Using Conditionals in the IELTS for Band 7 in Wiriting and Speaking

The Conditionals for IELTS help boost the Band scores in the Grammar Range and accuracy (GRA) band descriptor, positively affecting the other areas. Thus, students often score high on exams.

For IELTS Writing Task 2, using conditions dramatically improves your GRA (Grammar Range and Accuracy) and helps you to score Band 7 in the writing module. 

Students who appear for the General Training (GT) exam often fail to use conditionals to show range in their grammar. 

The same is true for Writing Task 1 and also for Speaking. 

Have you ever seen someone speaking or writing like Band 4-5? If so, you would understand the importance of using conditionals in your content. 

We have designed this Conditionals for IELTS page for you so you can understand them best. Also, you will find a PDF with examples of the conditionals. 

Conditional TypeIf Clause (Condition)Main Clause (Result)UsageExample
Zero ConditionalIf + present simple (subject + base verb + object)Present simple (subject + base verb + object)General truths, facts, scientific lawsIf you heat ice, it melts.
First ConditionalIf + present simple (subject + base verb + object)Will + base verb (subject + will + base verb + object)Real and possible future situationsIf it rains tomorrow, we will cancel the trip.
Second ConditionalIf + past simple (subject + past verb + object)Would + base verb (subject + would + base verb + object)Hypothetical/unreal situations in present or futureIf I had wings, I would fly around the world.
Third ConditionalIf + past perfect (subject + had + past participle + object)Would have + past participle (subject + would have + past participle + object)Hypothetical/unreal past situations (regrets)If she had studied, she would have passed the exam.
Mixed ConditionalIf + past perfect (subject + had + past participle + object)Would + base verb (subject + would + base verb + object)Mixing past and present/future conditionsIf I had worked harder in school, I would be rich now.
Conditonals-English-Grammar-PDF