The Myth: “More Grammar = Higher Band”
Many students believe:
“If I use big grammar, I’ll impress the examiner.”
So they try:
- Weird conditionals they half-remember
- Passive voice at the wrong time
- Long, twisted sentences that collapse halfway through
The result? They sound confused, nervous, and unclear — the exact opposite of fluency.
The Truth: Clarity + Control = Band Boost
You don’t need fancy grammar.
You need:
- Clear sentence structure
- Natural variety
- Flexibility to move between tenses and ideas smoothly
Think of grammar like seasoning. A little variety brings flavour. Too much ruins the meal.
3 Grammar Powers That Actually Matter
These are the tools real Band 7–8 speakers use consistently — not to impress, but to communicate clearly.
1. Tense Control – Move Through Time Naturally
Examiners love to see that you can:
- Describe the past (Part 2)
- Comment on the present (Part 1 and 3)
- Predict the future (Part 3)
Simple Practice:
“Last year I travelled to Korea. Now I’m studying English every day. In the future, I’d love to work abroad.”
You’re moving through time clearly — and that’s exactly what grammar is for.
2. Complex Sentences That Don’t Collapse
You don’t need huge clauses. Just build one idea into another.
Examples:
“I like working from home because it saves time.”
“If I had more free time, I would learn another language.”
“Even though it rained, we still had a great time.”
These are simple, powerful sentence structures. Master them and you’ll already sound more advanced.
3. Modal Verbs = High-Level Flexibility
Modals are the secret weapon for sounding thoughtful and polite — especially in Part 3.
Examples:
“People should recycle more.”
“Governments could invest in public transport.”
“We might see fewer libraries in the future.”
Use should, could, might, must, and would in natural ways and you’ll unlock Band 7+ tone.
What You Can Stop Worrying About
- Memorised conditionals that confuse you
- Passive voice everywhere
- Overloaded clauses like:
“If I were given the chance to engage in the act of travelling to a foreign land, I would…”
That doesn’t sound smart. It sounds like a Band 6 student trying to sound like a textbook.
Instead, focus on clarity:
“If I had the chance, I’d travel to Italy. It’s always been a dream of mine.”
Practice: Grammar in Motion
Try speaking aloud using this rhythm:
Past → Present → Future
Simple sentence → Link it with because or so
Add one modal verb
Example:
“Last month, I went to the countryside. Now I’m back in the city, which is much louder. I think people should spend more time in nature.”
Sounds real. Sounds fluent. Sounds like a Band 7.
Mini Challenge: “Fix the Grammar”
Take this bad answer:
“I like cook because it is good. If I having more time I do it everyday.”
Now say it fluently using the rules from this module.
“I like cooking because it relaxes me. If I had more time, I’d do it every day.”
Optional: Record yourself reading both. The difference is the grammar — not more, just better.
What You Just Learned
- Advanced grammar doesn’t mean complex grammar
- You now know the 3 structures that boost your score without making you sound robotic
- The key to grammar in speaking is flexibility, not perfection
If you speak with calm structure and confident flow, even simple grammar becomes pow
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