Writing: Grammar Accuracy, Range, and Task Response
The Writing section tests whether you can produce clear, accurate English and respond appropriately to a prompt. Depending on your level, tasks range from completing sentences and reordering words to writing a short email, description, or opinion paragraph. Two things are scored: accuracy (grammar, spelling, punctuation) and range (varied structures and vocabulary suited to the task).
Concepts you must control
- Verb forms and tense consistency. Know when to use present perfect versus past simple, and keep tenses coherent within a paragraph.
- Subject-verb agreement, especially with collective nouns and phrases between subject and verb.
- Articles and countability. Information, advice, and research are uncountable.
- Sentence variety. Mix simple, compound, and complex sentences; use connectors (because, although, in addition) accurately.
- Register. An email to a colleague differs from a formal complaint. Match greeting, contraction use, and closing to the audience.
Traps to watch
- Answering only half the prompt. If it asks for advantages and disadvantages, cover both.
- Over-long sentences. Long strings joined by and invite errors; split them.
- Memorised openers. Generic introductions waste words and often ignore the task.
- Silent errors. Leave two minutes to check plurals, third-person -s, and prepositions.
Rule of thumb
Spend the first minute planning two or three points, then write short sentences you can control. Accuracy earns more than ambitious vocabulary used incorrectly. Aim for a clear structure: state your point, support it, link to the next.
Worked example
Prompt: Write a short email declining a meeting invitation. A weak response says only "I can't come." A strong one states the purpose, gives a brief reason, offers an alternative, and closes politely: "Thank you for the invitation. Unfortunately I have a prior commitment on Tuesday. Could we reschedule for Thursday?"