Why Learning from Mistakes Matters
In this lesson, you'll learn to identify and fix the most common errors that prevent students from achieving Band 7+. We'll look at real examples from student essays and practice spotting these mistakes before you make them in the exam.
What You'll Learn Today
Task Response Mistakes
- Not answering all parts of the question
- Going off-topic
- Under-developing ideas
- Unclear position
Coherence & Cohesion Mistakes
- Overusing linking words
- Poor paragraph structure
- Lack of clear progression
- Missing topic sentences
Lexical Resource Mistakes
- Repetitive vocabulary
- Inappropriate word choice
- Spelling errors
- Unnatural collocations
Grammar Mistakes
- Subject-verb agreement
- Article errors
- Tense consistency
- Sentence fragments
Task Response - Common Mistakes
Task Response errors lose you the most marks. Click each card to see the correction.
Student writes: "This essay will discuss both views."
Impact: This mistake alone can drop you from Band 7 to Band 6 in Task Response.
Student writes: Two paragraphs on advantages, no disadvantages discussed.
Solution: Write one body paragraph for advantages, one for disadvantages. Give them roughly equal length (both 80-100 words).
Band 6 vs Band 7 difference: Band 6 students present ideas but don't develop them fully. Band 7 students extend and support ALL main ideas with specific examples.
Student writes: Three paragraphs about causes, half a paragraph about solutions.
Two-part question rule: Split your essay roughly 50-50 between the two parts. If word count is 280, that's about 140 words per part.
Student writes: Entire essay argues sports are important, ignoring the opposite view.
Discussion essay rule: Present both sides fairly in the body paragraphs, and give your own opinion clearly — briefly in the introduction and fully in the conclusion.
- Don't answer the exact question asked
- Miss parts of multi-part questions
- Don't take a clear position when required
- Under-develop your main ideas
- Go off-topic or write irrelevant information
Coherence & Cohesion - Common Mistakes
These mistakes make your essay hard to follow. Click to see corrections.
The Band 9 descriptor: a top essay "uses cohesion in such a way that it attracts no attention". Simple linking words (and, but, because, firstly) are better than fancy alternatives.
Remember: Overuse of linking words can cap your score at Band 6 for Coherence & Cohesion.
Topic sentence formula: Signposting word (Firstly/Secondly) + main point in one sentence
Impact: Without topic sentences, the examiner has to guess what each paragraph is about — and your Coherence score suffers.
Solution: Use reference words: it, this, these, such + nouns (this tool, these methods)
Cohesion tip: After introducing a noun, use pronouns or reference words to avoid repetition.
Solution: Each paragraph should discuss ONE main idea only. Related points can be mentioned, but they must support the main idea.
Band 7 requirement: "Clear central topic within each paragraph"
Body 1: "Technology has disadvantages."
Body 2: "However, technology is beneficial."
Conclusion: "I partially agree."
Consistency rule: If you agree in the introduction, BOTH body paragraphs should support this view. Don't change your mind halfway through.
Note: You can acknowledge counter-arguments, but your main position must stay consistent.
- Use too many linking words (sounds unnatural)
- Don't use clear topic sentences
- Repeat words without using reference devices
- Jump between ideas without clear organization
- Change your position throughout the essay
Lexical Resource - Common Mistakes
Vocabulary mistakes that cost you marks. Click to see corrections.
Band 7 requirement: "Uses less common lexical items with some awareness of style and collocation"
Solution: Keep a list of synonyms for common words: people (individuals, citizens), think (believe, consider, argue), important (significant, crucial, vital)
Collocation matters: You can't just substitute synonyms. Words have natural partnerships.
Common collocation errors:
- make homework (do homework)
- do a mistake (make a mistake)
- say a speech (give a speech)
- gain experience (NOT earn experience)
Common spelling mistakes:
- government (not goverment)
- environment (not enviroment)
- accommodation (double c, double m)
- beginning (double n)
- occurred (double r)
Impact: Frequent spelling errors hold your Lexical Resource score down — check the words you know you get wrong
Article rules:
- Technology, education (general concepts) = NO article
- The technology (specific technology) = use "the"
- In the world = use "the" (only one world)
- In modern society = NO article (general)
Warning: Phrases like "in this contemporary epoch," "in this day and age," "in this modern era" are overused by test-takers. Examiners know these are memorized.
Better approach: Use simple, natural language. "Today," "Currently," "In recent years" are perfectly fine.
- Repeat the same words too often
- Use incorrect collocations
- Make frequent spelling errors
- Misuse articles (a, an, the)
- Use memorized, unnatural phrases
Grammatical Range & Accuracy - Common Mistakes
Grammar mistakes that prevent Band 7+. Click to see corrections.
Rule: Singular subject = singular verb
Plural subject = plural verb
Impact: This is the most common grammar error. Multiple instances = Band 6 maximum for grammar.
Conditional structures:
- First conditional: If + present, will + verb
- Second conditional: If + past, would + verb
- Third conditional: If + past perfect, would have + past participle
Tense rules:
- Time markers (yesterday, last year) → past tense
- General facts → present simple
- IELTS essays usually use present tenses for general arguments
- Be consistent - don't jump between tenses randomly
Solution 1: Combine with main clause: "Because technology is useful, many students use it."
Solution 2: Use a different connector: "Technology is useful. Therefore, many students use it."
Relative pronouns:
- WHO → for people (students who...)
- WHICH → for things (technology which...)
- THAT → for both people and things (the book that...)
- WHERE → for places (the school where...)
- WHEN → for time (the day when...)
Band 7+ requirement: "Uses a variety of complex structures"
Complex structures include:
- Relative clauses (who, which, that)
- Conditional sentences (if...)
- Time clauses (when, while, after)
- Reason clauses (because, since, as)
- Subject-verb agreement (most common!)
- Conditional structures
- Tense consistency
- Sentence fragments
- Relative pronouns
- Lack of complex structures (only simple sentences)
Interactive Error Spotter Game
Click on the errors in each sentence. Find all the mistakes!
Round 1: Find the Subject-Verb Error
Round 2: Find the Collocation Error
Round 3: Find the Article Error
Round 4: Find the Conditional Error
Round 5: Find the Relative Pronoun Error
- Read the sentence carefully before clicking
- Think about what type of error it might be
- Click on the word you think is wrong
- If you're right, it will turn green. If wrong, try again!
Before & After Essay Comparison
See how correcting mistakes improves band scores. Same ideas, better execution!
Nowadays, the technology is everywhere. Some people thinks it make life too complex. I will discuss both views.
First and foremost, moreover, in addition to this, technology is helpful. It help people. Many people use smartphones. Smartphones are good. They can communicate.
On the other hand, technology have problems. Because it is difficult to use. Old people cannot use it. Young people uses it too much. They uses social media every day.
In conclusion, technology has advantages and disadvantages. People should thinking about it.
Predicted Band: 5.0
Task Response: 5 (unclear position, under-developed, far under 250 words)
Coherence: 5 (poor organization, over-linking)
Vocabulary: 5 (repetitive, article errors)
Grammar: 4 (errors in almost every sentence)
Technology has become integral to modern life. While some argue that it has made our lives too complex, I completely disagree with this view, as the benefits of technological advancement far outweigh any perceived complications.
Firstly, technology has simplified many aspects of daily life. Smartphones, for instance, consolidate multiple functions into one device, allowing users to communicate, navigate, and access information instantly. This convenience has actually reduced complexity rather than increased it. Furthermore, modern technology often features intuitive interfaces that make even complex tasks accessible to users of all ages and technical abilities. Online banking is a clear example: tasks that once required a visit to a branch, a long queue and several forms can now be completed from home in a few minutes.
Secondly, while some older individuals may initially struggle with new technology, this does not mean technology itself is inherently complex. Rather, it reflects a learning curve that can be overcome with proper education and support. Moreover, the younger generation adapts naturally to technological changes, suggesting that perceived complexity is often a matter of familiarity rather than actual difficulty. Many grandparents who had never used a computer, for instance, learned to make video calls within days once someone showed them how, and now speak to relatives abroad every week.
In conclusion, I firmly believe that technology has simplified our lives by providing efficient solutions to everyday challenges. The initial learning phase should not be confused with unnecessary complexity. Rather than complicating our lives, technology has removed many of the small obstacles that once filled them.
Predicted Band: 7.5
Task Response: 8 (clear position, well-developed)
Coherence: 7 (good organization, natural flow)
Vocabulary: 7 (varied, appropriate)
Grammar: 8 (complex structures, accurate)
- Task Response: Clear position from the start (not "discuss both views")
- Coherence: Removed over-linking, added clear topic sentences
- Vocabulary: Fixed articles, used varied vocabulary, correct collocations
- Grammar: Fixed all subject-verb errors, added complex sentences
- Development: Each idea fully explained with specific examples
Band Score Predictor
Count the errors in your essay and predict your band score. Be honest!
Task Response Issues
Off-topic, unclear position, under-developed ideas, missing parts of question
Coherence Issues
Over-linking, no topic sentences, poor organization, unclear progression
Vocabulary Errors
Repetition, collocation errors, spelling mistakes, article errors
Grammar Errors
Subject-verb agreement, tense, conditionals, fragments, only simple sentences
- Write your essay or use a past essay
- Read through it carefully, checking against the error types learned today
- Count how many errors you find in each category
- Use the + buttons to add to your count
- Click "Predict My Band Score" to see your estimated score
- Focus your improvement on the areas with the most errors
Self-Editing Checklist
Use this checklist after writing every essay. Check each item before submitting!