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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study notes
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learning topics
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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.
06 Common Mistakes Reference
Error ✗: She study English. Fix ✓: She studies English. Why: 3rd person singular (he, she, it) needs -s on the verb. IELTS Impact: Band 6 scorer catches this. L
Quick Fix Reference: 30 Common Writing Mistakes (Band 3-9)
When you write and something feels wrong, check this page.
Each mistake shows: Error ✗ | Fix ✓ | Why | IELTS Impact
Grammar Errors (Highest Priority)
1. Subject-Verb Agreement
Error ✗: She study English. Fix ✓: She studies English. Why: 3rd person singular (he, she, it) needs -s on the verb. IELTS Impact: Band 6 scorer catches this. Loses 1 point per error.
2. Verb Tense Inconsistency
Error ✗: I go to school and studied there for three years. Fix ✓: I went to school and studied there for three years. Why: Don't mix present and past tense in the same sentence. IELTS Impact: Examiner thinks you don't understand tenses. Major mark loss.
3. Incomplete Sentence (Fragment)
Error ✗: The government implemented many policies. Fix ✓: The government implemented many new policies to address the crisis. Why: Sometimes the fragment is too vague. Add specific object/detail. IELTS Impact: Sounds Band 3. Need complete, clear sentences.
4. Run-On Sentence (Comma Splice)
Error ✗: The economy improved, people felt optimistic. Fix ✓: The economy improved, so people felt optimistic. (OR) The economy improved. People felt optimistic. (OR) The economy improved; people felt optimistic. Why: Two complete sentences need a conjunction or semicolon, not just a comma. IELTS Impact: Band 5-6 scorer marks this as a serious error.
5. Incorrect Verb Form
Error ✗: She are coming tomorrow. Fix ✓: She is coming tomorrow. Why: "Are" goes with plural (they, we, you). "Is" goes with 3rd singular (she, he, it). IELTS Impact: Marks are deducted from grammar score.
6. Wrong Tense for Context
Error ✗: Yesterday, I go to the market. Fix ✓: Yesterday, I went to the market. Why: "Yesterday" = past time, so use past tense. IELTS Impact: Shows poor control of tenses.
7. Missing or Wrong Article (a, an, the)
Error ✗: Study is important for students. Fix ✓: Study is important for students. (OR) The study showed interesting results. Why: Generally use "the" when something is specific. No article for general statements. IELTS Impact: Less serious than other errors, but still deducted.
8. Adjective-Adverb Confusion
Error ✗: She speaks English very good. Fix ✓: She speaks English very well. Why: After action verbs, use adverbs (well, quickly, clearly). After linking verbs, use adjectives (good, quick, clear). IELTS Impact: Band 5 scorer marks this. Band 9 scorers don't.
9. Double Negative
Error ✗: I didn't see nobody there. Fix ✓: I didn't see anybody there. (OR) I saw nobody there. Why: Don't use two negatives. IELTS Impact: Sounds uneducated. Band 3 error.
10. Subject-Pronoun Mismatch
Error ✗: When students study hard, they is successful. Fix ✓: When students study hard, they are successful. Why: Pronoun "they" is plural, so use "are" not "is." IELTS Impact: Clear grammar error.
Sentence Structure Errors
11. Dangling Modifier
Error ✗: Walking down the street, the buildings seemed very tall. Fix ✓: Walking down the street, I noticed the buildings were very tall. (OR) As I walked down the street, the buildings seemed very tall. Why: The modifier (walking) should apply to the subject (I), not the buildings. IELTS Impact: Band 7-8 scorer notices this. Makes the sentence sound awkward.
12. Misplaced Modifier
Error ✗: I saw the man running quickly with the telescope. Fix ✓: With the telescope, I saw the man running quickly. (OR) I saw the running man quickly through the telescope. Why: Place modifiers near the word they describe. IELTS Impact: Creates unintended humor or confusion.
13. Parallel Structure Broken
Error ✗: She likes reading, writing, and to speak. Fix ✓: She likes reading, writing, and speaking. Why: Keep items in a list in the same form (all nouns, all verbs, etc.). IELTS Impact: Band 7+ scorer marks this.
14. Unclear Pronoun Reference
Error ✗: The student told the teacher that he should study harder. Fix ✓: The student told the teacher that the teacher should study harder. (OR) The teacher told the student that the student should study harder. Why: It's unclear if "he" means the student or teacher. IELTS Impact: Confuses the reader. Makes you sound Band 5.
15. Split Infinitive (Minor)
Error ✗: To carefully study the problem... Fix ✓: To study the problem carefully... (OR) Carefully to study the problem... (OR) To carefully study is acceptable in modern English) Why: Traditional rule says don't put an adverb between "to" and the verb. Modern English is more flexible. IELTS Impact: Minor. Most modern writing allows this.
Word Choice Errors
16. Confusing Similar Words
Error ✗: The affect on the economy was significant. Fix ✓: The effect on the economy was significant. Why: "Effect" (noun) = result. "Affect" (verb) = influence. "The effect was significant" = the result was significant. IELTS Impact: Band 7+ scorer catches this.
17. Wrong Preposition
Error ✗: I am interested in learning about English. Fix ✓: I am interested in learning English. (remove "about") Why: "Interested in" is the correct collocation, not "interested about." IELTS Impact: Sounds like Band 5. Band 9 writers use the right collocations naturally.
18. Overusing the Same Word
Error ✗: The data shows that data is important. The data proves data is necessary. Fix ✓: The data shows that information is important. The evidence proves evidence is necessary. Why: Repetition weakens writing. Use synonyms. IELTS Impact: Band 8+ scorers notice poor lexical range.
19. Too Formal or Too Casual
Error ✗: Yo, the economy is like, totally improving, dude. Fix ✓: The economy is improving substantially. Why: Academic writing requires formal register. IELTS Impact: Band 3-4 error. Band 9 writers maintain formality.
20. Incorrect Collocation
Error ✗: Make a decision. Fix ✓: Make a decision. (this is actually OK) Actually: Error ✗: Do a research. Fix ✓: Conduct research. Why: Research is uncountable. You "conduct" research, not "do" research. IELTS Impact: Band 6-7 scorer notices. Sounds unnatural to Band 8+ scorers.
Punctuation Errors
21. Missing Comma in a Complex Sentence
Error ✗: Because the economy improved sales increased. Fix ✓: Because the economy improved, sales increased. Why: Add a comma after introductory clause. IELTS Impact: Small deduction, but frequent errors add up.
22. Comma Before "That"
Error ✗: I believe, that education is important. Fix ✓: I believe that education is important. Why: Don't use comma before "that" in formal writing. IELTS Impact: Minor error. Modern English sometimes allows it.
23. Semicolon Misuse
Error ✗: The economy improved; which helped many people. Fix ✓: The economy improved, which helped many people. (OR) The economy improved. This helped many people. Why: Semicolon connects two independent clauses, not a clause to a dependent clause. IELTS Impact: Band 7+ scorer notices this.
24. Apostrophe Misuse
Error ✗: The student's are studying hard. / Its' important. Fix ✓: The students are studying hard. / It's important. Why: "Students" (plural) doesn't need apostrophe. "It's" = "it is." IELTS Impact: Band 5 error. Band 9 writers never do this.
25. Period in the Middle of Thought
Error ✗: The economy improved. Which helped sales. Fix ✓: The economy improved, which helped sales. Why: "Which helped sales" is a dependent clause, not a complete sentence. IELTS Impact: Sounds choppy. Band 5-6 error.
Spelling & Capitalization Errors
26. Common Misspellings
Error ✗: occured, recieve, seperate, begining Fix ✓: occurred, receive, separate, beginning Why: These are common spelling mistakes in English. IELTS Impact: Examiner marks spelling errors. Each wrong = 1 point loss usually.
27. Improper Capitalization
Error ✗: the government implemented new policies. Fix ✓: The government implemented new policies. Why: Capitalize the first word of a sentence. IELTS Impact: Band 5 error. Shows lack of attention.
28. Proper Noun Not Capitalized
Error ✗: I studied in france and london. Fix ✓: I studied in France and London. Why: Proper nouns (place names, people names) are always capitalized. IELTS Impact: Band 6-7 scorer deducts points.
Advanced Errors (Subtle, but Important)
29. Weak Passive Voice (When Active Is Better)
Error ✗: It was decided by the government that new policies would be implemented. Fix ✓: The government decided to implement new policies. Why: Active is clearer and more direct. IELTS Impact: Band 8+ scorer prefers active voice. Passive overuse = Band 6-7 writing.
30. Wordiness (Say the Same Thing in Too Many Words)
Error ✗: In the modern day and age, it is a fact that the utilization of technology has become increasingly widespread in many aspects of our daily lives. Fix ✓: Technology is now widespread in daily life. Why: Concise writing is more powerful. IELTS Impact: Band 8+ scorers value clarity over verbosity.
Quick Reference Table
| Error Type | Example | Fix | Band Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subject-Verb Agreement | She study | She studies | 1-2 points |
| Verb Tense Mix | went and study | went and studied | 1-2 points |
| Fragment | Implemented policies | The government implemented | 1 point |
| Comma Splice | improved, people felt | improved; people felt | 1 point |
| Adjective-Adverb | very good | very well | 0.5 point |
| Wrong Preposition | interested about | interested in | 0.5 point |
| Spelling | occured | occurred | 0.5 point |
| Punctuation | no comma after intro | comma added | 0.5 point |
Your Daily Error Check (5 minutes)
After writing every sentence, ask:
- Does the subject match the verb? (she/he/it + -s?)
- Do all verbs in this sentence use the same tense?
- Does this sentence have a subject AND verb?
- Is this sentence complete, or is it a fragment?
- Did I use an adjective after a linking verb and adverb after an action verb?
If YES to all 5, the sentence is probably correct.
Most Common Errors in IELTS Writing
These 5 errors appear in 80% of Band 3-6 essays:
- Subject-verb agreement (she study ✗)
- Verb tense inconsistency (went and study ✗)
- Comma splice (improved, people felt ✗)
- Fragment (Implemented policies ✗)
- Wrong article or missing article (the research ✗ vs research ✓)
Focus on fixing these 5 first. Alone, they can boost your score from Band 6 → Band 7-8.
How to Use This Guide
- After writing: Check your sentences against this list
- If stuck: Search for the type of error you're unsure about
- If confused: Ask yourself: "What's the rule?" See if it's in this guide
- Daily: Review the "Most Common Errors" above. Make sure you never make them
Key Principle
Every error on this list is FIXABLE. None of these require special talent. They require:
- Awareness (knowing the rule)
- Practice (applying it repeatedly)
- Checking (reviewing your work)
You can eliminate all 30 errors in 4 weeks by doing the daily drills and using this reference.
Start today. Check every sentence. 🎯