What the examiner is looking for
Band 6 Grammar
- Mostly simple and compound sentences
- Limited range of structures — subject + verb + object repeated
- Some errors in complex sentences
- Correct but predictable — "I think… because…"
- Little use of passive, conditionals, or relative clauses
Band 7 Grammar
- Mix of simple, compound, and complex sentences
- Uses a variety of structures with good control
- Errors do occur but rarely affect meaning
- Conditionals, passives, and relative clauses used naturally
- Sentences vary in length and structure throughout
The 10 structures — click any to expand
01
Relative Clauses
Writing & Speaking
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Band 6 — Basic
The government introduced a new policy. The policy reduced emissions.
Band 7 — With Relative Clause
The government introduced a new policy that significantly reduced carbon emissions within five years.
The rule: Use who for people, which/that for things, where for places, whose for possession. Non-defining clauses (extra information) use commas and which — never that.
More examples
The country whose population is ageing most rapidly is Japan.
This is a problem that affects millions of people worldwide.
Remote working, which became widespread during the pandemic, has permanently changed office culture.
Cities where public transport is well-funded tend to have lower rates of car ownership.
02
Conditional Sentences
Writing & Speaking
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Band 6 — Basic
If people exercise, they will be healthy.
Band 7 — Second/Third Conditional
If governments invested more in preventative healthcare, they would reduce long-term costs considerably.
The four conditionals:
Zero: If + present, present — general truths (If you heat water, it boils)
First: If + present, will — real future possibility (If she studies, she will pass)
Second: If + past, would — hypothetical present/future (If I were rich, I would travel)
Third: If + past perfect, would have — imaginary past (If he had studied, he would have passed)
Zero: If + present, present — general truths (If you heat water, it boils)
First: If + present, will — real future possibility (If she studies, she will pass)
Second: If + past, would — hypothetical present/future (If I were rich, I would travel)
Third: If + past perfect, would have — imaginary past (If he had studied, he would have passed)
More examples — Band 7 conditionals in IELTS contexts
If stricter regulations were introduced, many companies would be forced to reduce their emissions.
Had the government acted sooner, the economic crisis might have been avoided. (inverted third conditional — very advanced)
Unless urgent action is taken, climate change will have catastrophic consequences.
Even if technology improves, human connection will always remain essential.
03
Passive Voice
Writing
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Band 6 — Active only
People have debated this issue for decades. Researchers conducted the study in 2020.
Band 7 — Passive used appropriately
This issue has been debated for decades. The study was conducted in 2020, and the findings were widely published.
The rule: Use the passive when the action is more important than who did it, or when the agent (doer) is unknown or obvious. Formula: be + past participle. Don't overuse it — alternate with active voice.
More examples — passive in academic writing
New laws are expected to be introduced by the end of the year.
Children are often influenced by the media from a very young age.
Significant progress has been made in renewable energy technology over the past decade.
The problem can be addressed through a combination of education and regulation.
04
Noun Clauses (that / what / whether)
Writing & Speaking
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Band 6 — Simple
I think technology is useful. Many people believe education is important.
Band 7 — Noun clause + reporting verb
It is widely argued that technology has transformed modern communication. Many experts contend that access to education is a fundamental right.
The rule: Replace "I think…" with more academic reporting structures. Use: It is argued that… / It is widely believed that… / Research suggests that… / It is worth noting that…
More examples
It is clear that a long-term solution is required.
The question of whether governments should fund the arts is deeply contested.
What concerns many experts is the speed at which automation is replacing jobs.
Whether or not social media has a net positive effect on society remains a subject of debate.
05
Participle Clauses
Writing
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Band 6 — Two separate sentences
The government introduced new laws. The laws helped reduce pollution levels.
Band 7 — Participle clause
Having introduced new laws, the government managed to reduce pollution levels significantly.
The rule: Participle clauses condense two related actions into one elegant sentence. Present participle (-ing): simultaneous actions. Past participle (-ed): passive meaning. Having + past participle: completed action before the next.
More examples
Growing up in a bilingual household, she developed a natural aptitude for languages.
Faced with rising costs, many families have been forced to cut back on essentials.
Having considered both sides of the argument, I believe the advantages clearly outweigh the disadvantages.
Driven by economic necessity, millions of people migrate to cities every year.
06
Cleft Sentences (It is… that / What… is)
Writing & Speaking
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Band 6 — Flat emphasis
Education is the most important factor in reducing inequality.
Band 7 — Cleft sentence for emphasis
It is education that plays the most critical role in reducing social inequality.
The rule: Cleft sentences place strong emphasis on one element. Two patterns: "It is/was… that/who…" and "What… is/was…". They sound sophisticated and are relatively easy to master.
More examples
It is the lack of investment in public transport that makes private car ownership so appealing.
What worries many scientists is not the current rate of warming, but the acceleration.
It is only through international cooperation that this problem can truly be solved.
What many students fail to realise is that vocabulary matters as much as grammar.
07
Wish / If Only Structures
Speaking
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Band 6 — Simple past
I didn't study science at university. I want to change my career.
Band 7 — Wish structures
I wish I had studied science at university. If only it were easier to change careers later in life.
The rule:
wish + past simple — want something different now: I wish I lived closer to work.
wish + past perfect — regret about the past: I wish I had worked harder.
wish + would — want someone to change: I wish the government would invest more in education.
wish + past simple — want something different now: I wish I lived closer to work.
wish + past perfect — regret about the past: I wish I had worked harder.
wish + would — want someone to change: I wish the government would invest more in education.
More examples — natural in Speaking Part 1 & 2
I wish I had travelled more when I was younger — I had the time but not the money.
If only public transport were more reliable, I would give up my car without hesitation.
I sometimes wish I could go back and experience university again.
08
Formal Inversion
Writing
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Band 6 — Standard word order
We rarely see such a complete solution to a complex problem.
Band 7 — Formal inversion
Rarely do we see such a comprehensive solution to a problem of this complexity.
The rule: Place a negative adverb at the start of a sentence, then invert the subject and auxiliary verb. Use sparingly — once per essay maximum. It is a high-impact structure that signals strong grammatical range.
The most useful inversion starters for IELTS
Not only does technology create new jobs, but it also displaces existing ones.
Never before has the world faced such a complex combination of environmental and economic challenges.
Only by investing in education can governments hope to reduce long-term inequality.
Under no circumstances should children be exposed to violent content online.
09
Nominalisation (turning verbs into nouns)
Writing
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Band 6 — Verb-heavy
The government decided to reform the system. This affected how education was delivered.
Band 7 — Nominalised
The government's decision to reform the system had a significant impact on the delivery of education.
The rule: Academic writing uses nouns where informal writing uses verbs. This creates a denser, more formal style. Common patterns: decide → decision, develop → development, reduce → reduction, fail → failure, invest → investment.
Common nominalisation pairs
improve → improvement: The improvement in living standards has been remarkable.
increase → increase/rise: The sharp rise in tuition fees has concerned many families.
grow → growth: Rapid economic growth has not always led to greater equality.
achieve → achievement: This represents a significant achievement for the research team.
10
Complex Comparison Structures
Writing & Speaking
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Band 6 — Simple comparison
Cities are more expensive than the countryside. People in cities earn more money.
Band 7 — Complex comparison
The more urbanised a country becomes, the greater the pressure on housing and infrastructure tends to be.
The rule: The "the more… the more…" structure is powerful and impressive. Also use: far more… than, considerably less… than, significantly higher than, not nearly as… as, twice as… as.
More examples
The longer a person is unemployed, the more difficult it becomes to re-enter the workforce.
Renewable energy is now considerably more affordable than it was a decade ago.
City living is not nearly as stressful as many rural residents assume.
Life expectancy in developed nations is almost twice as high as in the least developed countries.
Quick reference — all 10 structures at a glance
| # | Structure | Formula | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Relative clause | noun + who/which/that + clause | Combining sentences neatly |
| 02 | Conditional | If + past, would + verb | Discussing hypotheticals |
| 03 | Passive voice | be + past participle | Academic, formal writing |
| 04 | Noun clause | It is argued that… / Research suggests that… | Academic opinions |
| 05 | Participle clause | Having done X, subject Y | Sophisticated essay sentences |
| 06 | Cleft sentence | It is X that… / What X is… | Emphasis & variety |
| 07 | Wish / if only | I wish + past simple/perfect | Speaking — regret & desire |
| 08 | Formal inversion | Not only does… / Rarely do… | Strong essay openings |
| 09 | Nominalisation | verb → noun form | Academic tone in writing |
| 10 | Complex comparison | The more… the more… / twice as… as | Comparing ideas & data |