IELTS grammar · Grammatical Range & Accuracy
The grammar IELTS examiners actually score
In short
Grammar is 25% of your IELTS Writing and Speaking scores, marked as Grammatical Range and Accuracy (GRA): the variety of structures you attempt and the proportion of error-free sentences you produce. These guides decode the official band descriptors and show exactly which structures move you from Band 6 to 7 to 8 — or paste your writing into the IELTS Grammar Checker for an instant GRA estimate.
IELTS grammar guides
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy: The IELTS Grammar Criterion Decoded
- Grammar for IELTS Band 7: The Structures That Unlock It
- The 20 Most Common IELTS Grammar Mistakes
- Complex Sentences for IELTS: How to Build Them Without Breaking Them
- IELTS Writing Task 2 Grammar: What Examiners Reward
- IELTS Writing Task 1 Grammar: Trends, Comparisons and Processes
- Grammar in IELTS Speaking: How Much It Matters and What to Use
- Linking Words for IELTS: The Complete Guide (With Misuse Warnings)
- Which Tenses Do You Need for IELTS? A Task-by-Task Guide
Structures that unlock Band 7
These lessons teach the complex structures the Band 7 descriptor demands — each with exercises and the mistakes that break them.
Frequently asked questions
How important is grammar in IELTS?
Grammatical Range and Accuracy is one of four equally weighted criteria — 25% of your Writing score and 25% of your Speaking score. It measures both the variety of structures you use and how many of your sentences are error-free.
What grammar do I need for Band 7?
The Band 7 descriptor requires 'a variety of complex structures' with 'frequent error-free sentences'. In practice: relative clauses, conditionals, passives, and concession clauses — used accurately, with comma splices eliminated.
Does grammar matter more in Writing or Speaking?
It carries identical 25% weight in both, but the descriptors differ slightly: Speaking tolerates the occasional slip a native speaker would make, while Writing also scores punctuation control. The structures examiners reward are nearly identical.
Can I check my IELTS grammar before the exam?
Yes — the free IELTS Grammar Checker estimates your Grammatical Range and Accuracy band from any practice essay or speaking transcript, lists every error with the rule explained, and links each one to the lesson that fixes it.
Next step
See your real GRA band
A full AI-conducted IELTS Speaking mock scores your Grammatical Range & Accuracy against the official descriptors — and lists every slip with a correction.
Try the AI speaking exam