IELTS Writing for PhD applicants: How to Fix Subject-verb agreement mistakes

Find the real subject of each verb and make the verb match it in number. Watch for long subjects, 'the number of', 'a variety of' and subjects after phrases such as 'as well as'.

At a glance

For: PhD applicants
Problem: Subject-verb agreement mistakes
Scoring criterion: Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Task affected: Task 1 and Task 2
IELTS test: Academic
Typical effort: one to two weeks
First step: Underline the subject and verb of each sentence in your essay.

Why this happens to PhD applicants

Agreement slips happen when other words come between the subject and verb. They are small errors, but they appear in every paragraph for many candidates and limit the accuracy score.

Why this affects PhD applicants: research writing is cautious and hedged, which can make a Task 2 position look uncommitted.

Very long sentences raise the risk of comma splices and agreement errors.

A strength to build on: Practice with structured argument and evidence is already strong.

Fix it in four steps

Underline the subject and verb of each sentence in your essay.
Cross out any phrase between them and check the verb matches the subject alone.
Remember: the number of is singular, a number of is plural.
Check each 'there is' or 'there are' against the noun that follows.

Before and after

Before

The number of cars in cities are increasing.

After

The number of cars in cities is increasing.

Ten-minute drill: Write ten sentences with a long subject and check agreement. Swap with a different sentence set the next day.

Questions and answers

What is the fastest way for PhD applicants to fix subject-verb agreement mistakes?

Find the real subject of each verb and make the verb match it in number. Watch for long subjects, 'the number of', 'a variety of' and subjects after phrases such as 'as well as'. Very long sentences raise the risk of comma splices and agreement errors.

How long does it take PhD applicants to fix subject-verb agreement mistakes?

Most learners need one to two weeks. Research schedules are flexible but easily crowded out, so fix a weekly timed session.

Which structures cause most agreement errors?

Long subjects, 'a number of' versus 'the number of', collective nouns and 'there is/are'.

Are agreement errors serious?

A single error is minor, but frequent errors show weak accuracy and can hold the Grammar score at Band 6.

What does a good practice drill look like for PhD applicants?

Write ten sentences with a long subject and check agreement. Swap with a different sentence set the next day. Research schedules are flexible but easily crowded out, so fix a weekly timed session.

How can PhD applicants tell they have fixed subject-verb agreement mistakes?

A verb-only proofread finds no agreement errors in three consecutive essays.

What should PhD applicants know about their IELTS Writing target?

Doctoral programmes and funders set minimum IELTS scores, often with a Writing minimum. Check the departmental and funder rules separately.

Should PhD applicants 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. Practice with structured argument and evidence is already strong.

Can an AI checker help PhD applicants with subject-verb agreement mistakes?

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 subject-verb agreement mistakes 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.