Band9Prep vs Grammarly for IELTS Writing (2026): Which Actually Improves Your Band?
A practical comparison of Band9Prep and Grammarly for IELTS Writing Task 1 and Task 2. Covers IELTS-specific scoring, criteria-based feedback, free vs paid limits, and which tool actually moves your band score.
Band9Prep Team
IELTS Preparation Experts
Grammarly is a great general writing tool. It is not an IELTS writing tool.
That distinction is the whole reason this comparison exists. The fastest way to plateau at Band 6.5 is to optimize your essay for a general grammar checker when the IELTS examiner is scoring you on four specific criteria.
This page covers the real differences, where each tool wins, and how to combine them for the best IELTS Writing band.
Quick take: Grammarly catches surface grammar and clarity issues. Band9Prep scores your essay against the four IELTS writing criteria and shows you the gap to Band 8. For IELTS specifically, Band9Prep is the right tool. Use Grammarly alongside it for general polish.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Band9Prep | Grammarly |
|---|---|---|
| Built for IELTS | Yes | No (general English writing) |
| Writing scoring | Scored against the 4 IELTS criteria | No IELTS band score |
| Task 1 feedback | Chart, graph, process, map coverage | Generic grammar only |
| Task 2 feedback | Essay structure, argument, lexical resource | Generic grammar only |
| Band-level guidance | Yes, with model Band 8 answer | No |
| Surface grammar check | Yes | Yes, very good |
| Tone and clarity | Yes | Yes, premium feature |
| Plagiarism check | No | Premium feature |
| Free tier | Free practice, no credit card | Free tier with basic suggestions |
| Pricing | $9.99/month | Free / Premium (see Grammarly.com) |
For Grammarly's live pricing and feature list, see Grammarly.com.
What Grammarly Is Actually Good At
Grammarly is a polished, well-trained grammar and clarity engine. It is excellent at:
- Catching comma splices, subject-verb agreement, article misuse
- Flagging wordy phrases and suggesting tighter alternatives
- Tone and formality adjustments (premium)
- Catching accidental plagiarism (premium)
If you are writing emails, blog posts, or university assignments that are not scored against IELTS criteria, Grammarly is a great choice. The free tier alone catches a real category of mistakes.
Why Grammarly Falls Short for IELTS
The IELTS Writing examiner scores you on four criteria:
- Task Response — did you answer the question, present a clear position, support it?
- Coherence and Cohesion — is the essay organized with logical progression?
- Lexical Resource — is your vocabulary wide, precise, and accurate?
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy — varied and accurate grammar?
Grammarly does not score any of these. It does not know whether your Task 2 essay actually answers the question, whether your overview sentence in Task 1 is present, or whether your paragraph progression makes sense. It catches "fewer" vs "less" and stops there.
That is why a student can polish an essay in Grammarly for an hour, submit it, and get the same Band 6.0. The errors that hold the band back are IELTS-specific, not generic grammar errors.
What Band9Prep Does That Grammarly Does Not
Band9Prep grades your essay against the same four criteria the examiner uses, then shows you:
- A predicted band for each criterion
- What specifically is costing you marks in this essay
- What a Band 8 version of this answer would include
- Concrete edits you can apply to your next essay
That is the feedback loop that moves your band. Generic grammar tools fix surface errors. IELTS-specific feedback fixes the errors that the actual examiner is penalizing.
The Two Tools Are Not Mutually Exclusive
The strongest pattern is to use both:
- Draft your essay.
- Run it through Grammarly to catch surface grammar, clarity, and tone issues.
- Submit to Band9Prep to get IELTS-criteria scoring and band-level guidance.
- Revise based on Band9Prep's feedback (since that is what the examiner will see).
- Re-check with Grammarly for final polish.
Total time: 5-10 minutes per essay. Feedback coverage: general English quality plus IELTS-specific scoring. That is the most efficient loop you can build.
If you can only afford one tool for IELTS Writing, pick the one that scores against the IELTS rubric. Surface grammar polish without rubric feedback will not move your band.
When Grammarly Alone Is Fine
Use Grammarly without Band9Prep if:
- You are writing university assignments, not IELTS essays.
- You are at a stage where the main errors in your writing are still surface grammar (Articles, subject-verb agreement, comma splices), and you have not yet plateaued.
- You need a quick pre-submission polish for a non-IELTS document.
When Band9Prep Is the Better Pick
Pick Band9Prep over Grammarly (or in addition) if:
- You are preparing for IELTS and need scoring against the actual criteria.
- You have plateaued at a band and need to know what is actually holding you back.
- You want feedback on Task Response, Coherence, and Lexical Resource, not just grammar.
- You want model Band 8 answers for the same task type to compare against.
FAQ
Can Grammarly replace an IELTS writing tutor?
Grammarly is a general English grammar and clarity checker. It is excellent for surface errors but does not score essays against the four IELTS writing criteria. For IELTS band improvement, use a tool that scores against the actual rubric.
Does Band9Prep give better IELTS writing feedback than Grammarly?
For IELTS specifically, yes. Band9Prep grades essays against the official IELTS writing criteria and explains what a Band 8 answer looks like for that task. Grammarly catches generic grammar and clarity issues but does not assess task response, coherence, or lexical resource the way an IELTS examiner would.
Is Grammarly free to use?
Grammarly has a free tier with basic writing suggestions. Premium adds advanced clarity, tone, and plagiarism checks. Band9Prep lets you start free practice with no credit card.
Can I use Grammarly and Band9Prep together?
Yes. Many students run their draft through Grammarly first to clean surface grammar, then submit to Band9Prep for IELTS-criteria scoring and band-level guidance. That combination covers both general English quality and IELTS-specific scoring.
Which is better for IELTS Writing Task 1?
Task 1 requires describing a chart, graph, or process. Band9Prep scores against IELTS Task 1 criteria including overview, key features, and accurate data reference. Grammarly flags surface grammar only and does not assess whether the overview and key features are present.
Will using an AI writing tool get me a higher IELTS band?
An AI tool helps only if it gives feedback you can act on. Generic grammar tools catch surface errors. An IELTS-specific tool that scores against the rubric and explains the gap to Band 8 drives larger score moves for IELTS candidates.
Related Resources
- IELTS Writing Task 1 Academic Guide
- IELTS Writing Task 2 Essay Structure
- IELTS Writing Vocabulary: Band 7+ Words
- How to Improve Your IELTS Score
- Free IELTS Practice Tests
→ Get IELTS-specific writing feedback on Band9Prep — instant, criteria-scored, no card required.