How to Use Modal Verbs in IELTS to Score Higher Bands (Exercise)

Objective:

Use modal and auxiliary verbs effectively to express possibility, necessity, obligation, advice, and ability in both IELTS Writing and Speaking tasks.

🔹 Overview

✅ 1. What Are Modals?

Modals are helping verbs that express the speaker’s attitude toward the action — such as possibility, certainty, necessity, or permission.

✅ 2. Common Modal Verbs and Their Meanings

Modal	Function	Examples
Can / Could	Ability, possibility, permission	I can speak English fluently. / It could rain later.
May / Might	Possibility, polite permission	It may take longer than expected.
Must	Obligation, strong certainty	You must submit the form by Friday.
Should / Ought to	Advice, recommendation	You should plan your essay carefully.
Will / Would	Future, polite request, hypothetical	I will join the meeting. / I would recommend improving cohesion.
Shall	Formal suggestion, offer	Shall we begin the presentation?
Need to / Have to	Necessity, obligation	You need to practice writing daily.

🔹 3. Auxiliary Verbs (Be, Do, Have)

These verbs support the main verb by forming questions, negatives, or continuous/perfect tenses.

Auxiliary Verb	Usage Example
Be	She is writing her essay.
Do	Do you agree with the statement?
Have	They have completed their IELTS preparation.

🔹 4. Sentence Structure with Modals

Structure:
👉 Subject + Modal + Base Verb + Object

Examples:

You should revise your essay carefully.
Candidates must follow the examiner’s instructions.
Students might face challenges in Task 1 description.

🔹 5. IELTS-Style Examples

🧾 In Writing Task 2 (Opinion/Advice Essays):

Governments should invest more in public transport to reduce pollution.
Students must balance academic and social activities to maintain mental health.
Citizens ought to take responsibility for protecting the environment.

🎙️ In Speaking (Fluency & Expressing Opinions):

I might move abroad if I get a scholarship.
I can manage stress by staying organized.
People should be encouraged to recycle more.

🔹 Practice Activities

🧩 Activity 1: Fill-in-the-Blanks

Complete each sentence with an appropriate modal verb.

Students ___ (should / may / might) practice speaking every day to build confidence.
It ___ (can / must / will) be difficult to stay focused during long exams.
Parents ___ (could / should / may) encourage children to read newspapers regularly.
You ___ (have to / might / can) submit your essay before the deadline.
We ___ (must / should / might) reduce energy consumption to protect the planet.

🔄 Activity 2: Match the Modal to Its Function

Modal Verb	Function
1. Can	a. Advice
2. Must	b. Ability
3. Should	c. Strong necessity
4. Might	d. Possibility
5. Have to	e. External obligation

Answer Key:
1 → b | 2 → c | 3 → a | 4 → d | 5 → e

✏️ Activity 3: Correct the Mistakes

Each sentence contains an incorrect modal use. Rewrite correctly.

You must to take more rest before the exam.
He can to drive when he was 10.
Students should to aware of plagiarism rules.
We mights need more time for research.

✅ Correct Answers:

You must take more rest before the exam.
He could drive when he was 10.
Students should be aware of plagiarism rules.
We might need more time for research.

💬 Activity 4: IELTS Speaking Practice — Expressing Opinions

Use modals to respond naturally to the following prompts.

Do you think students should be given homework every day?
➤ I think they should, but it must not be too much.
Can people be successful without higher education?
➤ Yes, they can, but education might help them achieve success faster.
Should governments control social media?
➤ They should, but they must ensure freedom of expression.

Now try responding with your own examples!

✍️ Activity 5: IELTS Writing Task 2 Mini-Practice

Write two sentences for each function below using modals:

Function	Example Prompt	Your Sentences
Advice	Some people believe students should learn soft skills.	_________________________
Possibility	Cities may face serious pollution in the future.	_________________________
Obligation	Governments must regulate online education platforms.	_________________________
Ability	Individuals can improve communication by traveling abroad.	_________________________

💡 IELTS Grammar Tip

Modals show control and precision in your language — two features examiners look for in Band 8+ essays.
Avoid overusing should or must; instead, vary with might, could, would, or ought to to demonstrate range and nuance.

Example Upgrade:
❌ People should recycle.
✅ People ought to recycle to reduce environmental impact.

🧠 Extension Practice (For Speaking Band 8 Fluency)

Mini Drill: Express Possibility & Advice Naturally

I might take the IELTS again if I don’t get the desired band.
You should spend more time analyzing model answers.
I could improve my fluency by recording my speaking sessions.
The government must take action to reduce noise pollution.

Now, record yourself giving short opinions using modals and listen back to check accuracy and natural tone.

🔹 Summary Chart: Quick Revision

Meaning	Common Modals	IELTS Example Sentence
Ability	can, could	Candidates can enhance coherence with linking phrases.
Possibility	may, might, could	Online education might replace traditional classes.
Obligation/Necessity	must, have to, need to	You must proofread your essay before submission.
Advice/Recommendation	should, ought to, had better	Students should manage time effectively.
Permission	can, may	May I add a point about vocabulary usage?

✨ Final IELTS Writing Insight

In Task 2 essays, modals are often used to hedge opinions — this means expressing ideas more diplomatically rather than absolutely.

Example:

❌ Governments must ban all cars.
✅ Governments should consider restricting car usage in city centers.

Using modals like should, might, or could helps you sound more academic, objective, and formal — key to achieving Band 8+ Grammar Range and Accuracy.

Learn About Common Sentence Errors in IELTS Writing Here

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Exercises for All 4 Types of Sentence Structures

Practice Conditional Sentences Here