IELTS grammar and vocabulary

IELTS Grammar: Conditional sentences.

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How to use zero, 1st, 2nd and 3rd conditionals (if sentences)

Updated: November 2024

There are four kinds of conditional sentences. The zero conditional describes real or specific situations, while unreal Conditionals describe unreal, imaginary situations or hopes for the future. With unreal conditionals, there is a difference in the likelihood of them happening. However, they don’t refer to the past. The 3rd conditional is for past regret, how something could be different or a past hypothetical situation.

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8 things that could lower your IELTS writing score

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Things to avoid in IELTS essays.

Updated: September 2025

The essay writing section of IELTS is formal. This is the same for the academic writing task 1 reports, so you must use the right register. You could lose marks in vocabulary or grammar if you are writing informally, using idioms, or using memorised stock phrases.

In IELTS general writing task 1 you will sometimes get an ‘informal’ letter to write, so obviously in that specific case, you will write the letter in an informal register.

You may not lose a band score if you are doing just one of these things below but if you are making a combination of errors then it could be the cause of being stuck at band 6 or 6.5.

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IELTS Prepositions: By, Until, With

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IELTS grammar: By, Until, With.

Sometimes students make simple grammar mistakes when speaking or in the essay writing part of the test. IELTS examiners mark you on the accuracy of your grammar in the speaking and writing sections of the test. Grammar makes up 25% of your marks in writing and speaking.

I advise focusing on accuracy when writing and speaking because even if you have a wide range of grammar if it is used incorrectly you will lose marks.  Below is a short lesson on how to use the prepositions By, with, until.

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