What are complex sentences and their importance in the IELTS exam?

Are complex sentences essential for a high IELTS writing score?

The pursuit of a high score in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) often leads test-takers to question the necessity of employing complex sentences in their writing tasks. This article aims to explore the role of complex sentences in achieving a top IELTS writing score, drawing insights from the band score descriptions provided by IELTS.

Understanding the Band Score Criteria:

To comprehend the importance of complex sentences, one must first familiarise oneself with the band score descriptors used by IELTS examiners. IELTS students can access this information from   IELTS learning materials provided by reputed coaching centres.   The descriptors outline specific criteria for each band (ranging from Band 1 to Band 9) in four key areas: Task Achievement, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range and Accuracy.

The Role of Complex Sentences in Grammatical Range and Accuracy:

According to the band score descriptors, achieving a high score in Grammatical Range and Accuracy requires candidates to demonstrate a wide range of sentence structures, including complex sentences. One reason why IELTS practice material will include lessons on complex sentences is that the ability to use complex structures correctly contributes to a higher band score, by showcasing a command of the English language beyond basic sentence constructions. 

Quoting Band Score Descriptions:

You will get only a band of 5 or less for grammatical range and accuracy if you cannot write complex sentences or demonstrate limited ability to write them.  Let’s examine specific excerpts from the band score descriptors to justify the importance of complex sentences:

Band 6: “Uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms with some flexibility.”

This descriptor emphasises the importance of employing a variety of sentence structures, including complex sentences. While not explicitly stating that complex sentences are essential, it implies that a mix of sentence forms, including complexity, is necessary for a Band 6 score.

Band 7: “Uses a variety of complex structures with some flexibility.”

Moving up to Band 7, the descriptors highlight the expectation of utilising complex structures. This suggests that candidates aiming for a Band 7 or higher should demonstrate proficiency in employing complex sentences with flexibility.

Band 8: “Uses a wide range of structures with full flexibility.”

Band 8 descriptors explicitly mention a “wide range of structures with full flexibility,” indicating that candidates should exhibit mastery not only in using complex sentences but doing so with adaptability and precision.

Band 9:”Uses a wide range of structures with full flexibility; rare minor errors occur only as ‘slips.'” 

The highest band score reinforces the importance of a wide range of structures, including complex sentences, and expects candidates to exhibit full flexibility. The mention of “rare minor errors” underscores the significance of accuracy in complex sentence usage.

Critical Points to Remember while Drafting Complex Sentences: 

In light of the band score descriptors, it is evident that complex sentences play a crucial role in achieving a high IELTS writing score. The descriptors emphasise the need for flexibility, variety, and a wide range of sentence structures, with a particular focus on complex sentences for higher bands. However, it is critical to also be mindful of these aspects –

It is not possible to write your responses using only complex sentences. You have to use a mix of simple, compound and complex sentences.

You should know when to use complex sentences.    

In the quest of incorporating complex sentences in your writing, you should not end up drafting overly complex sentences which are not grammatically correct. Remember, the word ‘complex’ does not mean ’complicated’. The following sentence  is a classic example of a complicated sentence structure, which is unfortunately grammatically incorrect and difficult to understand as well. 

“Use of wool has been trending for a long time reason being the awareness created by films and television, in which celebrity wears or advertise products made by wool which in turn has increased the production of wool at local level which is good in terms of growing local business giving more opportunities’ to rural population as sheep farming is a rural base activity”. 

Let us break down this sentence into smaller, simple sentences –

The use of wool has been trending for a long time now.

It’s because of the awareness created by the international media. 

In films and on television, celebrities wear or advertise products made of wool.

This, in turn, has increased the production of wool at the local level. 

It is good for the rural population.

It is good for the growth of local businesses.

Sheep farming is mostly a rural base activity.

However, these are all simple sentences and will therefore not garner a very high band score. So let’s rewrite them as complex sentences – 

The use of wool has been trending for a long time now because of the awareness created by international media like films and television in which celebrities wear or advertise products made of wool.

This, in turn, has increased the production of wool at the local level, which leads to growth of local businesses.

Additionally, it is good for the rural population since sheep farming is mostly a rural base activity.

 This is how you can use a range of complex structures while practising your writing tasks with IELTS learning materials. It however calls for a proper understanding of complex sentences and its various types. So let’s understand what complex sentences are all about.

What is a complex sentence? 

Complex sentences are those components of the English language that contain an independent clause and at least one or more than one dependent clauses. An independent clause can stand alone as a complete sentence whereas the dependent clause, despite having a subject and a verb, can’t stand as a sentence.  A complex sentence is also known as a multiple clause sentence.

Eg: Valerie sipped on her tea. 

This is an independent clause as it is a complete sentence having a subject and a verb, and conveying the whole meaning. The sentence conveys full information. 

Eg: As Valerie sipped on her tea 

Now this is a dependent clause although it contains a subject and a verb, as it does not fully express the thought. It does not convey the whole meaning; it looks incomplete. The clause requires more information to complete it. 

So a complex sentence is an assortment of independent and dependent clauses arranged in either order, linked by a conjunction.

Eg: As Valerie sipped on her tea, she gazed out of the window.  

 Or

Valerie gazed out of the window as she sipped on her tea. 

Here, if we take out the conjunction ‘as’, we get two independent clauses- “Valerie gazed out of the window. ” and “She sipped on her tea”. But, when we use the conjunction “as”, it joins the two clauses to establish a relationship between them.

Here are a few examples to help you understand the range of complex sentences available for use in your IELTS writing tasks:

Compound-Complex Sentence:

Although the storm raged outside, Sarah continued typing, but the power outage eventually forced her to stop. 

This is a compound-complex sentence because it consists of two independent clauses “Sarah continued typing” and “The power outage forced her to stop” and one dependent clause (“Although the storm raged outside”).

Subordinate Adjective Clause Sentence:

The house, which was built in the 19th century, stood as a testament to the architectural   elegance of the Victorian era.

This sentence contains an adjective clause (“which was built in the 19th century”) that provides additional information about the noun it modifies, “house.”

Subordinate Noun Clause Sentence:

What she said during the meeting greatly influenced the team’s decision on the new project. 

This sentence includes a noun clause (“what she said during the meeting”) acting as the subject of the verb “influenced.”

Conditional Sentence (First Conditional):

If I pass my exams with flying colours, my parents have promised to take me on a vacation to Europe.

This is a first conditional sentence, expressing a condition (“If I pass my exams with flying colours”) and the result or consequence (“my parents have promised to take me on a vacation to Europe”).

Conditional Sentence (Zero Conditional):

If you heat water to 100 degrees Celsius, it boils.

This is a zero conditional sentence, which expresses a general truth or fact. In this case, it states the direct relationship between heating water to a specific temperature (the condition) and the result, which is boiling.

Relative Clause Sentence: 

The scientist, whose groundbreaking research revolutionised the field, was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics. 

This sentence contains a relative clause (“whose groundbreaking research”) introducing additional information about the noun “scientist.”

Temporal Sentence:

Before the sun dipped below the horizon, the couple enjoyed a romantic stroll along the beach.

This sentence is temporal, describing an action (“the couple enjoyed a romantic stroll”) in relation to a specific time (“before the sun dipped below the horizon”).

Appositive Sentence:

The mountain, a majestic peak that touched the heavens, captivated the hearts of all who ventured to explore its slopes. 

This sentence includes an appositive (“a majestic peak that touched the heavens”) which provides additional information about the noun “mountain.”

Why are complex sentences important?

The complex sentences show a relationship between two unequal clauses or thoughts. The overall information conveyed by the complete sentence is more valuable than the thought behind the dependent clause or two independent clauses. So a complex sentence is an efficient way of expressing useful information using different fragments in a single sentence. Instead of using many short simple sentences, complex sentences are helpful in combining different sentences into one bigger sentence. 

Here is an example of an IELTS essay paragraph which includes a simple, compound and complex sentence. 

Parents are morally responsible for the proper upbringing of their wards. They should provide a stable environment for their growth and develop loving and nurturing relationships with them. Evidently, when these aspects are lacking, juvenile delinquents are born into society.      

The Way Forward: 

Complex sentences are a useful language tool to establish a valid connection between thoughts. In light of the band score descriptors, it is evident that complex sentences play a crucial role in achieving a high IELTS writing score. The descriptors emphasise the need for flexibility, variety, and a wide range of sentence structures, with a particular focus on complex sentences for higher bands. Those of you who have a good command over the English language and grammar can focus on addressing the question well. The language will flow naturally with a mix of sentence structures. However, test takers who are not very confident with English grammar will need to  practise and make concerted efforts to include complex sentences in their writing. One good way of doing it would be to frame one’s thoughts in simple sentences and then combine the thoughts into complex sentences. 

As a prospective IELTS test taker, irrespective of the category you fall in, at Yuno Learning, we have 200+ Free IELTS Study Materials for Online IELTS Preparation to cater to the needs of students at varied levels. For those who need to brush up on their grammar,  we have comprehensive grammar lessons that sharpen your ability to use accurate grammar as well as incorporate a range of complex structures in your writing. For those with a good hold over English, we have model answers to actual IELTS test questions, which help you with content generation. At Yuno Learning, we do not believe in the ‘one show fits all’ approach and therefore, our extensive IELTS practice material  caters to a wide range of needs of our students. Come, join us and you can be rest assured that we have you covered!