REAL IELTS ADVICE FROM A REAL FORMER EXAMINER

HOW TO GET 8.0 IN GRAMMAR

Band score 8.0 – range of grammar

This lesson looks at the idea of ‘range of grammar’. This is information designed for
students who can already earn at least a 6.5 on the IELTS writing test now, and are ready
for some advanced writing principles. If you are aiming for a high band score, it is not
simply enough not to make mistakes (complex error-free sentences); you also need to
show that you can use a number of different grammatical constructions. First, we’ll look
at some principles and then some practical suggestions on what sort of grammar can help
and, just as importantly, how to use them.

An essay should combine simple with complex grammar

This is the starting point. A well-written essay should be relatively easy to read. This
means that you need to combine the simple with the complex. You should not always try
and show off your grammar by making it seem complex – indeed, that’s a very common
mistake. A good academic essay is a mix of simple and complex sentence structures.

Typically, you should aim for:

 simple structures when you are making main points – often in the opening and/or
closing sentences of your paragraphs

 more complex structures when you are explaining/developing those main

points in the body of your paragraphs

 a movement from the more simple to the more complex

Remember, when you have something simple to say, say it simply. Only use complex
structures for more complex thoughts.

This paragraph expresses some complex thoughts, but it starts off simply to make the
main point:

“The major argument against hosting international sporting events is financial.

Typically, it can cost several million dollars to build the arenas and modernize the
infrastructure so that it can cater for the athletes and the spectators. This money, it is
argued, would be better spent on welfare and education programs that provide direct
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support for the population. Indeed, some governments have incurred so much
debt through hosting the Olympic Games that they have had to reduce spending on other
social programs, for example, Greece.”

The first sentence of this paragraph is simple. All I want to do is make clear that the
main reason is financial. I use simple clear English so that reader gets the main point.
The grammar is “It is financial”.

The next sentences are more complex and use complex structures to express more
complex thoughts

so that because I am talking about results

would be better spent because I am talking conditionally

that provide direct support for the population because I am defining my terms (saying
exactly what my point is)

An essay should combine longer and shorter sentences

In many ways this is the same point as above. It is absolutely not the case of long
sentences good, short sentences bad. There will be times when a short sentence is more
effective than a long sentence. In general, though, you should avoid the extremes of very
long and very short (but not always). Also, you need to ask yourself how complex your
sentences are. Shorter sentences can often work:

1. if they are used in combination with longer sentences, or

2. if they are relatively complex

Longer sentences can often work:

1. if they are used with shorter sentences, or

2. if they are simpler in structure (using “and” and “but”)

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Be careful of too many long, complex sentences and too many short simple sentences

None of the sentences in this following paragraph are particularly long or short. It’s fine
to have a few really long ones, or a few really short ones, but it’s not necessary:

“Another way in which free public transport could improve our quality of life relates to
congestion. Currently, the trend is for increasing numbers of people to choose to drive to
work. This means that in many cases the rush hour is several hours long and it is
sometimes almost impossible to travel across a city.It is probable that this level
of congestion would be reduced by making public transport free.”

The first sentence is shorter because it is the opening sentence of the paragraph and it also
includes the complex “in which” construction.

The second sentence is shortish again because it is merely stating a fact – no need to
make it more complex

The third sentence is a longer sentence, but it is simply linked using “and”

The final sentence is again relatively short/simple sentence but it does contain a
conditional “would” and a “by” structure.

Examples of grammar that can work

This is not intended to be a list of advanced grammar points that will guarantee you a
band score 8.0. Rather, the idea here is to show you grammar connects to meaning.
You should never just use a structure because it is “good” grammar. Instead, you need to
ask yourself what is the best way I can express this point.

The best writers use these structures when they need to, not because they think they
have to:

1. The Passive

It is not the case that the passive is an academic structure that should not be used in
essays. We use it all the time in all sorts of contexts. Here, is one way you might find it
helpful in writing: to avoid repeating words – especially nouns/pronouns. You may
want to avoid using some words too much – especially words from the question. Here
the passive can help you. In a question about government action, rather than writing:

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 REAL IELTS ADVICE FROM A REAL FORMER EXAMINER

“The government should introduce measures to…”

you can try

“Measures should be introduced to…”

so that you don’t repeat the word “government”

2. Relatives

This is another piece of grammar you need to feel comfortable with and can help you.
You should be careful, however, not to overuse relatives as they can make your writing
both confusing and confused. One tip I would give you here is to try and restrict yourself
to one relative per sentence. Look at this example:

“There is a real danger that allowing people to travel for free would deprive transport
authorities funds which they need and lead to a lower standard of service.”

The relative can be avoided by changing it into an adjective phrase:

There is a real danger that allowing people to travel for free would deprive transport
authorities of much needed funds and lead to a lower standard of service.

When you do use relatives though is to define terms and add detail. Here is an example in
action:

More than that, if the authorities plan carefully, they can use the occasion of the sporting
event to help finance public works which benefit the whole population in the long term.

I want to say what sort of “public works” I am referring to so I define them in the
relative which benefit the whole population in the long term.

3. Conditionals

Here is another piece of grammar that can help you out. Provided that is, you see how
and when to use it. One of the best ways to use these conditionals to explain and give
examples. This means they are likely to come in the body of your paragraphs and not the
introduction/opening sentence. Try this example:

“There is also, however, a strong argument not to implement this proposal. This argument
is based on economic competitiveness. If a company were forced to employ more
workers to produce the same amount of goods, then its wage bill would rise and its
products might become more expensive and less competitive compared to companies with

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longer working weeks. In this case, it is possible that the company either might become
insolvent or it would have to make some employees redundant. As a result, the intended
benefit to the personnel would not happen.”

This time around I have given you the whole paragraph so that you can see the context. I
use a conditional because I am explaining a point. You should also see that we use
“might” and “would” in the following sentences even though there is no “if”.

Do you want to show off? Then you might consider using conditionals that do not use if.
So you could use:

Were a company to be forced…

4. Parallel structures

There are a number of different parallel structures we have in English. They come in
useful when we are combining, comparing or contrasting points – again something
that you are likely to do in your essays. This is a useful piece of grammar to focus on, as
when used well they make your writing more cohesive. For example

“Not only would unemployment be reduced, but the working conditions of employees on
very long shifts would also be significantly improved.”

You may think “not only...but also” is too easy to impress. Don’t. Simple things done
well impress too and this sentence is complex enough as it is.

5. Verb tenses (of course), impersonal structures and modals

The point to remember here is that it is not difficulty of grammar that is important, rather
it is the variety of grammar. This means that some bits of grammar that you think are
rather simple (e.g. tenses) are still important. The point here is that most likely, the one
tense you are going use most is the present simple. That’s how it should be – it is
easily the most common tense in English. You do want some variety though, and here is
how to get it. Use a lot of impersonal structures:

In informal language we often use impersonal expressions like:

 People say that the minister is likely to resign.

 They expect him to announce his resignation this week.
 They think that there are two possible candidates for his job.

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In newspapers, essays and other more formal writing, this idea is often expressed with a
structure based on a passive reporting verb. This has the effect of distancing the
information:

 It is said that studying abroad has many benefits, however many also claim that...
 He is expected to announce his resignation this week.
 There are thought to be two possible proposals for the economic development
program.

There are also several reasons to use a large number of modal verbs:

“It can also be argued that…”

“It could be the case that…”

The point here is to use them to make impersonal points or sound academic. They too
have their meanings and uses.

6. And and But

Never be afraid of keeping it simple. When all you want to do is add a point say “and”
and if you want to make a contrast, you are most likely to use “but” or “however.”

Test your own writing

The best advice is of course always to find yourself a teacher, but if you are working by
yourself, here is something you can do. Find an essay you have written and go through it:

1. Do you use different grammatical structures? (You should have at least some of
the ones I have mentioned)
2. Can you see why you have used any of the more complex structures?
3. How long is your average sentence? (around 15 words is about right I would
suggest)
4. Do your paragraphs combine longer and shorter sentences and simpler and more
complex sentences?
5. Do you use “and” and “but”?

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