What “Grammatical Range” Actually Means
Examiners want to see that you can use a variety of sentence structures accurately — not just subject-verb-object every time. Band 5 candidates write simple sentences. Band 7+ candidates mix simple, compound and complex sentences naturally.
One well-formed complex sentence is worth more than five simple sentences. However, one error-filled complex sentence is worth less than five correct simple sentences. Accuracy always beats complexity.
The Five Structures That Raise Your Score
1. Relative Clauses
Add information about a noun without starting a new sentence.
- The policy that was introduced in 2020 has had limited success.
- Students who study abroad often develop greater independence.
- The city, which had a population of two million, expanded rapidly.
2. Conditional Sentences
| Type | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| First (likely) | If + present, will + base | If funding increases, outcomes will improve. |
| Second (hypothetical) | If + past, would + base | If funding increased, outcomes would improve. |
| Third (unreal past) | If + past perfect, would have + past participle | If funding had increased, outcomes would have improved. |
Use second conditional for solutions and recommendations: If governments invested more in education, inequality would decrease significantly. This is more academic than using “should.”
3. Passive Voice
Essential for Writing Task 1 (processes and maps) and adds variety in Task 2.
- Active: Researchers conducted the study.
- Passive: The study was conducted by researchers.
- Passive (no agent): The study was conducted in 2019.
4. Participle Clauses
Condense two sentences into one — a hallmark of advanced writing.
- Two sentences: The report was published in 2023. It revealed significant findings.
- Participle clause: Published in 2023, the report revealed significant findings.
5. Noun Clauses
Used after reporting verbs — essential for academic writing.
- It is widely accepted that climate change poses a global threat.
- Research suggests that dietary habits influence academic performance.
- There is growing evidence that early intervention improves outcomes.
Run-on sentences (joining two complete sentences with a comma instead of a conjunction) are one of the most common Band 5 errors: “The population grew, the infrastructure did not keep pace.” Use: “Although the population grew, the infrastructure did not keep pace.”
Quick Self-Check Before Submitting
- Does every sentence have a subject and a main verb?
- Have you used at least two complex sentences per body paragraph?
- Are your relative clauses punctuated correctly?
- Have you varied your sentence lengths (not all long, not all short)?
Examiners are not looking for zero errors — they are looking for a range of structures used with reasonable accuracy.