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
/
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.
Start reading
See the whole library →
Popular study notes
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.
—
study notes
—
learning topics
4
core skills
Band 8+
the target
Choose your direction
Where do you want to grow?
A considered starting point
The most useful first steps
Begin here
The complete collection
Note library
Find the exact explanation, drill, or strategy you need today.
0notes indexed
A plan for your next step
Your roadmap
A focused route from where you are now to confident, exam-ready English.
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.
Direct and Indirect Speech
Direct speech reports someone's exact words in quotation marks. "He said, 'I am tired.'" Indirect speech reports the meaning without quota
Direct and Indirect Speech
Direct speech reports someone's exact words in quotation marks. "He said, 'I am tired.'" Indirect speech reports the meaning without quotation marks. "He said that he was tired."
In IELTS academic writing, indirect speech is preferred because it sounds formal and objective. In Speaking Part 3, you often report ideas indirectly: "Critics argue that technology has reduced human connection." That's better than: "Critics say, 'Technology has reduced human connection.'"
Key Changes When Shifting to Indirect Speech
Tense shifts backward: present becomes past, past becomes past perfect. Direct: "I have finished the report," she said. Indirect: She said that she had finished the report.
Pronouns shift based on context: Direct: "I am tired," he said. Indirect: He said that he was tired. ("I" becomes "he" because the subject changed)
Time expressions shift: Direct: "I will see you tomorrow," she said. Indirect: She said that she would see me the next day.
No quotation marks in indirect speech. No commas before reported clauses (usually).
Punctuation notes:
- Direct speech usually has a comma before the quote.
- Indirect speech does not use quotation marks.
- In indirect speech, that is often optional after say + clause and tell + object + clause.
- After formal verbs like complain, explain, object, point out, protest, keeping that is better.
IELTS Core Principle
Rule
In Writing Task 2 and Speaking Part 3, report ideas indirectly unless a direct quote is absolutely necessary.
Master Conversion Checklist
When converting direct to indirect speech, check these in order:
- Reporting verb (say, tell, ask, suggest, warn, etc.)
- Pronouns and possessive adjectives
- Tense backshift (if needed)
- Time and place expressions
- Sentence type (statement, question, command, exclamation)
Pronouns and Determiners
Pronoun shift
First and second person shift according to speaker-listener context, not automatically to third person.
Examples:
- Direct: She said, "He is my son."
- Indirect: She said that he was her son.
- Direct: "I am ill," she said.
- Indirect: She said that she was ill.
This and these
- In time expressions, this usually becomes that.
- As determiners, this/these often become the.
- As pronouns, this/these can become it/they/them.
Examples:
- Direct: She said, "She is coming this week."
- Indirect: She said that she was coming that week.
- Direct: He said, "I bought this pearl for my mother."
- Indirect: He said that he had bought the pearl for his mother.
- Direct: He said, "I found these beside the king's bed."
- Indirect: He said that he had found them beside the king's bed.
Time and Place Shifts
Time expression table
| Direct | Indirect |
|---|---|
| today | that day |
| yesterday | the day before |
| the day before yesterday | two days before |
| tomorrow | the next day / the following day |
| the day after tomorrow | in two days' time |
| next week/year | the following week/year |
| last week/year | the previous week/year |
| a year ago | a year before / the previous year |
| now | then |
Examples:
- Direct: "I saw her the day before yesterday," he said.
- Indirect: He said that he had seen her two days before.
- Direct: "I will do it tomorrow," he promised.
- Indirect: He promised that he would do it the next day.
Same-day exception
If speech is reported on the same day, time change may be unnecessary.
Example:
- Direct: At breakfast he said, "I will be very busy today."
- Indirect: At breakfast he said that he would be very busy today.
Place shift
Here can become there, but often a clearer phrase is better.
Example:
- Direct: She said, "You can sit here, Tom."
- Indirect: She told Tom that he could sit beside her.
Statements and Tense Backshift
No backshift with present reporting verbs
If the reporting verb is present/present perfect/future, tense can stay the same.
Example:
- Direct: Paul says, "I am trying to get a taxi."
- Indirect: Paul says that he is trying to get a taxi.
Usual backshift after past reporting verbs
| Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
|---|---|
| Present Simple | Past Simple |
| Present Continuous | Past Continuous |
| Present Perfect | Past Perfect |
| Present Perfect Continuous | Past Perfect Continuous |
| Past Simple | Past Perfect |
| Past Continuous | Past Perfect Continuous |
| will/shall | would/should |
| can | could |
| may | might |
Examples:
- Direct: He said, "I never eat meat."
- Indirect: He explained that he never ate meat.
- Direct: He said, "I am waiting for Ann."
- Indirect: He said that he was waiting for Ann.
- Direct: He said, "I have found a flat."
- Indirect: He said that he had found a flat.
Questions in Reported Speech
Rule
Reported questions use statement word order: subject + verb. No question mark.
Yes/No questions
Use ask + if/whether + statement order.
Example:
- Direct: "Do you agree?" he asked.
- Indirect: He asked if I agreed.
Wh-questions
Keep the wh-word, then use statement order.
Example:
- Direct: "Where are you going?" she asked.
- Indirect: She asked where I was going.
Reporting verbs for questions
- If direct speech uses said, change to asked/wondered/wanted to know.
- Ask can take an object: He asked me...
- Wonder and want to know do not normally take an indirect object in this structure.
Commands, Requests, Advice
Pattern:
- verb of command/request/advice + object + to-infinitive
- negative form: not + to-infinitive
Common verbs:
- advise, ask, beg, command, order, remind, tell, warn
Examples:
- Direct: "Close the door," she said.
- Indirect: She told me to close the door.
- Direct: "Do not be late," he said.
- Indirect: He warned us not to be late.
Exclamations, Greetings, Social Formulas
Exclamations usually become statements in indirect speech.
Examples:
- Direct: "What a dreadful idea!"
- Indirect: He exclaimed that it was a dreadful idea.
- Direct: "Thank you."
- Indirect: He thanked me.
- Direct: "Good luck."
- Indirect: He wished me luck.
- Direct: "Congratulations."
- Indirect: He congratulated me.
- Direct: "Liar!"
- Indirect: He called me a liar.
Yes and No in Indirect Speech
Yes/no responses are reported with a subject and suitable auxiliary.
Example:
- Direct: "Can you swim?" he asked. "No," I said.
- Indirect: He asked if I could swim, and I said that I could not.
Offers and Suggestions
Offers
- Direct: "Shall I bring you some tea?"
- Indirect: He offered to bring me some tea.
Suggestions
- Direct: "Shall we meet at the theatre?"
- Indirect: He suggested meeting at the theatre.
Mixed Types in One Quote
Long direct speech may mix statements, questions, and commands. Use separate reporting verbs.
Example:
- Direct: "I do not know the way. Do you?"
- Indirect: He said that he did not know the way and asked if I did.
Modals and Conditionals
Must
After a past reporting verb, must may stay as must in some contexts.
Example:
- Direct: He said, "It must be late."
- Indirect: He said that it must be late.
Had to is also common when meaning obligation.
Past modals usually stay
Could, might, should, ought to, used to usually do not change.
Example:
- Direct: He said, "I might come."
- Indirect: He said that he might come.
Type 2 conditionals often remain unchanged
Example:
- Direct: He said, "If my children were older, I would emigrate."
- Indirect: He said that if his children were older, he would emigrate.
Say vs Tell
Direct speech
- Say can introduce or follow direct quotes.
- Tell requires the person addressed.
Examples:
- "I have heard the news," Tom said.
- "I am leaving at once," Tom told me.
Indirect speech
- Say + clause
- Tell + object + clause
Examples:
- He said (that) he had heard the news.
- He told me (that) he had heard the news.
Band 8.5 IELTS Upgrades
Use precise reporting verbs
Avoid overusing said/told.
Use:
- argue, assert, contend, claim, suggest, emphasize, highlight, warn, admit, deny
IELTS example:
- Many economists argue that taxes are too high.
No-backshift exception (advanced control)
If the reported statement is still true, tense does not need backshift.
Examples:
- The scientist stated that water boils at 100 degrees.
- John mentioned that he lives in London. (still true now)
High-Frequency Error Traps
| Mistake | Incorrect | Correct | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| say vs tell | He told to me that he was tired. | He told me that he was tired. | Tell needs a direct object, not to-object. |
| question order | She asked what was my name. | She asked what my name was. | Reported questions use statement order. |
| double conjunction | He asked that if I was ready. | He asked if I was ready. | Do not combine that + if in reported questions. |
| suggest pattern | He suggested to go to the park. | He suggested going to the park. / He suggested that we go to the park. | Suggest is followed by gerund or that-clause. |
Rapid Memory Sheet
- Report ideas, not quotation style, in IELTS.
- Check pronoun -> tense -> time/place -> structure.
- Questions lose question order and punctuation.
- Commands become verb + object + to-infinitive.
- Use stronger reporting verbs for Band 8+.
IELTS-Focused Use
- Writing Task 2: summarize views with formal reporting verbs.
- Speaking Part 3: report common opinion, then add your own stance.
- Editing pass: check pronouns, tense shifts, question order, and time markers.
IELTS Example
Environmental analysts contend that governments should invest in affordable public transport.
Practical Empowerment Flow for IELTS Aspirants
Use this workflow in practice tests and real exam answers:
- Capture the original idea, not the exact quote.
- Choose a precise reporting verb: argue, claim, warn, suggest, emphasize.
- Apply shifts fast: pronoun -> tense -> time/place.
- Upgrade sentence shape: simple -> compound -> complex -> compound-complex.
- Final check: statement order, no question mark in reported questions.
Sentence Variety Lab (High-Volume Transformations)
Simple Sentence Examples
| Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
|---|---|
| He said, "I need clean water." | He said that he needed clean water. |
| The minister said, "We are improving roads." | The minister said that they were improving roads. |
| She said, "I have completed the survey." | She said that she had completed the survey. |
| They said, "We can reduce waste." | They said that they could reduce waste. |
| The teacher said, "I will check your essay." | The teacher said that she would check my essay. |
| He said, "This plan works." | He said that the plan worked. |
| She said, "I visited Dhaka yesterday." | She said that she had visited Dhaka the day before. |
| The analyst said, "Prices are rising now." | The analyst said that prices were rising then. |
| He said, "I may join the seminar." | He said that he might join the seminar. |
| She said, "My brother is here." | She said that her brother was there. |
Compound Sentences with CC (FANBOYS)
| CC | Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
|---|---|---|
| and | The mayor said, "We repaired roads, and we installed new lights." | The mayor said that they had repaired roads and had installed new lights. |
| but | The expert said, "The policy is expensive, but it is necessary." | The expert said that the policy was expensive but was necessary. |
| so | The officer said, "The buses were delayed, so commuters complained." | The officer said that the buses had been delayed, so commuters had complained. |
| yet | The report said, "Internet access improved, yet rural schools still struggled." | The report stated that internet access had improved, yet rural schools had still struggled. |
| or | The director said, "We can expand this year, or we can wait." | The director said that they could expand that year or could wait. |
| nor | The speaker said, "No one objected, nor did anyone leave early." | The speaker said that no one had objected, nor had anyone left early. |
| for | The economist said, "Taxes must rise, for public services are collapsing." | The economist said that taxes had to rise, for public services were collapsing. |
Complex Sentence Examples
| Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
|---|---|
| She said, "Although fuel costs are rising, people still drive daily." | She said that although fuel costs were rising, people still drove daily. |
| He said, "Because rents are high, young families are moving out." | He said that because rents were high, young families were moving out. |
| They said, "If the city builds more buses, traffic will decline." | They said that if the city built more buses, traffic would decline. |
| The doctor said, "When citizens exercise regularly, they stay healthier." | The doctor said that when citizens exercised regularly, they stayed healthier. |
| She said, "Unless the plan changes, we will fail." | She said that unless the plan changed, they would fail. |
| He said, "While we were discussing the budget, the power went out." | He said that while they had been discussing the budget, the power had gone out. |
| The teacher said, "After students submit this task, I will give feedback." | The teacher said that after students submitted that task, she would give feedback. |
| Analysts said, "If inflation falls, confidence may return." | Analysts said that if inflation fell, confidence might return. |
| He said, "Since I have studied hard, I feel ready." | He said that since he had studied hard, he felt ready. |
| She said, "Even though the exam is difficult, I am confident." | She said that even though the exam was difficult, she was confident. |
Compound-Complex Sentence Examples
| Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
|---|---|
| The minister said, "Although revenue fell, we protected schools, and we funded hospitals." | The minister said that although revenue had fallen, they had protected schools and had funded hospitals. |
| The mayor said, "If congestion worsens, we will expand rail, and we will restrict car use." | The mayor said that if congestion worsened, they would expand rail and would restrict car use. |
| She said, "Because my laptop crashed, I missed the deadline, but I emailed my tutor." | She said that because her laptop had crashed, she had missed the deadline, but she had emailed her tutor. |
| They said, "While we were waiting for approval, costs increased, so we revised the design." | They said that while they had been waiting for approval, costs had increased, so they had revised the design. |
| The examiner said, "If you organize your ideas clearly, your coherence will improve, and your score may rise." | The examiner said that if candidates organized their ideas clearly, their coherence would improve and their score might rise. |
| He said, "Although the village is remote, people adapt quickly, and they support one another." | He said that although the village was remote, people adapted quickly and supported one another. |
| The report said, "Because exports dropped, firms cut jobs, and the government launched support schemes." | The report said that because exports had dropped, firms had cut jobs, and the government had launched support schemes. |
| She said, "If I finish this draft tonight, I will submit it tomorrow, and I will start the next task." | She said that if she finished that draft that night, she would submit it the next day and would start the next task. |
Practical Implication by IELTS Task
Writing Task 2: Argument Flow
Use this sequence in body paragraphs:
- Topic claim with reporting verb.
- Supporting reason in a complex sentence.
- Contrast with a compound sentence using but or yet.
- Final consequence with therefore/consequently.
Model flow:
- Many policy analysts argue that rent control protects low-income families.
- They add that when rents rise rapidly, vulnerable groups are displaced.
- Critics acknowledge this point, but they warn that strict controls may reduce housing supply.
- Consequently, governments need balanced regulation.
Speaking Part 3: High-Score Response Flow
- Report a social view indirectly.
- Add your qualified opinion.
- Give one real example.
Model response:
- Many parents claim that screen time harms concentration.
- I partly agree, although I think educational content can still be useful.
- For example, several students in my area said that structured learning apps had helped them revise consistently.
CC Connector Power Drills (Quick Conversion)
Convert each direct sentence to indirect speech:
- "The plan is costly, but it is effective," she said.
- "Fuel prices fell, so transport became cheaper," he said.
- "The policy seems simple, yet implementation is difficult," they said.
- "We can reduce waste, or we can keep ignoring the problem," the mayor said.
- "No one complained, nor did anyone leave," the host said.
Answer key:
- She said that the plan was costly but effective.
- He said that fuel prices had fallen, so transport had become cheaper.
- They said that the policy seemed simple, yet implementation was difficult.
- The mayor said that they could reduce waste or could keep ignoring the problem.
- The host said that no one had complained, nor had anyone left.
Exam-Day Self-Check (20-Second Scan)
- Did I change pronouns logically?
- Did I backshift tense where needed?
- Did I update time/place markers?
- Did I keep statement order in reported questions?
- Did I use at least one complex and one compound structure?
- Did I use one precise reporting verb beyond said/told?