IELTS Writing for Candidates aiming for Band 7.5 or higher: How to Fix Run-on sentences and comma splices

Never join two full sentences with only a comma. Use a full stop, a semicolon, or a conjunction such as 'and', 'but' or 'because'. Check each sentence for one subject-verb core and clear punctuation.

At a glance

For: Candidates aiming for Band 7.5 or higher
Problem: Run-on sentences and comma splices
Scoring criterion: Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Task affected: Task 1 and Task 2
IELTS test: Academic or General Training (check your requirement)
Typical effort: one to two weeks
First step: Mark every sentence that has more than two verbs and check how its parts are joined.

Why this happens to candidates aiming for Band 7.5 or higher

Long sentences feel advanced, but without correct joins they become run-ons. Punctuation is part of Grammatical Range and Accuracy, and frequent comma splices are a typical Band 6 error.

Why this affects candidates aiming for Band 7.5 or higher: strong candidates over-edit and add complexity at the cost of clarity.

A wide range of structures with very few errors.

A strength to build on: A solid base means small refinements produce the final half band.

Fix it in four steps

Mark every sentence that has more than two verbs and check how its parts are joined.
If two full sentences meet at a comma, change it to a full stop or add a conjunction.
Break any sentence longer than about 30 words into two.
Read the essay aloud and mark where you need to breathe, which is often where punctuation is missing.

Before and after

Before

Many people drive to work, the roads are crowded, this causes pollution.

After

Many people drive to work, so the roads are crowded, and this causes pollution.

Ten-minute drill: Find ten long sentences in your old essays and rewrite each as two correct sentences or one correctly joined sentence.

Questions and answers

How can candidates aiming for Band 7.5 or higher fix run-on sentences and comma splices?

Never join two full sentences with only a comma. Use a full stop, a semicolon, or a conjunction such as 'and', 'but' or 'because'. Check each sentence for one subject-verb core and clear punctuation. A wide range of structures with very few errors.

How long does it take candidates aiming for Band 7.5 or higher to fix run-on sentences and comma splices?

Most learners need one to two weeks. Targeted, high-quality practice with detailed feedback matters more than volume.

What is a comma splice?

Two complete sentences joined by only a comma. It is a common punctuation error and easy to fix with a full stop or conjunction.

Is a very long sentence ever a problem?

Yes, if it is hard to follow or poorly punctuated. Clear sentences of moderate length are safer than long, uncertain ones.

What does a good practice drill look like for candidates aiming for Band 7.5 or higher?

Find ten long sentences in your old essays and rewrite each as two correct sentences or one correctly joined sentence. Targeted, high-quality practice with detailed feedback matters more than volume.

How can candidates aiming for Band 7.5 or higher tell they have fixed run-on sentences and comma splices?

A punctuation check finds no comma splices in your last two essays.

What should candidates aiming for Band 7.5 or higher know about their IELTS Writing target?

Band 7.5 and above needs sustained control: fully developed ideas, flexible cohesion, precise vocabulary and rare errors.

Should candidates aiming for Band 7.5 or higher practise this on Task 1, Task 2 or both?

It shows up in both tasks. Fix it in Task 2 first, because Task 2 carries about twice the weight of Task 1, then check Task 1 with the same checklist. A solid base means small refinements produce the final half band.

Can an AI checker help candidates aiming for Band 7.5 or higher with run-on sentences and comma splices?

An AI checker can show where this pattern appears in your own essay and which criterion it affects, which makes the fix concrete. It gives a practice estimate, not an official IELTS score, so use it to choose the next revision, rewrite, and check again. The first check on this site is free.

Check your own essay

See where run-on sentences and comma splices appears in your own writing and which criterion it affects, then rewrite the weakest paragraph.

Run a free first check

Feedback is a practice estimate, not an official IELTS score. Last reviewed 2026-11-11. Score requirements change, so confirm them with the organisation that will read your result.