Grammar accuracy and variety play a decisive role in achieving a high band score in IELTS Writing Task 2. This article provides an academic overview of essential grammar aspects that English-major students should master to produce coherent, accurate, and sophisticated essays. The focus lies on sentence variety, clause structures, verb tenses, and advanced grammatical constructions that enhance cohesion and lexical richness.
IELTS Writing Task 2 assesses a candidate’s ability to present arguments logically and coherently in an academic context. Besides lexical resource and coherence, grammatical range and accuracy account for 25% of the total score. Therefore, mastering key grammatical structures is fundamental to achieving a Band 7 or above. This paper identifies and analyzes the most crucial grammar components required for high-quality essay writing.
Sentence Variety and Structure
A strong essay demonstrates flexibility in sentence types—simple, compound, and complex structures.
- Simple sentences ensure clarity, e.g., Education improves people’s quality of life.
- Compound sentences connect related ideas using conjunctions such as and, but, or, so, or conjunctive adverbs like however, therefore.
- Complex sentences display higher grammatical control, integrating dependent clauses: Although online learning is convenient, traditional classes provide better interaction.
Using a mix of sentence types helps maintain reader engagement and prevents monotony. Students should also practice nominalization (changing verbs/adjectives into nouns) to achieve a more formal tone, e.g., governments should act → government action is required.
Mastery of Verb Tenses
Consistency in verb tenses ensures logical time sequencing.
- The present simple is most frequently used for general truths and opinions: People tend to value freedom more than wealth.
- The present perfect connects past and present: Technology has transformed the way we communicate.
- The future forms (will, be going to, may) are used for predictions or suggestions: The situation may improve with stricter policies.
Students should avoid unnecessary tense shifts, which may confuse readers and reduce grammatical accuracy.

Active and Passive Voice
Active voice often enhances clarity and conciseness: Governments should implement stricter laws.
However, passive voice is useful when the doer is unknown or unimportant: Stricter laws should be implemented.
A balanced use of both forms can convey a professional and academic tone. Overusing the passive voice, however, may lead to verbosity.
Complex Clauses and Advanced Constructions
High-band essays frequently employ a variety of complex grammatical patterns, including:
- Relative clauses: People who live in cities often face stress.
- Conditional sentences: If renewable energy is adopted widely, pollution will decrease.
- Cleft sentences: It is education that shapes a nation’s future.
- Inversion for emphasis: Rarely do people realize the impact of fast fashion on the environment.
- Subjunctive structures: It is essential that every citizen be responsible for environmental protection.
These constructions enhance sentence sophistication and demonstrate grammatical flexibility.
Modality and Hedging
Academic writing favors cautious language. Modal verbs (may, might, should, could) and hedging devices (seem, appear, likely) soften arguments and make claims more balanced: It could be argued that technology brings more benefits than drawbacks.
Overly strong or emotional statements should be avoided, as they reduce academic credibility.
Cohesion and Parallelism
Cohesive devices link ideas smoothly. Transition signals such as therefore, furthermore, on the other hand, and as a result enhance logical flow.
Parallel structures improve readability: Improving infrastructure, creating jobs, and reducing inequality should be government priorities.
Common Grammatical Errors to Avoid
Frequent grammatical issues among IELTS candidates include:
- Subject-verb disagreement
- Incorrect article use (a, an, the)
- Misuse of prepositions (in, on, at)
- Fragmented or run-on sentences
- Overuse of informal or spoken-style expressions
Students should proofread carefully and use grammar-checking tools for self-correction.

Grammar in IELTS Writing Task 2 is not merely about correctness but about precision, flexibility, and appropriateness. English-major students must develop both grammatical range and accuracy through regular practice, targeted feedback, and exposure to academic models. A writer who can manipulate grammar effectively will communicate ideas with clarity and authority—key qualities of a high-band IELTS essay.