Why This Matters
Grammatical Range and Accuracy (GRA) is one of the four official IELTS Writing criteria — and one of the fastest ways to lose marks if you’re not paying attention. You don’t need perfect grammar to get a high score. But if you only use basic sentence forms or keep repeating the same mistakes, you’re stuck at Band 6 or below. This page shows you exactly what examiners want, what mistakes to avoid, and how to improve your grammar the right way.
What Is Grammatical Range and Accuracy?
There are two things examiners are looking for:
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Range: A variety of sentence structures, including simple, compound, and complex forms
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Accuracy: Correct use of tenses, articles, punctuation, prepositions, and subject–verb agreement
To score Band 7 or above, you need to show control.
That means writing naturally, with few noticeable errors, and using a mix of sentence types to express your ideas clearly.
Common Mistakes That Lower Your Score
1. Repeated Grammar Errors
If you keep making the same mistake — like incorrect articles or verb endings — it shows a lack of control.
2. Only Using Simple Sentences
Writing like this:
“Tourism is good. It creates jobs. It brings money.”
…will limit you to Band 5 or 6.
3. Misusing Complex Grammar
Trying to sound advanced and failing hurts more than writing something simple but correct.
4. Poor Punctuation
Missing commas, run-ons, or incorrect capitalisation all affect clarity — and clarity affects your score.
5. Subject–Verb Agreement Errors
Mistakes like “people thinks” or “children goes” are basic, but they show up all the time. They will drag you down.
What Examiners Want to See
A high-scoring essay will demonstrate:
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A variety of sentence structures (not just simple forms)
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Accurate tenses and verb forms
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Correct punctuation
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Proper use of articles (a/an/the)
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Minimal grammar mistakes throughout the essay
You do not need to be perfect.
But frequent or distracting errors will cost you.
How to Improve Grammatical Range and Accuracy
1. Learn Sentence Types
Make sure you can write and control these:
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Simple: “Tourism boosts the local economy.”
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Compound: “Tourism boosts the local economy, and it creates new jobs.”
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Complex: “Although tourism boosts the local economy, it may also damage the environment.”
Use a mix. Don’t force it — just vary your patterns naturally.
2. Use Subordinating Conjunctions
Words like although, because, while, since, unless, and even though are essential for building complex sentences.
Example:
“While online education is becoming more popular, many students still prefer traditional classrooms.”
3. Practise Parallel Structure
When listing ideas, keep your grammar consistent.
Bad: “The policy aims to reduce crime, improving housing, and better education.”
Better: “The policy aims to reduce crime, improve housing, and provide better education.”
4. Review Articles and Plurals
These small errors appear in nearly every Band 6 essay.
Bad: “A children need attention.”
Better: “Children need attention.”
Bad: “An environment is important.”
Better: “The environment is important.”
5. Don’t Copy What You Don’t Understand
Fancy phrases and memorised templates full of errors will ruin your score.
Write what you can control.
Clarity beats complexity every time.
Sample Body Paragraph (Band 7+ Grammar)
So, why do I hold this stance? Tourism can benefit local communities because it creates jobs and stimulates local businesses. While this is particularly true in small towns, it also applies to larger cities that depend on seasonal income. For example, many residents in beach towns work in restaurants or hotels that rely heavily on international visitors. Without tourism, these jobs would disappear, and the local economy would suffer. Although tourism has drawbacks, its economic benefits are undeniable in many regions.
Why this works:
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Mix of sentence types
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Natural use of transitions
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No major grammar errors
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Clean and professional tone
Final Advice
If you want a high score for Grammatical Range and Accuracy:
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Use a mix of sentence types — naturally
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Keep your grammar clean and controlled
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Avoid your common errors
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Don’t get clever — get clear
This isn’t about sounding like a professor.
It’s about writing like someone who can communicate ideas accurately and confidently — even under pressure.
That’s what the examiner is looking for.