Pocket 17 scoring structures in IELTS Speaking easily

Unlike everyday conversational English, IELTS Speaking requires a variety and accuracy in the grammar you use. This aligns with the scoring criteria Grammatical range and accuracy in the IELTS Speaking test.

Using a variety of grammatical structures and vocabulary is essential for candidates to achieve higher scores in the speaking test. To meet this requirement, the first thing you need is a good grammar foundation, especially structures to apply to your speaking test.

Let's explore the foundational grammatical structures candidates need to master to achieve high scores.

Learn sentence structures to have a more professional Speaking test

>>> Read more: Top 9 effective ways to practice IELTS Speaking to achieve high scores

2.1. Relative clause

This is a scoring structure in IELTS Speaking that is used quite commonly. The meaning of a relative clause is to modify the noun that comes before it, helping readers and listeners have more information about the topic to achieve effective communication. For example: Would you give me the book that is on the yellow table? In this example, the listener will understand that the book he needs to get is on the yellow table. Clauses with “that"

Rules of use: That is used to replace people or things, phrases for both people and things, indefinite pronouns referring to things.

Note:

“That” is usually followed by a clause

That does not come after a preposition

Do not use that in non-defining relative clauses

For example:

PUBG is the game that she loves the most.

The man and the cat that came to my house yesterday live in the behind the house.

You are everything that I love.

Who, what, where, when, whom

Rules of use: Each of the above prepositions has a different usage

Who:

Replaces a noun referring to a person, as a subject

What:

This word functions as a noun + pronoun with the meaning “that”.

Whom:

Replaces a noun referring to a person, as an object

Where:

Replaces a word referring to a place, as a there When: Replaces words and phrases indicating time, often replacing the word then Example: I told the girl who was standing at the front door the whole story.

I was invited to the party by James whom I study with at the university.

She comes from Barcelona where Messi has become a legend.

I will visit you tomorrow when you are home.

Relative clauses are a scoring structure in IELTS Speaking

Reduced clauses with V-ing

Rules of use: Used for active clauses. Omit the relative pronoun and the verb tobe, add ing to the main verb.

For example: The girl who is eating noodles is Lisa => The girl eating noodles is Lisa

2.2. Comparative sentence patterns

There are many comparative sentence patterns in English. If you know how to flexibly apply these sentence patterns, your speech will become more meaningful and lively.Prefer A (Noun/V-ing) to/ rather than B (Noun/V-ing)

Rules of use: This structure is used to express a preference for something or to express a preference for A over B.

For example:

I prefer English to Math.

I prefer playing tennis to playing football.

I tend to like A (Noun/V-ing)

Rules of use: The structure S + tend to + V inf is used to easily express our behavioral tendencies or behavioral abilities in specific situations.

For example: I tend to like eating ice - cream when it’s cold.

I think A is a better choice for me

Rules of use: The comparative structure helps to indicate that A is better/more suitable/more suitable than B.

Adj/adv one syllable + er + than

More + adj/adv many syllables + than

For example:

I think Socola is a better choice for me.

His jacket is more expensive than mine.

I’m more into Noun/V-ing

Rules of use: The structure “be more into” is used to indicate that you like A more than B

For example: I am more into reading books than watching game shows.

Comparative structures help you explain why you are better than others

>>> See more: IELTS Speaking practice materials - Academic & General Training

2.3. IELTS Speaking scoring structures with conditional sentences

Conditional sentences are used to explain an event that can happen if the condition after “if” occurs. In addition to the three basic types of conditional sentences, you can also improve your ability to use English structures with the following conditional sentences:

Unless

Rules of use: Unless has a negative meaning, meaning unless and is equivalent to if not.

Example: Please don’t wake me up unless my father comes home unexpectedly.

If only/Wish

Rules of use: If only = I wish means wish.

S + wish + that + clause If only + that + S + V

Example:

I wish I could sleep all day because it’s raining heavily.

If only you attended the party last night.

As long as/ so long as/ providing that/ provided that

Rules of use: The words listed above are used to indicate the conditions for the action in the main clause to happen

Example:

You can buy this book as long as you have good result on the exam

Provided that the flight doesn’t delay, I will be at the meeting at 8:30 am.

Conditional sentences are one of the common structures in English

2.4. Parallel structure

In English, parallel structure is a type of sentence that contains two or more clauses with similar grammatical structures. They are connected by coordinating conjunctions (and, but, yet, so, or) or reciprocal conjunctions (not only…but also…, both…and…, neither…nor…). These scoring structures in IELTS Speaking will help your speech flow smoothly, without repetition, be easier to understand and more professional.

Both…and

Rules of use: The words listed above are used to indicate the conditions for the main clause to happen

For example:

Both I and Peter walk to school

My uncle has both one boy and one girl.

Either…or

Rules of use: This structure is used with the meaning of “either…or”, which means affirming that one of the two issues mentioned can happen.

Either + noun + or + singular noun + singular verb

Either + noun + or + plural noun + plural verb

Example:

Either you or I do this job.

Either Lisa or Anna eats the vegetables.

Neither…nor

Rules of use: This structure is used with the negative meaning “neither…nor”

Neither + noun + nor + singular noun + singular verb

Neither + noun + nor + plural noun + plural verb

Example:

Lan hates neither carrot nor cabbage

Neither the man standing at the corner nor the man sitting on the chair is my boyfriend.

Not only… but also

Rules of use: This structure is used with the negative meaning “not only…but also” - used to connect words, phrases of the same position, nature, with the meaning of emphasis

S + V + not only + N/adj/adv + but also + N/adj/adv

S + not only + V + but also + V

For example:

Tesla speaking not only English but also Japanese.

He can not only sing well but also play guitar perfectly.

Parallel structure will help you express your ideas more professionally in the Speaking section

2.5. Exclamation structure

Like intonation in speech, exclamations have the effect of emphasizing feelings, helping speakers more easily express their attitudes towards things and events. Exclamations are also a scoring structure in IelTS Speaking. In English, there are some common exclamations such as: Exclamation with What

Rules of use: Exclamations with What are divided into the following three types:

Type 1: Singular nouns

Structure: What + a/an + adj + noun

Example: What a gorgeous lady!

Type 2: Plural nouns

Structure: What + adj + noun + be

Example: What colorful flowers are!

Type 3: Uncountable nouns

Structure: What + adj + noun

Example: What shocking news!

Exclamation with How

Rules of use: This structure is used to express strong emotions such as surprise, admiration, disgust
Structure: How + adj/adv + S + Be/V

Example:

How terrible your dish is!

How lovely your child is!

Exclamation using So, Such, Too

Rules of use: This structure often appears in dialogues, with the meaning of clearly expressing the speaker's attitude towards the event/thing.
So: S + V + so + adj/adv

Such: S + V + such + (a/an) + adj/adv

Example:

Because she dances so attractively, I can not take my eyes off her.

That was such an awful weekend since I had 3 tasks to do.

Exclamations starting with What, How or with So, Such, Too

In addition to remembering English structures and how to use them, you should also remember the following to increase effectiveness when using grammar structures.

Do not speak with a word-by-word mindset: When asked in English, you must think of the answer in English instead of thinking in Vietnamese and translating to English. This will make your speech disjointed and grammatically incorrect.

Appropriate structure usage frequency: Pay attention to maximizing the use of structures in your speech, however, use them in the right context, avoid cramming too many structures leading to illogical and unnatural speech.

Use the correct structure: Based on the requirements of each test section, select the appropriate structures. To achieve a high speaking score, you must abandon the word-by-word mindset

See more:

• Complete guide to achieving high scores in Speaking Part 2

• Revealing 3 ways to speak in Speaking Part 3 to score full points

• Use linking words to convey ideas better in the IELTS speaking test

• High-scoring phrases in IELTS Speaking

IDP has just reviewed with you some high-scoring structures in IELTS Speaking. These are all structures that have been extensively studied in the high school English grammar curriculum. To remember and apply them well in practice, you need to take the time to systematize all the structures, learn in detail about their usage, and practice giving examples of them.