IELTS Writing Task 2 Grammar Mistakes to Avoid (2026)

The IELTS Writing Task 2 grammar mistakes that keep essays at Band 6: run-ons, articles, agreement, relative clauses and punctuation, with fixes and a checklist.

12분 읽기게시 2026년 10월 31일

핵심 답변

The jump from Band 6 to Band 7 in Grammatical Range and Accuracy is mostly about how often sentences are error-free. Five error families cause most lost marks in Task 2: sentence boundaries, verb forms and agreement, articles and countability, relative and participle clauses, and punctuation. Fix them with a short proofreading pass in the last five minutes.

Error family	Typical mistake	Correct version
Sentence boundaries	Technology is useful, it saves time.	Technology is useful because it saves time.
Agreement	The number of cars are increasing.	The number of cars is increasing.
Articles and countability	Students need more informations.	Students need more information.
Relative clauses	My city, that is very crowded, needs trams.	My city, which is very crowded, needs trams.
Punctuation	However people still drive.	However, people still drive.

Band 6 wording: "Examples of more complex structures are not marked by the same level of accuracy as in simple structures." Band 7: "error-free sentences are frequent." Quoted from the IELTS Writing band descriptors (IELTS.org PDF), checked 31 October 2026.

Why small grammar errors hold essays at Band 6

The IELTS Writing band descriptors (IELTS.org PDF) describe Band 6 grammar as a mix of simple and complex forms where the complex ones are less accurate, and Band 7 as grammar that is generally well controlled with frequent error-free sentences. In practice, many Band 6 essays have good ideas and decent vocabulary but repeat the same few errors in almost every paragraph. Because the errors are systematic, they lower the impression of control even when meaning stays clear.

The good news is that systematic errors are predictable. Most candidates make mistakes from the same five families, and each family has a quick check you can run before time is up. The sections below show the error, why it happens and the fix. For the positive side of the same criterion, see our guide to Task 2 sentence structures.

Band	What the descriptor says about errors	Practical target
7	Grammar and punctuation are generally well controlled, and error-free sentences are frequent. A few errors in grammar may persist.	Most sentences clean, no repeated error pattern
6	Errors in grammar and punctuation occur, but rarely impede communication.	Clear meaning, but the same mistakes recur
5	Grammatical errors may be frequent and cause some difficulty for the reader. Punctuation may be faulty.	Errors in many sentences

Sentence boundary errors: run-ons, comma splices and fragments

A comma splice joins two full sentences with only a comma. A fragment is a group of words without a main clause, often starting with Because or Which. Both appear when candidates write quickly and add ideas as they think of them. They also cause the most common linker error in IELTS: using although and but, or because and so, in the same sentence.

The fix is mechanical. Every sentence needs one main clause with a subject and a finite verb. If you have two main clauses, join them with a linker (and, but, because, which) or a full stop. Never let a sentence start with Because, Although or Which unless a main clause follows in the same sentence.

Error	Wrong	Fixed
Comma splice	Many people work from home, this reduces traffic.	Many people work from home, which reduces traffic.
Fragment	Because the cost of living is high.	Young people stay with their parents because the cost of living is high.
Double linker	Although it is expensive, but it is worth it.	Although it is expensive, it is worth it.
Double linker	Because prices rose, so people bought less.	Because prices rose, people bought less.
Run-on	Cities are crowded people cannot find homes.	Cities are crowded, so people cannot find homes.

Verb errors: agreement, tense and form

Subject-verb agreement fails most often when the subject is long. In The number of students who study abroad are rising, the verb must agree with number, not students. Find the head noun of the subject and make the verb agree with it. The same applies to Each of, One of the and Everyone, which all take a singular verb.

Tense in Task 2 is usually the present simple for general truths and the present perfect for recent change (has increased, have become). Errors appear when candidates switch tense without reason or mix modal verbs with the wrong form, such as should to be or can helps. After a modal, always use the base verb.

Error	Wrong	Fixed
Agreement with long subject	The use of smartphones in classrooms have grown.	The use of smartphones in classrooms has grown.
One of the + plural noun	One of the main problem is pollution.	One of the main problems is pollution.
Modal + base verb	Governments should to invest in housing.	Governments should invest in housing.
Present perfect for change	In recent years, tourism increased a lot.	In recent years, tourism has increased considerably.
Passive form	Many jobs will replaced by machines.	Many jobs will be replaced by machines.

Noun phrase errors: articles and countability

Articles are the most frequent error for candidates whose first language does not use them. For Task 2, three rules cover most cases. Use no article with plural or uncountable nouns used generally (Children need exercise). Use a or an the first time you mention one countable thing (a new law). Use the when the reader knows which one you mean (the law I described, the government of a country, the internet).

Countability matters because many common Task 2 nouns are uncountable: information, advice, research, evidence, knowledge, equipment, traffic, pollution and homework. They take no plural s and no a. Use a piece of, some or much with them, or choose a countable alternative such as studies, facts or tips.

Error	Wrong	Fixed
Article with general plural	The children need the exercise.	Children need exercise.
Missing article with singular countable	Government should build new hospital.	The government should build a new hospital.
Uncountable with plural	There are many researches on this topic.	There is a great deal of research on this topic.
Uncountable with a	Teachers can give a useful advice.	Teachers can give useful advice.
Much or many	Cities have too much cars.	Cities have too many cars.

Clause errors: relative, participle and question word order

Relative clauses go wrong in two ways. Candidates use that after a comma, or they add an extra pronoun (the city which I live in it). Use which or who after a comma for extra information, and remember that the relative pronoun already replaces the object, so no second pronoun is needed.

Participle clauses must describe the subject of the main clause. Using public transport, pollution falls is wrong because pollution does not use transport. Embedded questions also cause errors: in a statement, keep normal word order (It is unclear why prices are rising, not why are prices rising).

Error	Wrong	Fixed
That after a comma	Tokyo, that is a huge city, has excellent trains.	Tokyo, which is a huge city, has excellent trains.
Extra pronoun	This is the town which I grew up in it.	This is the town which I grew up in.
Dangling participle	Using public transport, pollution can be reduced.	Using public transport, commuters can reduce pollution.
Embedded question order	It is not clear why do people buy so much.	It is not clear why people buy so much.
Who or which	Companies who pollute should pay more.	Companies that pollute should pay more.

Punctuation errors examiners notice

Punctuation is part of Grammatical Range and Accuracy in the public descriptors, so missing commas and faulty capitals count. The highest-value rules are few. Put a comma after an introductory clause or linker (However, In addition, Although X,). Use a semicolon or full stop, not a comma, before however when it joins two sentences. Avoid contractions such as don't and it's in a formal essay.

On the computer test you can edit freely, so a final punctuation pass is quick. If you take Writing on Paper, plan your sentences before writing so that corrections stay few and easy to read.

Comma after a sentence-opening clause: When prices rise, people spend less.
However, Therefore and In addition followed by a comma at the start of a sentence.
No comma between a subject and its verb, even when the subject is long.
Its (possessive) and it's (it is) never confused; avoid contractions altogether.
Capital letters for countries, languages and nationalities: English, Japanese, the UK.

A five-minute proofreading routine

Proofreading works best when you look for one error family at a time instead of rereading the whole essay for meaning. Keep the last five minutes of Task 2 for this routine. Over a few weeks, your personal error list will shrink to two or three items, and that is the list to check first on test day.

1Boundaries (1 minute)Check that every sentence has one main verb and that no sentence has two linkers such as although and but.
2Verbs (1 minute)Find the subject of each long sentence and check agreement, then check every modal is followed by a base verb.
3Nouns (1 minute)Scan for information, research, advice and other uncountables, then check a, an and the before singular nouns.
4Clauses (1 minute)Check which after commas and that every participle clause describes the subject.
5Punctuation (1 minute)Add commas after introductory clauses and linkers and remove any contractions.

Practise the routine on a timed essay from our Writing predictions bank, compare your structure with the Task 2 model essays, and track the errors that come back each week.

Grammar mistakes FAQ

How many grammar mistakes are allowed for Band 7?+

There is no fixed number. The Band 7 descriptor says error-free sentences are frequent and a few errors may persist, so the aim is a clear majority of clean sentences and no repeated error pattern.

Do spelling mistakes count as grammar errors?+

No. Spelling and word formation are judged under Lexical Resource. Grammar and punctuation are judged under Grammatical Range and Accuracy, so a comma splice and a misspelled word affect different criteria.

Should I avoid complex sentences to stay accurate?+

No. Band 6 already requires a mix of simple and complex forms, and Band 7 requires a variety of complex structures. Use complex sentences you can control and check them carefully, rather than avoiding them.

What is the fastest grammar fix before my test?+

Collect the errors from your last three essays, find the two families that repeat, and check only those in your final five minutes. Removing one systematic error usually helps more than learning a new structure.