shopping. | Clear main idea |
Compound | Some people enjoy remote work, but others find it isolating. | Links ideas equally |
Complex | Although online learning is convenient, it can reduce personal interaction. | Shows higher grammatical range |
✅ Tip: Aim for one complex sentence per paragraph for natural flow.
Feature | Example | Why It Matters |
Conditionals | If companies allowed flexible hours, staff would be more productive. | Shows hypothetical control |
Passive voice | Public transport should be improved by local councils. | Formal and objective tone |
Relative clauses | People who live alone often value independence. | Adds detail naturally |
Modal verbs | Governments should invest more in education. | Expresses recommendation or obligation |
Participles | Having completed his degree, he started working abroad. | Adds fluency and range |
✅ Band 8 Tip: Use grammar for purpose — not decoration. Each structure should make meaning clearer.
In GT essays and letters, you’ll use:
Avoid tense confusion — one of the most common Band 6 errors.
Check these small but essential details:
✅ Use commas after Firstly, However, In conclusion.
✅ Avoid run-on sentences — separate ideas with full stops.
✅ Don’t use exclamation marks in formal essays.
Example (Incorrect):
People are very busy they don’t have time to cook so they eat fast food.
Correct:
People are very busy, so they often eat fast food instead of cooking.
A. Range and Register
Use vocabulary appropriate to the task type and tone.
Task Type | Tone | Example Vocabulary |
Letter – Formal | Professional and polite | regarding, assistance, concern, request, sincerely |
Letter – Informal | Friendly and natural | Hi there, It’s been ages, Can’t wait to see you! |
Essay – Semi-Formal | Balanced and objective | issue, impact, benefit, solution, essential, whereas |
✅ Band 8 Tip: Avoid contractions (can’t, don’t) in essays, but they’re fine in informal letters.
Topic | Useful Words / Collocations |
Work | career progression, job satisfaction, remote working, promotion |
Health | balanced diet, mental well-being, physical fitness, healthcare |
Environment | renewable energy, reduce emissions, eco-friendly, recycling scheme |
Education | online learning, academic achievement, lifelong learning, curriculum |
Society | community support, social interaction, equality, volunteering |
✅ Band 9 Tip: Use collocations (natural word combinations), not single words — e.g. make progress, take responsibility, raise awareness.
Common Word | Better Alternatives |
good | beneficial, valuable, positive |
bad | harmful, negative, disadvantageous |
big | significant, substantial, major |
small | limited, minor, slight |
think | believe, consider, argue |
problem | issue, challenge, concern |
Example:
It’s a good idea for schools to teach financial education.
✅ Better: It is a beneficial policy for schools to include financial education in the curriculum.
Formal / Semi-formal Essay:
Informal Letter:
✅ Band 8 Tip: Vary your expressions; avoid repeating I think or because too often.
A strong Band 9 sentence has:
1️⃣ Correct grammar.
2️⃣ Appropriate vocabulary.
3️⃣ Clear communication.
Example:
If local councils invested in more recycling programmes, communities would become cleaner and more environmentally responsible.
✅ Complex sentence
✅ Accurate grammar
✅ Topic-specific vocabulary (recycling programmes, environmentally responsible)
Mistake Type | Example (Incorrect) | Correction (Correct) |
Subject-verb error | People enjoys travelling. | People enjoy travelling. |
Article misuse | The pollution is increasing. | Pollution is increasing. |
Wrong word form | Technology make life easy. | Technology makes life easier. |
Word repetition | Good, good, good | Excellent, beneficial, positive |
Correct these sentences:
1️⃣ Government should spends money on the arts. → Governments should spend money on the arts.
2️⃣ People are very depend of technology. → People are very dependent on technology.
3️⃣ He suggested to take the train. → He suggested taking the train.
✅ Band 8 Tip: Check prepositions (interested in, depend on, responsible for) — small errors cost big marks.
Before you submit your writing:
If yes, your grammar and vocabulary are ready for Band 8–9 performance.
Strong grammar and vocabulary are the backbone of your IELTS General Training Writing success. Focus on range, accuracy, and tone — not fancy words or complex structures.
Next, continue to IELTS Writing Overview: Format, Scoring & Key Skills to revise the entire framework, or explore official writing resources on IELTS.org for further practice and samples.
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