Are you taking the IELTS test in 2023?
Is how to improve grammar one of your big goals for IELTS Preparation?
You know, grammar in IELTS carries 25% weightage of the total IELTS Score.  And it’s no easy task!
But you can do it by understanding  the IELTS Examiner Criteria for Assessment of IELTS Grammar.
This blog post collects the 10 most important general as well as specific points for you.

#1. 4 Main Evaluation Criteria of Assessment English Language – IELTS exam
There are 4 main language skills being tested in IELTS Speaking and IELTS Writing. Both Sp. + Wrtg. tests give numerous topics and questions as opportunities for students to show their expertise at these 4 language skills. 

#2. Image 1 –  IELTS Speaking Assessment Criteria

#3. Image 2 – IELTS Writing Assessment Criteria

Out of the 4 criteria, we will discuss Grammatical proficiency. Grammar is one of the main indicators of a speaker’s or writer’s language-using-skill, regardless of whether English is his/her first language.

#4. The 2 aspects of IELTS Grammar
IELTS Examiner will measure your Grammatical skill by two aspects, namely ‘Range‘ & ‘Accuracy‘. And what is the difference between the two?

In general, Grammatical accuracy is the number of mistakes made by a speaker or writer per certain number of words. For example, Student A makes 2 grammar errors per 10 words. Student B makes 1 grammar error per 20 words. Student B’s grammatical accuracy is higher than Student A’s. IELTS bands are differentiated mainly on basis of how many grammatical errors are present in the student-produced language.

#6. What are the grammatical accuracy criteria of the IELTS test?
What is Grammatical Accuracy acc. to the IELTS examiner?

Most people think knowing and working on Parts of Speech and Tenses alone will give accuracy in grammar. It is true but to a very limited extent.  There are many lesser-known, but equally important elements of accuracy. Here is the definition of ‘accuracy’ of grammar as defined by IELTS EXAMINERS.

3 more important elements of accuracy you have a good reason to include in your practice list if you are serious about IELTS preparation 2023.
1. Vocabulary (choice of words etc)
2. Punctuation
3. Pronunciation
Punctuation for Grammatical accuracy most commonly includes the correct use of commas (,), full stops (.), or apostrophes (‘). 

I’ve discussed how punctuation errors change the meanings of sentences in another post. In the same post, I’ve also talked about common and uncommon errors. You should bookmark it for reading.

Now, let’s get on with understanding the grammatical range aspect of the IELTS Assessment.

What is the grammatical range?
#7. What do IELTS Examiners look for in the Grammatical Range?
Showing your grammatical range means you are able to use a variety of sentence structures, tenses, and other items to convey the intended meaning.

#8. How to improve the grammatical range?
How to increase grammar skills for IELTS?

3 Top Tips to Improve Grammatical Range: Straight away improve by 20 -30%

1. Don’t make sentences in the same style. Like using more of simple sentence patterns (subject + verb). You need to develop the ability to say the same thing in many different sentences. This will ensure that your sentences don’t become repetitive. Writing with same style or limited styles of sentences is boring to read. And I’m sure you agree that same is true for speaking too. 
2. Don’t write or speak in short sentences frequently. Short sentences do not show the complexity of language and are rated low on the grammatical range scale.
Understand that even if all your short sentences are accurate, you will be given a low grammatical range and accuracy score.
3. Practice detailing. When you give more details, you need to use longer, more complex sentences. That gets you a higher score for the grammatical range.

One more extra salient tip: Practice using grammatical forms that are considered ‘advanced’. How To Practice increasing grammatical range is taken up in detail in another blog post of mine. Remember, increasing range along with maintaining accuracy is not going to be that easy.  You’ve got to have patience and do it under guidance.  (hyperlink)

I’ve trained more than 10k students and usually what I see is that the number of grammar errors multiplies when students are learning to apply new grammar structures. Students are not to be blamed for it. It’s a part of the advanced language learning process. But since you also need to keep control of the error percentage, I will advise that in the first phase, it’s least frustrating if you go for guided learning. Work under an IELTS expert (not just any English teacher). Once you have had enough feedback and practice of using new grammar structures and mistake removal; then in the second phase, practice on your own with occasional consultation. Remember, at all points, you have to work at maintaining a good score of both grammatical range AND grammatical accuracy. 

#8 – 9. Finally, take a look at the IELTS Writing  & IELTS Speaking band descriptors for Grammatical Range and Accuracy.

Haha! One last thing – add a cheer to your learning English and improve the grammar process. Try some grammar games.

7 Links to improve grammar / basic grammar skills

Improve Grammar + Grammar Games (Grammar Topic List with Links)
1.https://www.cbsd.org/cms/lib/PA01916442/Centricity/Domain/2997/Grammar%20Websites%20With%20Links.pdf

Take these simple English assessment free grammar tests online  
2. https://www.niu.edu/writingtutorial/punctuation/quizzes/PunctuationSelfTest.htm
3. https://www.niu.edu/writingtutorial/grammar/quizzes/GrammarSelfTest.htm

Links for more knowledge of Grammar
4. http://www.butte.edu/cas/tipsheets/ – Go to PRACTISE EXERCISES Page
5. https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/grammar-&-vocabulary/story/7-simple-tips-to-ace-your-grammar-skills-1888947-2021-12-17
6. https://www.wikihow.com/Improve-Your-Grammar
7. https://osuwritingcenter.okstate.edu/blog/2020/12/4/5-tips-to-improve-your-grammar

Conclusion
You’ve got to be dead serious about the grammatical range and accuracy criteria. This criteria is the most common reason for lower scores.
1. Don’t skip spending time on understanding ‘range’ and ‘accuracy’ in detail.
2. If you don’t know the IELTS Examiner criteria in depth, your IELTS preparation is inadequate.
3. At every step of IELTS Preparation you should know what aspect to focus on and how much you improved in it.
4. IELTS is an international-level test (not local). Even native speakers of English prepare for IELTS grammar under guidance.

Is there anything else in IELTS for which you’re seeking a solution? Yes, if you’d like to share a grammar tip that really worked for you, you’re warmly welcome.
Best

Founder- IIWI Learning IELTS 8+ Coach, 30 yrs exp.|Author|Blogger