Many students think Band 7 means “almost no grammar mistakes.”
That’s not true.
At Band 7, examiners are not counting mistakes.
They are listening for patterns.
Specifically, they are listening for errors that repeat in the same grammatical structure.
Mistakes vs Patterns (This Matters)
Everyone makes mistakes when they speak — even native speakers.
A mistake looks like this:
“People is… sorry — people are more focused on money.”
That kind of slip is normal and does not stop you from getting Band 7.
A pattern looks like this:
“People is more focused on money.”
“People is less patient now.”
“People is spending too much time online.”
Now the examiner hears a rule being used incorrectly and repeatedly.
That’s the difference.
The Key Rule for Band 7
Some errors are allowed at Band 7 — but repeating the same error is not.
This is why the band descriptor says:
- “Error-free sentences are frequent”
- “A few basic errors persist”
That does not mean:
- You must be perfect
- You must fix everything
It means:
- Your errors should be inconsistent, not habitual
What Usually Blocks Students at 6.5
Students stuck at Band 6–6.5 usually have:
- Good fluency
- Good vocabulary
- Clear ideas
But they also have one or two grammar habits that appear again and again, such as:
- People is…
- If people will…
- More easier
- Missing articles (in modern society people have pressure)
These are not “careless mistakes”.
They are automatic patterns.
Why This Is Hard to Fix
The problem is not knowledge.
Most Band 6.5 students:
- Know the grammar rule
- Can explain the rule
- Can correct it when writing
But under speaking pressure, the brain chooses the fastest familiar pattern, not the correct one.
This is why:
- Studying more grammar often doesn’t help
- Correction after speaking doesn’t stick
- Fluency stays high but the score doesn’t move
What Actually Improves Band 7 Grammar
To reach Band 7, students need to:
- Identify their repeating grammar patterns
- Interrupt those patterns while speaking
- Replace them with an alternative structure
- Return quickly to natural fluency
This is a skill — not a rule.
One Thing to Remember
Band 7 is not about making fewer mistakes.
It’s about breaking bad habits.
Once the pattern changes, the score usually follows.