Common grammar mistakes in IELTS Speaking: five to check first
Speaking grammar is not marked by counting every error. The descriptors care about how often your sentences are right and whether your errors form a pattern. A slip you make once is noise; a slip you make with every past verb shows what your grammar cannot control yet.
So the job is not to become error-free overnight; it is to find the systematic slips and remove them one at a time. There is no official list of common errors. BandLadder teaches five basic slips to check first, each with a cue word you can learn to hear.
Five slips BandLadder teaches you to check first
| Slip | Typical sound | Cue that should trigger the check |
|---|---|---|
| Articles | "I grow chillies on balcony." | A singular countable noun: it needs a, an, the, my or this |
| Plurals and uncountables | "She gave me some useful advices." | Words like advice, equipment, information, furniture: never -s |
| Tense drift | "Last May it starts to hail and everyone runs inside." | A past time phrase in your first sentence: the whole story stays past |
| Third-person -s | "My grandfather mend fishing nets." | He, she, it or one named person before a present verb |
| Question forms | "I asked him where does he live." | After asked, wonder, know or tell me: statement order, no do |
BandLadder's teaching categories, not official IELTS ones and not error statistics.
Complex structures are missing from the list on purpose. In BandLadder's view, a basic slip repeated in almost every answer usually costs more than one failed conditional. For building complex grammar, see complex sentences in IELTS Speaking; for what each band asks beyond accuracy, see IELTS Speaking band 8.
Premium sheet Β· 5 more sections
- Articles and plurals: the noun mistakes in IELTS Speaking
- Tenses in IELTS Speaking: stopping drift in Part 2
- Third-person -s and question forms in IELTS Speaking
- How to improve grammar in IELTS Speaking under pressure
- Your turn: spot the repeat slip
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Questions
FAQ
What are the most common grammar mistakes in IELTS Speaking?+
There is no official list. BandLadder teaches five basic slips to check first: articles, plurals on uncountable nouns, tense drift in past stories, third-person -s, and question order inside longer sentences.
Do grammar mistakes affect the IELTS Speaking score?+
Yes, through Grammatical range and accuracy, one of four equally weighted criteria. Band 7 still allows a few basic errors, so a repeated slip matters more than a single one.
Should I correct myself if I make a grammar mistake in IELTS Speaking?+
A quick correction is fine; band 7 allows some self-correction. BandLadder advice: correct slips that change your meaning and let small ones pass, because constant restarts hurt fluency.
Which tenses should I use in IELTS Speaking?+
The tense the meaning needs: Part 1 habits are mostly present, many Part 2 stories are past, and Part 3 mixes present, future and conditionals. The usual mistake is drifting from past to present mid-story.
How can I improve grammar in IELTS Speaking quickly?+
Record and transcribe a few answers, find the slip you repeat most, and train only that cue for a week before moving on.
Sources
- IELTS Speaking Band Descriptors (ielts.org): Bands 7β8, PDF page 2; notes, PDF page 4
- IELTS scoring in detail (ielts.org): https://ielts.org/take-a-test/your-results/ielts-scoring-in-detail, Speaking section
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