IELTS Writing Grammar Errors Checklist: Common Mistakes Trapping Your Score at Band 6

Many students find themselves stuck at Band 6 or 6.5 in IELTS writing and subconsciously believe it’s due to a lack of "advanced vocabulary" or "complex sentence structures."

However, when reviewing papers in reality, the most common issues are rarely about lack of sophistication. Instead, they are repeated occurrences of basic grammar mistakes.

For example:

• Subject-verb disagreement
• Confusion between singular and plural
• Missing articles
• Incorrect verb tenses
• Comma splices
• Missing subjects or verbs in subordinate clauses
• Preposition misuse
• Countable nouns appearing without an article (naked)

While these errors may seem minor individually, their repeated appearance in an essay will significantly impact your "Grammatical Range and Accuracy."

This article compiles a checklist of common IELTS writing grammar errors. You can use it as a self-correction table after finishing your essay.

I. Errors in Subject-Verb Agreement

Subject-verb agreement is the most fundamental and often the most frequently repeated error in IELTS writing.

1. Forgetting 's' for the Third Person Singular

Incorrect: Technology make people's lives more convenient.

Correct: Technology makes people's lives more convenient.

Incorrect: This problem affect many young people.

Correct: This problem affects many young people.

Self-Check: When you see a singular subject, immediately check if the general present tense verb has an s.

2. Long Subject Leading to Wrong Predicate

Incorrect: The number of students who study abroad are increasing.

Correct: The number of students who study abroad is increasing.

Reason: The true subject is The number, not students.

Comparison: A number of students are choosing to study abroad. Here, a number of means "a lot of," so the predicate is plural.

3. Gerunds as Subject Use Singular

Incorrect: Using public transport reduce pollution.

Correct: Using public transport reduces pollution.

Similar Structures:

• Learning a foreign language is useful.
• Spending too much time online has negative effects.
• Protecting the environment requires joint effort.

II. Singular/Plural Errors

Confusing singular and plural forms is one of the most stable deduction points for Chinese test-takers.

1. Countable Nouns Cannot Appear "Naked"

Incorrect: Student should develop practical skill.

Correct: Students should develop practical skills.

Or: A student should develop practical skills.

Common "Naked" Nouns:

• student
• child
• parent
• teacher
• problem
• solution
• skill
• job
• city
• country
• benefit
• disadvantage

2. Follow 'many' / 'several' / 'various' with Plural

Incorrect: There are many reason for this trend.

Correct: There are many reasons for this trend.

Incorrect: Students can learn various skill at university.

Correct: Students can learn various skills at university.

3. 'One of' Followed by a Plural Noun

Incorrect: One of the biggest problem is pollution.

Correct: One of the biggest problems is pollution.

Structure: one of + the + superlative adjective + plural noun

Example: One of the most serious problems in large cities is traffic congestion.

4. Do Not Add 's' to Uncountable Nouns

Common Uncountable Nouns:

• information
• advice
• knowledge
• homework
• equipment
• furniture
• traffic
• pollution
• education
• research
• evidence

Incorrect: The Internet provides many informations.

Correct: The Internet provides a large amount of information.

Incorrect: There are many traffics in big cities.

Correct: There is a lot of traffic in big cities.

III. Article Errors

Article errors won't single-handedly destroy an essay, but frequent use throughout the piece will make the language seem unstable.

1. Singular Countable Nouns Usually Require Articles

Incorrect: Government should solve problem.

Correct: The government should solve the problem.

Or: Governments should solve problems.

Incorrect: A student needs teacher's guidance.

Correct: A student needs a teacher's guidance.

2. No 'The' for Generic Plurals

Incorrect: The students should learn practical skills.

If you are referring to students in general, it sounds more natural:

Students should learn practical skills.

the students usually refers to a specific group of students mentioned previously.

3. Use 'The' for Uniqueness or Specific Reference

Common Expressions:

• the government
• the environment
• the Internet
• the economy
• the public
• the elderly
• the young
• the rich
• the poor

Example: The government should invest more in public transport.

Protecting the environment is a shared responsibility.

IV. Tense Errors

IELTS writing does not require many complex tenses, but basic tenses must be stable.

1. Task 2 (Task A): Mostly Present Simple

Since Task 2 discusses general phenomena, opinions, and policies.

Correct: Education plays an important role in personal development.

Excessive screen time can affect children's health.

Do not write in the past tense without reason:

Incorrect: Education played an important role in personal development.

Unless you are explicitly discussing the past.

2. Task 1 (Task B): Follow the Timeline

If the chart data reflects the past, use the past tense:

The figure increased from 2000 to 2010.

If it includes future predictions, use the future or predictive expressions:

The number is expected to rise in 2030.

If there is no time scope or it describes a general process, use the present simple:

The process begins with the collection of raw materials.

3. Do Not Overuse Present Perfect

Present perfect emphasizes impact or change from the past to now.

Correct: The use of smartphones has increased significantly in recent years.

Incorrect: In 2010, the number has increased.

If a specific past time point is mentioned, use the past tense:

In 2010, the number increased.

V. Sentence Structure Errors

1. Comma Splices

Incorrect: Technology is useful, it can improve efficiency.

Correct: Technology is useful because it can improve efficiency.

Or: Technology is useful, as it can improve efficiency.

Or split it: Technology is useful. It can improve efficiency.

A comma cannot directly connect two complete sentences.

2. Missing Subject

Incorrect: Because can reduce pollution.

Correct: This can reduce pollution.

Incorrect: In modern society has many problems.

Correct: Modern society has many problems.

Or: There are many problems in modern society.

3. Missing Predicate (Verb)

Incorrect: Many people in large cities under great pressure.

Correct: Many people in large cities are under great pressure.

Incorrect: The government should more money on education.

Correct: The government should spend more money on education.

VI. Clause Errors

Complex sentences add points, but writing them incorrectly will deduct them.

1. Do Not Use 'Although' and 'But' Together

Incorrect: Although online learning is convenient, but it has disadvantages.

Correct: Although online learning is convenient, it has disadvantages.

Or: Online learning is convenient, but it has disadvantages.

2. Do Not Use 'Because' and 'So' Together

Incorrect: Because public transport is cheap, so many people use it.

Correct: Because public transport is cheap, many people use it.

Or: Public transport is cheap, so many people use it.

3. Repetitve Subject in Relative Clauses

Incorrect: People who they live in cities face more pressure.

Correct: People who live in cities face more pressure.

Incorrect: The policy that it was introduced last year is effective.

Correct: The policy that was introduced last year is effective.

4. 'Which' Reference is Unclear

Unclear: Many people drive cars in cities which causes pollution.

Clearer: The widespread use of cars in cities causes pollution.

Or: Many people drive cars in cities, which causes pollution.

In the second example, 'which' refers to the whole event, so a comma is needed.

VII. Non-Finite Verbs Errors

Non-finite verbs primarily include doing (gerund/present participle), done (past participle), and to do.

1. Gerund as Subject

Incorrect: Use public transport can reduce pollution.

Correct: Using public transport can reduce pollution.

Or: People can reduce pollution by using public transport.

2. 'To Do' for Purpose

Incorrect: Governments should introduce policies reduce pollution.

Correct: Governments should introduce policies to reduce pollution.

3. Past Participle for Passive Voice

Incorrect: The policy introducing by the government is effective.

Correct: The policy introduced by the government is effective.

Full Form: The policy that was introduced by the government is effective.

VIII. Preposition Collocation Errors

Preposition errors are common; it is recommended to memorize these collocations directly.

1. Common Correct Collocations

• depend on
• rely on
• focus on
• have an impact on
• be responsible for
• be interested in
• be good at
• be beneficial to
• be harmful to
• be related to
• be associated with
• contribute to
• lead to
• result in
• result from
• provide someone with something
• prevent someone from doing something

2. High-Frequency Errors

Incorrect: This has a negative impact to children.

Correct: This has a negative impact on children.

Incorrect: Students should focus in their studies.

Correct: Students should focus on their studies.

Incorrect: This can lead many problems.

Correct: This can lead to many problems.

Incorrect: The government should provide people more services.

Correct: The government should provide people with more services.

Or: The government should provide more services for people.

IX. Parts of Speech Errors

Many sentences sound awkward because the wrong part of speech is used.

1. Confusing Nouns and Adjectives

Incorrect: This is a benefit policy.

Correct: This is a beneficial policy.

Or: This policy has several benefits.

Incorrect: Education is importance for children.

Correct: Education is important for children.

Or: Education is of great importance to children.

2. Confusing Verbs and Nouns

Incorrect: Governments should solution this problem.

Correct: Governments should solve this problem.

Or: Governments should find a solution to this problem.

3. Adverb Placement Error

Incorrect: Technology develops rapid.

Correct: Technology develops rapidly.

Incorrect: This is a highly problem.

Correct: This is a serious problem.

highly modifies adjectives or past participles, not ordinary nouns directly.

X. Comparative Errors

1. No +er after 'More'

Incorrect: Public transport is more cheaper than driving.

Correct: Public transport is cheaper than driving.

Or: Public transport is more affordable than driving.

2. Do Not Miss 'Than'

Incorrect: Cities are more convenient countryside.

Correct: Cities are more convenient than the countryside.

3. 'The Same As'

Incorrect: Online learning is same with traditional learning.

Correct: Online learning is the same as traditional learning in some respects.

4. 'Different From'

Incorrect: This is different with the past.

Correct: This is different from the past.

XI. Passive Voice Errors

Task 1 Process and Map questions frequently use the passive voice.

1. Passive Voice Structure

Structure: be + done

Incorrect: The old factory was demolish.

Correct: The old factory was demolished.

Incorrect: The bottles are collect and clean.

Correct: The bottles are collected and cleaned.

2. Do Not Missing the Auxiliary Verb 'Be'

Incorrect: The road widened in 2010.

If the road was "widened":

Correct: The road was widened in 2010.

3. Active vs. Passive Depends on the Meaning

The number increased.

Here, the passive is not needed because the number "rose" by itself.

The school was expanded.

Here, the passive is used because "the school was expanded" (by someone).

XII. Common Grammar Errors in Task 1

1. Usage of increase / decrease

Correct: The number increased significantly.

There was a significant increase in the number.

Incorrect: The number was increased significantly.

Unless the increase is man-made or implied to be intentional, the passive is generally not used.

2. Do Not Mix Up Percentage and Number

Percentage refers to a percent; Number refers to a quantity count.

Correct: The percentage of students increased.

The number of students increased.

Do Not Write: The percentage of students was 500.

3. Difference between 'to' and 'by'

increase to means the value reached a specific number. increase by means the increase amount.

Example: The figure increased to 50%.

The figure increased by 20 percentage points.

4. Usage of 'Respectively'

respectively is used to match order between items in separate lists.

Correct: The figures for China and Japan were 30% and 20%, respectively.

Do not force it if there is no correspondence.

XIII. Common Grammar Errors in Task 2

1. People / Person

When referring to the general population, use people.

Incorrect: Many person use the Internet.

Correct: Many people use the Internet.

If using person: A person who uses the Internet frequently may become dependent on it.

2. Children / Child

Incorrect: Child should spend less time online.

Correct: Children should spend less time online.

Or: A child should spend less time online.

3. Government / Governments

If referring to governments in general: Governments should invest more in education.

If referring to a specific government or the government as an entity: The government should invest more in education.

Do Not Write: Government should invest more in education.

4. Society

When society is used generally, it usually does not take an article.

Correct: This has a negative impact on society.

But if referring to a specific society: A society with a strong education system is more likely to develop sustainably.

XIV. Punctuation Errors

1. English Sentences Cannot Use Chinese Comma Logic

Chinese allows linking sentences with commas, English does not.

Incorrect: Many people move to cities, they want better jobs, this creates pressure on housing.

Correct: Many people move to cities because they want better jobs, and this creates pressure on housing.

Or split the sentences: Many people move to cities because they want better jobs. This creates pressure on housing.

2. Punctuation before/after 'However'

Correct: Online learning is convenient. However, it has some limitations.

Or: Online learning is convenient; however, it has some limitations.

Do Not Write: Online learning is convenient, however it has some limitations.

XV. Pre-Exam Grammar Self-Check List

After finishing your essay, check at least these 15 items:

1. Does the third person singular present simple verb have an 's'?
2. Is the predicate singular after 'The number of'?
3. Do countable nouns have a plural form or an article?
4. Do uncountable nouns have an incorrect 's'?
5. Is there an article before singular countable nouns?
6. Is the main essay tense mostly present simple?
7. Did you use the correct past or present tense in Task 1 based on time?
8. Are there any comma splices?
9. Are there missing subjects or predicates?
10. Do you not use 'although' with 'but'?
11. Do you not use 'because' with 'so'?
12. Is the subject repeated in relative clauses?
13. Are prepositions correct?
14. Is the passive voice structure 'be + done'?
15. Did you use 'increase to' and 'increase by' correctly?

XVI. How to Practice to Reduce Grammar Errors

Grammar errors won't disappear just by "understanding the rules"; you need to review.

Suggested practice:

1. For every essay written, focus only on checking 3 types of errors.
2. Create your own error journal.
3. Write one correct example sentence for each error.
4. Review your error journal before writing the next essay.
5. Don't just chase complex sentences; ensure simple sentences are accurate first.

For example, your error journal could look like this:

This method is more effective than simply memorizing a grammar book because it targets your own stable errors.

When practicing writing in Youshow IELTS, consider this article your checklist. After writing each essay, don't just look at whether the vocabulary is advanced; first check if these basic errors are repeated.

Official Website: <https://ielts.youshowedu.com> If you use an iPhone or iPad, you can also search for Youshow IELTS directly in the Apple App Store.

Remember this:

To improve your IELTS writing grammar score, don't write complex sentences first; reduce stable errors first.

Once basic points like subject-verb agreement, singular/plural, articles, and tenses are stable, there will be space for your writing score to rise further.