IELTS TRAINING CENTRE KENYA - IELTS PREPARATION
Title: IELTS TRAINING CENTRE KENYA - IELTS PREPARATION
IELTS WRITING - Common grammar mistakes to avoid in the IELTS writing section
The IELTS writing section is one of the most challenging parts of the exam for many candidates. It requires not only a good command of vocabulary and structure but also a high level of accuracy and coherence. However, many candidates make common grammar mistakes that lower their band scores and affect their overall performance.
In this article, we will look at some of the most frequent grammar mistakes in the IELTS writing section and how to avoid them. We will also provide examples and tips for each type of mistake, as well as links to relevant courses that can help you improve your skills.
Subject-verb disagreement
One of the most common grammar mistakes in the IELTS writing section is subject-verb disagreement. This means that the subject (a noun or pronoun) and the verb do not match in number or person. For example:
Incorrect: The man walk his dog every morning.
Correct: The man walks his dog every morning.
Incorrect: They has been studying hard for the exam.
Correct: They have been studying hard for the exam.
Subject-verb disagreement can occur in any tense, but it is especially common in the present simple tense, where the verb changes form depending on the subject.
To avoid this mistake, you need to pay attention to the subject and verb in each sentence and make sure they agree in number and person. You also need to be careful when there are other words or clauses between the subject and verb, as they can make it harder to identify the correct form. For example:
Incorrect: The people who lives in this city are very friendly.
Correct: The people who live in this city are very friendly.
Incorrect: The government, along with some NGOs, have launched a campaign to raise awareness about climate change.
Correct: The government, along with some NGOs, has launched a campaign to raise awareness about climate change.
If you want to learn more about the subject-verb agreement and how to use it correctly in different tenses and situations, you can check out IELTS Writing overview.
Misuse of articles (a/an/the)
Another common grammar mistake in the IELTS writing section is misuse of articles (a/an/the). Articles are words that modify nouns and indicate whether they are specific or general, singular or plural, countable or uncountable. For example:
Incorrect: I have a car. Car is red.
Correct: I have a car. The car is red.
Incorrect: He is an engineer. He works for an Apple.
Correct: He is an engineer. He works for Apple.
Incorrect: She likes music. She listens to a music every day.
Correct: She likes music. She listens to music every day.
Misuse of articles can occur for various reasons, such as confusion between definite and indefinite articles, omission or insertion of articles where they are not needed or required, or lack of knowledge about countable and uncountable nouns. To avoid this mistake, you need to learn the rules and exceptions of article use in English and practice them regularly. You also need to be aware of some common expressions and collocations that do not follow the general rules.
If you want to learn more about articles and how to use them correctly in different contexts and situations, you can check out 15 Sentence Structures for Band 9 Writing in IELTS + Sample passage.
Sentence fragments
One more common grammar mistake in the IELTS writing section is sentence fragments. Sentence fragments are groups of words that seem to be sentences but are not. A sentence fragment fails to be a sentence because it lacks a subject, a verb, or both. For example:
Incorrect: Because he was late for work.
Correct: He was late for work.
Incorrect: A beautiful painting by Van Gogh.
Correct: This is a beautiful painting by Van Gogh.
Sentence fragments can occur when candidates try to write complex sentences with subordinate clauses or phrases but forget to complete them with main clauses or verbs. They can also occur when candidates use punctuation marks incorrectly or omit them altogether.
To avoid this mistake, you need to make sure that every sentence has a subject and a verb and that they form a complete thought. You also need to use appropriate punctuation marks to separate sentences or clauses. For example:
Incorrect: Although he studied hard. He failed the exam.
Correct: Although he studied hard, he failed the exam.
Incorrect: She likes reading books especially novels
Correct: She likes reading books, especially novels.
If you want to learn more about sentence fragments and how to avoid them in your writing, you can check out
Cohesive Devices for Band 9 in IELTS Writing
Read Also: IELTS Vocabulary 1000 Vocabulary Words for IELTS!
Run-on sentences
A run-on sentence is the opposite of a sentence fragment. It is a sentence that contains two or more independent clauses that are not properly joined or separated. For example:
Incorrect: My teacher and I had a long conversation we spoke about many different things.
Correct: My teacher and I had a long conversation. We spoke about many different things.
Incorrect: She loves chocolate but she is allergic to it.
Correct: She loves chocolate, but she is allergic to it.
Run-on sentences can occur when candidates try to write long and complex sentences but do not use the correct punctuation marks or conjunctions to connect them. They can also occur when candidates do not know how to use semicolons or colons correctly.
To avoid this mistake, you need to know how to use commas, periods, semicolons, colons, and conjunctions to join or separate independent clauses. You also need to avoid writing sentences that are too long and complicated. For example:
Incorrect: The government should invest more money in education because it is important for the future of the country and it will benefit the economy and society in many ways.
Correct: The government should invest more money in education. It is important for the future of the country and it will benefit the economy and society in many ways.
Incorrect: Some people think that social media has a positive impact on society; others think that it has a negative impact on society.
Correct: Some people think that social media has a positive impact on society; others think that it has a negative impact.
If you want to learn more about run-on sentences and how to avoid them in your writing, you can check out Mastering the art of rewriting introductions in IELTS Writing.
Improper preposition usage
Prepositions are words that show the relationship between nouns, pronouns, or phrases and other words in a sentence. For example:
She lives in London. He works for Google. They are interested in art.
Prepositions can be tricky because they often do not have clear rules or logic behind them. They can also vary depending on the context, meaning, or collocation of the words they are used with. For example:
She arrived at the airport. She arrived in London.
He is good at math. He is good with children.
They are talking about politics. They are talking to each other.
Improper preposition usage can occur when candidates use the wrong preposition for a certain word or expression, omit a preposition where it is needed, or insert a preposition where it is not needed.
To avoid this mistake, you need to learn the common prepositions and their usage in different situations and contexts. You also need to be aware of some idiomatic expressions and phrasal verbs that use prepositions in specific ways.
If you want to learn more about prepositions and how to use them correctly in your writing, you can check out IELTS Writing: Better vocabulary, better band score.
Read Also: IELTS Writing: The four keys to success
Verb tense issues
Verb tenses are forms of verbs that indicate the time and aspect of an action or state. For example:
She studies English every day. (present simple) She is studying English right now. (present continuous) She has studied English for two years. (present perfect) She studied English yesterday. (past simple) She was studying English when I called her. (past continuous) She had studied English before she moved to London. (past perfect) She will study English tomorrow. (future simple) She will be studying English when I arrive. (future continuous) She will have studied English by next week. (future perfect)
Verb tense issues can occur when candidates use the wrong tense for a certain situation or context, mix up different tenses in the same paragraph or essay, or forget to change the tense according to the time markers or sequence of events.
To avoid this mistake, you need to know how to use different tenses correctly and consistently in your writing. Here are some more examples:
Incorrect: I am living in London since last year.
Correct: I have been living in London since last year.
Incorrect: She said that she likes chocolate.
Correct: She said that she liked chocolate.
Incorrect: By the time he arrives, we will finish dinner.
Correct: By the time he arrives, we will have finished dinner.
If you want to learn more about verb tenses and how to use them correctly in your writing, you can check out IELTS Writing Tips
Mistakes in lexical selection
Lexical selection refers to the choice of words and phrases that you use in your writing. It is an important aspect of vocabulary and it affects your coherence, cohesion, and accuracy. However, many candidates make mistakes in lexical selection that lower their band score and affect their overall performance. For example:
Incorrect: The graph shows the information about the sales of three products in 2020.
Correct: The graph shows the data on the sales of three products in 2020.
Incorrect: The main reason for this problem is because people are lazy and irresponsible.
Correct: The main cause of this problem is that people are lazy and irresponsible.
Incorrect: In conclusion, I agree with this opinion because it has many benefits for individuals and society.
Correct: In conclusion, I support this view because it has many advantages for individuals and society.
Mistakes in lexical selection can occur for various reasons, such as confusion between synonyms or near-synonyms, misuse of collocations or idioms, lack of knowledge about register or tone, or interference from the native language.
To avoid this mistake, you need to learn the meaning, usage, and context of words and phrases in English and practice them regularly. You also need to be aware of some common expressions and collocations that are frequently used in academic writing. Here are some more examples:
Incorrect: This essay will discuss about the advantages and disadvantages of social media.
Correct: This essay will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of social media.
Incorrect: There are many factors that effect the environment.
Correct: There are many factors that affect the environment.
Incorrect: In my opinion, this solution is very good and nice.
Correct: In my opinion, this solution is very effective and feasible.
If you want to learn more about lexical selection and how to improve your vocabulary for IELTS writing, you can check outPreparing for the IELTS test.
Final note
You can increase your band score and achieve your desired result by avoiding these mistakes and improving your accuracy. However, learning grammar rules and vocabulary is not enough. You also need to practice your writing skills under realistic exam conditions and get feedback on your performance.
That is why IELTS experts recommend candidates take IELTS mock tests, which are designed to simulate the real IELTS test and provide you with detailed reports and suggestions on how to improve your writing. You can take Unikcolors IELTS mock tests both physical and online anytime and get instant results and feedback. You can also compare your writing with model answers and learn from your mistakes. By taking PUnikcolors IELTS mock tests, you can boost your confidence and readiness for the real IELTS test.
