5 Common Grammar Mistakes That Lower Your English Test Score
IELTS, Language Training, OET, PTEGrammar mistakes can significantly impact your performance in English proficiency tests such as IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, and OET. Even small errors can lower your overall score, especially in the writing and speaking sections. Understanding the most common grammar mistakes is the first step to improving your test score and demonstrating your language proficiency effectively. In this blog, we’ll discuss the 5 most common grammar mistakes and provide practical tips to help you avoid them.
Why Grammar Mistakes Matter in English Tests
Grammar mistakes can significantly affect your performance in English tests like IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, and OET. Good grammar is not just about correctness—it’s about ensuring your message is clear, coherent, and professional. When you make grammar mistakes, it can confuse the reader or listener, and this can result in lower scores, especially in the writing and speaking sections. Examiners look for accurate grammar as an indicator of your overall language proficiency. By understanding and avoiding common grammar mistakes, you can improve your clarity, coherence, and confidence—ultimately boosting your English test score.
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Subject-Verb Agreement Errors
One of the most frequent grammar mistakes test-takers make is subject-verb agreement. This happens when the subject and the verb in a sentence do not match in number. For example, saying “She go to the market every day” instead of “She goes to the market every day.” Incorrect subject-verb agreement can make your writing sound awkward and ungrammatical, which can negatively impact your test score. To avoid this mistake, always identify the subject of your sentence and ensure the verb agrees in number (singular or plural). Pay special attention to tricky cases like collective nouns or phrases like “each of,” “neither,” or “everyone,” which are usually singular.
Incorrect Tense Usage
Using the wrong tense is another common mistake that can affect your score. Test-takers often mix up tenses, especially in essay writing, which can confuse the reader and lower your score. For instance, writing “Last year, I am going to Paris” instead of “Last year, I went to Paris.” Proper tense usage helps you convey the correct time frame and makes your writing clearer. To avoid tense mistakes, remember to use simple past for completed actions in the past and present perfect for actions that have relevance to the present. Maintain a consistent tense within the same sentence and paragraph unless a shift in time is necessary.
Misplaced or Dangling Modifiers
Modifiers add important details to a sentence, but if they’re misplaced, they can create confusion or change the intended meaning. For example: “Running down the street, the backpack fell off.” This sentence incorrectly suggests that the backpack was running. The correct version is “Running down the street, I dropped my backpack.” Misplaced or dangling modifiers can make your writing unclear and impact your coherence score. To fix this, place modifiers close to the words they describe and always double-check your sentences for clarity.
Incorrect Use of Articles (a, an, the)
Articles are small words but play a big role in making your writing sound natural and correct. Many test-takers skip articles or use them incorrectly, such as writing “I went to hospital yesterday” instead of “I went to the hospital yesterday.” Articles help specify meaning, and their incorrect usage can make sentences awkward. Remember to use a/an for singular, general nouns (e.g., a dog, an apple) and the for specific nouns (e.g., the dog in the yard). Practice using articles correctly by studying examples and applying them to your writing.
Confusing Prepositions
Prepositions may be small words, but they can be tricky and easily lead to mistakes. Using the wrong preposition can change the meaning of a sentence or make it sound awkward. For instance, “She is good in playing the piano” should be “She is good at playing the piano.” Incorrect prepositions can result in unclear communication and negatively affect your coherence and cohesion score. To avoid preposition mistakes, memorize common combinations (e.g., interested in, good at, afraid of) and consult grammar resources or dictionaries whenever needed.
How to Practice and Improve Your Grammar
Now that you know the 5 most common grammar mistakes, the next step is to practice and strengthen your grammar skills. Here are some effective ways to do that:
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Use Grammar Apps: Tools like Grammarly, Cambridge Grammar, and BBC Learning English can help you identify and correct mistakes in real time.
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Read Regularly: Reading well-written articles, newspapers, or novels exposes you to correct grammar usage in context.
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Write and Review: Write short essays or journal entries daily, then review them to identify grammar mistakes.
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Seek Feedback: Share your writing with teachers or peers for constructive feedback.
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Practice Tests: Take practice tests under exam conditions to build confidence and accuracy.
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The Impact of Grammar Mistakes on Your Overall Score
Grammar mistakes not only affect your writing and speaking sections but can also influence how examiners perceive your overall language skills. A consistent pattern of grammar mistakes can lower your coherence and cohesion scores, which are crucial in tests like IELTS and TOEFL. Poor grammar can also affect your ability to effectively organize and express your ideas, leading to lower scores in the task response or content criteria. By understanding the impact of grammar mistakes on your overall score, you can focus your efforts on mastering key grammar areas and presenting your best possible English proficiency.
Avoiding these 5 common grammar mistakes—subject-verb agreement, incorrect tense usage, misplaced modifiers, wrong use of articles, and confusing prepositions—can make a big difference in your English test score. By practicing regularly and seeking feedback, you can develop a strong foundation in grammar and boost your overall performance. Remember: even small errors can lower your score, so pay attention to these details to impress the examiners and achieve your target band.
Rinu Ann George is an SEO Analyst working in Upgraderz