Grammar mistakes can be one of the biggest obstacles to improving your IELTS score.

You may have strong vocabulary and good ideas, but repeated grammar errors can affect how clearly and accurately you communicate in both the Writing and Speaking tests.

The good news is that many IELTS grammar mistakes are predictable. Candidates often repeat the same problems with verb tenses, subject-verb agreement, articles, prepositions, sentence structure, countable nouns, conditionals and punctuation.

Understanding these errors is the first step. The next step is learning how to identify and correct them in your own English.

In this guide, we will cover the most common IELTS grammar mistakes, show you correct and incorrect examples, explain why the errors happen, and give you practical strategies for improving your grammatical accuracy.

Why Does Grammar Matter in IELTS?

Grammar is not simply a language skill you study separately from IELTS.

It is directly connected to how your performance is assessed.

In IELTS Writing, Grammatical Range and Accuracy is one of the four assessment criteria. Examiners consider both the range of grammatical structures you use and how accurately and appropriately you use them.

Grammar is also one of the four criteria used to assess IELTS Speaking. The official Speaking criteria consider the range of grammar available to you as well as how accurately and appropriately you use it.

This means improving grammar can contribute to stronger performance in both skills.

However, IELTS grammar is not about trying to make every sentence extremely complicated.

Accurate, appropriate grammar is more useful than complicated grammar that contains frequent errors.

The Most Common IELTS Grammar Mistakes

Here are some of the grammar problems IELTS candidates should watch most carefully:

1. Subject-verb agreement
2. Incorrect verb tenses
3. Article mistakes
4. Singular and plural noun errors
5. Countable and uncountable noun mistakes
6. Incorrect prepositions
7. Incorrect word forms
8. Sentence fragments
9. Run-on sentences
10. Incorrect complex sentences
11. Problems with conditionals
12. Incorrect modal verbs
13. Pronoun errors
14. Incorrect comparative and superlative forms
15. Punctuation mistakes
16. Incorrect use of passive voice
17. Missing auxiliary verbs
18. Incorrect question structures
19. Repetition of simple sentence structures
20. Trying to use complex grammar inaccurately

Let’s look at each one in more detail.

1. Subject-Verb Agreement Mistakes

Subject-verb agreement is one of the most common IELTS grammar errors.

The verb must agree with the subject in number and person.

Incorrect

People is becoming more dependent on technology.

Correct

People are becoming more dependent on technology.

Another common mistake occurs with third-person singular subjects.

Incorrect

The government need to invest more money.

Correct

The government needs to invest more money.

Be especially careful with:

• He works
• She studies
• It affects
• The government needs
• Technology plays
• People need
• Students have

A missing -s may seem like a small error, but repeated grammatical errors can affect your overall performance.

IELTS guidance specifically identifies subject-verb agreement as a common grammatical problem for test takers.

How to Avoid This Mistake

Before submitting your Writing answer, check every sentence containing:

• he
• she
• it
• a singular noun
• an uncountable noun
• a singular organisation or institution

Ask:

Does my verb agree with my subject?

2. Incorrect Verb Tenses

Using the wrong tense can change the meaning of a sentence.

IELTS candidates often use the present tense when they should use the past, or switch between tenses without a reason.

Incorrect

Yesterday, I go to the university library.

Correct

Yesterday, I went to the university library.

Another example:

Incorrect

The number of international students increased significantly since 2010.

Correct

The number of international students has increased significantly since 2010.

The correct tense depends on the time reference and meaning.

Common IELTS Tense Problems

Watch for mistakes involving:

• Present simple
• Present continuous
• Past simple
• Past continuous
• Present perfect
• Past perfect
• Future forms

IELTS Writing Tip

When describing graphs or charts, pay close attention to the dates.

If the information describes a completed period in the past, you may need past forms.

If the information continues to the present, a present perfect construction may sometimes be appropriate.

Do not choose a tense simply because it sounds more advanced.

Choose it because it accurately expresses the time relationship.

3. Article Mistakes: A, An and The

Articles are particularly difficult for many IELTS candidates.

The three main choices are:

• a
• an
• the

You may also need no article, depending on the noun and context.

Incorrect

I want to study at the university in Qatar.

This may be correct or incorrect depending on whether you mean a specific university or universities in general.

Compare:

I want to study at a university in Qatar.

I want to study at the university I visited last week.

The first refers to one university without specifying which one.

The second refers to a particular university already identified.

Common Article Mistakes

Incorrect

Technology has changed the society.

Better

Technology has changed society.

But:

Technology has changed the society we live in.

Here, the specific society is identified.

How to Improve Article Accuracy

When reviewing your writing, ask:

• Is this noun singular and countable?
• Is it specific?
• Have I already mentioned it?
• Am I talking about something generally?
• Does it need an article at all?

IELTS guidance also lists article use among common grammatical mistakes.

4. Singular and Plural Noun Mistakes

Another common IELTS grammar problem is forgetting to make nouns plural when necessary.

Incorrect

Many student choose to study abroad.

Correct

Many students choose to study abroad.

Another example:

Incorrect

There are several important factor.

Correct

There are several important factors.

Look carefully at words such as:

• student/students
• problem/problems
• factor/factors
• reason/reasons
• advantage/advantages
• solution/solutions

A Useful Check

Whenever you use:

• many
• several
• numerous
• various
• a number of
• different

check whether the following noun should be plural.

5. Countable and Uncountable Noun Mistakes

Some English nouns can be counted, while others are normally treated as uncountable.

Common IELTS examples include:

• information
• advice
• research
• equipment
• knowledge
• traffic
• accommodation
• education

Incorrect

There are many informations available online.

Correct

There is a lot of information available online.

Incorrect

Students should receive more advices.

Correct

Students should receive more advice.

Instead of adding -s, use expressions such as:

• a piece of advice
• a piece of information
• a great deal of research
• a large amount of information

6. Preposition Mistakes

Prepositions are small words, but they can cause frequent IELTS grammar errors.

Common examples include:

• in
• on
• at
• for
• to
• from
• by
• with
• about

Incorrect

I am interested on studying abroad.

Correct

I am interested in studying abroad.

Incorrect

Many students depend of technology.

Correct

Many students depend on technology.

Incorrect

The university is located at Doha.

Correct

The university is located in Doha.

Do not translate prepositions directly from your first language.

Instead, learn common verb + preposition and adjective + preposition combinations.

Examples:

• depend on
• interested in
• responsible for
• concerned about
• contribute to
• focus on
• benefit from

7. Incorrect Word Forms

IELTS candidates sometimes know the correct vocabulary but use the wrong grammatical form.

For example:

Incorrect

Technology has a significant effecting on education.

Correct

Technology has a significant effect on education.

Or:

Incorrect

Governments should development better policies.

Correct

Governments should develop better policies.

Remember that related words can belong to different grammatical categories:

Noun	Verb	Adjective	Adverb
development	develop	developed	—
importance	—	important	importantly
difference	differ	different	differently
success	succeed	successful	successfully

Before using an advanced word, make sure you know how it functions grammatically in the sentence.

8. Sentence Fragment Mistakes

A sentence fragment is an incomplete sentence.

Incorrect

Because many students want to study abroad.

This does not express a complete idea.

Correct

Because many students want to study abroad, they need to improve their English skills.

Or:

Many students want to study abroad.

A useful sentence normally needs an appropriate structure containing the necessary elements, such as a subject and a finite verb.

Be particularly careful when starting sentences with:

• because
• although
• while
• whereas
• if
• when
• which

These words often introduce dependent clauses that need to connect to a main clause.

9. Run-On Sentences

The opposite problem is putting too many independent ideas together without appropriate punctuation or linking.

Incorrect

Many people work from home they save time and money they can also spend more time with their families.

This contains several ideas that need clearer separation.

Better

Many people work from home because they can save time and money. They may also be able to spend more time with their families.

Or:

Many people work from home because they can save time and money, while also spending more time with their families.

Good IELTS writing should not simply contain long sentences.

It should contain well-controlled sentences.

10. Incorrect Complex Sentences

Many candidates believe that using complex sentences automatically means a higher band score.

That is not how grammar assessment works.

The official IELTS Writing criteria consider both range and accuracy. Higher-level performance involves a variety of structures used with control, rather than simply adding complicated structures.

Consider:

Risky

Although people who living in cities which have many facilities are more convenient but they can also facing problems.

This sentence attempts to use several complex structures but contains multiple errors.

Better

Although cities offer many useful facilities, people who live in urban areas may also face problems such as traffic congestion and high living costs.

The second sentence is complex but controlled.

Do not use complex grammar simply to look advanced. Use it when it helps you express your idea clearly.

11. Conditional Sentence Mistakes

Conditionals are useful for IELTS Writing and Speaking, but they are frequently misused.

First Conditional

Used for realistic future possibilities:

If governments invest more in public transport, traffic congestion will decrease.

Second Conditional

Used for hypothetical or less likely situations:

If I had more free time, I would learn another language.

Third Conditional

Used for hypothetical situations in the past:

If the government had invested earlier, the problem might have been reduced.

A common mistake is mixing the structures.

Incorrect

If governments will invest more money, pollution will decrease.

Better

If governments invest more money, pollution will decrease.

Learn the structure before trying to use it in an IELTS answer.

12. Modal Verb Mistakes

Modal verbs include:

• can
• could
• may
• might
• should
• must
• would

A common mistake is adding an unnecessary to.

Incorrect

Governments should to invest more money.

Correct

Governments should invest more money.

Another common mistake is using a modal with the wrong verb form.

Incorrect

This policy could reduces unemployment.

Correct

This policy could reduce unemployment.

Remember:

modal + base verb

Examples:

• should improve
• can help
• may reduce
• could increase
• might affect

13. Pronoun Mistakes

Pronouns need to clearly refer to the correct noun.

Incorrect

When students talk to teachers, they should give them more feedback.

Who does “they” refer to?

The sentence is ambiguous.

Better

When students talk to teachers, teachers should give students more feedback.

Clear reference makes your writing easier to understand.

Be careful with:

• it
• they
• them
• this
• these
• those
• which

Especially when writing long sentences.

14. Comparative and Superlative Mistakes

Comparatives are common in IELTS Writing Task 1 and Speaking.

Incorrect

The number of students was more higher in 2025.

Correct

The number of students was higher in 2025.

Incorrect

This is the most easiest solution.

Correct

This is the easiest solution.

Avoid combining:

• more + -er
• most + -est

For example:

❌ more easier
✅ easier

❌ most cheapest
✅ cheapest

15. Punctuation Mistakes

Punctuation is also part of grammatical accuracy in IELTS Writing. The official Writing criteria explicitly include accurate and appropriate punctuation.

Common problems include:

• Missing full stops
• Incorrect commas
• Comma splices
• Missing apostrophes
• Inconsistent capitalisation

Incorrect

Many students study abroad, they want better career opportunities.

This is a comma splice.

Better

Many students study abroad because they want better career opportunities.

Or:

Many students study abroad. They want better career opportunities.

Do not use commas simply because you pause when reading the sentence.

16. Passive Voice Mistakes

Passive structures can be useful, especially in Academic Writing, but they must be grammatically controlled.

Correct

The data were collected from three different sources.

Incorrect

The data was collected from three different sources.

Another problem is using passive voice unnecessarily.

Instead of:

It is believed by many people that technology has changed education.

You could write:

Many people believe that technology has changed education.

Both can be grammatically acceptable depending on context, but clarity should remain the priority.

17. Missing Auxiliary Verbs

English questions and negative sentences often require auxiliary verbs.

Incorrect

Why you think this is important?

Correct

Why do you think this is important?

Incorrect

I not agree with this argument.

Correct

I do not agree with this argument.

Pay particular attention to:

• do
• does
• did
• have
• has
• had
• am
• is
• are
• was
• were

18. Incorrect Question Structures in IELTS Speaking

Speaking candidates often make grammar mistakes when answering questions quickly.

Incorrect

What you usually do at weekends?

Correct

What do you usually do at weekends?

Another example:

Incorrect

Where you studied English?

Correct

Where did you study English?

You do not necessarily need to produce complex grammar in every Speaking answer.

Clear and accurate basic structures are essential.

19. Using Only Simple Sentences

There is another problem: avoiding grammar mistakes so aggressively that your language becomes too simple.

For example:

I like my city. It is modern. It is busy. It has many shops. I like the shops. I go there often.

The grammar may be mostly accurate, but the response has limited variety.

You could connect ideas more naturally:

I like my city because it is modern and has a wide range of shops and restaurants. Although it can be quite busy, I enjoy living there because there are always plenty of things to do.

For higher-band performance, candidates need to demonstrate an appropriate range of grammatical structures. The official Writing descriptors for Band 7 refer to a variety of complex structures used with some flexibility and accuracy.

20. Using Complex Grammar Incorrectly

This is one of the most important IELTS grammar lessons.

Complex does not automatically mean better.

Compare:

Incorrect

People which live in big cities are facing many problems that because the population is increasing rapidly.

Better

People who live in large cities often face problems because the population is increasing rapidly.

The second sentence is not unnecessarily complicated.

It is clear, accurate and controlled.

That is what you should aim for.

IELTS Grammar Mistakes in Writing vs Speaking

The same grammar problem can appear differently in Writing and Speaking.

Grammar Area	Writing	Speaking
Tenses	Very important	Very important
Subject-verb agreement	Important	Important
Articles	Important	Important
Prepositions	Important	Important
Sentence structure	Very important	Very important
Complex structures	Useful when controlled	Useful when natural
Punctuation	Relevant	Not applicable in the same way
Self-correction	Possible during editing	Possible while speaking
Fluency	Organisation matters	Directly assessed
Accuracy	Directly assessed	Directly assessed

In Speaking, grammar is assessed together with fluency and coherence, lexical resource and pronunciation. In Writing, it is assessed alongside task achievement/response, coherence and cohesion, and lexical resource.

Which IELTS Grammar Mistakes Are Most Serious?

Not every grammar error has the same effect.

A useful way to think about errors is by asking whether they:

1. Occur occasionally or repeatedly
2. Make your meaning unclear
3. Affect important sentence structures
4. Show limited grammatical range
5. Reduce the clarity of your communication

For example:

I go to university yesterday.

is clearly incorrect, but the meaning is still understandable.

Compare that with a sentence containing several errors that make the meaning difficult to understand.

This is why simply counting every grammatical mistake is not enough.

The official assessment criteria consider the accuracy, range and communicative effect of grammar errors.

IELTS Grammar Mistakes That Can Affect Band 7 Performance

If your target is Band 7 or higher, focus on both accuracy and range.

The official Band 7 Writing descriptor expects a variety of complex structures used with some flexibility and accuracy, with frequent error-free sentences. A few grammar errors may remain, but they should not impede communication.

This means you should work on three areas:

Accuracy

Can you produce correct sentences consistently?

Range

Can you use different grammatical structures appropriately?

Control

Can you use more complex structures without creating frequent errors?

A useful progression is:

Accurate simple sentences → Accurate compound sentences → Controlled complex sentences → Flexible grammatical range

Do not skip the first stages.

How to Check Your Grammar Before Submitting IELTS Writing

Leave several minutes at the end of your Writing test for proofreading.

IELTS itself recommends planning time for reading the question, writing and proofreading/editing.

Instead of reading your essay casually, use a systematic checklist.

Grammar Proofreading Checklist

Check:

• Subject-verb agreement
• Verb tenses
• Articles
• Singular/plural nouns
• Countable/uncountable nouns
• Prepositions
• Word forms
• Pronouns
• Conditionals
• Modal verbs
• Sentence boundaries
• Punctuation
• Spelling
• Complex sentence structures

Do not try to correct everything at once.

Read each sentence and focus on one category at a time.

How to Improve Your IELTS Grammar

Reading grammar rules is useful, but it is not enough.

You need to practise using grammar accurately under IELTS conditions.

Keep an Error Log

Create a table like this:

Mistake	My Sentence	Correct Version	Rule
Tense	I go yesterday	I went yesterday	Past event
Article	the society	society	General concept
Agreement	people is	people are	Plural subject
Preposition	interested on	interested in	Fixed combination

Review your error log regularly.

Rewrite Your Mistakes

Do not simply read the correction.

Write the correct sentence yourself.

Then create two or three new sentences using the same structure.

Practise One Grammar Area at a Time

For example:

Monday: Articles
Tuesday: Tenses
Wednesday: Prepositions
Thursday: Complex sentences
Friday: Conditionals

This is usually more productive than trying to study every grammar rule simultaneously.

Use Grammar in IELTS Topics

Do not practise grammar only with unrelated sentences.

Use IELTS topics such as:

• Education
• Technology
• Environment
• Health
• Work
• Travel
• Government
• Society

For example, if you are practising conditionals:

If governments invest more in renewable energy, they may reduce their dependence on fossil fuels.

Now you are practising grammar and IELTS vocabulary at the same time.

A 7-Day IELTS Grammar Improvement Plan

If you want a simple starting point, try this one-week routine.

Day	Focus	Practice
Day 1	Subject-verb agreement	Correct 20 sentences
Day 2	Verb tenses	Write sentences about past, present and future
Day 3	Articles	Correct article mistakes in an IELTS paragraph
Day 4	Prepositions	Practise common verb + preposition combinations
Day 5	Complex sentences	Combine simple sentences
Day 6	Conditionals and modals	Write IELTS topic sentences
Day 7	Full review	Write and proofread an IELTS response

After the seven days, identify which errors you still make repeatedly.

Those should become the focus of your next study cycle.

Common IELTS Grammar Mistakes: Quick Reference

Mistake	Incorrect	Correct
Subject-verb agreement	People is	People are
Past tense	I go yesterday	I went yesterday
Article	an university	a university
Plural noun	many student	many students
Uncountable noun	many informations	a lot of information
Preposition	interested on	interested in
Modal	should to improve	should improve
Conditional	If it will happen	If it happens
Comparative	more easier	easier
Superlative	most easiest	easiest
Question form	Why you think…?	Why do you think…?
Auxiliary verb	I not agree	I do not agree
Sentence fragment	Because it is important.	It is important because…
Comma splice	It is useful, it saves time.	It is useful because it saves time.

Frequently Asked Questions About IELTS Grammar Mistakes

What are the most common IELTS grammar mistakes?

Common IELTS grammar mistakes include subject-verb agreement, incorrect tenses, article errors, singular and plural noun mistakes, preposition errors, incorrect word forms, conditionals, sentence structure and punctuation.

Does grammar affect my IELTS score?

Yes. Grammatical Range and Accuracy is one of the assessment criteria for both IELTS Writing and Speaking.

How can I improve my IELTS grammar quickly?

Start by identifying your most frequent errors. Keep an error log, practise one grammar area at a time, rewrite incorrect sentences and apply the grammar to IELTS topics.

Do I need complex grammar to get Band 7?

You need an appropriate range of grammatical structures, including complex structures, but complexity alone is not enough. Accuracy and control are also important. The official Band 7 Writing descriptor refers to a variety of complex structures used with some flexibility and accuracy.

Is it better to use simple grammar without mistakes?

Accurate simple grammar is better than inaccurate complex grammar, but relying exclusively on simple structures can limit your grammatical range. A strong IELTS response should aim for a balance of accuracy, variety and control.

Does grammar matter in IELTS Speaking?

Yes. Grammatical Range and Accuracy is one of the four equally weighted IELTS Speaking assessment criteria.

How do I stop repeating the same grammar mistakes?

Keep an error log and categorise every repeated error. Then practise the specific structure in new sentences until you can use it accurately without consciously thinking about the rule.

How much time should I spend checking grammar in IELTS Writing?

Reserve time at the end of the Writing test for proofreading. IELTS recommends planning your 60-minute Writing test carefully, including time for reviewing and editing your response.

Improve Your IELTS Grammar With Structured Preparation

Knowing common IELTS grammar mistakes is a good starting point, but recognising an error and consistently avoiding it are two different skills.

If you repeatedly struggle with grammar in Writing or Speaking, structured IELTS preparation can help you identify the specific areas holding back your performance and practise them with targeted feedback.

At IFI Qatar, IELTS preparation can combine grammar development with the skills you actually need for the test, including Writing, Speaking, vocabulary, exam strategies and practice.

Ready to improve your IELTS performance? Explore IELTS preparation options with IFI Qatar and build a study plan around your target band score.

Final Thoughts

Grammar mistakes are a normal part of learning English, but repeated errors can become a serious obstacle when you are trying to improve your IELTS performance.

The solution is not to memorise hundreds of grammar rules.

Instead:

• Identify your repeated mistakes
• Understand why they happen
• Correct them
• Practise the correct structures
• Use them in IELTS-style answers
• Review your performance regularly
• Gradually increase grammatical range while maintaining accuracy

The most effective IELTS grammar strategy is simple:

Use the grammar you know accurately, then gradually expand what you can control.

With consistent practice and targeted feedback, you can turn recurring grammar errors into areas of measurable improvement.