International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Language Systems for IELTS Syllabus

Language Systems for IELTS syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Language Systems for IELTS in International English Language Testing System (IELTS), not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Grammar for Higher Bands

   5 topics

   • Tense and aspect accuracy
   • Complex and compound sentence structures
     • Relative and subordinate clauses
     • Conditionals and hypotheticals
   • Articles, prepositions and agreement
   • Passive voice and nominalisation
   • Modality and hedging language
2. 2

   Vocabulary Development

   5 topics

   • Academic Word List and collocations
   • Topic-based vocabulary fields
     • Environment, education, health, technology
   • Synonyms, paraphrase and word families
   • Idiomatic and less common lexis
   • Avoiding overused and informal words
3. 3

   Cohesion and Discourse

   3 topics

   • Linking words and transitions
   • Reference, substitution and ellipsis
   • Signposting in writing and speaking
4. 4

   Pronunciation and Spelling

   3 topics

   • Phonemes and common confusions
   • Word and sentence stress patterns
   • Spelling rules and frequently misspelt words

Language Systems for IELTS flashcards for International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

18 of 50 cards from the Language Systems for IELTS deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What are the three components a finite verb encodes regarding time and aspect in English?

   Tense (time: present/past), aspect (simple, perfect, continuous/progressive), and the perfect-continuous combination — e.g. present perfect continuous: 'has been studying'.

2. When is the present perfect (have/has + past participle) used rather than the past simple?

   For past actions with present relevance, unfinished time periods, or experiences without a stated time. Use past simple for completed actions at a specified past time. E.g. 'I have lived here for years' (still here) vs 'I lived there in 2010' (finished).

3. What does the past perfect (had + past participle) signal, and give an example?

   An action completed before another past action — the 'earlier past'. E.g. 'The exam had already started when she arrived.'

4. Which aspect is normally NOT used with stative verbs (know, believe, own, like), and what is the rule?

   The continuous/progressive aspect. Stative verbs describe states, not ongoing actions, so we say 'I know' not 'I am knowing'.

5. In a conditional, what tense pattern expresses an unreal/hypothetical present situation (second conditional)?

   'If' + past simple, + would + base verb. E.g. 'If I had time, I would travel.'

6. Define a compound sentence and name the coordinating conjunctions used to form one.

   Two or more independent clauses joined as equals. Coordinators are the FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so. E.g. 'Costs rose, but demand stayed high.'

7. Define a complex sentence and identify its two clause types.

   A sentence with one independent (main) clause and at least one dependent (subordinate) clause introduced by a subordinator (because, although, when, if, which). E.g. 'Although prices rose, sales increased.'

8. What is a compound-complex sentence?

   A sentence with at least two independent clauses AND at least one dependent clause. E.g. 'Although costs rose, the firm expanded, and profits grew.'

9. What is the punctuation rule when a subordinate (dependent) clause begins the sentence versus when it follows the main clause?

   Use a comma after a leading subordinate clause ('Because it rained, we stayed in') but usually no comma when it follows the main clause ('We stayed in because it rained').

10. What error is a comma splice, and how is it corrected?

    Joining two independent clauses with only a comma ('It rained, we left'). Fix with a coordinator + comma, a semicolon, a period, or subordination.

11. State the basic rule for choosing the indefinite articles 'a' versus 'an'.

    Use 'a' before a consonant SOUND and 'an' before a vowel SOUND — judged by pronunciation, not spelling. E.g. 'a university', 'an hour', 'an MP'.

12. When is the definite article 'the' used versus the zero article with general/uncountable and plural nouns?

    Use 'the' for specific/known/unique referents ('the sun', 'the report we read'). Use zero article for general statements with plurals/uncountables ('Water is essential', 'Computers changed society').

13. What is subject-verb agreement with collective nouns and with 'each/every'?

    Collective nouns take singular or plural depending on whether the group acts as a unit ('The team is/are...', BrE allows plural). 'Each' and 'every' always take a singular verb: 'Every student has a desk.'

14. What is the agreement rule for 'neither...nor' / 'either...or' subjects?

    The verb agrees with the nearer (closer) subject. E.g. 'Neither the manager nor the workers were informed'; 'Neither the workers nor the manager was informed.'

15. Give the typical prepositions of time for points, months/years, and exact dates.

    'at' for clock times/points (at 6pm), 'in' for months, years, longer periods (in May, in 2020), 'on' for days and dates (on Monday, on 5 June).

16. Define the passive voice and give its general structural formula.

    The passive moves the receiver of the action into subject position. Formula: subject + form of 'be' + past participle (+ 'by' agent). E.g. 'The results were analysed (by the team).'

17. Why is the passive voice valued in academic writing?

    It creates an impersonal, objective tone, foregrounds the process/result over the doer, and lets the agent be omitted when unknown or unimportant — e.g. 'The samples were heated.'

18. Define nominalisation and give an example of converting a verb/adjective into a noun phrase.

    Nominalisation turns verbs or adjectives into nouns to pack information densely and sound formal. E.g. 'They decided quickly' to 'Their rapid decision'; 'pollute' to 'pollution'.

See more Language Systems for IELTS flashcards →

Planning Language Systems for IELTS for International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

Language Systems for IELTS (International English Language Testing System (IELTS)) FAQ