Grammar for Band 7+ Writing

To achieve Band 7 or above for Grammatical Range and Accuracy, you need to demonstrate a variety of complex structures with frequent error-free sentences. This lesson covers the specific grammatical structures that examiners look for and the most common errors to avoid.

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What the Top Bands Look Like in Practice

What strong grammar in a Task 2 essay actually looks like

• A variety of complex structures across the essay — not the same complex pattern repeated. A typical Band 7+ essay will weave in conditionals, relative clauses, participle phrases, cleft sentences, and modal-perfect constructions naturally.
• Frequent error-free sentences, particularly around the thesis statement, topic sentences, and conclusion.
• Punctuation that supports complexity rather than fighting it: comma use in non-defining relative clauses, no run-ons or comma splices, semicolons used sparingly and correctly.
• Subordinate clauses that genuinely subordinate ideas (cause, contrast, condition, concession) rather than just lengthen sentences.

Common reasons grammar caps a candidate at Band 6

• Most sentences sit in the simple-plus-coordinating-conjunction range; complex structures appear only occasionally.
• Article errors (a / the / zero), preposition errors, and subject-verb agreement slip throughout the essay rather than at isolated points.
• Complex sentences are attempted but break down: subjects orphaned by long modifiers, conditional patterns mixed mid-sentence, relative clauses misplaced.

The practical takeaway: variety and accuracy together. Drilling a focused set of complex structures — conditionals, relative clauses, participles, cleft sentences, modal-perfect verbs — until you can produce them under exam pressure is what shifts the picture. Refer to the official Cambridge IELTS public band descriptors for the authoritative criteria.

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Essential Complex Structures

1. Conditional Sentences

Conditionals demonstrate sophistication and are natural in academic essays.

First Conditional (real/possible):

If governments invest in renewable energy, carbon emissions will decrease significantly.

Second Conditional (hypothetical):

If every country adopted this policy, global pollution levels would fall dramatically.

Third Conditional (past hypothetical):

If the government had invested in public transport earlier, congestion would not have reached its current level.

Mixed Conditional:

If the government had acted sooner, the situation today would be far less severe.

Band 7+ tip: Use a range of conditional types. Many candidates only use first conditionals. Including second and third conditionals demonstrates greater grammatical range.

2. Relative Clauses

Relative clauses add detail and complexity within a sentence.

Defining (essential information):

Students who attend well-funded schools tend to achieve higher grades.

Non-defining (additional information, with commas):

Finland, which consistently ranks highly in educational outcomes, invests heavily in teacher training.

Reduced relative clauses (advanced):

Students attending well-funded schools tend to achieve higher grades. The policy, introduced in 2015, has had measurable effects.

3. Passive Voice

The passive voice is natural in academic writing and adds variety.

Standard passive:

The new policy was introduced by the government in 2020.

Passive with modal verbs:

This issue could be addressed through investment in education.

Passive infinitive:

The problem is expected to worsen without intervention.

Passive perfect:

Significant progress has been made in reducing child poverty.

Band 7+ tip: Use the passive strategically — when the action matters more than the actor, or when you want to sound objective. Do not overuse it; mix active and passive throughout your essay.

4. Complex Noun Phrases

Complex noun phrases pack information into fewer words, a hallmark of academic writing.

Pre-modification:

A well-designed, government-funded rehabilitation programme...

Post-modification:

The proportion of elderly people living alone in urban areas...

Nominalisation (turning verbs into nouns):

Verb Form	Nominalised Form
People consume more energy	The consumption of energy has increased
Children develop socially	Social development in children
The population is ageing	The ageing of the population
Crime has increased	The increase in crime

Band 7+ tip: Nominalisation is one of the most effective ways to elevate your writing from Band 6 to Band 7+. It creates more formal, dense, academic prose.

5. Subordinate Clauses

Use a variety of subordinating conjunctions to show different logical relationships:

Concession:

Although the cost is significant, the long-term benefits justify the investment. Despite the challenges involved, progress has been steady.