🎯 Objective
To help learners improve grammatical accuracy and range in describing data. This includes:
- Using complex sentence structures effectively
- Mastering tenses and passive voice for data description
- Avoiding common grammatical errors
- Demonstrating grammatical variety for higher band scores
📊 Task Description
The bar chart below shows energy consumption by different sectors in a country from 2000 to 2020.
(Assume residential consumption increased, industrial remained stable, transport decreased.)
📚 Step-by-Step Guide: How to Master Grammar for IELTS Task 1
Understanding Grammatical Accuracy & Range
What is Grammatical Accuracy & Range? It measures your ability to use a wide variety of grammatical structures accurately and appropriately. For IELTS Task 1, this means using complex sentences, correct tenses, and varied structures to describe data effectively.
Basic (Band 4-5)
Simple sentences only
Basic present tense
Many grammatical errors
Limited sentence variety
Good (Band 6-7)
Some complex sentences
Mix of tenses
Few grammatical errors
Some sentence variety
Advanced (Band 8-9)
Wide range of structures
Perfect tense usage
Error-free grammar
Sophisticated variety
Essential Grammar for IELTS Task 1
1. 📅 Tenses
Past: Data from previous years
Present: Current data or general statements
Future: Projected data or predictions
2. 🔄 Passive Voice
Use: Focus on data, not who created it
Example: "Energy was consumed..." instead of "People consumed energy"
3. 📊 Comparatives & Superlatives
Comparative: higher than, more than
Superlative: the highest, the most significant
4. 🔗 Complex Sentences
Relative clauses: which, that, where
Subordinating: while, although, whereas
5. 📈 Present Participles
Use: Show trends and changes
Example: "increasing rapidly," "declining steadily"
6. 🎯 Articles & Prepositions
Articles: the data, a trend
Prepositions: from...to, between, during
Grammar Structures by Function
| Function | Grammar Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Describing trends | Past tense + adverb | Consumption increased dramatically |
| Making comparisons | Comparative adjectives | Sector A was higher than Sector B |
| Showing time periods | Prepositions of time | Between 2000 and 2020 |
| Complex descriptions | Relative clauses | The sector which showed growth |
| Contrasting data | Linking words | While X increased, Y decreased |
Step-by-Step Grammar Improvement
Step 1: Master Time Expressions
✅ Correct: "from 2000 to 2020," "between 2010 and 2015," "over the period"
❌ Incorrect: "from 2000-2020," "in 2000 to 2020"
Step 2: Use Appropriate Tenses
Past data: "Energy consumption increased in 2010"
Future projections: "Consumption is expected to rise by 2030"
Step 3: Add Complex Structures
Simple: "Sector A increased. Sector B decreased."
Complex: "While Sector A increased dramatically, Sector B experienced a decline."
Step 4: Use Passive Voice Appropriately
Active: "The chart shows energy consumption"
Passive: "Energy consumption is shown in the chart"
Step 5: Check Subject-Verb Agreement
✅ Correct: "The data shows" OR "The figures show"
❌ Incorrect: "The data show" OR "The figures shows"
Common Grammar Mistakes in Task 1
- ❌ Wrong tense: "In 2020, energy will increase" (should be "increased")
- ❌ Article errors: "Chart shows" (should be "The chart shows")
- ❌ Preposition mistakes: "In the period from 2000-2020" (should be "to")
- ❌ Subject-verb disagreement: "The number of consumers are" (should be "is")
- ❌ Run-on sentences: Sentences that are too long without proper punctuation
- ❌ Fragment sentences: Incomplete sentences missing subjects or verbs
🧩 Task: Correct Grammar Errors
Below is a student response with grammatical errors. Click on the highlighted errors to see corrections and explanations.
The chart show energy consumption in different sectors from 2000 to 2020. In 2000 residential sector consumed 30% of total energy. Industrial sector was more higher than residential sector. Between 2000-2010, residential consumption have increased significantly. Transport sector, which was decreasing over the period. By 2020, industrial sector remained same.
Progress: 0/8 errors corrected
✅ Corrected Version with Perfect Grammar
The chart shows energy consumption in different sectors from 2000 to 2020. In 2000, residential sector consumption was 30% of total energy. The industrial sector was higher than the residential sector. Between 2000 and 2010, residential consumption increased significantly. The transport sector decreased over the period. By 2020, the industrial sector had remained the same.
🎯 Grammar Improvements Made:
- ✅ Corrected subject-verb agreement
- ✅ Fixed comparative form errors
- ✅ Improved tense consistency
- ✅ Added proper punctuation
- ✅ Enhanced sentence structure
- ✅ Added necessary articles