Grammar is a Criterion, Not an Afterthought
The examiner awards a separate Grammar Range & Accuracy score. To reach Band 7 you need a mix of simple and complex sentences, with errors that are rare and never obscure meaning. That means you must actively demonstrate complex structures, not just avoid mistakes.
The fastest upgrade is usually not new grammar — it is fixing the same four or five repeated errors. Keep a personal error log while you practise, and check your essays against the list below before submitting.
- Use at least two conditional structures per essay.
- Include a passive construction to shift focus.
- Vary relative clauses instead of repeating the subject.
- Check subject–verb agreement on every third-person singular verb.
- Never end a body paragraph without one complex sentence.