A real grammar library
Hundreds of study notes covering sentence structure, tenses, cohesion, vocabulary, and the errors examiners notice most — written in plain language and linked together so one lesson leads to the next.
Band 9 Vault
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Overview
Independent IELTS Academic practice
Stop studying at random.
Start scoring higher.
Band 9 Vault turns scattered IELTS preparation into one connected study space: structured grammar notes, full listening and reading mock tests with instant band scores, and short daily drills that keep your weak spots from becoming exam-day surprises.
Free to use · No card needed · Your scores follow you to every device
211
study notes
42
listening & reading mock tests
1148
practice drills
Band 8+
the target
What you get
Built by a learner, for learners
Everything one IELTS learner actually needs
Full listening and reading mock tests
Sit complete listening tests with real audio, or reading papers with the passage beside the questions as in the real exam. Both are timed and marked for you, with a band estimate the moment you finish and the exact questions you slipped on.
Drills that fit a busy day
Short, focused practice for spelling, True/False/Not Given reading, error correction, and vocabulary recall — small enough to finish in a break, frequent enough to actually stick.
Progress you can see
Every test and drill is recorded against your account, so you can watch your listening score climb instead of guessing whether the studying is working.
How it works
Three steps to exam-ready
01
Find the gap
Take a mock test or a quick drill. Your first score tells you where the real weakness sits.
02
Study the fix
Follow the connected notes for that skill instead of reading everything in a random order.
03
Prove it stuck
Return to practice, watch the score move, and repeat until the skill feels automatic.
What's inside
All of it free with an account
Four places to study, one account
Note library
Grammar and vocabulary notes
Sentence structure, tenses, articles, prepositions, linking words, collocations, and the error patterns that quietly cap your writing band. Every note is a page you can read, save, and return to.
Open the library → How it worksA plan, not a pile of material
Test first, read the result, fix the grammar behind the mistakes, then test again. Five steps that tell you what to study now and what can safely wait.
See the five steps →
Know your target
Out of 40 questions
IELTS listening score to band conversion
IELTS listening is marked out of 40, and the raw score converts to a band from 0 to 9. Every mock test in Band 9 Vault scores you on this scale, so you always know how far the next half-band actually is.
| Correct answers | Band score | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 39–40 | 9.0 | Expert listener — almost nothing slips past you. |
| 37–38 | 8.5 | Very high accuracy, occasional spelling loss. |
| 35–36 | 8.0 | Strong enough for competitive university entry. |
| 32–34 | 7.5 | Above the bar for most postgraduate courses. |
| 30–31 | 7.0 | The common requirement for study and migration. |
| 26–29 | 6.5 | Solid, but distraction and paraphrase still cost you. |
| 23–25 | 6.0 | Meets many undergraduate requirements. |
| 18–22 | 5.5 | Detail and spelling are the usual leaks here. |
| 16–17 | 5.0 | Foundation work will move this fastest. |
| 13–15 | 4.5 | Focus on vocabulary and number/date recognition. |
These bands are the widely published conversion for IELTS Academic listening and are used here as an estimate. Your official band comes only from a real test sitting.
Who it helps
Built for people preparing alone
Self-study candidates
No coaching centre, no fixed schedule. You need material that is ordered for you and practice that marks itself, because nobody else is going to check your answers.
Retakers stuck on one band
You already know the test format. What you need is to find the specific skill holding the score at 6.5, and drill it until it stops leaking marks.
Working and studying learners
Preparation has to fit around a job or a degree. Short drills and saved progress mean a ten-minute session still counts toward the target.
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Pricing
No card, no trial period
One plan. It costs nothing.
Free forever
Every learner gets the whole site. There is no locked section, no upgrade prompt, and nothing held back for a paid tier.
- Every listening and reading mock test, timed like the real exam
- Instant band scores and a full answer review
- All study notes and daily practice drills
- Your results and saved notes kept on every device
Questions
Before you start
Does it cost anything?
No. Band 9 Vault is free to use. An account exists so your scores and saved notes stay with you.
Do I need an account to study?
You can practise as a guest, but results stay in that one browser. Signing in keeps your progress on every device you study from.
Is this the official IELTS test?
No. This is an independent study site with practice material only. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the British Council, IDP Education, or Cambridge University Press & Assessment.
Which IELTS module is it for?
IELTS Academic. The grammar, vocabulary, and listening material also helps General Training learners, but the writing and strategy notes target the Academic paper.
Your Band 8 starts with one honest score.
Create a free account and take your first mock test today.
Independent IELTS Academic practice
Build the English
that scores.
Band 9 Vault brings grammar, vocabulary, listening mock tests, and daily drills into one connected study space, so preparation turns into exam-day confidence.
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23 → 40listening target
About Band 9 Vault
Band 9 Vault is a free, independent study site for IELTS Academic. It exists because IELTS preparation is usually scattered across a dozen places: grammar in one book, listening audio on a video site, vocabulary in a notebook, and no record of what is actually improving.
What it is
Everything sits in one place and is connected. Study notes cover sentence structure, tenses, cohesion, vocabulary, punctuation, and the errors examiners notice most. Full listening and reading mock tests run on the real clock and mark themselves the moment you submit. Short drills cover spelling, True/False/Not Given reading, error correction, and vocabulary review. Every result is recorded, so the site can tell you where you actually stand rather than where you feel you stand.
Who it is for
Learners who are somewhere around Band 6 or 6.5 and need to reach 7 or higher, especially those studying alone without a teacher to mark their work. The material assumes you already speak some English and want the specific gaps closed, not a beginners' course.
Where the material comes from
The study notes are written for this site. The practice papers are collected from publicly available IELTS practice material so that learners have enough papers to work through; they are for private study only. If you own material used here and would rather it were removed, write to us and it will be taken down.
What it is not
This is not the official IELTS test and not an official practice product. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the British Council, IDP Education, or Cambridge University Press & Assessment, who jointly own the IELTS trade mark. Band scores shown here are estimates for practice, not official results.
What it costs
Nothing. There is one plan, it is free, and no part of the site is held back for a paid tier. An account exists only so your results and saved notes follow you between devices.
Common questions
Everything learners ask most often, answered plainly. If yours is not here, write to us.
Does it cost anything?
No. Band 9 Vault is free to use, and no part of it is held back for a paid tier. An account exists so your scores and saved notes stay with you rather than in one browser.
Do I need an account to study?
You can practise as a guest, but results stay in that one browser and are lost if you clear it. Signing in keeps your progress on every device you study from.
Is this the official IELTS test?
No. This is an independent study site with practice material only. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the British Council, IDP Education, or Cambridge University Press & Assessment, who jointly own the IELTS trade mark.
Which IELTS module is it for?
IELTS Academic. The grammar, vocabulary, and listening material also helps General Training learners, but the writing and strategy notes target the Academic paper.
Are the mock tests timed like the real exam?
Yes. A listening test runs 40 questions with real audio on a 32-minute countdown, and a reading paper gives you three passages and 40 questions in 60 minutes. Both match the computer-delivered format and mark your answers the moment you submit.
How is my band score calculated?
Your correct answers out of 40 are converted using the standard IELTS band table for that paper — the listening table, or the Academic reading table, which is marked slightly harder. A paper with fewer than 40 questions is put on the 40-question scale first, so every band means the same thing. It is an estimate for practice, not an official result.
How long does it take to raise my band score?
Most learners moving half a band need four to eight weeks of consistent practice, and a full band usually takes longer. Steady daily drills move the score faster than occasional long sessions.
Where should I start?
Take one mock test before studying anything, so you have a real number to work from. The How it works page sets out the whole order, and why testing first beats reading first.
Can I use it on my phone?
Yes. The site works in any modern mobile browser with no app to install, and because your progress is tied to your account you can start a drill on a phone and finish on a laptop.
What happens if I close a test halfway through?
The clock keeps running against the original finishing time, and your answers are still there when you come back, exactly as the real computer-delivered test behaves. Only a submitted paper is recorded as a result.
An answer key looks wrong. What should I do?
Tell us. Send the test number and the question number to our contact address and it will be checked and corrected. Practice material collected from elsewhere sometimes carries mistakes, and we would rather fix them than leave learners doubting themselves.
Can I delete my account and my results?
Yes. "Reset my data" on your profile clears your whole study record straight away, and emailing us removes the account itself along with everything attached to it. The privacy policy sets out exactly what is stored.
How it works
Most people open a study site, read three pages, and never come back, because nothing tells them what to do first. Here is the order that works, and why.
Step 1 — Take one mock test before you study anything
This feels backwards, and it is the most useful thing you can do. A listening or reading paper takes under an hour and gives you a number. Without that number you are guessing at your own level, and learners almost always guess wrong in one direction or the other. Do not revise for it. A score that flatters you is worth nothing.
Step 2 — Read what the result actually says
After you submit, every question is listed with your answer beside the right one. Do not skim it. Go through the ones you got wrong and put each into a group: did you mishear the word, not know the word, misread the question, or run out of time? Four different problems, four different cures. Most learners discover that one group is far larger than the rest, and that group is your real work.
Step 3 — Fix the grammar behind the mistakes
The note library is arranged by what actually goes wrong, not by chapter order. If your errors are tenses, start with the tense notes; if sentences fall apart in writing, start with clauses. Save a note with the star and it waits for you on your profile. Reading a note you do not need is time you did not spend on the one you do.
Step 4 — Drill in short sessions, most days
Ten minutes of spelling, True/False/Not Given, error correction, or vocabulary review beats a three-hour session at the weekend. The vocabulary drill schedules each word to come back just before you would have forgotten it, so the words you find hard return more often than the ones you know.
Step 5 — Test again, and compare
After a week or two of drills, sit another paper. Your profile keeps every result with its band, so you can see whether the line is moving. If two papers in a row show no change, the problem is not effort — it is that you are practising the wrong thing, and step 2 needs doing again.
How long this takes
Half a band usually takes four to eight weeks of steady practice. A full band takes longer. Anyone promising faster than that is selling something. What moves the number is consistency: a short session most days beats a long one now and then, every time.
A note on the band scores here
The band you see is your correct answers converted with the standard IELTS band table for that paper. It is an honest estimate for practice, not an official result, and the real exam has pressures a practice paper cannot copy. Treat it as a direction, not a promise.
Contact us
Questions, mistakes you have spotted, a broken audio file, or a copyright concern — all of it is welcome. One person reads these, so please allow a few days for a reply.
What to include
- For a mistake in a note or an answer key: the page name and the question number.
- For a broken test or audio: the test number and what you saw on screen.
- For an account problem: the email address you registered with, never your password.
- For a copyright request: the material in question and proof you own it, and it will be removed.
What we will never do
We will never email you asking for your password, and we will never ask you to send it in a reply. A genuine password reset always comes as a link you request yourself from the sign-in box.
Privacy policy
Short version: we store what is needed to run your account and your study record, nothing else. We do not sell your data, we do not show adverts, and we use Google Analytics only to understand how the site is used.
What we store
- Your account: email address, the display name you choose, the date you joined, and your plan.
- Your password: never in readable form. Only a bcrypt hash is kept, which cannot be turned back into your password.
- Your study record: test and drill results (score, total, date), saved notes, notes marked as read, vocabulary review dates, and your writing draft.
- Password reset links: only a hash of the link is stored, and it expires after one hour or once used.
Cookies
One cookie, named ielts.sid. It holds a session identifier so the site knows you are signed
in. It carries no personal information and is removed when you sign out. Google Analytics may set its own
cookies to measure site usage. If you study without an account, your progress stays in your own browser's storage and
never reaches our server.
Other services
A few things on the page come from elsewhere. Typefaces are loaded from Google Fonts, Google Analytics helps us understand how visitors use the site, and some listening audio is played from the site that hosts it. Those services receive your IP address as part of any ordinary web request, and their own privacy terms apply. Nothing about your account or your results is sent to them.
Who can see your data
Only you. Every study record is tied to your account and returned only to your own signed-in session. We do not share, sell, or hand your data to advertisers or data brokers.
Deleting your data
"Reset my data" on your profile clears your whole study record immediately. To delete the account itself, email us and it will be removed along with everything attached to it.
Changes
If this policy changes in a way that affects you, the change will be described on this page rather than made quietly.
Terms and conditions
By using Band 9 Vault you agree to what is written below. It is written plainly on purpose.
The service
Band 9 Vault is a free study site offered as it is. We try to keep it accurate and available, but we do not promise that it will be free of mistakes or always reachable, and it may change or close at any time.
Not the official IELTS test
This is an independent study site with practice material only. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the British Council, IDP Education, or Cambridge University Press & Assessment, who jointly own the IELTS trade mark. The trade mark is used only to describe what the material prepares you for.
Band scores
A band shown after a test is an estimate produced by applying the standard band tables to your correct answers. It is not an official result, it does not predict your exam result, and it cannot be used as proof of your English level for any institution.
Your account
You are responsible for keeping your password to yourself and for what happens under your account. Use a real email address you can reach, because a forgotten password can only be reset through it. We may close an account that is used to attack, scrape, or disrupt the site.
Using the material
The notes and drills are here for your own study. You may read them, print them, and practise with them. You may not republish them, sell them, or present them as your own work. Practice papers collected from elsewhere remain the property of whoever owns them.
Liability
The site is free, and we accept no liability for any loss arising from using it, including any exam outcome. Your preparation and your results remain your own responsibility.
Contact
Questions about these terms go to [email protected].
Disclaimer
This page states plainly what Band 9 Vault is and is not, so nobody relies on it for something it cannot do.
No affiliation with the IELTS owners
Band 9 Vault is an independent study site. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or connected in any way to the British Council, IDP Education, or Cambridge University Press & Assessment, who jointly own and administer IELTS. The name IELTS is used here only to describe the exam this material prepares you for.
Band scores are estimates
A band shown after a test is produced by applying the published band tables to your correct answers. It is a study aid, nothing more. It is not an official IELTS result, it does not predict what you will score on exam day, and no university, employer, or immigration authority will accept it as evidence of your English. Only a genuine test sitting produces an official band.
Accuracy of the material
The notes and answer keys are prepared carefully but are not guaranteed to be free of errors, and practice papers gathered from elsewhere sometimes carry mistakes of their own. Where an official source disagrees with something written here, the official source is right. Report anything that looks wrong and it will be corrected.
No professional advice
Nothing here is teaching, immigration, or admissions advice. Decisions about which exam to take, when to sit it, or what score you need should be made against official guidance and, where it matters, with a qualified adviser.
External material
Some listening audio is played from the site that hosts it, and typefaces load from Google Fonts. We do not control those services and are not responsible for their content or availability. Copyright in practice material collected from elsewhere stays with its owner; if you own such material and want it removed, tell us and it will be taken down.
Availability and liability
The site is offered free and as it is. We do not promise it will always be reachable or error-free, and we accept no liability for any loss arising from its use, including any exam outcome. The full terms are on the terms and conditions page.
Page not found
This page is not here
The address may have been mistyped, or the page may have been moved since the link was made. Nothing is lost — every note, paper, and drill is still where it was.
Or start from one of these
- How the site worksThe five steps from first note to mock test.
- Common questionsWhat is covered, what it costs, how bands are worked out.
- About Band 9 VaultWho made this and why it is free.
- ContactTell us about the broken link and it will be fixed.
Prepositions
Prepositions show relationships between words. They connect a noun or pronoun to other parts of the sentence. Prepositions express relationships of time ("
Prepositions
Prepositions show relationships between words. They connect a noun or pronoun to other parts of the sentence. Prepositions express relationships of time ("in May"), place ("in the city"), direction ("toward the goal"), and abstract connection ("interested in learning").
In IELTS writing, preposition errors are frequent and lower scores noticeably. A student might write "discuss about" instead of "discuss." Or "married with" instead of "married to." These seem small, but they add up and reduce your Grammatical Range and Accuracy score.
Time Prepositions
For specific times, use at: "at 6:00 PM," "at noon," "at midnight." For specific days and dates, use on: "on Monday," "on January 15." For months, years, and longer periods, use in: "in March," "in 2024," "in winter."
Form and Structure Rules
Core grammar formula
| Structure | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| preposition + noun phrase | prep + noun | in the city, at night |
| preposition + pronoun | prep + object pronoun | with him, for them |
| preposition + gerund | prep + V-ing | interested in learning |
Band Penalty
Incorrect: She is good in cook. Correct: She is good at cooking.
Word order and position
- Preposition usually comes before its object.
- In formal style, avoid unnecessary preposition stranding when possible.
Examples:
- Informal: Who are you talking to?
- Formal: To whom are you talking?
Preposition Concept Framework
| Layer | Key Question | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Domain | Time/place/direction/abstract? | meaning precision |
| Pairing | Which word collocates with it? | lexical accuracy |
| Data Logic | from/to/by/at used correctly? | Task 1 accuracy |
| Interference | Is it translated directly from L1? | error prevention |
Time Prepositions (Master Rule Chart)
in, on, at for time
| Preposition | Use | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| at | exact time points | at 6:00, at noon, at midnight |
| on | days and dates | on Monday, on 12 May |
| in | months/years/periods | in March, in 2026, in winter |
for, since, from, by, until, during
| Form | Core Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| for + duration | length of time | for two years |
| since + starting point | start time to now/reference point | since 2019 |
| from ... to/until | start and end | from June to August |
| by + deadline | no later than | by 2030 |
| until/till | up to a point | until Monday |
| during + noun period | within period | during the lecture |
in vs within
| Form | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| in + time period | after that period | The project will finish in two weeks. |
| within + time limit | any time before limit | Submit within two weeks. |
Place and Position Prepositions (Master Rule Chart)
in, on, at for place
| Preposition | Use | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| at | point/location | at home, at school, at the station |
| in | enclosed area/large area | in a room, in Dhaka, in Bangladesh |
| on | surface/line | on the table, on the wall, on the coast |
Position contrasts
| Pair | Core Difference | Example |
|---|---|---|
| above vs over | higher position vs covering/movement | above sea level, over the city |
| below vs under | lower position vs directly beneath | below average, under the bed |
| between vs among | two items vs more than two | between A and B, among students |
| in front of vs before | physical position vs order/time/formal | in front of the house, before lunch |
Direction and Movement (Master Rule Chart)
| Pair | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| to | destination | go to school |
| into | movement from outside to inside | walk into the room |
| in | position/state after movement | stay in the room |
| onto | movement to a surface | jump onto the stage |
| on | position on surface | sit on the stage |
| out of | movement from inside to outside | run out of the building |
| from | source/start point | come from Chattogram |
| across | movement from one side to the other | walk across the road |
| through | movement within a space | drive through the tunnel |
| along | movement following a line | walk along the river |
| past | movement beyond a point | run past the station |
Abstract and Logical Prepositions
| Function | Common Forms | IELTS Example |
|---|---|---|
| reason/cause | because of, due to, owing to | Delays occurred due to heavy traffic. |
| purpose | for | This fund is for rural education. |
| method/tool | by, with | Data was collected by survey; cut with a knife. |
| topic | about, on | a lecture on climate policy |
| effect relation | on, in, to | impact on jobs, increase in costs, solution to crime |
| contrast | unlike, in contrast to | Unlike urban areas, villages saw slower growth. |
Collocation Rule Charts
Verb + preposition
| Pattern | Examples |
|---|---|
| depend on | depend on government support |
| result in | result in higher costs |
| suffer from | suffer from pollution |
| focus on | focus on quality |
| belong to | belong to a community |
Noun + preposition
| Pattern | Examples |
|---|---|
| increase in | increase in population |
| reason for | reason for migration |
| solution to | solution to congestion |
| effect on | effect on health |
| demand for | demand for housing |
Adjective + preposition
| Pattern | Examples |
|---|---|
| aware of | aware of the risk |
| responsible for | responsible for delays |
| interested in | interested in science |
| similar to | similar to last year |
| different from | different from the old model |
Prepositions with Adjectives
Prepositions can sometimes appear after adjectives to complete or elaborate on the ideas or emotions the adjective describes. Prepositions used in this way are known as adjective complements. The preposition always comes directly after the adjective and is typically followed by a noun or gerund to form a prepositional phrase.
Common prepositions used with adjectives: of, to, about, for, with, at, by, in, from
Rules & Patterns
- There are no fixed rules for combining adjectives with prepositions, but some patterns exist.
- Synonymous adjectives often take the same prepositions (e.g., afraid/scared/terrified of).
- Antonymous adjectives also often use the same prepositions (e.g., smart/stupid of).
- Sometimes, the adjective and its noun form share the same preposition (e.g., interested in / interest in), but not always (fond of / fondness for).
- The best way to learn is to memorize common pairings.
Synonymous Adjectives
Synonyms usually take the same preposition:
- afraid of / scared of / terrified of
- "Megan was afraid of the thunderstorm."
- "Megan was scared of the thunderstorm."
- "Megan was terrified of the thunderstorm."
But some similar adjectives use different prepositions:
- upset about / displeased with / hurt by
- "Philip is upset about what was said."
- "Philip is displeased with what was said."
- "Philip is hurt by what was said."
Antonymous Adjectives
Antonyms often use the same preposition:
- smart of / stupid of
- "It was smart of him to go on vacation."
- "It was stupid of him to go on vacation."
- good at / bad at
- "She’s good at skateboarding."
- "She’s bad at skateboarding."
Noun Forms with Prepositions
Adjectives and their noun forms often share prepositions:
- interested in / interest in
- "I am interested in astronomy." / "I have an interest in astronomy."
- addicted to / addiction to
- "He is addicted to playing tennis." / "He has an addiction to playing tennis."
- obsessed with / obsession with
- "Julie is obsessed with that movie." / "Julie has an obsession with that movie."
But not always:
- fond of / fondness for
- "He is fond of animals." / "He has a fondness for animals."
Examples of Common Pairings
Adjective + of
afraid of, frightened of, scared of, terrified of
- "Sam is afraid of dogs."
- "Many kids are frightened of clowns."
- "Are you scared of airplanes?"
- "The poor baby was terrified of her crib."
kind of, nice of, sweet of, thoughtful of
- "How kind of you to come early."
- "That was nice of your sister to treat us to dessert."
- "It’s very sweet of John to send a gift."
- "It is thoughtful of passengers to thank their drivers."
odd of, strange of
- "How odd of that man to wear sunglasses inside."
- "It’s strange of you to change your mind like that."
proud of, rude of, smart of, sick of, tired of, silly of, stupid of
- "Mom told me she is proud of my accomplishments."
- "I thought it rude of her to interrupt me."
- "That’s very smart of you."
- "I am so sick of doing laundry every week."
- "Olivia confessed that she is tired of dating Mike."
- "It was silly of me to assume I was right."
- "How stupid of that boy to drop out of high school."
Adjective + to
accustomed to, addicted to, committed to, dedicated to, devoted to, friendly to, good to, kind to, nice to, married to, mean to, rude to, unfriendly to, opposed to, similar to
- "He quickly became accustomed to city life."
- "I think I'm addicted to action movies."
- "She is committed to the art of dance."
- "How dedicated to your studies are you?"
- "Lucy is devoted to her family."
- "Henry is friendly to everyone."
- "Was she good to you?"
- "You should always be kind to others."
- "Mrs. Roberts was nice to the cashier."
- "Cassie is married to Nick."
- "Don’t be mean to your classmates."
- "The couple was rude to the waitress."
- "A lot of cats are unfriendly to humans."
- "I am opposed to these changes."
- "His idea is similar to mine."
Adjective + about
angry about, furious about, mad about, anxious about, nervous about, stressed about, worried about, excited about, happy about, sad about, depressed about, sorry about, upset about
- "My neighbor is angry about the loud music we played last night."
- "That woman is furious about having to wait in line."
- "You’re always mad about something."
- "Joe is anxious about studying abroad next semester."
- "She seemed nervous about the test."
- "Rachel is stressed about finding a job."
- "I am excited about a new book that’s coming out soon."
- "Aren’t you happy about the way things turned out?"
- "She might be sad about her grades."
- "Bobby was depressed about his parents’ divorce."
- "I’m sorry about yesterday."
- "He’s probably upset about losing the soccer match."
Adjective + for
famous for, known for, responsible for, bad for, happy for, hopeful for
- "Texas is famous for rodeos."
- "Australia is known for its large kangaroo population."
- "Coach Brown is responsible for the football team."
- "Marianne feels bad for her coworker."
- "Kyle is happy for his brother."
- "The company felt hopeful for the future."
Adjective + with
angry with, furious with, annoyed with, fed up with, bored with, content with, fine with, OK with, disappointed with, displeased with, pleased with
- "Nicole is angry with her mother."
- "I heard he’s furious with you!"
- "I’m annoyed with this traffic."
- "She’s fed up with having to clean toilets all day."
- "It’s hard not to be bored with long lectures."
- "Taylor was content with moving to Chicago."
- "I’m fine with having to rewrite the introduction."
- "Are you sure you’re OK with this?"
- "Molly seems disappointed with her performance."
- "The boy’s parents are displeased with his behavior."
- "We are very pleased with the number of donations we received."
With may also be used in passive sentences to describe states:
- "Paris is especially crowded with tourists in the summertime."
- "The cake is filled with fresh blueberries."
- "The piñata is stuffed with hundreds of pieces of candy."
Adjective + at/by
amazed at/by, astonished at/by, shocked at/by, surprised at/by
- "The man was amazed at/by the number of people offering to help him."
- "She was astonished at/by the movie’s poor ratings."
- "I’m shocked at/by his behavior."
- "Flight attendants were surprised at/by the plane’s abrupt landing."
At can also describe skills and abilities:
- "James is good at playing the guitar." (correct)
- "I’m terrible at golf."
Adjective + in
interested in, involved in
- "Bernard is interested in joining the school band."
- "Is she involved in politics?"
Adjective + from
different from, protected from, tired from
- "Turquoise is different from blue."
- "We were protected from the storm."
- "I became tired from studying all night."
Adjectives with Multiple Prepositions
Some adjectives can be paired with multiple prepositions, sometimes with a change in meaning:
- "She’s very sorry about the mistake." / "She’s very sorry for the mistake."
- "Mark is disappointed with the decision." / "Mark is disappointed in the decision."
In some cases, prepositions are not interchangeable:
- "I’m so happy for them." (people)
- "I’m so happy about the wedding." (thing/event)
- "Dad is angry with Elizabeth." (person)
- "Dad is angry about Elizabeth’s sneaking out." (gerund)
For wider lexical pairings, use Collocations.
8) Task 1 Data Preposition Map (Band 8.5)
| Meaning | Correct Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| start and end values | from X to Y | rose from 20% to 50% |
| amount of change | by Z | rose by 30 percentage points |
| exact value at time | at X | stood at 45% |
| range | between A and B | fluctuated between 30 and 40 |
| peak | peaked at | peaked at 70% |
| low point | fell to | fell to 12% |
| comparison | compared with/to | compared with 2010 |
9) Zero-Preposition and Omission Rules
- No preposition before:
- home, downtown, upstairs, abroad
- last year, next week, this morning, every day
Examples:
- Incorrect: I went to home.
- Correct: I went home.
- Incorrect: We met on last Friday.
- Correct: We met last Friday.
10) High-Frequency Error Traps
Band Penalty
Incorrect: discuss about the issue. Correct: discuss the issue.
Band Penalty
Incorrect: married with. Correct: married to.
Band Penalty
Incorrect: emphasize on this point. Correct: emphasize this point.
Band Penalty
Incorrect: increase from 20% by 50%. Correct: increase from 20% to 50%. Correct: increase by 30%.
Band Penalty
Incorrect: He entered into the room. (many contexts) Better: He entered the room.
Mnemonic Bank
- TPD: Time, Place, Direction first.
- FTB: From-To-By for data.
- VNA: Verb-Noun-Adjective preposition patterns.
- NXP: No eXtra Preposition.
Task Application
- Task 1: verify every number phrase preposition.
- Task 2: use collocations as fixed chunks.
- Speaking: prefer memorized chunks over direct translation.