IELTS Grammar
Although grammar is not tested directly on the IELTS, it is tested indirectly in the speaking and writing sections of the exam. You can gain or lose points based on your command of English grammar. It would help to undertake a general review of English grammar while preparing for the IELTS. Alternatively, you could take a diagnostic grammar test so you can find out exactly which areas you need to concentrate on. Any good review should include the following grammatical areas:
- Verb tenses
- Subject-verb agreement
- Modals
- Gerunds and infinitives
- Conjunctions
- Relative clauses
- Conditional sentences
- Word Order
- Prepositions
- Articles
- Phrasal verbs
- Singular and Plural Nouns
- Pronouns
There are a number of excellent English grammar books on the market and each teacher has his or her favourites. Nevertheless, a few of the most popular are:
- Advanced Grammar in Use by Raymond Murphy
For more effective writing, it is important to be familiar with the following problem areas:
- Sentence fragments
- Run-On Sentences
- Parallelism
- Comma Faults
- Misplaced modifiers
- Punctuation
- Capitalization
- Commonly misspelled words
- Commonly misused words and phrases
- Word forms
- Idioms
These subjects are dealt with in any good ESL writing book, especially:
Some students try to improve their grammar and writing by practicing with another friend. Unfortunately, this is of limited benefit as your friend may know little more than you do and certainly much less than your examiner. To improve in writing and speaking, it is critical to work with the help of a professional ESL / EFL teacher, who will be able to identify, explain and correct your mistakes. You will also have the chance to work with the most appropriate materials and methods to overcome your grammatical and writing weaknesses. It's worth the expense, for the IELTS and for your future academic or professional career.
