Top 5 Grammar Mistakes in English Exams and How to Avoid Them
Feb 15, 2025
English exams can be tricky, especially when it comes to grammar. Many students lose marks due to avoidable errors. Whether you're preparing for GCSEs, IELTS, TOEFL, or any other English proficiency test, understanding common grammar mistakes can help improve your performance.
In this blog, we'll explore the top five grammar mistakes in English exams and provide useful tips to avoid them.
Subject-Verb Agreement Errors
One of the most common mistakes students make is failing to match the subject with the correct verb form.
Example of an Error:
❌ The dog chase the cat down the street.
Correct Sentence:
✅ The dog chases the cat down the street.
Why Does This Happen?
- Students struggle when the subject is far from the verb.
- Confusion arises with singular and plural nouns.
How to Avoid This Mistake?
- Identify whether the subject is singular or plural before choosing the verb.
- Ignore words that come between the subject and the verb, as they don’t affect agreement.
- Practise with different subject-verb combinations.
Incorrect Tense Usage
Mixing up verb tenses is a common issue in English exams. Many students use the wrong tense when describing past, present, or future actions.
Example of an Error:
❌ She go to the shop yesterday.
Correct Sentence:
✅ She went to the shop yesterday.
Why Does This Happen?
- Irregular verbs are confusing.
- Students fail to recognise time indicators.
How to Avoid This Mistake?
- Pay attention to time expressions (yesterday, tomorrow, now, etc.).
- Learn the correct forms of irregular verbs.
- Revise different tenses and practise using them in sentences.
Misuse of Prepositions
Prepositions (in, on, at, by, for, with, etc.) often cause confusion and result in mistakes.
Example of an Error:
❌ He is interested on learning new languages.
Correct Sentence:
✅ He is interested in learning new languages.
Why Does This Happen?
- Prepositions don’t always follow a logical pattern.
- Some prepositions have multiple meanings.
How to Avoid This Mistake?
- Memorise common prepositional phrases (e.g., "good at," "afraid of," "interested in").
- Read English materials to see correct preposition usage.
- Practise by completing grammar exercises.
Confusing "Their," "There," and "They're"
Homophones (words that sound the same but have different meanings) often trip students up in exams.
Example of an Error:
❌ Their going to the cinema later.
Correct Sentence:
✅ They’re going to the cinema later.
Why Does This Happen?
- These words sound identical.
- Students don’t focus on the meaning of each word.
How to Avoid This Mistake?
- Learn the differences:
- Their = possession (Their house is big.)
- There = location (The book is over there.)
- They’re = contraction of "they are" (They’re happy.)
- Always check if the word fits the meaning of the sentence.
Run-On Sentences and Sentence Fragments
A run-on sentence is when two or more independent clauses are joined incorrectly. A sentence fragment is an incomplete sentence that lacks a subject or verb.
Example of a Run-On Sentence:
❌ I love reading I read every night before bed.
Correct Sentence:
✅ I love reading. I read every night before bed.
✅ I love reading, and I read every night before bed.
Example of a Sentence Fragment:
❌ Because I was late to school.
Correct Sentence:
✅ Because I was late to school, I missed the first lesson.
Why Does This Happen?
- Students write too quickly and forget proper punctuation.
- Overuse of commas instead of full stops.
How to Avoid This Mistake?
- Read sentences aloud to check if they make sense.
- Use punctuation correctly (full stops, commas, and conjunctions).
- Ensure each sentence has a subject and a verb.
Final Tips for Avoiding Grammar Mistakes in English Exams
- Practise regularly: The more you write and read, the better your grammar will become.
- Proofread your work: Always check your answers for mistakes before submitting them.
- Use grammar-check tools: Apps like Grammarly can help identify errors.
- Read English books and articles: Exposure to correct grammar helps you learn naturally.
- Take practice tests: Mock exams will help you recognise weak areas and improve.
By avoiding these top five grammar mistakes in English exams, you can enhance your writing skills and achieve a higher score. Keep practising, and soon, you'll master English grammar with confidence!
Do you struggle with any of these grammar mistakes? Consider taking our Online English Course and receive extra support.
