The criterion has two words in it
Grammatical Range and Accuracy. Two things, marked together. Most candidates work hard on the second one and ignore the first, because errors feel dangerous and complexity feels risky.
But you cannot score a 7 on accuracy alone. If every sentence you produce is short and simple, you have shown no range — and there is nothing for the examiner to reward, however correct it all is.
What each band looks like
| Band | Range | Accuracy |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Basic forms, some complex attempts. | Errors are frequent and can cause misunderstanding. |
| 6 | A mix of simple and complex forms — but the complex ones are limited. | Errors happen but rarely block meaning. |
| 7 | A range of complex structures, used with some flexibility. | Frequent error-free sentences. Some errors persist. |
| 8 | Wide range, used naturally. | Majority error-free. Occasional slips only. |
| 9 | Full range, natural and accurate. | Errors are rare and non-systematic. |
Look at band 7 carefully. It asks for a range of complex structures and frequent error-free sentences — not perfection. Some errors are expected at 7. Refusing to attempt anything difficult in order to avoid them is how people get stuck at 6.
What counts as a complex structure
Complex does not mean long or ornate. It means more than one clause, joined properly. These are ordinary and they all count.
| Structure | Example |
|---|---|
| Because / since / as (reason) | I moved out because the commute was killing me. |
| Which / who (relative clause) | My brother, who studied abroad, says it was worth it. |
| If / unless (conditional) | If I had more time, I'd learn another language. |
| Although / even though (concession) | Although it's expensive, I think it's worth it. |
| -ing / -ed openers | Having lived there for a year, I got used to it. |
| Perfect tenses | I've been meaning to do that for ages. |
None of these are exotic. You almost certainly know them all. The band is lost not because they are unknown but because, under pressure, people retreat to I like it. It is good. I go there often.
The highest-value structure in the test
If you add one structure deliberately, make it the conditional — especially the unreal one. It is complex, it is easy to trigger, and IELTS questions constantly invite it.
Almost any Part 3 question can take it:
- "If governments invested more in public transport, fewer people would drive."
- "If I hadn't moved to the city, I probably wouldn't have found this job."
- "Unless something changes, the problem will get worse."
Learn two conditional patterns until they are automatic, and you will produce complex grammar naturally in almost every answer — without memorising anything the examiner can detect as rehearsed.
Which errors actually matter
Not all mistakes are weighted the same. The descriptors care about whether an error causes a misunderstanding.
| Costly — it changes meaning | Cheap — the listener recovers instantly |
|---|---|
| Wrong tense (Yesterday I go…) | A missing article (I went to shop) |
| Wrong word order in a question | A slightly wrong preposition (on the weekend / at the weekend) |
| Dropped -s / -ed (it deletes number and time) | Occasional self-correction |
| A subject that never arrives | Saying a instead of an once |
So if you are going to trade accuracy for range, trade it in the right column. Attempt the complex sentence; do not fear the small slip. Do fix the tense.
What moves you up a band
| If you are at… | The change that moves you |
|---|---|
| 5 → 6 | Fix the errors that block meaning: tense, word order, and the dropped -s / -ed. |
| 6 → 7 | Attempt complex structures on purpose. Add because, which, although, and a conditional to almost every answer. Accept the occasional error — the descriptor does. |
| 7 → 8 | Widen the range and clean up the residue. Vary how you build complexity instead of using the same two joins. |
The 6→7 move is the one most people get backwards. They try to move up by making fewer mistakes, and instead they should be taking more grammatical risk.
How to practise
- Record an answer, then transcribe it. Count how many sentences have more than one clause. If it is fewer than half, that is your band 6 explained.
- Force one structure per answer. Answer the same question three times: once forcing although, once forcing a relative clause, once forcing a conditional.
- Slow down slightly. Most people retreat to simple grammar because they are speaking faster than they can build.
- Get the errors sorted by cost, not by count. Fix the ones that change meaning first.
Aflo marks Grammatical Range and Accuracy separately, shows the errors sentence by sentence, and gives you an improved version so you can see what the complex form should have looked like.
Frequently asked questions
Should I use simple sentences in IELTS Speaking to avoid mistakes?
No, and this is the most common reason accurate speakers stay at band 6. The criterion is Grammatical Range AND Accuracy. Flawless simple sentences show no range, so there is nothing to reward. Band 7 asks for a range of complex structures with frequent error-free sentences — not perfection.
Will grammar mistakes stop me getting band 7?
Not on their own. The band 7 descriptor explicitly expects some errors to persist. What matters is whether errors block meaning. A complex sentence with a small slip scores better than a simple sentence with none.
What is the most useful grammar structure to practise?
The conditional, especially the unreal one — 'If governments invested more, fewer people would drive.' It is genuinely complex, IELTS questions invite it constantly, and once two patterns are automatic you produce complex grammar in almost every answer without anything sounding rehearsed.
Which grammar mistakes cost the most?
The ones that change meaning: wrong tense, wrong word order in questions, and dropped -s or -ed endings, which delete number and time. Missing articles and slightly wrong prepositions are cheap by comparison — a listener recovers instantly.