7 Tips To Improve Grammatical Range & Accuracy

International English Language Testing System is a worldwide accepted test of checking the capability of conversing in the English Language. Two modules of English language (writing and speaking) are tested on the basis of four parameters, that is, coherence and cohesion, task response, pronunciation, and lexical resources, and Grammatical Range and Accuracy. However, each of the parameters is required to be fulfilled to get a necessary score in your test.

In this particular article, tips and tricks to improve Grammatical accuracy will be discussed.

Grammatical Range

Grammatical range refers to the variety of usage of complex sentences and compound sentences in your speech and writing. It is not always necessary to use each and every sentence as complex but a mixture of these makes the writing and speaking effectively.

Grammatical Accuracy

The correctness of the usage of Grammatical tools in your dialogue and writing is what Grammatical Accuracy is.

Tips to Improve Grammatical Range and Accuracy

▶️ Take online tests-

Having a basic knowledge of grammar is enough but it is of no use if you haven’t practiced for it. The best and the foremost trick to do well in this particular parameter is to do practice. There are n number of ways by which you can practice. However, one of the way to rehearse is by taking online mock tests.

These mock tests are available on our website too. It is not necessary that you should take tests of IELTS only. You can also take mini-tests of grammar to check your Grammatical skills.

▶️ Start with basics

English language has a grammar that has some defined set of rules and need to be understood to converse in it. So another tip suggested to get pro in Grammatical range and Accuracy is to start afresh with the basic rules of Grammar, that is, its parts of speech. In our previous articles, all the parts of speech of English grammar had been discussed.

▶️ Use more relative clauses

Relative clauses are the connectors that connect two sentences together and make sense out of it. These relative clauses are wh-words. Which, who, whom, where, when, whose etcetera are all examples of relative clauses. Usage of these relative clauses in sentences is as follows:-

• The Northeastern area has been developed with the park and the community area in 2001 which was an open area in 1991.
• My teacher helped me in my studies who was very passionate about her subject.
• The mother whose child is missing is very sad.

▶️ Use Range of sentences

A sentence is basically a combination of words that makes complete sense. In your writing test, it is required to write a variety of complex and compound sentences in order to get higher band score. Sentences are of three types:-

• Simple sentence- It is a kind of sentence that has one subject, verb and object. For example- John is singing a song.
• Complex Sentences- These are the kind of sentences which has one or two independent clause and one dependent clause. For example- John is singing a song which was written by a famous artist.
• Compound sentence- A compound sentence is a sentence which is a hybrid of both simple and complex sentence. In this kind of sentence, there are one independent clause and two or more dependent clauses. For example- John is singing a song because everyone is enjoying his song.

▶️ Use Punctuation marks Accurately

Let’s read the words as follows:-

One of the key advantage of public transport is that it is economical  charges are taken as fare Much of the traffic is also reduced on the roads as there will be less vehicles and more passengers can be carried at one time

These words are without punctuation marks. One cannot understand the proper meaning. However, it's correct version will be

One of the key advantage of public transport is that, it is economical. Nominal charges are taken as fare. Much of the traffic is also reduced on the roads as, there will be less vehicles and more passengers can be carried at one time.

• By using punctuation marks, grammar Accuracy can be improved.
• Complex sentences can be easily understood if punctuation marks are used as reader will read the passage with pauses in between.
• You can also understand that how to give a speech with a balanced pace, if knowledge of punctuation marks is there.

▶️ Use more of passive tenses in report writing

In case of task 1 of writing test, that is, report writing, it is highly recommended to use passive sentences in order to make it distinguished.

For example-

• Sales observed an incline if 40% from 2005 to 2010.

Passive- An incline of 40% was observed in sales from 2005 to 2010.

However, it is not always correct to use passive tense in writing. It should be written when it is required. In case of diagram or map, a mixture of both the tenses can be seen. For example-

• when the process is man made, a use of passive tense can be there.

Coffee beans are picked by workers. These beans are then roasted.

• And when the process is natural, it is required to use active sentences.

The adult fish spawns.

The cloud cools and forms droplets.

▶️ Usage of past tense in speech

Many times, students ask the question of which tense is to be uses while speaking. Well, the simple answer is try to use past tense for any experience related question and to use present tense in case of describing any personality.

For example-

• Cue card- describe any gift you received

I received.....

I opened it....

I got excited....

I was thankful....

I felt delighted....

• Cue card- Talk about your best friend

He/ she is....

We play together....

We talk random....

We visit....

He gifts me...

He surprises me...

▶️ Use Comparative Adjectives

Comparative and superlative degrees of adjectives are very important to be used correctly while writing comparable and contrasting point of views. An adjective is a word that describes the quality or quantity of a noun or a pronoun.

A comparative degree of adjective is used when comparing is to be done between two persons or things. However a superlative degree is used to compare among all.

• For example- The sales position of company A is better than company B.

Here, better is a comparative degree of good.

• For example- The sales of company A is the highest among all the companies.

Here, highest is the superlative degree of high.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy VS Lexical Resources

Students often get confused in between these two parameters of GRA and LR. The difference between the two is that lexical resources demand a range of vocabulary and new words. On the other side, the Grammar range demands a variety of sentences.

For example-

• There was a constant rise in sales of watercooler in the year 1995 and 2005. However, there was a steady decline in sales of freezer between 1995 and 2005.

The above two sentences have different vocabulary words but the style of the sentence is same. It will fetch you more bands in the parameter of LR but not in the case of GR.

The question is how to vary it.

For example-

• In the years of 1995 and 2005, a steady incline can be seen in the sales of watercooler whereas it was a decline in case of the freezer in the same time period.

As you can see, the above two sentences are combined and one compound sentence is made out of it which makes sense and it makes your writing effective.

English Grammar is all about rules and it requires a lot of practice to improve this particular parameter. However, it is not impossible to get a pro in it and to achieve your desired band score. Keep focusing on each parameter. I hope the above-mentioned rules will help you a lot in improving your score.

Best of luck!