One common mistake students make in IELTS writing is trying to impress the examiner with overly complicated grammar. Many students think all their sentences need to be complex, but that’s not the case. Trying to make every sentence complex can lead to grammar mistakes, which will lower your score.

This post will explain:

• How many complex sentences you actually need

• What a complex sentence is

• How to make complex sentences

• Examples to help you understand and use complex sentences effectively

What Does the Examiner Expect?

According to the IELTS marking scheme:

• For a Band 6, you need to use a mix of simple and complex sentences.

• For a Band 7, you need to vary your sentence structures, including complex ones.

This means you should use complex sentences in your writing, but not all of them. A good mix of simple and complex sentences will help you score higher. Let’s break down what makes a complex sentence.

What is a Complex Sentence?

A complex sentence isn’t about being long or complicated. It’s just a sentence made by combining two or more simple sentences. This helps make your writing clearer and more cohesive.

For example:

• Original: “Global warming is a big issue. It causes many environmental problems.”

• Paraphrased: “Global warming, which causes many environmental problems, is a big issue.”

In the second sentence, we combine two simple ideas into one, which makes the writing smoother.

When Should You Use Complex Sentences?

You should use simple sentences to introduce main ideas, especially at the beginning of a paragraph. Then, use complex sentences to explain or expand on your main points, like giving examples or explaining reasons.

Example:

• Simple sentence: “Raising taxes on junk food can reduce consumption.”

• Complex sentence: “Raising taxes on junk food can reduce consumption, which would help lower obesity rates.”

How to Make a Complex Sentence

A complex sentence combines two ideas: a dependent clause (which doesn’t make sense alone) and an independent clause (which can stand on its own).

For example:

• Dependent clause: “because the weather was cold”

• Independent clause: “I wore a warm coat”

Together: “I wore a warm coat because the weather was cold.”

This is a simple way to make complex sentences.

Types of Complex Sentences

1. Relative Clauses

These add more details about nouns. You can use words like who, which, or that.

Example:

• “Air pollution, which is caused by cars, can harm health.”

2. Subordinate Clauses

These connect one idea to another with words like because, although, or while.

Example:

• “I stayed home because it was raining.”

3. Conditional Clauses

These sentences express conditions using if or unless.

Example:

• “If I pass the test, I will celebrate.”

4. Compound Sentences

These sentences are made of two independent clauses connected by conjunctions like and, but, or so.

Example:

• “I studied hard, but I was still nervous.”

Warning: Use Complex Sentences Correctly

It’s important to practice using these structures correctly before the exam. Some students try to force complex sentences into their writing without understanding how they work. This leads to unnatural and unclear sentences. Focus on making sure your sentences are correct and easy to understand.

Next Steps

The best way to improve is by practicing complex sentences regularly. Try using these structures in your practice essays, and make sure you’re comfortable with them before the test. The key is to use them naturally and correctly in your writing.

Remember, clarity and accuracy are more important than trying to write overly complex sentences. By practicing these tips, you’ll be able to use complex sentences in a way that helps improve your IELTS score!