International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is an internationally focused test in its content. Like texts and tasks are sourced from publications from all over the English- speaking world, a range of native- speaker accents (North American, Australian, New Zealand British etc.) are used in the listening test, and all standard varieties of English are accepted in test takers’ written or spoken responses.

So to be successful in all the components, one must possess good communication skills in English. If you lack in spoken English skills, your chances of working or studying in a foreign country are limited, and in spite of having good credentials, you would lose many opportunities.

As we talk about Grammar as an important element of IELTS, we can say that Grammar is definitely important for IELTS but its value varies from module to module. In case of writing and speaking modules, grammar holds more value as compared to reading and listening modules.

Writing and speaking modules: In these two modules grammar matters a lot as candidate does most of the descriptive work in these two modules. So while attempting writing module, the candidate has to be grammatically correct in Task I and Task2 and there should be few grammatical errors as possible to score good bands and same is the case for speaking as well.

Because of its great importance, grammar is one of the four categories on the basis of which candidate will be assessed on in the Writing and Speaking modules of the IELTS. However, there are many differences between speaking and writing, including the way we use grammar. Writing is not simply speech written down on paper. So, let’s take a look at some of the differences between the two and how grammar is assessed on the IELTS test:

Speaking Versus Writing
Speech is usually spontaneous and used immediately.Writing is usually planned and permanent.
Speakers can correct themselves and change their ideas and/or grammatical structures as they go along.Written text can be corrected and/or changed through editing and revision
Speech tends to have simpler sentences linked together.Writing is usually more complex than speech with longer sentences and more complex structures*.
It’s not just the words that give meaning. Body language, eye contact and other things also communicate ideas. As well, speakers can use their voices (tone/volume/speed) and pauses to communicate their message.The reader can only see what’s on the page. Writers also use punctuation to make their writing clear and effective.

Reading and Listening modules: In these modules, grammatical knowledge comes into play while selecting the correct option, getting a clue regarding the requirement of question and while writing down the correct answer. Most often the answers are given in the passage itself in Reading or spoken by the speaker on listening CD. However, for some tricky or difficult questions, a sound knowledge of grammar is needed to get the answer right.

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