Grammarly for IELTS Writing: what it fixes and what it misses
A grammar checker helps with one part of one IELTS criterion: accuracy. IELTS Writing is marked on four criteria, and three of them are about answering the task, organising your ideas and choosing words. The example below shows an answer with every grammar slip fixed that still does not answer the question.
What each kind of feedback looks at
Grammarly's plans page lists spelling and grammar correction, tone, and, on its paid plan, sentence rewrites. It does not mention IELTS or band scores.
The example task
"Some people think governments should spend money on public transport rather than on building new roads. To what extent do you agree or disagree?"
A student's first paragraph, written for this page: "Nowadays, transport is a very important issue in many country. Some people thinks that government should spend money for public transport and other people think roads are more important. In my opinion, there are advantages and disadvantages of both. Public transport is good because it is cheap and it is good for environment. Roads is also good because people can drive there car."
Step 1: grammar and spelling only
These are the slips a grammar checker is built to find.
| Written | Corrected | Why |
|---|---|---|
| many country | many countries | Plural after "many". |
| Some people thinks | Some people think | "People" is plural. |
| government should spend money for | governments should spend money on | Spend money on something. |
| good for environment | good for the environment | "The environment" needs the article. |
| Roads is | Roads are | Plural subject. |
| drive there car | drive their cars | Their (belonging), and plural. |
Step 2: feedback on the task
The corrected paragraph is accurate, but it still does not answer "to what extent do you agree".
Nowadays, transport is a very important issue in many countries. Some people think that governments should spend money on public transport and other people think roads are more important. In my opinion, there are advantages and disadvantages of both. Public transport is good because it is cheap and it is good for the environment. Roads are also good because people can drive their cars.
- No position: "advantages and disadvantages of both" answers a different question.
- "Good" three times; ideas listed, not explained.
- No example to support any point.
I largely agree that governments should prioritise public transport over new roads, although some road building remains necessary. In crowded cities, a new road tends to fill with traffic within a few years, whereas a reliable bus or rail line can move far more people in the same space. Public transport also lowers emissions per passenger and gives people who cannot drive, such as many students and older people, the same access to work and services.
- A clear position in the first sentence, with its limit.
- Each idea explained, with who benefits.
- Precise words replace "good": prioritise, reliable, access.
How to use each one
Use a grammar checker after you write
Treat each correction as a lesson: keep a list of the slips you make most, and check for those yourself.
Use task feedback before you rewrite
Ask: did I answer the exact question? Is my position clear? Is every idea explained? Then rewrite the weakest paragraph.
Practise without help, too
In the test you write on your own, with no editing tools. Write some answers to time with nothing switched on.
Task feedback on your own essays
The Writing and Speaking System reads your answer to any Task 1 or Task 2 question against the band descriptors, then you revise and compare. No band is promised.
IELTS Genius Writing and Speaking System
£249 once. No VAT is charged.
Feedback on your own Writing and Speaking answers, as often as you write them. For 12 months.
- Everything in IELTS Genius Pro: every lesson, test and writing task
- Any Task 1, Task 2 or Speaking question, including your own
- Each answer read against the public band descriptors, quoting your words
- Up to 25 answers read a day, revisions included, each version compared
- Speaking read from your words, typed or transcribed. No audio marking
Access for 12 months, until 11 October 2027.
By paying you agree to our Terms and get access straight away, which ends your 14-day cancellation right.More IELTS Writing
Questions people ask
Is Grammarly good for IELTS Writing?
It helps with spelling and grammar accuracy, which is part of one of the four criteria. It does not tell you whether you answered the task or organised your ideas, which matter just as much.
Can Grammarly give me an IELTS band score?
Grammarly's plans page does not mention IELTS or band scores. Only an official IELTS test gives you a band.
Can I use Grammarly in the IELTS test?
No. You write the test on your own, without editing tools, so practise that way as well.
Is IELTSGenius connected to Grammarly?
No. We are independent of Grammarly and of IELTS.