Grammarly vs BAND9AI for IELTS Writing: Grammar Polish vs Rubric Scoring
Rubric depth · GRA traps · May 2026
Grammarly fixes surface errors; BAND9AI scores whether your essay answers the prompt under IELTS descriptors. Grammar checkers make essays read cleaner—but they do not fix weak Task Response, broken paragraph logic, or off-topic rewrites. BAND9AI targets TR/TA, CC, LR, and GRA on real IELTS task types so you see why an essay is capped before you pay exam fees—not just that it reads grammatically.
Core difference: error highlights vs examiner logic
Students often polish a Band 6 essay into “Band 6.5 English” while the position and structure stay weak—see hidden Band 6 ceiling in Writing.
Side-by-side on IELTS Writing
| Dimension | Grammarly | BAND9AI |
|---|---|---|
| Task Response | Not evaluated—may change your argument | Flags missed prompt parts and weak positions |
| Coherence | No paragraph-level logic score | CC feedback on progression and referencing |
| Lexical resource | Word-choice hints—not collocation fit | Flags over-formal or unnatural word choice |
| Band prediction | None | Calibrated reality checks |
When to use each tool
Use Grammarly for one or two sentences after rubric feedback—never whole-essay blind rewrites. Use BAND9AI for timed Task 2 on fresh prompts and when template patterns might hide weak logic. Compare QuillBot vs BAND9AI and ProWritingAid vs BAND9AI.
Key takeaways
- Grammar polish is not the same as Task Response or coherence improvement.
- Grammarly can push tone toward unnatural formality under LR scrutiny.
- BAND9AI shows descriptor-level leaks on fresh prompts.
- Edit surface errors only after rubric feedback—not instead of it.
FAQ
Score against IELTS descriptors—not grammar highlights alone.
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