Punctuation rules for IELTS | 7 rules for a high band score

Punctuation rules for IELTS | An overview

Cramming all the punctuation rules is a must to avoid grammatical errors in your IELTS exam. With other important grammatical aspects, punctuation remains on top. The use of the right punctuation holds the power to make or break the sentence and its context. In this blog, we will discuss all seven punctuation rules and their importance in framing well-structured sentences for the IELTS exam.

Importance of punctuation in writing

The relevance of using punctuation rules for IELTS correctly goes a long way in writing effective answers for every exam you apply for. Whether it is your school or the IELTS exam, you may never be able to establish meaning in your sentence without using the right punctuation. Good punctuation skills demonstrate a strong command of the English language and can significantly improve your overall IELTS score.

The grammar and accuracy in writing IELTS answers make up 25% of your total score. Therefore, it becomes more important not to let any small mistake hamper your chances of cracking the IELTS exam.

7 punctuation rules for IELTS

Punctuation plays a major role in defining your sentences meaningfully. From commas to apostrophes, there is a good chance you may miss even the most common punctuation marks while driving all your focus on writing the information about a topic in an IELTS exam.

It is where knowing all the punctuation rules for IELTS writing becomes important. Here are all the 7 rules of punctuation rules for IELTS you must know-

1. Period/ Full Stop (.)

The first and foremost rule in punctuation is knowing how and when to use a period/full stop in your sentence. There are two applications for using full stop-

• Towards the end of a sentence: Once you finish a sentence, make sure to place a full stop at the end. A full stop makes a sentence look complete and readable.

For example- I am going to watch a movie tomorrow.

• Towards the end of abbreviations: We always use abbreviations for long words such as et cetera (“etc.”) or doctor (“Dr.”) that are accepted while writing English tests. But make sure to put a period/full stop at the end to make it more understandable.

For example- I have an appointment with Dr. James.

2. Commas (,)

The use of commas as punctuation rules for IELTS Writing comes as the second rule. The application of commas in the IELTS exam is mentioned below-

• To separate clauses: A comma must be placed to separate the different clauses used in the sentence.

For example- Just like yesterday, I also took a metro today.

• After using adverbs (case specific): This case-specific requirement considers the sentences where an adverb is used at the beginning of the sentence.

For example- Generally, people use this method for solving the case.

• Listing more than two things: A comma separates multiple items in a sentence.

For example- You must excel in reading, writing, and spoken English for the exam.

• Using more than two adjectives for a noun: When you use multiple adjectives to describe a noun, a comma must separate the adjectives.

For example- An old, wrinkled woman was standing alone.

• Numerals with more than 3 digits: If a numerical value has more than three digits, a comma is placed to separate them.

For example- 2,000 and 1,60,555.

3. Apostrophe (‘)

An apostrophe is another important punctuation rule for the IELTS exam that you must keep in mind. Here are the apostrophe punctuation rules with examples-

• When sentences show ownership/possession: The nouns that show possession end with “s.” The rule is to use the apostrophe after “s.”

For example- My mother’s family looks quite young.

• When sentences with contractions are used: The IELTS punctuation rule eliminates informal words by placing an apostrophe.

For example- Isn’t it amazing how online resources help us so much?

4. Question Mark (?)

As per IELTS rules of punctuation, you must always put a question mark at the end of interrogative sentences.

For example- Do you wish to crack the IELTS exam? What should I do to prepare for the test?

5. Semicolon (;)

A semicolon in punctuation is used when two related sentences are used together. It is the most common rule where students often tend to make mistakes.

For example- My mother is sick; I can’t come to school tomorrow.

For example- I have a big day tomorrow; I can’t afford to lose my sleep.

6. Colon (:)

The punctuation rules for IELTS writing is to use a colon when a sentence introduces one or more things together. One can relate to listicles as they are majorly used in framing lists.

For example- My bucket list is: Travel all around the world.

For example- Bring three things to the party: food, drink, and a gift for the host!

7. Exclamation Mark (!)

An exclamation mark is used in a sentence where emotions are expressed. However, people always overdo the use of exclamation marks, but it is important to note that an exclamation mark should never be used in formal content (until or unless specified).

For example- What a lucky day! George, stay away from her!

Key takeaways

• Punctuation rules for IELTS are essential as they render a meaningful tone to your sentences,  making them appealing and understandable for the other person.
• There are 7 punctuation rules for IELTS.
• The first rule of punctuation is using “period/full stop” at the end of sentences.
• Commas are used to separate clauses, multiple adjectives, adverbs, listicles, numerals with more than three digits, etc.
• An apostrophe is used for sentences that showcase ownership, possessions, and contractions.
• Colons are used with sentences that list things, while semicolon is used for sentences related to each other.
• Question marks are used at the end of interrogative sentences, while exclamation marks are used with sentences that show emotions.

We hope you enjoyed reading this blog. In case of any queries, reach out to us or drop a comment below!

Liked this blog? Read next: IELTS Writing format | Understand the exam structure

FAQs

Q1. Are there any punctuation marks that I should avoid using in the IELTS writing test?

Answer- You should avoid using ellipses (…) excessively, as this can make your writing appear disjointed. Also, avoid using informal punctuation marks such as emoticons or emojis.

Q2. How to use commas correctly in the IELTS exam?

Answer- Commas are commonly used to separate clauses in a sentence, separate items in a list, and set off non-essential information. However, be careful not to overuse them, as it can lead to confusion.

Q3. How to use dashes and hyphens in the IELTS exam?

Answer- A hyphen joins two or more words together, whereas a dash separates two words into spaces in parenthetical statements. They are usually confused with one another, but a hyphen does not separate words with spaces.

Q4. What other grammatical rules should I learn before the IELTS test?

Answer- For the IELTS exam, you must prepare for modal verbs, gerunds, tenses, active-passive voice, adjectives, adverbs, etc.